I thought about something today that had never entered my mind before. The word “ear” is part of the word “fear.” Let me explain why I think that’s important…
Have you ever had God place a dream on your heart? Something He wants you to do that’s out of your comfort zone or something so crazy that it seems impossible?
I have, and you know what Satan does to me immediately? He starts whispering in my ear, planting fear and doubts, telling me there’s no way those things will ever happen. Can any of you relate?
You see, if he can plant enough fear in us, it defeats us from accomplishing the tasks God has for us to do. Satan works to get our eyes on the impossibilities of what God’s called us to do instead of on the possibilities of what God can do for and through us.
God has a unique plan for each of our lives, a plan that nobody else can accomplish. My friend McNair Wilson was a Disney Imagineer, and I love what he says, “God put you here to do you–and if you don’t do you, who will? If you don’t do you, you won’t get done, and the world–Creation–will be incomplete.”
I don’t want to get to the end of my life and hear God say, “I gave you so many gifts and talents. I had so much I wanted you to do. I would have opened doors for you! I would have equipped you with everything you needed—but you let fear win out and you never took that first step on the journey.”
You know what I think is one of the most important things we can do to reach those dreams God has for us? Take that first step of faith.
Noah took that first step when he started building an ark to survive the flood–and they’d never even seen rain. Can you imagine how crazy that must have seemed to everyone? But God had a plan for Noah’s life.
David was just a young lad when he faced Goliath. But he would never have slayed that giant if he hadn’t taken that first step of faith and walked out to face him.
Abraham took that first step of faith when God told him to travel to find his inheritance–and he didn’t even know where he was going. But God said, “Get moving!” and that’s exactly what Abraham did.
When God told Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, Abraham took that step of faith and prepared for the sacrifice–not knowing how it would end.
God gave orders to Joshua to march around the city of Jericho for seven days. Imagine how ridiculous that must have looked while they marched for seven days before the walls fell. But it wouldn’t have happened if Joshua hadn’t been obedient and taken those first steps.
It was a step of faith for the Children of Israel to walk into the Red Sea–but God provided dry ground for them to walk on.
Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego had to take a step of faith to walk into that fiery furnace–but by doing so, they got to literally walk with God.
I can only imagine how overwhelmed a young orphan girl felt when God told her to stand before the king and beg for the lives of her people, but the Jewish people were saved because Esther took those steps of faith.
Sweet friends, what has God asked you to do? Does it seem ridiculous? Will everyone think you’re crazy?
The God who calls you to the task will equip you with everything you need to accomplish the task.
Don’t let Satan fill your ear with fear. I challenge you to take that first step of faith today and then watch what God can do!
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
