The Fear of Success

"For God has not given us the Spirit of Fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind."
II Timothy 1:7

 It has been said that the greatest fear is the fear of change. Change calls for adjustment from the normalcy of one's life. Change calls for a moving out of your comfortable environment into a different, (and sometimes unfamiliar), environment. Perhaps an environment that is devoid of family, familiar routines and known safety nets.

 Change affirms the fact that you, alone, are responsible for the decisions and choices you make in your life. Change is blatant and will challenge you to do those "hidden things" you dare to only dream about. Change is not our enemy. It is your key to a better, more fulfilling life. You must go through fire if you are to become hardened and purified "as pure gold". To Submit to change is to succumb to the truth that your life is more about God's design for you rather than following a path that is safe or has been selected for you by a parent, co-worker, friend or an idol.

  How many of you are operating in an organization and your heart is elsewhere? In some of you there is a book that is waiting to be written, a program to help the homeless that needs to be established, a neighborhood project that will bring families together, a musical composition that will stir the hearts of many; and it all begins with you. You may reason within yourself that if you do not do it someone eventually will. For you to actually fulfill such an arduous task is overwhelming to your basic senses; for we are conditioned to be "practical" in our thinking. We worry about money and food and the biggest concern of all: "What if I fail?"

 The first step in actualizing your true calling is to shed your fear of reaching it. Nothing will happen until we reach out our hands, our minds and even our very soul, to the truth that each of us are more than mere vessels of flesh and blood. "Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." This passage is from the Hebrews chapter 1, verse 4 and it refers to us. We are created, by God, to be an extraordinary people; filled with the ability to create miracles and wonders far beyond what we ordinarily do on a daily basis. "And greater works than these shall you do" said Jesus. I know, I make this sound so easy; and it is if only we would place our trust in our faith and practice accomplishing a miracle each day. You can begin with a small request and graduate to another, a more significant one, each day. 

 I have learned that in my journey to be the vessel that God has ordained me to be I will be bombarded by distractions. These attacks are the antithesis of my inward desire to matriculate into the Kingdom of Heaven that is in us and all around us. My wife's medical results were negative, I have reconnected with family and friends of days gone by, I have desired to be away from certain stresses and to meditate and pursue my dreams which have lain dormant for far too long. Someone once asked me, "Are you afraid of success?" My answer to that question is "Absolutely not" It's on!

Have a great day and I love you all. Dennis