As Moses reviewed the people's journey before they entered the Promised Land, he repeated a phrase we have seen throughout this study and will continue to see until we're finished. Moses told the people,
"At that time I commanded Joshua: 'You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you'" (Deuteronomy 3:21-22).
The command or directive to focus on is "do not be afraid of them," or to paraphrase it, "fear not." We will encounter this saying throughout this study and there's good reason for this. It's because you, like your parents Adam and Eve, are terrified. Oh, you may know how to mask it and even learn to live with it, labeling it as something else—but the fear is there. It's fear to create lest others reject or ignore what you have done; fear to be yourself for fear that others will mock or think badly of you; fear to step out because you may be getting ahead of the Lord. Fear, fear, fear, and the sooner you face its reality, the sooner you can get over it and move on.
Given this truth, it's a helpful practice to assume that fear is lurking someplace in the recesses of your mind and, based on that assumption, to then go on a seek-and-destroy mission. That means you are determined to find it, expose it, confess it, and then act despite its screams that you cease and desist right now, putting off to tomorrow what you could do today.
Where is fear holding you back from being a person of purpose? Where is it stifling your creativity? Where is fear keeping you from engaging others in the fullness of who you are rather than who you think you should be or you think others want you to be? You would do well today to take Moses' advice to heart and learn not to be afraid as you face your enemies, remembering that God has fought and will continue to fight on your behalf.
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