Good evening one and all! From the outset I'd like to clarify that I am NOT a theologian, nor am I a pastor. I don't have a seminary degree, a law degree or a PhD. Nope, I am just an average dude that likes to write what stirs in his soul. Feel free to post comments
Tonight I am pondering through all the experiences of the day, and one theme seems to be coming to mind....FEAR.
Over the last few weeks our son Bryson, has come home talking about a kid that has been teasing and bullying him a bit at recess. Now even though Bryson is big for his age, I guess this other kid is a little bigger. For whatever the reason, "the kid" as we'll call him won't let Bryson play football with them on the playground. Even though Bryson is pretty good at sports, somehow this kid has found a way to get inside Bryson's head.
Until tonight, I really had not talked with Bryson in depth about his feelings in this situation, but God opened the door and I gained some insight into what's been going on at school. It was only after listening to Bryson for a while that I realized just how much this situation was affecting him. As any good parent, I immediately wanted to go up to the school and "take care" of the situation myself.
Instead, God spoke through me to my son and encouraged him in both some practical and spiritual ways. At the end of the conversation, I asked him if I had helped him, and he answered, "Yes, I feel empowered!" (What 8 year old can correctly use the word "empowered"? He must have been in the room when Brandy was watching Dr. Phil!) One of the main things I said to him is that whenever he feels fear he needs to know that it is NOT from God.
I reminded him of David and Goliath, and whispered the story of Gideon into his ear after we prayed. I was reminded just how much the emotion of fear can mess with us and get our thinking and emotions way out of whack.
Thinking and acting in the "fear" mode is like looking at yourself in a funhouse mirror. What you see starring back at you is a suspension of reality. Fear is a big weapon that our enemy, the devil throws at us. He knows that if he can get us to believe the distorted view of ourselves is actually correct, he can severely hinder our efforts and ultimately stunt the growth and plans that God has for us.
1 Timothy 1:7, has become a major weapon for me, and tonight I put it in the hands of my son. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline" - NLT
Before he fell asleep I played a little pitch and catch with him in the bedroom (Okay mothers you can take your jaws off the floor, as only Dad's can get away with playing ball in the house with their kids). I even encouraged him to sleep with the football cradled in his arms.
I wanted him to embrace a symbol of the problem so that when he is face to face with it tomorrow at school, he has the confidence to stand up for himself. I can't wait to hear his story of success!
As he gets older the names and faces will change, but unless he finds a direct way of dealing with fear when it comes creeping into his life, it will only wrap cords around him tighter and tighter, choking out the life and growth that God has planned for him.
I've heard that when elephants are being trained for the circus, the trainers put chains around their legs to keep the young animals in check. Of course, when they are young and small, the chains hold well. However, as the animals get bigger and stronger the trainers do not change out the strength or size of the chains. There's no need to really, for what keeps the elephants under control is not the chains themselves, but the fear that comes with constant conditioning of the mind. A full grown elephant could break the chains at any time, but doesn't because he "thinks" that he can't.
We need a paradigm shift in our thinking. We need new conditioning, if we are ever going to improve our situation. Several months ago, God dropped the phrase "Goliath Slayers" into my mind, and although at the time I just thought it was a cool name for our fantasy football team. Now we now see ourselves as modern day "Goliath Slayers".
The question is not if a Goliath is going to come into your life, but when. The time to decide your reaction to the situation should be BEFORE it happens, as we do under pressure what we practice without it.
So I leave you with a few questions. What/who are your Goliaths? Are you dealing with them in fear or faith? Are you going to continue to be the elephant held by chains or are you ready to become a "Goliath Slayer"? If so take up your weapons, and get ready to fight!! Goliath will come. Will YOU be ready for the fight?
No comments:
Post a Comment