Two-Step Fearless Living
Do you want to live fearlessly? Good for you. Because fear cripples and cramps joy out of living. And joyless living is only surviving from day to day. We are meant to thrive, to enjoy the days we’ve been given.
How then can we achieve the state of fearlessness? The first step: PRAYER!
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4: 6-7; MSG)
We need to begin everything with prayer. That way we invite God into every detail of our lives. There is no other way to live worry-free. There is no other way to become fearless. There is no other way to move on. The second step: LOVE!
God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. (1 John 3: 17-18, MSG)
This two-step fearless living is all about God. We can’t make or fake fearless living. But when we live in God, he pours out his love that banishes fear. We need to take up permanent residence in a life of Love by embracing Christ. That way God – who is LOVE – overtakes our lives. When we cling to Jesus we are free and fearless!
Repeat the steps 1 and 2 all the time. If you get stuck restart with the first step: PRAY! God will pour out more love. And Love kicks fear out of our lives time after time. The more fully we are living in Christ, the more fearless we become. Because there is no room in love for fear. The more fully we are formed in love, the freer and bolder we become. So choose always to love. No matter what the others do, choose to live out of love. Live so close to God that your life starts to brim with love and joy!
Gracious God,
We are in awe of your goodness.
Come and abide fully in us.
Make our lives brim with your love and joy.
Make us fearless and loving.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Do you practice two-step fearless living?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live fearlessly! And while you are at it…praise the Lord!
Image courtesy of Jon Davis. This post is part of Thought-Provoking Thursdays &
10 thoughts on “Two-Step Fearless Living”
Hi,
I’m visiting from the Faith Barista link up. I like your “how to” approach 🙂 What strength you project! yay you! yay, God!
Delighted to meet you, dear Wildoptimist! Thank you for your kind words! May God continue to bless you with his wild grace and gentle love!
Pray and Love. Surely I can remember that! A great recipe for fearless living. Thanks!
Yes, things need to be simple enough to remember even when our minds are confused! Thanks, Lisa! Loving blessings to you!
Great, great thoughts here. I so get this: “Because fear cripples and cramps joy out of living. And joyless living is only surviving from day to day.” And, YES to this: “Repeat the steps 1 and 2 all the time.” Of course I wish I could stay on track, but in this age we need constant renewal (which God so graciously grants us). Thank you for this reminder today!
Thank you, Caroline! Yes, we do need God’s help to stay on track. But God is more than willing to help! God bless you as you journey on!
Oh….such wisdom….wrapped in such simplicity. Isn’t that just like God?! I’ve spent far too many years full of fear, overcome by fear, paralyzed by fear. As I read your post, I thought of John 10:10 and the abundant life Christ died to give me. The closer I get to Christ, the more I am discovering that God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 And, thanks to your post, I can see how prayer and love go hand in hand in freeing us of fear, which in turn, will usher in the abundant life Christ desires for each of us.
Thank you for this word-
~Stacy
Thank you so much, Stacy, for your sweet and kind words. So delightful to hear Christ has ushered you out of fear! Yey God! Yes, abundant life is closely related to this (see my previous post: An Invitation to Abundant Life). Thank you so much! God’s abundant love and joy!
Mari-Anna – it’s true, we can’t fake it… or make it.. So beautiful in once sense, we get included in something within us happening. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Bonnie! Yes, I think the process of God working within us is indeed beautiful. Grace touching our souls. Yes! Abundant blessings to you!