Happy New Year!! Like many of you, I’ve made resolutions for
2015 and I’m so excited to become someone that I’ve never been before.
Something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is fear and how it often keeps
me from becoming who God wants me to be…
So I thought I would make a list of things I usually fear
and integrate some ways in which I intend change.
8 ways I’m NOT going to let fear control me:
1)
I’m going
to ask questions. Sometimes I can be so afraid to ask questions because I
fear people will think I’m silly for asking. But how can I learn if I’ve never
known? This year, I’m applying faith to my faith questions, to my school
questions, to my church questions, and to my friend/family questions. No more
shrinking back in my seat, wondering about something I’m unsure of.
2)
I’m going
to admit that I don’t know. I used to be that person who claimed to “know”
much, and if you were to ask me where Botswana is, id pretend to obviously know exactly where it is on
the map…. But not this year. My identity is not in the amount of information I know
(somebody remind me of this when I play trivia!!) and it’s ok not to have the
answers to all the questions. The goal is to keep searching and looking for
truth and answers.
3)
I’m going
to be honest about where I’m at: spiritually and emotionally. If you were
to ask me how I’m doing, I’d most likely say, “I’m doing well,” or “I’m going
good” (I’m a blogger, not an English writer, ok?). But this year, I want to be
honest. How can people encourage me or even relate to me when I’m always doing
“well”? (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13) Which, by the way, everyone knows
this isn’t true.
4)
I’m going
to talk to more people. Have you ever really wanted to talk to someone but
you’re afraid that they may punch you in the face? Just kidding. But really,
this year, I want to get to know more people deeply. Like what makes them laugh
so hard that their stomach hurts, and what makes them grieved in their heart
that they wish to change. I love hearing about that sort of stuff.
5)
I’m going
to pray aloud more: by myself, with people, with one another. For obvious
reasons, I want to pray aloud by myself more so that I can stay focused. This
year, I want to pray aloud in a group more. It’s easy for me to shrink back in
a chair when I’m praying in a group and blame my silence on wanting to hear
other people pray, or having time alone with God by myself… but I’m not fooled
by my white lie. I’m scared. This year, I’m speaking up. Another way I want to
pray aloud more is to pray for people when they ask for prayer, right then and
there.
6)
I’m going
to faithfully and consistently push towards my long term goals. I have a
lot of goals: run a marathon, play the piano well, play the guitar well, read
lots of books, buy an accordion, beat people at trivia, and become a ping pong
champion. Ok… the last two are more of wishes. Those goals may seem
far-fetched, but someone wise once told me that “we overestimate what we can do
in day and underestimate what we can do in a year.” Or two years…. This
marathon training is going to take a while.
7)
I’m going
to give myself grace. Remember all those times you didn’t pray during bible
study? Or all the times you weren’t just listening when your friend needed
empathy? Or all those times that you failed at everything? Remember no more.
God gives us grace and we should give ourselves grace, too. This year, I’m not
focused on all the times I fail.
8)
Lastly,
I’m going to constantly remind myself of God’s promises. I often find that
the root of my fear is not believing in God’s promises. So this year, I’m going
to study them, memorize them, and know them so I refute any lie I’m tempted to
believe.
I’m not sure what kind of goals or
resolutions you set for yourself this year, but be determined to not let fear
control you. The list above are some ways in which I’ve seen fear become very
present in my life, but maybe your list is different. I encourage you to write
them out and pray for strength as you approach this new chapter in your life.
May you have the best year yet,
Emily Calligan
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