It's Wisdom-Packed Wednesday! Tell us how this blesses you...
Silence the INTIMIDATING ROAR of FEAR in your life!!
What is "Intimidation" really?
Do you know that feeling you get in the pit of your gut when you:
-- ask your boss for a raise;
-- walk any distance in total darkness;
-- enter a room of people that you are
suddenly CONVINCED are all talking about you; or
-- step out to share your faith
with anyone?
Intimidation
is THAT feeling, and it indicates that what you are about to do is something
significant!
It
is the push-back you feel when you begin pursuing something significant!
Intimidation
and fear are among the ranks of demonic spirits whose job it is to "manipulate"
us. They are "lying" spirits that come to keep us from pursuing
God and the fulfillment He has for us.
Why is it so
important that Keith would say that "Overcoming" it is crucial?
When asked, "Why did you write
your book 'Overcoming Intimidation'?" Keith's answer was different than you
might expect. His response was,
"Once I saw how the spirits of 'intimidation' and 'fear' were crippling
members of the Body of Christ, I had to expose those spirits by name. I learned the hard way that, if I was going to do anything
substantial with my life concerning becoming one with God and fulfilling my
calling IN God, I would HAVE to become proficient at detecting the spirits of 'intimidation'
and 'fear' when they come around. Once I learned how to overcome them, I wrote the book to equip believers of all
ages with what I've learned, so they too can identify, and destroy, this most
stealthy of wicked spirits."
Satan and his minions want to steal,
kill, and destroy "life" itself. Consider how abortion and homosexuality are closing
the womb of women and stopping the birth of countless children. In much the same way, the spirits of intimidation
and fear come in and attempt to abort (in the spirit) the birth and fulfillment of
what God has put in each of us to finish. Jesus Christ *finished* what He came a long way to do. And it's very important to note that Jesus suffered and "died" to fulfill His purpose on this earth. The words "kill"
and "abort" have one thing in common:
they both mean to "terminate before completion." So, you see, Jesus was not killed, nor was
his mission aborted! He *finished*
exactly what our Heavenly Father sent Him here to do!
If we are going to *finish* what our Heavenly Father
sent us here to do, we are going to have to become proficient at pushing
through Intimidation and Fear.
How does my
"Overcoming Intimidation" bring victory in my life?
Diligence in seeking God includes
confronting, and overcoming, those wicked spirits of intimidation and fear when
they come to hinder you from reaching both God and your full potential IN Him. Simply put, they are like a huge wall that,
on the other side, awaits great reward.
Some of the most heartbreaking stories
ever told are from people whose lives have been shattered because they ran AWAY,
rather than pushing through the intimidation!
Always confront! Never run!
Why?
Keith puts things in proper perspective in his book by sharing how lions pursue and trap their prey...
As amazing as other animals' tactics are, he especially found the lions' method considerably more intriguing since intimidation plays such a primary role in the way they hunt for food.
As male lions grow old, not only do they slow down considerably, but their teeth also become brittle and painfully sensitive, making it very difficult for them to chase down and kill prey. In order for the big male lions to be able to eat on a regular basis, they recruit the female and young male lions of the pride to accomplish the difficult task of chasing down and killing their meals FOR them. Here's how they do it. With both the female and young males in tow, the big ferocious-looking male lion sets off on his quest for something to eat. Once he has spotted a herd of animals feeding in the distance, they very stealthily sneak up on them. This is where it really gets good. The big male, once in position, lies down as low as possible while the females and young male lions approach the desired herd very quietly from the opposite side. Once they have encircled the herd, the old male lion rises up and lets out a tremendously loud and intimidating roar. Not knowing that the big male lion is relatively toothless, the herd begins running in the opposite direction of the old male. Unbeknownst to the herd, the female and young male lions are in position to catch and kill the members of the herd as they come right toward them. Hence, the intimidating sound of the old lion's roar literally drives the prey right into the jaws of death.
The moral of the story is- whenever
you are confronted with an intimidating situation, walk straight TOWARD it. Therein lies your freedom! If the unsuspecting animals had only run into the
intimidating roar of the old lion, more of them would have been around to graze
another day. (Hear Keith's "Run TO the Roar" by podcast.) On the other side of each struggle lies a reward. The reward is God and working with Him to
fulfill the part that only you, as an individual, can fulfill in God's vision
for all of creation! He is our exceeding
great reward!
Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Remember, go THROUGH intimidation and fear - not around, not over, not under them - and enjoy the exceeding Great Reward that is God Himself, and
the fulfillment of LIFE that awaits you on the other side.
We leave you with a 3-PART challenge for you to accept and share...
1.)
Read this blog, and the scripture, every day this week, even 5x each day, until
it becomes a part of your thinking.
2.)
If you don't already have a notebook or journal where you keep notes of what
God shows you in your life, start one. Write
down the areas of your life where you are struggling most with fear and
intimidation, and where you commit to working with God to overcome those struggles
in your life. And...
3.)
Remember that we always appreciate hearing from you, if you would like to share
your thoughts and experiences with us as well.
Keith's book "OVERCOMING
INTIMIDATION" has lots of scripture study and tips that you don't want to miss. Get your personal copy at TowardTheMark.com.
For more Scripture-based truths to live a whole, wonder-filled life, follow:
We look forward to hearing from you. Connect with us here again NEXT Wednesday,
PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS!
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