BEING FEARLESS

A WISE APPROACH TO MAKING DECISIONS IS A THREE-STEP PROCESS.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT BEING FEARLESS TODAY. There is so much talk about being fearless, becoming a strong, stubborn, determined person who won’t be afraid of anything. But another side of fearlessness came to me.

You can’t be fearless unless you face fear. You can’t avoid fear, or ignore it, or turn your back on it. The key is to look straight at all the things we’re afraid of and address them in prayer, directly asking God to deal with all of the aspects of whatever it is that is making us afraid.

I would like to be fearless but sometimes I think that if I just put something out of my mind, I won’t let the fear in. That might work with little fears. I’m afraid of finding a snake in the garage, so I always turn on the light so it shines into all the corners and then I’m not afraid. Some fears are picked up from others, from the news, from the internet, and it’s hard not to be affected by fear and let it invade your day.

This week my daughter flew across the world. I’ve been hearing about several airline crashes, and it’s hard not to be afraid for her as she travels, but I did what I could do. I framed a very thorough prayer, taking every scary possibility and pleading God’s protection over her. I lit a candle to remind myself to continue to pray. I spent the day thinking of her and praying for her and taking all of those concerns and dealing with them straight in the face. Then when she told me she was safely at her destination with friends who will look after her, I thanked God for His protection for her every step of the way.

Facing fear requires faith, believing that God truly is in control of all the aspects of our lives and that He is greater than all of the scary things we have to face. But then, they’re not so scary when we face them with faith. Faith is what makes us fearless!

Joyce Suttin is a retired teacher and writer and lives in San Antonio, USA. Check out her blog at https://joy4dailydevotionals.blogspot.com/.

1 First, realize that you don’t have all the answers and ask the One who does—God—to help you make the right decision.

2 Second, sincerely want to make the decision according to what His will is in the situation. This is often the hardest part because it requires you to be willing to set aside your own ideas and plans, to seek His will above all things.

3 Third, receive His answer. It may come through one or more of the following means, which are listed in order of importance and reliability.

1. God’s Word. The first place to look for the will of God is in His words recorded in the Bible and other inspired Christian writings. His Word provides principles that will help us to make godly decisions and find answers to the questions or problems we will face in life. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”1

2. The voice of God’s Word. Have you ever been thinking or praying about something when God brought to mind a certain verse or passage from the Scriptures that shed His light on the issue? Or have you ever been reading the Bible when a verse or passage spoke directly to you, as though it were written just for you in regard to some situation you were facing? God applies His Word to you personally, and you receive the answer you are seeking. “The Word of God is living and powerful.”2

3. Direct revelation. God can also guide us through dreams and messages we receive directly from Him when He speaks to our hearts, which the Bible calls prophecy. “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.”3

4. Godly counselors. If you’re trying to find God’s will in a given situation, it is wise to ask advice from others who are established in their faith, have a strong personal relationship with Jesus, and are experienced in His ways. “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.”4

5. Circumstances and conditions. Sometimes obvious circumstances indicate God’s leading. If something is God’s will, He will usually open a door of opportunity that makes it possible. “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.”5

6. Strong impressions or inner conviction. These are sometimes referred to as “the witness of the Spirit.” Feelings can be deceiving, but if God wants you to take a certain course of action, He will sometimes give you a strong desire to do that or an inner conviction that it’s the right thing to do. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”6

7. Specific predetermined signs. These are sometimes referred to as “fleeces.” You can sometimes check or double-check your decision by asking God to give you a specific confirmation.

Above all, believe that God loves you and wants to help you make the right decision—the one He knows will be best for you and others in the long run. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened for you.”7 That’s a promise!

1. Psalm 119:105

2. Hebrews 4:12

3. Acts 2:17

4. Proverbs 15:22

5. Revelation 3:8

6. Psalm 37:4

7. Matthew 7:7