Put Your Foot in the Door

"All open doors offer two choices: to walk by faith or to be controlled by fear. ... Fear usually enters in when a person focuses on his or her situation and abilities rather than on God's sovereignty and attributes." - Dr. David Jeremiah in The Jeremiah Study Bible

Writing is an open door. It's scary work, though a good writer makes it look easy. Today we're able to share our words, but the door is quickly closing, leaving no time for fear or stutter-stepping

And life is coming at us fast. So fast and hard right now that before we can pop up and take a deep breath, the next wave knocks us back under.

COVID-19 has raised fear to a whole new level. It has affected us globally and in our homes. It has attempted to obstruct our view and obliterate our definition of hope.  Focusing on the virus, still very much a situation, cripples us and robs us of the joy Jesus came to give us in abundance. 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

So, if a spirit of fear is not from God, it can't be good for us. It can't take up residence in our hearts and lives. It has to go.

But, easier said than done, right?

True, if we attempt to defeat it in our own strength and wisdom, it's a losing battle.

If I allow the enemy to convince me I'm personally responsible for getting the words on the page and into the busy lives of my reader, I'm focusing on my abilities. But if I daily, intentionally set my focus on God's strength and attributes rather than my situations or abilities, I kick fear to the curb as I walk by faith.

Jesus has already made the exchange that's made it all possible; I just have to tap into it and remember He is the source of my strength. God's sovereignty and attributes are unchangeable.

We can really only see clearly what is in our central vision, physically and mentally. Notice how true this is by picking one thing around you to look at.  See how other things fill the peripheral but are less important and vivid?

Same medicine for fear. God's faithfulness and character, when the main focus, crowd out fear and empower us to stick our feet in closing doors and offer the oxygen of hope to sinking spirits.

We may not even realize we've been holding our breath.

Dear Social Media, can we be friends?

Social Media, I have conflicting feelings about you. I admit I am of a generation that has largely embraced you, but I've not quite warmed up to you.  I realize, though, you are here to stay, and I want to find a way to balance the time I spend with you.

I'm also concerned about your boundaries and your censorship. Nonetheless, today, more than ever, we have a great need for reminders of hope, grace, and mercy, and I don't want to miss an opportunity to share these just because you may disagree with me. I have a Manager bigger than you, and He will see to it that we work together for good because I love Him and am called according to His purposes.

Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary says a friend is

One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy.

I'm not sure these are your motives, Social Media, but I do believe there are readers I will encounter that will become my friends, that already are my friends, and I don't want to miss them because of my feelings for you.

So I'm going to do my best to plant seeds of hope with words and observations from daily life; point out the places I'm encountering God and His ambassadors of light. I hope we will become better friends, but with boundaries I set, not you. Healthy relationships have boundaries. We can do this.

You know, maybe we can be friends. But, if not, perhaps we can give one another grace and space to be who we are.

Yeah. Maybe we can.