Over the weekend I was doing routine chores around the house: dusting, organizing, sweeping, mopping and such.
As I cranked up the vacuum cleaner, the boys began screaming, yelling, and running for cover—something they always do.
Now, anyone on the outside looking in would likely assume the two brothers were terrified of the suction machine. But my little guys weren’t the least bit fearful. Rather, their behavior was part of a silly game they always play with the unofficial title, “The Vacuum Cleaner is Going to Eat Us!”
Only kids can come up with this kind of stuff, right?
So I played right along with them. I growled, walked at a stealthy pace, and used my attachment hose to suck up their little t-shirts. I got a real kick out of watching Kedar and Kaleb giggle uncontrollably and then take off in the opposite direction.
Our imagination is a powerful thing. It can even create imaginary enemies out of inanimate objects like vacuum cleaners.
I’m sure you can personally recall a number of childish things you used to think, as well as games you once played as a kid. You, like me, probably had more than a few fanciful ideas of your own.
For example, I used to believe my baby dolls actually went downstairs into the kitchen to eat whenever our family left them home alone. So I would tell my “dollies” what foods were available to ensure they would know exactly what to eat in my absence.
Don’t judge me. That was a long time ago. ;-)
As we grow older, however, and develop into healthy, mentally stable adults, we get a better grip on reality. Even still, we have to be careful not to allow our minds to run away with us, causing us to be terrorized by “fear,” which is often defined as “false evidence appearing real.”
Fear will create imaginary enemies, exaggerated problems, and misconceptions posing as true representations of reality, won’t it?
Unlike our harmless childhood miscalculations, misperceptions, and fictitious games, when we grow up, things get more serious. The lies we tell ourselves, coupled with the deceptions the enemy places in our minds, can be highly damaging to our self-esteem, faith, confidence, and ability to be, do, and have all God wants for us.
Fear can be costly and insidious.
If it goes unchecked, it will rob us of our purpose. Like a weary traveler seeing a mirage appearing to be water, only to have it disappear into thin air, our minds and eyes can play tricks on us. Our imagination is able to generate vivid pictures of things that exist exclusively inside our heads.
And when our vision of the future is molded by fear, we fail. When what we see is shaped by our faith in the sovereignty, providence, and faithfulness of God, we win.
That’s why our actions must be informed by faith and not fear. Otherwise, there is no way we can achieve and attain our divine purpose and destiny on earth.
I want you to know you are a winner, not because of what you see, but because of what God says. Got that?
To help you remember that your trust must be in the Lord, I’m stirring Hebrews 10:38 NIV into your cup of inspiration. It says, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup, your faith will be fueled and activated. You will be empowered to use God’s word to defeat any fear, thought, or lie that comes against what the Lord has spoken over your life.
If you allow this word to take root in your heart today, instead of shrinking back in fear, you will move boldly forward in faith.
Don’t doubt.
Only believe.
Now let’s pray.
God, thank You for exposing the danger of allowing fear to guide my thoughts and actions! Today I choose to believe Your word as the final authority in my life. I cast out fear and anything that comes to shake my confidence in You, my God, for You alone are ever faithful to perform Your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
