LLLV16 8-1-2016 A Tyrant Wants to Destroy You!
The American people, including the Christian part of the population, have been and are being inundated with information to cause fear, in the current case, to fear Isis or other Islamic Terrorist groups. FDR made his famous, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself” back on March 4, 1933 during his first inauguration, but by December 7, 1941 he knew the real fear must be faced and face it he did.
In fairness, it must be pointed out that many things we fear are really imaginative ideas of an overworked and fearful mind. Yet these images can be devastating in many ways, so much so that in 1916 Edgar Wallace wrote in his book, The Clue of the Twisted Candle, this truthful line,
"Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake."
Years ago a woman, then in her seventies stated, “The reason I haven’t married is the fear of rejection afterward.” As a child she had been overwhelmed when her father rejected her mother for another and left the family high, dry and poor. Our lady permitted her fear to avoid rejection, but in so doing she permitted fear to rob her of marital bliss, the wet kisses of children and according to The Great Blonde, Joyce, the utter ecstasy of grandbabies! Once, a pastor friend asked Joyce about the joys of a long marriage. Joyce expressed the enormous joy our children, grandchildren and puppies have brought into her life along the journey. When the Pastor asked, “Well, Joyce what about Larry?” She sweetly said, “Oh, yes, him too.” Life keeps you humble.
At a young age I was encouraged to face my fears with courage, to challenge them, walk toward them in faith and thus overcome them. This formula often works. Other times…
When fears are challenged with courage, information based on facts, persistence along with help from someone who has overcome similar fears, a new world of wonder may open.
Forty-Four years ago while living in a rural mountainous area I faced the reality that I needed an airplane to get out regularly to fill my speaking invitations. I mentioned this on one of my radio programs and low and behold, a family bought a Cessna 182 Skylane and donated it. The fly in the ointment, was, I was terrified of flying! I immediately began lessons, and completed several steps in less than a year, earning Private Pilot, Twin Engine and Instrument rating. It was after earning the Instrument rating that I lost the fear, and flying without a cold sweat really enhanced the experience. Seven thousand hours later I fly without fear, but still with a deep respect for rules of safe flying. The same process can be applied to most things we fear.
Note a helpful hint here; if you wait until fear is banished, you will never do anything. If you learn the facts, practice them while still afraid, in time the fear vanishes.
As to living for and with Jesus, we must learn to do as He says, often while still afraid, but the great instructor, Jesus Christ is always near. When properly confronted, the tyrannical snake of fear slithers away into the bush, and you, as it were, take the wings of eagles.
Copyright © 2016 Larry Lilly
Great IT work at Oral Deckard
The American people, including the Christian part of the population, have been and are being inundated with information to cause fear, in the current case, to fear Isis or other Islamic Terrorist groups. FDR made his famous, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself” back on March 4, 1933 during his first inauguration, but by December 7, 1941 he knew the real fear must be faced and face it he did.
In fairness, it must be pointed out that many things we fear are really imaginative ideas of an overworked and fearful mind. Yet these images can be devastating in many ways, so much so that in 1916 Edgar Wallace wrote in his book, The Clue of the Twisted Candle, this truthful line,
"Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake."
Years ago a woman, then in her seventies stated, “The reason I haven’t married is the fear of rejection afterward.” As a child she had been overwhelmed when her father rejected her mother for another and left the family high, dry and poor. Our lady permitted her fear to avoid rejection, but in so doing she permitted fear to rob her of marital bliss, the wet kisses of children and according to The Great Blonde, Joyce, the utter ecstasy of grandbabies! Once, a pastor friend asked Joyce about the joys of a long marriage. Joyce expressed the enormous joy our children, grandchildren and puppies have brought into her life along the journey. When the Pastor asked, “Well, Joyce what about Larry?” She sweetly said, “Oh, yes, him too.” Life keeps you humble.
At a young age I was encouraged to face my fears with courage, to challenge them, walk toward them in faith and thus overcome them. This formula often works. Other times…
When fears are challenged with courage, information based on facts, persistence along with help from someone who has overcome similar fears, a new world of wonder may open.
Forty-Four years ago while living in a rural mountainous area I faced the reality that I needed an airplane to get out regularly to fill my speaking invitations. I mentioned this on one of my radio programs and low and behold, a family bought a Cessna 182 Skylane and donated it. The fly in the ointment, was, I was terrified of flying! I immediately began lessons, and completed several steps in less than a year, earning Private Pilot, Twin Engine and Instrument rating. It was after earning the Instrument rating that I lost the fear, and flying without a cold sweat really enhanced the experience. Seven thousand hours later I fly without fear, but still with a deep respect for rules of safe flying. The same process can be applied to most things we fear.
Note a helpful hint here; if you wait until fear is banished, you will never do anything. If you learn the facts, practice them while still afraid, in time the fear vanishes.
As to living for and with Jesus, we must learn to do as He says, often while still afraid, but the great instructor, Jesus Christ is always near. When properly confronted, the tyrannical snake of fear slithers away into the bush, and you, as it were, take the wings of eagles.
Copyright © 2016 Larry Lilly
Great IT work at Oral Deckard
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