Right now, today, my answer would be launching this blog!

         Fear of failure or fear of success. 

         Both have the same polarizing effect.

         Both have the ability to make you sit and do nothing. 

What if … I write this blog and nobody reads it? 

What if … I write this blog and everybody and their brother reads it?

What if … no one comments and I sit and stare at the screen wondering why I’m doing this? 

What if … everyone comments and I’m not able to answer them all?

What if … no one relates to anything written here?

What if … I write this blog and lots of people learn how to become free?

What if? …

It seems silly; however this is a great example of how the fear in our minds can make us run in circles.  Of course the opposite could also happen and we could be paralyzed into inaction.  Either way, we accomplish nothing.

Control over fear may be gained in three ways.  I’m positive there are more, but I’ll share three;

1.      Keep to the positive questions.  Every time.

2.      Check the negative thoughts at the door.  Don’t let them stay.

3.      Ask the right questions – What is the worst/best thing that could happen?

God wants us to succeed.  His Word is full of plans for our achievements. 

One key is that we must control the thoughts that we allow in and out of our minds.

Romans 12:2 in the NIV says this:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.

It’s there.  Do you see it?  Be transformed – by renewing your mind!

You CAN control these thoughts.  If it were not so, He would not have asked you to do it.

Thoughts left to wander inside our minds unchecked, have the tendency to roam around in there and make themselves at home.  These thoughts tend to make a mess everywhere they go.  Left unattended, the mess grows larger, and over time is far more difficult to kick them to the curb.

This is where asking the right questions come in.  What is the worst/best thing that could happen?  Well in my case, the worst would be that no one came and no one commented.  No one could relate.  On the other hand, if all went well, many would come, many would comment.  Most everyone could relate in some way.  The coolest part of either of this scenario is that I still win.  I’ve done the work.  I’ve studied it out.  I’ve grown in my relationship with God, and these lessons will stay with me into eternity.

I continue to fail at this, but that’s ok, it is much less over time.  I intentionally do what we talked about.  Some days more than others but, the inaction is turning into action.  The longing to do something is turning into passion.  Passion is turning into the doing of things I had only thought I might do before.  Won’t you join me?

You too, can win.  Ask the positive questions.  Kick out the negative thinking.  Ask yourself the right question.  Take that step toward action.  You win! 

Would you mind sharing what makes YOU afraid?    How do YOU control it?