Refuse to Be Silenced.

Day 1 of 40

I begin my 40|40 challenge today. A pretty cool daily challenge to help get you in the Word and active.

This morning, we began in Luke 1... but I should probably begin by sharing the backstory here.

Recently, fear has crept back into my life. Anxious thoughts running through my mind, absurd lies straight from the pits of hell being whispered into my ear, worry, doubts, and all the things in between.

I used to be completely silenced and crippled by fear and anxiety, but I had not experienced that feeling in such a long time. AND yes, I used the words feelings here because feelings are NOT fact. Yes, we can feel certain ways, but that doesn't mean those feelings are stemmed from facts. Case in point - the enemy has used twisted truths (aka lies) to create this feeling of fear in my life.

Due to this unhealthy fear, I've been extremely cautious of my surroundings, I've been scared to do things alone (which anyone that knows me is not me) - I love to spend time alone with just me + God... but I have been too afraid to just do that here lately. Looking over my shoulder at every turn, staying on the phone with others while alone in my car driving, hibernating to the security of my locked room... but not today.

Today, I knew I had to face my fear... So I woke up, got up, and stepped up to face my fear. Praying the entire time for God's peace to cover me, God's protection to keep me, and for God's truth to be louder than anything lie the enemy chose to whisper to me.

And guess what?

I survived.

As I came back home and began my reading - I was amazed by how incredible my God is. Today's reading in Luke shared the time that Zechariah was overcome by fear when he saw the angel, Gabriel. But the angel's words to him were the exact words I needed today - "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard."

Moments after this, Zechariah began to question this angel... and because of his questions (doubts), he was silenced until this promise would to him would be fulfilled.

I'm not sure about you, but often times, I question the answers to my prayers... Maybe the time line doesn't add up to my own, maybe the answer isn't what I wanted to hear, or maybe I just don't think I'm worthy enough to receive it... but what I do know is that I find myself more often than I care to admit in the same position as Zechariah. Wondering if this is all too good to be true.

But as I was reading today, I found an additional scripture. 1 Samuel 2:1-10 - It is a prayer of triumph from Hannah. And it goes on to share that "There is no one Holy like our Lord, there is no one besides Him!"

So... maybe we have doubts because it is hard for us to believe our God is as great as He is and that someone of that power + authority could love us enough to hear our prayers more so answer them... but what I've found to be true not only within scriptures but in the evidence of my own life is that He is, He does, and He will.

I share all of this today to tell you this - don't let fear win.

Don't let the doubts knock you down.

Keep facing those fears & continue to ask God for His provision, because He will answer.

He will go before you - He actually already has.

He has established your footsteps, so walk in them.

Don't let the fear and doubt silence you.