Bruce is cleaning out the shed this week, and he pulled out a few boxes for me to look through.

“This is your stuff,” he said. “Do you still want it?”

He opened up the first box, and I immediately said, “Keep it.” The heavy box was packed to the top with old textbooks and tricks from my teaching days. I am holding on to that box just in case I ever have to stand in front of a classroom of teenagers again.

The minute he pulled back the lid on the second box, I shrieked in horror. “How did these get into the shed?” All my beloved stuffed animals had somehow been entombed in a grungy outdoor masoleum. Apparently, “someone” had placed them in captivity before we remodeled the house 2 years ago unbeknownst to me.

I set free the stuffed bears and flying pigs from our datings days. “I love these so much!”

“We can’t keep all of these,” he reasoned as I hugged each animal like a long lost relative.

I hate parting with cute toys. Consider me a child at heart. But I must confess Bruce was right. We had collected way too many cuddly things over the last decade.

But couldn’t I keep just one or two?

At the bottom of the pile, I spotted a green little vegetable wearing a yellow sleep cap. “Oh, old friend, I’ve missed you!”

“This one I am keeping. And because I am giving up so many, he gets his batteries back. Deal?”

Our peaceful compromise met, I surrendered the box to Bruce, but I got to keep my Junior Aspargus. And, he came back to life!

With batteries in place, I sat down on the couch and gently squeezed his torso. His big white eyes lit up, and the brave soul whispered, “I’m not scared,” and then he started humming, “I’m not afraid of the boogie man.”

I smiled.

I had purchased Junior when I was still single. I lived alone for almost 20 years. Junior was my guardian angel who crawled into bed with me on dark nights of the soul where I wondered if I’d ever see the light again.

He reminded me not to be scared.

But I was.

I was scared of being alone.

I feared rejection.

I worried about my future.

Anxiety was a constant foe.

And, today I still have to pick up my sword and remind myself almost daily that God is bigger than bad days.

Maybe you can relate? Perhaps I am not the only one out there who is fighting to overcome fear and live brave.

Are you always looking back and worried yesterday’s failure is the boogie man coming to get you?

Do you want to hide under the covers because you are too frightened to face the sad stuff out there in your today?

Have you lost your sense of adventure about tomorrow because you are scared something else catastrophic is going to show up and shake you?

Yeah. Me, too.

I don’t want to live in fear, friends. And, I bet you don’t either.

Here’s the thing: God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us everything we need to overcome yesterday, handle today’s messes, and walk boldly into tomorrow.  When we focus on His faithfulness, we can kick fear to the curb.

I know this in my head, but sometimes my heart starts racing a hundred miles a minute, and I forget.

I need a reminder. And perhaps a body guard.

But, God is my personal bouncer — shielding me from all that tries to swallow me whole. He gave His very life to save me. On hellish days, I can encourage my heart by hanging on to Truth.

Last week, I realized God had sent me 3 really super sweet tools to help me overcome my fears and push through to brave. (Don’t you love it when God bombards you with good stuff to get you going?). It would really be selfish of me not to share this fabulousness…. because I know so many of you are fighting worry and anxiety, too.

3 Tools to Help You Breakthrough to Brave

100 Days to Brave: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self by Annie Downs

I decided to start 2019 by taking a 100-day journey with Annie Downs. I’d already read her book Let’s All Be Brave and loved it, and since I am in a season of “uncertainty,” the devotional seemed like a smart way to begin my year. Each day starts with a Scripture, and then Annie unpacks the truth like a good friend giving you a pep talk. Each entry ends with a simple challenge to help you take baby steps toward brave. I am loving this book!

Choose Brave: Bible Study Journal

Imagine my surprise when the team over at Love God Greatly announced their first study for 2019 was titled Choose Brave. (Hello, Holy Spirit! You have my attention). For six weeks, I am digging deep into 30 Scriptures to help me focus on God’s Truth and fight my fears. LGG studies are great because you look at just one passage a day using the SOAP method. Even if you are in a crazy season, this format makes getting into the Word totally do-able. You can grab the bound Study Journal or check out the Love God Greatly blog for articles to pair with the study.

Afraid of All the Things: new book by Scarlet Hiltibidal

Y’all, I can’t make this stuff up. I had just started my devotional and Bible study, when I got my hands on the new book from Scarlet Hiltibidal. Friends, I was up until 2 AM reading the first 3 chapters. I could not put this book down! Here is what I learned:

• I can avoid being killed in a drive by shooting by taking off my seat belt and getting into the fetal position on the floor of the car.
• Scarlet is gosh darn funny. I laughed and almost peed in my pants.
• Scarlet loves Jesus.
•  I learned how to apply the gospel to my fears — which is the message of this book … because sometimes you think you know who Jesus is, but you aren’t living like it. You are living scared of this dark scary world full of serial killers and spiders. You just get scared of your own shadow and forget Jesus came to rescue you from the darkness.

So, go and buy yourself a copy of this book. You will thank me.

Giveaway

I’m giving away a copy of Scarlet’s fabulous book to one reader this week. Share this post on your Facebook page or Instagram by January 24, and then leave a comment telling me how you are going to choose brave in 2019 and why you’d like to win this book for your library.  

Note: Winner must live in the residential United States. Junior Asparagus is not included.  (I’m kind of attached to him.)

Friends, when we exercise our faith, we will conquer our fears and nightmares. We will go forward trusting God is fighting for us, and we will see Him do a mighty work in our lives and in our family. Our bold faith will point others to the Fearless Warrior who came to set us free from the boogie man and bad days. We will walk in freedom, and His unshakable peace will guard our hearts.

Let’s believe God is bigger than our fears and breakthrough to brave.

 

 

---

 

IF YOU ARE VISITING FROM FIRST 5 TODAY,

WELCOME TO MY LITTLE SPACE ON THE WEB!

HERE YOU WILL FIND FUEL FOR A WILDFIRE FAITH TO HELP YOU

LOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.
PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.
HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.
STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.

⇓

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.

YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.

YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES AND GOODIES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.

 

⇓

 

I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to rock your world. Let’s #PrayBig and stand on God’s promises in 2019!

---

ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE IN 2019.

CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

 

---

Friends: As a social media influencer, I have a sweet list of my favorite resources to fuel a wildfire faith in my very own shop on Amazon.  (Note: I will get a little something back if you follow any of the links in this post and buy anything on this page. Thanks in advance if you do.).