let it go

Is Fear Clouding Your Judgment?

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“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

(I John 4:18, NKJV)

Have you ever felt too fearful to do something you believe God has called you to do?  At those times, you have to believe God’s Word because He is Truth, and He is not a man that He should lie.  Fear is the opposite of faith.  Faith empowers, emboldens, and thrusts ahead into divine destiny.  On the other hand, fear keeps you locked up as a prisoner in your own mind and a slave to your delusions.

Fear is defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.”  Synonyms include apprehension, terror, fright, panic, horror, alarm, and dread.  These words certainly evoke images of torment!  Nevertheless, when we nurture our relationship with God on a daily, consistent basis, we’ll walk in love and not fear; obedience, and not rebellion.

As we revisit the story of Moses sending the spies to Canaan (the Promised Land) in Numbers 13 and14, we see the children of Israel faced with a dilemma.  They had to choose to step outside the comfort zone of familiarity to possess God’s promise (laid out and waiting for them) or continue to wander in the wilderness without the provision God had already made.  Fear caused the majority of them to focus on the challenges they were well-equipped to overcome instead of standing on the victorious end result God had decreed.  Their perception was definitely skewed. In their insecurity, they saw themselves as inferior to the people God commanded them to conquer!  They even projected that their enemies saw them as they saw themselves – as grasshoppers (Numbers 13:33).

In Numbers 14:11, God’s anger was provoked by the people’s lack of faith as they were overcome with FEAR – in spite of His promise!  How disheartening it must have been for the Creator, with His perfect plan and divine will laid out, to hear His creation murmuring about how they couldn’t receive what was already set apart for them because of their own insecurity.  As if God weren’t big enough to fight for them!  As if He hadn’t already gone before them to prepare the way and make provision!

Yet, how many of us offer the same lame excuses today?  What “land of milk and honey” have you nearly forfeited out of fear?  Have you seen yourself – and subsequently influenced others to see you – as a tiny bug that can be squashed in one step?  Rise up!  God has empowered you with His authority to face your fears. You are empowered for the purpose of destroying, vanquishing, conquering, and overcoming them – not wallowing in them, nursing them, or catering to them!  If you’re paralyzed by fear or walking in disobedience (going in the wrong direction), your judgment is probably pretty shaky.  We’ve all been there – whether we care to admit it or not.

So where are you today?  Is fear clouding your judgment?  If so, consider these progressive action steps that will help you confront and conquer fear:

  1. Look at it – identify the real issue (don’t keep sweeping it under the rug)
  2. Deal with it – get support and help from the brethren
  3. Be delivered from it – let it go!
  4. Help deliver others (minister deliverance) – walk in freedom and spiritual liberty

Know that “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).  When you take that first step, you’ll see the cloud of fear melt away as the light of God’s truth shines into your situation.  Why believe a lie? 

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (III John 1:4).  Press forward to receive all God has in store for YOU.  Trust HIM – He is faithful to His Word and keeps His promises.  Remember:  When God is on your side, HE fights for you and victory is assured, guaranteed, and certain.  That alone should dispel any nagging fear hanging around!  Now get moving in the direction God has instructed…

© Copyright 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

A Prayer to Build Your Faith in God

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Author’s Note: 

When I posted the January message, I reluctantly admitted that I was personally Running on “E.”  Therefore, I decided to take a few weeks to reconnect to the Source of peace, love, life, joy, and all that I need.  That was a good decision, for I have been refreshed in His presence.  I encourage you to do the same – sooner than later.  Your spirit man and your natural man will thank you 🙂

I was asked to share the prayer below, written during the recent WIW series on “Building Your Faith in God.”  I challenge you to be transparent with God – He knows your innermost thoughts and wants only His best for you.  This is stepping out of my own comfort zone to post an intimate prayer from my heart for the world to see, but if it blesses someone and leads to their deliverance, then it’s worth it.

I am glad to report that God is at work in me, and I am grateful for His patience with me!  I pray that it will help you face and OVERCOME whatever fear stands in the way of your victory.  Go forth boldly!

A Prayer to Build Your Faith in God

Lord God, Great and Sovereign Holy One,

Cleanse me of all unrighteousness, I pray.  I choose to forgive those who’ve offended me, and I ask you to forgive me.  I need Your help to create and sustain a new mindset and a consistently healthy lifestyle full of the true, pure, uncontaminated love of God.  I cannot do this by myself. 

I need You to create in me a clean heart and renew within me a right and steadfast spirit.  Cleanse, purge, purify, and perfect me into the image of Your dear Son, Lord God.  Let there be no hidden corner of iniquity, sin, or unrighteousness that I try to deny, cover up, or ignore.  Change me for Your glory – I’ve been this way for much too long.  Make me what and who You need me to be.  I want Your results, which means I must yield to Your process.  I trust that what You choose for me is right, fitting, appropriate, and just.

Help me to release to You and overcome every:

  1. Food addiction
  2. Destructive habit
  3. Hidden lust and craving
  4. Nasty, ungodly attitude
  5. Stubbornness, rebellion, and pride
  6. Indecision and anxiety
  7. Unbelief, doubt, and fear
  8. Self-sabotage
  9. Stinkin’ thinkin’ and negativity
  10. ANYTHING that blocks, hinders, and impedes the flow of the Holy Spirit
  11. Laziness and undisciplined behavior and thoughts
  12. Complacency

Fill me with the fruit of the Holy Spirit in abundance that I may be a vessel pleasing in Your sight that manifests Your splendor and glory.  I know You are faithful to meet me as I press toward the mark of Your high call that’s on my life.

In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

© 2008 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Don’t EVEN Go There!

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“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

(II Corinthians 10:5-6)

Why do we do things we have no business doing and say things we have no business saying?  Because we allow ourselves to think things we have no business thinking!  How do I know?  Because I’m Culprit #1!   I’m sitting here at my desk munching on a rice cake, and I recall the instruction on the package “Do not microwave.”  So I start pondering and wondering, “What’s the worst that could happen if I put it in the microwave?”  Then I looked around stealthily (as if someone were actually watching me in my cube) and said to myself, “Surely nothing bad could happen in 5 seconds if I tested this out…”

This is a lighthearted (but true) example of how quickly things can get out of proportion and out of hand.

Guard the seeds that are planted in your mind and what you allow to grow there.  If a wayward thought takes root, it’s gonna be harder to get rid of it once it’s growing.  Take preventive action – don’t let it settle in!

 © Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Fill ‘Er Up! Lessons From the Gas Station of Life

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“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,

be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

(Ephesians 4:31-32)

Background From Last Night

So I was aggravated with someone yesterday.  (Yes, with all of my own idiosyncrasies and quirks, I had the nerve and unmitigated gall to be irritated by one of God’s children – audacious, I know).  My annoyance over a very minor thing with them probably didn’t start yesterday, but it had accumulated when I didn’t deal with the tiny seed of irritation when it first appeared.  Last night, I tried to shake it off, but the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.  As my hubby reminded me, this person had probably moved on and was sleeping very well.  So I tried to pray before going to bed (realizing I was blocking my own blessings if I didn’t forgive and release this person), I tried to “calm myself down,” I even tried to think about something else and take my mind off the situation by doing a puzzle.  This morning, I’m not sure if any of this really worked that well, but I did finally go to sleep around 2 a.m.  And it’s not that I wasn’t tired (because I LOVE sleep – it’s a hobby); I was just agitated in my spirit and in my flesh. 

Snapshot From This Morning

During this morning’s commute, I stopped to attend to the gas needle looming ominously near “E.”  The first indicator that I’d happened upon a gas pump with an attitude was when I set it to auto pump, got back in the car with the kids, then noticed (30 seconds later) that the numbers weren’t moving.  It was going NOWHERE – fast.  So I got out again, reset the pump, and got back in the car as the gas (finally) pumped.  Up I watched the numbers climb – whew, what it takes to fill a tank these days!  After a few moments of bantering with my kids and singing along with the radio, I heard the man at the pump next to me banging on my gas tank. (I admit that my first fleeting thought was, “Oh Lord, is he trying to do something to my kids in the backseat?!”).  Then he quickly stopped the gas pump and told me, “Ma’am, your tank was overflowing and your gas was spilling out.”  I sheepishly thanked him for his act of kindness, then pulled off fuming as I wondered how many extra pennies from my budget had run out onto the pavement.  Yet, I tried to shake that off and let it go, too.  I know God is my Provider, and He hasn’t stopped doing His job.  Are you starting to see how vexed I was?  Can you relate?

The Point

As I pulled off from the gas station, indignant with the faulty pump (how ridiculous, I know!), I realized that last night’s episode was a precursor and foreshadowing to this morning’s gas incident.  My own tank (my heart) was so full of junk that I couldn’t even sing along with the worship music without feeling like a hypocrite.  I knew something had to give.  I had to get rid of that stuff – and FAST.  Last night I had enough sense to realize that I didn’t want to pass away with that stuff lingering in my heart.  I repented for wasting the precious time God was gracious enough to give me.

Take Action – Make a Change

So the question for all of us today:  What are you already full of?  What are you trying to pump in?  Is there room for anything else in your tank?  If so, would there be a place in your heart for the Holy Spirit to come and dwell, or would He be crowded out by bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice?

I encourage you to join me in getting rid of the junk in your tank today so you can make room for the priceless substance of the Holy Spirit’s presence.  We’ll go a lot further – and get better gas mileage!  Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I have a phone call to make.  I need to release this person and move on with my day.

p.s. If y’all have any tips for how YOU let stuff go right away instead of letting it get under your skin, please e-mail me!  God’s got my attention and (in spite of what it feels like) I am determined to allow Him to work on me for HIS glory, for there is no good thing in flesh!

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart

Controlling vs. Conquering Your Weakness – You ARE an Overcomer!

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*You must overcome your weakness – or it will overcome you!*

“To change means picking a fight with the status quo”

Taking Inventory

Let’s see – I know I still have some issues lurking, but I swept them under the rug.  I made sure nobody could see them, but I think a few folks with discernment are starting to suspect this growing mound under my rug – oh man, it’s getting lumpier – and taller.  Well, if I do all the “right” things and keep trying to look spiritual and “hold it all together,” maybe I can just blend in.  I think we were told from Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful, multiply, replenish, and subdue…okay, let me work on that for a minute.  But if I’m still holding onto old junk, then what am I being fruitful in growing?  Junk! I am making a mess!

Why change?  destiny, purpose (whatever doesn’t change – dies)

Growth = change, but change doesn’t always equal growth

You must CHOOSE to grow!

Characteristics of Controlling Behavior

Characteristics of Conquering Behavior
  • Co-dependent; making excuses
  • Taking responsibility
  • Keep it “just in case” I need something familiar/comfortable to fall back on
  • Kick the crutches away; Get rid of it because it’s holding me back/weighing me down
  • Hiding/pretending/projecting a false image (“frontin’”)
  • Exposure:

             light + sound = no secrecy
  • Pride makes me think I can handle it by myself
  • Victory = able to stand AND able to help someone else be delivered (Who really “has it all together” anyway??? Accountability matters)

Dieting

Lifestyle Change

Addiction/Lust/Destructive Habits

Deliverance!

Anger Management

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”(Psalm 51:10)

Holding a grudge

Forgiveness

Criticizing others (fault-finding)

Committing to be the change I want to see

Overspending

Discipline!

Action Steps for Change and Growth

(Moving beyond my present situation/set of circumstances)

Accountability

  • Tell on yourself!
  • Surround yourself people who are strong in your area of weakness
  • Remain humble

Responsibility

  • Be honest with yourself
  • Be truthful with others
  • Admit mistakes and reward progress
  • Discipline your mind and body – you must feed your spirit with the WORD of God!

Maturity

  • Keep moving forward (one step at a time = progress)
  • Know when to ask for help (assistance = a hand up, not a handout)
  • Don’t expect someone else to rescue you or solve your problem – stand on your feet
  • Commit to move from milk to meat – time out for spoon-feeding!

The Process of Overcoming entails walking in the Big IDEA – O!

Integrity – according to the WORD, not yourself!

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” (Proverbs 16:2)

Discipline – brings you to the results you need “..run in such a way to get the prize.” (I Corinthians 9:24b NIV)

Endurance – breeds consistency

“…be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  (Hebrews 6:12)

Action (be active, not passive – expecting it to “just happen” or come to you)

“…now therefore arise, go over…” (Joshua 1:2)

Obedience – (no loopholes, shortcuts, or hypocrisy) “…to obey is better than sacrifice…” (I Samuel 15:22)

© Copyright 2007 by Kayren J. Cathcart