Above the Fear

A few years ago I made one of the hardest decision of my entire life. That decision was led after years of letting fear remain above me and the purpose God had called me to.

The decision was me finally rejecting fear and obeying the voice of the Lord concerning my purpose. I had let fear control me instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead me. Don’t get me wrong? I loved the Lord. And my greatest desire was and is to obey Him. But for some reason, I could not get myself to defeat the enemy I knew was responsible for the delay in fulfilling my God-given purpose.

Now, you might be wondering what was I really fearful about? Well, let me start by telling you what I wasn’t afraid of. I wasn’t afraid of saying yes to Jesus. Yes to God’s purpose for my life. What I was afraid of was disappointing some people that I cared about along the way. If I pursued purpose, I knew that meant I had to endure much pain. The pain of being rejected. The pain of not being taken seriously when sharing what I believed God was wanting me to do for the rest of my life. The Lord knew I was having a hard time with this. So, Him being the loving Father that He is orchestrated some things that would enable me to step into what He had predestined to be my portion.

During that time things drastically begin to change from bad to worst. Yes, you heard correctly! But I knew in my heart He didn’t allow them without a purpose. He didn’t allow the devil to miss with me without His permission. I don’t know about you? But we can be quick to label every bad experience or season to have been from the devil. However, from experience, I can tell you sometimes it’s really not the devil. Sometimes it’s the Lord trying to get you above the fear, so you can access all He’s spoken over your life to have and do. I remember one night I was sweating heavily about making the decision—rejecting fear.

I almost failed to acknowledge that God is greater than fear and people’s opinion. That night I did and it gave me the freedom to reject fear and refuse to let it dictate my choices and decisions. Why did it take me so long? I knew God. I knew He was and is the God of His Word. He is beyond faithful and whatever He declared will come to pass! Although I knew this it wasn’t until many challenges came my way I realized I didn’t believe it one-hundred present. Maybe I did 50-75%, but not completely. I believed God but I didn’t believe I was hearing right his purpose for my life. If I did believe why was I letting fear dictate my life? Why was I letting people’s judgement or plan for my life overrule God’s will for my life? And so… that night I realized the whole time I wasn’t doing what I desired to do the most —obeying Him. The more I placed myself BELOW fear also meant I was placing myself ABOVE God’s will. When we place ourselves above God’s will we aren’t surrendered to Him. Surrendering is an act of showing the Lord we BELONG to Him and value His Will above our own.

When our life is not surrendered to God we cause ourselves to delay His purpose for our lives. A delay is not a denial but a delay is not something for any of us to brag about. Do you know the saying, Delayed obedience is disobedience? Well, that’s exactly what I was doing. And the more I did the more everything around me continued to fall apart. Then, I finally reached my breaking point. I had to check myself. “JLP, you are ABOVE FEAR! The same God who brought you this far is the same God who will bring you to your destiny. You don’t need to know how or when, you only need to say, Yes, Lord, I surrender, I will do whatever you say and go where you want me to.” Friend, when I made that decision I experienced “The peace that surpasses all understanding” like the Bible talks about in Philippians 4:7. I’m not saying everything went from bad to good, overnight. However, that’s what happened from within! My mindset shift and fear was no longer above me. So, I knew it was just a matter of time for this freedom to manifest from the ( in my circumstances) outside.

Today, I continue to reject fear. It’s not above me I’m above it! Knowing my God is greater gives me this boldness and confidence to know that I can take on anything. It doesn’t matter how big or small a thing might be; it’s no match for me because God is greater! And He lives in me. He gives me the ability to do whatever that’s hard for me to do on my own. Purpose, the dreams I have, I can’t fulfill with my own strength. But ” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” As were getting ready to enter the month of October, I want to encourage you to REJECT FEAR once and for all. You are above fear! Whatever dream or thing you’ve been praying for that has not yet come to pass is on the other side of it. The sooner you reject it the more freeing and easier it will be to access your blessings.

I believe God is saying to many of us He is not the one withholding them from manifesting in our lives. In fact, He’s released, anointed, and equipped us to receive all He’s predestined for us in Christ Jesus to grab hold of now. This whole time we’re the ones who’ve been reluctant to grab hold of them. Many of us became immune to fear for so long we missed what God was doing in our midst. Speaking for myself, I can say with confidence that’s know longer me! If you are still struggling to make the transition from a life of fear to a life of faith know I’m praying for you! That you would cross over with great faith to the month of October. This month you will have unstoppable faith to do things you never imagined you’d ever do outside of your mind. This is your time to step out and reach the hand of Jesus to walk on the waters. The waters symbolizing any fear, doubt, or limitations that have been holding you back far too long from walking in the fullness of God’s plan for your life!

I strongly believe you deciding to reject fear today will open the door to enter your next. Everything good that has been held up will be released in Jesus’ Name into your life. Know that your next is beyond your current situation! It’s the level that God is wanting you to experience. It’s what He has for you! And what God has for all of us is beyond our imagination. Before you see friend receive, and believe it! Again, it’s not a matter of how or when, but saying, YES! If God said it, I’ll have it! If He calls me blessed, I am blessed! Congratulations on your next! Whatever it is? I know it’s going to be out of this world.

May His blessings overwhelm you in this season.

-JLP