Undaunted.

Dear Lord, I’M FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!! Like, there is so much uncertainty. All the possibilities of what I could do, all the things that could go wrong. It is scary to hope sometimes! It is scary to step out. I need You Lord. Please write on my heart what needs to be there. I need to trust You. I want to trust You, so that I can step forward…

-          Say the hard thing

-          Share my story

-          Do this blog

-          Rejoice that You have GOOD plans for me (even if I don’t see the details)

-          Risk rejection

-          Risk Failure

-          Dance in the middle of the store unashamedly (true story)

I want to be so in tune with you that fear passes away Oh Lord.

In Jesus’ name amen.

Confession. It took a lot to not edit that prayer before posting it.

It is way raw and real to let people see the wrestle of fear on the other side of things. I read about Corrie Ten Boom and Christine Caine and I KNOW that God has more for me.

I love 2 Timothy 1:5-7 said in the Message version:

[...]And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with His gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. 2 Timothy 1:5-7, MSG

I may write about this more than once. And I might have already in a post about Fishes and Loaves. So, fear is probably one of the top blogged-about topics in the Christian blogosphere (did I invent that word?). Or maybe I just happen to keep running into these articles because I needed them. But fear is a real hindrance to living life abundantly in Christ and needs to be talked about!

I pulled out a book this morning: Undaunted by Christine Caine. First off. It is powerful. Secondly, I haven't finished it yet. Ok, yes, I admit I jump around and glean bits and pieces of books all the time leaving them unfinished. But it isn’t illegal last I checked! (Let me know if ever does become one of those weird state laws-thanks!)

Anyways. Back to the book Undaunted by Christine Cain. It helps a LOT if you know Christine Caine's story. I am only just now finding all that she is doing for Christ's kingdom, BUT my favorite so far is that she founded A21. What's A21 you ask?!

A21 is a non-profit that is helping those who have been trafficked and whose bold mission is to end modern-day slavery.

God called Christine Cain to live a life of obedience long before this daring organization. And she has been listening. She is calling other women to live a life empowered to live and share the gospel of Christ through her other ministry Propel Women.

I know God wants me to do more than buckle down in fear in the life He has given me. It just made sense to learn more from someone who is currently living life truly undaunted for Christ. So, I jumped to page 146 in her book. She reveals how God is inviting us to run towards Him so that we can live the life He has called us to. Christine shared a part of her story:

“I was afraid, so I ran away from God, not knowing he was: The one wanting to heal me and make me whole. The one wanting to free me to be who he created me to be, and empower me to do what he created me to do. The one wanting to reveal to me a calling for me to pursue— for my good, and for other’s good, and for his glory. The one wanting me to learn how to live with wild faith, undaunted” Christine Caine, Undaunted p.146

There. That sums it up. So, that is going to be a prayer for me.

Lord? I do not want to run from You, my source of courage and hope. May I lean so much in You that my fears are displaced by Your perfect love. Help me to walk in Your calling UNDAUNTED. May I have courage like Corrie Ten Boom and Christine Caine. Empower me to live fully in Your spirit of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND. In Jesus name Amen.

With joy,

MJ.

P.S. It takes courage to invite God in to heal you too.

If that is you, please know that it is beautifully worth it. A year later of inviting God into my healing-- I feel like a new person in Christ. It is worth taking the risk of allowing God to tend to our innermost areas.

May you invite God in. UNDAUNTED, knowing He loves you. And will complete the good work He has started.