There is no doubt in my mind that God is doing a “new thing”.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Is. 43:19
God’s new thing began in me long ago. I was a nobody, a nothing, a no good waste of a life. I would have told you that. I would have said, “Don’t waste your time on me. I won’t follow through. I won’t be of help. I’ll let you down. You’ll want to write me off. My thoughts aren’t worth anything.”
I was the wilderness. Or, better said, lost in it. Yet, little did I know, God was about to make “a way in the wilderness…and (literally) streams in the wasteland…”
Day after day, thin as a rail, as breakable as twig, I ran, starving, through dense trees, desperately wanting a big, fat, jelly donut. Although, I wouldn’t have admitted that – I forbid myself from eating…
Anyway, this run, the seventh one in a week was a beast. I drove myself to the limit and sweated profusely. Famished and forlorn, everything was the same – same time, same place, same feelings.
My body always said, “Stop treating me so badly”, still, as usual, my feet over-ruled, saying, “Run, Kelly, run. Go, Kelly, go. You’ve got to prove to everyone you’re not worthless.”
So, I did. I kept running – one foot in front of the other. I pushed myself…
See me. Step.
Love me. Step.
Want me. Step.
Save me. Step.
Every footstep had a rhythm.
Until the moment I stopped and the streams arrived. They poured down my face.
Not sure what to do or how I had been broken, I looked to sky, and said, “God, I can’t do this anymore. I need you to rescue me from the fear I will never be good enough for anyone.”
And, there it was…THE WAY in the wilderness – appeared.
[Tweet “Where do you need God to make a way? To do a new thing? #FearFightingBook @kellybalarie”]I think life is a compilation of new things. You add them all up and then you see progress. God did it; you’re sure of it.
This is my point. Today, God is doing a new thing. He’s doing a new thing for you, for me.
Don’t doubt it. Believe it.
Don’t excuse it away. Receive it.
Don’t act like it’s an ordinary day. It’s not.
A lot of us Christians are living in a wasteland of normalcy. It bothers me.
Because, God is doing a new thing. All the time. He’s ready. Waiting. Eager, even.
Are we even looking?
Today is our wake-up call. A war against fear is brewing. I believe women will step out of their shell of discouragement and rise up in new courage, with new vision and new purpose to drive into God’s brilliance.
I long for that. I dream for that. Imagine, joining hands with sisters on-fire for Jesus and walking out, holding hands and changing lives by the power of Jesus Christ. Bring it, God!
Oh, I don’t doubt for a second that God wants to do a new thing – in you and me. He is ready.
Will we let it in? Let’s fight! Not as women with weapons, but like women laying down our weapons of rationalization and denial. We don’t need those things anymore. For the good things God has prepared for us in advance, those amazing places, don’t require self-protection.
Are you willing to fight? I am. I want to do it together. I want to hold your hand through it. Just because I have the dream, doesn’t mean that sometimes I don’t get afraid. I do, but I also know that God will be faithful. He will be faithful to you too.
So, let’s go.
Join me in the movement of Fear Fighting. God’s new thing is just over the horizon of belief.
About the book, Fear Fighting, Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears:
Author and Speaker, Kelly Balarie, didn’t always fight fear – for a large part of her life, she was controlled by it. Yet, in her book, Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears, with God, Kelly charts a new course. Join Kelly on the journey to go and grow with Christ’s bravery, the Spirit’s counsel and God’s unending love that squelches fear. This book reads like a love letter from God, while offering practical heart-calming prayers, anxiety-reducing tips, and courage-building decrees that will transform your day. www.fearfightingbook.com
About Kelly Balarie:
Kelly is both a Cheerleader of Faith and a Fighter of Fear. She leans on the power of God, rests on the shoulder of Christ, and discovers how to glow in the dark places of life. Get all Kelly’s blog posts by email or visit her on her blog, Purposeful Faith. You can also find a variety of resources for your fight against fear here.
Thank you for sharing your post at Literacy Musing Mondays!
Thank you for sharing your fight against the war or thoughts – – – with us here at Tell me a Story.
Learning to know WHO you ARE in Christ will bring you freedom. Thank you for sharing your successful line party.
*forward* 🙂
Ah, what an encouraging call for us all! I can’t wait to read this book- I’ve seen it everywhere and know it will be an incredible source of nourishment and inspiration for me and countless other women who battle through fear. Thank you for this charge- may we all take those bold faithful steps foward.
Fear Fighting is such a great book!
Thank you for stopping by Woman to Woman Ministries and linking up!
I’m your neighbor at Holley Gerth’s blog this week. Great post! I relate to so much of it. I need to get that book!
I love how God never lets us go, but continues to pursue us. Thank you for linking up over at the Grace & Truth Link up party.
This book is on my list. Thank you for sharing!
Susan- Kelly’s book is so good! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Here’s to fighting fear this new year!
This looks to be a great book!
Bless you both, my friends in the race to be God’s women for Him, for others and for the joy of being His beloved.
Beautiful words. Thank you! I pray many blessings for you both in 2017!
I have heard a lot of good things about this good and this makes me want to read it all the more! Thanks for sharing it today.
Such an uplifting testimony, Kelly. Being a runner, I have heard those words myself…the talk we give ourselves when the world is quiet and all we hear are the steps of our feet hitting the pavement. Running has always been my safe place to get away from the world, to get with God… but sometimes it can be a hard place where fear and doubt creep in and we need to run with Jesus always so that He squashes the doubt and reroutes the enemies tactics.
Thanks for sharing Kelly’s story, Susan! It is one we all need to read and build our our ammunition of courage.
Blessings,
Dawn
I loved reading your story. I felt like I was right there with you. Except the running part. Running and I have never been friends. 😉
I hope your new year has already gotten off to a fabulous start!
You too! Happy New Year.
You too! Happy New Year.
This one is already on my “to read” list. I have so enjoyed reading the excerpts which have been shared and the reviews. I loved the above excerpt. May we not live any day as if it were ordinary but as the precious gift of life we have been given. Looking forward to reading this book!
Indeed Joanne. You will enjoy the read. Actually, you may be changed by this one. Isn’t that great?!
So glad Joanna. It would be a joy to know you are reading it. Be blessed.
Such sweet words and raw emotions. Thank you for sharing your pain here today. I applaud you for standing up to fight by standing down and letting God do His new thing in you! Go, sister, go and don’t look back! Happy Friday! Megs
Susan,
Sorry to comment about Kelly’s book, but I did that above 🙂
I just added my “I’m becoming a Nerd” post about becoming a Contributor to #WordNerdWednesday because of you. I think you might like the read. Might make you chuckle. Thanks for the connection my CWIMA Sista.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Please add any of your posts every week Sherry! And thank you! I love the in depth study of a hard concept and word
Susan,
Thanks for sharing about Kelly’s book. I can’t wait to read it and buy it for friends. I wasn’t able to be on the book launch team because of prior commitments with speaking. Wish I could have been. It looked like so much fun! Praying many girls read this book and are set free to BE BRAVE! Kelly if you’re reading this. SO proud of you!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Amen and amen! God has worked they Kelly in a mighty way – and what she shares is so needed.
Thank you Kelly for sharing deep TRUTH that opens cage doors and breaks chains so women (men too) can fly free.
Loved Kelly’s book! Thanks for your unique insights!
Yes ma’am. It’s excellent. Thank you Michele. I love “seeing” you here every week. Hugs. Susan