Proverbs 29:25

“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

Fear of man vs fear of God. You obey the one you fear. The person(s) whose reward of approval we desire most — whose curse of disapproval we most fear to receive — is the person(s) we will obey, our functional god.

Who are you trying to please? What voice are you heeding to? The voice(s) of the people around you or Holy Spirit? The voice of God can be heard through the Word, as an impression/intuition, as a still small voice, through anointed vessels of God, and various other ways. We know when He is speaking, don’t we? But how many times do we push that voice aside because we are afraid of what people might think or say about us? Or perhaps we know what God says about a certain sin/situation/opinion, but we don’t stand for His Word because we are scared of the backlash or criticism from this world? How many times does Holy Spirit give us a nudge to go talk to someone and give them an encouraging or comforting word, but we shrink back in fear?

I love the message that Joyce Meyer teaches on this subject. She came up with the line, “Do it afraid.” She says even when we’re afraid to do something we know God is telling us to do, do it anyway! Obedience calls for courage! Courage is not the absence of the emotion of fear, but the resolve to obey despite what we feel.

I believe God desires the Church today to function like it did in the Book of Acts. Saving, healing, setting captives free…that was His plan for His Spirit-filled Body! But in order for this to happen, we must not fear man! Let’s start obeying God quickly and completely! People’s lives are literally at stake! We are His vessels, His hands and feet on this earth!

Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men.”

Father, give me boldness and help me to lay aside this weight of people-pleasing and the fear of man. I stand in awe of You and only want to do Your will and good purpose for my life and everyone You place in my path. Help me to use the dunamis power You deposited in me long ago. Amen!