JESUS OUR RESCUER FROM OUR FEARS

 

Over 30 years I ran and hid from lizards, snakes most of my life. Today, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt I am not afraid of lizards (my test has not come for the snakes, smile). I know you have something or someone that make you afraid. My fear of lizards began in 1985 when we lived in Pensacola, Florida. One day while visiting my husband, I was finishing up my tour of duty in the Air Force stationed in Texas and Tony had moved into a quaint little apartment in Pensacola. I remember my first encounter with those critters. Tony’s apartment was over the garage of his friend’s house. Tony carried my luggage upstairs to his apartment as I followed him. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, a brown beady-eyed lizard looked at me and asked, “Where do you think you are going, missy?” He continued, “I know him but who are you?” I stood there startled as I watched this little critter look at me not batting an eye; he looked like an alligator. I thought to dismiss him and cast him to the side until three or four of his friends came to his aid and guarded the stairs so I couldn’t climb them. That’s when those little critters became giants in my mind and I screamed to Tony for help. Tony heard my cry and came to my rescue, but I dared to move or think of going up those stairs with him. Tony being my hero, said one word, “Move!” and the four or five of them ran for cover. Lizards and I have had several mishaps over the years and they always won. I remember, in Arizona, which had hundreds of geckoes running around the outside of the house. I saw one on the fence one day and was screaming to the Lord, “Jesus, Jesus, save me!” Jesus replied, “He is outside on the fence, close the blinds.” “Oh, okay, good idea,” I said to the Lord. I have to tell you, those little critters have haunted me throughout my life. In our counseling office in Texas, one stood knocking his head against the glass, taunting me to get my attention. I said to Sheila, “Help! Get the broom, go get him, Sheila!” He was outside waiting for me to get into the car. I have told Jesus my fear of them, prayed to Him, but never from my heart only out of ‘fear’ did I give them to Him, until March 17, 2017. In my Dell Webb community in Ponte Vedra, Florida, lizards are everywhere. My house backs up to an amazing serene waterway and the back and front yards are covered with lizards of various colors and sizes. What brought my fears to their climax was a black snake got into my garage. I ran to my neighbors next door to help me. My neighbor and his wife came over with the broom to rescue me but the snake remained hidden behind my boxes. After around 20 minutes, the snake was tired of playing tag and went into the bushes by my front door, then a lizard jumped out on the sidewalk. Do you see the dilemma? I can’t go out the front door without fearing I will meet either the snake or the lizard. What do I do? I was thinking, “I can go through the garage every day”? Man, I had a problem or did I? That night, I dreamed that someone was trying to break into the house and they were peeking at me through the window. When I woke up, I talked to the Lord concerning my dream and He said to me, “My love, it is fear, give your fears to me; let me handle them for you.”  And, I did; I journaled these words at 1:30 am that morning. Jesus, my fear of lizards and snakes, I surrender again to you. My heart is your home and MAY YOUR LOVE FILL EVERY ROOM OF MY HEART. THERE IS NO FEAR INSIDE OF ME KNOWING YOU LOVE ME AND WILL PROTECT ME. AMEN.

 

The Test

 

We can quote scriptures, speak boldly when there’s no opposition, but the truth of the matter is, opposition is the test that determines whether something is genuine or phony. Did I really give my fears to my Lord? One day, I was opening the blinds in my office when I saw a lizard inside the window, stuck on the screen. I stood there and watched, “It looks stuck,” I thought to myself as I carefully gazed at it; it did not move. Now, here is the moment when I realized I was FREE because I had a deep concern for the lizard. I wondered how he was going to get out. The next day I opened the curtains to the window, he was still there. I heard this sweet little voice say, “He needs your help, YOU will have to help him.” I said, “Okay, let me go get a paper towel and get him out.” Did you hear who said OKAY? I DID. Jesus and I together rescued the lizard from the window. I did not know when we rescued him he was dead, glued, and fossilized to the screen. My Jesus knew it and wanted me to know I was FREE!

 

I have a black lizard I say Hi to every day. He lives on my lanai (screened porch). I go out on the lanai looking for him, but he hides from me. My sister doesn’t like them and she is not ready to give her fears to the Lord yet, so I have to buy lizard repellant for her and the others who visit, who are afraid of lizards.

 

Today’s blog about my experiences with my fear is written to help us to understand we all have fears. When our fears become overwhelming or distressing to us, affect our day-to-day lives, and keep us from doing the things we enjoy, they become phobias. Fear and phobias are very similar except a phobia is fear with avoidance. We avoid certain situations or people so we will not have to deal with our fear. My fear of lizards and snakes was becoming a phobia unless I brought it to the Lord. As you recall, I was not going to go out the front door anymore. I was choosing to live in bondage rather than face my fears. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS CONQUERED ALL OF OUR FEARS; WE CAN GIVE ALL OF THEM TO HIM WITH ASSURANCE, HE BECOMES OUR COURAGE AND STRENGTH TO MEET EACH FEAR!

 

 

I Peter 5:7 Cast (means to throw them upon him like a fisherman throws his net out to gather fish) your fears, worries, anxieties upon Him, (why you may ask) because He cares so much for you!

 

Prayer: Papa, I have many fears I hide, but not one of them is hidden from you. Fear is your enemy so why do I run to Fear’s arms more than yours. Lord Jesus, you are here living inside me, never to take away my fears but to free me only as I give them to you; today I give you ___________________.

It is yours forever, do with it as it pleases you. AMEN.