Around New Years many bloggers were choosing one word that would capture their year. After much prayer I chose fearless as my word. Now I look back and laugh. Embracing this concept I ordered the one word necklace by the amazing Lisa Leonard. It got lost in the mail…that might have been the first sign. Awesome customer service from Lisa’s team brought me a new one. I have worn it around my neck several times a week as a reminder to not be afraid.
Even as I wrote this I knew that I would be called to scary things this year. But I want to live a bigger story, a more abundant life. I am revisiting Donald Miller’s book A Million Miles In A Thousand Years. It is all about creating a better story for your life, taking risks and pursuing the life you feel God has called you to. If I weren’t currently unemployed I’d be going to this in June.
I’ve been studying the Israelites and their wilderness journey. Fear kept many of them from entering the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb were able to experience God fulfilling his promise. When they came back after Moses sent them to spy on the land they were ready to boldly follow God, to take the land that God had promised. In Numbers 13:23 it say a single cluster of grapes was so big it had to be carried on a pole between two people. It was a single cluster of grapes, along with some pomegranates and figs. The land produced lush, delicious fruit. Talk about abundance.
This last year I visited Napa a few times and had the privilege of staying at a vineyard. While just before harvest they clusters are full and bulging off the vine I did not see a single cluster so big it had to be carried. Canaan really was the land of milk and honey. Yet the other spies saw power, a fortified city and a few giants. Though I laugh at how it got translated to “they were all giants.” How often do we make our obstacles bigger than they really are?
Joshua and Caleb, they were the glass is half full type of guys and chose to focus on the good. They believed God would go before them. I wish that was always my first response, believing without wavering that this was God’s plan and to keep moving forward.
I am learning to be fearless by committing each day to seeing where God is and trying to follow where he is leading. I am putting myself out there when it feels awkward and uncomfortable. I am risking more as I cling to the Lord, choosing to trust so I can experience the abundant life.
