When I draw closer to the Savior, I discover more of Him . . .  and me. He literally begins to show me things about myself I never knew. According to Jeremiah 1:5, He knew us before we were formed in our mother's wombs. 

Since I began following Christ, I have learned that I am a writer, speaker, minister, total dog lover (all animals really, but especially dogs), I will fight for my family, and I won't quit five minutes before the miracle. And that if I was having the worst day of my life and noticed you sitting on a curb having the worst day of yours, I would sit next to you and talk about the unfailing love of God until we both felt better. Also, if you needed to smoke a cigarette while sitting next to me on that curb, I wouldn't mind. 

Have you discovered new things about yourself since you started following Christ? Maybe it's something exciting and fun, or maybe for the first time in your life, you are willing to face the pain and really heal. Both can make you feel as if God just dropped you into a lake to reveal that you can swim.

What are you waiting for? Ask Him who you were created to be and soon you'll smile and say, "Hey, I never knew that about myself!"

(from my archives)

This morning my dog's desire to hang with me superseded her fear of the vacuum cleaner. Where I went, she went, and patiently waited for me as I attempted to remove all evidence of boy-dirt and shedding dogs. I was touched.

Has your belief in the goodness of God superseded your fear of facing something painful? If it has, you're on the right track. Like Hannah, you will not be alone. God is touched by your willingness to remain by His side as you overcome.

Tell God how you feel each day. As you open your heart,  you'll see more and more evidence of the goodness of God. Give your belief in His goodness time to grow. And watch your fears subside.

It was important for me to let Hannah know I was pleased that she longed for my company in the midst of something scary in her world. Consider how much more God wants you to know how pleased He is with your willingness to seek freedom from what causes pain and fear in your world.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23)

(from my archives) 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear invovles torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NKJV)

I did it! I overcame my fear of elevators Friday night! Throughout the day I repeated out loud, "Perfect love casts out fear. Fear torments, and I refuse to be tormented! There's no room in my heart for fear. Christ lives inside my heart."

The fist elevator ride requiried a trip in a parking-garage elevator. In case you don't know, they're not air conditioned and very hot in the summer. No problem. We road up with a friend of ours and chatted on the way. Then came the biggie: sixty nine floors. Again, we chattted all the way up and were there in no time.

The miracle is that I didn't feel even marginally uncomfortable. And the view from the top . . . breath taking!!

Dinner was wonderful. Our friends are wonderful. The evening was wonderful! The next day I told my friend who still freaks out in small, closed in spaces, and she was amazed! We both wondered if there is a twelve-step program for people overcoming their fear of elevators. I think there is a program for everything these days.

Maybe in the fall (when it's cooler outside) I will talk her into spending a day riding elevators with me.

How about you? Got a fear you want to overcome? In Christ, you can and will overcome. Resolve in your heart to trust that He is with you and drives out fear.

Just a side-note: this is the first time I shared publically that I was about to do something that frightened me. I think my open confession coupled with the outward profession of the Word of God made the biggest difference. I encourage you to try it for yourself!

Today I will overcome my fear of elevators. I know it sounds silly, but elevators freak me out. And it has nothing to do with being a survivor of childhood victimization--that would at least make sense.

Elevators didn't bother me until four years ago when one of my darling sons thought it would be a good idea to sneak out of our house in the middle of the night. The policeman who caught him breaking the city curfew did not. His step-father and I did not.

It was winter, and his court date required a trip down town. It also required an elevator ride with too many people in coats. At one point the elevator stalled, and I got the strangest sensation in my chest. I had an overwhelming desire to take my coat off, but we were packed like sardines in a can. And that's when I felt it: fear. Fear of being stuck in that box with all those people with all those coats.

Why am I telling you this? Because tonight my husband and I are attending a wedding rehearsal-dinner that requires an elevator ride to the sixty-ninth floor of a restaurant in Dallas. Sixty-nine floors.

Today is the day I overcome my fear of elevators. There is no way I am going to miss out on something joyful just because the joy that awaits me requires an uncomfortable journey through fear.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NKJV)

Today is the day that I overcome my fear of elevators, in Christ. That doesn't mean that Monday I'll blog about my new love for elevators. It just means that I will have something joyful to tell you vs. a story of regret.

All together now . . .  breath.