Freedom lies in being bold. — Robert Frost

For years I played the what-if game. Maybe you're acquainted with this pastime. The rules are simple: Rule #1: You're only allowed to think of worst-case scenarios. Rule #2: You're never allowed to win this game. You can only lose. Rule #3: The more you play, the greater your losses.

Lord, reveal what holds my mind hostage. Show me what I fear the most. Go ahead, help me face what terrifies me.

Let your fears drive you to God. The fear of God is the only cure for the fear of people.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. —2 TIMOTHY 1:7 NKJV

Face your fears by remembering the power of God's cleaning truth. To change the way you are, change the way you think.

Good habits are difficult to start because the pain comes now and the payoff is in the future. Bad habits are difficult to stop because the payoff comes now and the pain is in the future.

You can make excuses or you can make progress. But you can't make both.

The question is: Will you choose the pain of discipline or the pain of regret?

You have the same power, faith, and courage available to you through Christ. Don't forget, just like David, you are a giant-slayer.

Fear actually relies on faith...it's simply faith in the wrong things. Fear is placing you faith in "what ifs" rather in than in "God is

As Elijah's mantle fell on Elisha and as other prophetic disciples sought to emulate their mentors, so the ascending Jesus empowered his church with the Spirit to carry on his mission to the ends of the earth (1:9—11).