February 15 – What do you avoid?

Boy, all the days are running together! I just looked and 4 days passed by without adding thoughts here. I hope you can keep up with me, it’s just that life is running faster than my fingers can type, I guess.

Okay on with today’s topic, which I call “What do you avoid?” Well, I can tell you what I avoid, the dentist! I have faced so many fears in my life thus far, driving across bridges, getting into an elevator, doing an MRI, climbing a ladder, crowds, etc., all the phobias that the Lord had me face when the “spirit of fear” no longer played havoc in my life. Because before I knew that I had a “spirit of fear” I was in torment. Interesting that the Bible says, “Perfect love casts out all fear AND TORMENT!” Because fear brings torment. So when I say, “What do you avoid?” I’m really asking, “what gives you torment?”

I think Dentists are barbaic. Why haven’t they come up with some laser thing or something like on Star Trek to take care of dental work without all those contraptions, and needles, and numbing and, and, and…

Well, as I was thinking today that I needed to make an appointment soon as I have some work that needs to be done, I asked the Lord, “Why am I so fearful of the dentist?” Then I rephrased it and asked, “Why am I so fearful of the dental procedure?” See, I’m not afraid of the dentist, but the procedure. So I had to see it that way. Then I dug deeper. And I heard myself say, “I am afraid of not having control.” Then I said, “control of what?” (Yes, I’m having a conversation with myself, but really it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to me.) The fact was, I feared not having control of my senses! Feelings of being trapped in the chair once they have all their gizmos in my mouth.

So now that I know the root of the fear, I took them to the Lord just now. I said, “Father, forgive me for having fear of not being in control of all my senses. I have to take care of this body you gave me and cannot let the enemy talk me out of it. Forgive me for not trusting you in this. And if something were to happen that needed emergency care, I would be well taken care of. I will not fear.”

Stay tuned…   I am making that dentist appointment today!

So whatever it is you are “tormented by” do what I did and identify the real root of that fear, confess it to God, then go do it, trusting God’s power, love, and sound mind to be with you.