The Average Jane Journal #63 - Greatest Fear

What is your greatest fear?

I can admit that my fear is failure.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

What hard thing does God want you to do to complete His assignment or to get you in the place you need to be to start His assignment?

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 NIV

What can you do today to enable you to do tomorrow what you can't do today?

So again, what is your greatest fear? I like this quote from the movie "Coach Carter".

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others"

Now of course this quote is from a basketball movie, but we are "powerful beyond measure". We have the same power living in us that raised Christ from the grave. So, I ask you, are you "playing small"? Don't let the fear of failure hold you back. I love how the quote says our being liberated from our own fears will help others with their fear. It could be a chain reaction, touching your circle and their circle, etc.

The Average Jane Journal #62 - Picking Your Brain #2

Do you struggle with pride? I have often said that pride is my "thorn in the flesh". I fear pride so much that sometimes I wonder if it's for a reason. Maybe God knows that I could easily fall to pride. Or it's just something that the enemy can easily use. Either way, I worry about it a lot.

So I was wondering what you think. Sometimes when I feel like I'm relying on God, in His will, trying really hard to live for Him-then I feel proud of my accomplishment. It makes me happy that even for a short time I am on the right track. But then the "fear of pride" comes running at me. So in your opinion, where is the line that divides pride and being proud of your accomplishments? Is feeling proud of yourself a sin? Is it just something the enemy likes to confuse us on? Maybe the fact that we can't do anything without Christ is the answer. Our proud accomplishments wasn't really something we did(on our own) anyway.