Guided Meditation

You have so many thoughts and feelings rushing through your mind all at once. On one hand, you can't wait to experience what's ahead of you today. What are you about to do? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, isn't it? You've been looking forward to this your entire life, and you can't believe you've been given this opportunity--it's almost surreal. On the other hand, you're scared to death because you've never attempted anything like this before.

The minutes click by and you're closer and closer to actually going through with it. You sense a huge knot growing in your stomach. The fear is beginning to overwhelm you. Maybe you should back out. There's sure to be another opportunity somewhere down the road, right?

But then you consider what all of your friends will think if you back out. Many of them have encouraged you to give this a shot, and you know you'll be disappointed if you choose not to go through with it. But who's making this decision, anyway? You are so conflicted you begin to feel sick. What decision are you going to make?

Finally the moment of truth arrives. Your heart is racing. Your hands are shaking. It feels like everyone is looking at you, waiting to see what you're going to do. So what will it be? Are you going to step up and do it? Or are you going to back away and wait for another opportunity?

Scripture Guides Us
It seems as though fear keeps a lot of people from doing the things they genuinely want to do. What role does fear play in your life? Has there ever been a time when you backed out of something that you wanted to do and then you haven't yet received another chance to do it? What does the Bible say about fear and how it should affect our lives?

Take a few minutes to "chew on" the following Scripture verses, allowing God's Spirit to speak to you.

1 JOHN 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

LUKE 12:4-5
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

PSALM 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Questions for Reflection
1. Think of a time in your life when you were afraid to do something, but you went ahead and did it anyway. What happened? How did you feel afterward?

2. Think of a time in your life when fear kept you from doing something. What happened? How did you feel afterward?

3. Have you ever had to live with the regret of not doing something you wished you had done? How did that make you feel? What would you do differently if you had it to do all over again?

4. Name the things you're most afraid of. Why do you think you're so afraid of these things? What may help you work through your fears?

5. What do you think the Bible means when it says, "Perfect love drives out fear"? What is perfect love? Why do you think it has this effect on fear?

6. What did Jesus have to say about fear in Luke 12:4-5? How do these verses make you feel?

7. David seems to be walking through some incredibly fear-filled times in Psalm 23. What does he do to help manage his fear? How could this same technique help you?

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Taken from "Chew on This!" by Dave Ambrose