TAKE THE INITIATIVE
For God has not given us a spirit of
fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Another
principle for connecting with people is this: Be courageous and
take the initiative! Don't wait on somebody else to connect with you. You must
take the initiative to connect with them. This often takes courage. Why?
Because when we're full of fear and anxiety, we don't get close to each other.
In fact, we back off from each other. We're afraid of being rejected,
manipulated, hurt, or used. Fear does three terrible things to relationships:
Our fears make us defensive. We're
afraid to reveal ourselves.
When
people point out weaknesses, we retaliate and defend ourselves. Our fears keep
us distant. We don't let people get close to us. We want to withdraw and hide
our emotions. We don't want to be open and honest. Our fears make us demanding.
The more insecure we are the more we try to control or dominate things. We try
to have the last word in a relationship. It's always a symptom of fear and
insecurity. Where do you get the courage for taking the first step in
connecting with someone? You get it from God's Spirit in your life. The Holy
Spirit makes you courageous in your relationships. When you are filled with the
Holy Spirit you love people. You enjoy being with them. You're not afraid of
them because God's Spirit is in your life. The Bible says "God is love” (1
John 4:16) and “Love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18). The more of God you
have in your life the less fear you'll have in your life.
Prayer: Bind and cast out the spirit of fear
and timidity from your heart; ask the Lord to connect you with the people who
will help you move to your next level.
Scriptural Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-12
