But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” ³¹ Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we.” ³² So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying,

-Numbers 13:30-32

Everyone is afraid of something.  With good reason, fear can protect us from danger and helps us learn our limits as children.  But we get into trouble when fear rules our lives.  God will call us to do scary things, so we must learn to evaluate our fears, take the wisdom that is there and then move beyond into greater life.     [hear sermon audio]

This week, take some time to dive into these scriptures and questions during your devotion time.

Read:

• Numbers 14:7-9
• Philippians 4:5-7
• Psalm 56
• Psalm 90

Reflect:

• Recall a time from your childhood that you were afraid.  As you tell that story to yourself or someone else, take note of:
  • What your fear felt like
  • What was the threat you were responding to
  • How the threat was resolved
  • Where might God have been at work
• Name something you fear now.  Describe it to yourself or someone else and especially note:
  • What you fear feels like
  • What is the threat your responding to and how realistic is it?
  • What resolution do you hope for
  • How might God be at work in this

Do:

• Praying the Scriptures: Take one of the scriptures above and read it through.  Identify the promises offered and list them using the words of the verses.  Pray to God by first reading a promise from the text and then offering your own experience of that promise fulfilled or naming your need for that promise in your life now.

Share:

• Be a part of our Brave Challenge.  This week take a picture of something you fear and share it in our Facebook group or on Twitter and Instagram (tag us @dpumc) with a caption about why you’d like to overcome that fear.