called by a new name

We live in a world provoked by fear...

I have heard it said that you either operate in faith or fear, one or the other. The presence of fear is not the greatest issue. However, it is what one decides in the presence of fear that determines the future.

Faith in others leaves one striving for acceptance and craving more understanding. Faith in self leaves one devastated, lost and empty. Faith in a dream leaves one hopeless when the dream is not achieved.

An encounter with the Almighty leaves one...
Forever changed.

Abram became Abraham... Father of the Nations.
Jacob became Israel... God's Servant.
Simon became Peter, after meeting Jesus, God in the flesh.
Saul became Paul after encountering the resurrected Lord.

But it was not merely a calling of a new name.
It was a mark, a proclamation by God... a rebirth,  a restart.

What would you do with a new chance? ...one new start at the life you were sure you left in disrepair?

Faith.

That's all it takes.
One step,
A plunge with the fear at your back...
One step and the past is behind you.

You see, the fear, it was just the push to take you there... to that point of surrender and realization that you could not do it on your own.

Don't worry, you weren't the first to think that you could do it on your own. And you certainly weren't the first to fail or make mistakes.

But you can be the first at a lot of things.

Pioneers march forward in the face of insurmountable fear. They don't pioneer for their own sake either... it's always to lead others.

So, go ahead...
Don't be afraid.
Chase those dreams,
But never forget the One who authored them.
And, certainly, don't ever forget to constantly turn to Him for counsel.