The Fear of Man

 

Proverbs 29:25, Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

 

I am off to a conference for Christian speakers. I will be a part of a group of women who will listen and critique each other and then later in the weekend we will speak and be critiqued by a “pro.” The opportunities to learn and grow are huge. I have been praying for God to teach me through this weekend for several weeks.

About a week ago I was suffering what I will call a “crisis of confidence.” I was thinking (and my husband pointed out listening to an evil influence) about how fat, old, and un-hip I am, how dowdy my clothes will look and how pale my skin is (I’m from that era that still thinks tan fat is prettier than pale fat!).

Did you notice it wasn’t about the teaching or speaking that I will receive and do? It was about ME! What will others think? What will THEY look like? What will they wear? Why do I even think about these things? The fear of man.

I have to give two very short talks while I’m there. I have them completed and seem to be confident that they’re fine. Shouldn’t my concerns be, “Am I being true to God’s Word?” “Is what I am planning to say in line with God’s Word?” Not me baby, I’m thinking I need new clothes!

Well, I did find a really nice pair of pants on a sale for a great price so I bought them and I’m now packed and ready to go. For several days I’ve been asking God to shift my focus to Him, to what He has for me to learn from this conference. He lined up all the details so I could afford to go and even spend some “extra” time with a good friend. He is SO gracious.

My new attitude is to listen only to what I know to be true from the Lord. I can trust Him and when I trust Him He will keep me safe – from myself and Satan, it seems we both like to distract me from what’s really important – glorifying God in the way I think, live and act.

I’ll give you an update of the “after” attitude.