Antidote

i'm thankful that the antidote to fear is faith.

I have been wanting to become a regular runner for a while now.  Get up, put on the tennis shoes, put my hair in a pony tail and bounce out the front door-- I want to do that and both be healthier and enjoy the time outside.  I LOVE being outside.  I seriously think every day I go outside is much better than the days where I am cooped up, even if just for half an hour outdoors.

What keeps me from running?  Lack of discipline?  Being tired?

Perhaps.  But I now believe, as I've been learning more about courage and confidence (these two themes have been running in my life since my freshman year of college)--

I believe that fear is what keeps me indoors. 

Fear of what?  That I will get kidnapped? Partially.
Fear that I won't be able to do it?  Slightly.
Fear that I won't stick to it, and fear that I will look foolish as I run?  I have to say that those two are the largest fears.  Both of them are stupid.  Why should I care what other people think I look like as I run? Plus, I WILL look fine unless I run out too sleepy to remember to switch out of pajama pants.  Even then most passerby wouldn't ever meet me.  The sticking to it matter is foolish because, of COURSE I won't stick with it if I don't begin.  That is automatic failure!  Yuck!

This can be paralleled to our faith.  What keeps us from living the life Christ has called us to?

Fear?

The antidote to fear is faith, and the best way to practice faith is taking action.

Start running!!!!

Hebrews 12:1-2a
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.