“Refuse to be intimidated.”

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (p. 262). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That is easier said than done isn’t? Maybe you have a child that is going through those terrible two’s. I mean the task of helping them through this difficult time of life can be intimidating can’t it? Maybe you’ve just retired and you don’t know what to do now. You now it seems have no identity. Your work was your life but what do I do now? Or you have a dream that you believe God has given you to do. It is bigger than you are and you are really intimidated.

There are so many things in our lives that can intimidate us even temptations that the Enemy brings across our path. Rick says, “Many Christians are frightened and demoralized by tempting thoughts, feeling guilty that they aren’t ‘beyond’ temptation. They feel ashamed just for being tempted. This is a misunderstanding of maturity. You will never outgrow temptation.”

Understand as 1 Corinthians 10: 13 (NLT) says, “When you’re tempted,…” not if. Paul advises, “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience.”

Yes you may be intimidated by your temptations and all these other areas of your life but you are not alone and you have what it takes to handle them. For one, others have gone through them before you and if they handled them then so can you. And also remember that you have Christ who is in your life to give you strength and peace and courage and confidence and faith and guidance.

Remember 1 John 4: 4 (CEB) says, “…Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” You and Christ together intimidate. You and He can take care of it no matter what it is.

So what is intimidating you today?

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