Friday, April 3, 2009

My wannabe friend

My name is fear. I'm not your friend.
But thank you for welcoming me my dear
for I easily invade your thoughts day and night
Paralysis my goal, no strength left for you to fight

I've many disguises, forms, and ways
And I'm often the cause when you disobey
I lie, exaggerate, distort, and repeat
Sowing me instead, you reap defeat

I'll pervade your heart, teaching you distrust
Your lack of authenticity thought to be a 'must'
Self-made walls keep all away
Life-giving Words ineffective held at bay

You've forgotten the foundation on which you stand
The unchanging, unshakable, Great I AM
For I am the god on your heart's throne
And to my delight, I rule not alone

My sister 'Worry', and my brother 'Fright'
My cousin 'Dread', my father 'What might...?'
Tirelessly help me remain in command
Fear is my name, your life I demand

I hope you allow me to stay quite awhile
For there is much I hope to taint and defile
Upon only this condition must I flee:
When you believe His tabernacled Spirit of Truth, choosing Him over me.


17 comments:

darla said...

I LOVE this! can I have a copy..i would love to keep it in my Bible for just those times when fear tries to take over. It would be a good thing to frame and put in my bathroom..hahahha the brain...it will not stop today...maybe shouldn't have had that last coffee..

love you!

Denise said...

A scripture that seems to pop up in every small group discussion ... even my pastor/husband uses this one often.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Amen!

Suzi K said...

Wow Shelly that is amazing! You are such a talented and gifted writer!

connorcolesmom said...

Well that was TOTALLY for me :)
I am so thankful for God's truth, faithfulness and Promises!
I am so thankful He will never EVER leaves us
and so we do not have to have a "friend" in fear
You are such a BLESSING and I love you sweet Shelly!
Kim

Denise said...

Have you started your book? I know it's coming!

Taylor said...

so good, so good! thanks, shelly. :)

::Taylor

Anonymous said...

WOW! That is deep.

Toknowhim said...

Sweet thing...Did you write this?? Fear is my number one stronghold.. It does all the things the poem says, and more. I long to be free one day.

Also, I am glad that your hubby is home :)

I too wondered if you got a chance to read my post from April
5th (Sunday). It is actually a post I copied from a bloggy friend, but it was a powerful one with a lot of imagery... Shelia (the one that wrote it) reminds me of you in the way that you are passionate about Jesus... Thought you might like to read it as well.

Have a nice night with your husband... Blessings sweet one.. Kim

Lindsee Lou said...

I might just have to print this out and frame it saying that fear for me is completely gripping. Thank you, friend!

Anonymous said...

I have unexplainably been in a grip of fear this week. It's always been a stronghold for me but this time it came upon me for no apparant reason and it was such a burden I could hardly breathe. All satan, I'm sure. As soon as I read your post, that fear was GONE! It was such an immediate relief and I praise God for using your poem to break whatever that nightmare was that had a hold of me. Thank you.

Kelly S. said...

WOW, honestly Shelly....WOW!!!

Beautiful, personal words written in a way that speaks to so many. Again- WOW. The fact that you can write that about fear says something else to me about you-
F A I T H!

love you

Sharon Brumfield said...

I just wanted to stop by and say...Congrats!
I was over at Holly's and saw your name so I came on over and imagine my joy when I saw so many beautiful pictures of your wedding.
I haven't been blogging for about two months..but I will be back soon...so it was good to see you back also.
I'll come back later and catch up a little more.

Fran said...

Oh my word Shelly. I kept wanting to find the right phrase to highlight and say "yeah, thats mine," but I couldn't pick just one. I get the whole thing.

Dang fear.

Beautifully written. I love but hate the truth behind these words. ;)

Kristen said...

Beautifully written!

I choose Him!!!

Pat said...

Shelly,
This was so good it actually made the hair on my neck stand up. The enemy is such a liar isn't he? Thank you for the reminder!! If we could all just keep these truths settled in our hearts!!
Bless you and keep writing!
Pat

J C said...

This is my area of "expertise". I let fear drive me for 5 decades and finally developed panic disorder before I realized God was bigger than fear. Several verses meant a lot to me, but the section of verses that meant the most when I started applying God's Word during anxious moments and panic attacks (or the threat of one) was Joshua 1:5-9. And God is so good, a year later I found the last part of those verses on a gold keychain, "The LORD is with you wherever you go," so I have a constant reminder that I am never alone.

Jana said...

"My sister 'Worry', and my brother 'Fright'
My cousin 'Dread', my father 'What might...?'

best line. love it!

i started sketching your painting, but im leaving on a plane in 15 days, it will be out sometime in the fall, i didnt forget it :) luv, J