My favourite month of the year is February; it always awakes
a daring spirit in me.
Twenty nine years ago, on the 6th of February, I
dared to come out of my mother’s womb. God decided that “summertime in South
Africa” would be the appropriate season for my great reveal! I was ready to say
“H E L L O!” to all the challenges
and joys life had to offer. It was time....time for me to experience the full
force of life, the ups and downs, the mountains high and the valleys low.
For many years, February was also a very controversial month in my life.
For many years, February was also a very controversial month in my life.
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February, for many, is a month where they experience heartaches and disappointments, but also a month of courage and perseverance. It is the month of pink hearts, fluffy candy floss and cute cards, a month of love.....the month of VALENTINES DAY!
To tell you the truth, each year, I dreaded the 14th of February. This horrible day always made me want to shy away from bravery. A simple act, like attending school, needed a daring spirit. I remembered waking up with butterflies each year, walking a very long and difficult walk to the big, rustic “no love for nerds’ jail”, knowing that no-one would buy me heart-shaped chocolates or give me a corny card, yet.... against all odds....I went anyway. Cupid was nowhere to be found, only the giants of rejection and low self-esteem, and facing giants is never easy. I still don’t know how I survived sitting through the popular crowd’s bashful moments of love confessions and red balloons....I mean really...couldn’t they wait until after school?
February is also the month where I made some of the biggest decisions of my life.
I registered at the University of Pretoria in February 2002,
embarking on one of the most testing journeys of my life - getting a degreeJ. Let’s just say....I survived!
I also arrived at
Gatwick Airport, London, in the month of February, being courageous enough to take
the huge step into the cold unknown and accepting every curve-ball, or should I
say, snowball, that came my way. It was also in the month of February, where I
found myself in a French cafe, nodding yes, BY FAITH, to my future husband, a
life-altering decision and an unforgettable moment.
And, once again, I find myself, the month, February 2012, in
my room in Paarl, South Africa, contemplating to, yet again, dare!
It feels like a historic moment, a momentous space in time.
This feeling does not occur often, so when it does happen, it happens for a
purpose. An unmistaken surge of bravery is accompanied with energy and assurance,
to take risks in areas where I never felt the strength before. Things that
seemed impossible somehow become possible. When this daring feeling takes hold
of me I experience an unusual level of confidence inside of me, a fearlessness
to leave the safe and comfortable for the dangerous and daunting! Can it be
that I am daring to dare again?
Taking a risk is not the same as going through change.
Change will always happen, and you have no power to stop it from happening. But, you always have the choice, the free will, the option and the power to decide whether you want to take a risk, venture out into the unknown, and do something you have never done before. To dare means you make an active choice to be bold, live outside of your comfort zone and take on things you never felt capable of doing before. When this feeling of courage takes hold of you, you receive a vision, a picture of a preferred future, which changes your heart, your actions and your plans today. Only you can decide whether you want to dare to be daring, or continue with the familiar and mundane.
Change will always happen, and you have no power to stop it from happening. But, you always have the choice, the free will, the option and the power to decide whether you want to take a risk, venture out into the unknown, and do something you have never done before. To dare means you make an active choice to be bold, live outside of your comfort zone and take on things you never felt capable of doing before. When this feeling of courage takes hold of you, you receive a vision, a picture of a preferred future, which changes your heart, your actions and your plans today. Only you can decide whether you want to dare to be daring, or continue with the familiar and mundane.
It is not always easy to make the choice to step out of your
comfort zone.
You have to work through many feelings, calculate the costs and overcome fears through a steadfast and rock solid faith in God.
You have to work through many feelings, calculate the costs and overcome fears through a steadfast and rock solid faith in God.
When God offers an adventure, an opportunity to be daring,
two things normally happen to me:
1). I become deeply aware of all the cares and concerns of the journey ahead.
2). I struggle to wait, live in the moment and let things happen naturally. Suddenly I become pushy and aggressive, wanting to take matters into my own hands and create the vision I saw out of my own strength.
1). I become deeply aware of all the cares and concerns of the journey ahead.
2). I struggle to wait, live in the moment and let things happen naturally. Suddenly I become pushy and aggressive, wanting to take matters into my own hands and create the vision I saw out of my own strength.
When I decide to be daring, I normally have to
sacrifice.
Risk is usually accompanied with many uncertainties on the road ahead. When I live a comfortable life everything seems manageable. When challenges come I can handle the pressure, because it can be controlled and measured. But, when I decide to live an adventure and go after my dreams, cares and concerns become unmanageable, challenges become extremely difficult and I feel completely unprepared. Suddenly it becomes important for me to be re-assured and comforted by God, knowing that He is with me every step of the way. During this time I catch myself repeating prayers a thousand times.....”Please God, please help me...please show me your will.” Questions like “what was I thinking?” or “Am I crazy?” flood my mind continually.
Risk is usually accompanied with many uncertainties on the road ahead. When I live a comfortable life everything seems manageable. When challenges come I can handle the pressure, because it can be controlled and measured. But, when I decide to live an adventure and go after my dreams, cares and concerns become unmanageable, challenges become extremely difficult and I feel completely unprepared. Suddenly it becomes important for me to be re-assured and comforted by God, knowing that He is with me every step of the way. During this time I catch myself repeating prayers a thousand times.....”Please God, please help me...please show me your will.” Questions like “what was I thinking?” or “Am I crazy?” flood my mind continually.
Trust becomes vital when I am daring to dare.
My foundations get shaken. I normally find myself either overly excited or devastatingly hopeless. There are days when I feel I am working towards something, and then there are days when I want to give up. Some days, there is a continual battle going on in my mind to still the voices of criticism and unbelief, and trust God that He will be with me, cheering me on, running beside me and motivating me to keep on going!
My foundations get shaken. I normally find myself either overly excited or devastatingly hopeless. There are days when I feel I am working towards something, and then there are days when I want to give up. Some days, there is a continual battle going on in my mind to still the voices of criticism and unbelief, and trust God that He will be with me, cheering me on, running beside me and motivating me to keep on going!
So, how do you dare to be daring in God’s Kingdom? How do
you step out of the boat into the things God has called you?
The answer is short to write, but difficult to apply.
You pray prayers of continual surrender, casting your cares unto Jesus, so that He can care for you.
You pray prayers of continual surrender, casting your cares unto Jesus, so that He can care for you.
This is a difficult exercise to do, especially when you are
an independent woman on a mission to “save the world.” I am not talking about
directionless, fluffy prayers that sound like a beggar wanting to be rescued
from a life of trouble. I am also not talking about childish prayers where you inform
God of all the “ghosts in the future.” These prayers won’t benefit you much.
I am talking about prayers where you know the will and the
character of God and start trusting in His truth more than in your own reality.
It is prayers that find refuge in God, in His Almighty power and deliverance.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (AMP)
Therefore humble yourself (lower yourself in your own estimation), under the Mighty hand of God, so that in due season, He may exalt you.
Casting the Whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Sometimes it is difficult to work through the cares and cast it on Jesus daily. But in order for you to keep the daring faith filled spirit alive, you have to focus on things above and not things on the earth. These prayers surrender all man-made plans, all strategies, all tasks and time lines to God, with full confidence that He will direct your path and be with you every step of the way. You call forth the promises of God with every obstacle you face, knowing that His Word is powerful to accomplish everything it was set out to do on your behalf. You rest and command your soul to be quiet when the enemy wants to minister the opposite.
God wants us to dare with peace and confidence in Him. He wants us to co-labour with Him, and get our assignment, our challenge, from Him.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (AMP)
Therefore humble yourself (lower yourself in your own estimation), under the Mighty hand of God, so that in due season, He may exalt you.
Casting the Whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Sometimes it is difficult to work through the cares and cast it on Jesus daily. But in order for you to keep the daring faith filled spirit alive, you have to focus on things above and not things on the earth. These prayers surrender all man-made plans, all strategies, all tasks and time lines to God, with full confidence that He will direct your path and be with you every step of the way. You call forth the promises of God with every obstacle you face, knowing that His Word is powerful to accomplish everything it was set out to do on your behalf. You rest and command your soul to be quiet when the enemy wants to minister the opposite.
God wants us to dare with peace and confidence in Him. He wants us to co-labour with Him, and get our assignment, our challenge, from Him.
What is it that you need courage for? Cast it unto Jesus, so
that He can give you courage. He wants to care for you.
What is it that you need peace about? Cast it unto Jesus, so
that He can give you peace. He wants to care for you.
What is it that you need revelation for? Cast it unto Jesus,
so that He can give you revelation. He wants to care for you.
What is it that is keeping you from daring to dare? Cast it
unto Jesus, so that He can awaken a daring spirit in you. He wants to care for
you.
God the Father is our source. Jesus did everything 2000
years ago for us to not live a life of the ordinary. The Holy Spirit is our
Counsellor and our Comfort, what else do we need? God gave everything so that we
can have all we need at ALL Times.
So, will February be your month to dare the impossible?
When the moment comes, and you step out, you become a
history maker and a world shaker.....
Dare to be Daring!
You have everything you need!
