I didn't feel like singing at all. There was no song in my heart. I couldn't have worshiped if I’d tried. But, I kept singing and singing until words gradually transferred to words like “Jesus is Victory”.

Still not feeling words, however repetitious it was, I kept singing until words gradually began to take on power. With each degree that I could better feel God's presence, burden felt lighter and lighter until evil presence was gone.

There's a song about things fading in His presence and things of this world growing strangely dim, in light of His glorious face … absent in body, present in spirit. Sometimes, God allows such circumstances to call us to take a vacation, to go away and just be with Him.

Once, I think I spent a whole week at escaping with God. It was so wonderful; I didn't want to come back. It is a guaranteed fix for stress related high blood pressure.

© by Joyce C. Lock http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/ This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.

Gaining awareness that your fear is related to unfamiliarity of situation may go a long way in allowing you to face it squarely and do thing you're putting off. Here are some additional suggestions to help move you through fear:

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

Breathe slowly and become aware of your breathing. As you focus on your breathing, you will notice that you automatically begin breathing slower and more deeply. This allows you to get to that 'centered' space, space where you can view situation objectively, where you know what you are capable of, and where you can again see potential in what you want to do. Focusing on your breathing very often brings you from fear to nervousness to excitement about event in a matter of moments.

FOCUS ON THE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED

If others are involved, shift focus from you to them. We sometimes worry so much about what other person is thinking about us that we miss opportunity to identify what they need and to help them achieve it. A dear friend shared a story of her early days in real estate and how her fear of what clients were thinking jeopardized her ability to sell. It wasn't until she started focusing on clients, and how she could help them through this stressful time (and anyone who's ever searched for a new home knows how stressful it can be!) that she was able to turn business around and enjoy success. Tuning in to other people puts a whole new slant on things, allowing our fears to recede long enough for us to figure out that there's nothing to be scared of!

BLOW UP YOUR FEAR

This is an effective exercise that you can do in just a few short minutes.

Close your eyes and take a few slow breaths. Visualize yourself in your mind's eye in a calm, peaceful place. Allow yourself to think of situation you're avoiding until you can firmly feel fear around it. 'See' yourself identifying place inside you where fear is (usually stomach) and put both hands in and pull it out. Hold fear in your hands and look at it for a moment. Then notice that there is a brown cardboard box, just large enough to hold fear, on ground in front of you. Place fear in box and close it. Keep your eyes on box and see it get larger. As you stand and watch box (breathing slowly all time), see it grow and grow. See it become as large as you, as large as room, as large as house, as large as town, as large as country, as large as world --- until it grows so large it just explodes like a balloon. Once it's gone, take a moment to notice how you feel without fear. Take a few more deep breaths and open your eyes. [If fear has really taken hold, you may need to do this a few times. But each time you do it, you'll notice that box explodes at a smaller and smaller size.]