Riding In Courage

 

Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

As a young girl I enjoyed riding my bike.  It was beige 10-Speed bike I got for Christmas. This bike changed how I traveled and how fast I could get to places.  One of my favorite places to ride was the neighborhood store.

I remember dogs running after cars and kids on bikes. I was afraid at times to go to the store. I never knew at what moment I would pass a dog that just broke its chain or just some stray dog roaming. After my mother made  several calls to the local Police, the stray dogs were removed and the homeowners began to chain their dogs.

Yet, I was still fearful. I hated when my mother would send me to the store anticipating a dog running behind my bike. I would go months and not see a stray dog, yet the possibility alone made me change my course.

One day, we were giving permission to ride our bikes a little further into the neighborhood and I was met with more children on bikes. I wasn’t  aware that our neighborhood extended as far as it did. Now decades from that time, I still have rich friendships from my neighborhood friends.

I was limited by my fear. I became comfortable and felt “safe” just hanging around on my street. There were new and exciting challenges and relationships beyond my fear. I just had to ride pass the fear.

And so is life sometimes…..We have to ride by the fear. Fact. You cannot have a positive and negative thought at the same time. So if you are entertaining thoughts of fear, you aren’t thinking about courage AT THE SAME TIME.

So on purpose……and once and for all…..stop walking in fear and ride in courage. Once I decided to ride in courage, I learned the dogs at the end of the street were no longer there. The dog at the other end was  placed in a gated fence. But who knows how long that was the case.

I am stepping out in courage and embarking on a journey of 31 Days of Faith Art Journaling. I would love for you to come along. You will certainly be blessed. Go on! It’ll be fun. I am bursting at the seams to be able to share this journey. I am over-flowing in peace because journaling has helped in my conversation with my Lord and Savior. It will do the same for you. Yes, fear has raised its ugly head. But I recognize that my God is bigger than my fear. So, I acknowledge my anxiety about doing something new and different , and I Ride In Courage anyway!

Join me here……31 Days Of Faith Art Journaling

 

May God Bless and Keep You

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. I desire to honor you with my words  and my actions. I need more of You. In Jesus Name. Amen.