Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: Welcome to the YA Podcast. Lean in as we dive into the practicals of life with Jesus as spirit filled young adults.
Hello everyone.
Welcome back to the YA podcast. It is Kelsey here for another episode in season three. We are talking all things identity in Christ and I have a very, very special guest joining us today.
[00:00:42] Speaker B: That's so kind.
[00:00:43] Speaker A: She's someone. Oh, she's already given herself away. Whoops.
I was gonna talk amazing things about you, but now other people already know. But we have Jade Velosso joining us today.
[00:00:52] Speaker B: Woo.
[00:00:53] Speaker A: She is a treasure. She is a very special part of our young adult community. You all know love her. If you've been around for a little bit or a long time, you have seen her, you have heard her worship lead, you've probably had a chat with her, she's probably complimented you. She's probably made you feel like a big vibe because she's a big vibe.
[00:01:10] Speaker B: Oh my God.
[00:01:11] Speaker A: Welcome to the podcast.
[00:01:13] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:01:13] Speaker A: It's good to have you.
[00:01:14] Speaker B: Good to be here. How you feeling, girl? My hand's shaking right now.
Just for context, I'm holding my mic.
[00:01:22] Speaker A: Yes.
So if it sounded a bit quakey.
[00:01:25] Speaker B: And shaky, it's because I am quaking and shaking.
Okay, back. I digress.
[00:01:30] Speaker A: Segues us great into our topic for today.
Today we are talking about fear.
It's a big topic. It's one that if you're listening to this right now, you have probably faced in your life.
I know for me, I face it in more than just one way.
But really today we're talking about fear because it's one of the biggest things that will steal away the enjoyment that we get to have of the identity in Christ that Jesus has secured for us and actually the enjoyment of the fullness of life that Jesus has actually secured for us on the cross.
So we want to call it out.
We want to call it for what it is so that we can find freedom from it and actually get to live in the fullness of life that Jesus has for us.
So Jade, I'm going to throw to you first and foremost, why is this such a big thing? Why is this something that we all face in our, I guess like our walk pre Christ, but also on the journey of transformation into Christ likeness. Why is this something that comes up so much for us?
[00:02:31] Speaker B: Yeah, such a good question. I mean, to put it really simply, I'm not going to try and add to it, but you mentioned it before, Proverbs 29:25. This is a scripture for it. But the fear of man lays a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. So to put it simply, the opposite of love, which is God, is fear. And so we have a real enemy. And the way he operates is to bring fear. And so the enemy will use fear to stop us for walking in the fullness of Christ. And so he is going to come up. And that's why it's so important that we're aware of it. Because usually, or more often than not, fear is the root of a lot of strongholds.
And so we need to address it, because when we're aware, we can actually allow the love of God to come in and to journey with us through that transformation.
A lot of people, I find, you know, when they encounter the love of God, they become completely different. And you see them in this level of freedom because fear isn't there anymore. So they're not afraid of what it looks like, because they're walking in love and freedom. Like, when you hear someone get saved or encounter Christ, why are they so excited? Why can't they stop talking? Because they've just been overwhelmed by love.
[00:03:43] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:03:44] Speaker B: They've just had.
[00:03:44] Speaker A: They've met the solution.
[00:03:46] Speaker B: Yeah, he's just being kicked out the door. So it's so important. That's the journey we go on when we encounter Christ, we encounter love, and we get set free there. But then it's important in our journey of transformation, because fear can come through in our strongholds, in the way we think, and we need our mind renewed. So we actually need to be aware of that and address that as we journey with the Lord.
[00:04:10] Speaker A: Yeah, totally. And I think something that's really helpful to think about, even just upfront, is fear can be a stronghold, like a spiritual stronghold. Fear isn't just an emotion that we feel sometimes, and more often than not, especially when we're talking about fear of men, which we're gonna talk about a little bit more. It's actually. Can be a spiritual stronghold in our life.
How does that happen? Very simply, like, spiritual strongholds 101 is when we face experiences in our lives that sow the seed of fear.
Whether that's an experience we have, whether that's a mindset we have, whether it's something from our childhood, whatever it is.
When.
If you imagine an analogy, like a door, it's like the door might start to, like, creep open a little bit. Yep.
But when we don't, I guess, like, process those things properly, it becomes almost like a snare. It literally becomes like a trap or like bondage. It's like, now that the door's kind of been left open. The enemy has an access way into that to create almost like his residence in that place in our life.
Definitely.
[00:05:16] Speaker B: We'll see.
[00:05:17] Speaker A: And the reason I feel like it's important to say that is because the enemy wants to sow lies in our mind.
And one of those lies I feel like he tries to sow in this area is shame. That because we're fearful, because we doubt, because we've had experiences that have shaped our lives that may make us feel fearful, that it means that we're unworthy, it means that we can't do the things the Lord's asking us to do. Or whatever it is, is sometimes, and more often than not, it may not just be your emotional response to a situation. It might actually be a spiritual stronghold that needs to be broken off your life.
It's a place where the enemy's had his say in his residence for too long. That we actually need to bring that back under the submission of God.
And something Bill Johnson said that I thought was amazing was that one of the roots of fear, or I guess like the way that the enemy uses fear is through lies to tell us that the problems that we face are bigger than the solutions that we carry.
[00:06:17] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:06:18] Speaker A: Meaning the problems that we face in our life, the situations we find ourselves in, our own feelings and thoughts about who we are, is bigger and takes dominion over what Jesus has already done for us.
[00:06:33] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: Jesus being the solution, Jesus being our freedom.
That actually the things, the things that we're facing take lordship and take the rightful place that Jesus actually has that he secured through his cross.
Which we need to get that back in the right order.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: Absolutely. So preach it, girl. Yeah, summarize it. And I can attest to that for sure. Like, I reckon for me personally, I had fear come in when I was a kid because of experience. And then it's almost like fear tries to take the seat of Jesus throne in our lives and magnify that which brings the shame, which brings the doubt, which brings the mistrust.
[00:07:16] Speaker A: And sometimes one of the other things I know I've experienced in my life is that fear will try to masquerade itself in different ways.
[00:07:24] Speaker B: Oh, yep.
[00:07:26] Speaker A: Fear will masquerade itself as safety.
[00:07:28] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:07:31] Speaker A: Fear will masquerade itself as wisdom.
So I know there's been times in my life that even the Lord's asked me to do things that are way out of my comfort zone. And sometimes we can want to masquerade the decision making process with, oh, I'm just trying to be wise or I'm trying to make the right decision. I'm trying to, whatever it is, but it's actually deep down inside, it's because I'm fearful.
[00:07:54] Speaker B: Or can I say fear comes out through pride because, like, that also comes out through pride.
[00:08:01] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:08:02] Speaker B: I mean, that's how I've. I've encountered it.
[00:08:04] Speaker A: Totally.
[00:08:04] Speaker B: Like, no, I'm not going to do that because I'm fearful, and therefore I'm going to ignore that and do what I want to do. Because I think my way, the safe way, or what I feel is safe, which is really fear, is better for me.
[00:08:20] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think that especially applies when we're talking about fear in the context of fear of man, which, like we read in Proverbs, the scriptures are very clear to articulate the fear of man as a direct opposition to the fear of God.
And just remembering as well the fear of God is a good thing.
[00:08:37] Speaker B: It is.
[00:08:38] Speaker A: And that's like a whole other thing we could dabble into. But just remember, the fear of God is a good thing.
[00:08:42] Speaker B: Good thing.
[00:08:42] Speaker A: Because the fear of God comes when we have his lordship has dominion over our life.
[00:08:48] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:08:48] Speaker A: Fear of man comes when we have the affirmation of man as taking dominion over our life.
[00:08:54] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:08:55] Speaker A: And the reason pride's so important to bring up there, and especially when we're talking about identity in Christ, pride is really us putting our own thoughts, experiences, opinions over the lordship of God.
[00:09:10] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:09:11] Speaker A: And one of the ways that manifests is through fear.
[00:09:14] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:09:15] Speaker A: And especially when we're talking about fear of man. Pride is. Pride is not just, you know, I think I'm better.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: No.
[00:09:22] Speaker A: Pride is also insecurity.
[00:09:24] Speaker B: 100%.
[00:09:25] Speaker A: And often I feel like when we're talking about fear of man, it's actually that pride that manifests itself as insecurity. If that makes sense of, like, what are people gonna think of me? How am I gonna be received if I do that? How are my parents gonna feel if I take that leap of faith?
[00:09:42] Speaker B: What if I fail?
[00:09:43] Speaker A: Yeah. What if I fail? What does that expose in me?
[00:09:46] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:09:46] Speaker A: I felt that's a huge thing as well, is like. Well, when we're talking about fear of failure, maybe it really does come back to fear of man. Because if I think about times that I've been scared to fail. Why am I scared to fail? I'm scared to fail because then what weakness is that exposing me that other people shouldn't have to see or I don't want people to see?
[00:10:07] Speaker B: You start saving face.
[00:10:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
So it's. It's Dangerous.
[00:10:13] Speaker B: Super dangerous. I mean, it simply does that. It snares. I know we're coming back to that scripture, but it's true. It actually stops you from being who you are in Christ.
[00:10:20] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:10:21] Speaker B: It actually stops you from believing that you're a daughter or a son. It actually stops you from living the life that Christ has for you, walking in your call, whatever it might look like, it actually stops you from. That stops you from taking healthy risk. It stops you from being obedient, which is faith. It stops you from operating in the very thing that you are called to or the very things that the Lord has for you to even experience in Him. It's like. It's insane how. How much the enemy uses fear to, you know, stop this generation, basically.
[00:11:03] Speaker A: Yeah. And something I feel like is really interesting to think about as young people is, well, what is the experiences of those who have gone before us?
And something I was reading about was essentially they asked a whole bunch of, like, old people, people who have lived beautiful lives with the Lord as they're kind of coming to their final years or even weeks and days of life, asking them the question, what's the biggest regret you have in your life?
And so many of them said the biggest regret they had was allowing fear to hold them back from actually doing the things they knew the Lord was asking them to do.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: And that's. That's, like, so sobering for me to even think about. And that's honestly one of the things that I often think about when fear wants to try and get in the way of the things the Lord's asking me to do or the things he's asking me to. To lay down so that he can transform me more into His Christ likeness is even when I really don't want to. There's almost that thought into the future of, like, there's gonna come a day, first of all, that we have to be accountable for what we've done on earth.
And can you imagine how silly we will sound if we're standing literally before the Lord and we're like, I'm sorry, God, I didn't do that because I was scared of how that person would think of me if I didn't do that?
[00:12:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:25] Speaker A: Or like, for Jesus to be standing there and we have to be held accountable. And then he goes, look at all of this other stuff he could have done. Or, like, look at all this. More joy you could have had.
But I was so fearful to be that because I was worried about what someone would think or what my parents would think, or. You know what I mean? Like, when you put it into that sort of perspective, it almost sounds really silly.
[00:12:50] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. In the scheme of things. Yeah, yeah.
[00:12:52] Speaker A: Like, you put it into almost the eternal perspective and you go, that sounds so dumb. But that doesn't change the fact that it's something that we genuinely struggle with and genuinely need to seek the Lord in to find that greater level of freedom that we actually have on offer for us.
[00:13:09] Speaker B: Totally. It's major. And as you were sharing and speaking that we talked a little bit about, you know, pride and being scared of what people think. And I just thought straight away, the opposite of what that looks like. It's just humility.
[00:13:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:23] Speaker B: And just going, actually, God is way bigger than someone's reaction or response to me.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:33] Speaker B: God is way bigger than what I'm feeling in that particular moment. Not that it doesn't matter. It does, like, because you matter. But he doesn't want you to live in that or have that dictate your life, you know?
[00:13:49] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think the challenge you sometimes always face with this is, like, what we're not saying is, like, just cast off restraint and be whoever. And, like, you don't have to care about what anyone thinks, because that is pride on the other end of the spectrum.
But really, if we're living in the freedom of the fear of God and actually having him as Lord, we shouldn't have to be afraid of the image that we're portraying, because that image should be making us more Christ. Like, anyway.
So it should almost be, like, a joy to get to be that version of ourselves because it's the one that looks more like Jesus.
[00:14:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:28] Speaker A: Does that make sense?
[00:14:29] Speaker B: Yeah. And sometimes it's undignifying and it's not what we think it's gonna look like. And it's actually okay.
[00:14:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:36] Speaker B: And it's actually the safest place we can be in that place of walking in the fullness of freedom in Christ. And it looks a little wild and looks a little crazy.
[00:14:46] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. You've learned a little bit about that in the last couple years.
Do you want to maybe share some of your, like, personal experiences of that?
[00:14:54] Speaker B: Yeah, totally.
Been honored to. I mean, look, everything you share, there's so many places we could go with this. And I think for me personally, even just what the Lord's done in the last nine months has been crazy. Now, if anyone's seen me, not that I mind if you have. I don't actually care anymore, but I would definitely say I have experienced a lot of fear in my life, Like I mentioned before, as a kid, having experienced fear, I actually got, like, delivered of fear, like, about two years ago. It was crazy. But then it's a journey as well, and I didn't realize.
[00:15:28] Speaker A: Can I ask, what was that experience like for you?
[00:15:31] Speaker B: Oh, the deliverance.
[00:15:31] Speaker A: That moment of deliverance. Almost like, what. How did you feel before?
What was that moment like? And then how did you feel after?
[00:15:40] Speaker B: Yeah, totally. So before that moment, I had so many thoughts. I think that's what fear does as well. There's thoughts? Yes, it manifests in a lot of thoughts. So it clouds you and it brings a lot of doubt and a bit of, like. A lot of, like, what if, you know? So I had a lot of those thoughts because I knew I could feel it there. I was like, I know that there's fear there. I'm aware of it, because I'm even scared of this moment right now. But I also knew in that moment, I was actually ready, because I was like, no, I want to humble myself. I actually don't care what. I want to be free. I would rather be free than walk and live in fear for the rest of my life. Now, I hadn't known that this was fear, but that night, it was a night at conference, they were actually talking about fear and teaching about it. And so in that moment, I had an awareness that I'd been living in fear. And it hid itself really well because it comes through things like, oh, I'm just being wise. Or actually, maturity is me being like this when it's actually not. Anyway, that's a whole other topic anyway, in itself.
But I remember that moment.
I was like. I knew it was about to happen, and it was so quick. Like, literally two seconds, two seconds. And I just remember being so overwhelmed by love and just clarity. Afterwards, I remember I got up and I bawled my eyes out, and I went up to my husband, Christian. Shout out to Christian. Because he asked me to. He asked me to because I did it last time. Love you, babe. That's what I said last time. Anyway, I got up and I went to Christian, and I literally said to him, this was the best way I could describe the after. I was clear.
I clearly knew that the Lord loved me. And it was a good thing. It wasn't a scary thing. I'm like, that was such a good thing. Like, the Lord loves seeing his children free. Like, it was actually beautiful and it wasn't scary. And I actually want to preface it, if it's okay.
I used to be really scared. What it looked like to get delivered. I know it's a big topic, but the Lord is really kind. He's so kind. He's.
He's in that. And whatever it looks like, it doesn't have to look crazy or it might, and that's okay. Yeah.
But he's really kind in it. And I just want to preface that because I feel like when we talk about deliverance, people can get fearful.
[00:18:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:04] Speaker B: But it's actually not. Deliverance can look like a lot of different things. For me, at that moment, that looked like me actually having something cast out for other people. Deliverance could be through having, like, we talked about strongholds, having. Reading the Word and having a revelation of freedom and our minds being renewed. And therefore, that stronghold is like, being broken is deliverance. I don't know if that makes sense.
[00:18:26] Speaker A: Yeah, makes total sense.
[00:18:27] Speaker B: There's, like. It looks different. So that was, like, one side of.
[00:18:30] Speaker A: And that's actually. I mean, we could go down a whole rabbit hole here. We won't go down, but I love rabbit holes.
[00:18:35] Speaker B: I'm kidding.
[00:18:36] Speaker A: Fear, like, even fear of the supernatural is like, a whole thing.
[00:18:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:42] Speaker A: Because it really. Again, it comes back to that question of, do we actually trust God as Lord over our life or not?
[00:18:47] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:18:48] Speaker A: Because, yeah, sometimes stuff's gonna happen. Stuff's gonna come up that might feel a little bit overwhelming.
[00:18:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:56] Speaker A: And again, the question is, well, what's our response to that?
[00:18:58] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:59] Speaker A: Because if the response is pride of, like, no, I know better, or I'm judging you because you're having that experience. So many times I've judged people for the way that they've encountered God. And it's actually because I'm scared of encountering God like that.
[00:19:11] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:11] Speaker A: Cause I'm like, they look so silly right now. I would never want to look silly like that.
But then it's like, well, you're missing out on the freedom God has for offer because you might look silly.
[00:19:22] Speaker B: It's a real thing. And I had that thought, too, to be honest. In that moment, I was like, what? It's going to look like. I'm actually petrified right now. But there was something greater. I know, like, we want to say greater in me, but it is true. It was the Lord in me or me having a moment where I'm like, no, I know that the Lord's kind. I actually trust his nature.
[00:19:40] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:40] Speaker B: I've encountered and seen him be so good. I even seen other people get set free. I'm like, I have to be free. There's no other way. And if he's done it for others and look at the fruit on their lives, like, why wouldn't I want that?
[00:19:53] Speaker A: Totally.
[00:19:53] Speaker B: You know? And I probably did look a little crazy. My glasses went flying everywhere. You know, whatever. Two seconds of crazy for silly salmon. Two seconds of crazy, like, okay, that sounds terrible. It's not crazy. But two seconds of what I would might define quotation marks. Looking crazy for absolute freedom. Yeah, Any day.
[00:20:11] Speaker A: Amen.
[00:20:12] Speaker B: Amen.
[00:20:12] Speaker A: So you had that encounter, and then what has a journey looked like for you over the last 18 months or so of seeing that? I guess the fruit of that power encounter, or like that, you know, taking that moment that you had and that deliverance that you had and actually allowing it to transform into every part of your life.
[00:20:32] Speaker B: Absolutely. It's been a big journey. I wouldn't say it was just one moment. I think it's been a continual journey. And for me personally, it's honestly been a question of how am I going to steward this freedom now? Because as a result of that, I've had to go back and journey with the Lord and reflect on, well, what was the root of that? Like, why? What were the things or things. I was thinking that, like, you know, that need now to be renewed and changed, that I can actually walk in the freedom now because it's one thing to get set free, but then there's another thing to have your mind transformed and renewed.
[00:21:02] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:21:03] Speaker B: And so I think that's been a massive journey for me, even in the last nine months, where, again, there's been more power encounters that I've had where I've shake, rattled and rolled like a silly sausage. Even in places that, honestly, I would have been so fearful of encountering the Lord before. Like, publicly, especially publicly, I'm like, you know, I'm gonna be honest here. Like, you know, a little bit of a lot of pride there. Like, I'm not gonna stay here and let the Lord counter me like this. I look ridiculous right now. But multiple of those encounters and then having to walk away going, well, Lord, you've done this work, but now I want to keep living in this freedom. So the Lord has been so kind in bringing things up, going, actually, you think this way about yourself or you think this way about that. And so I've had to go, well, that's a lie. Now I have to address it with the truth and come back to that truth to keep walking in that freedom. Not because what the Lord has done isn't done, but the enemy will keep trying to come back. Yes, you Know, trying to come back into that space. So I need to fill it with what is truth and the Lord and what he's doing and remind myself of that.
[00:22:13] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:13] Speaker B: And actually renew my thinking. So that's kind of been the journey I've been on this last nine months. I still feel like there's elements. I'm like, I'm still experiencing that journey and that's okay.
[00:22:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:25] Speaker B: But I can definitely say I'm a different person to. I was, hallelujah, like nine, 10 months ago and I'm still becoming a different person now. So I don't know if that summarizes.
[00:22:35] Speaker A: Yeah, no, it does. And I think it's, it's important for us to remember as well that like, especially when it comes to our identity, like theologically we understand that our identity and our freedom and our salvation has been fully paid for and we're now on the journey of sanctification, of becoming that person that Christ has called us to be and what he's actually paid for already for us. So we understand that theologically. But in our day to day life we are constantly facing new challenges and new circumstances and almost like new shapings or depths of our identity that we may have never experienced before.
[00:23:23] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:23:24] Speaker A: Like when I think about who I am now at 25 and the things the Lord's doing in my identity versus the things that I was dealing with and struggling with when I was 18, so different.
[00:23:35] Speaker B: Very.
[00:23:36] Speaker A: The Lord brought freedom and healing and a level of understanding my identity to who I was when I was 18.
But now as a 25 year old, it's almost like things come up that you're like, oh man, like, I thought I would have dealt with that fear by now. I thought I would have resolved that by now. But I believe that's part of the maturing process is actually continuing in persevering and continuing to press in when the Lord starts to almost like put his finger on those soft spots and almost go like, hey, like, I delivered you from fear and that is a truth and that is 100% your inheritance to hold onto. But at the same time now a circumstance is coming up that you've, I guess, like not had to have your faith tested in that area.
[00:24:25] Speaker B: Yeah, Yep. That's so true. It's well said. And you know what, honestly, I as you're even saying that the one thing I think about that's different, like one thing I didn't realize was as I've gotten older, I had that encounter where I was delivered of fear. But what I Did was as I got older, even my perspective, what maturity looks like as a daughter that was challenged. Because I feel like even just reflecting on these nine months, one of the things that I feel like the Lord dealt with in terms of the fear was the pride.
[00:24:53] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:24:54] Speaker B: Because I feel like I've become even more childlike as a daughter and more free having that revelation and him even, like, bringing in that freedom through my mind, being renewed in his word and a revelation of his love. And so then when fear tries to come back or, you know, creep up in different ways I haven't encountered before, I'm like, whoa, like, the Lord will come up and bring truth and love.
[00:25:19] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:25:20] Speaker B: And burn off the pride and the fear and all the things.
[00:25:22] Speaker A: Yeah. And I mean, we can read very well. Put in 1 John 4:18. Perfect love casts out all fear.
And this is not. This is not talking about emotions. This is actually talking about the spiritual reality we live in, which is the perfect love of Jesus casts out through his work on the cross all the spiritual ramifications of fear that the enemy tries to steal, kill, and destroy and keep us bound to.
Jesus in his perfect love casts out that fear.
[00:25:56] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:25:57] Speaker A: And so that's the reality we get to live in is constantly coming back to that place and constantly reminding ourselves and renewing our mind to the fact of we don't have to live in bondage to that fear anymore.
We actually get to seek out the face of Jesus and actually seek out perfect love and live in perfect love, because that's what he's done for us.
[00:26:21] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:22] Speaker A: And that's the reality we get to live in, even in our identity of identity in Christ is like you've already said, Jade, we are not orphans anymore. We're not orphans who live in fear. We're actually sons and daughters who live in a family.
So a question I have for you as we land this plane, this big plane, is how we're talking about this journey, I guess, of transformation into more Christ likeness. Taking hold of the spiritual reality we have. What are some practical ways that we can overcome fear in our lives?
[00:26:56] Speaker B: Well, there are a few ways we could approach this, and I think we need all of them in different ways. One is actually surrendering to the Lord and allowing him to do the work that he wants to do, whether it's, you know, through encounter and being obedient to that. I think that's really, really important, because if you want fear to be broken off, you have to be humble enough to allow the Lord to do what he wants to do. And it looking however he wants it to look again, he's so loving. So it will be more than okay. It will be beautiful. A second thing I think is really important is being honest as well. Yes, I feel like that's really important.
[00:27:34] Speaker A: The Lord can't minister into places we don't give him access.
[00:27:37] Speaker B: And I think that's part of that first one, being honest. I actually don't know what it looks like. I'm actually scared, Lord, of what it looks like.
Being honest with him firstly, or actually, no. Being honest with yourself, being honest with him, maybe even journeying with others. I think that's really, really important. Yeah, community is really important. I think accountability is so important.
Having your people around you to go, actually, this is something I'm struggling with. I'm feeling like this, I'm experiencing this. I need you to pray, I need you to journey with me. I think that's really important. And that all leads into that surrendering, allowing God to do what he wants to do and what it looks like. Another thing practically would be reading your word. Find out the truth.
Ask him what the truth is.
Ask him to reveal in his word. Ask him to reveal it to yourself, to you, in your own time as well. With Him.
You know, it's one thing again, like we've touched on to encounter Him. It's another thing to live it out. We need the renewing of our mind. And that is a journey and a process. So that's something practically, I would also say has been really, really key. Another thing is talk about what God's done, tell people what he's done.
Validate the testimony that you have by sharing it with people. I remember when I first had that encounter of deliverance. I went and told my husband straight away, which in that moment, as soon as I told him, it was this like partnering with confession. What just happened? I remember just being so overwhelmed and it became a normal thing for me to talk about because it should be normal to be free.
So those are some things that I would say. Anything you would add.
[00:29:18] Speaker A: Yeah. Something I would add that I feel like has been really helpful for me is learning how to separate the emotion from your spirit.
The things that we read in the Bible and the truths that we have to renew our minds to doesn't discredit the emotions that we feel.
[00:29:37] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:29:37] Speaker A: And the experiences that we have. God in his love and his grace and mercy actually allows us to hold both intention.
But at the same time, we actually have a responsibility to acknowledge that we have a choice whether we choose to Allow our emotions to dictate our response, or if we allow the word of.
[00:29:58] Speaker B: God to dictate our response 100%. And the thing is, emotions aren't bad. Like, if we're creating his image, we have to remember that he has emotions, too, so they can actually be healthy. I always say to people or I reflect on what our emotions are. Good is what we do with them. So are we bringing it to the Lord? Yes, because you can feel all you want before the Lord. I mean, Chuck's the tanties. You want before the Lord. He doesn't mind. Like, the amount of times I'm like, God, I'm mad, and I'm probably hungry and I probably need a snack and a sleep like Elijah did, but, you know, this is how I'm feeling. And. But actually, sorry, this is how I'm feeling. But, God, I know that this is who you are.
[00:30:38] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:38] Speaker B: I haven't had to do that recently, if I'm honest.
[00:30:40] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:40] Speaker B: I'm like, I'm feeling really crap about this particular circumstance or this thing that I'm not seeing happen, and I'm like, I'm feeling really bummed about it. But I've seen your faithfulness. And so, therefore, if you've done it in so and so's life or you've done this in my life before and your nature is consistent, then I know that you're gonna do this in me.
[00:31:03] Speaker A: You'll.
[00:31:03] Speaker B: You'll bring it to 100%. You bring me to freedom.
[00:31:06] Speaker A: Yeah. And it's actually okay sometimes to feel the feels and still choose to act in obedience to the Lord.
[00:31:12] Speaker B: Oh, 100%.
[00:31:13] Speaker A: Acting in obedience to the Lord does not guarantee that you won't be terrified.
It's like, even at the moment, like, you know, like, we're about to have a baby, and that's like, a huge life change.
If I was trying to tell you that I wasn't terrified of raising a little human, I would be lying to you.
There's emotion there. But at the same time, I know this is 100% the will of God, and I know it's 100% an act of obedience in stepping into that season. And both can simultaneously live.
[00:31:49] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:49] Speaker A: But I also know that the more we continue to journey through life and we almost build up a spiritual muscle and we exercise that faithfulness, I know the emotions will go away, and I know the emotions will eventually change and transform that. It's like, I think about things that when I moved to Melbourne four years ago, I knew that was the will of God. But I was still terrified. I was so scared. I was still sad I was leaving my family.
Do I still feel that way now? Well, not so much. I know, of course I still miss my family and things like that, but the emotions of that, because I chose to continue to step out on the obedience that I knew I needed to take. The Lord sorted out the emotions.
And it's the same when it comes to our identity in Christ and overcoming fear of man. It's like, well, you might feel in a moment. Oh, man. Like, I feel really silly. I feel like I might get judged. I feel insecure, but still choose to go. But I know the Lord's asking me to do this right now, and so I'm choosing to be obedient, and I'm choosing to put that over the fact that I feel scared right now.
[00:32:58] Speaker B: Sometimes faith ain't a feeling.
[00:33:00] Speaker A: Amen.
[00:33:01] Speaker B: It's obedience all the time.
[00:33:04] Speaker A: All the time. All the time obedience, yeah.
[00:33:07] Speaker B: All the time obedience, yeah. So be obedient, humble yourself, and get free of fear.
[00:33:12] Speaker A: Amen.
I feel like there's so much more we could have talked about here.
Maybe we'll do a part two. I don't know.
[00:33:20] Speaker B: I'm so happy right now. Like, there's so many things.
[00:33:24] Speaker A: There's so many, like, so many things that you go, but what about fear of the future? What about fear of missing out? What about, we were going to talk about that. We didn't get there.
[00:33:33] Speaker B: Fomo, man.
[00:33:35] Speaker A: Maybe we need to do a part two. We'll see what happens.
[00:33:37] Speaker B: Calm down if you want me back.
[00:33:41] Speaker A: But if you guys do have questions, as always, let us know if anything that we said was helpful or minister to you. We want to hear from you as well, but we will leave it there for now and we'll see what other conversations come up into the future. But, Jay, thank you for being with us.
[00:33:56] Speaker B: Thanks for having me.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: Hope you had fun.
[00:33:57] Speaker B: I did.
[00:33:58] Speaker A: Hope you feel a little more free after sharing.
[00:34:00] Speaker B: Yep, the shaking's gone. Good. My mic's steady. Praise the Lord.
[00:34:05] Speaker A: Awesome. All right, well, we'll leave it there for this week and we'll see you you next week. We love you all and we'll speak soon.
