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To be worthy of a following, you need more than talent and a title. The essence of leadership lies in doing two things. 1) Going first! ‘Cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.’ That means if God has called you to lead, you must step out in faith and go first. That requires believing in yourself and your mission. Accomplishment requires more than just working hard; it requires believing the right thing. God told Joshua, ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go’ (v. 9 NIV). You don’t need all the answers upfront. Your confidence comes from knowing that God is with you – and ahead of you. 2) Taking others with you. ‘Leading your brothers, helping them’ (v. 14 MSG). And in case you’re wondering, ‘How long do I have to keep investing in this person?’ the answer is until ‘they also…take possession of the land that God…is giving them’ (v.15 MSG). Many people will serve when they’re compelled to, and some will serve in a crisis. But when you have a servant’s heart, you initiate service to others. You see the need, seize the opportunity, and serve knowing God will reward you. Therefore you serve with gladness (see Psalm 100:2). So here is the deal: you only qualify to enjoy the privileges of leadership when you’re willing to go first and then take others with you. But that’s not the end of the story. God said, ‘After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which…the Lord gave you’ (Joshua 1:15 NIV).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Why do 50 per cent of marriages, including Christian marriages, end in divorce? Jesus answers that question: ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly’ (v. 10 NASB). God performed the first wedding ceremony between Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. And the honeymoon barely began before Satan entered the picture and attacked them, causing feelings of shame and separation from God. Later in Scripture, when Satan couldn’t defeat the patriarch Job through boils, bankruptcy, and bereavement, he attacked him through his wife. Your marriage is one of Satan’s prime targets, and you forget that at your peril. So how can you protect it? 1) Know your mate’s expectations: are they realistic? Were they unexpressed or unknown until conflict arose in the relationship? Disappointment often manifests itself as anger. 2) Familiarise yourself with your spouse’s family history: in many ways, he or she is a product of the environment they grew up in. The truth is, we build with the tools and fight with the weapons our parents gave us. And during quarrels and heated conversations, memories of parental anger, childhood abuse, and family arguments can influence how we react later when we get married. 3) Start praying for your mate: better still – start praying with them! Jesus said: ‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV). So protect your marriage – it’s one of Satan’s biggest targets.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible says, ‘“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him’ (vv. 28-31 NIVUK). When you know that you have prayed, prepared, and planned, you must step out and do it. It’s normal to experience fear when you attempt something you have never done before. Perhaps you have read the story of Peter’s attempt to walk on the water and judged him a failure. That’s not so. First, Peter gets an A for being willing to leave his safety zone and do what he had never done before. Second, he experienced the exhilaration of actually walking on water if for only a fleeting moment; no other disciple could boast of that. Third, he learned a valuable lesson: focusing on Jesus rather than your circumstances is essential when attempting the impossible. Fourth, he recognised that his survival depended solely on Jesus. ‘He was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said’ (vv. 30-31 NIV). Jesus didn’t condemn Peter for failing, He just told him he needed to develop greater faith. God won’t let you drown in your mistakes. As long as you keep trusting Him, He will keep working with you until you succeed. He is your heavenly Father, and your success is His success!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Let’s take another look at how to conquer the fear of failure. 1) Pursue your God-given purpose in life. To truly succeed at something, you must have a passion for it. And God will not only reveal to you His purpose, He will give you a passion to pursue it. Paul had the gift, education, and connections to pursue a number of different careers. But he wrote, ‘I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!’ What do you feel passionately about? Study it; it’s a clue to your destiny. 2) Ask yourself these three questions: a) ‘What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t succeed?’ You will still have God, your talents, your family, and other opportunities. b) ‘Has this ever been done before?’ Even if not, so what? c) ‘Is this fear a signal that I don’t have the proper people, processes, or plans in place to succeed at this time?’ Then ask the really big question: ‘What are the benefits I will enjoy if I succeed?’ Have a can-do attitude. Look your fear in the face and boldly assert: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Don’t let the familiarity of this Scripture cause you to recite it by rote. Say it out loud. Really absorb the words; get them into your spirit. Know that Christ strengthens you to succeed for the glory of God. Know that when He guides you, He provides you with all that you need to succeed in whatever He has called you to do.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Let’s look at some Bible strategies for overcoming the fear of failure. 1) Make sure that your vision and your values line up. The rise and fall of King Uzziah are told in these words: ‘Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years…He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success…But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God’ (vv. 3-5, 16 NIV). The lesson here is clear: success can be intoxicating. And intoxicated people don’t think too clearly and end up getting into all kinds of trouble. So be sure that your vision is in line with your core values. Stay in balance. Define success based on God’s Word rather than the ego-driven systems of the world. For example, receiving public recognition and praise for your accomplishments while your family life is a mess is not success. And sacrificing your integrity for profit and promotion is the worst deal you will ever make. 2) Learn from your failures and mistakes. Failure is not fatal, neither does it define who you are. It is the result of your actions but not the measure of your worthiness. Thomas Edison once said, ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.’ Humbly view your mistakes as ‘tuition paid’ on your education, then grow wiser, and keep moving forwards.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

According to psychiatric reference, approximately two thousand classified fears exist. What’s interesting is that psychiatrists say we are born with only two innate ones: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means we learn every other fear. And more importantly, that means we can unlearn every other fear. The majority of us are shaped, for better or worse, by a handful of experiences. These defining experiences can plant a seed of confidence or a seed of uncertainty, a seed of hope or a seed of vulnerability, a seed of faith or a seed of fear. John expresses the end goal of our relationship with God: ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear’ (v. 18 NIV). The words ‘perfect love’ do not describe our love for God, but rather God’s unconditional, unearned, unfailing love for us. A pastor writes: ‘The goal of love is fearlessness! As we grow in a love relationship with God, we unlearn the fears that paralyse us and neutralise us spiritually. That is the essence of faith. Faith is the process of unlearning your irrational fears. The only God-ordained fear is the fear of God. And if we fear [love, honour, reverence, and respect] God, we don’t have to fear anyone or anything else. Unlearning our fears is really a process of learning to trust God more and more.’ One of the greatest promises God has given to us in Scripture is this: ‘He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man to do me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.