Have you identified your “dragon?” Let’s assume that your dragon is fear. This puts you in a broad category shared by much of humanity at some point. It’s rational to feel fear when facing a threat and wanting to protect yourself or others. Sometimes, fear even overlaps with expressions of faith.
There are times when fear is necessary. However, the kind of fear I want to address here is the paralyzing kind — the fear that leaves you unsure of what to do, where to go, or how to move forward in life. Many people are afraid to risk change or to make any change at all because the future is uncertain.
This fear is illustrated in Luke 19, where a wealthy man distributes money to his workers before going away on business. He gives one worker ten minas, another five minas, and another one mina. A mina was approximately three months’ salary. Upon his return, the man asks for an accounting of how they managed his money.
The worker who received ten minas proudly reports a 100% return on investment, earning praise and a reward. The second worker, who received five minas, also doubled the investment and was similarly rewarded. However, the third worker, who was given one mina, returned with nothing but excuses.
Instead of investing or doing the bare minimum by entrusting his mina to money changers, this worker was paralyzed by fear. He blamed the wealthy man, accusing him of being harsh. Displeased, the nobleman rebuked the worker, saying he should have at least made a modest effort. The fearful worker’s failure led to his mina being taken and given to others.
What was the worker’s downfall? Fear. He admitted, “I was afraid.” His own words condemned him. When you speak negativity, you create setbacks for yourself. Fear works to destroy faith. Don’t let it win.
Faith and effort go hand in hand. Those who complain, remain stagnant, and maintain a negative outlook often watch others progress. To slay your dragon, start by praying and taking your concerns to the Lord.
We can all work on slaying our own dragon. Pray. Pray. Pray. Take whatever it is to the Lord in prayer. Thanks for reading!
Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043. For information, call 323-293-9826 or visit www.todaysfreshstart.org, Ask Dr. Jeanette TM “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Questions? Errors? Let me know. References: The Holy Bible. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. Don’t stop praying and hoping. “Today is another great day to do good and to be successful.”
