I received a review copy of this book; all opinions expressed are mine.

We all deal with fear, every single one of us! Fear not only causes us worry, doubt, dread, insecurity, and stress, it often prevents us from moving forward to where God is leading us. Whether you’re dealing with little fears or big fears, If you’re tired of living in fear or not sure why certain things or circumstances cause you to react in fear, Joyce Meyer’s new book, Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage in the Face of Fear, (FaithWords, hardcover) is an extremely worthwhile and helpful book to read. In her practical, straightforward way, she shares so many nuggets of wisdom that can help you face your fears and gain freedom from them.

Meyers explains the 3-section format of this book in her introduction: “The first part…will help you understand fear and recognize how it works in your life. The second part will help you confront fear. In the third part, you will learn about mindsets that will position you for freedom from some of the most common fears people face.” Within her writing, she shares experiences from her own life on how she has dealt with fear. And I really like how each chapter includes a personal story of how someone dealt with and overcame something they feared in their own life.

Some helpful insights from the book include:

• Courage is not the absence of fear; it is moving forward in the presence of fear.
• The fact that we feel fear does not mean we have to live in fear, allowing it to dictate what we will and won’t do. We can choose to face fear with faith. We can feel fear and still do it afraid!
• The promise of God’s presence, which He made to people in biblical times, is your promise, too. God never promises that we won’t endure difficulties, but He does promise to be with us in them.
• Don’t let fear stop you, because if you do, you will miss amazing opportunities that God has prearranged for you to enjoy (Eph. 2:10).
• You can do anything that God asks you to do, no matter how difficult it is or how much experience you lack, if you will keep your eyes on Him and realize He is more than enough.
• If we live in the regrets of the past or in dread of the future, we miss what He has for us today. The greatest moment in your life is the present one. Live it fully by being present in the present.
• Feelings of fear may never completely go away, but if we regularly seek God for courage, we will always be strong enough to do whatever we need to do.

It seems like people are experiencing more fear than ever, with so many things going on in the world today. But whatever we are walking through, Joyce reminds us that God continues to walk through it with us and shares the encouragement of Psalm 118:6: The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. He will help us through anything we face. And because of that, we can live life fully and bravely every single day!

Sharing at Hearth & Soul, Inspire Me Monday.