Many times in the Bible the Lord came with a BIG assignment or some really amazing news and made sure the first thing that was declared was, “DO NOT BE AFRAID!” I have read that there are 365 scriptures that talk about fear! Some even say 366 so the Lord even covered leap years.

Why is it that our human nature generates a massive wave of fear that can stop us dead in our tracks when receiving a great commission and call from the Lord? Our fleshly instinct sees the big picture and automatically begins to develop the dreaded “Do I Have What It Takes” syndrome. We then journey through the checklist of skill, charisma, provision, connections, qualifications and so on … anxiety and fear rises up ensuring that failure is ahead. Then we grab a fuzzy blanket and retreat to our spiritual remote control and plush couch at a place called Camp Fear!

Creation was not trembling in fear the day God spoke His plan to it. Darkness did not say, “Well you know God, black really is my favorite color. I am a little anxious because I have never been that bright before.” Yet we, like Moses, come up with excuses drizzled with fear not realizing that before we were born, God’s plan was in motion for this very assignment.

For the past 10 years I have been traveling with our ministry and passionately pursuing to be a voice for today’s generation. This includes writing and producing productions, leading a discipleship program for college aged girls and guys for 9 month internships, traveling the nation with our events with over 40 staff and interns as well as having to speak to thousands throughout the nation. As director of Revolution Ministries, along with my husband, I have to do things now that if asked 10 years ago if I could do them, really any of them, I would have told you that you had the wrong girl. Most people know me as the lady that has the “dance ministry,” but the fruit produced out of our ministry is far more reaching than what dance could accomplish. By using the vehicle of dance and the visual arts, we are able to draw people in to tell them about their Savior, who is passionately in love with them. Once they see an illustrated picture of who He is and His thoughts of them, they take away a lasting impression sketched in their mind. Even now, we are embarking on a new worship service called “The MOVEment” in Dallas/Fort Worth (www.themovementdfw.com), which utilizes the visual arts to spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ. We just had our first meeting with over 400 in attendance. I do not say this to brag, I say this because …

Do you know that when I was 20, I turned down a fully paid mission trip to Romania just because I would have to get up in front of my church and share my name? Yes, that’s correct. I had to get up and say my name and introduce myself; I decided that was too much to ask and pulled out of the trip. You see, I was deathly afraid to speak and stand in front of large audiences. When faced with this task, my anxiety would begin with cold sweats from head to toe and heart palpitations, then I would get a very strong feeling of blacking out. Another time, after having met the man of my heart’s desire, I had the opportunity to have every girl’s dream: a big beautiful wedding. Instead, I asked Alec every day up until the wedding if we could simply elope because of my fear that everyone would be looking at me, and that I would actually have to speak (I DO). On the day of my wedding, they had to custom make me a bouquet that had an ice pack embedded in my beautiful bunch of roses. Oh yes, an ice pack, just so I wouldn’t faint. I have the pictures to prove this. I had to have fans blowing at me from every angle as we stood at the altar. In all the pictures of my wedding I looked like I had a mohawk veil because it was standing straight up from the hurricane force winds coming at me from the fans. The poor preacher, a family friend, could hardly concentrate because of the windy distraction. So distracted was he, that he repeatedly called me by my mother’s name the entire ceremony. I sure hope my marriage is legal!

Anyway, finally … REVELATION! My husband sat me down and said, “You know, everyone is not thinking about you as much as you think they are thinking about you!” What? The universe and all of its glory is not concerned if I will look stupid? Or watching to see if I will fall flat on my face as everyone is looking at me? They are not twittering “Michelle Brogan preaches and didn’t seem to be in the ‘flow’?”  Do you mean to tell me that people are not checking my Facebook to see how successful I have become and if I have attained most popular?

You see, the enemy and his army want nothing more than to keep us in places called Camp Fear and Camp Comfort. He can get us thinking that the task is too big and too overwhelming by playing a counterfeit prophetic movie displaying our failure … pushing us into Camp Fear. He may even use the strategy of letting us know just how much effort, work, time and energy this assignment from the Lord will take … shoving us into Camp Comfort. It’s then that we must remind our enemy what the Word says … His yoke is easy and His burden is light … with Him ALL things are possible for those who believe. If He calls me to do it, He will equip and empower me for success. We allow the enemy to work his confusion and fear-filled schemes causing spiritual paralysis and the inability to move forward in God’s plan.

Looking back, everything I can think of that I was afraid to do, I am pretty much doing now in my life as a part of the plan He has laid out for me. Did I mention I loathe flying on planes? Well guess what else I do for most of my calling … FLY! I used to make my husband drive me around the country because I could find nowhere in the Bible that Jesus had to call American Airlines to “Get to the other side”. Finally, yet again, “Revelation” from my husband came as I refused to fly to California to one of our ministry events. “Michelle, Jesus may not have flown, but He did say do not be afraid. Remember, perfect love casts out all fear that includes flying on planes.” Ohhhh! Ok, I should know this. So I began to step out by faith and fly. The first time I began flying again (I use to fly all the time as a child traveling with my parents) I thought it would be so special, so peaceful. I would have my newly found courage and I thought I would be up with the captain and earning my little wings as passenger of the year. Unfortunately, the total opposite happened. Breathing in brown bags, believing I smelled smoke during take-off and pressing all the overhead buttons to let every stewardess know there had to be a fire onboard. I would even ask everyone around me if they happened to hear that strange noise, as if they were professional airline technicians. Still to this day, flying is not my favorite things to do, but guess what? I do it!! I’ve come to realize that at the end of the plane ride is a generation that desperately needs to hear the truth and power of His love. The enemy would like nothing more than to have fear overtake me and keep me from reaching the destination to which He has called me.

One character I love to read about and study is Joshua. One of the original fighting aged men that actually got to enter the promise land! He was not afraid of the giants in the land, and God made sure to encourage Joshua’s faith and affirm him over and over again (Joshua 8:1, 10:8, 10:25). “Do not Fear! Don’t fear nor be discouraged, Do not be afraid!” God would continually set before Him the promise to defeat his enemies and Joshua moved with fierce confidence that was extended to the people once it was time to cross over. He didn’t even look at the Jordan as an obstacle. He prophesied to the peeps that they were to get up, pack up camp, and MOVE forward because he knew that the Lord would do amazing things in their midst. Interesting, because it wasn’t until a little later in scripture that the Lord actually declared what He wanted Joshua to do, and what He was going to do for the people of Israel. You see … Joshua had a track record with the Lord. He knew that He was faithful but he also knew God called him to things that most men would have totally feared. That is why He could prophecy to the troops and the people what was going to happen before it ever began.  God wasn’t looking for a gladiator to take on the armies of the Promise Land. He was looking for someone that would trust that He would go before them and fight for them. He was looking for a man that would Hear, Believe and Obey His voice, not Hear, Fear and shake with Tears.

We are now in a position in the body of Christ to live out some of the boldest, most radical things we have yet to see. Not because the Lord is trying to see how far He can push us, but because time is running out and He wants to display His glory like in the former times: Seas parting, rods turning into snakes, arks being built before the storm, walls tumbling down as a result of marching and shouting. I would not be surprised to hear that one of His angels visited you tonight to declare a great assignment that only you can fulfill. He has seen your faithfulness and He has heard your prayers. Just be careful when the call comes to leave your camp that you look at the journey ahead not with natural glasses but rather with supernatural ones. If Joshua would have looked at all the obstacles naturally that were before him, he would have pitched a tent with the Camp Fear and Camp Comfort folks back at home base. But, instead, Joshua decided to join Camp Surrender, a place where readiness and expectancy in the Lord is the camps motto. This is a place where the people’s great faith provokes them to peek out the tent with great courage, awaiting the day that the call comes.

I think back to the day that I was awakened in 1999 in the early hours of the morning to a defining moment in my life. It is then that God laid out for me the plan that he had for me since time began. I still have it written in a black spiral notebook. I had a choice to make that morning as the Lord showed me visions of large and small crowds, stadiums, visual art productions, salvations, pioneering a movement and open doors beyond my wildest beliefs. For a split second I had the thoughts of, “Do I have what it takes?” My initial answer was no, but then I regained confidence knowing the He had what it takes and He  was looking for a vessel that was ready to be filled and empowered. The vision almost paralyzed me with fear and the desire to remain right where I was. But I knew what I had been praying for … to be used of God in BIG and MIGHTY ways. And I was certain that God heard that cry. Looking back, I am so thankful I said yes, because it was He that stepped in and did the rest.

I can thankfully say that speaking in front of crowds doesn’t scare me anymore. Leading people in three different facets of our ministry, discipling young women and men, and being mom and wife doesn’t throw me into a panic like it used to. Now, planes … well, as long as there is no heavy turbulence, I can stick my IPOD in my ears and worship from runway to runway! My hearts cry to you today is “Do Not Fear!” The fear you submit to is the thing that will always enslave you. But the fear you fight through is the thing that will have you experience breakthrough.

I encourage you, friends, to be a part of Camp Surrender! The s’mores are plentiful and the campfires burn bright. The Lord is looking for world changers and history makers, and that is you! When He comes and hands you the blueprint for building more of His kingdom, do not fear! He is with you! He will glorify Himself through you and you will walk it out in peace and encouragement knowing He is going ahead of you. When the enemy presents you with the picture of the Giants along with the mini movie of how you will not succeed, be encouraged that the One who created you and calls you by name is the same one who will give you the victory.

Michelle is a visionary, speaker, producer, wife, mother, and mentor. She has been traveling the country for over ten years utilizing her testimony and unique illustrated sermons to see an awakening of the heart for all who desire change. Founding Dance Revolution in 2000, Ingredients Dance Company and mentorship program in 2006, and most recently founding the MOVEment in March of 2010, God is expanding her territory and fulfilling her hearts cry. Her powerful testimony and passionate delivery not only transforms but delivers a change that is permanent and life changing. The once clinically labeled agoraphobic that was locked in her house for 6 months is now going out fighting for a generation to have a real encounter with their amazing Savior.

Read more about Michelle and The MOVEment at:

www.theMOVEmentdfw.com

www.revolutionministriesusa.com

michellebrogan.com

Michelle Brogan