I knew about the infamous, ferocious, Doberman but never saw her in real life until she busted through the door and spotted me across the room. I knew I was in real trouble by the stories I had heard about her. When I saw her, I believed them all and I was genuinely afraid. It was my brother's then girlfriends dog and after the frozen pause thawed, I was told, "act like you're not afraid of her and she won't attack you." I had no clue how to act not afraid. I was sure pee was dribbling down my leg. This dog stood taller than me on the ground and I was like a red headed dog treat, doused in peanut butter, waiting to be devoured. It was probably mere seconds that she got ahold of me but if felt like hours. 2 teenage girls later, they got "Poochie" off of me and I was pretty shook up. I tried to shake it off but fear found me out that day.
Fear doesn't work well in the animal kingdom. An animal can sense fear and prey on the ones that get isolated from the pack. It’s usually the weakest. It's strategic. It's their survival. Separate, isolate, destroy, devour. My guess is that "acting not afraid" can still get you as good as dead.
Our lives play out on a battlefield. There's a war for our hearts. The battle is very real and dismissing the battle makes us naïve and vulnerable.
We've spent so much time fearing the wrong things. We fear man because we know there will be judgment and ridicule, fear outcomes and the worst but we've neglected the lion who is prowling around seeking which one of us He might have for dinner.
It's time to take back what is rightfully ours. Our freedom, our beauty, our identity, our salvation, our children, our faith, our marriages, our hope, our future, our inheritance, our redemption, generations, our peace, the fruits and our hearts but we won't win them without a fight.
Time to put fear in its rightful place. We have given too much attention to it for too long. We cannot live in the resurrection power of the cross and the grave and live in fear of man and the enemy.
It's time to look fear in the face. Will you act fearless or will you BE fearless? Will you take your God given authority, stare the enemy down and show him just how big your roar is? Greater is HE that is in us. Perfect love casts out fear. Maybe, perfect love is our most powerful weapon.
Time to sharpen the sword, straighten the crown and practice my roar. Anyone else ready?
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” -1 Peter 5:8
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Jill Parr
≫ ≫ Singer. Speaker. Writer. Coffee consumer. Wife. Mom. Mimi. Shoe lover. These are some of the things that make Jill Parr who she is. Although she is passionate about all of these, she might be most passionate about helping women walk into their true identity of who it is that God created them to be.
Parr toured the country as a CCM recording artist, playing festivals and churches for over a decade. Never giving up her dream to sing full time, God started moving her in a new direction in 2009. She started speaking to women and singing less, all while wrestling with the idea of this new season.
Parr’s husband, Brian Hardin, founded the Daily Audio Bible in 2006. Parr is the founder of, “More Gathering” that is sponsored by the Daily Audio Bible, annually. (
www.moregathering.com)
Jill and Brian live outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with their 5 kids and first grandchild. They travel extensively throughout the year.
In addition to speaking and singing, Jill enjoys shoe shopping, the outdoors, cooking, fashion, music, painting art all while enjoying great coffee.
