Celebrate the Silent Night

For Sunday school at Saucon Bible Fellowship Church this month, we have been doing what's called hymnology for particular Christmas hymns. Hymnology is the scholarly study of religious hymns and songs, and I found it to be quite interesting because I love history and I'm a nerd at heart. My goal for this post is to examine the origin, historical significance, and Scripture behind Silent Night.
I'm currently sitting with my feet propped up on a coffee table and listening to my new favorite recording of the hymn by The Glass Child, who is a Swedish musician now residing in Bristol, in order to get in the right mindset for typing these words. The simplicity within the recording, along with the power of her vocals give me chills almost every time I listen to it, especially on the line, "Son of God, love's pure light." It's as if she is bringing the majesty of that moment to life out of the silence of that night so long ago.
Silent Night, or Stille Nacht, actually dates back to 1816. It was originally written in German by Joseph Mohr in 1816, but the music composition by Franz Gruber didn't develop until 1818. It was first sung at the 1818 Christmas Eve service in Oberndorf, Austria. It's popularity soon spread with the help of traveling musicians, being published as a hymn in 1838, and being translated into the English language in 1863. It has since become a Christmas staple for people around the world.
A surreal moment in history where Silent Night stands out took place during The Great War, specifically in 1914. It was a war that many thought would be over by Christmas, but alas, both sides were still heavily entrenched on the Western Front come Christmas eve of that year. Remarkably, on that evening, it is said that the Germans began lighting candles and make-shift tannenbaums while singing a stirring rendition of Stille Nacht. The British couldn't believe their eyes and ears, but soon both sides were singing, each in his own language. A truce was suggested, and leaders from both sides entered no-man's-land to shake hands. For that Christmas, enemies became friends, sharing pictures and gifts. Time was set aside for a soccer match, but more importantly, to bury the dead. Though it only lasted for that day, it's considered a miracle that such a truce was even possible during such a fiercely fought war. I would definitely recommend that you all watch the French film, Joyeux Noël, which depicts that miracle from 98 years ago and the moving rendition of Silent Night that took place that night.
Now I think it's time to begin a methodical dissection of the lyrics and the powerful meaning behind these carefully crafted words. The first verse goes as follows:

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

This verse mentions key points, such as the mother being a virgin and her child being a Holy infant. This clearly points to Luke 2:6-7, which states, "And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Earlier in Luke 1:26-38, it is revealed that Mary is with child, even though she's a virgin, because she was blessed by the Holy Spirit to conceive the Savior of the world. Not only was this a miracle, but it fulfilled the prophecy revealed in Isaiah 7:14 that said, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Verse two continues with the following:

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah

Christ, the Savior is born

Christ, the Savior is born

Immediately, I take note of the fact that the shepherds were uneasy about what had been revealed to them from heaven. This imagery lines up perfectly with what is written in Luke 2:8-9, which reveals that, "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear." The angel does reassure the shepherds to not be afraid and that they come bearing good news from heaven about a Savior being born in a manger. The angel and heavenly hosts were extremely exuberant, which is outlined in Luke 2:13-14 ~ "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'"

The third and final verse goes as follows:

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

When analyzing this verse, one must first turn to John 1:9, which says, "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." This statement was describing Jesus as the true light, much like the "love's pure light" from the verse. Continuing through the verse, the "dawn of redeeming grace" clearly points to the words within Romans 3:24 that say, "And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The light of the world is also our great Redeemer; through Him our grace is found. One must also not forget that Jesus was the Lord upon birth, which is depicted in Luke 2:11 ~ "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

In light of the link to Scripture, we should remember that God fulfilled His promises to the people of Israel on that silent night with the birth of Jesus in that lowly manger. God blessed us with His Son in order to save us. Upon the birth of Jesus, the world was blessed with a Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. The words of this simple hymn really drive this point home, and it is my hope that more people will examine the powerful meaning behind the lyrics as they sing them. They tell part of the most important and lifesaving story that exists.
This Christmas, be in the mindset of Relient K. In their song, I Celebrate the Day, they ponder the true meaning behind the birth of Jesus. They question whether He felt the impact from His own birth into this fallen world. It's profound that they say the following:

And the first time

That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior?

And the first breath that left Your lips

Did You know that it would change this world forever?

Even more profound is how the song ends with these lyrics:

And I, I celebrate the day

That You were born to die

So I could one day pray for You to save my life

During Christmastime, instead of dwelling on the stress of shopping, writing cards, baking cookies, and trying to make plans to visit friends and family, focus on the magnificent miracle of the birth of Jesus. Celebrate His coming into the world in a humble manner so that He could be your Lord and Savior. Without Jesus as our Redeemer, we have no hope of eternal life. Christmas is a time to celebrate the great impact of Jesus on that silent night over 2000 years ago. Take the time to concentrate on that fact the next time you listen to a rendition of Silent Night.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Resources:
Origins of Silent Night
The Center for Church Music, Songs, and Hymns
The Truce of Christmas, 1914 by Thomas Vinciguerra

Believing Truth

But the things you're telling me

I can't yet believe

Yet can't ignore

But I'll just have to accept

That my mind is so inept

And the only thing that's left

For me is to trust you

Put the emphasis on the evidence

Begging for the proof

Sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth

Cause sometimes when you're trying to sleep

And all your doubts and your faith don't agree its cause

Sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth

~The Truth by Relient K

When I was out driving around the other day, The Truth by Relient K came on my iPod. I've heard the lyrics many times before, but I was struck by the words this time around. I don't think I always consider how hard it is for nonbelievers to accept the Word of God as truth. I've been a Christian for almost ten years, which sometimes puts me at a disadvantage with those around me trying to come to faith. I don't remember what it's like not to believe and how to convey the message in a way that will make others turn to Jesus and examine the facts on the table.

I think I also tend to forget about the huge "behind the scenes" battle, so to speak, most commonly referred to as spiritual warfare. Satan is always trying to keep people from discovering and believing God. Paul spoke of this fact in 2 Corinthians 4:4, which states, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." It is important to know what we are all up against, mainly the opposition forces determined to hinder any spiritual growth in an unbeliever. As Christians, we need to share the Gospel and pray for these people to accept the truth. Preach John 14:6 so that people know that Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Only when Christians align with God to campaign against the Great Deceiver can any ground be won for unbelievers in beginning to accept the truth. We must continuously plant seeds in people's lives in order for God to nurture them into faith if they are willing to dismiss their doubts and choose belief in Christ.

I think the best verse that highlights the discrepancy between Christians and unbelievers can be found in 1 Corinthians 1:18 ~ "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Those who haven't accepted Christ into their hearts believe that the Gospel and Jesus dying for the world are complete foolishness. Their hearts and minds can't fathom how this is possible, and thus, they dismiss it based on it being utterly ridiculous. They refuse to accept the facts of the Bible. Instead, they claim there is no substantial proof for God's existence. The Christian, on the other hand, chooses to accept Christ into their hearts, even if it's difficult to believe the truth at first. It's not until this acceptance of the Gospel that we are blessed with the Holy Spirit, which can slowly reveal to us the spiritual truths that our human minds cannot begin to comprehend (1 Corinthians 2:13).

If you are a nonbeliever and reading this, I urge you to take that leap of faith and accept Christ into your heart. Once you accept Him, the incomprehensible truth about God will slowly be revealed to you on your journey of faith. Remember, sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth, but it is also lifesaving and essential for eternity.

Heart for the Lost

Do you ever feel drawn to certain people, but you don't know why? I've come to notice that I tend to interact with people in life and in social media who are struggling with issues and feel lost. I'm not quite sure why I'm drawn to such people. Maybe it's because I have such an intense desire to help and encourage others, even though I know that my impact on their circumstances is minimal. Maybe it's because the broken are always more honest and open about who they really are and I thrive on honesty. I'd much rather spend time with an admitted alcoholic than somebody who appears to have it all together, but is hiding part of who they really are. I don't have time for shams because I can always sense it.
I think a lot of it lies within my personality. I've taken the DISC personality test and there's no question that I represent steadiness. If I look at the list of attributes for someone with a steady personality, I come across the following: demonstrating patience, helping others, showing loyalty, being a good listener, and calming excited people. I like to think that my personality has some striking similarities to this list, which reinforces why I am drawn to those that others might not give the time to get to know. I've also taken surveys that highlight spiritual gifts, and the winners for me tend to be having mercy and encouragement. I have always noticed that I'm blessed with the ability to encourage certain individuals at just the right time, or I feel moved to send an encouraging text or email for no real reason. There are some who find this a bit odd, but I'm a firm believer in the fact that everybody needs a kind word to get through the day sometimes, so why not send something in the hopes of brightening a person's day?
My point in all of this is the fact that we all need to be sensitive to other people's needs and try our best to understand how we might be able to reach out and touch others. We are living in a difficult time where violence and unrest seem to be sprouting up and the most important thing for us to do is share the Gospel and have a heart for the lost. Proverbs 24:11 says, "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to slaughter." All around us everyday are people who meet this description. There are so many lost people out there who are caught up in greed, addiction, idolatry, and adultery that need a kind word of encouragement and deserve to hear about the Lord. Heaven is not for people who have their lives together, but for misfits who realize they need a Savior. Nobody is good enough in God's eyes, which is why we are saved by grace and it's the job of Christians to share this message with the world. It won't be easy, but take the time to consider your words when sharing with other people. They might not feel worthy or knowledgeable about God or Christianity. Try to formulate sentences to allow them to open their hearts to the possibility that they are wrong. Tell them to pray and believe in Jesus. God is the one who will save them in the end, but have a heart for the lost and be the salt and the light in somebody's life before it's too late.

Resist Denying Someone's Generosity

"Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" ~Luke 21:1-4 & Mark 12:41-44

Unless you live under a rock, you're aware that Christmas is next week. If you do live under a rock, I hope it's comfortable. Anyways, Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth and the coming of our Savior into the world to reconcile us to God. It is a time for family and gift giving. Many have great joy in being able to share with others, trying their best to pick out the perfect gift for Christmas. It's also a time when churches and other groups within the community make a point to help the needy and give to those less fortunate. But have you ever encountered a situation where one of the needy you were serving wanted to serve you? What would you do in such a situation?
I personally encountered this when I was volunteering with Samaritan's Purse. There were trailer owners who would offer to go buy us coffee and donuts, and we would turn them down at times. It just seemed so hard to allow someone who had so little as it was to go out and buy for us when we knew that we had lunch in the truck and would have a warm meal provided back at the church. There was always a part of me that felt bad saying no, though. I felt as if I was denying that person in some way. It wasn't until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving that I actually allowed one of the least of these to serve me. We were working on a shed in a woman's yard and her neighbor, who was a Vietnam veteran with PTSD, offered me a bottle of water. Even though we had a case of water with us, something inside me told me that I should accept this offer because he was giving up something in order to help, and that's what community is all about. We can't deny the service of a member just because we feel guilt for receiving a gift.
God dispenses blessings and the ability to bless on everybody, and we must remember that we are all equal in his eyes, no matter how much or how little we have. The Scripture at the top of this post demonstrates that it is better to give out of your poverty rather than your wealth, so why would we want to stand in the way of the generosity of somebody that God has moved to bless us? A very moving story about a situation like this can be found in the book Weird by Craig Groeschel. He was on a missions trip with his family and his daughter, Mandy, really touched the people of the community. They wanted to bless her with a dress that they had made that would cost one month's wages. Pastor Groeschel offered to pay for it and wanted the translator to pass that message on. Instead, his translator stared at him and said, "Please, it would be very rude for you to rob them of the blessings they would like to give you and your family on behalf of God." Luckily Pastor Groeschel got the point and realized he was wrong to even suggest paying for the gift. As he said, "Mandy's dress reminds me still of how arrogant we can become to assume we need nothing from the poor."
Offering to pay for a gift from a friend is considered a slap in the face, so why would we consider doing that to someone else just because they are poor? Rather we should accept the gift with the upmost joy, completely understanding the sacrifice that is being made in order to offer up the generous gift. God moves certain people to give no matter what it costs them in the long run, so I believe that we all must recognize these gifts as blessings and accept them as such.

Prayer is the Best Answer in Tragedy

Today, a senseless tragedy took place. At the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, a gunman opened fire and killed 26 people, 20 of whom were children. The news is still unfolding, but from what has been reported, a man in his 20s was targeting his mother, who was a kindergarten teacher, and her class. I have no words to express the anguish and sorrow I feel for the friends and families of those killed. It seems so senseless, especially with Christmas being only 11 days away.
There are many who will spend time asking why this has happened. Others will ask how this was possible. These are both valid questions, but I feel that prayer is the best way to get through a time like this. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 urges us to "Pray without ceasing," and I believe that is all we can do right now. Prayer is our open communication with God and we must ask Him for His comfort, love, and mercy for those impacted by this awful tragedy. He is aware of everything that goes on in this world, and we must make our requests made known to God. Prayer is powerful, and we must utilize the opportunity to communicate with God. Bible Gateway has provided this information on their blog, which might come in handy for prayer during this tragedy.
It's unfortunate to witness how far humanity has fallen into evil ways, and people need to pray, and as a friend of mine posted, "One thing remains the same, no one knows their number of days. Get to know Jesus people... the sooner the better."

When God Chooses to Be Burger King: Have it Your Way

"Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah  and said to him, 'Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.'  But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the Lord.  And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.'" 

~1 Samuel 8:4-7

It's been a little over a month since Obama won the recent election. Even though I do not agree with America's choice, I am at least thankful that I am no longer being bombarded with political ads and recorded phone calls telling me who I should vote for. There's always some form of light at the end of the tunnel, I suppose. But I digress.
I've been quite aware of those who were disheartened and discontent by the result of the election. Some might even be wondering why God even allowed Obama to be re-elected, especially in light of the imploding economy. But asking why never solves anything. Also, we may not agree with the reason why, particularly if we realize that it could be due to national disobedience and God granting the majority their desires, even if he does not agree.
A perfect example of this occurring in biblical history was when God granted Israel a king because they no longer wanted judges presiding over them. Samuel was the last judge and the elders did not approve of his sons as judges because they were crooked and did not follow in the ways of Samuel or the Lord. Samuel was distraught when he went to God with the elders' proposition for a king, but the Lord told Samuel to grant them their king. God was essentially saying, "Have it your way," since he was well aware of the true hearts of his people. The Lord knew that continuing on with judges would not appease Israel, but he also knew that an earthly king was not the answer. Instead of denying them a king, though, he granted their desires in the hopes that Israel would backpedal from their own decision and turn back to God as their presiding king and judge.
I believe the path of America has some similarities. The majority of Americans have turned their backs to God and are choosing to live in ways contrary to His ways. The laws that states are trying to pass that are contrary to the Constitution serve as proof of rebellion and how we contradict ourselves. Where else could abortion be legal, but murdering a pregnant woman is considered a double homicide? Also, how can it be illegal to utilize marijuana in America, but certain states can pass laws to make it legal?
Rather than trying to fix the problem, I believe God allowed Obama to get re-elected in the hopes that America would realize how far she's fallen away. America seems numb to her moral compass, and the people have developed hardness of heart. I believe this is something God has allowed, much like in the time after King Uzziah when the Lord had Isaiah say to the people, "'Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed,'" (Isaiah 6:10).
The only clear solution is for us to be sensitive to what our eyes see, ears hear, and hearts understand and turn to be healed by God. We must answer his call and allow him to be our Shepherd. God might have a Burger King moment, but only to serve the grander purpose of calling His sheep back to Himself. It is our job to heed the call and be zealous for the Lord. 

True Character Overflows From the Heart

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" ~1 Samuel 16:7

David was "a man after God's own heart," (Acts 13:22) but had a weak external appearance. The Lord knew that Samuel was jumping to conclusions when he first saw David, which was why he instructed Samuel to look deeper at David. David was a pint sized shepherd compared to his brothers, but the Lord knew the heart that dwelled within his chest and that David's heart loved the Lord. It was his heart that forged the way for him to become a great king, not his outward stature. Samuel thankfully trusted the Lord and anointed David king, despite his original consensus about him.

I believe that society needs to remember this key story in the Bible and return to the old ways of "judging" someone's character. Too often in this day and age people are judged based on their outward appearance, rather than their true inner character. Snap judgements keep the media stories rolling with journalists no longer willing to dig beneath the surface. It's a shame when your character boils down to the clothing you opted to wear or the social circle you decided to surround yourself with. What ever happened to getting to know someone's heart and truly understanding their character before dismissing them after a glance?

Honestly, I feel bad for people in the media who are known only for their fashion sense because once their tastes go out of style, they have nothing to fall back on. Since people would rather see what they're wearing, as opposed to peeling away the layers to expose the person's heart, their identity gets lost in the melee. Too often we focus on how smooth someone is in conversation or how sharply they are dressed. The Bible warns us of this in Proverbs 31:30, which states, "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Unfortunately this advice seems to fall on deaf ears since we all seem to be too engrossed in the superficial characteristics of high society.

I've endured my fair share of snap judgements. People have made up their own mind about who they think I really am based on superficial encounters, and I just laugh at their laziness in social settings. Rather than asking me about my interests, people run rampant with assumptions. Instead of learning that I wear bright neon colors because of my years as a runner and knowing that I refused to pass up an awesome $5 t-shirt deal in California, there was one person who automatically assumed I was gay based on the San Francisco shirt I wore one evening. 

The flip-side to this is that I am also guilty of making snap judgements of others, which is a trait I'm determined to change. I need to dig deeper and make attempts at getting to know people for who they truly are, and not just what I see on the surface. I have come to realize that I'm a tough nut to crack, so why would anybody else be different? Personalities are deeply intricate and can't be revealed in a single day, let alone a five minute encounter. What comes to mind for me is a Saturday two weeks ago where I began my day working for Samaritan's Purse, went to a wedding, and then finished off my evening with dinner with my SP family. Throughout the course of the day, I went from wearing multiple layers of filthy work clothes, to a strapless red cocktail dress with heels, to jeans and a hoodie advertising the punk rock band, Icon for Hire. If anybody had encountered me in only one of those scenarios, they would assume they could make a judgement based on my appearance. But if somebody had seen me in all of those outfits, they would quickly realize that there's more than meets the eye.

This is why God so thoughtfully reminds us, especially women, how to base our judgements of others, and how to present ourselves to the outside world. The following is written in 1 Peter 3:3-4 ~ "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." God doesn't want us to be attention grabbing with our clothing ensembles. Rather, He wants us to have a gentle spirit to attract people to us, which is much more enchanting than any wardrobe. Your inner beauty will shine brighter than any jewels, and will serve the purpose of drawing others to God when they realize you possess something they don't have and they can't put their finger on it. Likewise, seek the true heart of others so that you don't miss out on all that their spirit has to offer. Look past the superficial and delve into the sincerity of their hearts.

Satan: The Father of Lies

"'He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.'" ~John 8:44b-44d

Every Christian needs to know and be aware of the fact that any fears they have in this world are not of God, but derived from Satan. Satan knows our weaknesses and tells us lies in order to keep us from getting close to God. He is the prince of manipulation, even going so far as to twist God's own words to deceive Eve in the Garden and to tempt Jesus after his time in the desert. Like Jesus, we must rebuke Satan as a liar in order to keep him from having the upper hand in our lives.
Earlier this year, I penned a post entitled W.A.I.T. Part 8: Fear of Man, which outlined how fearing our fellow man causes us to stumble in evangelism. Some of my more recent posts also have the underlying theme of Satan utilizing our weaknesses to stall our progress as a Christian. I believe the reason behind my dwelling on fear and Satan is not only because we all need to be reminded of its origin and his existence, but also because it has been a personal struggle of mine as of late.
Doubt and fear have been all too familiar to me in the past. I believe I have allowed them to hinder me because rather than resting in God's love and joy, I insist on analyzing and reanalyzing my past failures. Through this unnecessary hyper-analysis of the negative, I believe I have developed within myself a touch of athazagoraphobia, or the fear of being forgotten or ignored, much like the psalmist who penned Psalm 31:12a, "I have been forgotten like one who is dead." I agree that this seems ridiculous and almost laughable, yet I know the fears that haunt my brain when I allow Satan to have his way. Satan likes to remind me of all of those who have walked away from me in life in order to make me doubt myself when I forage new friendships, especially with fellow believers. In moments of weakness, I can convince myself that certain people wouldn't possibly want to be friends with me or stay friends with me if they truly knew all about me, or I might drive them crazy by keeping in touch too frequently. Deep down I know this isn't true because I have maintained some strong friendships over the years, but I wanted to present a demonstration of how fear can infest one's whole train of thought and completely skew reality.
In order to keep Satan at bay, it is very important for Christians to utilize fellowship with other believers and to turn to God and the Bible. Fellowship and communication with other Christians is important because it doesn't allow us to become isolated, which is Satan's goal. The only way his deception can completely control us is if we separate ourselves from others and we keep our fears locked inside. As my pastor said in one of his sermons, "Suppressed fears can conquer us; speak out about your fears." Having Christian friends to go to with your fears is essential for overcoming them and growing closer to God. I'm thankful to have someone with whom I can be completely honest and receive valuable advice on how my thinking is skewed. When I expressed my fear of being an annoyance to friends, I was so thankful for her encouragement and her honesty. Some of the best advice I've ever received was this: "If you annoy them, they aren't the right people. You need to let go of it and just be yourself. You're not annoying, you're never a bother. You just seem to have friends that are jerks to you. Don't change yourself to accommodate someone else, especially when there is nothing wrong with you."
The amazing part about fellowship in the body of Christ is that advice from one member can help another member, even if they have never met, but have mutual friendships. This occurred recently in my life. Using the advice I received from a friend on my own fears, I was able to repackage and present fresh advice to another friend dealing with her own fears. In presenting my advice, I also encouraged myself to not be a hypocrite. I can't tell someone that "living in fear of screwing up isn't how to go through life and that the best thing you can do is be yourself," without being impacted by my own words. I must practice what I preach in order to bring life and meaning to my words so that I myself am not spewing out lies.
In our struggle with internal fears, it is also essential that we turn to God and His Word. As C.S. Lewis put it, "To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?" God is bigger and stronger than our deepest fears, the great conqueror of the father of lies. In order to remind ourselves of this, we must delve into the Bible for instances where God assisted others plagued with fear.
Last week I came across the notes I took on a sermon back in May. It centered around the chapter of Joshua 8, and was aptly entitled "Facing Fear." My pastor spoke on how Joshua was fearing the upcoming battle at Ai due to his past failure there. He was reluctant to press forward because he was paralyzed by memories of failure. Joshua was in need of God's encouragement in order to get him to continue on rather than hesitate. God was aware of Joshua's fears, which is why God came to him in Joshua 8:1 and said, "'Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.'" This is exactly what Joshua needed to hear. He needed a reminder of God's faithfulness and that through Him, Joshua would be granted success in the future.
Getting caught up in past failures can put a damper on your future. Instead of dwelling on what's gone wrong in your life, get closer to God because He is greater than your fears. Only God can provide the soothing words that we need to press forward in life. Remember that God is always present in your life and won't forsake you. Take comfort in Psalm 139:1-3 ~ "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways." Knowing that God is completely aware of your being and each aspect of your thoughts should draw you closer to Him. By having a relationship with Jesus, you will remain safe in the Father's arms, far from the reach of Satan. As Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, "When the heart is flooded with love there is no room for fear, for doubt, for hesitation." By filling your mind with thoughts of love, your brain won't have time to process all of the fear and lies that Satan is trying to use to deceive you.
So continue to read your Bible in order to come to a better understanding of the ways of Jesus. In doing so, you will become enveloped in the joy and love that are ever present within Him. Building a strong bond with God is the best defense against the deception that Satan bombards you with.  Remember the words of 1 John 4:18, which says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." Since God is love, fear will be far from Him. Those who live close to God reside within His love and won't be prone to unrelenting ambushes of fear from Satan. But if you ever do feel that fear is creeping in, rebuke Satan and discuss your fears with a close friend and God. They will help you through the difficult times and serve as a reminder to dwell in love, not fear.