Duck Dynasty star, speaker, and author Sadie Robertson is an inspiration for both young people and adults in the way she lives, what she believes in, and how she sticks to her faith and passions. People all around the world can learn so much from her in her new book, Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose.
Below are some highlights:
"God has done a complete work in my life, and I know He wants to do the same for you."
“When we're afraid, we have a tendency to pray and ask God for peace before we'll step out and do what frightens us. But most of the time, we simply need to move forward. Once we break through the fear, God gives us the most amazing sense of peace- but usually not while we're still deciding whether to conquer it or not."
"When you're faced with something you want to do, but you find yourself afraid to do it, ask yourself the same question Bella asked me: 'Is this the fear talking, or is this me talking?' Fear will hold you back from some of the most awesome experiences life has to offer, but you don't have to let that happen."
"Plankton are microscopic, yet they provide oxygen for more than half of the world… Just like plankton, you are created with a purpose. Do everything you can do to fulfill the purpose with passion. If the Lord put purpose in plankton, you'd better believe He put purpose in you!"
“Probably the very best Bible verse there is about the mind is Philippians 4:8… My challenge to you right now is to memorize this verse. Then whenever you have a fearful thought, remember these words and ask yourself, 'Does this thought fall into one of these categories?' If the answer is no, stop thinking it and think about something that does."
“When a scary thought first works its way into your brain, you have a choice. You can camp out on that thought in your mind, or you can deal with it right away to keep it from becoming scarier than it already is."
“The best way I can describe the crazy train is that it's a series of thoughts that takes you down a certain path in life. It's moving you in a specific direction- not necessarily a good one- and you just keep riding it. The way to stay on a crazy train is to keep thinking the way you're thinking, never entertaining the idea that you could take your life in a different direction if you'd simply change the way you think."
"…Satan is the father of lies, just like we read in John 8:44…He'll plant a thought in our mind- something totally not true-and the next thing we know, we believe it! ...That very first lie we believe, that moment we give power to the enemy, is when we board the crazy train. When we believe the first lie, we make it easier for him to convince us of the second one, the third one, all the way to the end of the crazy train."
“Since I was, say, kindergarten age, I would not have given one thought to connect-the-dot drawings…But not long ago, it dawned on me that what God does in our lives is like those connect-the-dot pictures…He has a specific purpose for each of us, and He maps out our journey so everything in our lives moves us closer to that purpose…The dots are the places that challenge us and shape us. They're the things that will make us who we're meant to be and that gives us the freedom and strength we need to live our very best lives."
“I'm talking about letting go of negative emotions like fear, disappointment, and all things that make you feel ugly and unworthy. You just release all of that pain and roll it over to God… Ignoring the pain we bury is completely wrong. The hurts we try to cover up in our hearts get infected and inflamed, and they affect us in negative ways, even when we do not realize it."
“Exhaling your ugly isn't comfortable…But it's worth it…Here are seven steps to exhale your ugly: pray like crazy, tell yourself the truth, get your pain out, ask God to heal you, share your heart with someone you trust, open your heart to healing, and believe God's word."
“Sometimes all we need to gain victory in life is to be like David. We just look at what we have, what is before us, and we see the good in it. We don't think about what we can't do or what we don't have. We look at what we can't do or what we don't have. We look at what God has given us. And we realize that what He has given us is enough, with His help and His grace, to find our way to victory in every battle."
“Legends can learn five lessons about overcoming fear from David: know that God is on your side; don't let yourself be intimidated; remember who you are, who God is, and what you have accomplished; fight with your own armor; and give God the glory."
“Whether it's wind, water, clouds, or leaves on trees, when you see something in nature, look for God in it. Whenever you see something He created, you can find him in it. And whenever you find Him, you can overcome your fears. Every time you take a step of faith, it's like knocking the breath out of fear."
“It's time to stop relying on other people for your sense of value and to stop letting their opinions determine what you think about yourself. I challenge you to do that."
“People are fickle. They will love you some days, but not so much on other days. The only constant in this world is Jesus… God created you and he knows exactly how to lead you in the dance of your life. All you have to do is pay attention to the nudges and follow Him."
“God won't put His promises in your way, but He will put them within your reach."
“Don't let shame or regret steal your future the way fear has stolen your past. Receive the freedom Jesus died to give you, and move forward in faith to live the amazing life He has for you, never looking back."
To learn more from Sadie, check out her book, Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose. Also, check out her podcast, Whoa That's Good!, and her Live Original tour to see if she's coming to a city near you!