Faith over Fear
Faith over Fear
The Walk of Faith Has Begun!
Hello old and new readers. I have been away learning about this very title, faith vs. fear. How do we build our faith and not grow in fear? I have been learning for a very long time what it means to have faith, especially when faced with uncertainty and anxious, scary experiences. I am not a prodigy in the least on this subject; however, our Savior and God in heaven have been shaping me to learn what this means, and how to fight the fear and anxious thoughts. I am still learning how to exercise my brain to do those drills necessary to keep me in line with the Lord, in His will. All the while, I am going through such drudgery (struggles) at the same time. I am learning how to have peace and joy, right in the face of the enemy, and to the disdain of my flesh's natural inclination, which is to give up and control my circumstances.
24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
God speaks in His Word about the ways in which to fight the war that wages against us as we abide in Jesus and His will. Some "mountains" or "giants" we face are sometimes pretty large or pretty little. To compare your "giant" to another is not fair to the other or yourself. The enemy who wars against your faith and your peace makes you feel foolish for your experiences, as you grow in your faith, in Him. This enemy makes you think you are failing at all points, not saved, not growing, not usable. First, let me make it clear:
God is:
He is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and the One and Only Perfect Creator, Provider, and Father (Daddy, Abba) in heaven.
Jesus is:
He is our Perfect sacrifice, King, Shepherd, Friend, and Leader.
Holy Spirit is:
He is our Perfect Friend, Teacher, Comforter, and Guide within us.
While there are many names and examples of Who God is, They are perfect and Holy, they are One.
4“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
6For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
El Shaddai and Jehovah Jireh are my heart's names for God, as I go through life.
El Shaddai is: He is our All Sufficient One/Almighty God.
Jehovah Jireh is: He is our Perfect Provider.
These three, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ, Yeshua), and God the Holy Spirit are all these and more!
I recommend you look into the names of God and think about how the meanings of His names help you in your time of need, and for more reasons for worship. 😉💓
Realizing the character of our God we love and serve requires getting to know Him. He has a personality. Who is He? How do you get to know our Abba (Daddy) in heaven? It is that book of verses and stories you might be passing up through your time on this earth. I bet, when you look at that sacred book, you worry that there will be condemnation and no hope found in those pages. You may be thinking that you haven't been diligent, why start now? You might also believe that you can't understand what it says.
Let me fill you in on a secret (it is not so much a secret, as it is a misunderstanding):
The Word of God (Old and New Testament of the Bible), which is written inspirationally by and about Jesus Christ (Yeshua), our Savior (Messiah), through the Holy Spirit's guidance, is the most freeing and most alive document you have ever seen in your life. It is full of the fountain of youth, the truth of all truths, the key to the end of death, and beginning of a new life. Jesus our Savior is at the beginning (Genesis) to the end (Revelation) of the whole book of books.
God's words strike the deepest recesses of your mind and pinpoint that part of your existence that has been dead or barely hanging on within you.
This is my heart's verse (Hebrews 4:12) that helped me hang on as long as possible to this existence, and helped me see how valuable His Word, the Bible of the New Testament and Old Testament are to us:
11Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
It seems scary to think that God knows the deep thoughts and intents of the heart, even before you know what your about to do and say. Psalm 139 Do you understand to what extent that He knows you? He actually knows you better than yourself. He is the one that goes to battle for you daily to keep you safe or to learn from a fall. Yes our Father allows you to fall, because He already planned ahead for your rise from the bottom. 😌💕
This is where faith begins to shape you.
The first strategy that I have been explaining is that you need to know who Jesus our Savior, our Father in heaven, and the Holy Spirit are. What is God's character? What kind of Father or Friend is He? What kind of Shepherd is He? What kind of teacher is He? How does He teach us?
The way in which to learn this important information is to read His word intently. Going to church regularly, attending Bible Studies, and doing your own study (maybe with one friend), will help you along with your faith journey.
There are many other tools that I will recommend, in my next blogs, you use as you grow in your faith, and walk away from the fear in this dark world. This is a pivotal beginning for those of you who know Jesus as your Lord and Savior already.
Some of you may be reading this going, "I read the Bible"?!?
That is great that you read the Bible. However, when I say read, I mean study and meditate on His word. It is pointless to read the verses one time and walk away. That is not how comprehension of a difficult text works. This text is living and complex. Understand, it doesn't mean inaccessible to understand, just that there is more than meets the eye with first glance.
However, I do want to stress: This is a book that provides a method for you to have a one on one dialogue with The Creator of the Universe. Does that make sense? You will develop the relationship with Him that you never had. Your faith walk and the relationship will become deeper and deeper, as you take the time to get to know Him. Listen and think upon what He is saying to you. He loves you and always will. 💓Whether you fail, fall, or are walking straight ahead. He will lift you up and He will hold you. Learn what He wants for you as a loving Father, a loving husband, a devoted friend. The Holy Spirit is your teacher. Who speaks through your Pastor or Bible Teacher? The Holy Spirit does 💓
25“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
If this makes no sense to you, then I ask and implore you to read the Word and find out how come you don't see it the same way I do. Those who are His, and love Him, know and identify with these words in their life and heart. They know and believe this deeply. The Word speaks about us being one minded.
If you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, nor know who He is to you. Please visit my website that explains the gospel. This will be the first step to realizing the benefits of faith and will help you lose the grip of fear on your life.
The final word I leave you with in this post is this:
19“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and [f]manifest Myself to him.”
22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
If you love Him, isn't it important to read what He has to say to you?
What is the next step? I will let you know in the next blog. To be continued...
(Hinted tools: Prayer and Praise) I challenge you to learn these and their significance before I get back to this blog. 😉
Credits: Knowing You - Shane & Shane Lyrics Single: Knowing You Lyrics
Credit: Music video by MaDieuVit
Shane & Shane performing Your Love. (C) 2011 Shane and Shane
Credit: Music video by Shane & Shane
Shane & Shane performing There is a Fountain.
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