Faith and Fear

Yes, I am a strong believer that my faith must always trump my fears.
However that doesn’t mean I walk around with a big F on my chest all the time. It does not mean that I don’t get scared and wonder how I am going to make it through certain situations. It doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes allow the stresses of life to weigh me down.It doesn’t mean that I am immune to heartbreaks, sickness, or attacks of the enemy. It doesn’t mean that sometimes I don’t exercise bad judgment or make horrible decisions.
Yes, sometimes I worry, sometimes I get angry, sometimes I even cry about the things I see in the natural. And that’s ok. Those are normal reactions to life’s unpleasant moments and there is no reason to feel ashamed of those moments.
But the key is to not stay and dwell there. The key is to build up your faith arsenal when things are going well, so that you are equipped for the not so good moments. Study those scriptures on faith and commit them to memory so you can speak to your fears when they arise.
The key is to hold close the memories of the times that you activated your faith and God stepped in. And if you are short of experiences, glean from those that have stories to share about their faith.
The key is to still be able to cry out to God in your weakest moments knowing that regardless of what you are facing … He is STILL God. You don’t have to come to Him with it all together … He is there when you are completely broken… even when you can’t even say a prayer because of the intensity of your tears.
There isn’t a magic potion for increasing your faith, it’s a process. However the more you activate your faith instead of going (or staying) in panic mode– the more it will become a way of a life and not a second thought.
And one day you will boldly be able to declare that your faith ALWAYS trumps your fears....


haiz

To Be Strong to the Finish

Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will

       be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” 

There is nothing more wonderful or comfortable than having grown in God to a place where we are at peace with Him in every area of our life. Learning to live with discipline and self-control brings a harvest of peace that far exceeds the short-term thrill of living without boundaries or accountability.
By the same token, there is nothing worse than waking up with a guilty conscience, knowing there’s something unsettled between us and God. The only way to settle things with Him is by learning to say “no” to the things that poison our life, and sticking with people and situations that contribute to our spiritual well-being. Understand that God has put those people and situations in our life to polish us and mold us into the image of Christ. 
To grow strong in the Lord, we need a balanced diet that includes not just comfort and encouragement, but also clear instruction on what we must do to grow in our faith.


haiz