I have known great moments of faith, of trusting and confidence in God.
I have also know intense moments of fear, of gut wrenching, paralyzing pressure.
Christianity is based on faith not fear, but so often we get beaten about by fear and feel lacking in the faith department.
Faith is belief, a knowing even when we can’t see it, a trusting confidence based upon who God is and His extreme love for us. (Hebrews 11:1)
Fear is the opposite of faith. It is more often than not the root of many problems; worry, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, restlessness, anger, sickness.
God knows we struggle with fear. But He desires for us to overcome our fears. “Fear not” is recorded over 365 times in the Bible. His best for us is that we live free; free from fear and full of faith, trust and confidence in Him.
Look in His book; (the bible) it reveals and guides us on how to live free from fear, and walking in faith. It is a choice, and it is our choice.
Matthew 7:24-27 is the story Jesus told of the wise and foolish builders.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
To live a life of faith not fear we are encouraged to build our life on solid foundations. Jesus is the most solid foundation there is. Without Him I would estimate there is good reason to be afraid. The world is full of confusion, loneliness, violence, hopelessness, sickness and death. Outside of Jesus I can’t give an antidote or answer to being afraid!
There are plenty of people who try: positive thinking, meditation, exercise, health kicks, hobbies, study, careers, travel, relationships. Many of these things are good in themselves, but they are not necessarily a lasting antidote for fear.
These things don’t deal with the spirit behind fear, and our powerlessness to control those things beyond human control.
In the world today we can easily feel helpless and out of control. So our human inclination is to grasp at anything; to grasp at what we can control, to make ourselves feel more secure. We hope in finding that security our fears will be dispelled.
But who knows the future, and what tomorrow will bring. Just watching the news, or picking up a paper or talking to people can cause fear to rise up within us. We can’t control everything, and too often we can end up on very shaky, anxious ground when we try.
Jesus said in John 10:10 that “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full“. There is no fear mentioned or included in that life. Jesus is that rock we build our lives upon. The storms of life will come, but Jesus is rock solid and said “In me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world.”
If we want to live a life free from fear we live a life of faith!
Three things which help us to live a life of faith and not fear are:
To make Jesus the rock upon which we build our life. He is the foundation. Foundations must be strong and solid. The walls and roof can look great, but if the foundations of our house (life) are shaky and not based on anything substantial and trustworthy then everything will eventually come down. We begin to live a life of faith not fear, when we get to know who Jesus is, what He did for us, and why we can believe; how to pray, and how to read and claim the promises in His word. Simply getting to know Jesus causes our faith and trust in Him to grow.
Surrender and obey. (Jesus what would you have me do ?) When we get to know Him we start to discover we can give over all our burdens and self-leadership to Him. He is God and He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between. We see partially, He sees eternally “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Fill your life with Jesus. When we come to Jesus He cleanses us, pardons us from all wrong doing and fills us with His power strength and love. Being filled with God leaves no room for doubting or fear. Empty out yourself and make room for God to fill you with His perfect love which casts out all fear! “No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. (1 John 4:8)
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:16-20)
Prayer: Allow me to speak a blessing over you today: I bless you today as you realise more fully the depths of God’s love for you. I bless you as you make Jesus the foundation upon which you build your life.That all fear will be washed away as you ask Him what He would have you do, and make room in your life for Him. Be blessed with the fullness of His love and goodness, full of faith and free from fear. In Jesus Name Amen.