Hello Everyone!
How exactly do we allow our faith to be big? How do we choose faith over fear? I'm glad you asked. That’s what we're going to talk about in our blog today.
1) Make God your FIRST priority, not your LAST resort- Make the choice in your mind to let faith be your first response. When things happen, we immediately think negatively and add fuel to our fears and anxiety. Instead of choosing to fear first, make a conscious choice to trust God first; literally tell yourself over, and over, and over, “God I trust you no matter what”. Choose a few scriptures pertaining to fear and faith and recite those scriptures to yourself. My go-to scriptures are 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18, Isaiah 26:3, and Psalms 94:19. These are scriptures I find myself quoting when I’m fearful or anxious; I repeat these scriptures until I feel the peace of God settle my mind and anxious thoughts.
2) Read your bible! – In the previous step, I mentioned reciting scripture; how can you know the scripture unless you read your bible. 2 Timothy 2:15, tells us, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” The way we get closer to God and learn more about him is through reading his word. Even if it's just for a few minutes a day, (not just looking at the daily verse on your bible app to maintain your streak) read your word. One of the main ways we can fight the devil and bring our thoughts under subjection is through reading the word of God.
3) Guard your heart – Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” It is so important, especially now more than ever to be careful what we consume and I’m not just talking about eating. Donald Lawrence has a song called ‘Your Righteous Mind (Y.R.M)’). One part in the song says, “Guard your hearing, guard your seeing, guard your speaking, guard your heart…” I cannot stress the importance of this point. Scrolling through social media or watching tv all day is not fortifying your mind (unless you're listening to the word of God); I’m not saying never watch tv or use social media, however we need to know when enough is enough. I’m learning that watching the news can induce fear and anxiety, especially considering everything going on with COVID-19, and the social unrest. What you feed your mind, and what you dedicate your time and energy to is what is going to manifest. The bible tells us, where your treasure is, so will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21). Fill your mind with things that are going to build you up, not constantly cause you to worry and fear. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
4) Devote time to God – This final step encompasses all the other steps; this is actually probably the most important way in our quest to choose faith over fear. Look at it this way; what if you were in a relationship with someone and you only spoke to that person once every few months. How do you think that person would feel? In the same way, how do we think God feels when we only come to him once in a blue moon or when something is wrong. In order to build any successful relationship, constant communication is vital. God wants to be in a relationship with us, God wants us to come to him when we’re fearful, excited, having a good day, or if we're having a terrible day. A book I recently purchased to help me devote time to God is Hearing God by Dallas Willard. This book is filled with daily devotions to help us build a conversational relationship with God through meditation and reflections. As I previously mentioned, the bible says where your treasure is, so will your heart be also. The more you put into your relationship with God, the more you’ll get out of your relationship with God. What I’m realizing is that when I devote the first part of my day to God, my spirit is filled with peace. That doesn’t mean that I’m exempt from problems throughout my days, however the way I respond to problems is what changes. Instead of being fearful, I choose to trust in a faithful God.
To be honest, these things might seem super easy or obvious, but sometimes life happens and we begin to slack in these areas and we cannot fight the attacks of the enemy when they come. It's good to have a reminder every now and then that we still need God every second and we can't do anything without him. Stay faithful to God and he will direct your path.
Until next time…
*Please note, this blog was written in 2020*