Reflections, July 12th, 2009

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Reflections: Faith Triumphs Over Fear

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 1 Timothy 1:7

Scripture Reading For This Week: Daniel 3; Matthew 8:5-13; 9:18-38; 15:21-28; 2 Timothy 1; 1 Peter 1, 2, 5...

How is it, that fear can render us speechless and immobile? How is it, that when we were not saved we had enough power and boldness to sin openly, but now that we are saved, we have lost our voice--our boldness?

Standing for righteousness takes not only courage, but also boldness. It requires that we have faith. Walking with God; becoming intimate with Him, requires an act of faith on our part. How so? Because there will be many, many obstacles that will come our way to bring about discouragement and fear. The last thing the enemy wants is for us to know and understand how much power we have when we are walking in faith and righteousness. When we walk in faith, we gain strength and boldness. We are confident; not merely in ourselves--but most importantly, confident in God.

It is my fondest prayer that this week's Reflection will be a source of encouragement and fuel to your faith. I pray that you would allow God to use you mightily in ways you thought impossible. May you begin to see the bold, faithful, loving person that God has ordained you to be.

When I was eight or nine, I saw a movie at church one summer that changed my life forever. It had such an impact on my life; it literally changed how I saw things; how I saw God and myself.

I cannot recall the name of the movie, but the subject was forever burned into my memory. It was about faith in God versus fear of man. The movie depicted the story of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). It showed their faith and love for God, in such a way that even at eight years old, I understood the importance of having faith in God--regardless of the threats of man or the devil.

At one point in the movie, there was a young man that said he believed; that he had faith in God, as well. Yet when they put him in the fire, he began to scream and burn, because really, in his heart, he did not believe as he professed. He had more fear than he had faith in God. Unlike the Hebrew boys, he did not believe that God would save him either way.

It [movie], totally changed my life. I did not want to say with my mouth that I believed God, but in my heart was something different. And the sad thing is, that's where many of us are at concerning our relationship with the Father. With our mouths we say we love the Lord; that we have faith in Him. But in the deepest part of our hearts we have doubt and fear. Fear that the current circumstances of this world will overtake us. Doubt that God can or will deliver us. And the worst thing is, the enemy knows this as well. He can smell the fear.

1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour..."

Make no mistake about it: the enemy is seeking out those that have weak faith. Those crippled in fear. He smells the doubt and fear, and will do whatever he can to use it towards his advantage. He looks for that opening; waiting to pounce and create havoc, fear and destruction.

We don't have to walk around fearful and timid. Just because we are saved; walking in the Lord, does not mean we are weak or pushovers. God has surely given us a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Power to strengthen us; to aid us in the battles that we face. The power to endure, withstand, and defeat the attacks of the enemy.

He has given us love to triumph over the evil and hate that we often come in contact with. Love is a powerful weapon. Love gives us strength where we didn't know we had I. love opens up doors and hearts. Love changes circumstances and situations when we allow the love of God to reign in our hearts. Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

A sound mind affords us the opportunity to think clearly; To see things through the eyes of God. A sound mind admonishes us to think before we react. Realize this: Fear inhibits us. Fear causes us to act irrationally. Fear chokes our destiny; it shuts out people and love. Fear hinders faith; thereby preventing God from doing what He desires to do in our lives. Fear prevents the fullness of God's glory being manifested in all aspects of our lives.

Fear is not a part of God's vocabulary for His children. Fear is tormenting and crippling. It holds people hostage and prevents life from happening. Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.

The enemy is good at the game of smoke and mirrors. But faith in God is strong enough to blow away the smoke and destroy the mirrors and false images that they are projecting; designed by the enemy to destroy you.

Know this: There is nothing impossible for God (Luke 1:37). When you believe in the Father; have faith in what He has spoken; it will break the chains of fear, and the false hold that the enemy has threatened you with.

We have been bound in fear for far too long. Isn't it about time we started to live and be free? Don't you want the fulfillment of God's promises to come forth? Then declare your freedom from fear by taking hold of faith and believing what God has spoken of you. You are loved and wonderfully, and fearfully made in His image. God has blessed you with a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind. And there is nothing the enemy can do. He has already been defeated.

I pray that your heart is at rest today. May the spirit of peace and prosperity find rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. Do not allow a spirit of fear to stop you from getting all that God says is yours for the asking; Believing, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Be Free. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.