I’ve been going through this thing with the Lord.  It’s like a slow burn of insight and learning.  You know what I mean… He picks something to work on in your life and it becomes a major deal until you get it right.  You know that you are in a time of learning when devotion after devotion covers this topic; song after song on your Pandora station covers the topic; and conversation after conversation you have with your family and trusted Christian counsel brings it up again. Then there is the scripture that draws the line in the sand of what is acceptable behavior.

My current lesson covers the Faith versus Fear battle.  This is a new one for me, but clearly an age old lesson taught to many in the Bible.  My situation is such that the circumstances in my life, family, economy, etc. are such that the enemy is creating anxiety and fear in my heart.   Fear of failure, fear of persecution, fear of loss, etc.  These fears are completely founded and valid if I look through a human perspective – minus God.  When I find myself going down that thorny, dark path, I have to catch myself and do a Focus Readjustment.   (Mind you, this can be a minute by minute endeavor.)  This is where I say a quick prayer and meditate on the Scripture that I KNOW to be true.  I spend time REMEMBERING the Promises of God and His Faithfulness through the years.  This gives me peace – if even for a moment.

One of the devotions I read today from Dr. J.C. Matthews said “The enemy wants to use the facts of our situation to frustrate our faith and what God has said concerning us.   Our breakthrough will be determined by our decision to stand on our faith and not on the facts.    Facts change, but the Word of God never changes.  Facts are based on circumstances, while faith is based on the surety of God’s Word.”   Let me share just a few of these Scriptures with you.

I must say that one of the scriptures that I am reminded to claim is a difficult one in that it is so contradictory to this world we live in, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”  James 1: 2-3. 

Romans 8:28 – which is hanging on the wall in my dining room – as a reminder – says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight.”  I must choose to remain faithful and trusting in His promises and not fall victim to the enemy’s ploy. 

1 Chronicles 29:11 reminds me that He is in charge of all things and that when He is ready to move, nothing can thwart His plan. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” 

I praise God that I have faith in Him, that I have His Word to draw from, that He is ever present, that He is walking before me and sorting out the circumstance in my life, and that He loves me enough to continue to chisel away the imperfections in me.  Will I let the enemy snatch away my joy in the Lord…. No Way, not today!  I choose Faith over Fear.

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