fear or faith: the choice is yours

When we choose faith and to be positive in life, we choose to live far differently than most of the world. Many, many people wake every day overcome with fear. How do you step toward faith rather than being wrapped up in fear?

The choice for Christians is simple. We can trust God or allow our faith to drift away. It helps to hold tight to the verses in the Bible where God addresses the power of living by faith.

Let’s start with what God says about fear:

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 8:15 ESV

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Micah 4:4 NLT

Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!

Psalm 118:4 NLT

Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”

Now let’s turn to what God says about faith. I do know the verses on fear could be many more, but I gave you a few to think on as I give you a few about faith:

Acts 27:25 ESV

So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT

But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB

for we walk by faith, not by sight—

Habakkuk 2:4 NLT

“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Psalm 28:7 NLT

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

The choice again is yours and mine. Will we today live leaning from fear or leaning toward God in faith?

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Search This Blog