Facing Fear and Winning

The choices we make determine the life we will have.

Do you ever find yourself comparing yourself to others, wanting want they have, their lifestyle, their families, their money or possessions or even the gifts God has bestowed upon them like singing or the ability to preach?

What we fail to realize in the process, is that God bestows us the gifts, but it's our choice to use those gifts for Him. Sure we may do well with public speaking or singing in a Christian band, but we will never get the credit. God does. Why?

Because He gave us those very gifts. We chose how to use them. We need to stop looking at what others have, and use the gifts God has given all of us.

What we need in this life is not more wishbones, but more backbones!

We need to stop letting somebody's bad choices, rule our lives.

If we are determined enough, we can do just about anything to get our lives back on track.

How many times have you heard the words No Way! There is just no way, I am ever going to get well. There is no way I am ever going to find a better home. There is no way I am going to survive this marriage. Come on, fill in the blank. We have all used them and have heard them as well.

However in John 14:6 ," Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)"

Jesus didn't say He was a way, but the way!

Isaiah 43:19, " See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland."

God uses this scripture reference above to show the situation of something impossible becoming possible, but we need to be determined to get there.

It is the way we approach life that gets in the way. We can talk ourselves into a fit in such a short time, with all our negative self talk. Yet, what we fail to see, is that we can also talk ourselves out of our problems too.

Do you realize we have the ability to know peace all the time? It's true! Yet most of us spend so much of our days in worry and being upset that if we were to be at peace, we would be utterly bored. We'd have nothing to trouble us, to be upset over, to worry about. Peace is possible.

Once you have God's peace, you will see just how much of your life you have invested in worrying. You will see how much time you will have in your day. This is the reason for so many references to scripture to avoid worrying.

We need to change the way we talk, to think and even our attitudes towards life. Everyone has the same opportunities in life. God is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

In Luke 5:18-20, we read about a paralyzed man who was taken to Jesus for healing by his friends. When they arrive, it's too crowded so they climb to the roof, remove the tiles and lower him down in front of Jesus.

That's what I would call determination! Jesus loves that kind of determined faith!

What we need to do when facing storms is to take these steps.

1. Step out and find out. Our faith comes by walking in faith, step by step. So be willing to take a chance and take that first step. If you are waiting around on God, it's like the story of a man stranded on a island that is waiting for rescue and God drops him all kinds of ways off, but he doesn't see it because he is waiting for something bigger to happen. Take that step of faith!

2. What does it feel like in your heart? This situation you are facing, how does it feel in your heart, what does it tell you to do? Trust in that and take your faith steps and see how that feels after doing it.

3. Don't talk to other people. They don't know your situation and sometimes we bounce the idea off of so many people it makes us more confused than we were in the first place. If you really want to talk to someone, talk to God.

4. Proclaim by faith, it will happen! But what if it doesn't. Then get back up tomorrow and do it again, and again and again. Waiting on something means, expecting, hoping and looking for it to happen. Not just sitting there. Tell yourself, I have faith God is going to lead me today!

Then believe it. Tell yourself I can do it, I will not quit or give up. Be determined to know God.

The world needs to see courage more today. Too many people are living their days filled with fear. Did you know the opposite of faith is fear?

Fear steals what God has promised us.

Fear is the enemies perverted form of faith and too often we live our lives more in fear than in faith. We need to be more determined to live our lives for God and live lives of faith instead.