Fear vs. Faith

Posted on Mar 12, 2020 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Men's Christian Living, Women's Christian Living

My mom used to say, “David, you can’t keep the birds from flying over your head. But you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”She was a wise woman. She knew that no one can keep bad thoughts and temptation from arising in the mind. It’s a fallen world.

While you cannot prevent the enemy from trying to plant his thoughts in your mind, you can choose whether you will allow him to build a nest in your hair. That is your choice, one for which you are responsible.

You either believe that God has every ability to meet your needs or he doesn’t. You either believe that God is omniscient or he isn’t. You either believe that God is present with you or he isn’t.

If God isn’t with you, then you should be anxious. The universe is full of chaos, and everything—including your life—is out of control.

But God is with you—this is the reason all fear should flee. Whenever the Bible says, “Do not be afraid; God is with you,” it’s not a stern rebuke, but a gentle reminder. God’s perfect, abiding, and eternal presence overwhelms all anxiety. This peace is promised to all who trust in him.

Before Paul exhorted his readers to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-7), he began the chapter by reminding them that God was near. The promise of his presence. He oversees all. Nothing is beyond his control. Choose to trust in his presence and promises!

In Deuteronomy 28–29, God gave to his people a list of blessings or curses that they could experience after they entered the Promised Land. The blessings are extraordinarily wonderful—from long life to fertility to strong foundations in their buildings. The curses are woefully terrible—from being overwhelmed by their enemies to food shortages to lack of rain.

But whether they received blessings or curses was up to them. It was their choice.

That’s why Moses adjured them to choose life, not death (Deuteronomy 30:19). And I am convinced that Moses was saying as well, “Choose thoughts of life, not death.” I think he knew that blessings and curses begin with what you think—whether your thoughts fill you with faith or anxiety. When you choose Jesus, you know that his victory over anxiety begins in your mind. In your thought life. That’s where the battle rages. And you alone control what thoughts dominate you.

It’s your choice.