Choose Faith

Have you ever noticed how fear always shows up at the moment you’re about to step out in faith? When God calls you to something, fear will show up and cause you to doubt. In those moments, you have a choice as to what voice you’re going to listen to. How you respond is often the difference between victory and defeat, blessing or curse, extraordinary or ordinary. There have been many times when I pushed fear aside and took the leap of faith. There have also been times when I let fear win, and I walked away in regret. To help myself make the right choice the next time, I try to train my brain into saying a quick, “Yes,” followed by immediate action. I run through scenarios in my head and also repeat to myself the plan often. I don’t want to give fear a foothold.

In Numbers 13, God told Moses to send a leader from each tribe into the Promised Land. So, Moses chose twelve men and instructed them to go throughout the land looking at the cities, the terrain and the farmland. When the men returned, they said it was exactly as God promised, but the cities were walled and there were giants. They saw the blessings God had for them, but let fear create doubt. Verse 20 says, “But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. ‘Let’s go at once to take the land,’ he said. ‘We can certainly conquer it!’” (NLT). He wanted to move before fear could stop them, but it was too late. The community had listened to fear, and they lived in a desert rather than the promise. They ate manna instead of milk and honey. They suffered the consequences of their choice.

When fear tries to kick in the door of my mind, I remind myself of God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10. God says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” When God calls you to it, He will fight for you. He will give you the strength needed to overcome. Walls will collapse. Giants will fall. Remember He is the one who will give the victory. You simply have to take the step of faith.

Fear kept an entire generation from living in the blessings God had for them. Don’t let fear hold you back too. Ask God to give you the courage and take that first step quickly. God will see you through it. Choose faith and watch God show up. You’ll still have battles, and it won’t be easy, but you will also have victory and God’s blessings.
Blessings,
Pastor David