What does a life filled with faith look like versus a life filled with fear? You see, it is impossible to live in both fear and faith at the same time. You are either feeding faith by what you say and do, or your words and actions feed fear. 

Why can’t we live in both faith and fear? Faith feeds and strengthens your spirit. Fear satisfies the craving and fattens up your soul. Your spirit is what is born again and comes alive when you commit your life to Jesus. It is what should be in charge because it is where the Holy Spirit dwells. Your soul is your mind, will and emotions. It is what is in charge pre-salvation. It tells you to do things solely based on what feels good and makes sense logically. Your spirit may tell you to do the opposite of what you feel or think. The Holy Spirit governs your spirit and allows it to see clearly. When you are living a life led by the Holy Spirit, your soul will take orders from your spirit rather than give the orders. 

We Need Faith For Salvation

Faith is the basis of our salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8‬ (‭ESV‬‬). Without faith we forfeit the gift God is offering to each person. We must of course accept this gift. Salvation isn’t something we can perceive with our natural senses. It is something we perceive only with our spiritual senses. It takes faith to accept what you are experiencing through your spiritual senses is real and true. You accept the gift of salvation by faith and then your spirit is born again and comes alive. 

Now you are able to live a life directed by the spirit, filled with faith. 

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:17‬ (‭ESV) Once your spirit has been made alive through salvation, you are expected to live a life of faith. Your bold faith shows others you have been changed and have been made righteous. 

Fear Makes Us Earn Salvation

On the flip side. A life filled with the opposite of faith is a life filled with fear. Fear says, “I must do something to prove my love for God and be saved.” Fear puts the work on you to earn salvation. It reminds you frequently that you can never do enough to earn God’s love and gift. 

Fear leaves us paralized to do anything. We will barricade ourselves into our homes, afraid of messing up. Fear assures us that what we see and experience with our senses are the only things that matter. Things will only be better when we can see it with our physical senses. 

Fatih Takes Action

Faith, on the other hand, takes action. 

‬‬“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

“for we walk by faith, not by sight.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

‬‬“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” ‭‭James‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

Faith Believes God’s Word

What actions will others see when we live a life filled with faith? They will see someone who is sure the promises of God WILL come to pass no matter what things look like in the physical. God said revival and healing will come to our world, yet all we see is hardships, sickness, and death all around us. Faith says I stand on the word the Lord has spoken through his word and through the prophets. 

Faith Stands Firm

Standing firm in the faith is what a faith filled person does. A faith-filled person is not easily moved from the stance they have taken. Furthermore, a faith-filled person will walk in faith. A faith-filled person will walk into all situations they encounter with an assurance of what they have yet to see in the physical. They walk with others and encourage them to walk by faith too. 

Faith is Essential

Why is faith so important? 

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

Faith allows us to live a life that not only pleases God, but also opens the door to us being able to understand the ways of God. 

Part of Our Armor Is Faith

Part of our armor against the enemy is Faith.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

The enemy has open access to us without our shield of faith. Our shield is missing and can’t protect us. Faith tells us that “no weapon formed against us will prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17) It doesn’t matter what the weapon is: someone gossiping about us, someone whom we thought was a friend turns their back to us when we need them the most, people stealing something that rightfully belongs to us, people trying to control every aspect of our lives because of a man-made virus that is completely curable with proper treatment, or any other weapon that comes our way. Faith shields us from the lies and deceit others use in their attempt to control us. 

Fear Controls Us

Think about it: what do most people use to control others? Fear. Our world has been given a steady diet of fear over the past two years. Fear of this man-made virus; fear if you get this virus, it is a death sentence; they create fear by telling us we must get a shot (that will forever change your DNA, by the way) or we will die; fear, fear, fear, fear. Fear is the only way they can control us. To their credit it has worked for a long time with many people. Remember fear feeds your soul. Your soul will then tell you that it is up to YOU to protect yourself. Your soul disregards the fact that your spirit has the ability to stand in faith and protect you. 

Fear leads us to believe that our shield of faith isn’t enough to protect us. Therefore, we must take it upon ourselves to be watchful and protect ourselves in our own power and self-made weapons. When that doesn’t work and we get burned, fear tells us, “See, I knew that would happen. Life is dangerous and hurts no matter what I do to protect myself.” Fear puts the responsibility on us to protect ourselves because faith isn’t there to be the shield. 

Faith will lead your spirit to the people and information you need to combat whatever weapon comes against you. It reminds you that it is up to God to protect you. Faith allows God to protect you from all weapons. Your spirit will lead you to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance regarding any weapon you find coming against you. Holy Spirit is really good at guiding you into all truth; in fact, he is perfect at it! (John 16:13)

Faith Is The Way To Healing

Faith is the pathway to physical healing. 

“And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:34‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

“Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:28‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)‬‬

“And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:13‬ ‭(‭ESV‬‬)

We know we are living a life filled with faith when we see ourselves and others healed. Again, remember that faith is being sure of what we can’t see with our physical eyes. We must be able to see ourselves and others healed with our spiritual eyes before we will see them healed with our physical eyes.  

Recall what Jesus said regarding faith, “He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.’” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:20‬ (‭ESV‬‬)

Fear Lies To Us

Fear tells us that we better not pray and seek healing because it might not happen. Then what? What if I don’t have enough faith? What if I pray and nothing happens? How will others perceive me if I pray for their healing and nothing happens? What if I turn them away from God altogether? You see, fear puts all the responsibility for outcomes on you. It’s up to you to have enough faith to get the person healed. It’s up to you to say the right words and do the right things to get people saved. IT IS NOT UP TO YOU TO MAKE ANY OF THAT HAPPEN!!!! 

All healings and salvation come from Jesus ONLY! Why does he heal some but not others? To be honest I have no idea. It will not stop me from praying for healing for anyone who asks me to do so. I will pray and believe Jesus will heal them. Then I’ll thank him ahead of time for answering my prayer. I will choose to believe they are healed no matter what I see with my physical eyes. Then I will wait and see what Jesus does in the physical for this person. 

Faith Grounds Us

Faith is what allows us to be rooted and grounded. “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭(ESV‬‬). What is it we are rooted and grounded in when we are living a life filled with faith? Love! We are rooted and grounded in love. Love for everyone around us, no matter how badly they may treat us. Love to see the hurting healed. We will love to share our faith with others and help shield them from the flaming darts. Love to pray for healing and share our faith, while knowing the results are left up to God and God alone. 

So like Paul encouraged Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭4:12‬ (‭ESV)‬‬ Like the apostles declared, “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬ 

What Is Leading You

I ask you: what is leading you, fear or faith? What actions will you do to feed faith over fear? Perhaps that is turning off the news, who only knows how to feed the soul a constant diet of fear. Maybe it is finding someone you know who lives a life filled with faith and spending more time with them. 

It definitely means spending more time with Jesus and asking him to fill you with more faith, just like the disciples did. It is also having your spiritual armor on every day. You need the shield of faith for protection, but you also need the words of God, which is your sword. I recommend having some Bible verses handy to combat fear. My favorite is 2 Timothy 1:7, “God gave us not a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.” (NKJV) There are many verses you can use. The important thing is to use them as your weapon against fear. 

My Struggle With Fear

I recently had a moment when I was woken up in the middle of the night. The spirit of fear came over me. I had never experienced this before. It happened after another attack from the enemy, which is too long of a story to tell here. I woke up with all these racing thoughts of doom and gloom in my mind, and my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. In an instant I knew what was going on, and I started praying and quoting every verse I could think of regarding not living in fear. I commanded the spirit to leave me and it did. I was able to go back to sleep, and it didn’t return after that. 

When I tell you to use Scripture to combat the weapons the enemy forms against you, know that I tell you these things from a place of having done it myself. I promise it works. No demon can stand against the words of Jesus. His words leave them powerless, and because Jesus lives in you. You have been given authority to tell them to leave you alone. They only possess as much power over you as you allow them to have. I chose to not allow that spirit of fear to control me, and it had to leave. It had no choice but to leave when I commanded it and refused to come into agreement with the lies it was telling me. If you have given your life to Jesus, you have that same power over demons and evil spirits. 

Prayer: 

Lord, increase my faith! Build up my faith muscle so that I will be able to see like you see. Empower me to walk in faith, stand firm in faith, and be assured what you say will happen and has already happened in your kingdom. Strengthen my faith so I will be rooted and grounded in your love, love that allows me to share my faith with those around me to help strengthen them and protect them with my shield of faith. 

Help me to have faith for healing, spirit, soul, and bodily healing. Give me power to forgive so that healing can come. Help me to have faith for things I can’t see with my natural eyes, and help me to put my hope in you and in your unfailing word. I desire to walk by faith and be pleasing to you in all that I do. By faith I understand that you are Creator, and you are still creating hope and healing and joy around me.