It's your choice... FEAR or FAITH.

Mark 4:37-40 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Just like the disciples we can be moving forward in our journey through life serving Christ and feeling everything is going well but without warning the storm suddenly appears. Everyone experiences a storm sometime within their lifetime and for each person it’s different. Our storm may be a health problem, financial difficulty, personal loss, death of a family member or turmoil within a relationship.

We may have experienced a difficult trial or test and in the pain we didn’t look at the purpose God had for it in our life instead we attempt to avoid experiencing pain again.

We may be looking around at others for too long and we cannot see their storm so we may feel we aren’t as valued or good as them and falsely believe we can’t be of service to God.

We may temporarily feel defeated and believe lies the devil tells us or we allow our own thoughts to become exaggerated in focusing on the worst.

In these times we begin to become unsettled and begin to fear much like the disciples on the ship during the storm.

When this occurs we can respond in two ways:
1.    Choose Fear: Become afraid and give in to the feeling of fear or anxiety that someone or something is dangerous and is likely to cause us pain; then we’ll begin to worry that something undesirable will occur.
2.    Choose Faith: Have faith in God and put our complete trust in Him and maintain our hope with complete confidence in God’s plans for us.

How do we combat this fear and choose faith?

1.    Seek God
-       Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

2.    Rest assured God is listening
-       Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

3.    Stop and listen for God
-       Proverbs 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

4.    Believe in God’s word (God is faithful)
a. When He is calling you
- 1Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
b. When you face difficulties
- 2Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

5.    Ask for God’s help and practice self-control with your thoughts
-       2Corinthians10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
-       Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

6.    Evaluate where it’s coming from and reject untruths
-       2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

7.    God sees our value, look at yourself through His eyes
-       Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8.    Remember you are God’s child
-       Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

9.    Know God is with you and He is helping you
-       Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

10.  God will protect you from destruction
-       2Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

11.  Through God you can overcome
-       1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

12.  Be still and trust God
-       Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
-       Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

13.  Rely on God’s strength
-       Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

14.  Let it go and follow God commands
-       Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

15.  In all times praise God
-       Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

“God is always good. God is always present. God is always faithful. God is always greater than whatever we face. Therefore, we can always rejoice in Him.” –Paul Chappell

It’s our decision we accept fear or faith.

Which do you choose?
FEAR: False Evidence/Emotions Appearing Real
                                    OR
FAITH: Full Assurance In Trusting Him