Fears Influence

Isaiah 41:10-16

For a few years after my encounter with Jesus in a hotel room in Victoria, Texas, I lived the role of an undercover Christian, at my job and even around people who I knew were not of the Christian faith, I was what the writer of James 1:5-8 would call a double-minded man.  I was full of opinions but lacked wisdom and had a long road ahead of me when it came to understanding how to live life by God’s precepts.  I’ve come to understand after many years of trying to live out the teachings in Scripture, that two voices or two channels are playing in my mind, one sounds like my voice, southern twang and we call that Channel One, the (Deceptive Channel) and it’s all about what I deserve or attacks on my person, the other put thoughts in my mind that are foreign to my way of thinking, like giving, helping, praying, serving someone that I do not even know, I call that Channel Two and it is the voice of the Holy Spirit.  First, to live a life of victory one must come to grips with John 10:10, and choose to turn-off Channel One, and seek a quiet place to hear and then to act on what the Holy Spirit has said. 

It may not sound spiritual, but you and I need discipline in all areas of life, and we need balance in our habits, for it is our habits of seeking to walk in a manner that pleases God that we find integrity.   Reading Scripture does not change our life, acting on and putting into practice what Scripture says will change our life.  And I am discovering as I incline my heart to God’s ways and truth, how foolish any other path is.  If you are a “Truth-seeker” read Proverbs two and three.

Never in my short life on this planet has fear had such influence over Christians, and as a friend told me recently, you do not have to be a follower of Christ to see the darkness, the evil in our government an our society as a whole.  But as one who claims to follow Christ, has Scripture not spoken often to us about fear?  One great word is found in; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7) And Jesus said and it is recorded in Matthew 10:26-28,  “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Max Lucado gives this insight, “Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will.”

My prayer for us is that we allow Isaiah 41:10 to take root in our mind and in our heart, and that we feed our faith with promises like God is making to the people of Judah and Israel and to all His children in Isaiah 41:13-14, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice