Faith Vs. Fear by Roc
There were quite a few things that were pressing me this morning. After I spent some quiet time with God, I felt better and relieved. Peaceful. Then....
A few hours go by and pressure came upon me. I stayed silent (silence can be a great weapon!) and God led me to speak to my friend, Carolyn Merrifield.
Carolyn received this quote from the Holy Spirit yesterday during her book club:
"FAITH cannot rise to its maximum potential when fear is holding it down"
"FAITH IS LIFE, Fear is darkness"
"FAITH and fear cannot dwell in the same place!"
I bless the Lord for God-friends!
The thought came to me (thank You Holy Spirit):
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen..."
So my thoughts then became:
"What have you been hearing, Raquel? Take heed WHAT you hear."
I was hearing: "Hath God really said????" And I would combat those thoughts with the Word of God. It would go away. Then later on...."Hath God really said????" It's been a cycle all morning.
As I read Carolyn's message (I had her email it to me so that I may meditate on it), I realized (realization is revelation from the Holy Spirit) what I was doing wrong:
Yes, the enemy came with his "Hath God really said???" and instead of quoting the Word and telling him to get out of my prescense I was doing what Eve did: having a two way conversation. I totally missed the "Get thee behind me Satan" part that Jesus did.
Oh, praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit! Praise the Lord for the Word! He is faithful.
And as I sit here and cry and become completely transparent, I thank God that He gives us what we need when we need it. He encourages us through the Word; through His presence; through great friends.
So now, I quote the Word:
Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written:
For God has not given me a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and a well disciplined mind. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us. Let God be true and every man a liar!
Glory to His name.
(and thanks again, Holy Spirit and Carolyn!)
-Roc