We often think things are perfect polar opposites - yet they really exist on a sliding continuum.
Cold is the absence of heat.
Dark is the absence of light.
Death is the absence of life (think about that).
*And faith is the absence of fear.*
Not opposites. All on a continuum.
Here's the point.
You *can* be filled with faith, and still deal with brushing aside fear and worry. Just because one has to renew their mind to push back anxiety, doesn't mean they lack faith!!!!
Yet. Everything that does EXIST - was once sitting in the unseen realm. God spoke (Genesis 1:3), and then there it was! Houses, cars, people, mountains, lakes, stars, the sun and moon, even your mother in law … all once were in the unseen realm. It was spoken and FAITHED INTO the seen realm.
Faith, by definition, is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
As co-creators with God, by FAITH we speak what we hope for INTO the seen realm.
Faith to heal.
Faith to believe.
Faith to stand.
Faith to be still.
Faith to move mountains.
Faith to hear.
Faith to see.
Faith to obey.
Faith to wait.
Faith to understand.
Faith to impact others.
Faith to inherit the kingdom.
Faith to try new things.
Faith to restrain.
Faith to not lose your mind.
Faith to move on.
Faith to do what is right.
Faith to bless.
Faith to ignore external influence.
Faith to believe the written word.
All received.
Not cultivated. Not fabricated. Not self taught.
All free.
All available.
All yours.
Truly. Much like riding a thrilling, vomit inducing theme park ride – life can be at times a bit scary. But when FAITH is ACTIVELY applied, there should be some level of excitement mixed in there too!