Everyday we are in a constant battle for our faith regardless of where we are in our walk with Christ. For those who suffer from PAs we are particularly in a battle between faith vs. fear.

Have you every stopped to think that you can't have 100% faith when you in fear? Fear is that doubt, that "what if" thought. Fear of the unknown rather than confidence in Christ.

I've heard this used before and I thought it was pretty good: FEAR - False Evidences Appearing Real. How true that statement is! The more we concentrate on fear and the things cause us to fear, the more we take our mind off the truth - God's word!

What are some of God's words concerning fear?
Proverbs 29:25 tells us "fear of a man bringeth a snare". How often has fear brought a snare into your plans? Your life? A snare is a trap. When my panics were at their heith, that fear entrapped me daily. It not only physically restrained me so that I could not go where I wanted to go or do the things I wanted to do, but it did much more.

It also trapped my thinking. It kept me from the thoughts that God would have me to think. Gods word says in Philippians 4:8-9 "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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Wow, I don't know about you, but my thoughts are nothing like the above when I'm fearful and full of worry. Is it any wonder that we have no peace when we practically think contrary to God's will?

Usually before I would even face staying alone the thoughts began. The thoughts or "what ifs" produced anxiety and fear and that fear produced physical symptoms. You can probably figure out that once the physical symptoms started it created more emotional fear which created more physical, and the circle continued to sin and increase in intensity. What a vicious cycle! Even though through the years I learned of this pattern it still did n ot lesson the symptoms or the fear.

I also worried that since I knew fear worked contrary to faith that it could mean I was not a 'true Christian'. I honestly tried to give it to God but I just could not let it all go. I also did not have, at the time, a personal daily walk with Christ so how could I put all my belief in Jesus when in truth I only knew of Him but didn't take any time to know Him.

In order to know Jesus I had to pray dialy and study the bible - His word. The bible says in "Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Well first I had to open my heart up to hear. I had to read the bible daily, find a bible believing church, and get fed weekly spiritual food through the lessons.

When I first began to read and study the bible, most of what I read did not make sense to me. In fact, some of it scared me! I could not understand how people found comfort in the scriptures! But Matthew 19:26 says "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.". As I became obedient to 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.", God began to open my spiritual eyes. I began to read and understand His word. Suddenly I would be reading a passage or verse and I would see clearly what He wanted me to understand! Sometimes it might be a verse I had heard or read many many times before, but on the current particular occassion it would be as if I was hearing it for the very first time and with such an understanding and meaning for my life it was unbelievable!It would seem amazing that I had never noticed that before!!

What happened? What happened was once I began to read and apply His word I asked Him into my life and He changed me: 10:9-10 says "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Once I asked Him into my life, He began to open my eyes. What about you? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not - you need to get things straight with Him before He can begin to work in your life. You can't do it on your own and the bible will be meaningless to you trying to understand it on your own. Consider the following two verses:

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Search your heart and if God already is not your Lord and Savior or your life - you need to get that straight first. Right now - today. Write me, go to a bible believing church and ask for help, a Christian friend or family member. If you are confused and don't know what to do or how to fix things - please write me and we will talk about what your struggling with and apply the bible to your situation.

God allows us to peek into just enough of His divine wisdom at just the moment we need to (notice I did not say want!). The bible says in John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The word is the living word . When it is tucked in our hearts through memory and repetition, it breahs a new life into us, wisdom. and understanding. It works in our life to transform us and continually refine us into becoming th eperson we are to become as part of God's divine plan as long as we allow it!

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Sometimes I would make my 9-1-1 prayers and expect and want an instant delivery from my current crisis. I thought "if God would just do this I would believe." but God wanted my belief in Him first and then He would begin to work in my life!

In Matthew 12:10-13 a man had a withered hand and wanted healing. Before Jesus healed him he asked the man to stretch forth his own hand (Matthew 12:13 "Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other."). See faith is an action word that requires our belief and our obedience. Is there anything God is asking you to be obedient with?

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