Being Intentional: Choosing Faith Over Fear

I’d like to know something from you. Did you wake up this morning and say “I’m going to be a Christian today”? Or perhaps you woke up with the thought that you weren’t going to be one today? I don’t expect anyone to answer “yes” to these questions because these are not things we usually say. After all, you’re a Christian every day, right? Actually, no. Although we shouldn’t pick and choose when we’re going to be a Christian and when we’re not, sometimes we do. There are times when we behave like Christians and others where we don’t; this is what I call being a selective Christian.

Selective Christianity
We deliberately choose the moments in which we want to be holy and when we just want to do whatever. Whenever it feels right for us to be Christian, we are. And whenever we can’t be bothered, we’re not. For example, we make sure we use the right words when we pray, because we would never dare to say something inappropriate to God. We’re being good Christians in that moment. But, since we’re human beings, we tend to get angry at times and that’s when we may say things to others that are not Christ-like. So, in our daily lives we are actually being selective. This doesn’t just apply to our words. For instance, if you found yourself in a situation where you have to choose between faith or fear, what would you do? Chances are you’re going to go with fear because that’s the easy thing to do; it’s a natural emotion.

Operating Out of Fear
I don’t think I have to explain what fear is, since everyone has dealt with it at some point in life. I think you’ll agree with me that having fear or being afraid is not a pleasant feeling. We would rather be fearless and do whatever we wish to do. However, fear often holds us back from doing certain things. It is out of fear that we don’t do things that could help us. It is out of fear that we don’t sing in the church, because we’re afraid of what someone might think of us. It is out of fear that we settle for less than we are supposed to have. And, this one is especially for the young ladies: when you get to a certain age, *cough, 25*, you’re expected to get married. It is then again that some of us settle for less, out of fear of being alone for the rest of their lives.

We start dating when it’s not our time to date. We go out with guys who just don’t align with our purpose. We force relationship with people that aren’t supposed to be ours. For what? It’s all because of fear. And even with fear we’re selective. Sometimes, we’re afraid and sometimes we’re not. We’re not afraid when we’re out fornicating, are we? But when we get caught by someone while doing it, uh-oh, that’s when we’re afraid. We’re not afraid when we gossip about someone, but when the person we were gossiping about hears of it.. We’re afraid. Isn’t it funny that we’re not afraid to sin, but we are afraid to get caught in sin?

There is No Reason to Fear
The Bible states a couple of times that we should not fear, because God is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). Fear is actually not part of our spiritual being, it’s part of our flesh. God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity (2 Timothy 1:7). So why then do we fear? Why are we still afraid for things when God tells us that He will be there with us throughout everything? It’s because we lack faith. See, faith is not like fear. Faith is not an emotion; it does not come naturally. We must work hard to keep our faith. Faith is a deliberate decision; you need to be intentional with it. Faith means believing in God, even when the circumstances don’t look favourable at that point. But you know what? Even in our faith, we’re being selective. For example, when we have to write an important exam, we pray for God to help us get good grades, right? We are using our faith and believing in God. We trust Him. But how come that when we need to wait on God for a breakthrough, we lose that faith? How come we don’t believe that the God who made sure we passed that course, can send our future spouse our way? You guessed it: selectiveness.

Ladies, we need to start being consistent. Either we are grounded in our faith or we live a life of fear. You can’t keep going from left to right. You can’t choose to have faith this day and lose it the next. What would that make you? An unstable woman. Do you want to be an unstable woman? No? Then choose to see in yourself what God sees in you! I don’t know about you, but I choose to be intentional and not emotional; I will choose faith over fear.

God bless,
Ruth Osei
Co-founder of The Purpose Wife