The Donors are now saying the 15th - 20th for receipt of their packages. Again, keep the faith and we will succeed.
Mr. Stovall is one of our project clients and shared this with us. Diana
The Psychology
of
FAITH and FEAR
By Charles E. Stovall, Ph. D.
Two philosophies contend for our attention and devotion. These are the philosophies of FAITH and FEAR. These philosophies are opposed to one another, and constantly are at war with one another. Faith drives out Fear, and Fear tends to weaken and eradicate Faith. Each day the human heart has to contend with this conflict, and each day decisions must be made regarding whether we live in faith or cringe in the dark shadows of fear and despair.
Whatever we accomplish in life is largely dependent upon which philosophy we allow to dominate our thinking and motivate our actions. The person who walks in fear and allows its grip to cripple his or her life, believes, but simply believes in the wrong thing. The fear-ridden person believes in impossibility instead of possibility, in gloom instead of joy, in despair instead of hope, in pessimism instead of achievement.
The person who walks by faith walks in the sunlight of hope and noble expectation, is guided by joyful dreams of accomplishment instead of defeat, and is motivated to move forward toward ambitious goals and toward accomplishing even that which others thought to be impossible.
Faith is always creative and constructive – it builds rather than tearing down. Faith builds bridges that span differences while fear builds walls that accentuate turmoil. Faith lifts others up while fear pulls them down. Faith is characterized by confidence while fear is measured by its insecurity and despair.
Faith opens our heart to kindness and helpfulness. Fear fills us with anguish, bitterness, scorn and cynicism. Faith inspires others to be like God, but fear turns away from God and crouches in darkness to hide from God. Faith fills our heart with praise, but fear fills our heart with melancholy and remorse. Faith dares to take risks in order to achieve, but fear takes no risks. Faith radiates security, fear hovers under a dark cloud of uncertainty and anguish, afraid to even try. The Bible has much to say about both faith and fear. It is through the testimony of the Bible that we see the misery and horror of living in fear. Fear imprisons and leads to the worst kind of bondage, but faith lets us walk in freedom with no regret for choosing to be free. Consider carefully the following scriptures which speak of faith and fear.
WHAT FAITH DOES
It keeps us close to God, since faith comes by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17). This is the way we get faith. Many today are weak in faith, and some are even devoid of faith..
It makes it possible for us, even in our imperfection, to please God. (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith we cannot please God, because those who come to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. God does not demand that we be perfect, but He does require that we believe in Him and seek Him.
It makes it possible for us to be saved, since believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting His sacrifice on the cross are necessary for salvation. (John 3:16). There is no way one can be saved without believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16). We become children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.(Galatians 3:26-27).
Faith blesses us with an optimistic outlook. Jesus said: “…Be not afraid, only believe.” The answer to the pessimism of fear is the optimism of belief!
It fills our heart with peace and with calm assurance. Jesus said: “He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38). Paul reminds us that Christ is our peace! (Ephesians 2:14).
Faith enables us to understand things that we could not otherwise see nor comprehend, since faith is the evidence of things hoped for and the assurance of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:l). The unbelieving world does not see nor understand the things which believers in God understand and see by their faith in Him.
WHAT FEAR DOES
It robs us of peace, since it enslaves us in a mental prison-house of anguish and unrest.
It fills us with a sense of hopelessness and makes us feel there is no use trying because we’re destined to fail.
It takes away our joy and fills us with bitterness and gloom. The fear-ridden individual sees only the dark side in his or her depressive despair.
It kills noble ambition. Fear makes life seem uncertain and that there is no reason to set goals and move forward toward reaching goals. Consequently, life becomes increasingly boring and drab.
It blurs and weakens our reason for living. The abject hopelessness of fear tends to minimize and destroy future dreams.
Fear destroys our self-respect and personal esteem. Feeling caged in the mental prison-house of fear, we feel there is little to hope of fulfilling the objectives of self-esteem and self-fulfillment.
It magnifies distrust toward others and toward God. Fear causes us to doubt others, feeling that we might be betrayed if we trust too much – even if we trust God.
Fear narrows the scope of our social interaction and cripples our inter-personal relationships. The fearful person feels unable to cope with the demands of having confidence in others.
Fear keeps us from making progress and from attempting to venture toward new accoplishments. Fear has a way of conditioning the mind to expect failure and rejection.
Fear intensifies our stubbornness and creates a rigid mind-set. In the atmosphere of doubt which is created by fear, we tend to build a world of protective resistance which increases a rigid and stubborn mind-fix.
Fear weakens our resistance and minimizes our selective choices, thereby permitting us to glibly give in to the leadership of others – even leadership in the wrong direction.
Fear dims our conscientiousness and leads us to excuse even what we neither believe nor endorse. It is amazing the things on which the fear-ridden person will compromise, in a quest for wider acceptance and freedom from the bondage of fear.
Fear diminishes the view of our possibility and it fosters mediocrity. It is only when we feel that it is possible to achieve our objectives that we are willing to strive to do our best to achieve them.
Fear encourages the increase of frustration and panic, when we feel we are not surrounded by protection, and it fosters in us the avoidance of anything that is not familiar or that is challenging. The great Apostle Paul declared: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Published
By
Christian Concepts, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
The Psychology
Of
FAITH and FEAR
A look at how Faith Broadens the scope of our Understanding and how Fear Diminishes our Effective social and spiritual function.
___________
By
Charles E. Stovall, Ph.D.
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