Faith Moves God
In different seasons of life most of us have had moments where finding faith felt like a fight. Seasons where overpowering fear attempt to steal joy and promises. But it does not have to be that way…
Join us as we discover some of the forms fear can take, and how YOU can find faith in God!
Faith Moves God, Fear Moves Satan
“Faith moves God, fear moves Satan.”
—Curt Landry
While Curt Landry and others are known for using this particular phrase, many of us are familiar with the core truth… that the enemy uses fear as a weapon, but that our God is a God of faith and that faith in Him brings victory!
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
—1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith is one of the qualities that will remain forever, and it is key for Believers answering their call and achieving victory. Further, without faith it is impossible to please God.
We know this, but do we walk in it?
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
—Hebrews 11:6
Do we wholly realize the importance of faith? Do we even know what fear and faith look like?
Yes. But also, no. We know in part, that we look through a glass dimly, and we need the wisdom of God and His Word if we are to be able to proceed deeper into Godly knowledge!
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
—1 Corinthians 13:12
What is Fear? What is Faith?
So, what is fear? What is faith? And how do we walk in faith instead of fear?
If faith is the substance of things not seen but hoped for, is fear somehow something of substance? No. Fear is almost always imagined. It is falsehoods and what-ifs enlarged in our minds… and more often than not, it is wholly false. A trick of the enemy meant to steal God’s joy and peace in us, our faith, and even God’s promises for us. The key is to fight fear with faith!
Faith may be based on the unseen, but it has something that fear does not have. It has truth. It is truth. Fear makes the shadows of night seem large or terrifying, while faith can make those same shadows take on their true size, form, and character. Shadows may remain in a situation, but faith allows us to see them properly; it allows us to trust in our God and understand His truth.
But what are some ways that the enemy attacks us with fear? Does knowing how the enemy works help us grow our faith?
Well, we are all different, but how much easier is it to fight an enemy when we know their true size, what weapons they carry, and how they strategize? It is not meant to give the enemy praise—for he deserves NONE—but it shows us how to defend. How to fight and win! It shows us where we need to reinforce our faith, and where we may already be under attack and not realize it.
Fear is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons. It is ridiculous when we look at it through the eyes of faith, but if we allow it room to take root, it grows. We ought to block fear where possible and uproot it if it has already entered—remembering to place faith there, so that no matter if we are blocking or uprooting, no future fear can come to rest…
Still, what is fear? Is it being afraid of physical harm, like falling from a great height, getting burned, or contracting a contagious disease? Well, yes, at times these are forms that fear takes, but often fear strikes more subtly…
Take being offered a new job in a different country. God may tell us that we are meant to accept it—be it audibly, through prophetic words, signs, etc., but when fear of leaving the familiar strikes, often we begin to ignore God’s voice. Suddenly we only ‘think’ that God ‘may have’ told us to do it. Suddenly a million and one reasons why He probably did not tell us enters our minds. Suddenly we doubt our ability to even know the will of God. This is fear manifesting… trying to drown out faith.
If the enemy can get us to doubt the voice of God through fear, he can take over our life plan as written by God; because ultimately, God does not force His will on us, even if for our good.
Fear can be as subtle as remaining complacent. Of being comfortable in a routine that may once have served a purpose, but will not take us to the next level that God has planned for us.
We HAVE TO take hold of faith! What is more, we have to take that faith and move when God says!
“What does it profit… if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”
“…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
“But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham… justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
“Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
—James 2:14, 17-26
There are times when God begins to prompt us years or months prior to something He would have us do. But there are also times where we get our ‘orders from Heaven’ and are expected to run with them!
To everything there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and we have to be willing to turn faith into action; to have the faith in us showing itself unmistakably through the works that come from true, Godly faith!
Our Faith in God
“Faith moves God, fear moves Satan.”
—Curt Landry
We need to be aware that the enemy will try to use fear to manipulate us… to remove our faith and keep us from the promises of God. However, we need not ‘fear the fear,’ because the enemy is NOT God. The enemy is nothing when God is near… when our FAITH is kept in God.
Yet, what can we do to remove fear and apply faith?
One important thing to do is to examine ourselves…
For example, is there something we are obviously afraid of?
If so, unless we determine that it is a warning from God—to avoid something, pray protection over a person or situation—it is likely fear sent by the enemy. In such situations we need to realize the lie of fear, repent, pray for God’s help, and return to faith in God.
Is there something which God told us to do that we are now doubting or shying away from?
If so, it could be fear.
But what if we are not sure? How can deep-rooted or concealed fear be brought into the Light?
Well, the first and perhaps the best way for exposing fear is to explore the Word of God, because God’s Word is a discerner of truth. It tells us what is of God and what is not!
If something that we thought was from God is at odds with something in His Word, then that is a clear sign it is the enemy and not God. Yet, if it firmly agrees with the Word, then God likely has His hand in it…
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
—Hebrews 4:12
Beyond this, we can seek Godly counsel—God Himself obviously, but also spiritually strong Believers God has placed in our lives. We can also spend time in prayer. We can fast. We can praise and worship God!
While exposing the lie of fear is critical and can even essentially end that fear, sometimes we have to do more. Action has to follow. Fear needs to be replaced with FAITH.
Inaction toward those things God would have us do needs to be replaced with ACTION…
We need to make this a pattern for our lives. Faith and action! Not going where God does not lead, but equally being willing to move when He says… even instantaneously if Holy Spirit prompts us.
We cannot allow fear to keep us from moving. We cannot allow it to twist God’s words into doubts—doubting our hearing, the goodness of His will, etc. Instead, we HAVE TO follow God’s voice in faith, trusting Him…
“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
—John 10:4-5
We need to be filled with Godly faith. In ourselves, this faith can be difficult, but through the LOVE of God, it is possible. Because faith works through love (see Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 3:14-19.)
We can do what God says with Holy Spirit BOLDNESS when we allow ourselves to accept and walk in God’s love. Loving as He loves—love which drives fear away and allows faith and works.
In Jesus we can be more than conquerors!We can have firm, Godly faith!
