Romans 12:12

Constantly rejoicing in hope (because of our confidence in Christ), steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer (continually seeking wisdom, guidance and strength).

Life carries stresses we don’t have the answers to, but Jesus does. If we seek answers from Jesus and pray for wisdom and guidance, He will help us find solutions. Or help us walk through the stresses to get to the other side. The answer to what is going on in our lives can have a multitude of solutions. Don’t question the solution. Just follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

Our goal as Christians is to flourish under the tutelage of Jesus and the Word. That may mean we must change our thinking and feelings and how we react to life and people. It may mean we must mature and leave the old self behind who didn’t have the spirit or the Word of God for instruction. We can no longer reason as a child wanting everything our way but espousing the virtues of Jesus and walking in love and faith. 

Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in (union with) Him (reflecting His character in the things you do and say-living lives that lead others away from sin), having been deeply rooted (in Him) and now being continually built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. 

If we work to get our lives deeply rooted in Jesus and the teaching of God, our faith will accelerate. Our lives will reflect the character of Jesus as we emulate what we learn from the Word. Jesus walked in love and did not fear, and He abounded in wisdom. We, as believers, need all those things, and they are readily available to us when we believe. 

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, (doing this) without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. 

As Christians our goal is to increase our faith and mature. When we build ourselves up, we can be a center of knowledge to help the lost and sick and encourage others who need to learn from our experience. We become a voice for the possibilities of faith when we speak on how God has worked in our lives. 

2 Corinthians:5

Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as (committed) believers. Examine yourselves (not me)! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves (by ongoing experience) that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit?

We must ask ourselves whether we are committed believers . Our lives will thrive when Jesus is in us, and we are committed to growing in our faith as Christians. If we are not committed and grow with the Word, our lives will falter, and our faith will be weak. Our lives will reflect the level of the faith we practice.

1 Timothy 4:15-16

Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them (completely occupied in your ministry) so that your progress will be evident to all. 

Paul instructs Timothy to practice and build himself up in the faith and the Word. Our strength, just like Timothy, comes from our constant contact in faith with God’s Word and prayers. People around us will judge us by our actions; if we have faith-filled lives, we will reflect our beliefs. If our lives are chaos, then we are not spending time learning from the Lord.  

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear (anything), for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand (a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation).

Faith takes courage, and fear is not believing that the Word of God is true. We are not to fear anything and leave an opening for sin to enter. To activate our faith, we must think and speak faith words. We actively produce faith and lead our hearts out of worry when we speak our faith. 

Psalm 112:7-8

He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting (confidently relying on and believing) in the Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear while he looks (with satisfaction) on his adversaries.

Courage comes as we practice our faith and lean on the Lord. Fear does not come near us when we guard what we see, hear, and focus on. When we remain steadfast and trust in the Lord, believing and speaking the Word laid before us, we will not fear. God is more powerful than any circumstance and always has a plan. 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline (abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced min and self-control).

Kenneth Hagin Sr said, “Feeling is the voice of the body; reasoning is the voice of the mind; conscience is the voice of the spirit.” When it comes to fear, which voice are we listening to? The voice of the spirit should be our guide in all that we do! That spirit will lead us to power, love, and sound judgment, removing fear. 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous, do ne be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.  

If we don’t believe in the Word and take our courage from God, we will not overcome the stresses of life. What we believe affects how we act and react and the confession that comes out of our mouths. Our strength comes from the Lord! If we don’t confess this truth with our mouths, we won’t have the strength in times of trouble.