Fear-Based or Faith-Based?

Faith-Based or Fear-Based?

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A useful tool for purposeful living is identifying the emotional motivation for your decisions.

It helps to ask: “Is this decision fear-based or faith-based?”

Many of our decisions can be rooted in fear on some level. We can fear not having enough income, or we can fear losing approval from others. We can fear the anger of someone, or we can fear the unknown. We can fear change, and we can fear letting go.

It is generally easier to identify fear-based thinking relative to larger decisions. As we reach a momentous crossroads, we evaluate what hinders us; at such a point we often discover elements of fear. With smaller decisions, however, we often do not reflect long enough upon the decision to recognize the fear. Smaller decisions accumulate over time. Continually making decisions from fear rather than from faith diminishes not only one’s testimony but also one’s quality of life.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

If perfect love casts out fear, it follows that we have not fully accepted God’s love when we do fear. When we fear other people or situations, when we fear scarcity or disapproval, when we fear the unknown – when we fear in any situation – we are not acting out of love. We cannot openly receive God’s love in a state of fear, and thereby we cannot overflow with love. Without fully embracing God’s love, we are sensitive and vulnerable to everything around us: people, events and situations. Fear clenches and closes the heart…preventing it from giving and receiving love.

Fully accepting God’s love awakens our trust in Him and in His Promises. Our hearts open to embrace His love. Our open hearts then freely love Him and others in return. It is then, with this widely open heart, that our decisions become firmly based on faith. We seek only God’s approval, and we need not know the outcome of obeying Him. We trust Him that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

God is love (1 John 4:8); when we align our will with His, our actions and decisions flow freely from a state of love. When our fear is only of God, we discover freedom and truth. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10)

Today, as you continue upon your purposeful pathway, notice the decisions you make – both big and small. Is there a hint of improperly-placed fear? Do you fear anyone or anything besides God? Perhaps today you can share your faith more freely? Or perhaps you can learn to say “no” to commitments when your time would be better spent in other activities? Perhaps you can move more boldly in a direction to which you sense God is calling?

In all that you do, today and every day, embrace God’s love with an open heart. Release your fears to Him and walk faithfully with Him…

Aug 4, 2011 By Caroline Gavin Holistic Healing, Spiritual Growth, Vocation / Career / Calling 7 Comments

My Personal Purposeful Pathway

Sharing My Personal Purposeful Pathway

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing about my personal purposeful pathway on the FINDING YOUR VOICE Internet Radio show with Joel Boggess.

I am grateful to Joel for taking the time to interview me, and it was an honor to speak about where God has led me and where He now leads. It is a tremendous blessing to recognize how all circumstances in my life – both good and bad – have been woven into a beautiful tapestry. Truly our LORD does work all for good to those who love Him.

My hope and prayer is that the interview will both encourage and inspire you. May you continue to heal so that you can hear His voice. May you continue to grow more like Christ so you can grow more into your true self. May you continue to keep your eyes fixed on eternity so that your feet will step surely upon your own purposeful pathway…

http://www.4pointscoaching.com/032-finding-your-voice-a-passion-to-bring-healing/

Jul 26, 2011 By Caroline Gavin Holistic Healing, Spiritual Growth, Vocation / Career / Calling Leave a Comment

Embracing the Challenge

Embracing the Challenge

One of the most powerful methods for purposeful living is embracing each challenge as both blessing and opportunity. Power lies not in simply accepting or resigning to challenges – but in fully and gratefully embracing them.

As we journey upon our purposeful pathways, we discover that challenges and obstacles exist to strengthen us and to mold us more like Christ. If we encounter a pattern of similar trials, we find that it is in this area of challenge that we have not yet yielded fully to God. Our Lord speaks through these challenges and calls us to transform ourselves by abiding in Him. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

God desires to have a relationship with each of one of us, and He desires for us to grow more like Christ. The more faithfully we abide in Christ, the more we live for God’s glory. The more we resemble Christ, the more we live as our authentic selves – selves untainted by the anxieties, the deceptions and the sinfulness of the world.

Trials, therefore, provide incredible opportunity to examine ourselves, to grow more like Christ and to know Him and love Him more deeply. When we yield to God, we are aligned with His Will. His power is able to flow through us and transform us. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (1 Thessalonians 2:9)

Submitting to God and allowing Him to work in our weakness manifests a compelling testimony to others. The secret is to embrace rather than resist or simply resign to the challenges. For the more you gratefully accept the challenges, the more His power can work through you to fulfill His loving plan.

Walking upon your purposeful pathway today, I encourage you to embrace the obstacles which lie before you. A stronger, more loving, more Christ-like you lies on the other side of the challenge…

How will you practice embracing the challenge today?

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Jul 23, 2011 By Caroline Gavin Spiritual Growth 8 Comments