Fear or Faith

Have you ever been so filled with fear that faith was no where to be found.

A volcano had erupted in my life. 🌋 I had landed in the hospital with afib (atrial fibrillation = fast erratic heartbeats). 

After attempting to lower the heart rate the cardiologist sent me home on blood thinners with instructions to come back in 3 days for a cardioversion. (Yes, the shock with the paddles!) 😨

My normal pattern of thinking (at that time) always led me down the FEAR highway. 

I'll probably be the first person to die from a cardioversion, I found myself saying to one of my close friends when she asked to pray for me. 

It was honest, but it was unhealthy, fear-based thinking.

I am SO GLAD I don't think that way anymore! 

At that time I didn't know how to process my thinking through the toolbox of Philippians 4:8. 

Finally sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable. . . think this way!

Would you like to learn how to build healthy thinking patterns instead of the ones that lead to fear, doubt, unbelief, anger - or however your respond to a volcano?

A 90-degree turn

I asked my friend to pray for me the night before my cardioversion. 

To be honest, I am so filled with fear that it's hard to not think about the possibility of dying as they do the cardioversion, I confessed to Cathy. 

She looked me square in the eye and spoke something to me that I have never forgotten: YOU CANNOT FACE FEAR AND FAITH AT THE SAME TIME!

It was one of those light bulb moments - when I finally understood a TRUTH that has always been there, but I never saw it before.

I was currently facing fear. How was I going to make the 90-degree turn and face FAITH? 🔁

The Word of God has always been the tool that corrects my wrong thinking and points me in the right direction, so I started repeating Psalm 112:7 TLB.

I will not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For I am settled in my mind that Jehovah will take care of me. 

(my personalization)

 It was the start of my journey of building new, healthy thinking pathways in my brain. 

What are you facing today?

Is it fear or frustration? Unknowns or indecision? Apathy or a wounded heart?

What can you do to make a 90-degree turn and face faith?

• Find a Bible verse that speaks directly to your situation and declare it out loud.
• Turn on worship music and set your focus on who God is and who you are in Christ.
• Sit quietly in God's presence and let him surround you with his love.
• Cast all your worries and cares on God and receive the peace that will surround your heart and mind. (Philippians 4:6-7)

You Cannot Face Fear and Faith at the Same Time!

You cannot sit back and hope someday you will have a happy, and healthy thought life. You have to purposefully work at healthy, faith-and-truth based thinking. 

You need to position yourself and use the Word of God as a tool to face FAITH instead of the unhealthy thinking you are experiencing right now.

That is why my daughter Kristin and I have developed The Volcano: A Tool for Managing Your Thoughts.

It is a coaching course that gives you the tools you need to change your unhealthy thinking to God-centered, truth-filled thought patterns.

One of the tools we teach you is directly from Philippians 4:8: thinking that is True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, and Admirable. We use the acronym TNRPLA: pronounced ta-ner-pa-la. Each of the thinking points in Philippians 4:8 is paired with 2 questions that will position you to view your volcano from God's perspective and hear what He is saying to you. 

Come find out more in the coaching course The Volcano: A Tool for Managing Your Thoughts. It will transform your life and renew your mind.

For more information, check this out.