Choose Faith Not Fear
ICS Daily Devotions
Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV) Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
There are two kingdoms in this world: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Darkness, both of which are vying for our attention daily. Though we have been transferred to the Kingdom of God where He reigns and rules in our lives, we still live in this world where the god of this age can influence us through events and messages that are communicated to us daily. We are constantly being bombarded through different media channels, which are powerful tools that form our thinking and values either directly or subtly. If we fail to guard our minds vigilantly, concerns and fear may slowly make a foothold into our thought lives, thus choking the Word and rendering it ineffective in our lives. Unless we renew our mind with the Word, we will succumb to and operate in the world’s ways, and when the ways of the world are stronger than the Word in our hearts, the seed of the Word of God will be choked.
The seed that is sown among thorns cannot grow because it is deprived of sunlight. The overwhelming influence of the deceitfulness of riches, the desire of other things and the false glamour in life will choke and suffocate the Word. There is always a choice between God’s way or the way of the world. If we choose God’s way, we will need to allow the Word of God to take root in our lives so that faith is produced enabling us to stand firm regardless of our circumstances.
Cares, anxieties, and fear are a result of doubt and unbelief of the Word. The devil will put deception in our minds, causing us to look at the circumstances. There are countless worries in our lives if we would allow our minds to run wild, and be negative and pessimistic over everything. Cares and anxieties are thoughts that meditate on the negative and the many possibilities which may not happen at all, but they will bring fear into our lives.
We will either live in fear or faith. As Christians, we should not meditate on the negative, but live by faith in God based on His character and the promises of His Word. If we succumb to anxieties and the cares of this world, we are letting the Word be stolen from our lives. Because God and His Word are one, He will make good what He has promised in His Word. Therefore, we must meditate on the Word of truth so that peace which guards our heart and mind will remain with us.
Fear steals peace from our hearts and minds by meditating on the unknown, but faith, peace, hope, and grace are multiplied when we meditate on the Word.
Sermon Series: Don’t Let It Be Stolen
