Faith as a Verb

How strange the weather has been for the last couple of months. Early Spring-like weather, many, many days of fierce winds, fifty degrees one day, below zero the next & practically no snow. I love the above picture, but it's only a dream. Not that we haven't had snow, but not too much accumulation. & I LOVE snow. & to be cold! because it's so agreeable, so amiable, so enjoyable & satisfying, so cozy!... to cocoon myself in a snuggly, soft, blanket, wrap my hands around a cup of steaming hot cocoa, put on my woolly socks, sit in front of a crackling fire or enjoy what is called "window weather", or read a good book, or just let the calming drowsiness take me away like a Calgon bath. But there have been many days this month of sweater weather the likes of which I haven't seen in the forty-six winters that I have lived in South Dakota! However, I declared at the beginning of the month that it would be a time of rest, respite, & recline. Apart from the things that have to be done every day, the little homely chores that I love to do,  I would keep it to the bare-bones minimum & would take a much needed stay-cation, day-cation, play-cation, lay-cation, or whatever you want to call it. I found the most charming little animated videos of winter scenes & woods creatures to the background of Celtic music that I would watch & listen to while rocking in my comfy rocking chair, very therapeutic & restful. & I have mostly kept my resolve to do this for the month. I have measured out the chore of putting away seasonal decor to just a little every day. I simplified cooking, mainly soups & stew that could be eaten over a period of days. & I purposed not to make unnecessary trips to town & stay at home instead. I finished packing & storing the rest of my Christmas decor just this morning, leaving out the usual snowmen & faux evergreen  trees for the rest of winter. They so brighten long winter days with color & cheery snowman smiles! 

So, doing a little vacuuming  & the final stages of putting the containers into hibernation until next Christmas, I started thinking about the new year. I'm sure there will be changes for all of us. That goes without saying. There may be goodbyes, to some we love or maybe a way of life that gets interrupted by, well, life. There may be unexpected challenges that require us to give up, or at least lay down for awhile, our dreams, security or comfort. Our 'nest egg' may be required of us for a desperate need of someone else. Our circumstances may greatly change so that it requires a new dependency on the Lord to meet our daily needs. All of these may seem negative or thoughts that we don't want to think about. & why, as the saying goes, 'borrow trouble'? Why project a spirit of fear into the unknown future? What comes to my mind is the Boy Scout motto, "Be prepared." How? By making daily faith installments into our 'Faith Bank'. Again, how? I don't know anyone who doesn't have a fear of something. or is tormented by fear itself. But do we realize that fear, no matter how seemingly small, or Goliath-size, according to scripture, is sin? 

"Whatever is not of faith is sin?"  ( Romans 14:23)

So, in this coming year, what will be required of us, is to 'head off' (little play on words) those fears  at the pass, yes, get out our faith slingshots & whack! & decapitate those Goliaths of torment!  

"...because fear has torment..."  ( 1 John 4:18)

A well known evangelist uses the term, "Faith the Facts". I would add to that,

FAITH YOUR FEAR!!

By getting our minds renewed through the reading, (out loud!) of His word because "faith comes by hearing & hearing by the word of God"! It is the way that we learn who we are in Jesus, what our (Jesus) Blood Covenant rights & responsibilities are, & who He is in truth. It's how we get to know Him intimately & the better we know Him, the more we trust Him. & the more we trust Him, the better we know Him. & love Him.

I have a thought. What if everything that comes to us in this coming year of 2026 that we might perceive as negative or harmful, we would determine beforehand to 'faith our fear' by allowing Jesus to tweak our perception of it as a divine & even appointed encounter which would allow Him into the situation thus changing the whole outcome for His purposes & glory. Even in desperate circumstances out of our control, they aren't out of His control when we 'faith our fear'! & the 'outcome' equals 'overcome'.

"Faith is the victory that overcomes..." Everything. 

"Cast your care on Him for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." (Proverbs 3:5)

"Do not be anxious about anything..." (Philippians 4:6)

"Do not be afraid for I am with you."  (Isaiah 41:10)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil..."  (Psalm 23)

"Don't let your hearts be troubled & do not be afraid."  (John 14:27)

"The Lord is my Helper. I will not be afraid." (Hebrews 13:6)

In each verse fear is overcome by 'faithing' the fear.

Fear comes to all of us at times, but it is not meant to set up camp. It is meant to be 'sent back from whence it came! That's where faith as an action verb comes in. & I don't mean riding leisurely off into the sunset either. I plan to see some head rolling to be graphic. It's time for all of us to 'faith our fear'. & then..

Look out Goliath fear. Sheriff Faith has come to town. With double-barreled slingshots! Oh yeah...

Raintree Perk of the Day:

"...One little stone (faith) went up in the air (& whop!!) & the giant (fear!) came tumbling down!!!  🎵"  (From the song 'Only A Boy Named David) 😊