Walk by Faith
By Capazin Thornton
In Mark 35:39-40, we find that the wind and waves obey Jesus.
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. Yet the disciples were fearful. Jesus asked them, “How is it that you have no faith?” Here we see that the reason a person has no faith is because he or she is fearful. One cannot walk by faith and be fearful at the same time.
Walk by Faith—when fear doubt unbelief anxiety creep in
I’m reminded of one time when I awoke in the middle of the night to pray, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that I had become fearful, doubting, unbelieving, and anxious. Say what? How had fear, doubt, unbelief, and anxiety crept into my life?
What the Holy Spirit showed me was that in the process of being candid with close friends about my circumstances, I had begun to magnify the circumstances. Then I began to think, “what if” this happens, and “what if” that doesn’t happen. It was ever so subtle, but through uncensored thoughts and words expressed I had opened the door to fear, doubt, unbelief, and anxiety.
“A thought is a mental image, concept, idea, notion or purpose. A thought can be lodged in our minds from a simple whisper in the ear, from pictures flashed before our eyes, from things we read, from words spoken to us, things we hear, music we listen to.”[1]
When we meditate on and express thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word, we allow fear, doubt, unbelief and anxiety to run roughshod over our mind and emotions. Then we begin to magnify the circumstances. Our soul is supposed to magnify (enlarge, make great) the Lord, not the circumstances.
Walk by Faith—cast down wrong thoughts
In order to walk by faith, we must take authority over and cast down every thought, image, argument, reasoning that exalts itself against and opposes the clear revelation of Scripture. (2 Cor 10:5)
Walk by Faith—not according to circumstances
For we walk by faith, not be sight (appearance). We Christ believers are to conduct our lives according to the realities of God’s Word and not according to the outward appearance of things, knowing that natural circumstances are always subject to God’s eternal Word. (2 Cor 5:7; 2 Cor 4:16-18)
Walk by Faith—have faith in God
To walk by faith means to have faith in God.
Faith is being fully persuaded, believing, trusting in one’s heart what God says in His Word.
Faith is saying the same thing God says in His Word.
Faith is acting in agreement with God’s Word.
God is forever faithful. He has magnified His Word above all His name. Most certainly, if God said it, you can count on it! (Ps 138:2)
Walk by Faith—do not cast away your confidence
Let’s kick fear, doubt, unbelief and anxiety out of our lives. Let’s walk by faith in God. Keep believing God for manifestation of your healing, a financial breakthrough, restoration of relationships, your children’s salvation. No matter what things look like in the natural realm, do not cast away your confidence (bold glad confession) in God and His Word. (Heb 10:35)
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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker and author in Orange County, California.
[1] VICTORY 10 Keys to Living in Victory Every Day, p. 33
