The Fear System vs. the Seeking/Faith System
What story are your words, actions, and beliefs writing for your life? A story of fear or faith? Victim or victor? At RLI’s new Breaking Free RLI Intro Weekend, Bryn teaches about the lies we believe about our lives, and how to re-write your story to agree with God’s Kingdom Truths. One of the most important, foundational tools to accomplish this is to understand the Fear System vs. the Seeking/Faith System.
You need to understand how God wired you. As thoughts flow in and out of your conscious mind they impact how you feel. They trigger emotions which in turn affects your behavior. This is true for both thoughts based on God’s Truth and for thoughts based on lies. You don’t need to stand by as a passive observer and just let this process happen…you have a choice!
We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)
When you choose to believe God’s Truth for your life, you activate what is known as your brain’s Seeking/Faith System, which is the dopamine system designed to seek out opportunities for THRIVING, GROWTH, EXCELLING, and OVERCOMING. When you choose to feel excited, the Seeking/Faith System engages and you choose to step into each situation believing God’s truth and excitingly seeking out what He’s doing IN FAITH! That’s what our God given seeking system is called – FAITH.
Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. (1 Chronicles 22:19 NIV)
When you choose to believe fear-based thoughts, you activate your brain’s Fear System, which is the adrenaline-fueled fight/flight response for SURVIVING IN FEAR. When you choose to feel anxious or fearful and believe the enemy’s lies, the Fear System engages and constantly looks for obstacles and traps to steer you away from God’s best for you.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 NIV)
You get to choose which system you want to live by! The Fear System can be very useful at times when you are faced with fight or flight situations like imminent danger. But living that way all the time can destroy your health and your relationships.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to audition for my church’s worship team and I felt like it went well. The worship team leader told me I would receive an email with the results on Tuesday. As you can probably imagine, I was on “pins and needles” waiting for the response. Tuesday rolled along and I did not receive an email. The enemy started working on me with his lies. “People are always quick to give good news, but they are slow to give bad news”. Another day passed without news. “You really aren’t good enough to be a worship leader”. Two more days passed. “You know you are not worthy to do something like this!” I was getting trapped into the Fear System.
Fortunately, my wife was there to remind me about the Seeking/Faith System. It helped me realign my thinking with God-based truths about myself instead of the lies the enemy was feeding me. “God gave me these skills to praise and worship Him!” “There are many reasons they may not be responding as quickly as I would like.” “I wonder what God will do in this situation; I know it will be for my good!”
I got good news about the audition on the next Sunday, but I had a choice about how to live my thought life that week. I could live in fear, self-unloving, rejection and be generally miserable all week. Or, I could choose to live in confidence, hope and expectation and be cheerful and energized all week. I chose faith!
You are faced with these kinds of choices many times every day as you face difficulties, issues and uncertainties. It’s your choice. How do you want to live your life? Will you choose the enemy’s Fear System or God’s Seeking/Faith System? Come and learn more about these valuable tools at the next Restoring Lives International Breaking Free event.