As I ponder whether or not to answer with faith or fear, my mind would usually move swiftly to fear because of my natural fleshly tendencies. However, I have now discovered how to control the thoughts that enter my mind and what to do with them. Those thoughts that are not good, like fear, I have learned to immediately replace them with something that is good, like faith. Sounds easy...? Well, it is simple but not easy. It is possible with the power of God. The more I choose to do this, the easier it has become. God taught me something important. I will always "feel" fear but I can move forward and "do it afraid." God did not give me a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7) but instead He gave me a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Something else that is important that I learned is that I receive from God (His help, guidance, power) only by faith. I need to live by faith and not draw back in fear. Faith is confidence in God and a belief that HIS promises and help are true and available for ME. Faith causes me to move forward and be excited about the things God has for me. God instructs me to "fear not." Again, that doesn't mean that I won't feel fear but I move forward in faith and I do what I have learned to do, not what I feel like doing.