Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“The Spirit is the one who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.“

John 6:63

We all have that food that we like to eat. Maybe it’s full of carbs. Maybe it’s something our parents or grandparents made for us. Maybe it is the food we always seemed to get when it was cold, or rainy, or we were having a bad day. There are certain foods or beverages that seem to provide us comfort. As if they were a warm blanket or snuggly baby. Last night, that really seemed to me to apply to Ruach HaKodesh. He IS after all our comforter (John 14:26).

Comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint; or the easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress (Oxford Dictionary). Comfort gives us strength and hope. It eases grief or trouble. It is consolation in time of trouble or worry; and a feeling of relief or encouragement, or contented well-being in a satisfying or enjoyable experience (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). It may be temporary, but our comfort foods do just that – which is why we go to them again and again and again while (occasionally) the scale cries.

What struck me last night, is that I can turn to Ruach HaKodesh as just that. A comfort. Someone to sit down with and commiserate with. To talk to. To watch that favourite movie with or read a book beside. Or just sip a beverage and relax in His presence. That’s what I would do with my partner, so why not with Ruach HaKodesh? Most people will say because that’s weird. And it kinda is. It’s hard to remember He is a personage, not some floaty cloud of power. Also, the idea of having ‘together time’ with ANY of the Godhood outside of church or prayer time is kinda weird. But God WANTS to be part of our lives. And then I remembered bread.

The Word is a food (Matthew 4:4). It is bread (John 6:35). If the idea of watching a movie together and chatting together is weird, why not do something I KNOW that He would enjoy. Why not read the Word together? I could do the reading and He could commentate on it. Talk about it. He IS the author of it and can point out all SORTS of things I would never think of. The Word is FULL of comfort and comfort of the best kind. It doesn’t strain our emotions. It doesn’t hurt our scales or waistbands. It focuses on the source of true comfort: Adonai.

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). “Even when I walk in a dark valley, I fear no evil because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). “So you also are experiencing sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you” (John 16:22). “As a man whose mother comforts him, so I myself will comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 66:13).

Adonai is clearly about comfort, and Ruach HaKodesh is the One who is designated to bring it to us and experience it with us. Yahweh is Righteous and we need the Righteousness of Messiah Jesus to approach Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). But we HAVE this righteousness within us because HE is within us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We should be using the ability we have to commune with Him to commune with Him. To enjoy His presence. To enjoy His fellowship. And while the idea of hanging out is strange, the idea of getting comfort and being a comfort through the Word is NOT. Ruach HaKodesh can comfort us like a mother comforts her son. That’s comfort. The more Word we have in us, the more we can understand what He’s talking to us about (Romans 12:2).

Next time you need comfort, curl up with the Word. Wrap a blanket around yourself. Get a beverage you enjoy. Sit down with Him and read. Read the Word and listen to what He is speaking to you. Accept the comfort He offers. Be enfolded in His love and kindness. Spend some time with YOUR comforter today and ANY day that you need that kind of special attention. It’s one reason we have the Word and that we have Ruach HaKodesh. It is a great foundation to a relationship with Yahweh. Not as created to creator. Not as human being to powerful and almighty Elohim. But as Father to child. This is the relationship He craves and in Jesus provides. Start being comforted today and feel His love wash over you.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Psalm 119:50

“This is my comfort in my misery: that your word preserves my life” What a blessed promise to rest on. Circumstances often can FEEL like we are in a misery. Like it is choking us. Like we cannot handle the things around us that we are supposed to be handling. That we are drowning in the morass of darkness, dredge, and misery that this life can often try and make us believe we are experiencing. But like a preserver tossed to a drowning person, Adonai’s WORD keeps us afloat. It reminds us of who He really is. What He really does. And what He has made available to each and every one of us who call Him Lord and God. His children. What a blessing the Word is. It brings physical health to our physical body (Proverbs 3:8). It brings spiritual health to our souls (Isaiah 41:10). It brings wisdom and clarity to our minds (James 3:17). It brings so much to us. It renews our thinking from the broken to the divine (Romans 12:2). It reminds and builds us up in the knowledge of the Love of Jesus for us (Ephesians 3:18-19). It truly blesses us (3 John 2). What a gift He has given to us. What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8