Fear No Fear

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

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.

Romans 8:9

Belonging is the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself which, when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity, gives a feeling of security and support. When we don’t have a sense of belonging our lives suffer – personally and performatively. This means that belonging is a critical feeling in our lives that leads to improved engagement between people and a better performance at home, work, and during recreation. It’s curious that we have such a deep-seated emotional need to be an accepted member of a group.

We use music, clubs, sports, schools, jobs, hair colours, styles, language, skin colour, beliefs, sexuality, appearance, social economic statues, political affiliation, and a hundred other ways to form groups. Once groups are formed we scramble around desperate to become part of one and to STAY part of one – often compromising or conforming to the ideals of the whole as presented by the influencers of the majority. The drive to belong is strong.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, although they are many, are one body, thus also Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free persons, and all were made to drink one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). We were made to be a group. To belong to that group, and to be an active part of that group. This is why we have the need to be accepted as a member of a group. The problem is that when we rebelled against Adonai’s Way (Genesis 3). We spiritually died. Unless we have a living spirit we cannot connect to THE Living Spirit, and so we have a member-of-a-group sized hole in us that we are desperate to fill.

Once we are saved, the door is open to so much more. But because of how long we were broken, we have a hard time imagining ourselves as anything less. Because we have been forced to rely on feelings for so long (because our spirits were dead), we don’t know what to do with the new emotions we can choose to engage from our new Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Ruach HaKodesh has the authority to show us what we are now (Ephesians 4:16). What we are a part of (Colossians 3:14-16). To help us engage the sense of belonging – without conflict – that all believers have the right to (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27; Ephesians 3:6). Ruach Hakodesh has the authority to help us engage the mind of Messiah, the morals of Adonai, and to walk in the belongingness of the Way: “Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing and there not be divisions among you, and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10). If we let Him help us do what the Word says we can do, we will NEVER feel like we don’t belong EVER again.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Psalm 65:11

“You crown the year with your bounty, and your wagon paths drip with richness.” Our Father has so much in His Kingdom, that at the end of the year He can celebrate. To rest in and on the fullness that He has provided. Normally, as the end of something approaches it means that there is less. You’re using it up and ready to start anew. Not so with OUR Source. He ends with more than He started with. His wagons drip with richness. At the end of the year, He can heap on more and more. He NEVER runs out. He NEVER lacks. If you will trust in Adonai you will NEVER diminish (Psalm 23:1). But you have to trust in Adonai. If you do not do it with intent, consciously placing trust in Him and thanking Him for His bounty with honest intent, then you will miss it. Because it is for those who trust Him (Hebrews 11:6). Now He gives us the ability to trust Him. He encourages us. He leads us that way. He does everything He can to get us to trust, but if we will not actually do it by choice with our will and remember it consistently, then it is not HIS fault we miss out. He wants us to enjoy His enjoyment more than He wants to enjoy His enjoyment. Enter into His rest. Enter into His bounty. Trust Him like He leads you to do and you will enjoy more than you can imagine – and He teaches us to imagine quite a bit. He will ALWAYS answer trust. 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