Fear No Fear

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

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

We were never meant to go it alone (Genesis 2:18). Males and Females were given to each other as physical partners here in this physical realm. Adonai also made it a consistent habit to commune with humanity in the windy part of the day (Genesis 3:8) – which was either a physically breezy time or the time when Ruach HaKodesh (the Wind – Genesis 1:2) came to visit. Humanity joined themselves together in male-female exclusive couples (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5). Adonai made Himself available to commune one on one with each human being (Isaiah 1:18; Jeremiah 33:3; John 10:27-28; Hebrews 1:1-2). We were never meant to go it alone. Adonai instituted the buddy system.

According to PeopleHum.com, a workplace buddy is ‘A buddy is someone who partners with a new employee during his or her first few months of employment. He or she is a colleague assigned to assist the new hire to get through the first nerve-wracking time period of being in a new position. He or she provides insight into the day-to-day activities of the company and is there to help the new project manager fit in more quickly.’ According to Merriam-Webster, the Buddy System is ‘an arrangement in which two individuals are paired (as for mutual safety in a hazardous situation).’ According to the Centre for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, the buddy system – as far as child environments goes – is ‘The purpose of implementing a buddy system is to increase social interaction and appropriate play among children in your classroom. A peer buddy can help the child who has difficulty with transitions, difficulty remembering the rules and procedures of routines, or who seems to need a lot of peer attention. It is also a nice way to give children experience in learning how to play together, how to compromise, and ways to teach others how to play with toys.’ ProtectChildren.ca has by favourite definition: ‘A key component in personal safety is teaching children that staying together with a buddy when travelling places or going online can enhance their safety and reduce their vulnerability to victimization.’

This is the system that Adonai designed. We have taken it and run with it in various ways because that system is coded into our DNA. It is discipleship. And the most important aspect of discipleship is that we, as human beings, are not left in the system alone. Jesus Himself is with us. He is with us as Himself (Matthew 18:20; Galatians 2:20; Revelation 3:20). The Father is with us as Himself alongside Jesus (John 10:30, 14:23). Ruach HaKodesh is with us as Himself (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19). We have a buddy system with Adonai. He is with us, we are with Him. We are NOT alone. We are NEVER alone. We can ONLY feel spiritually lonely when we have chosen to turn our face and refuse to see Him. Like children who avoid eye contact in order to not be in trouble, we turn our eyes away from Adonai and try to pretend we are alone. The ungodly do it constantly and consistently (Isaiah 29:15). We can all understand that, because they are walking in darkness. They are blind. They are self-deceived and devil-deceived. But believers? What excuse do we have? Do we REALLY not SEE Him when He is RIGHT THERE? Sadly, yes. We turn away. We refuse to see. We go it ‘alone’.

Even as we work on creating an atmosphere where Ruach HaKodesh is welcome and drawn – an atmosphere of worship which is our responsibility (we talked about it yesterday) – we need to go the next step. We need to become aware of our ‘buddy’. Adonai is WITH US. That means that everywhere we go, and in everything we do, He is right there. Ruach HaKodesh within us and Messiah Jesus beside us. We are SURROUNDED with His presence, whether we are willing to see Him or whether we are avoiding His gaze and pretending we are alone. I’m not talking about begging for a physical manifestation our physical eyes can see. I’m not talking about a feeling where we get tingly or giggly or whatever. Nothing wrong with either of those. But I am talking about developing a mindset where we SEE them with our SPIRITUAL eyes. Where we are aware of their presence. Where when we do what we do, we know they are there. Not watching us like some divine Big Brother, but partners. There to assist us. To give us words. To lend us their emotions. To tell us their ideas. To mentor us. To guide us. To ‘buddy’ us.

It’s not a difficult thing to do. The difficult thing is being aware, even in their ‘buddy’ role, that THEY are the SENIOR partner of the partnership. Adonai is GOD ALMIGHTY, not some bestie we can dismiss if we don’t like what they say. Yes, Jesus laughs and loves and is a GREAT companion. Yes, Ruach HaKodesh laughs and loves and can go on adventures with us. But they are STILL GOD. They are TOTALLY righteous, TOTALLY in charge, TOTALLY everything we need. WE are the ones who are conforming to THEM, no the other way around (Psalm 46:10). It is WITH ADONAI that all things are possible (Matthew 19:26), but it is a young child with their hand in a fully grown adult parent’s hand – not some Hallmark moment couple traipsing through a field of flowers. We can be as ‘buddy’ as we like with Adonai, as long as we always remember our position. People have always been able to be friends with kings, queens, heads of state, principals, teachers, CEOs, etc. But there is a level at which you are aware of your differences. With Adonai it is not any different. He LOVES us. We are His BRIDE. He IS God. AND He IS with us. Rely on Him. Rely on Ruach HaKodesh. Be aware they are there. There to guide, remind, correct, and Bless (John 14:26; 16:13). Be aware. They ARE there. And it is a VERY GOOD thing.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and be courageous; you should not be afraid, and you should not be in dread from their presence, for Yahweh your God is the one going with you; he will not leave you alone and he will not forsake you.” We are told that we can be strong and we can be courageous. That we do not need to fear and we do not need to feel dread when negative people are in our sphere. You know that feeling. When you are in the dangerous part of town and you see someone you do not know, who looks threatening, and is approaching you (or you are getting close to). That feeling that knots in your chest and you start to wonder what is going to happen (if anything). That is dread of their presence. Adonai is not telling us about a behaviour or mindset that we need to steel ourselves or discipline ourselves to pick up and manifest. Adonai is telling us that because HE has enabled us, WE can CHOOSE to be strong and courageous. Adonai is telling us that the tools are in our toolbox. We have been called and empowered. Strength and courage are ours for the taking. Not OUR strength, but His – which manifests in the JOY of knowing He is our God and He is with us (Nehemiah 8:10). Not OUR courage, but His – which manifests in the COMFORT of knowing that He is guiding our steps so that we can operate exactly as He operated here on Earth as a man (1 Peter 2:21-24). These two things – strength and courage – we can engage as easily as electricity. We have been told by Almighty Elohim that we can take them, we can use them, we can emote them, we can think them, and we can let them supersede ANYTHING that our flesh comes up with. We CAN be strong in HIS strength. We CAN be courageous in HIS courage. He has GIVEN them to us and EMPOWERED us to use them with His FULL permission. 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