Fear No Fear

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

Let my lips pour out praise, because you teach me your statutes. Let my tongue sing of your word, because all your commands are right.

Psalm 119:171-172

When we think we’ve run out of ways to praise Adonai, all we need to do is learn about His statues and commands. I know that seems like it might not track, but you need to shift your thinking. Adonai’s statues and commands are not restrictions and ‘rules’ the way we think of them. They are not a list of DO NOT and MUST DO. Adonai has a character. A series of principles that create guidelines of conduct by which He has chosen to be. Adonai could be ANYTHING and deal with creation in ANY WAY. He has chosen these characteristics to be. They are not human. They are Him. When WE create a deity or a school of theological or philosophical thought, we always base it on ourselves. Look at the Greek gods and goddesses. Look at the Egyptian pantheon. They all have human personalities. They deal with us on whims. They can be petty. They can act with negative emotions and motivations. Adonai is none of that.

All the ‘ancient’ religions are all the ways humans chose to move away from Adonai way back when.The Egyptian religion didn’t influence the Hebrews by giving them ideas about Elohim. The Egyptian religion took things from Yahweh and changed them over centuries until they were in a specific form when Jacob and his family went down to Egypt. Genesis may have been written after the Osiris myth was developed, but they learned about resurrection from the principles Adonai spoke to humanity hundreds of years before that. The peoples of Egypt were descended from Noah’s kids. They originally knew about Adonai, but forsook Him and went their own way – taking what they knew of Him and perverting it until it suited their lifestyle choices. It was the same with the Canaanites in their nation and the Philistines in their city kingdoms. All the peoples of the Earth developed their religions by perverting what they knew about Adonai. By changing the characteristics and manner of Yahweh to suit the fallen behaviour and ideals of the humans who created the idols they then started to worship. Human religion – ancient and modern – is simply taking a fun-house mirror and reflecting Almighty Elohim until the image we see is twisted, warped, and to our liking. This is NOT Yahweh’s Way.

When we learn about Adonai and learn about His character and way of doing things, we are changing OUR thinking, OUR ideals, OUR emotions, and OUR point of view. We are coming into alignment with Adonai and HIS way of thinking, HIS viewpoint, HIS understanding, and HIS point of view. We are not making positive affirmations in the hope that things will change in spite of how we feel about them. We are making declarative affirmations that we AGREE with and SUPPORT and STAND ON what ADONAI has said about life, living, and morality. We are coming into agreement with Jesus, not trying to bend His will to ours. We are accepting His rule in our lives. We are saying, You are king and what You say goes. We’re tuning our frequency to His.

Ruach HaKodesh is our teacher and corrector. He shows us what the Word means. When He does, it opens up new vistas and avenues of praise. When we understand something new about Adonai, that is a new aspect of Adonai that we can praise. I thank Him and praise Him from what He’s saved me from. I thank Him and praise Him for who He is. I take the new things I never clearly saw before – this is me gaining understanding about what He has already written, not getting new revelation not found in or based on the Word – and make them praise points. I’m not perfect at it, but I am learning and practicing what I have learned. It’s an easy thing to praise Adonai when we understand who He is. It’s hard to fill up even five minutes of real praise when you don’t know who you’re talking about. Ever looked at the ‘love letters’ or texts/emails you sent to your spouse way back when? They are a PITIFUL effort compared to what you could say now, knowing them more completely. The more we know, the more we can say. Same with Adonai. The more we know, the more we can praise. We’re encouraged to know all that we can, too (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Our devotions need to stop being five, ten, or fifteen minutes of blowing through a chapter/section of the bible; reading some insight someone had; saying a quick prayer; and then going about business as usual. Our devotions need to be honest, open, and significant conversations with Ruach HaKodesh over the Word. It isn’t a joke. It isn’t a chore. This is serious stuff. Adonai is love. He is great. Wonderful. Loving. Kind. Wants to experience life with us and hang out with us and enjoy us. But He is also RIGHTEOUS and JUST and ALMIGHTY. He is our KING. We need to remember that. Read the end of the book of Job. Adonai doesn’t explain ANYTHING to Job. Job was righteous and blameless before Adonai, but he wasn’t in the covenant that is available to us. Adonai didn’t tell him that. Didn’t explain it. Didn’t reveal anything except some of who Adonai was. Job’s response? Job said Adonai was ABSOLUTELY correct. Job said he would shut his mouth. Job said he would TOTALLY submit to Adonai. Adonai is Elohim Almighty and can do WHAT He wants, WHEN He wants, HOWEVER He wants, because He IS. Period.

It’s hard to have this mentality in mind all the time. We can ONLY do it by keeping the Word before our eyes and in our ears and LISTENING to Ruach HaKodesh who constantly speaks to us about trusting in Jesus. “But you continue in the things which you have learned and are convinced of, because you know from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17). When we get light shone on the Word by Ruach HaKodesh, when we LISTEN to Him about what He is showing us, we get more understanding about the Word, about Adonai’s commandments and His statutes. When we do, we praise Adonai. It is a natural offshoot from knowing more about Him. The more we know, the more we see Him as He is, so the more we praise Him and WANT to praise Him. Ruach HaKodesh lights the path, and we praise what is revealed in the light of His glory.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Psalm 119:173

“Let your hand be my help, because I have chosen your precepts.” When we choose to align ourselves to Adonai’s point of view, we are choosing to live His way. Living His way AUTOMATICALLY brings His help. His might right hand (Jesus) is available and here to help us. He is poised and ready. When we choose His precepts, His point of view, His morality; we are choosing to be in the Blessing spot (1 Kings 7:9). When we stand where He wants us to be, we get help. It is only when we rebel and despise Him by refusing to obey that we don’t get help. So often we cry out for help, but are we examining where we are standing? Are we obeying Him, doing the last thing He asked us to? Are we living life how HE says it should be lived? Are we doing what He has revealed to us? When we do, we get help. It isn’t complex. If we love Him, we’ll be obeying Him (John 14:15). You try to make happy the people you love, just because you love them. Well, you can’t please Adonai without trusting in Him (Hebrews 11:6). When we trust, we’re saying we will obey whether we understand it or not, whether we’re perfect at it or not (although we truly try with all our heart), or whether anyone else agrees or not. We will choose to do what the Word reveals for us to do. We will choose to submit humbly to Him and LISTEN so that we can OBEY Ruach HaKodesh. When we do, we’re AUTOMATICALLY helped by Adonai. He’s right there calling us to be in the right place – HIM – so that He can help us. He’s a helping God. He’s a GREAT Father. He’s only waiting for us. We don’t need to convince Him or assail the open and unlocked Gates of Heaven. He’s EAGER to help 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