Fear No Fear

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

How could we sing the song of Yahweh in a foreign land?

Psalm 137:4

Who rejoices because of trouble? Who looks forward to it and wants it in their life? No one. But unbelievers often think that is how a believer thinks. Not your average believer, they’re often as ‘woe is me’ as the people in the world, but the believer who understands what is possible in Jesus. They seem to have a different attitude. From the outside it can seem as an embracing of trouble: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials” (James 1:2). This isn’t a desire to have trouble or to rejoice in that trouble. This is also NOT saying that Adonai is the one who brings trouble upon us – He does NOT (James 1:13-14). This is a rejoicing inside the troubles (being in the boat) because we know that Jesus will bring us to the other side when we are relying on Him and letting Ruach HaKodesh work with us to walk us through it by His power and not OUR efforts or ideas (Romans 8:27-28). Even in a terrible situation, true thanksgiving will open the door to real difference and real change in what APPEARS to be happening.

Daniel was obedient to submission. He knew he had to rely on Adonai. He knew everything he had and everything he was was due to Adonai’s guidance and mercy. He honoured that and sought him EVERY DAY. It got him sentenced to death (Daniel 6). The situation was out of the control of the one person in the natural world who could have saved him (the king). But Daniel was saved. He didn’t moan and groan. He didn’t wail and moan. He put his trust in Adonai and did not step off of it – even if it meant his death. He was delivered. That willingness to turn to Adonai in spite of everything that seemed to be happening is what opened the door to victory.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had the opportunity to be obedient in defiance (Daniel 3). They were presented with a form of idolatry and they refused to submit to it. They were obedient to Adonai’s Word which stated plainly and clearly that ALL idolatry was to be refused. They were told to backslide on that position or they would be killed. They trusted in Adonai AND refused to backslide even if Adonai would NOT save them. They chose the Word over the situation. They didn’t even ASK for help. They were delivered. Their willingness to stick to the Word, to stick with what Adonai’s opinion was opened the door to victory.

Paul and Silas were beaten, chained, and imprisoned. They had the opportunity to keep their mouths open to speaking godly truth (Acts 16). They could have stayed silent. They could have chosen to be meek and submit to their punishment by the civic government. Instead, they opened their mouths and doubled-down on what they had been walking out. They chose to PRAISE Adonai. They were delivered. Their willingness to give thanksgiving to Adonai opened the door to victory.

In NO CASE was the victory the individual’s victory. They were HELPLESS in their physical selves. There was nothing that they could have done. But they choose to be grateful to Adonai, to obey Adonai, to refuse to move off the Words of Adonai. They were delivered. We have the same opportunity today. “Therefore subject yourselves to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “And he fell on his face at his feet, giving thanks to him. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were not ten cleansed? And where are the nine? Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has saved you.”” (Luke 17:16-19). JESUS is the one who overcomes (John 16:33). It is only when we choose to trust and rely on Him that we can enter into that overcoming victory (John 15:5).

Who is Ruach HaKodesh in this? The knob turner. He turns the knob by encouraging our thanksgiving. “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It is SO EASY to forget. Ruach HaKodesh reminds us that we should. He reminds us that since only JESUS can affect REAL CHANGE, we should be giving our problems to HIM (1 Peter 5:7). If we have really done that, they aren’t OUR problems anymore and THAT is a GREAT reason to praise Adonai. Ruach HaKodesh does not OPEN the door. He only turns the knob to show us that because we are saved, the door to heaven is NOT locked. It is AVAILABLE to us. EVERY day, ALL day. He reminds us HOW to enter the door. He reminds us that it is our RIGHT as children of Adonai. He encourages us to BE who we really ARE. To ACT like how Jesus SAYS we can act. He reminds us we ALREADY have the permission to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Give thanks to him; bless his name” (Psalm 100:4). All WE need to do, is walk through the door.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 2 Peter 1:11

“For in this way entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied for you.” Peter reminds us that if we enter into what Ruach HaKodesh brings to our table, the doors to heaven are ALWAYS swung wide. Humble submission to Adonai through thanksgiving, prayer, and a decision to trust our belief in Him (2 Peter 1:2-7) becomes the foundation of our praise and thanksgiving. Our thanksgiving is what opens the gates of heaven. Not our wailing. Not our all-night prayer vigils. Not our moaning and groaning. Our thanksgiving. We praise our way in and we praise our way out. Jesus came to show us the way. Jesus assures us it is our right. Adonai made it SIMPLE. Thanksgiving is what makes the unreal to our physical senses, VERY real to our spiritual ones. Praising Adonai makes everything real. Truly real. We start to see what is possible from Adonai’s point of view. What is right and true and godly. A truly grateful heart has a perspective on life that is not found ANY other way. And Adonai put the desire to praise Him within us so that we COULD experience that perspective. To ENSURE that we could see what HE says we can see. And then receive it. 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