Fear No Fear

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

give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

The meaning of life is something humans have always struggled with. The humanist says this: ‘The meaning of life is to be alive. The purpose of life is whatever you make of it. Because it is yours, and only you can make your decisions’. The scientist says to gather rewarding experiences. That though that may lead to feeling small, the experiences remind us we ‘are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist’. Wikipedia says ‘The meaning of life is the concept of an individual’s life, or existence in general, having an inherent significance or a philosophical point. There is no consensus on the specifics of such a concept or whether the concept itself even exists in any objective sense.’ But Adonai Elohim – who CREATED everything that is – says there is a DISTINCT meaning to life.

Adam was placed on Earth to work (not toil). That work was the spread of the Kingdom of Adonai in a very real and physical sense. To steward and guide the development of the planet. Why? To bring Adonai glory. Beyond work, what else were we created for? To bring Adonai glory. Work and non-work, we are to bring Glory to Adonai. We do that by giving thanks to Adonai for EVERYTHING. Can we praise Him for negative things? No. He only sends good things. What CAN we do? We can praise Him for the SOLUTIONS to negative things. For His SAVING us and GUIDING us and BEING WITH US in and through negative circumstances. Being in the boat, and not in the storm. We can praise Him for the PEACE that is our RIGHT as His humbly submitted obedient children.

It takes a shift in thinking. It takes a new mental landscape. This is what is our RIGHT. “And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). “Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12). We can pull down the strongholds of our minds with PRAISE and THANKFULNESS. We can RENEW our thinking to HIS thinking. Adonai’s opinions, morals, and ideas. This is how we are meant to live. Eager to run to Him and share the day’s business because we’ve been about His business. It’s how Jesus lived. It’s how WE are supposed to live and CAN live.

Ruach HaKodesh NEVER GETS TIRED of pointing out opportunities for praise. He NEVER GETS TIRED of singing songs with us (or for us). He NEVER GETS TIRED of whispering lyrics. He NEVER GETS TIRED of the Psalms. These are all things that are available to us. ALL THE TIME. Not a single day or a single segment of a single day. ALL the time. There is NO activity that needs to be separated from praise – if it is a godly activity (and that includes sexuality participated in in Adonai’s way). It takes SO LITTLE EFFORT to say a word of praise. To have a heart full of grateful intent. Thanking Him for that idea. Thanking Him for the remembrance of something. Thanking Him for the opportunity to do any given thing. Thanking Him for the people in your life – employees, employers, politicians, friends, co-workers, or family. To whistle or hum a song which thanks Him and acknowledges His place in your life and in Creation. This CAN become a pattern of behaviour. This CAN become THE major way that we THINK. THE major way that we CHOOSE to experience life. We MUST have grateful intent. We MUST praise Adonai. But it becomes second nature when we are seeking to live in and through Jesus as our PRIMARY nature (2 Corinthians 5:21). Ruach HaKodesh is the instrument of our remembrance, but WE are the instrument of intentful purpose. HIS purpose. The meaning of life is to bring Glory to Adonai in ALL things, at ALL times (John 5:5). All other ideas are meant to rob you of your true purpose (John 10:10): abundant life in Jesus.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Ephesians 1:3

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” We’re good talkers. Humans are the only species with true language (not communication, but LANGUAGE) and we are NOT shy in using it. But even the most chattering of chatterboxes and only speak so much. We should give Adonai glory. It is right, good, and godly. To give Him the credit He deserves to get. But we can only say so much. We are like the wood of a fire. We can crackle and pop, but the flames rise higher than we do. They are more visible than we are. They are a greater witness than we could be. We should NOT stop burning, but we can only do what WE can do. The BLESSING of Adonai speaks FOR us, too. The BLESSING is the light that draws the moths. The BLESSING is the light that the nations can see. The BLESSING speaks for us in better and truer ways than we could manage on our own. It is a WONDERFUL thing to accept what we are offered by Adonai and IN THE ACCEPTANCE enable Him to shine bright and clear in this world full of darkness. He BLESSES us to be a BLESSING to even more people. Isn’t THAT a generous Father? Isn’t that a GREAT thing? 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