Fear No Fear

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

“Thus says Yahweh, “Cursed is the person who trusts in humankind and makes flesh his strength, and turns aside his heart from Yahweh““

Jeremiah 17:5

This isn’t something Adonai jokes about. He is SERIOUS about the place He DESERVES in our lives. He deserves it because He IS ELOHIM ALMIGHTY. His character demands that place. Not in a negative way, but because He is the ONLY THING that deserves it. He IS that He IS that He IS. The truth is that whomever or whatever we rely on is what determines who is in that place. When we choose something or someone that isn’t Adonai, our hearts turn that direction. We were designed to give place in our hearts to whom we rely on. We were designed for that reliance to be on Adonai. But Adam chose otherwise, corrupting his DNA and that of his descendants. Now we have the opportunity to choose again. Will we choose wisely? Will we choose RIGHTLY?

We throw the word ‘rely’ around a LOT. We rely on our vehicles to get to work. We rely on our co-workers to get their jobs done. We rely on our employer for our paycheques. We rely on our friends to help us have a good time. We rely on our spouses for a happy home. We rely on pretty much everything. That kind of relying is having confidence based on experience with that thing. Nothing wrong with that. But the relying that Adonai talks about is the kind of relying that is being DEPENDENT on. I may rely on my vehicle to go to work, but if it tanks for any reason I’ll find another way. If a person I rely on doesn’t do their part, I’ll do it myself (if that’s a possibility) or go another route. I am not DEPENDENT on them. I don’t rely on the government in either way, because my experience is that the human factor makes government programs and laws and institutions have a lot more WELL MEANING-ness to them than EFFICACY. They do their best or not because of the people that make up the machine of government. When we look at reliance we aren’t asking who we have confidence in, but who we depend on.

What is it that makes our world turn? What is it that we cannot live without? What is it that we are making the foundation of our lives? If it is people, that’s a foolish decision. If it is a thing humanity has made – be it policy, philosophy, or a television show – it’s a very unwise thing. If it is something of the natural world – like a pet or a landscape – it’s a ridiculous thing. The ONLY thing we have ANY right to depend on is Adonai because He is the ONLY thing that is RELIABLE totally, completely, historically, and demonstrably. We can PROVE the faithfulness of Adonai. We can PROVE the care and protection He provides. We can PROVE the benefit of living in obedience to Him and loving Him. We can PROVE the consequences of NOT obeying or loving Him. For all their talk about the ‘scientific method’ the world consistently refuses to apply it to Adonai. If they did, they too would see His loving kindness and unchanging faithfulness.

We have a blessing when we trust in Adonai and put Him first in our hearts. We have a blessing when we trust His Word and rely on it for our daily sustenance – more so than with the food we eat or the fluid we drink. This is something we can see day to day. The days that you give Him first place and lean into Him will ALWAYS be better days than the ones you do not. There is a level of life that imbues us when we spend time with Him. I recently had a day ‘off’. I had nothing I was required to do. I did my work ahead of time to clear my plate. I had a lie in. I spent the day with the family. Good times were had. But at the end of the day I looked back and it seemed pale. Because I hadn’t taken time to learn from Ruach HaKodesh one on one. I hadn’t taken time to meditate on the Word. I didn’t ignore it, but I didn’t give Adonai QUALITY time. And I really felt it. I apologized and repented and work to not do it again. I have seen the difference. Life – no matter what activity I am engaged in – is more vibrant, more enjoyable, and more satisfying when I have spent time with Him. When I am DEPENDENT on Him for the ‘spice’ that is in life.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Acts 3:5

“So he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.” Why didn’t this man ever look at Jesus expecting to receive something? We know this man had been at the gate of the Temple for MANY years. His friends brought him there every day. We know Jesus was constantly in and out of the Temple whenever He was in Jerusalem. Why hadn’t he looked to Jesus? It’s a good question, but the BETTER one is why do we think Adonai didn’t have a backup plan? If you think about why the man DIDN’T look to Jesus, you can miss that Adonai made sure that Peter and John were prepared to act when the man DID look. Adonai’s best would be for everyone Jesus passed to look to Him for healing, but they didn’t. So Adonai prepared the next wave: the disciples. After them He prepared the next wave: the early church. Then the growing church. Then the regional church. Then the global church. And it continues today. Adonai is ALWAYS preparing the next wave, the next opportunity, the next, the next, and the next. “The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Adonai has NEVER stopped making opportunity for us. We might miss one, but there is another around the corner. He keeps going and going – and will until everyone has had at least one good opportunity to hear the truth of Jesus and choose Him. 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