Fear No Fear

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

“Remember the former things from a long time ago, for I am God and there is none besides me, God and there is none like me,“

Isaiah 46:9

Adonai doesn’t need us. He is complete in and of Himself. He didn’t need us in order to express love. He didn’t need us for companionship. He didn’t need us to worship Him. He wants those things or deserves those things because of who He is, but He didn’t NEED any of it. He doesn’t NEED anything we do. So ANYTHING He asks us to do is not for HIS benefit, but for OURS. He is trying to get US to a better place. He is trying to make sure WE benefit. He is trying to HELP us because He LOVES us. And He is both consistent and persistent in this.

Blankets give us warmth. They also provide us with emotional regulation. When we are wrapped in a blanket, it produces Oxycontin in our brains. It is the bonding hormone and gives us a feeling of safety. Adonai has a LOT of experience with covering things. “you who cover yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a tent curtain” (Psalm 104:2). Adonai wants us to experience the benefit of being covered. “With his feathers he will cover you, and under his wings you can take refuge. His faithfulness will be a shield and a buckler” (Psalm 91:4). Does that seem like something He wants for HIMSELF or something He wants for US? He wants us to have the spiritual Oxycontin that only HIS presence carries. He wants us to feel safe. When we DON’T feel safe, we tend to operate in panic. In anxiousness. When we don’t feel safe, we seek safety any way we can. He doesn’t WANT us flying around in a panic grabbing everything we see because we think it *might* make us feel safe. He wants us to have the things that make us ACTUALLY safe: Him.

When Ruach HaKodesh tells us something it isn’t for HIS benefit. It’s for OUR benefit. It is to help US. We are the ones who need HIM. Humans didn’t like hearing that, so Adonai gave us the Law to show us. Then humans decided to perfect the FORMS of the Law – behaviour, not thinking or heart intent. That didn’t help because in the Law it was only true worship and dependence on His Grace and Mercy that could save you (because we know the blood of bulls and lambs don’t save us – Hebrews 10:4). All that has changed is that instead of relying on annual sacrifices to trust that Adonai is forgiving our sins, we are trusting in the PERMANENT sacrifice Jesus made and we trust in Adonai to accept our accepting of that sacrifice in order to be forgiven (Ephesians 2:8-9). It’s ALL through Jesus.

If Jesus went through all of that so that WE could accept it, WHY would He suddenly change? Adonai DOES NOT CHANGE (Malachi 3:6). Adonai has always MADE everything for us, and then WE engage it and go with it. His power. His will. Our cooperation with Him. Adam rebelled. He didn’t like the system or he wanted to do things a different way. That rebellion is in our DNA. Everything Adonai has said and everything that Adonai has done has been about getting us back to where we should have been. Not for Himself, but for US. THAT is how much Adonai IS love. When Ruach HaKodesh talks to us, it is for OUR benefit. He doesn’t need our obedience. WE need our obedience. That’s why we’re supposed to obey. So that WE can experience the benefit that obedience has. Getting inside the BLESSING zone. Getting back to where we should have always been. With HIM. THAT is what He wants. For US. The BLESSING is for US.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 2 Thessalonians 3:3

“But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” Adonai not only wants us to FEEL safe, He wants us to BE safe. The only way we can be safe is to have HIS strength. To be guarded by HIM. He doesn’t leave us alone in the dark. He doesn’t leave us in the cold. He doesn’t leave us to do it on our own strength. He makes HIS strength available to us. He makes us able to engage it. He makes us able to wield His authority. It is accomplished through JESUS,. His Way. His authority. His power. Made available through Jesus so that WE can glorify Adonai the way JESUS glorified Adonai. So that WE can be obedient in love like Jesus. So that we can be like Him. Not because we deserve it. Because HE loves 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