Fear No Fear

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

“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

Long distance relationships fail for the same reason all relationships fail: lack of proper communication. It’s just that long distance relationships have more opportunity to fail at communicating. Without persistent and deep communication (not ALL communication has to be deep, but it should naturally deepen) trust is eroded. Without trust in your partner, any conflicts you have will begin to be unresolved – mired in miscommunication and misunderstandings. After that, it is natural for detachment to start, which leads to the end of the relationship. That’s the fact in every relationship, but long-distance relationships are more prone than others to these issues because so much of communication is about non-verbal cues – harder to pickup over distance. It’s also easier to hide those things that bother you when you’re not face to face with your partner. These make for unique challenges on top of the regular challenges of conducting a healthy relationship. Often, we can feel these same challenges when we’re dealing with Adonai. After all, Jesus is way up there at the Throne and we’re way down here on Earth. Ruach HaKodesh consistently is saying something that we all need to listen to. Our relationship with Jesus is NOT long-distance.

“Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, “I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you.”” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus is right here with us. He is NOT FAR. Because of that, we don’t need to look for the things of this world to fill a gap. The GAP doesn’t exist. When I was a young man and working alone in an environment that did not have the usual break structure, I struggled to make it to the end of my shift so that I could eat. More than once I was tempted to steal food from where I worked. One time it was particularly hard. In my spirit I clearly saw Jesus behind me. He was dressed similarly to me, with a red baseball cap. He was just as tired. He was just as hungry. He too was weary. He spoke to me and said, ‘I’m hungry too. But we can make it.’ I’ve never forgot it. He was there. He knew what I was going through (Hebrews 4:15). I wasn’t alone and I wasn’t unobserved. If I relied on Him, I could do it. I didn’t have to give into the idea of stealing to meet my need. I could make it through. I have OFTEN replayed that vision in my mind when facing something I don’t think I can handle. I let Ruach HaKodesh and my experience with Jesus remind me: He is right there. He understands. He will lend me His strength so that I can get through. I can rely on Adonai as my source.

We are in a close relationship. Sure, it isn’t PHYSICALLY face to face. When we see Jesus face to face we’re going to be CHANGED (1 Corinthians 15:52). But Jesus does show Himself in visions. Ruach HaKodesh shows us pictures as well. When we dwell on the Word and really think it out, we can imagine it happening. We can see it in the theatre of our minds. Adonai can show us things using our imaginations to help us see them in the Word. The Word can become more real to us than what’s around us. Through communication with Adonai, we can have a productive relationship as close as if He were physically living right there beside us. We have to remember, though, that true relationship with Adonai, with Jesus, with Ruach HaKodesh, relies on COMMUNICATION and not EXPERIENCES.

Experiences are great. They can be awesome to witness. They get us excited. They bolster our feelings and seem to breathe life into our walk. But we can’t live on experiences. They are highlights, not substance. They are the fireworks, not the whole day of celebration. True and deep trust comes from hearing the Word with our physical and our heart ears (Romans 10:17). It is how we understand our authority as believers, our position in Jesus, which is where our trust comes alive. When we understand our authority in Jesus and believe Adonai can be trusted about it, our trust naturally extends from that. Bosses in companies don’t need to build trust that people will listen to them. Or to build trust that something will happen when they request it. They KNOW people will listen and they KNOW things will happen because they have been given the authority to give orders and expect results. Our authority in Jesus works the same way. We have authority to command what we’ve been authorized to do/command in full submission to Adonai’s will and timeline in order that what we command brings HIM and HIM ALONE the glory. That’s how Jesus operated. That’s how the Church in Acts operated. And that’s how we STILL can act. But to know what we are authorized to do, we need a relationship with Jesus.

We achieve that relationship in many ways. One of the most important is through prayer. Not assailing the gates of Heaven. Jesus is right there inside you. Not begging. Jesus is a friend, a Lord, and our Bridegroom. He wants to talk with us. He wants to hear from us. He wants us to hear from Him. Throughout our days and nights. Speaking to Him. Listening to His response. Listening for when Jesus starts the conversation. Or for when Ruach HaKodesh wants to talk. Guiding us to a verse, or bringing something or someone to our minds. To PRAY is to talk with Him. To discuss. To ask questions and to learn from. To check in with to see if you got it right. I recently finished a major backyard project for someone and I guarantee you everything that worked well was His idea. Everything that wasn’t quite perfect (to my eyes anyway) was where I didn’t double-check with Jesus. It can be that easy. It can be that clear. Yes, He is Lord of Creation, but He has chosen to spend time with us. He has chosen to love us. He doesn’t need to step down from His position because He raised us in Jesus to His (Ephesians 2:6).

Adonai has given us the opportunity to talk with Him and to listen to Him. Nothing else has that same opportunity. We are unique in how He communicates with us and how He lets us communicate with Him. We are special because He chose for us to be special. It is by GRACE and through MERCY that we have this opportunity to LOVE and be LOVED. It is not long distance. We’re seated with Jesus spiritually and He is dwelling inside of us. So it Ruach HaKodesh. We’re one-third wall to wall Adonai. That isn’t distance. That isn’t far away. So take the time, start today, and communicate with Him. Lean into trusting Him. Forge a true relationship with your Saviour and Lord. He isn’t haughty. He isn’t distant. He isn’t a red flag. You can trust Him with your real you. He won’t hurt you. He IS our God and He IS our friend. He LOVES you. Start talking WITH Him. You will never regret it.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Psalm 145:18-19

“Yahweh is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry for help, and saves them.” Ever been walking with someone and you’ve stopped to look at something and they haven’t? You finally look up and they’re way ahead so you call out for them to wait. Maybe they hear you, but maybe they don’t. Maybe they’re so far ahead that you don’t even see them anymore. We are BLESSED because it is NEVER like that with Adonai. WHENEVER we truly call on Him, He is THERE. He is RIGHT THERE. When we revere Him, and we seek Him with godly intent, wanting to align with His thinking, He hears that desire and answers it. He ALWAYS answers it. Adonai – whether Father, Son, or Rauch – ALWAYS answers trust in Jesus. Always. You see it in scripture time and again. A great example is the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). She touched Jesus in full trust in Adonai and got healed. Jesus didn’t even know until it had already happened. He had no idea who even touched Him. Had NO CLUE until Ruach HaKodesh told Him (because she wasn’t coming forward). Adonai responds to our trust in Him. Every time. We talk, He hears. It is something you can trust in. Our honest prayers to Him are always heard. He HEARS the righteous. He HEARS those who seek to bring Him glory. He HEARS those who pray in alignment with the Word as they trust in Jesus. He HEARS those who revere Him in Spirit and Truth. Adonai HEARS us. Because Adonai never LEAVES 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