Fear No Fear

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

“And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose them.“

Ephesians 5:11

From Wikipedia (not the best source for anything, really, but it is simple in this case): ‘Shipping (derived from the word relationship) is the desire by followers of a fandom for two or more people, either real-life people or fictional characters (in film, literature, television series, etc.), to be in a relationship’. Who doesn’t watch a movie or read a book and think ‘these two REALLY should be the ones in a relationship’? Sometimes, it seems the characters grow a certain way organically, but the author/creator is keeping them apart because that ‘wasn’t the plan’. It can be frustrating. Well, Ruach HaKodesh is the ULTIMATE shipper. He wants to pair us with Jesus. He knows it’s the best relationship possible. It’s meant to be. It’s where we are growing anyway. And all His efforts are bent to get us to Jesus and keep us with Jesus. Unfortunately, we ourselves are ALSO shippers. The issue is that we are REALLY bad at it.

We fail to take the TRUTH into account. Sometimes we even REFUSE to do that. Instead, we focus on feelings. On past experiences. Or on things presented by others that touch us in the feels or senses. It’s easy to do. Too easy, really. And it doesn’t work out well with our relationship with Jesus, because anything that ISN’T of Adonai is not COMPATIBLE with Adonai. “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). We are supposed to be with the LIGHT, not with darkness (John 8:12). That’s where life is. In the Light. Yes, Adonai will love us. Yes, Jesus still is ready to forgive us if we repent. But our HEARTS are supposed to be following JESUS and not our own selfish desires. What is the chance that we will honestly choose to repent and turn away from those things we keep embracing? The chances get lower each time we choose. Because we are reinforcing broken thinking, not His thinking (Romans 12:2). When we choose to open the door, instead of standing on its neck, we are giving strength and power to our temptations (Genesis 4:7).

When we choose NOT to engage in a relationship with darkness – no matter WHAT form it takes – we are choosing right. Jesus is PURE. To have a relationship with Him, we need the DESIRE to be pure as well. “And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all” (1 John 1:5). We KNOW this is true about Jesus. We should WANT it to be true about us too. That doesn’t mean beating ourselves up if we don’t hit it. It means the DESIRE we have is to embrace Jesus and get His light into each and every crack and corner of our minds and hearts. To be transformed in physical reality the same way our spirit was spiritually. If we WANT it, we will SEEK it, and we will rely on Ruach HaKodesh who WANTS it too.

It is a process. It is a journey. In the same way a relationship is. In the same way that a covenant is. We seek to perfect ourselves by learning to REST in Jesus. It isn’t OUR strength or OUR efforts that will enable us to succeed, but HIS. We do ALL THINGS through JESUS who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). It is us giving of ourselves and us receiving what Jesus gives. Ruach HaKodesh knows what we need each and every day. He knows what needs the light first. He knows where to re-apply the light. He is working constantly to make it happen. To give us the opportunity, the instruction, the correction, and the guidance to succeed in this relationship with Jesus. Ruach HaKodesh NEVER gives up on His ship. And we shouldn’t either.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Matthew 2:11

“And when they came into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. And opening their treasure boxes, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”  This is more than prophesy fulfilled (Isaiah 60:1-7). This is equipping Joseph and Mary for what Adonai was calling them to. He was calling them from Nazareth (where they went after the birth of Jesus), down to Egypt to live, and then back to Nazareth. That takes MONEY. They needed resources. Enter the wise men. Adonai ALWAYS equips us for what He calls us to do. We don’t have to rely on our own resources. We can rely on Jesus. We can rely on Ruach HaKodesh. We can rely on the opportunities Adonai brings across our path to fund (physically, emotionally, relationally, and financially) where He has called us to walk. It can ALL be achieved in and through Him. He makes a Way for us. He equips us. He NEVER asks us to walk ANYWHERE that He hasn’t prepared. 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