Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, to keep Yahweh’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good? Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein. Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear Yahweh your God. You shall serve him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name. He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.”
(Deuteronomy 10:12-21)

“My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
    Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
so they will be life to your soul,
    and grace for your neck.
Then you shall walk in your way securely.
    Your foot won’t stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
    Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
    neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
for Yahweh will be your confidence,
    and will keep your foot from being taken.”
(Proverbs 3:21-26)

“Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
    Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way,
    because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
    Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.”
(Psalm 37:7-9)

God DELIGHTS in us. All that was required of the Israelites was to be like God was – which He empowered them to be through the Law which in every area showed them the right way to act/speak/think and provided a sacrifice that covered iniquity when they didn’t measure up. They were to love Him and revere Him, seeking to please Him from love, not because they had to – the same way we seek to act in our human relationships when we love deeply. When they did this, when they put Him in His rightful place, when they clung to Him, amazing things followed. Joy, love, and BLESSING would shower down on them from Him. He could inhabit their praises and live with His beloved creation.

This is what wisdom truly is: keeping one’s eyes on God, and constantly reducing the distractions that try to take our eyes off of Him. It’s a journey. A process. A teaching that never stops. We need to make the CHOICE to focus on Him. To rely on Him. To put our trust in Him – whether it is a big, impossible thing or something small that we might be able to do ourselves. When we train ourselves to rely on Him, that keeps our eyes on Him. It also puts us in a great place. A place where the machinations and seeming victories of the ungodly don’t matter. Because we know we’re taken care of. They could cause calamity, but even in famine we have no lack. We are protected and provided for by Yahweh Himself. What can they do to us? We are BLESSED by He whom we serve on a DAILY basis. Our consciences are not troubled. Our minds are not anxious. Our sleep is SWEET.

We have no need to be angry when the other team makes a touchdown. When another restriction is put into place. They are seeking to hedge us in and keep us quiet. But OUR God has the upper hand. They may think they have all the cards. All the money. All the political influence. All the international connections. But the Name WE serve is the One who CREATED them. CREATED the world. CREATED the universe. We serve the ONLY One who has POWER and MIGHT. What they have is human power. Human might. Human wisdom. And it can be effective in the human spheres. But our God is THE power. THE might. And He ultimately has authority in EVERY sphere. He CANNOT be stood against. The One we serve and align ourselves with can be TRUSTED to be FAITHFUL in His BLESSING and PROTECTION of us. So why get angry about what someone is doing? At what someone is trying? It is better to stick with God’s point of view. In the end, HE wins!

Summary

The world is becoming a more and more dangerous place. Things that once were hidden are now being done in the open. More and more people are choosing to not play by the ‘rules’, but instead are sacrificing all sorts of things and people in order to make NEW ‘rules’. Ones where – theoretically – they have power and money and influence and rule. But the truth is that they are all just children playing with sandcastles. Our God can shake the world – literally. Our God can change nations overnight. Our God can shift things on the battleground so that there IS no battle. Our God isn’t surprised by ANYTHING that is going on or ANY legislation that ‘comes out of nowhere’. He has a plan. He is on the move. He is MERCIFUL and full of GRACE. And He WILL have the upper hand. Trust in Him. Believe what He says. LISTEN to Him and obey Him. When we do, we WILL be secure. We WILL be fed in the famine. We WILL have water in the drought. We WILL have our needs met. And our lifestyle in Him WILL be a witness that helps to bring His Light to EVERY corner of this world!