"Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." ~Proverbs 2:3-5, NIV
I'm going to give some hard knocks today: fearlessness is not a magical ability that God gives you once you reach level 50. It is an ability, created by practice, good choices, and a strong resolve to do what it is God has called us to.
Indeed, God can give it to you in greater abundance, if you ask for it, like the Proverbs suggest. If you look for it, if you seek it, then you will understand it, and better know how to make it a reality. God will bless you with that knowledge and more, and a greater grace to make it a part of you.
It's like an if/then equation - if you seek, if you try to make it happen, then God's grace will better enable it to occur. Almost every action of God starts with an action of yours. He can only do what you allow Him to in you. When you take that first step towards Him, though, He comes running like the father to that prodigal son.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Day 333: Obadiah 1:17
"But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance." ~Obadiah 1:17, NIV
For the most part, there's an exception to every rule. So when your world is falling apart, that insinuates that not everything in your world is indeed, fallen apart.
There will always be a Mount Zion - a refuge in the deluge of catastrophe that God sends. You don't have to be afraid. God is waiting in the rain. Your inheritance is to know God and serve him. Jacob found Mount Zion, Jacob received the inheritance, and so will you.
For the most part, there's an exception to every rule. So when your world is falling apart, that insinuates that not everything in your world is indeed, fallen apart.
There will always be a Mount Zion - a refuge in the deluge of catastrophe that God sends. You don't have to be afraid. God is waiting in the rain. Your inheritance is to know God and serve him. Jacob found Mount Zion, Jacob received the inheritance, and so will you.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Day 332: Psalm 34:9
"Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing." ~Psalm 34:9, NIV
Monday, November 26, 2012
Day 331: Ezekiel 3:9
"I will
make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be
afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious
people." ~Ezekiel 3:9, NIV
God had a rough task for Ezekiel - the prophet was to tell God's nation something they never wanted to hear. But God promised him that He would never leave him, that He would help him.
God's plan in our lives is rarely easy or simple. Following Him is neither. But regardless, His plan is for you is decidedly NOT to live in fear.
God's task for you won't be a walk in the park. But there's nothing to be afraid of in that plan - nor in the life you get to live.
God had a rough task for Ezekiel - the prophet was to tell God's nation something they never wanted to hear. But God promised him that He would never leave him, that He would help him.
God's plan in our lives is rarely easy or simple. Following Him is neither. But regardless, His plan is for you is decidedly NOT to live in fear.
God's task for you won't be a walk in the park. But there's nothing to be afraid of in that plan - nor in the life you get to live.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Day 330: Isaiah 12:2
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." ~Isaiah 12:2, NIV
You may be familiar with the teenage game of "string as many curse words in a sentence as possible." Apparently this originated from the Biblical poetry where the poet tries to stick as many images of their good and loving God in a single verse as it possible.
The topic of these images vary, sometimes they just talk about His unfailing love, but as this verse from a poem of Isaiah shows, sometimes the theme is God as our protector: our reason to fear not.
Surely, if we were to fill our heads as full of God's faithfulness as this verse is, we would never be afraid. But we don't do that, so we look to these verses instead. Isaiah said surely he will trust in God, and choose to not be afraid, he believed in the Lord, and that He was his defense and deliverer.
It's still true - if you want it to be.
You may be familiar with the teenage game of "string as many curse words in a sentence as possible." Apparently this originated from the Biblical poetry where the poet tries to stick as many images of their good and loving God in a single verse as it possible.
The topic of these images vary, sometimes they just talk about His unfailing love, but as this verse from a poem of Isaiah shows, sometimes the theme is God as our protector: our reason to fear not.
Surely, if we were to fill our heads as full of God's faithfulness as this verse is, we would never be afraid. But we don't do that, so we look to these verses instead. Isaiah said surely he will trust in God, and choose to not be afraid, he believed in the Lord, and that He was his defense and deliverer.
It's still true - if you want it to be.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Day 329: 2 Kings 18:5
"Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him." ~2 Kings 18:5, NIV
So in the realm of great kings of Judah, there's a couple of names that might stick out as good ones: David, Solomon, Josiah, Hezekiah, and Jesus.
David was really the first great king Israel had, a true man after God's own heart. Solomon came after him and did great things, but eventually fell away in the end. Josiah was a wee little lad whom God helped to do great things in the wake of his father's terrible rule. Jesus wasn't technically a king, and that leaves our list with Hezekiah.
The simple reason as to why Hezekiah was great is in this verse. He was great because he trusted God. He did what he did unlike any of the kings of Judah because of his unwavering faith in his God.
What results is a simple rule - the only way to be truly great is to trust God. When you put your trust in Him, He leads you to do many things, and all of them will blow your mind. The patient obedience of God is unlike anything. Not fearing what He has for you expands you as a person, too. And in the end, people will remember you because you trusted Him. That's not how they'll remember you, but that's why.
So in the realm of great kings of Judah, there's a couple of names that might stick out as good ones: David, Solomon, Josiah, Hezekiah, and Jesus.
David was really the first great king Israel had, a true man after God's own heart. Solomon came after him and did great things, but eventually fell away in the end. Josiah was a wee little lad whom God helped to do great things in the wake of his father's terrible rule. Jesus wasn't technically a king, and that leaves our list with Hezekiah.
The simple reason as to why Hezekiah was great is in this verse. He was great because he trusted God. He did what he did unlike any of the kings of Judah because of his unwavering faith in his God.
What results is a simple rule - the only way to be truly great is to trust God. When you put your trust in Him, He leads you to do many things, and all of them will blow your mind. The patient obedience of God is unlike anything. Not fearing what He has for you expands you as a person, too. And in the end, people will remember you because you trusted Him. That's not how they'll remember you, but that's why.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Day 328: Joshua 8:1
"Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.'" ~Joshua 8:1, NIV
It's nice, isn't it, that throughout God's leading Joshua through the conquest of the Promised Land, that He was constantly reminding Joshua to fulfill His command? God's word isn't usually meant to be said once and never repeated.
His promises tend to have a certain repetition about them. And I assure you, if it's important, God will remind you about it the way He did Joshua.
That's why there's going to be 366 entries this year... Because God has a plan for you and it involves choosing to fear not. Like Joshua, we need reminders when we're about to go into a dangerous situation, when obeying God doesn't seem to be the most logical thing in terms of self-preservation.
In fact, some of us need reminders in every situation. God knows that. And He provided His command to Joshua again and again: don't be afraid, don't be discouraged. Through Joshua, we can get the gist.
If we are in God's plan, then He will be with us so that it does not fail. Even in death, God never fails. God's promises were fulfilled to Joshua as long as Israel was right with God and went forward fearlessly.
We can go and do likewise.
It's nice, isn't it, that throughout God's leading Joshua through the conquest of the Promised Land, that He was constantly reminding Joshua to fulfill His command? God's word isn't usually meant to be said once and never repeated.
His promises tend to have a certain repetition about them. And I assure you, if it's important, God will remind you about it the way He did Joshua.
That's why there's going to be 366 entries this year... Because God has a plan for you and it involves choosing to fear not. Like Joshua, we need reminders when we're about to go into a dangerous situation, when obeying God doesn't seem to be the most logical thing in terms of self-preservation.
In fact, some of us need reminders in every situation. God knows that. And He provided His command to Joshua again and again: don't be afraid, don't be discouraged. Through Joshua, we can get the gist.
If we are in God's plan, then He will be with us so that it does not fail. Even in death, God never fails. God's promises were fulfilled to Joshua as long as Israel was right with God and went forward fearlessly.
We can go and do likewise.
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