The FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
As I awoke this morning the Holy Spirit began to guide my mind and fill it with this message. The funny thing is that my brother came up with the idea of writing a book called, "The "F" Words" and to cover words like, FAITH, FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP... But I never got the prodding to write about that concept till this morning! It FASCINATES me that God hears everything, the thoughts in our minds, the FEELINGS in our emotions and of course the words of our mouths. It was as if God woke me this morning and said' "Okay, write it now." I'm smiling as I'm writing because I absolutely love when God pops into our presence like that! It's hard to explain but for that moment, He's not "out there", He's "right here!"
When we neglect to "FEAR the Lord" properly we choose a myriad of other "F" words. For one, we FIGHT Him. Without having a healthy FEAR of the Lord we have no problem lifting our FISTS to the sky and not only cursing the King of Kings but blaming Him as if He were some serf that we were entitled to cast our blame upon. The humbling FACT is that Christ did become a servant to the crown of His creation. He humbled himself to not only serve us, wash our feet... but He crawled to the cross, bloodied, humiliated and FALSELY accused, FOR US. That act of love should take the fight out of us at every remembrance. There is one reason why the FIGHT continues though and that is unbelief, (lack of FAITH). If you are FIGHTING God, then the problem is not complicated, you simply don't believe Him. You may believe IN Him but you don't believe Him.
In our FITS of selfishness we tend to kick up a dust storm that discombobulates most people but not God. We think that we can confuse God and get Him to second guess himself. We actually think that if we toss a diversion "over there" that God will be distracted by it and get off His pursuit of us, like a dog with a ball. Right now I am covered with shame at this truth. We have all done this and until we FEEL the FLUSH of embarrassment on our FACE and the sick FEELING of shame in our gut, we can't move on. God doesn't want us FEELING like that! He wants to set us FREE of guilt and shame but until we trust Him we remain in our cells. The doors of the cells have been opened by Christ when He rose from the dead but we continue to sit in them because of our unbelief. So silly yet sad how we act. Yet, He adores us and NEVER gives up on us!
Another thing we do is FLOUNDER. We live lives that are in actuality, powerless. At our disposal is the Name and Authority of Jesus Christ but we FLOUNDER through life as if we were unworthy. Our thoughts, marriages, lifestyles are like fish in a boat, FLOPPING, FLOUNDERING, gasping for air, no hope. When, in all biblical truth, we can rise at any moment and proclaim God's promises through Jesus Christ! So often we choose the ineffective and devalued life because we simply don't believe how much He loves us. We think because some obstacle got in our way that God has it out for us. NOT TRUE. God is ALWAYS for us, He is NEVER against us! Romans 8:31, ...We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus...If God is for us, who can be against us?
God's power is right there and the only reason you either have it or you don't comes down to ONE CHOICE, do you believe His promises or don't you? If you believe them then you are assuredly reading the Word, fellowshipping, praying, listening to Christian music, expressing a grateful heart, sharing your blessings, showing kindness, practising patience, sharing the good news...If you don't believe God, then, these may be some FEELINGS that you deal with...FRUSTRATION, impatience, FEAR, agitation, unfairness, emptiness, loneliness, uneasiness, or deep inner sadness. Even contemptuous, jealous and envious thoughts. Also hopelessness, FATIGUE, disinterest and sarcastic behavior with angry outbursts. Without FAITH in His love we are just FLOUNDERING FISH.
How can we begin digging our way out of our living graves? It starts with one "F" word, FORGIVENESS. Ask for it and give it. Christ gave it on the cross and offers it to us on a daily basis. This is the plain truth, none of us is sinless. So many of us FIGHT to prove ourselves. If only we had the confidence and belief in Christ that He knows the truth and that's all that matters. Think for a moment, there He was, the Son of God hanging in His loincloth being mocked and spit upon. Who had a better excuse to defend himself through any means? We must ask each day, "Where is my heart positioned?" Because we know, deep in our hearts that our entitlement and pathetic argument is so wrong on so many levels. Quit pushing others to beg you to stop your tantrums. Grow up by telling yourself the truth and believing it! God is good (Psalm 136:1, Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever.). God loves you (1 John 4:8, The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.) God is faithful (Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good and His faithfulness endures forever.) God knows your pain (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ...the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction...) God heals (Psalm 147:3, He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.) God loves you, so stop trying to prove Him wrong.
Stop running from God and run toward Him instead. If you would just turn around and FACE your Savior you would FIND that His arms are out-stretched to you, offering complete FORGIVENESS and tender love. Jesus said, "I did not come into this world to condemn it but to save it." God saves through love because He IS love. You know that you're not happy, that those around you aren't, so surrender, and FEEL joy for the FIRST time in a long time! FORGIVE yourself, FORGIVE others, ask for FORGIVENESS from God, and start living a life of FREEDOM.
For those reading this and thinking, "I'm not like that at all!" Please remember that we are all running from God in some area of our life.
"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." James 4:10
Book suggestion:
How to forgive when you don't feel like it. by June Hunt
Enjoying God by S.J. Hill
As I awoke this morning the Holy Spirit began to guide my mind and fill it with this message. The funny thing is that my brother came up with the idea of writing a book called, "The "F" Words" and to cover words like, FAITH, FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP... But I never got the prodding to write about that concept till this morning! It FASCINATES me that God hears everything, the thoughts in our minds, the FEELINGS in our emotions and of course the words of our mouths. It was as if God woke me this morning and said' "Okay, write it now." I'm smiling as I'm writing because I absolutely love when God pops into our presence like that! It's hard to explain but for that moment, He's not "out there", He's "right here!"
When we neglect to "FEAR the Lord" properly we choose a myriad of other "F" words. For one, we FIGHT Him. Without having a healthy FEAR of the Lord we have no problem lifting our FISTS to the sky and not only cursing the King of Kings but blaming Him as if He were some serf that we were entitled to cast our blame upon. The humbling FACT is that Christ did become a servant to the crown of His creation. He humbled himself to not only serve us, wash our feet... but He crawled to the cross, bloodied, humiliated and FALSELY accused, FOR US. That act of love should take the fight out of us at every remembrance. There is one reason why the FIGHT continues though and that is unbelief, (lack of FAITH). If you are FIGHTING God, then the problem is not complicated, you simply don't believe Him. You may believe IN Him but you don't believe Him.
In our FITS of selfishness we tend to kick up a dust storm that discombobulates most people but not God. We think that we can confuse God and get Him to second guess himself. We actually think that if we toss a diversion "over there" that God will be distracted by it and get off His pursuit of us, like a dog with a ball. Right now I am covered with shame at this truth. We have all done this and until we FEEL the FLUSH of embarrassment on our FACE and the sick FEELING of shame in our gut, we can't move on. God doesn't want us FEELING like that! He wants to set us FREE of guilt and shame but until we trust Him we remain in our cells. The doors of the cells have been opened by Christ when He rose from the dead but we continue to sit in them because of our unbelief. So silly yet sad how we act. Yet, He adores us and NEVER gives up on us!
Another thing we do is FLOUNDER. We live lives that are in actuality, powerless. At our disposal is the Name and Authority of Jesus Christ but we FLOUNDER through life as if we were unworthy. Our thoughts, marriages, lifestyles are like fish in a boat, FLOPPING, FLOUNDERING, gasping for air, no hope. When, in all biblical truth, we can rise at any moment and proclaim God's promises through Jesus Christ! So often we choose the ineffective and devalued life because we simply don't believe how much He loves us. We think because some obstacle got in our way that God has it out for us. NOT TRUE. God is ALWAYS for us, He is NEVER against us! Romans 8:31, ...We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus...If God is for us, who can be against us?
God's power is right there and the only reason you either have it or you don't comes down to ONE CHOICE, do you believe His promises or don't you? If you believe them then you are assuredly reading the Word, fellowshipping, praying, listening to Christian music, expressing a grateful heart, sharing your blessings, showing kindness, practising patience, sharing the good news...If you don't believe God, then, these may be some FEELINGS that you deal with...FRUSTRATION, impatience, FEAR, agitation, unfairness, emptiness, loneliness, uneasiness, or deep inner sadness. Even contemptuous, jealous and envious thoughts. Also hopelessness, FATIGUE, disinterest and sarcastic behavior with angry outbursts. Without FAITH in His love we are just FLOUNDERING FISH.
How can we begin digging our way out of our living graves? It starts with one "F" word, FORGIVENESS. Ask for it and give it. Christ gave it on the cross and offers it to us on a daily basis. This is the plain truth, none of us is sinless. So many of us FIGHT to prove ourselves. If only we had the confidence and belief in Christ that He knows the truth and that's all that matters. Think for a moment, there He was, the Son of God hanging in His loincloth being mocked and spit upon. Who had a better excuse to defend himself through any means? We must ask each day, "Where is my heart positioned?" Because we know, deep in our hearts that our entitlement and pathetic argument is so wrong on so many levels. Quit pushing others to beg you to stop your tantrums. Grow up by telling yourself the truth and believing it! God is good (Psalm 136:1, Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever.). God loves you (1 John 4:8, The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.) God is faithful (Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good and His faithfulness endures forever.) God knows your pain (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ...the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction...) God heals (Psalm 147:3, He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.) God loves you, so stop trying to prove Him wrong.
Stop running from God and run toward Him instead. If you would just turn around and FACE your Savior you would FIND that His arms are out-stretched to you, offering complete FORGIVENESS and tender love. Jesus said, "I did not come into this world to condemn it but to save it." God saves through love because He IS love. You know that you're not happy, that those around you aren't, so surrender, and FEEL joy for the FIRST time in a long time! FORGIVE yourself, FORGIVE others, ask for FORGIVENESS from God, and start living a life of FREEDOM.
For those reading this and thinking, "I'm not like that at all!" Please remember that we are all running from God in some area of our life.
"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up." James 4:10
Book suggestion:
How to forgive when you don't feel like it. by June Hunt
Enjoying God by S.J. Hill
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