When Fear Sleeps In

When we dream (awake or asleep) we go to a place that is just beyond reality. 

It is there that God triumphs through us.

Just before awakening (or coming back to our senses) we are ushered back to our cell and fear patrols the hall, locking the gates, restricting each of us to our natural state....(click below to read more)

Good Understanding

Proverbs Chapter 13 is the reading for today, and one verse in particular stood out for me.

"Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard" (v. 15).

Good understanding implies not just natural, but spiritual understanding as well. And it gains favor in all aspects of the word - with God and man.

Jesus' wisdom and understanding was acknowledged, as was the link to favor...

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52)

Where does this come from?

"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).

Also, Psalm 111 gives us some instruction:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever" (v. 10).

These two verses, in context, show us how important it is to have a relationship with Christ that permits His coming to us with understanding AND the importance of our fear of the Lord and obedience to His commands.

The second part of this Proverb ("But the way of the unfaithful is hard") gains clarity because we know how hard it is to live with bad understanding. It is the root of so many of the issues we have with God and man.

When we truly understand Who God is and what He desires of us, this understanding will increase our favor. When we are not faithful to know Him, fear Him and obey Him, we misunderstand His purposes for and in us, and our way is hard. We lose favor.

Grow in intimacy with the Lord. Fear and obey Him. And watch your favor grow.

Is There Not a Cause?

The lines were drawn.

The Philistines were encroaching on Judean lands, encamped between Sochoh and Azekah. Attack was impending but delayed, perhaps because of the difficulty of moving their war chariots through the steep ravine that runs through the middle of the Valley of Elah.

Saul and the men of Israel gathered in the Valley, waiting for the inevitable.

The Philistines' giant-champion, Goliath, presented himself 40 days, morning and evening - looking for a fight.

The Israelites cowered.

David, sent to the lines by his father to bring supplies to his brothers who were engaged in the stand-off, began to ask what would be done for the man who accepted the giant's challenge.

This brought a response from his brother,

^"'Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.'
And David said, 'What have I done now? Is there not a cause?'" (1 Samuel 17:28-30).

You know the rest of the story. David triumphed over the giant.

In the midst of our busy lives, to which we are over-involved but under-committed, it would serve us well to carry that question in our heart.

The enemy has mastered discouragement and fear, using them as effectively today as he did against Saul and his men. But the right question asked with the right motive ignites our courage, disperses our fears and prepares us for the victory.

There IS a cause. It DOES matter. We MUST pursue, with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, the giants in our lives.

Faith your Fears

We hear daily about how our country is changing and how the economic situation is bound to get worse before better.

I am sensitive to the fear level that is rising as people imagine the worst.

Today the Lord prompted a thought in me: We are people of faith. And, although the situation is serious, we have no need to fear. God is Our Father and Christ is in us.

Let's live our faith. We have been spoiled and capable of living our lives 99% faith-free as most of our needs - from food to medical care - are met without requiring faith. Perhaps this is changing and we, finally, get the chance to flex our spiritual muscle. Surely it will be clumsy and awkward at first, but we can trust that God will be faithful and patient as we learn to operate in a power that has been there all along.

Scripture indicates that this life lived by faith will be closer to the life to which He has called us.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Romans 14:23 "...for whatever is not from faith is sin."

Click here for today's daily bread.