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Fear of Him
Psalm 36
Yesterday was a great reminder about Fear. Linden shared how Fear can encapsulate us. We will look at Fear again in Psalm 36 today. My Fear right now is for Him. I’m grateful for His love and grace when I have fallen short. The weakness I face as a human is present in many ways daily. What do you think of when we think about Fear of Him? For those who know the Lord its important to keep this fear. As a broken human, my own weakness is the problem.
1.Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; They reject God and do not have reverence for him. 2. Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it.
The selfishness we hold onto impacts our lives. The world each day tries to throw at us problems, desires, successes, and more that make you think. I don’t need help. I have it figured out. If I’m truthful, I have moments when I lose the fear and think…I got this. I truly don’t. No affirmation, solution, or success that doesn’t include Him is a form of sin that I can sit in, wrestle with, and lead me back to my knees in repentance and a prayer to work on my obedience.
In my obedience and sin, I know I am loved. The more obedience and Fear I live out in connection to our Lord, the more I feel loved, protected, provided for, and insightful for His light and not my own.
7. How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of your wings. 8.We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light.
In short, my response is to stop looking in the mirror (self-flattery) and start looking at the mountains and the clouds (God’s faithfulness). By recognizing my own tendency to self-deceive, I become more desperate—and thus more ready—for the “abundance” He offers.
Reminder Verses:
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Peace
Don’t Run from Fear
Today’s Reading: Psalms 23
When I was a kid, I remember going to my cousin’s house and spending the night. Sometimes they would watch scary movies. When they watch scary movies and I would watch them or hear the movie, I was afraid and I could not sleep. I would run away from the fear.
Many times when we are afraid and scared, we try to run away from it as fast as possible. When there is immediate danger to you, it is necessary to evade the danger as fast as possible. But when there is a fear of something that is not going to harm us, we do not need to run as fast as possible. We can try to access the situation and process the unknown. I remember being a kid and being afraid of something and counting as fast as I could to 10. I thought if I could get to ten, I could get away from the fear. But as I am an adult, I have understood that when I try to rush through the fear, I am not allowed a God to work in me.
In today’s passage, the 23rd Psalms, this is a familiar passage to many individuals who are Christian and non-Christian. Sometimes we run through the psalms as we run through the our prayers or mantras : to say it to get through it and then move on. But when we actually break it down into its parts, there is more to this psalms.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
David gives us an example of how to walk with God in the midst of our fears.
David walks.
He is moving with intention, but not running.
I like to think that David wrote this psalm close to the end of his life. At this point in time, David is able to see how God works and He is intentional with His protection and His love.
Earlier in David’s life, he had to run away from things. But now it is later life, he realizes that God is there with him in all parts of his life and he does not have to rush through any parts of it: the highs or lows, the fears or joys, the stress or the rest. With God and his relationship, David is able to be at ease and just move with assurance that he is protected and secure.
Can this be an example for us. Can we rest assured and walk with ease in life despite the fears?
The Fears of failure or the Fear of success.
The Fear of Loss or the Fear of Abundance.
The Fear of Death or the Fear of Life.
Fear is a natural emotion that we have. We cannot erase it. What we can do is overcome and conquer fear with courage and discipline. The fears that were typical are the fears of failure, the fears of loss and fears of death. The fears of success are if you become Successful you will lose other things. The fear of Abundance can be fears of mismanagement. The fears of Life can be that of the uncertainty of everything. I remember becoming a parent and the joy and fear that encompasses that. The joy of something exciting and new, but then the fears of trying to protect new life from everything.
As we see there can be many fears that encapsulate us on a daily basis. It is the rational fears of Fear of Failure, Fear of Loss, and Fear of Death and the non-logical fears of Success, Abundance, and Life that can cripple us and stop us from fulfilling the goodness that God has ready for us. Let us walk with God in the midst of these and all fears that will hinder us from goodness. He has so many things ready for us, if we walk with Him and trust in His process.
Be Blessed
You Do You
“You do you.” I hate that phrase. It’s defeatist. It gives up. It stops caring. UDU says, “I’m not going to interfere with your life. I will just go live mine.”
Isn’t that a picture of Christian America today? The vast majority of us are pacifists refusing to get offended by words and even actions. The evidence is seen every day in our response to the taunts and teases of those that defy our God.
Young David didn’t see it that way. He heard of the actions of the Philistines and their giant He couldn’t believe it. “How could this man defy God?” He asks, shocked. Not only was Goliath spitting in the face of God he was taunting all of Israel. And, Israel was the army of God! David was offended. So offended would not, could not, stand for it.
Do you get offended, when you see people spit in the face of God? How do you respond? how do you respond? Do you wave the white flag of defeat? Do you dismiss the offense, look the other way and say, “You do you?” I do.
Two things contribute to my response: fear and identity. You see, I’m afraid of what comes with being offended. Like David, being offended comes with responsibility that I would rather not accept. It’s way easier to be a victim than it is to take action. Especially when that action comes with severe consequences. The second thing is identity. David called Israel “the army of God,” and he was a soldier. We don’t see ourselves as soldiers today, but Christians used to. As a child in church, I remember singing the hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers!” I wonder why we don’t sing it anymore?
If you’re inclined to take up arms and assume your role as a soldier in God’s army, you’ll want to keep in mind what a Christian soldier looks like. Jesus didn’t arm himself with weapons of war. In fact, he chastised Peter for using a sword. Jesus’ weapons are love and kindness, generosity and care. That tells me that the fight is not the fight that you think it is. Victory is not achieved by being the loudest voice in the room, winning the debate, or bloodshed. Victory comes when souls are redeemed, lives are made whole, and love prevails.
1 Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
2 At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!
Redeemed!
Today’s reading is Ruth 4.
The book of Ruth is packed full of learnings about loyalty, faithfulness, and trusting in God’s plan through challenges as laid out by other Bible Journal writers this week. In Ruth 4 we get to the culmination where Boaz acts as redeemer and purchases Naomi land. Then, he marries Ruth, who stood by Naomi, and they have a child Obed who is the part of the bloodline of Jesse, David, and ultimately Jesus.
So, what is a redeemer or kinsman-redeemer? This is laid out in Leviticus 25:25. A redeemer is someone who buys land back on behalf a relative who had to sell land due to hardship. They do what that person cannot do for themselves. In Ruth 4:14 other women said to Naomi…
“Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel.’”
We know that a some generations later, from the same bloodline, God gave us our ultimate Redeemer, Jesus. Maybe some way and someday Naomi could have bought the land back on her own, but Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves when He became our Redeemer for our sins. No other human who has ever lived is without sin and could do what He did for us which now gives us the guarantee of forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in Heaven with God the Father as long as we believe in Him and ask for his grace which we could not earn.
As I read the glory given to God in Ruth 4:14 above for Boaz, Naomi’s redeemer, I could only think of similar glory given by the angels after Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:14…
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among those with who He is pleased.”
Both verses praise a redeemer with Luke 2:14 praising our ultimate Redeemer who was foreshadowed in Ruth 4.
Let us do the same and praise our Redeemer, who did for us what we could not do for ourselves!
We are redeemed!
Trusting God without Cutting Corners
Today’s reading – Ruth 3
Which human weakness highlights God’s faithfulness?
Let’s cut to the chase and answer this question first, then we can discuss further. What human weakness best highlights God’s faithfulness?? It is the inability to keep promises! At first, I wasn’t sure what the appropriate answer was. In 2 Timothy, chapter 2:13, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful”. So what exactly makes us faithless to Him?? We could go on all day listing out things that can make us faithless to God. But I get it and agree, it’s the empty promises we tell ourselves and share with God.
Let’s get back to the reading, Ruth 3. Naomi knows it is time for Ruth to secure her future, and Naomi has a plan. She sends her off to Boaz to present herself appropriately and let him see her as a potential wife, not just a worker.
Ruth waits until he is asleep and lies down next to him. He wakes up and she explains her being there. None of this was inappropriate but more so the legal and covenant-based way to do things back then.
Boaz praises Ruth for her character and is honored she chose him instead of some younger and richer man. But there is a problem, another man has the legal right to redeem Ruth. In turn, Boaz shows integrity, patience and respect for the law to see that the correct steps are taken and no shortcuts are made.
Boaz sends Ruth back to Naomi but not empty handed. When Ruth returns, Naomi knows that Boaz is a man of action and of his word and will do what is necessary and right.
Let me break down everyone in this story. Ruth is bold, respectful, and intentional. Boaz is honorable and decisive. Naomi is strategic and wise.
How will we respond in trust and obedience?
God is working quietly throughout our lives and with normal decisions and integrity. Ruth chapter 3 is about trusting His timing, doing things the right way, and courageously stepping into our futures without manipulation. How will I respond in trust and obedience in the day to day?? Well…I have an idea how I have been doing it. Half the time I don’t think about it, I just DO. The other half I talk with God and trust that I am making the right decisions, and He will help guide me the rest of the way. The fault in that statement is the word HALF. HALF the time is not how often He wants me to trust and obey Him. He wants ALL of me and you, not just a part, not just 50%, ALL.
The more we could all be like Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz the better. The faith and trust they have in God is what we should desire. The promises that we give Him and the promises that He gives us all we need to help us make sure our footsteps align with His until we see him in Heaven.
Ruth’s Devotion and God’s Promises
Ruth is defined by loyalty and devotion. Her life certainly did not evolve how she likely dreamed. Perhaps Ruth dreamed of a happy marriage, a home, filled with children, large dinners, laughter, and happiness.
Let’s set the stage for the Book of Ruth.
What she experienced was the complete opposite for her life. As what appears to transpire when she was a young woman, her husband died before they had children. Her father-in-law and brother-in-law died, leaving her to live with her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law. Three widows living together. Hardly the dream life she had likely hoped for. On top of that, her mother-in-law, named Naomi, ordered Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, to return to their families in Moab, as she decided to return to her homeland in Judah.
What Ruth did was defining. She refused to leave her mother-in-law. Even though that meant traveling to the land of Judah to start a new life, where she knew no one, she remained loyal and devoted to Naomi and in Ruth 1:16, Ruth said “Entreat me not to leave you, or turn back from following after you, For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will will lodge; Your people shall by my people.”
To emphasize and highlight Ruth’s devotion even further, Ruth 1:18 says, “When she (Naomi) saw that she (Ruth) was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.” Can you imagine? Not a great way to start a 75 mile journey across the Jordan River, rugged and hilly terrain, which likely took them 7-10 days to walk.
The Book of Ruth shows us that God is still present in what seem like horrible times.
God remains faithful even in famine and loss. The Book of Ruth opens talking about famine, exile, and death (Ruth 1:1–5). At first glance, God seems absent. Yet in verse 6, Naomi hears that “the LORD had visited His people and given them food.” This echoes God’s covenant promise to Israel: He would not abandon His people, even when they experienced discipline or hardship (cf. Deut. 30:1–5). God restores provision at the right time.
God preserves the line of redemption. Though Naomi loses her husband and sons, God is quietly protecting the future through Ruth—a Moabite widow, an outsider. This fulfills God’s long-term promise that blessing would come through unexpected people and means (Gen. 12:3). Even before we see Boaz or David, God is already keeping His promise to bring redemption through a faithful line.
God shows covenant love through human faithfulness. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi (1:16–17) reflects God’s own covenant love. While spoken by Ruth, it mirrors God’s promise: “I will not leave you.” God is keeping His promise to care for the vulnerable—widows, foreigners, the poor—by working through Ruth’s faithfulness.
What can we take away from Naomi and Ruth in this first chapter and apply to our lives?
God is at work even when my story feels empty. Naomi believes she has returned “empty” (1:21), but the reader knows she is not. Ruth is with her—and Ruth carries the future. God is still working, even when we cannot yet see how.
God does not abandon us in bitterness or grief. Naomi is honest about her pain, and God does not rebuke her. He meets her in it. We can bring our grief to God, and He will remain faithful even when our faith feels weak.
God’s redemption often begins with a simple step of obedience. Ruth’s promise to stay is not dramatic—just faithful. Yet it becomes the doorway to redemption. If we walk faithfully today, God can use small obedience for purposes far bigger than I imagine.
Take the Step of Faith
Joshua 3
In order for us to appreciate what is happening in this third chapter, it is helpful to look back at the first chapter of Joshua. God spoke to Joshua and told him to lead the people across the Jordan river into the land which He had promised them. Joshua then told the people within three days they would cross the Jordan. When God promises something it will come to pass. Look in the New Testament at Romans 11:29, it states, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” When God says something, it comes to pass. He does not go against His Word.
Now fast forward to chapter 3. We see Joshua, speaking on behalf of God, tell the priests to take the ark of the covenant into the Jordan river first. The rest of the people were to stand back about a half mile. It was said they would walk on dry ground. Not on marshy, muddy ground, but dry. Surely Joshua was recalling when God split the Red Sea and led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt as he was about to experience a similar work of God. Additionally, we have a description of the river. This river was swollen with water as it was early in the harvest. Sometimes we forget that we serve a supernatural God who is not limited or bound by natural laws. Our finite minds can get in the way of our faith in God’s Word. This was not so for Joshua.
Joshua trusted God and commanded the priests evermore. The river may be gushing but God said we were going to walk on dry land. Joshua and Israel took a step of faith. Where do you need to take a step of faith? God says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. His word says that by one sacrifice He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Do you know that with faith you can move mountains? Do you know that with faith, all things are possible? Is God calling you to something and you are on the fence of obeying? Trust His Word. He esteems it even higher than His name. My pastor always says, “Love God, love His Word, and love His people”. Do those things and God will do some awesome things in your life!
BE STRONG
Today’s Reading: Joshua 1
There are many passages in the Bible that model and demonstrate God’s faithfulness. I know that for each of us, reading this journal, you can also point to many moments along your earthly journey where God has shown up.
The question posed to us is where God shows up in Joshua 1. For me, it was more about where He does not show up. At the death of their leader, Moses, Israel’s wonder about who would lead was answered by God. He selected Joshua. Joshua witnessed all the promises God made to Moses and kept, and now he heard from the Lord directly that those promises were now for him.
The Lord promises to Joshua where he will go, what he will do, how he will do it, and how he will feel along the journey. What does the Lord ask Joshua to do? Obey, meditate on His Word, and do not be discouraged.
Every believer who is doing God’s will can trust that He will never leave us or forsake us. ( Thankfully, His grace extends past our sinful nature too) In my own life, I have seen times where I have obeyed, believed, and been strong and courageous because I could feel His presence. The true times when I meditate on His Word, and His promises jumped off the pages, answering my questions, providing courage, strength, and love when I needed it most. This is still true today and I trust it will be that way forever.
5 Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you. No one will be able to stop you all your life. I will not abandon you. I will never leave you.
7 But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be successful in everything you do.
9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Be Strong and Courageous
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 31
The last chapters of Deuteronomy are a farewell letter from Moses to the children of Israel. They have gone through the exodus from Egypt, they have gone through the wilderness, and now they are at the break of coming into the promised land. This could be seen as a eulogy for Moses, but it actually is a word of encouragement to the people of Israel.
Whenever we lose someone close to us, we have a tendency to be saddened and then have a fear of what’s next. There is a fear of the unknown, there’s a fear of losing that person, and then a fear of failing God with the next chapter of your life. God understands that fear is a natural part of our emotional complex. God knows our innermost parts and he has these words of encouragement that come three times in this chapter of Deuteronomy.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” …..
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. ….
And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6-7, 23 ESV
In this chapter, we see that fear is the weakness in which God‘s faithfulness is able to shine. God shows us that in order for him to shine and to grow us we have to be exposed to outside stresses. The only way that a muscle is able to get strong is through applied stress in a controlled situation. This is how you become stronger.
God is not allowing us to experience these stresses alone or in isolation. He shows this with the people of Israel and with us in our experiences, he will not allow the stresses without a controlled environment. He sets us up for success.
God wants us to try to accomplish many things. He is an amazing father. He also has a foresight and insight to set up insurances for us to succeed. Many times we think that God is not there or if he’s forgotten about us, but he has already seen the things to come and have backup methods for us. In the passage below, it shows how God sees what is to come and how to instruct his people on how to return to his open arms.
“And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them….
“Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel…
So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 31:16, 19, 22 ESV
This scenario is similar to a dad with a new driver. The dad will have the insurance and the AAA card and the connections to help out the new driver in the event that they will have an incident. It’s not saying that they are being set up for failure, but they have insurance to help them in the event that they need assistance.
Throughout our life, God has the best intentions for us, but he also has insurance policies for us. Even when we think that we’ve fallen so far from God‘s design and his purpose, God still has love and a plan for us.
Let us not hide from fear. Let us acknowledge the unknown and be confident in God’s plan for us and that he has insurance policies on us to protect us when we are aligned and in relationship with him. May you be blessed this week and be courageous in all that you do.
Be Blessed
An Epic Wrestling Match
Today’s reading is Genesis 32.
After reading this, couldn’t help but think of the question I heard asked by another kid at school when I was a child..
“Can God make a rock so big he can’t move it?”
Of course it’s a trick question, if he’s God he can make anything, but if he’s God he should still be able to move the rock no matter how big!
In this chapter we read about Jacob physically wrestling with a man later referred to as God, but God doesn’t quickly put Jacob in a chokehold or full nelson and make Jacob tap out and give up when God presumably could. The question is, why?
Jacob was a deceiver, con man, and liar. And specifically he was after worldly status and blessings. In Genesis 25 he took advantage of his older brother’s deep hunger to take his birthright and then in Genesis 27 went even further to steal his father’s blessing from Esau. Jacob also was so infatuated with Rachel that he was willing to serve her Dad Laban for 7 years so he could marry her, and then after that another 7 years for a total of 14 until Laban finally gave Rachel to him for marriage. To reiterate, Jacob, like us often times, was after worldly blessings and status.
So back to our question, why didn’t God defeat Jacob quickly in their wrestling match? I believe it’s because God wanted to see if Jacob would continue to wrestle him until Jacob finally said in Genesis 32:26, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” Even after God put Jacob’s hip out of joint (Genesis 32:25), Jacob did not let go. Finally Jacob as willing to fight for something without resolving to deception and most specifically he was finally willing to cling to and go after the only blessing that mattes, God’s blessing, which he received (Genesis 32:29).
I believe we can learn a lot from Jacob’s life prior and his experience here. We can be critical of Jacob, but we are probably more like him than we care to admit. And like with Jacob, what God is really after is our heart and for us to seek after and cling to him in a manner that we only care about God’s blessings.
And just like God did not let go of Jacob and defeat him, Jesus not let go and come down from that cross even though he could have. He stayed to give each and every one of us an opportunity to be saved from our sins and to have eternal life with him by finally saying “yes” and giving our life to him. Ironically, we don’t have to ask for his blessing, he’s already given it. We only must be humble enough to realize it and receive it.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
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