Because Jesus was born and given to us, because the governing of all life is on His shoulders, because we can count on His wonderful counseling, we can live forevermore and begin to sense that Abundant Life here too, filled with peace and joy, no matter what is going on. Praise God!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isa 9:6 NIV
God is mighty. Does that give you an overwhelming sense of relief…or fear? Both are good, by the way. The fact that God is powerful should help us understand that nothing and no one in our lives can ever destroy us. The difficult things of life cannot kill you, unless you let them. The mean people that say awful things about you cannot shatter you, unless you let them. The rising prices, the continued violence, the uncontrollable weather, none of these can steal your peace, unless you let them. God is in control even, and especially, when things seem to be out of control. We can trust Him because He is mighty and because He mightily loves us. Ultimately whatever has happened, is happening or will happen in your life, it is not meant to destroy you but to grow you so nothing and no one will have power over you. My Friends, if we learn to fear God, then there is nothing else to fear.
Fear of the Lord means we respect Him to such a high degree that we do not want to step out of His Holy Will. Not because He is going to zap us with His lightning rod the moment we do…but because we love Him so deeply, revere Him so profoundly, that we do not want to make a move without Him. It is this great esteem, admiration, appreciation, grateful heart towards this God Who loves us, saves us, provides for a good life here, then an amazing life hereafter…that causes us to fear hurting Him. He knows we are still children who will mess up…but there is a huge difference between sinning because we are being child-like or being disrespectful of God. Learn to fear God, and there will be nothing else to fear.
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
July: 26- Jas 2:19; 27- Dt 31:8; 28- Jn 14:15; 29- Jn 8:11
August: 30- Ro 8:1; 31- Pr 4:23; 32- Pr 18:21; 33- Ps 118:24; 34- 1Jn 4:4
September: 35- Mt 16:24; 36- Isa 53:6; 37- Ps 23:1-6
October: 38- Heb 4:12; 39- Jn 15:5
November: 40- Jas 5:16; 41- 1Jn 3:1; 42- 1Jn 5:12; 43- 1Jn 3:3; 44- Ps 139:16
December: 45- Ps 119:105; Eze 17:14; Isa 9:6
<>< Peace, Diane
