Knowing God

Fear of God

Dr. Mike 2021, Knowing God

Romans 3:13-18

“Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
 in their paths are ruin and misery,
 and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

What ever happened to good-old-fashion fear of the Lord? Maybe it’s only me, but in our youthful ignorance when we had a simple but respectful attitude toward our Creator, wasn’t life more peaceful and civil?

Today, people seem to have greater fear of being fired from their job, or cancelled by the internet crowd, or being discovered of who they truly are, then fearing the Author & Designer of Life. We witness daily through the media and political rhetoric how fear is used as the tool of those in power to manipulate their subjects into following them into the promise land. We seem to fear everything and everyone except the one who deserves the most respect and honor of all: Our LORD.

When the fear of God is preached in some pulpits, they highlight the wrath of God. Yes, for those who do not know God, his power and authority is intimidating. When we do not know someone in an unfriendly situation, fear normally takes the lead. Yet under the same circumstances when we do know the heart and character of the person facing us, we have no fear. The same is true with our LORD.

If you were raised in a house with a father who physically or emotionally abused you, you would learn to distrust and even hate him for the pain he put you through. Yet on the other hand, if your dad loved and played and taught you valuable lessons throughout your growing years, you would learn to respect and honor him. The same is true with our heavenly Father.

The healthy fear the Bible reveals about our relationship with our God is a respectful awe. As we come to know HIM, his character and his heart, we realize there is nothing to fear but our own carnal imagination gone wild. He is a God of love and justice. He knows how to discipline us for our good, not from personal anger but from a heart of knowing what is best for us. He also knows how to best bless us with HIS gifts.

As we live in HIS presence each day, we gladly invite him into our life as he has invited us into HIS. We kneel in amazement at HIS wisdom, HIS love for everyone, and HIS uncanny ways of intervening for HIS children.

Yes, my fear of God is knowing HE is all powerful and HIS word has final authority in all matters. Yet my fear is balanced by also knowing HIS character and heart.

If only all people would come to know HIM and live in HIS presence each day. We wouldn’t need thousands of laws, more police, judges, and jails. Some may call it a utopia. For humans to make happen it is an unrealistic dream, but for God who changes the hearts of people, there will be a time in the world tomorrow when heaven and earth are merged together into the final chapter, then all people everywhere will experience the joy and love of living in the fear of our God. Until then, we who experience God’s grace every day, can only share HIS way of life with others and pray they have the courage to reach out to the God who truly cares for you and me.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

God Seekers

Dr. Mike 2021, Knowing God , ,

Hebrews 11:6

…for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Psalm 10:4

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Deuteronomy 4:29

But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Simply stated – sometimes I wonder if life’s prime purpose is nothing more but to discover and walk with the God of the universe. The same God who created heaven and earth (Gen 1:1). The One who worked with Moses, David, and the prophets from the Old Testament along with all the saints in the New Testament. The God who from the foundation of the world created everything with a specific goal. Could that goal simply be to enjoy a benevolent relationship with HIM and each other?

Life has the tenancy to involve us in many different activities. Just the act of survival in many third world countries is an all-day affair. In more developed nations, the routine job of living has become more automatic and convenient allowing us to pursue avenues of perceived self-fulfillment. Yet at the end of our lives, what do we have to show?

The rich continue to become richer building up storage barns for their wealth. In comparison, the poor struggle for just the basic necessities of life. Yet both will leave everything behind when life’s curtain closes. So why bother start a race if you know how it will end?

If eternity doesn’t exist, and this life is it, then why bother doing anything for the simple pleasure of feeling happy for a few moments? If this is one’s perspective, then yes life is meaningless and empty and void of any reason for doing anything. BUT what if eternity is real?

What if the Biblical narrative is true? What if Jesus Christ is the Messiah promised thousands of years ago? Then would there be a reason to live with purpose and meaning greater than ours?

I strongly believe God created everything for you and I to enjoy life now and into eternity with HIM. That assurance has become stronger and stronger each day as we pursue our dreams and fight our daily battles. As we seek HIM, HE draws closer to us with HIS thoughts. As HE becomes known to us, we begin to witness HIS involvement with everyday life. As HE answers our prayers, we become struck in awe as how HE works out circumstances and changes hearts to fulfill our desires. And when we fail to live up to HIS righteousness, HE reminds us of HIS love for us and that we are already included in HIS family.

This walk of faith started in my late teen years when I surrendered to HIM without even knowing WHO HE IS. I started to seek HIM and have kept wanting to know more and more about HIM. I discovered more about HIS character and heart through the daily actions of living and studying in HIS world. Math, science, and history open the doors to reveal more of HIS ways. Love, Joy, and fatherhood are moments that reveal more of HIS brilliant mind. The gospel of Jesus Christ solidified HIS superior insight into how human nature is best unleashed for the benefit of all mankind.

Yes, one must be a God Seeker if one wants to experience life the way HE intended us to be. When we make HIM the central core of all other relationships and objectives, life gains real meaning and purpose. When one begins to understand HIS ways and implement those means into their very steps, real freedom and flourishment is experienced by the self and others. The more amazing thing though, is we have only seen a small fraction of WHO HE IS. It will take eternity to discover and learn how the most successful BEING in the universe thinks, works, and plays. And I for one look forward to each day now and the hereafter toward that realization.

What about you?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Afraid to Pray?

Dr. Mike Knowing God, Life Tools, Prayers ,

1 Timothy 2:8

Therefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

pray2

Why should anyone be afraid to pray? To ask the God of creation to intervene. For help in solving a problem larger than us. Or maybe a blessing on our love ones. Yet I occasionally come across people who admit they are afraid to pray. When we dig deeper, we generally find the challenge lies in several spheres.

One, which is the general challenge for many pertains to change. We are so focus on our goals and priorities that we don’t want to change what we are doing but add a blessing on top of everything we are already in pursuit. If we surrender to God, we believe there goes our dreams.

Or, we don’t because falsely believe only weaklings pray. Us self-reliant and intelligent beings live the delusion everything is under control. We don’t need any assistance. We can handle everything ourselves.

Or, there are those who feel unworthy to pray and come to the throne room of God. Who am I to petition God? We blindly disbelieve God has no time for us or what we request is not important in the scheme of world events.

Whatever the obstacle, Paul writes to Timothy and encourages him to remind us all to pray. Why? Because prayer is the means of communicating with the living God. Unless we pray, we will never know God as He wants to be known. You cannot have a personal relationship with anyone unless there are two-way communications.

Prayer allows us to see God in action. When we pray and make our requests to Him, removing any personal expectations on how and when, we witness God’s reply. Sometimes the reply comes in a word, sometimes in a thought, sometimes from others speaking to us directly or indirectly. The Bible showcases people being responding by God through a vision, dream, and yes even through a donkey.

For those who are afraid to pray, I ask “how is it working for you?” For those who have surrendered themselves to King Jesus, I likewise ask “how is it working for you?”

When one repeatedly experiences answers to prayer, one learns to pray constantly and everywhere. How one looks or sounds or trips over their words in the process, doesn’t bother them any longer. The reason? Because they know Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercedes for them. Jesus knows what being human is like. He gladly takes our requests and intervenes to the Father on our behalf. When we come to realize this, we learn not to emphasize prayer, but the power of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we long to pray and be in communion with the living God: every day and everywhere.

Fear has to do with punishment. Prayer is the loving means to a loving God who wants what is best for us. Sometimes it requires change; other times it requires sacrifice, and other times it requires self-denial. But the Christ follower says Amen for they know the process of discipleship leads to Kingdom fulfillment and real satisfaction in this life and the next.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2019 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved