My grandson woke suddenly after midnight screaming, “I need you, Mommy, I need you!” I keep the monitor for her to get a good night’s sleep when I can, and sometimes I can console him. Sometimes he just needs his mommy to calm down. I’ve wakened from dreams with my heart literally racing. I’ve wakened with puffy eyes, feeling as if I’ve cried all night with only the edges of a dream in my memory. I’ve awakened mid-fall and struggled to get my bearings. I’ve read some on sleep science, attempting to explain how we don’t act out everything we dream no matter how real it may seem. I am convinced that we understand far less than we imagine about our brains and our subconscious.
I challenge you to think about how many unrealistic things you currently fear. How many movies about apocalypse have you seen in your years? Tell me that Hollywood does not have a finger on the pulse of our subconscious fears. How many times has a scene from a movie flashed through your mind since the pandemic was realized? The writers for Disney’s Tomorrowland were onto something with the idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Basically, give them enough destructive thoughts and they’ll self-destruct eventually. I saw the same plot line again the other night in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.
”“Listen, my beloved friends, don’t fear those who may want to take your life but can do nothing more. It’s true that they may kill your body, but they have no power over your soul.
The one you must fear is God, for he has both the power to take your life and the authority to cast your soul into hell. Yes, the only one you need to fear is God.“
Luke 12:4-5 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/luk.12.5.TPT
As a God-fearing follower of Jesus, there’s a limit to what I’ve seen or will see, movie wise, but the fear mongering is everywhere! Maybe you’re not literally what you eat, but you surely are what you consume, and in regular doses, any thought, true or untrue, can master a man. No wonder the Bible is full of warnings about where our focus lies.
”But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.
You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.
Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”“
Deuteronomy 30:14-20 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.30.15.ESV
““So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.
Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt.
Serve the Lord alone.
But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.
Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live?
But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.”
Joshua 24:14-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jos.24.14-17.NLT
You may read those scriptures and justify ignoring their warnings because they were given to a specific group of people in a time long past, no longer relevant to our day and age. All of scripture is God-breathed and is useful for training in right living. (II Timothy 3:16) There are lessons to be learned from every passage in every book if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.
“Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.
Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness.”
Psalms 119:29-30, 32-40 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.119.33-40.NLT
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.
Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Proverbs 4:20-27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.4.20-27.NLT
“How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.
I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.
I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.
I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.
I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.
Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.”
Psalms 119:9-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.119.9-18.NLT
We have become a largely illiterate society Biblically speaking. We rely on pastors, teachers, and influencers to feed us tiny morsels of God’s Word, nothing too heavy or bitter tasting, to encourage us but never to hold us accountable. We have contented ourselves with allowing our understanding of Scripture to be dictated by whoever has the catchiest Reel or most compelling voice. There are, of course, some very good, solid, Bible teachers out there, but think about it this way- have you chewed solid food for a baby to be able to swallow or at least seen someone else do it? If that turns your stomach a little, then I hope you make the leap to allowing someone else to prepare the rich Word of God so that you don’t need to chew on it a bit for yourself.
The Bible is God’s letter to you and me. He intends for you to read it again and again, hearing His voice speaking to you by His indwelling Spirit. Teaching aids are there for you, but don’t rely on any other voice the way you rely on God’s. Sit with His Words, even when you don’t understand, especially when you don’t understand, because He will bring them to mind and make them meaningful in His time.
”Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.“
Acts 17:11-12 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.17.11-12.ESV
We need a standard by which to measure every new thought that comes at us rapid fire. Familiarity with Scripture not only provides the standard, but the Holy Spirit quickens our minds, causing us to recall exactly those words which suit the moment. No wonder Paul coupled the helmet of salvation with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God- the battle is largely in our minds before it ever comes to our actions. (Ephesians 6:17)
“For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims.
Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.
We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God.
We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/2co.10.3-5.TPT
The Bible presents truth that has outlasted attempts to destroy it, silence its followers, extinguish its Source, and it is alive and active still today because God is living and active. His Spirit is active in our world, sustaining all that He created by His word. He is living and moving in the hearts and minds of those who trust Him in complete surrender to His will and ways.
”God means what he says. What he says goes.
His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.
Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word.
We can’t get away from it—no matter what.“
Hebrews 4:12-13 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/heb.4.12-13.MSG
Some of Jesus’s claims may have seemed unrealistic, even to those trying to see Him as God’s Messiah, but as He told Thomas, faith is believing without seeing. John points out how the Spirit caused the disciples to remember the words of Jesus after they were fulfilled.
“And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!
If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’””
Matthew 27:37, 39-40, 43 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.27.37-43.ESV
“So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”
John 2:18-22 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.2.18-22.ESV
Women were the first to the tomb on resurrection day. They came to anoint the body with fragrant spices, but somewhere in the depths of their hearts, hope was stirring and it was not disappointed. Those of us who wait for Him still, those longing for His return, for wrongs to be righted, for all things to be made new, to have eyes that see even as we are seen, we will not be disappointed either.
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”
Luke 24:1-9 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.24.1-9.ESV
Every day He delays, we have a story to tell. We have a message to deliver to those who have never heard, to those who have heard but not listened, even to those whose hearts are hardened. Sin and death no longer have power over us. Fear has no place because it has been cast out by perfect Love. (I John 4:18)
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For through him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:13, 18-22 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.2.13-22.ESV
“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin.
And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:2-11 NLT
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