Second of three parts of listening in to a quiet time going from blue to green to red. The times mentioned are just mine; yours might be longer or shorter.
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Next I'm in Proverbs (19 cause that was the day of the week). I had been thinking about the need for wisdom in making decisions, and how "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of that. Now I think it goes beyond individual decisions. This wisdom that starts with fearing the Lord ends up being about how you look at life and the world. How it works, what you expect.
It says, "Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good." I think: When you expect bad, you find it. When you expect good, you find IT. This is not positive thinking; it's sensitivity to what's already there. What do you want to focus on?
For example, if you look for bad in your spouse or kids or coworkers -- you'll find it! It's there! And if you look for good, you'll find that, too -- it's there. What do you want to focus on? What do you want people to focus on with you? They can find what's wrong with you -- it's there -- and you won't be able to argue.
I read, "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." There IS something you could be angry about. There IS an offense. Are you going to focus on it? If you look for it, you will find it. There's always one there. But, wisdom, good sense and understanding say NO. And that starts with "fear of the Lord." You don't have to be angry or take offense. Things are in God's hands.
It says, "The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm." There's no rest in being angry or offended. When you fear the Lord you leave things that belong to him, with him.
OK, that's a summary of about another forty minutes. Green. Stop here and you start over next time with blue. Keep going and you may get to red.
Being strong in grace (2 Tim 2) came to my mind as I read this...
I'd like to read your "red" on perfect love casts out all fear..
Posted by: JJ | Friday, April 24, 2009 at 07:03 PM