What Are You Afraid Of? (What Are You Waiting For?)

I am going to write a sermon and sermon series on this. (Feel free to borrow the idea!)

Of course it will be based off a tone of scripture, mainly scripture God has thrown my way over the past two years. And though the focus is not on the many radical life changing events in my life over the past two years, that is my basis for putting this sermon series into the crock pot over the next couple months or years.

So what are you and all of us afraid of? What are you and all us waiting for?

"I will not fear, fear is the mindkiller..."
- Intro to the litany against fear in "Dune" by Frank Herbert

It isn't just fear, yet it is several thing that disrupt our God given paths in life! It often is "the kingdom of self" that does the trick too in stopping us so short of God and the things off God. Though we should fear God, we ought not to be afraid of God and God's will, like we all do way too often.

"Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you."

- Isaiah 40:10 (The Message)

Seems that for two years I have spent almost every day dealing with God's will. You'd think a 29 ear old who has graduated college and is active in the the workforce is long on his way to being in God's will.

You know what, I am, but...

Today it is in the 70's and kind of rainy/storm kind of cloudy outside. Yesterday I think it was mostly sunny and closer to the 80 mark. Two months from now it will be much cooler. Two months ago it likely was 100F. The weather changes from day to day. So do the phases of the moon. So does the supply level of my tp and groceries. So does the health of my truck and body. My tv listings always need updated, since they change.

God doesn't change. God's will doesn't change. Yet there is causality all around us. God is, well, God. And since God is God, God can keep up with causality. He know us and this world full well (Psalm 139).

So what happens when we live in the rule of the kingdom of self or even kind of sit in that corner chair of comfort with hot chocolate, slippers, and a nice warm blanket? We're not subscribed to God.

So why we do that? Or anything at all like that?

We afraid to give up our dreams? We afraid what God has for us will be hard? Are we afraid of the unknown? Do we want to do God's will our way? Or even have God to do our will with God's "golden touch"? Are we afraid to give up all, pick up the cross, and follow Christ in that road less travelled?

Um... .... .... yes?!

You bet we are. Might be technically different from person to person, due to causality.

I have so much more to add. I'll just leave 1.5 questions and 1 scripture.

Question: What you afraid of? What you waiting for?

Scripture:

"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes."

- Matthew 6:9:13 (The Message)

P.S. - I know, I use "The Message" translation. In general, I don't like it. I'm more an NASB & NIV user. But that sure does give a different insight on the Lord's pr

Labels: devotional, gods_will