And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So be sure to leave a post, share a story, and bless lots of people with your insights.

For the month of January, the gift card is from Barnes & Noble. And the winner is...Tami Boesiger! Congratulations, Tami! 

Here's the catch: you have to email me to claim your prize. I don't have the time to chase you down. :) Tami, send an email with your mailing address to: info@susielarson.com  

Now on to my topic...

This past year I read a great book by John Bevere titled, "The Fear of the Lord." I loved this book! Here's an excerpt:

Without realizing it, many of us can tend towards an imbalance in one of these two areas: Either we're too casual with the things of God, thinking He will come through for us no matter what we do. Or we walk in such an unrighteous fear of Him that we can never relax in His presence. 

Unfortunately, neither of those scenarios describes a healthy interpretation of grace and fear.

Since I tend to think in word pictures, indulge me for a moment. As a Believer I like to think of myself as sort of a trapeze artist. Hang with me for a second. If I really take God at His Word, then I believe with all of my heart that He has called me to heroic feats that I could never accomplish on my own. Though I've never met a trapeze artist, I imagine they have a huge respect for gravity. I know I did as a gymnast. Standing on a four inch piece of wood (which back in the day, was not padded and had sharp edges), and bending backwards to do a back-walk-over required focus, precision, and a respect for the beam. I'm sure it's the same with the trapeze; even more so.

As Believers, we are called to high places and to do great things that we may not be qualified for, but as far as God is concerned, we're equipped for. But He doesn't take us to high places without some rigorous training on the ground. Through practice, and repetition, and focus, we learn to respect gravity. But we also learn that with God's help, we can stand on high places. (See Psalm 18:32-33).

To be who God wants us to be, and to do what He wants us to do, we need to listen to Him, respect and honor His Word, and do what He says. To me, to fear the Lord means that I will do what He says because I know that He will do what He says. God is mighty and true and He is serious about our obedience, and that we have faith, and that we grow in love. He means what He says and there are consequences for disobeying Him.

As trapeze artists, sometimes we're going to make the jump, miss the bar, and fall through the air into a blessed net. That net reminds me of grace. He's got us. He's made provision for our weaknesses and missteps. We don't live in the net, but it's there to catch us when we fall. 

If we count on a life of leisure and ease and call it grace, we miss out on the wonderful adventure we've been called to and we make light of the costly sacrifice of our Savior. Grace is there for those who earnestly seek after Him, but desperately need His mercy, every moment of the day. 

For those with an unhealthy fear, who don't trust God, and would thus never climb the ladder and take the jump for fear that God will be absent or mad that day...I pray, that you will put your hand in the Savior's, and let Him lead you to fields of grace. I pray that God will restore your joy and excitement and expectancy of what is possible for those who love and trust Him.

God is always good. He's always with us. And He absolutely loves it when we follow Him to the heights He's prepared for us. May we count on His grace and have a healthy reverence for who He is, because He is, after all, God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. And the fact that He even wants us to join Him on this journey is downright mind-boggling. 

Amazing grace.

Have a blessed week!

See website for complete article licensing information.