The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. Probs 29:25
Dear Brides
This week has been intense for me, with our Beloved showing me what was in my heart.
I am helping old good friend of mine, to lose weight. And she quite did not understood that I have office hours, thought I am working from home, I am often very busy I do no go anywhere or meet anyone just working with the Lord, time for Him and the kids. My friend wanted to confirm a meeting but I couldn't pick the phy. She called multiple times, I had to ask the Lord what to do he said do not answer, wait for your office hours, she kept calling at some point someone from my kid's school called at the same time, which I am forced to pick that helped me because if it wasn't I would give in, and pick up the phone because of the pressure. But I knew that the Lord did not wanted me to take the call. It was a scary thing to do, I thought I am not being selfish, am I loving my sister in Christ? Besides she is one of my oldest besties.
The thing that were mostly evil is that I became so afraid. It was hard for me to see how much I still feared man. I thought that It was just E.H but the Lord were just showing me, people in general were my idols, my kids, E.H, my mom, my closest friends, it is funny those are the people now that seems to be the most difficult to deal with, now I understand the Lord was not the first in my heart, they were, I would disobey God to attend to their requests, like I almost picked this friend call when the Lord told me not to do it.
Also I had such wrong understanding concerning what is to love.
In my journey when God would ask me to love and also let my loved one goes, I were having trouble in knowing what to do, because these two were opost in my mind.
He told me to love E.H by being humble(,Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude . 1 Co 13:1-2.He told me to love my kids by being careful to discipline(He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently proverbs 13:24 and not to be friend with my son that were often angry.( Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered. Proverbs 22:24.
I thought the opposite of these to be true.
Like with my friend this week, I thought that I was not really loving.
Even though I was a bit afraid with everything, I had an unusual peace in my heart, that is the thing that gave me strength to just obey the Lord.
Love has nothing to be with us trying to please God, by pleasing others first.
We can't love people well when God is not first in our hearts, because we are breaking the commandments, which is to put God first.
Love for God is to obey his commandments.( 1 John 5:2 NIV This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
And the most crazy is that often I am so concerned that I did not answer people's calls, and when I call them back is nothing that important. I were just afraid for no reason, that's the evil thing too. I need a new heart, a heart that fears the Lord.
I need a clean and a pure heart. (Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Psalms 51:10-12.
wow thanks for sharing that is so good! love how you said we can’t love people well when God isn’t first in our hearts!
Thank you for your comment dear Rasa.He demands exclusive devotion. That’s why letting go is so important. It’s only when,He is first that all other areas in our lives will be good 😊.
Be careful to obey all these things I command you, so that you and your children after you may prosper forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. Det 12:28
Thank you Naomi, we should always be sensitive to our Beloved’s guidance and be obedient. He knows best and what we need, better than we or our loved ones do, so we should trust Him.
And it is true, we cannot love well if our hearts are not filled with His love that comes from putting Him first and time spend with Him. Our hearts will overflow with His love, flowing to others, drawing them to us and wanting what we have.
Is great to hear that Adina. Definitely I have to hear Him, first, it was a challenge, but the Lord is helping and setting me free from the fear of man.
Lieve Naomi, Ik worstel er ook vaak mee dat ik anderen wil behagen en ben vaak bezig om met iedereen vrede te hebben en iedereen tevreden te stellen. Dit doe ik ook bij mijn kinderen, ik wil ze graag tevreden stellen en hou er niet van om ze boos te zien als ik hun vraag iets te doen. Nu heb ik geleerd dat we God lief moeten hebben boven ALLES. Als hij ons vraagt iets te doen, moeten we Hem volgen, ongeacht wat andere mensen of onze kinderen van ons vinden. Lieve Naomi bedankt voor het delen!!
Dear Naomi, I also often struggle with wanting to please others and am often concerned with being at peace with everyone and pleasing everyone. I do the same with my children, I like to please them and I don’t like to see them angry when I ask them to do something. Now I have learned that we are to love God above EVERYTHING. When He asks us to do something, we should follow Him, regardless of what other people or our children think of us. Dear Naomi thank you for sharing!!
That’s so true. Hanna , thank you for sharing, you just described me too. Thanks God. He is setting me free, we just need to follow Him.
Romans 8:14-15 TPT
[14] The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. [15] And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!”
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.8.14.TPT
Thank you for sharing precious Naomi, it is the best ever to allow our Darling Lord to lead us – https://loveatlast.org/living-lessons/week-3-he-leads-me/ because in the same way our Darling Lord is teaching your friend patience.
I too would be so afraid not to pick up, because for so long I have been trying to please people, but I am so grateful for my Darling Lord teaching me to only please Him.
Thank for Sharing Dear Janine. I also have being so long trying to please people, than when God ask me to do something challenging that people may not like I fear, But Thank God he is setting me free, and tell me not to be afraid.
I remember when I feared I would say this beautiful promise precious Naomi:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2T1:7 https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/1-7.htm