In dealing with the subject of intercession, we’ve been mainly talking about how the Lord prays through us.  But keep in mind also that Jesus is the ‘great intercessor’ who is always making intercession for us to the Father. (Heb.7:25)

Rom. 8:34 NIV – Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Heb.9:24 AMP – He has entered into Heaven itself, now to appear in the very presence of God on our behalf.

Let’s look at just a couple of ways Jesus intercedes for us.  He prays for us when we are being tested.  Do you remember the night He was betrayed and led away to be crucified?  Putting His own needs aside, he looked at Peter.  Knowing Peter’s weakness, Jesus said to him, “Satan has desired to have you so that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.” (Luke 22:31,32)

Wow!  When we face the hardest tests of our lives it’s beyond encouraging to know that Jesus Himself is praying for us!  That’s enough right there to give us all the courage and faith necessary to make it.

The reason behind this is also life changing.  He has this authority to be our High Priest and Intercessor because He became a man and went through everything we have to deal with here.  He understands as no one else could.  He’s been here and lived here.  He was tested in all the same ways we are and yet (as an example of how we can live) He remained without sin. (Heb.4:15)

“It is plain that for this purpose [Christ] did not become an angel; He became a man, in actual fact a descendant of Abraham. It was imperative that He should be made like His brothers in nature, if He were to become a High Priest both compassionate and faithful in the things of God, and at the same time able to make atonement for the sins of the people. For by virtue of His own suffering under temptation He is able to help those who are exposed to temptation.” (Heb.2:16-18 Phillips Translation)

Yes, the Lord Himself intercedes for us when we are tempted.  Here again, Jesus prayed for His disciples, ” I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15 AMP

He also intercedes for us when we have sinned … “If any man sin, we have an Advocate [an Intercessor] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”  (I John 2:1)  He knows how God’s judicial system works.  He understands the justice of the Father.  He is the Righteous Judge. ( 2 Tim.4:8)  When He intercedes for us to the Father He is not saying, “Oh Father, please have mercy on them.  You know how weak and foolish they are.” No.  It’s a courtroom scene where the high courts of Heaven are set up.  God’s legal system says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. (Heb.9:22)  Jesus, God’s son, is the One who shed His own blood for us.  He stands there as an ever present reminder of that fact.

How can we lose!  God has set things up in our favor over and over again.  When we come up against things we cannot overcome, Christ Himself is interceding for us to the Father.   And if we allow Him to, He also lives His life through us doing things that we can only do “in Him”.   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  We are more than conquerors when we are in Him.

Having a bad day?  Check out this passage of scripture and read it in several translations until it really hits you and becomes a part of you.

Romans 8:31-39 Amplified Bible (AMP)
31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]
34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?
35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For a visual on this, see the photo attached to the previous blog post. Have a wonderful day!

The worship of a soft guitar floated through the air.  I closed my eyes and was suddenly taken away.

Standing on an open spiral staircase, I gazed around me.  I seemed to be in a huge century home with rich woods and sunlight streaming through every window.  From where I stood I could look up to the higher floors and down to the lower floors of this magnificent house.  The stairway was open to reveal people coming and going in the large rooms it passed through.  I could hear the sounds of laughter and singing. This house was so full of life and joy.

Suddenly a group of laughing, barefoot children came running down the stairs.  Some were sliding down the banister.  A couple of large dogs trotted among them, joining in their games.  As their happy laughter echoed back up the stairs I began to realize where I was.  This place was symbolic of my Father’s house.

This is how our Heavenly Father wants us to be in His house, carefree and joyful.  These children had no fear of falling off the high railing.  They were completely safe in Father’s house where nothing could hurt them.  They had no concern about whether there would be food for dinner or who was going to pay the mortgage on the house.  They had a simple basic trust in their Father that freed them from all worry and care.

Jesus said “unless you become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt. 18:3)  Have you lost your peace somewhere?  Or have troubles overtaken you and caused your heart to fear?  Come back into  Father’s house.  Sit on His lap and let Him take you in His arms and tell you how much He loves you.

I know I have posted this music video before but it seems so appropriate that I am sharing it once again.  Be blessed as you enter back into the security of Father’s arms.

Then I looked and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them!  They stood around the throne, the four living creatures and the elders and sang in a loud voice, “The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom and strength, honor, glory and praise.”

And I heard every creature in Heaven, on earth, in the world below and in the sea – all living beings in the universe – and they were singing, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory and might, forever and ever, through the eternities of eternities.”  (Rev.5:11-13)

Can you imagine such a spectacle?  What prompted this extreme amount of praise from the realms of Heaven and earth, from every living being in the universe?

John the Beloved, one of Jesus closest disciples, was now an old man exiled for his faith on the Isle of Patmos.  In this  prophetic encounter he is taken into Heaven and sees the Father on His throne.  In the hand of the Father is a scroll covered with writings on both sides and sealed with seven seals.  Reading further into the book of Revelation shows us that this scroll was filled with the judgments of God which are to come upon the earth.  “And I saw a mighty angel who announced in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Rev.5:2)

Who can the Father entrust with the power to judge the earth?  Who is worthy?  A search began throughout all of Heaven and earth.  It could not be an angel.  It had to be a man from the earth in order to be just.  All the saints passed by in review.  Abraham – the father of our faith, Moses – the friend of God, David – the warrior and worshipper, Paul – the great apostle.  But no!  None was found worthy for all have gone astray. (Isa.53:6, Rom.3:10)  It had to be a spotless one.  But “no one in Heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or take a single look at its contents.  And I wept audibly and bitterly.” (Rev.5:3,4 Amp.)

And finally, in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and  the elders, there stood a Lamb who had been slain. (Rev.5:6)  He is the man, Christ Jesus and He is God, the only one found worthy in all of Heaven or earth.  And He came and took the scroll from the hand of the One sitting on the throne, from the hand of His Father. (Rev. 5:7)

When this was accomplished it brought an immediate response from all those in Heaven who fell down before the Lamb crying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals for You were slain and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev.5:9)

This is why we love Him.  This is why we trust Him.  This is why He is worthy to judge us and judge the earth – because He died for us and poured Himself out for us.  His judgments are just and true.  He drank the cup and tasted death.  He received the wrath of God in our place and now He is worthy to administrate the Father’s wrath.  He is acquainted with our grief.  He is the suffering King who gave up His glory to bring us back to God.  This is why we love Him.  This is why we trust Him, because we know Him and we know His heart.

Sometimes the very questions we ask reveal our lack of real knowledge of who He is.  I still hear people ask questions like, “Why should we worship God? What does He get from our praise?”   An appropriate response to that question might be, “Have you seen Him?  Do you know Him?”   I am not simply speaking of prophetic experiences where we may see Him face to face in the natural realm.  These are available to us, of course.  (See previous posts on this blog under “On-ramps into Heavenly realms”)  But I am speaking of seeing Him and knowing Him in the Spirit – in our spirit, inside our hearts.  God is, after all, a Spirit … and we must learn to worship in Spirit in order to really experience and know Him deeply.  (John 4:24)  Those who really know Him intimately will have no need for such inappropriate questions.

The bride in the Song of Solomon was faced with the same questions from the maidens who asked her, “What is your beloved more than another?” (v. 5:9)  By the time she finishes describing Him (v. 10-16) the maidens have been won over by her love for Him. Their response now is,” Where is your beloved hiding himself? For we would seek Him with you!”   When we lift Him up, all may be drawn to Him. (John 12:32)

There was only one found worthy in Heaven, on the earth or in any realm.  He is the Lamb of God who was slain and by Him all things consist and are held together. (Col.1:17)  How could we not love the One who gave all for us?  How could we not give our lives to Him so that He may receive the reward of His suffering?

He alone is worthy of it all.

The spectacle was dizzying.   Every angel and spirit-being in Heaven seemed to have gathered in the Throne Room.  They were banked in layers encircling the throne, spiralling upward and back down again.   There were multitudes in many different shapes, sizes and forms.  There were angels in white robes with white wings.   Some had human looking faces and bodies.  Others were indescribable, terrifying yet beautiful.  There were lights and bird-like creatures and flaming  seraphim elevated above them all.  They were all worshipping with music and singing, voices and sounds, lights, vapor trails and fiery trails that made patterns like fireworks in the air.

Suddenly the music and the atmosphere changed.   Now it conveyed an awesome and fearful reverence, enthroning the Father in a smoky cloud of glory. (see footnote #1)  Radiating outward from Him was an emerald rainbow.  (Rev.4:3)  It was not just one, but a thousand hues of green.   Each shade dispersed into its own prism light creating countless rainbows within the principal one.

Fanning out in a semi-circle before the throne stood seven pillars of fire.  These represent the 7 Spirits of God.  (see footnote #2)  At times they shot upward as they mingled with smoke and thunder and the echoing voices of the living creatures.  (Rev.4:5a)

There is no earthly language to convey such fearful wonder.   All that dwelt here was the pure light of His character.  Holiness, love, righteousness, justice, peace, strength, mercy – these were making up the molecules of the air, swirling about and intertwining like the very DNA of the Father.

There in the deep ecstasy of His fiery presence our one desire is only to be consumed by His holy fire until all that hinders love is burned away and we are conformed into His likeness. (1 Cor.3:11-15, Heb.12:29, Rom.8:29, 1 Jn. 3:2 )

ft. #1 – Exod.19:9, Deut.4:11 and Ps.18:9 all refer to God dwelling or manifesting Himself in a dark cloud or thick darkness to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai.  “The dark cloud that surrounds God is actually the dense oil of the Spirit, a great good, a visible sign of the magnitude of the anointing, incomprehensible to mankind and therefore seemingly dark.”  (quoted from Anna Rountree, Heaven Awaits the Bride)

ft.#2 – The Amplified Bible refers to this as the “seven-fold Holy Spirit”, Rev.4:5b, Isa.11:2

Many people living today have had the privilege of seeing into Heaven just as many of the Saints in the Bible did.   I have been sharing testimonies from some of these people regarding what they have seen and experienced.

Another of my favorite authors is Anna Rountree.   She is a current voice who has experienced powerful prophetic encounters, many of which took place in Heavenly realms.   Here is a description of the throne room of God from her book Heaven Awaits the Bride.

“The throne room was brilliant with light.   The surface on which the redeemed were dancing was a pavement of light that looked like a translucent blue.   [On] this expansive “sea” was a dazzling white light, in the center of which was the throne of God.

A great yearning welled up within me and a whisper involuntarily escaped:  “Daddy.”   His presence drew me with cords of love.   (The angel with me) looked down at me and smiled.

The Father’s being is manifested by light of an indescribable whiteness.   His uncreated glory radiates outward in all directions to form a great sphere of awesome colors.   Like a bow whose hues blend from white to yellow, to gold, to the Shekinah reddish-gold, and on through the color spectrum of reds, purples, blues and ending with green.

Transfixed, I was lost in the wonder of Him.   The angel touched my shoulder and said, ‘Come with me’.   We began to pass through those worshipping, sometimes ducking beneath a dancer’s arm as we made our way toward the throne area.

The light into which we were entering began to intensify, as well as the sense of power.   As we moved nearer to the throne, the radiance looked more like the waves of light in the aurora borealis when it forms an arc of lights across the sky.   The blazing light was not blinding as would be the earth’s sun if you gazed at it.   One could experience, feel and even look at this light.

Thousands of angels were circling above the throne area and thousands more seemed to be arriving to join them.   Countless numbers of angels were already within the bow of the corona around the throne.  They were making musical sounds by flying at different levels and speeds and patterns.   The tones that their flight made were different from singing or the playing of instruments.   At times some would fly together, producing a different tone.

The melodies, like the light in the throne room , went right through me.   The music of praise entered me and passed through me and I became one with the sound.   The angel spoke to me.   “The harmony, the unity and the desire of those here to give to the Father His due – constantly giving of themselves and receiving more of Him when they praise and adore – bring forth a sweet music.”

I became more aware of the pleasant fragrance around the throne area and of the interwovennes of sound and color and smell.   These cannot be woven together on earth the way they are blended here in Heaven.   We below can experience them simultaneously, but above they seem to have the same properties.   It is more like water being poured into water.   So it is here with sound, light and fragrance.   It seems strange to see sound, hear color, and for smell to have a tangible quality to it.   Yet in heaven it all seems natural and right and even obvious.”

The One on the throne is the center of it all.  Everything proceeds from Him.  He holds it all together.  And everything returns to Him who alone is worthy.

One of the most amazing things about Heaven is the all-pervading sense of the Presence of God.

It is a place where there is no evil, no sin, no temptation and no enemy.   That fact alone sets us free from more than we realize.   We are so constantly bombarded with these things in this realm that stepping on shore there is something similar to the opposite of trauma.   There is such a relief of the pain and pressure we didn’t realize we were in here.   Our spirit is released from bondage.   Gravity has lost its hold and we can fly.   There is no danger.  None.  There is no more temptation bombarding us with evil.   It is gone.   The restless thoughts and even tormented minds are now quiet and at peace … God’s peace, not as the world could ever give.  (John 14:27)

The presence of God is tangibly felt and visibly seen everywhere.   It is so obviously God who holds everything together.   The glory of His presence can be felt all the way to the farthest corner of His realm (so to speak) but it increases in intensity the closer one gets to the throne.  There it moves out in periodic waves like a tsunami and everyone within range falls on their faces.   It is no wonder that they cast their crowns before His feet (Rev.4:10) and the Seraphim cry “Holy, Holy, Holy”.  (Isa.6:1-4)   They have been doing this since they were created, before the foundation of the world.   Someone has said that every time they make another flight around the throne, they see another aspect of the character of God they’ve never seen before and it causes them to shout out “Holy” once again.

He is limitless.   All those things you have read about Him in the Bible are true.   All those songs you have sung about Him – Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent …   We will have forever to learn more about Him and still be forever learning, seeing new things we never saw before.

And within this all-encompassing presence of the Lord is the deep settled knowledge that you are finally “Home”.   Whether you’ve ever really known a true home on earth or not, the sense of home and family there are overwhelming.  You are loved.   You are wanted.   You are welcome as a child in your Father’s family.   This is home.  Forever.

The following is a short video called “Father’s House” by Laura Rhinehart.

What is communication like in Heavenly realms?  It is as though the veils are lifted from our minds and we are suddenly free to know, to see, to experience more than we ever thought possible.  The noise within us is finally stilled so that we can hear God’s voice … His thoughts.

Communication in Heaven is often by thought.  It is instant and much faster than by word.  Words are also used and there are many different languages that we knew on earth but everyone understands them all.  Each word is so alive with wisdom and knowledge that they are like doorways leading to another realm of understanding our mortal minds have never known.  “What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete – as complete as God’s knowledge of me.” 1 Cor. 13:12 GNB

In a vision, my husband once found himself in a library in Heaven.  As he passed the rows of lovely volumes, the knowledge they contained came flowing out of the covers to him!  He found it very difficult to keep walking to his destination because every time he looked at one of the books he not only knew what was in it, but it was downloading knowledge to him at a glance.  Such is the nature of wisdom and revelation in that realm.  It is given freely.  There is nothing there to  interfere with God’s original plan for man.

Everyone in Heaven knows all there is to know about everyone else, yet still they love with the Father’s love.  Those who have been forgiven much, love much. (Luke 7:47)  There is no hiding but only complete acceptance and freedom.

There is no need for a cell phone, the internet or any of the technology that we know and depend on now.  Some people’s idea of Heaven is that it might be a place similar to this earth but with greatly superior technology.  But Heaven is a supernatural realm which so far exceeds the highest form of technology that there is no comparison.  When knowledge is needed, it is immediately given.    Often you know the answer as soon as you ask the question.  There is no sin there to hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit.  Your spirit is fully open to Him.  This also implies that the less sin there is in us now, the more knowledge and wisdom can flow to us by the Spirit.

In one of my experiences in Heaven, Jesus and I were sitting on a bench in the lovely gardens.  On this day He began to address issues in my heart that needed to change, but still the love in His eyes did not diminish.  There was no hint of condemnation.  There was only such deep love that His whole focus was on me.

“How can We help you solve this problem?” He asked sincerely. “What would be helpful?”

Once again I was humbled to see that His purpose is always redemptive.  It is the enemy who condemns, never the Lord. (Rom.8:1)  God’s goal is always to restore us to the intimacy that He enjoyed with Adam and even to build on that foundation.

Returning my thoughts to the problem at hand, I realized I had failed the same test many times.  I began to wonder if it would be beneficial to ask for private angelic tutoring.  I seemed to have forgotten for the moment that in Heaven whatever one desires is instantly granted, because those desires are in agreement with the Father’s will.

Suddenly there was an angel on the bench beside me where the Lord had been. Immediately I realized that this beautiful creature had already been briefed on the situation, or was invisibly there all along.  Now she entered into the middle of the conversation which I had assumed was only between the Lord and myself.

“Well,” she mused, gesturing around her, “Here in Heaven there is nothing to distract or cause annoyance or frustration.”

There is a sense in which the angels who live in that glorious realm cannot fully understand what we endure on earth.  But they are also amazed many times at our lack of ability to appropriate what Christ has made available to us at so high a cost.  She was so pure and gentle that there was no possibility of being offended by her words.  Still, her parting statement pierced my heart and brought me to tears.

Looking into my eyes, she gazed deeply into my spirit as if searching for something.

“However,” she smiled thoughtfully, continuing her former conversation, “You do have your Father’s nature.  That should help!”

*  Parts of this posting are a re-post from former writings on this blog – Created for Both Realms – Communication in the Spirit.  Since we are talking about Heaven now, I felt it appropriate to include it in this series also.

In recent postings we’ve been looking at the nature of supernatural  experiences such as dreams, visions and prophetic encounters.  We’ve discussed how the time element is bypassed or lifted off at those times so that we may easily step from past to present to future.  We have studied those in the Word of God who travelled back and forth from the natural earth realm into Heavenly realms – Enoch, Moses, Elijah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, Paul, John and others.   And we know and understand that these experiences are supposed to be natural for every believer in Christ.  Now let’s look at some of the locations these experiences can take us to.

God can easily pick you up and transport you into Heaven just as He did with John in the book of Revelation.  He can also take you to another location here on earth to reveal things to you, to pray over that location or even to minister to people there.  (See postings on prophetic intercession)

There are other realms of the Spirit where a picture is worth a thousand words and your understading can be illuminated to see and understand His mysteries in a moment.  He can suddenly take you away with Him – somewhere.  These are often teaching times.  They may be intimate times with the Lord or times of communication with His angels or those in the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ who have gone on before us.  (Heb. 12:1)  In Rev.19:10 and 22:9  John wants to worship the ‘angel’ who stops him by saying,  “No!  I am your fellow servant and of your brethren.  Worship God”.   Although we are not to worship angels either, the Greek word for ‘angel’ here can also be translated ‘messenger.’   In this case John seems to be talking to one of the redeemed who has died and gone to Heaven.

We may be taken to known places on earth or somewhere in a prophetic realm.  In these instances I’m not sure if the place I’m in is temporal or eternal.  (2 Cor. 4:18)   Sometimes it seems like a place the Lord has created just for me, for that moment, to reveal His mysteries to me.

Several times the Lord has carried me away to a place I’ve come to call the great high mountain at the edge of eternity.  The wind of the Spirit is always blowing in this place, whipping our hair and our robes.  It is a fresh wild wind filled with creative purpose and destiny.   At times one can look down from here and view eagles soaring above the clouds.  Gazing even further, far away below, there may be a glimpse of tiny forests and mountains and oceans.   At other times the view reveals another realm, quite unknown.  It seems to be a place where God can reveal whatever He chooses, whether past, present or future, in this realm or beyond.

The possibilities are limitless.  After all, your Heavenly Father is the creator of all there is in this realm and beyond, of things both seen and unseen.

We are spiritual beings dwelling in earthly bodies.  We are not meant to be bound by the limitations of this realm.  We were created for freedom.  We were created to co-exist in both realms going back and forth at will.  Our feet walk in this earthly realm but we are also seated with Jesus in Heavenly realms. (Eph. 2:6)

How is this possible?  To the natural mind, it isn’t.  If all we believe is what we can see and hear and touch in the natural we will be completely limited to that.  The truth of the Word of God must be our basic foundation.  He even tells us that He framed the worlds by things we cannot see. (Heb. 11:3)  The Apostle Paul wrote that the things which are seen are temporal (temporary) but the things not seen are eternal. ( 2 Cor. 4:18)  He also said that we have been given the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).   This explains how we have the ability to believe the truth of God and His realm rather than just what our natural senses can detect … if we choose to do so.

These are days when the enemy not only whispers subtle lies continually but uses whoever he can to openly dispute and tear down the truth of God’s Word.  Satan’s words are poison.  Some are seeds of doubt that will germinate and strangle our faith. Some are blatant, bold faced lies that attack the very fibre of our relationship with God.  The antidote is the truth of God’s Word and believing it is crucial.  If you have been bombarded by this recently, you must run into the arms of the Lord that are open and waiting for you.  See His eyes of love and remember that He cannot and will not lie. In the secret place of intimacy with Him is your safety.

We are born into the Father’s family.  His house is our house.  We don’t live in a separate part of the house.  His table is our table.  We sit beside Him at the table.  We are like children with access to everything He has.  And He encourages us to eat the good things He feeds us and then to rest and sleep curled up in His arms with our head on His chest.  That’s how much He loves us.  That’s how He has elevated us even though we are completely unworthy. It’s not about us.  It’s about what He has done.  And He is insulted and hurt if we don’t receive His love, just as any father would be.

I invite you to listen to a prophetic song by Laura Rhinehart which shows this so clearly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wF5284YcMM

Come into the Father’s house and be changed by His love.

My Father’s arms were open and inviting as I toddled up to His throne.  I seemed to be about three years old with blond curly hair and a little red dress.  Although I could not see His face, I could feel Him smiling down on His little girl.  The light of the glory that emanates from Him makes it impossible to view Him initially.  As my spiritual eyes adjusted to this brightness I was able to see His form and the golden robe that hung in folds around Him, spilling out over the edges of the throne.

Responding to His invitation, my small toddler legs began to climb up into His great lap as He helped to lift me there with His own hands.  His delight at my being there seemed to even surpass my own.  Holding me tenderly in His great arms He stroked my hair, gently rocking me back and forth until I fell asleep there on His lap.

There on the Heavenly Father’s lap we are allowed to see from His perspective.  The cares and concerns of life here, while not forgotten, simply have no power over the reality of how great He is and how much He loves us.  It becomes so ridiculously obvious that everything is going to be alright … sometimes we can actually laugh at our worry and fear.

This is also the ultimate cure for the plague of insecurity which has side-lined so many people.  It can turn a person into a tyrant or a people pleasing yes-man.   Insecurity is closely linked to the fear of man.  Some have such a need for people to like them and affirm them that they will do anything to gain this.  Their actions can even appear to be done out of love but actually the roots are fear of rejection.  Those same roots can also produce a controlling, manipulative, jealous person who dominates others because of their fear of man.  If we submit to this spirit of insecurity it will pull us back and forth depending on the circumstances.  When people praise us and put us on a pedestal we are in danger of falling to pride.    When people are against us and attack us we can fall into rejection, hatred or control.

Our security must only be in God – in the solid fact that we are so loved and accepted by Him always.  This is not because of who we are or what we do but because of Who He is and what He has done.  (Titus 3:5, 1 Jn. 4:19) Then, if people like us, that’s fine – but that’s not where our sense of security lies.  And if they don’t like us – once again it doesn’t matter.  He loves us and always will.  The focus shifts from us to Him where it belongs.

It is about being so much in love with Him that we can simply trust Him in all things.   Then we can be as a child and climb up into His lap, laying our lives down in His arms.  Just abandon yourself to His love.  He’s not like your earthly father.  He is completely trustworthy.

What a wonderful Father!