Proverbs 12:1 (NIV) Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

This proverb states a general truth but has specific personal applications that will profit us. The Bible tells us that God’s specific plan for your life is perfect in every way. Because God‘s plan for our lives is perfect, any deviation from the plan would naturally diminish our lives. Because his plan is good and perfect we want that for our lives. The correction and instruction in this proverb has been provided by God. If God is correcting us then that would indicate that we’ve stepped off the path that he’s ordained for us. When the Lord corrects us he is warning us that we’ve stepped off the path that he’s prepared for us. Clearly it’s stupid to reject correction that will elevate our lives. Clearly it’s foolish to think that we know better than the God who created us.

That is such a great question. That question really goes to the root of understanding our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Because it starts there – relationship. You are currently right now in an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.  The debt and judgment and penalty and weight of our sin was fully carried by Jesus on the cross. Our fellowship with our father is not based on how well we perform. We have been declared “righteous“ in the heavenly courts! Meditate on that for a few minutes and see what it does to your relationship with God.

Learn to roll all your care over on him. Jesus said his yoke is easy and his load is light. We are not doing God any service when we insist on carrying some of the load. Jesus urges us to roll over our cares on him. This pleases him. As you roll over your care you will find yourself with a “lightness” about you. You experience peace and joy when you get rid of your load and trust in Jesus. You come to deeply appreciate what Jesus has done for you and enjoy God at a deeper level when you are not carrying around that weight of guilt.

The more you “know” these truths, the more elevated your life becomes. As your mind becomes renewed to this truth, you have less and less a consciousness of sin. You come to fully realize that there is no condemnation for you in this world. You see more clearly that there is no obstacle hindering you from a completely transparent and far more intimate relationship with God.  In fact, all of God‘s power and favor are operating for your benefit. So to answer your question, your enjoyment of your relationship with your heavenly father will continue to grow the more aware you become of how good Jesus actually is and what he’s done to purchase a victorious life for you.

Ask yourself this question: Is there any fear in my life? The answer to this question will always be “yes” because we all experience some level of fear. I believe that we all undergo the effects of fear even more than we are consciously aware of. I believe that medical science is just starting to scratch the surface in understanding the negative ramifications that fear causes in our body, our mind, and our life in general. Fear inhibits us from initiating contact with other people, it impedes our ability to take positive action in our lives and it tamps down our desire for adventure. Clearly our lives would be greatly enhanced if our fears were eliminated or greatly reduced. Because the scriptures tell us repeatedly not to fear we know what God’s will is in regard to fear. He wants it completely out of our lives. So if we realize that we have fear that greatly diminishes our life experiences and God wants that fear removed then why is it still there? Are we so insane that we will accept weakened and debilitated lives because we choose not to believe our heavenly Father? Since we desire a fear-free abundant life wouldn’t it behoove us to find out from the scriptures God’s way of getting rid of our fear?

As believers in Jesus Christ we know that we have the Spirit of God who will guide and direct us into all Truth. He has given us the Word of God to transform us as we partner with Him. All of God’s Word is true and it is appropriated into our lives through faith.  Our part is to mediate on the promises of God and to believe that what He said about us is true. As we spend time in His presence mediating on His Word we will receive deeper revelation of the Truth.

1 John 4:18 (NIV) “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives (casts) out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  What is said here is quite stunning. Do not gloss over it so quickly. He is telling us that all fear will be driven out of our lives as we become perfected in love. This is the point at which many in the church go off into a ditch. They start doubling their efforts to love God and their fellow man more. However this verse is not about our love toward God but about God’s love towards us. This is a huge distinction and one that should be noted clearly. Fears shrinks in our lives the more that we understand the depths of God’s love towards us. Many believers see God as harsh and unloving. They think that God is waiting to punish them whenever they step out of line.

We understand a bit more about this as we look into the verse that precedes this one. 1 John 4:17 (KJV) 17 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.” Our love is perfected in this world as we come to realize that “as He is so are we.”  That is one of the promises of God that simply staggers the imagination. Actually it is not a promise at all but a fact. God is telling us that when He looks at us He see Jesus! As Jesus is right now – glorified, seated at the right hand of God far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, free of shame and condemnation – so are we. We have been placed in Christ Jesus. Jesus was punished for our sins once and for all and He will never need to be punished again. Jesus took our full punishment and we have been declared righteous in the courts of heaven. This is the crux of the gospel. Fear will flee as we keep our eyes on Jesus and we become mindful that we are now under the unclouded favor of our Father.

Favor is God’s full attention and power committed to prospering me in all areas of my life according to 3 John. By grace’s very definition ‘unmerited favor’ it means there is nothing that I can do to earn that favor. If there is nothing that I can do to earn the favor then there’s nothing that I can do that would disqualify me from walking in the full blessing and favor of God in all areas of my life. All I have to do is BELIEVE that what God said He will do, He will accomplish. The only “sin” that you can commit that would disqualify you would be the sin of unbelief. The sin of unbelief doesn’t disqualify you but rather it interferes with the manifestation of favor in your life. If you think about it, the only reason that you would doubt that you receive would be because you thought that you didn’t deserve it or maybe you believed that you did something to disqualify you from receiving. Therefore, if you just take God at His Word, nothing you can do can stop His blessing from manifesting in your life.

This is how spiritual law works. Just as gravity is a physical law — faith is a spiritual law. Faith works every time it is put to work. Everything in the physical realm was birthed from the spiritual realm. In order for God to manifest his multiple blessings in the physical realm in your life He needs you to operate in faith. Faith is the key that opens the floodgates so that the blessings can flow in. God has already blessed us with every blessing and earthly favor but you need to release it into your life. You unlock the floodgates by faith in God’s goodness and in knowing that His desire is to pour out blessings and favor on you. It’s faith in the integrity of God’s Word knowing that what He said He will do. It’s faith in understanding that God’s power is more than enough to deliver you, promote you, provide for you or heal you. The key to walking in faith is to let go of fear and worry. As you let go of any worry that you have you are demonstrating that you have faith that God is in control. As you let go of any fear that you have then you are showing your faith in your Father. “All things are possible to him that believes”

Romans 8:6 states “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death.” Faith is a law that works every time it is put into use. Faith is a spiritual law just as gravity is a physical law. The law of gravity determines that you will fall every time that you jump off of a cliff. It will always work unless it is superseded by a higher law such as the law of lift.

Faith can be used as a tool just as a mechanic uses a wrench. Mark 11:24 tells us how faith works in Jesus’ own words. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” The manner in which the law of faith works is that you have to believe that you receive when you pray. Do not judge whether or not you have it based on what you can see. Make a righteous judgment by deciding that you have it because you believe the Word of God.

This principal is demonstrated in Joshua 18:3 when ” Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you? God had already given them the land but they did not go in to possess it. He was rebuking them for being slack at possessing what was promised. God promised it and yet they did not have it. As you search the scriptures you will find that the Bible paints such a beautiful picture of God’s generosity towards us. Are you possessing everything that God has promised you?