The Plumbline

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT) Fear is frequently based in either the past (what we have done or what has been done to us), or it is based in the future (what is about to happen to us or what has to still be done). We rarely remain in the present in our thinking. Whenever we go back to the past failures, we get down on ourselves and see ourselves as having no way of escape - it is like we believe what is about to happen is inevitable. Whenever we focus entirely on the future, we find ourselves being overcome with the anxiety of 'not knowing'. The 'what ifs' of the future can be as daunting as living with our past failures - either one of these scenarios will give us anxiety and might even hold us paralyzed by their overwhelming emotions. Remaining current is important - we should ask God what he wants from us TODAY. It...

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT) What promises? Look back one verse and you will read: "And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Sons and daughters - living in us and walking among us - those are the promises referenced here. The more we understand just how much God wants us to enjoy his presence among us, the more we will desire to live in such a way that constantly welcomes him into our lives. There is much to be said about the presence of God, but none more important than the sense of awe and holiness we experience when we enter into it. There is no room for our 'sinful shenanigans in his presence. That is why we might feel a little conviction whenever we enter into his presence after making some form of sinful compromise in our lives. We are ...