The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.
Proverbs 29:25 AMPC
The Context:
King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived in his own time, had the endowment of wisdom given to him by God. His words in the book of Proverbs have become the raw material for so many deep revelations of the mind of God for man. And Solomon would know what he was talking about here; as long as he obeyed God, he was the only king of the united Israel who did not have to fight a single war. God gave him peace all around, so he could build a temple, and also hold court with the powerful people of his time, displaying the gift of wisdom he had been given. As I kneel down to pray daily, what is my focus: that which will celebrate God or that which promotes me as the best thing that could happen to mankind? Is God glorified in me or is he seeking to catch my attention so I can at least draw glory to him with my life?
Message and Response:
That is the context of today's extract. At all times, I am under the control and influence of a master. I do not own my life, no matter how strong the argument in that direction is. We deceive ourselves when we think that we have any direct control over a life we did not create, whose origin we do not know and whose end has not been placed in the hands of anyone. That is why I am not expected to accord man the glory, awe and fear that is due only to God.
The moment my heart turns to fear man, I have become a prey to the enemy. As long as the devil is able to replace God on the throne of my heart, he is able to promote his agenda, which is to steal, kill and destroy. The devil does not have any free gift; rather, he will take that which you already have and seek to pollute or change it. Who sits on the throne of your heart? Who is in charge of the daily decisions that you make? Can God interrupt your well-laid plans to advance his own, because your heart is in the right place?
There is no vaccum at any time in my heart. If the fear of man is in place, God waits to see if I will give him room. He stands at the door of my heart, waiting for me to decide for him. He does not force himself on me; he will wait for as long as it takes, as long as I am still alive. If I don't trust him until death comes, I cannot turn around and blame him for the consequences of my decision. What then, is the other option: it is the fear of God. At all times, there is a fear in charge of my life. There is a bad fear, leading to bad outcomes, and there is a good fear, leading to good outcomes.
The man who leans on, trusts in and puts his confidence in God is the one who is kept safe from the other type of fear. And it means that one kind of fear makes it impossible for the other type of fear to operate. When I give God the reins of my heart, he is able to clear out the cobwebs of the other type. Look at the words used: leans, trusts, puts his confidence. Those are the words of total dependence on God; no room for second opinions. I can't lean on the devil and the Lord at the same time, and when it is God in charge, I am lifted up to the level where he operates. That is why the one who trusts in the Lord is safe and set on high. It does not mean that stuff will not happen, but I have the sufficient grace of God with me, able to preserve my life through all that may come. Even when all I want does not happen, I do not worry, because I know that God is in charge and whatever he permits has all the ingredients for my miracle and lifting. God cannot be in charge and I will still fear the things that men without God fear. It does not mean that 'bad' things will not happen, but I have the privilege of the Lord of the Universe on my case, working in that 'bad' situation to ensure that the end is good, just like he is. That is the privilege I have, and which I must hold tightly to. So, for you, who is in charge? Your control point defines your destination. His time of favour is here.
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