Was it the intense flash of lighting or the abrupt cracking sound of thunder during storms that may Mom was more afraid of? I don’t guess I should say was, because she is still that way today, but her fear holds a vivid place in my childhood memories.
How did I escape the fear that surrounded me and come to LOVE the storm? It was only the grace of God.
I now find invigoration and humility in feeling the wind and droplets of rain on my face. The fresh, unique aroma of rain gives me an “another worldly” sense that I can’t explain. I am drawn to it, when as I child I was taught to run from it.
Growing up, during storms we would make nests of pillows and covers in our hallway with all doors closed to block the light and the noise as much as possible. As a kid, you can pretty much find adventure in anything, so we would make the most of it by eating snacks and having story time.
Fear is a funny thing. It doesn’t seem like something you should get comfortable in, but as creatures of habit, we do. “Oh it’s a storm – lets go get the blankets, go to the hall, shut the doors and tell stories!” While all along there was an awe-inspiring display of the Lord’s majesty going on that we were missing.
While I love to experience a storm sitting on the porch with nothing between me and it, I will not be hanging out under the tallest tree and saying “I’m not afraid of you!” – because there is a difference between fear and respect of power.
We know that perfect love casts out fear (fear, dread or terror in a subjective sense), but we also know that fear (reverence, holy fear) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1 John 4:18 and Psalm 111:10). While we use the same word, the meaning is very different.
That is why it is a good thing to immediately analyze fear. Regardless of which kind of fear we experience, it is a powerful thing and greatly affects our lives. I pray to see the people of God have the appropriate level of respect for power but also use their own authority to loosen any hold that terror has on anything in life. Finding the differentiating line tends to be an ongoing challenge.
And yes, I do shower and talk on the phone while there is a storm going on… and no, not both at the same time.
My opinion has been that the less I say, the less I can mess up. The Bible enforces this by warning us about how dangerous our tongues can be.
Through experiences in life, I have discovered that usually our greatest strengths are also the source for our weakness. While I am good about holding my tongue when necessary, I have not always been great about sharing what's going on inside. Since the Bible also says that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony, I am convicted to start sharing.
Actually, I have been attempting to start this blog for months. An automatic red flag goes up when I think about the fact that once these words go out, there is no way to take them back or change them. That can be good or bad depending on what is said.
That is why I want my voice to be God's voice. When I have God's words, the horrible thing to do would be to keep them inside.
We are here to be His voice and to put His words out there. It is easy to think of words as just letters or sounds, but they are powerful, creative and alive. God spoke and released His Word and that was how He created everything. His kingdom is voice activated and He has given us the power to create and build with what we speak.
I like how The Message translates John 3:63, "The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower doesn't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making."
Have you had a revelation of the power and authority of your voice? I would love to hear about it.
