I Have A God!

We fear to the degree that we recognize our human weakness, for it arises from trusting in ourselves, our independence, and our ability to control, protect, and provide. The greater our inferiority, the greater our attempts to protect ourselves and the greater our fears. Why do we hear so much about financial security, wise investments, paying off the mortgage, and a good savings plan? If we have no relationship with God, all these and more make perfect sense. Security is cultivated in ourselves, not in God. Man was created to trust something much bigger than himself, so when self is trusted, fear naturally overwhelms. 

Fear comes from not having a God and departs at the recognition of, rest in, and dependence on God.

Ask what is at the root of your fear, whether it is loneliness, lack of security, rejection, hopelessness, comfort, or humiliation. Go to a mirror, examine the worry lines, look at the result of fear’s possessing you, and then break out laughing. You can afford to laugh at fear. Remind yourself, “I have a God!” Then invite fear out. Refuse it! You allowed fear a foothold through independence; now make it go through dependence on the Father. From now on fear must only enter through a revolving door. Turn it back and refuse its company. Many religions teach about confronting fear in order to overcome it. Confrontation brings our focus on it, and it remains. The Christian deals with fear by changing direction and heading back into the presence of God. In the midst of a fearful attack, fall on your knees, begin to pray through a passage that speaks of the greatness of God, let that become your focus, and immediately you will sense a lift in your spirit. There is nothing that the nearness of God will not cure. Fear simply does not suit you!

~Michael Wells (2006-06-01). Heavenly Discipleship. Abiding Life Press. Kindle Edition.

This passage of Mike Wells book, “Heavenly Discipleship” has had a positive impact on me…and I hope it will last – and permeate my life from now on.  Primarily, I have started to use the phrase, “I have a God!” as a reminder marker when my thinking starts to go off the rails in any situation.  This is not a formula by any means, just something I’m starting to use to re-calibrate my focus on Christ.  It’s a habit I’m trying to form…and, wouldn’t you know it…God is providing practice opportunities!

Some ways I’ve applied the focusing statement, “I have a God!” over the past few weeks:

• My car has developed interesting character traits since it has rolled over 150,000 miles. One of which: sometimes it doesn’t like to start right away. In these moments, before I turn the key again, I close my eyes and acknowledge, “I have a God Who can start this car right now!”
• I have some big cases that have been lingering on and not closing for whatever reason – all things that are out of my ability to control.  “I have a God Who can close this case/move this case further down the road!”

DISCLAIMER:  Again, I’m not advising a “name it/claim it” or formulaic mindset here.  I’ve lived long enough to know that God’s not into formulas!  This is just an “in the moment” acknowledgement that He is God and I am not.  Rather than me trying to “control” the situation by cussing at it, becoming angry at it (or others around me), blaming others, etc (all of which I have done and still may initially do from time to time), I try to take a moment and tell God He is God and He has the power to deliver me from my present circumstance.  Just trying to practice the presence of God.

The Paul Harvey “Rest of the Story” is:

• My car has always (eventually) started.
•  The two cases have not closed (yet).

Also, I read this today that is right in line with the above from Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” devotional:

Do you have a God today?  If so, join me in acting as such.  Faith (in God) without works (action) is dead. (James 2:17-26)  Without faith (in God), it’s impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).