Esh Oklah and El Kanna

Rules, rules, and more rules - it seems like the Christian life is filled with rules that are hard to follow. God who is Esh Oklah and El Kanna, a jealous God and a Consuming Fire can seem demanding at face value. Sometimes it seems like true freedom comes only when we forsake rules and go with what we feel. I know what I am supposed to do but I just do not want to do it.

Amazing how Satan likes to make us believe that God's laws are a burden - a hindrance to our freedom. But in reality the structure God provides makes a life of true joy and freedom possible. In a recent study of psychologically disturbed patients, it was determined that the greatest cause of their mental pain was the result of accumulated stress. It was found that a lack of mental or societal standards or rules made every decision a toss up, needing to be evaluated in light of a hundred of changing variables. Many people simply freeze up in light of the hundreds of decisions that need to be made every day. How to decided what to do, what is right.

God's law provides us with a standard, a set of life guidelines that help take the stress out of navigating your life. His law is based upon love - God and then people, and when followed decisions just get easier. That is not to say everything always works out but the rules are simple - you know what you are called to do and can just do it.

A key here is to seek God's help in knowing His ways. A simple starting point is to focus on Love - express your love to God in prayer, ask for him to help you love him and others. Simply choose to approach every encounter with others in love. Love in dealing with ALL others regardless of your differing views, lifestyles, and persuasions. Simplify your life in the knowledge that God has taken the guesswork out of your daily lives and thank him for caring enough to do it. Now what to have for dinner...

God bless and you are prayed for,
Portage Dave.