Flipped Thinking

Year 6 - Day 236: Today, I am grateful for flipped thinking. 

Wrapping our heads around the hard thing in front of us is not always easy. Everyone faces something tough if they take enough turns around our pretty blue planet. Life is full of trials and woes.

Not every hard thing we face is life threatening... but most of them demand a choice with regards to fear. Fear is crippling. When we step out in faith, fear loses its grip. Its power wanes. 

"People don't choose to be courageous, the just decide not to be afraid any more." -Bob Goff 

Is it really that simple? I know it is easier when you know that God is with you. Trust and faith go together. They are love in action. 

Jesus flipped our thinking when he spoke of children as valuable, wise examples of faith. He spoke value into the life of a penniless widow. He praised Mary for choosing to learn at the rabbi's feet, a place traditionally for men only. He said, "Come" and Peter walked on water. He spoke and the storm settled, with the winds and waves obeying his command. He made death a door. He made an instrument of torture... designed for death... a symbol of love, forgiveness, hope and life. Flipped thinking!

Fear is a human, gut level response. Faith is a Jesus toting, tempest taming adventure. Did Bob get it just right? Courage isn't a valiant choice... it is a firm, faith-founded decision to no be afraid. I like his flipped thinking. 

Satan wants us to live on the edge of fear. Jesus promises us he is with us. If we go over the edge, he will be our wings.  He is our enough. We can savor the knowledge that he hears our prayers and his hand holds us.

"I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!"-Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT)  

Because he bends down to listen... we can choose to not be afraid. We can love without fear of rejection. We can stand with the oppressed. We can raise from the ashes with hope. I cannot get that Nicole Nordeman song "Burnin'" out of my head. (Earworm keeps singing it.)

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.  By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. -Hebrews 11:32-36 (NLT) 

It goes back to a saying I once heard. "The question isn't "How big is your battle?" The question is "How big is your God?" It is the flip without the flop, because he never fails to walk with us, when we invite him along.

Today, I am grateful for flipped thinking.