EVERWEST DEVOTIONAL #15 | Spirit of the Lord

Scripture

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” - Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

Reflection

Late one Wednesday night in October, my wife was out of town. After putting our boys to bed, I jumped on the Peloton to clear my head. The next day I was supposed to post the first Everwest Devotional, and fear was gripping me. Instead of walking in the obedience of God asking me to share the testimony of Everwest, my mind was racing: what would people think? Would I face criticism? Would I regret putting something so personal out into the world?

During the Peloton ride, I put on a Christian podcast that began talking about the danger of having knowledge of God without a relationship with God. It hit me hard. I had been deeply immersed in Scripture, learning and studying, but I realized I had quietly let intimacy with God drift. I was gaining knowledge while neglecting relationship with Him.

When I finished and walked upstairs, something happened I can’t explain away. In my kitchen, I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence so strongly that I dropped to my knees in tears. I felt overwhelmed by peace, protection, and the goodness of God. I repented of pride, of valuing knowledge over closeness, and asked Him to draw near to me. Still on my knees, I asked, “Is there anything You want to lay on my heart?”

Immediately I felt these words on my heart: “Fear Me. Walk fearfully.”

At first, it confused me. Shouldn’t it be “walk fearlessly”? But as the night unfolded, God made it clear.

With the house quiet, I went to grab my Bible, but paused. I remembered the podcast’s warning about knowledge without relationship. So, instead of reading, I felt led to watch a church service I’d tried to watch earlier. I turned it on and the message just happened to be centered around Isaiah 61. The night before, completely unrelated, I had read up to Isaiah chapter 61 and planned to read it that night.

After listening to a great message focusing on the testimony of a Christian artist which had so many parallels to my walk with God, feeling a clear nudge from the spirit, I opened my Bible and read Isaiah 61. The very first verse stopped me in my tracks:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me…” Once again I could feel the spirit flooding into me. It was as if God was reminding me: I am with you.

“Fear Me. Walk fearfully”. God was telling me, don’t fear people. Don’t fear opinions. Don’t fear criticism, fear me. Walk in obedience. Walk focused on Me alone.

The fear of God isn’t about being scared of Him or expecting punishment. It’s not the kind of fear that makes you run from Him, it’s the kind that makes you not want to live without Him. It’s a healthy fear of drifting from His guidance, of choosing your own way over His, and missing out on the peace, protection, and goodness that comes from walking with Him. It’s caring more about staying close to Him than pleasing people. It’s wanting your life to be led by His Spirit instead of your own impulses. That kind of fear doesn’t trap you, it anchors you.

That night, I understood. God wasn’t asking me to be fearless in the world’s eyes, He was asking me to fear Him more than I fear man. To proclaim His goodness and trust Him with the outcome.

God doesn’t just call us, He walks with us. And when we fear Him above all else, we find freedom the world can’t give.

Application

     1. Where in your life might you be seeking knowledge about God without fully pursuing a relationship with Him? What would it look like to slow down and invite Him into that space?

     2. Are there areas where the fear of others’ opinions is holding you back from obedience to what God is calling you to do?

     3. What might God be asking you to surrender today so that you can walk more fully in reverent fear of Him rather than fear of man?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a patient, loving Father who meets us exactly where we are. Thank You for pursuing us even when we are distracted, hesitant, or afraid. Lord, forgive us for the times we have sought knowledge without intimacy, or obedience without trust. Teach us what it truly means to fear You, to walk in reverence, humility, and love, placing You above all else. Draw our hearts closer to Yours. Quiet the voices of fear, doubt, and distraction, and help us listen for Your Spirit’s leading. Give us the courage to obey even when we don’t fully understand the outcome. We trust that You are at work, and that Your plans are far greater than our own. We surrender control, expectations, and fear to You. Lead us, guide us, and help us walk faithfully with You each step of the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If there’s someone in your life who might be encouraged by this, or future devotionals, please share it with them or subscribe them here. You can also find past devotionals here.

- Jake Bunz, Founder

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