Tsaddîyq

Proverbs 28:1 NIV – The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous [godly] are as bold as a lion.

There are days where I know without a doubt that I am tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) – justified, vindicated, righteous, right[i] – by God and with God.  Even if I am not thinking, acting, or feeling like it.

And then there are days where I am Elijah, the mighty prophet who after a major victory finds himself depressed and praying for death (1 Kings 19:4), because I feel alone or anxious or afraid.  And on those days, it is easy to hear … and listen to … the sinister whisper say “did God really say you are tsaddîyq?  Especially with the way you are thinking, speaking, and acting.  Get real, girl” (Genesis 3:1 NIV).

And how easy it would be to believe the “real” is separation between us and God, a distance that feels impossible to overcome.  How easy it would be to believe the “real” is questioning God’s goodness and fearing God’s wrath as a foundation of our “faith” (aka legalistic, precise rule following, no grace religion).  How easy it would be to believe the “real” is being unlovable and unforgiveable and to doubt in redemption, restoration, and reconciliation.

How easy it would be to create a “real” where there was no grace, no generosity, and no goodness.

But God is not about easy.

And easy does not mean true.

Because as children of God, we are tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’).  All the time.  Even in our worst moments, biggest doubts, and greatest fears.  This is what is real. 

We are tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) because we belong to God (Galatians 4:5-7). 

We are tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) by the grace of God. 

We are tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) for the glory of God.

The enemy knows this – and he hates this truth with all he is.  That’s why he tries to sucker us into believing his lies are truth, his deception is good for us, and sin is worship.  That is why his priority is to ask us “did God really say ___?” – over and over and over again – until we start to convince ourselves that wrong is right, bad is good, and sin brings life.

We need to be wise enough to see the enemy’s nonsense for what it is – a smokescreen to shield us from all God has for us and is to us, a blindfold to keep us from living our best life and having a better influence, and his sleight of hand to distract us from living like our Savior (Philippians 2:5-8) and developing godly character.

He wants us separated from God so we won’t become bâṭach (baw-takh’)[ii].

Trusting.

Confident.

Bold.

Sure.

Secure.

Hopeful.

To know who God is.

To believe we are who God says we are.

To hope in who God promises we can be and what He promises we can have.

Because there is power and possibility in God’s promises.  Verses such as “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6,8) and “surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6) and “[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) and “My peace I give you” (John 14:27) should make us completely bâṭach (baw-takh’) in God.  And hopefully they fill our hearts with such light and love that we know without a doubt we are tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) – because our Father and Creator makes us so.

There is power and possibility when we believe God only wants the best for us and therefore, we need to trust Him with all we have been (to redeem it), all we are (to sanctify it), and all we hope to be (to fulfill it).

There is hope and healing when we believe God is working in us, for us, and through us to bring out more of Christ and His tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) so we can share the love and grace of God.

There is acceptance and assurance when we believe God loves and rewards a bâṭach (baw-takh’) spirit seeking Him for the right things to know and the right ways to go.

So, child of God, are you tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’)?  Today is the day to start believing it and living it.

Because it is only by believing and living like we are tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) that we can drown out all the enemy’s noise and ignore all the enemy’s nonsense (1 Kings 19:11-12) to hear the most important thing – the “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12) of our gracious Father telling us we are loved beyond human measure and tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) beyond human comprehension.

So, be tsaddîyq (tsad-deek’) – and find God waiting with open arms to give you all you need. 

Marie Fremin. 8/30/22-9/5/22

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[i] Blue Letter Bible, Strong’s H6662 – ṣadîq, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6662/kjv/wlc/0-1/

[ii] Blue Letter Bible, Strong’s H982 – bāṭaḥ, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h982/kjv/wlc/0-1/  

Eirḗnē Everyday

“Grace and peace to you from God our [the] Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2, 6:23; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 3; 2 John 3)

 

Most people want to give you a piece of their mind, to tell you their opinions and perspectives.

 

But God wants to give you peace of mind.

Greek: εἰρήνη – eirḗnē (i-ray’-nay).

Oneness with Him and His purpose.

A prosperity of faith in His presence and provision.

Quietness (surety) of mind and spirit.

Rest for your worn out and weary soul.

 

He wants you to be in tune with Him …

So you will be open to His plans and accepting of His purposes.

So when adversity comes you will (easily) set yourself up to give grace and consider God.

So He has full access to your heart (intentions), mind (thoughts), and mouth (words).

 

He wants you to experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) that only comes from full faith and total trust in Him.

 

Peace that helps us heal our hurts and “be whole” (Mark 5:34 KJV) in body, mind, and spirit.

 

Peace from Jesus – “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27, 2 Thessalonians 3:16) – that quiets a fearful heart and settles an anxious mind.

 

Peace that allows us to “be of good cheer” (John 16:33) and stand believing when circumstances are hard or unfair.

 

Peace available “to every man” (Romans 2:10 KJV) who engages with God and believes in and promotes His goodness.

 

Peace that reminds us we are being “justified by faith … through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) so there is always grace when we go our own way or get it wrong.

 

Peace that comes when we work on becoming “spiritually minded” (Romans 8:6) by choosing to spend quality time with God to know Him better.

 

Peace that reminds us of God’s goodness and “brings glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15) He has waiting for us.

 

Peace that encourages us to “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13) when things look, feel, and seem hopeless.

 

Peace that reminds us that God is in control of all things and therefore has a plan to “crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20). So, we don’t have to strive to help Him work it out.

 

Peace that encourages us to look beyond the distraction of “confusion [disorder]” (1 Corinthians 14:33) to seek the wisdom of God and see the love of God.

 

Peace the promotes “good comfort” (2 Corinthians 13:11) – unity with and encouragement of – our fellow man, no matter how difficult and stubborn they are.

 

Peace that eradicates our excuses and destroys our doubts through a Savior who gave Himself to make us a “new man” of faith (Ephesians 2:14-17).

 

Peace that keeps us on God’s path, pursuing God’s purposes, by remembering “the things which you learned and received and heard and saw” (Philippians 4:9) – and doing these right things, even if they are hard or will garner us no human praise.

 

Peace that we choose to embrace in a spirit of thankfulness (Colossians 3:15).

 

Peace that we can experience “at all times and in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV) when we are willing to sacrifice and pay the costs to have it.

 

Peace that flows abundantly “out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22) that holds tightly to faith in the one true God.

 

Peace that pursues God’s best – and produces “the fruit of righteousness” (James 3:18) – in our walk and our talk (our influence in and witness to the world).

 

Peace that comes through “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2).

 

So …

Are you living in God’s peace?

Are you living by God’s peace?

Are you living for God’s peace?

 

Or are you CHOOSING to give your peace away?

To people pleasing.

To fear.

To shame.

To control.

To pain.

To anger.

To disappointment.

To judgment.

To bullying.

 

If you are giving away your peace, today is the day you can start fresh.

To lay down everything you have been carrying.

And to pursue (reach for) and embrace God’s peace.

 

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify [build up] another” (Romans 14:19).

 

He has peace to help you.

To heal.

To forgive.

To let go.

To believe.

To trust.

To move on.

To be kind.

 

Will you allow yourself to experience His peace?

 

The “God of Peace” (Romans 15:33, 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20) is waiting for you to receive the peace He has waiting.

 

When you embrace it and allow it to fill up your heart, I promise it WILL change your life.

 

BONUS: Here is a printable prayer “quilt” you can print out and pray through to help you develop peace.  Eirḗnē Everyday – Peace patchwork

 

Marie Fremin.  1/3/20, 1/6/20.