Appendix 2G; Act with Godly Insight
Stay focused on God! Be hopeful, flexible and willing to adjust your perspective to God’s operating principle-- love. God defines love and it is a description of His character; Holy Love. That means God's definition is set apart from our cultural norm. God's love is not just active but proactive. It is sacrificial and unalterable; it's unconditional and pure. Holy Love is the essence of who God is, and His love is given to you based on who He is, not who you are. Holy love is versatile in the ways it is dispersed but its standards are also based on God's nature; mercy and grace wrapped in the arms of justice. God is not just love, He is sovereign too. God's personality isn't one that He has to develop or flex. You develop insight when you expand your own concept of love to match God's and, as a wise believer, you show it while still awaiting God's planned outcome to take place in your life (Psalm 14:2, Proverbs 2:3, Proverbs 3:13).
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For a quick look at a summary of God's principles, revisit Appendix 1G.
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For further study of God's love and sovereignty, see a sampling of Biblical scriptures: Isaiah 46:10, 45:7-9, Romans 9:15-18, 8:28, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 10:29–31, 1 Timothy 6:15, Daniel 4:34–35, 1 John 4:16-18.
Why all the talk about the loving, perfect nature of God? Because it's this divine nature of love that comes to you in your reborn spirit. Why the talk about trusting God? Because it is your choice to incorporate His holiness into your character and personality. When you do practice the skills of God's type of love, one outcome of using your faith is insight; an ever-increasing ability to discern situations and solve complex challenges - your own as well as others (Galatians 5:13, 16, 22-23). Your insight reveals your faith in action through such things as understanding, good judgement, and compassion enacted. This is the attitude and behavior of the Holy, Righteous Love that comes from God. As with all Godly standards, it's your choice to accept His definition and want to change yours ways to His so you can prove your heartfelt belief in God through the wisdom of your actions (1 Corinthians 2:14).
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Insight comes from a personal relationship with God, one where you recognize that you don't need to keep the letter of the law because Christ did that. Revisit Appendix 2N.
Holy love works by way of selflessness and truth, as modeled by Jesus Christ (1 John 3:18). Jesus demonstrated (modeled for us) versatility, the ability to flex your own style based on the needs of other people (John 11:20-36). By believing in Holy love, even when you are upset, you show your confidence in the Word of God. You choose to believe that on becoming a Christian, you became the righteousness of Christ, as declared by God (2 Corinthians 5:21). But when you practice those holy standards in your attitude and behavior, you demonstrate the wisdom of God to your neighbors through your insight. For example, when you are tempted to give in to the feeling of anxiety, to honor God means that you would intentionally shift your focus to remember the truth of God’s Word so you'll act consistently with it. When you are mad or hurt about a situation, first you'll forgive and then you'll be able to implement ideas that reconnect the pathway back to an amiable relationship. By receiving God’s love for yourself, you'll feel inspired to shake off disappointments, offenses and negative thinking so you can physically act out your spiritual reality (His righteous character expressed through you - Christian Cognitive consistency), achieving peace with God and man (Proverbs 3:4, Romans 5:1, Isaiah 32:17-18, Philippians 1:11).
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Read more in Appendix 2K.
Divine insight enables you to balance the fear and love of God by (Proverbs 8:13, Deuteronomy 10:12-13):
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Not thinking too highly of yourself.
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Avoid the tendency to compartmentalize God by placing "religion" among the other areas of your life.
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Place God as the highest priority in life and let Him influence your choices so you can see the truth of His Word become a reality in your life (Luke 7:35, James 3:17, John 15:4, Colossians 2:2-3).
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Keep reading the Word and imagine the possibilities that you have “in Christ” (Matthew 19:26, Galatians 3:26).
Hyperlinks used above; Proverbs 1:1-10 Ephesians 3:16-19 Isaiah 60:1 Psalm 95:8
Not one of the people listed in Hebrews chapter 11 was a perfect follower of God but acted on what he or she heard/knew about God. For example, Abraham and Noah may have heard God’s voice but Rehab made decisions simply based on what she heard and believed of God’s reputation. Ruth didn’t know God personally; however, she was motivated to act consistently with the values she saw displayed in Naomi, as was proven by Ruth's decision to move back to Bethlehem with her (https://www.gotquestions.org/Ruth-and-Naomi.html). Samson trusted that, even though he was a rebellious son of God, when he cried out to Him, God would hear his prayer. God not only heard it, but even though Sampson didn't have pure motives, God answered Sampson's prayer because it achieved God's will too (Judges 16:28).
When God is the highest value/priority in life and you know the Word, you'll know the right thing to do, however, that doesn't mean you'll do it. Procrastination is an example of our incomplete understanding of or acceptance of what we know to be true about God. You may have other feelings along side your faith that slow your reaction time like fear or worry, or doubt and unbelief. If you are a perfectionist, you surround your sunshine of faith with a rain cloud of uncertainty and this postpones the sun from shinning again until the rain comes (the battle between the human mind and Godly thoughts subsides when the deadline forces a decision). Faith ShinE s through the clouds when you act with certainty (the fulfillment of the Biblical definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1).
Anxiety will surface in you if you incorrectly believe that God expects perfection from you. (Other people may unfairly hold you to their standards, but God proved His character integrity when He gave you the Spirit of Jesus Christ to cover your corrupt human nature Philippians 2:15, 1 John 4:1-4). Yours or another's erroneous beliefs don't need to form your reality when you have the truth of God's Word to align your thinking. Perfectionism as well as procrastination carries with it emotional anxiety that prevents you from change because of your psycho or social fear as opposed to the Holy fear of God. Grace Norberg (2015) says,
On the surface, being a perfectionist seems like a good thing. It sounds like something one would say in a job interview when they ask about “weaknesses” but you know you should still showcase your strengths. However, perfectionism can be a real burden and negatively affect your life if you let it go too far. Perfectionism is actually a defense mechanism protecting against the pain of being wrong or feeling like a failure. It can lead to being judgmental towards yourself and others, alienating friends and family, engaging in negative self-talk, and feelings of stress and anxiety.
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