a glimmer of light...

God has been good to encourage me through a younger sibling today. He was sharing from Ps 25:8-14,

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.

It was very apt as I hit a slump in my walk with God and my ministry. And one possible reason for the slump, as suggested from the passage, is a lack of fear for God. Not the kind of fear that makes me shudder because of the fear of losing my salvation, but a way too low view of who God is. The article that the brother shared said: "One tell-tale sign showing that one has a lack of fear for God is when one is more fearful of other things. It could be deadlines, expectations, man's approval, low self esteem etc. When one starts to focus on these "fears", God is then out of the picture." It is like the Israelites when they were asked to enter the Promise Land, they resisted out of a fear of the occupants in the land. They had a too low view of God and a too high view of the situation and environment.

I think I am behaving just like the Israelites. Fearful of the tasks ahead of me and thus give sub standard work and think of giving up. Until I learn to "Fear the Lord", this slump is going to lead me to the downward path...