Metanoia – a radical shift in our controlling mind

When the children of Israel went off into the unmapped, unknown wilderness with Moses they were full of complaint, anger, resentment blaming Moses for bringing them out of Egypt (the familiar). The thing is, they were deflecting their anger to Moses, which was really toward God – hating everything even prophesying by their words their own demise. They were looking at it as if they had lost all control of their lives and were now in a funk of all funks.

Moses brings them to the Red Sea and they were of course, facing an impossible situation; full of fear, frightened, with Pharaoh on their heels; no one to save them and no apparent way out. Moses says “Do not fear; stand by (still), and see the deliverance of the Lord. The Lord, I Am, will fight for you. Stand still and be silent” (Exodus 14:10).

If we aren’t careful, we find ourselves in these situations – in a funk, blaming everyone, everything – even and especially God. But if we could “come up higher and see with greater clarity” what is really going on here, we would see we are really just in fear, saying in essence “I don’t know where to turn, how to get out of this.” It’s about feeling out-of-control, and or losing control. When we do this, we mentally surrender to death! Truth is, we are not – nor have we ever been in control. In this place of utter despair, we feel fearful because we “feel” out of control, we panic and don’t know what to do with these emotions.

Malcom Smith talks about this a lot saying “To Keep fear alive, you have to give it a story. Your emotions are kept alive by the story you tell it; it drives you even. Then, it takes on a life of itself – sometimes even for years, a lifetime even. Then, your emotions play out in numerous ways, even and especially in our physical and emotional health, our well-being showing itself in physical pain and all sorts of disease as we continue to shout, ‘I’m a victim; they’ve stolen my control away!’”

But God says, “Fear Not!” He is not saying “Try not to fear!” No, He is saying “It’s done~ there is no fear here in this love-union relationship.”

It’s changing what you think about, changing what you focus on – what you LOOK AT! While we “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord!” (Salvation means – wholeness in every area – mind, body, soul and spirit!).

Metanoia – is a radical shift in our controlling mind. And the word “Repentance” simply means a radical change of mind that “I am no longer in control.” That God is not in the business of control. For Love gives a choice, and love never controls. When we change our controlling minds we come into a Love, a freedom, a trusting Love-union relationship that settles us, no matter what! It’s like we’re snuggling up to Father and resting, knowing it’s all okay because our Father knows what He’s doing. He then leads us, guides us, cares for us – it’s all relational. He keeps us in all our ways. (Father and son, sheep and shepherd) We rest into Love, enter into peace, trust ourselves into Love and our situation into His capable hands.

“FEAR NOT” means you are responsible for the fear you are now entangled in. And He is commanding us to “STOP IT!” It’s also an invitation to trust Him, wholeheartedly. Stop fearing! This is unbelief. Change what you’re looking at. If you’re eyes are fixed on Him, your fixed reality, then you aren’t moved by anything that comes. What we “see” determines our reality!

Eyes that see are rare!!

Eyes that look, are common!

If we’re looking back at what happened to us, what someone did to us, our wrong choices even, we’ve made a story to go with this. STOP IT! Turn, stand still and “see” the salvation (wholeness) of the Lord: what He will accomplish for you THIS DAY! He is re-writing your story. David said “Every time I am afraid I WILL (an act of my will) trust in You” (Psalm 56). This is the new story we are creating, God is Creating; what God will do – and it’s going to be GOOD!

When we do this, we change the direction of our “seeing” and “thinking” (creating a new story) as we stand by, stand still and allow Him to fight for us. And this part is key – “While we keep silent!” While we keep our mouths shut! He is saying in this scripture to “Stop your running in circles, your meandering and watch what you say! Refocus your thoughts and doings on what HE is saying and doing! In this, He gets all the glory as we stand by and watch, wait, rest in Him.”

Be still and know – in essence, is to intentionally be present with God in each moment. To be present to the One who calls you Beloved. This is the opposite of anxiety, fear and unbelief. Present to Him in the NOW of this moment; for He is at home in the NOW. Our control issues hate “now” because we’re always wishing things were different or trying to change the situation instead of “being” and or “seeing” that things are as they should be.

We blame others, we blame God, we blame ourselves. No! Stop! In this present moment is and are the way they are. But in the middle of this is-now-mess this is where He lives. This is where we live in covenant union with Him. Be present with this! Settle in~ We trust Him to be who He says He is! Entrusting all into His care! He is Love who knows that He’s doing to achieve loves end! Watch the Master artist take this impossible situation and make something spectacular out of it; out of you!

He comes to the brokenness of our lives; He meets us at the Red Sea Shore; the impossible situations where we see no way out! What He ends up doing is making something spectacular out of the apparent mess and chaos; that which appears devastating – He says “You think this is such a mess? This is going to be the very cornerstone of your existence; the defining moment of your life!” And this is where you will come to know Him as the lover of your soul.