RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry Miller

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, February 8, 2026
Shavuah Tov,

Jeremiah 31:34 “No longer will each teach his neighbor or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.” It is a declaration of Adonai, “for I will forgive their iniquity, their sin I will remember no more.”(Italics added)

In my last RR I began to share on principles for guarding our relationship with the Lord.  In the passage cited above from the prophet Jeremiah, we find insight into God’s goal in providing “a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (see vss. 31-33).  God’s desire is for us to know Him as a people, walking in a relationship with the Lord that is real and vibrant.  It is our abiding in Yeshua that is key to our walk with Him and living fruitful lives.  What an amazing gift this is!  It is intended for Jew and Gentile, male and female, every nation and tribe throughout the earth.  Yes, we can know the very One who created us all to be a people who display His beauty and glory.  But again, it is through intentional relationship with our Creator that we can partake of this wonderful gift, and the enemy of our soul is not willing to leave us unchallenged in our desire to pursue the Lord and walk with Him.  Thus, we must be guarded against the tactics of the enemy to interfere with our relational pursuit of Yeshua.  So, let’s continue in focusing on some practical helps for guarding and maintaining this relationship.

Last time we began to consider what I refer to as demonic narratives that must be consciously rejected in our daily lives.  I’m referring to narratives that, if embraced, will have the capacity to interfere with our walk with God and our ongoing fellowship with Him.   We began by considering the importance of rejecting the arrogant unbelief and skepticism so rampant in our secular culture.  What are some other narratives that can be detrimental to our walk with God?

I think one of the major areas of demonic narrative in our culture today is related to fear and anxiety.  Interestingly, doing a simple search in a Bible app for the phrase “do not fear” or variations on that wording, will lead us to dozens of references in Scripture to this command.  Clearly, God Himself does not want us as His people to be under the grip of fear.  I love the words of the prophet Isaiah as he conveyed God’s heart to Israel: “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, TLV).  Yes, in context this was spoken to Israel, but the principle relates to us as His people today, as we seek to walk with God and represent Him to an unbelieving and often hostile world.  It seems that fear and anxiety are stoked on so many levels of our culture today, and we must be alert to the demonic power of fear to impact our lives in destructive ways.  

Note: You may recall the RR from last Thursday, February 5th, on this same subject.  It is titled Psalm 46 Part 2.

I’m not suggesting that we should be unaware of things going on around us, or bury our heads in the sand, so to speak.  I’m not talking about being in denial of real problems or issues that we may be dealing with.  But excessive focus on that which stirs fear in us can have a poisonous effect on our heart’s capacity for faith.  Fear is energized by a spirit that seeks to leave us feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed.  Fear blinds us to the very presence of God Himself, as it seeks to get us focused on alternatives to faith and trust.  Thus, we must be alert to reject the different ways that the enemy tries to present to us a narrative of fear, as it contradicts the many promises God gives us in His Word.  

So, how do we battle fear as it seeks to press into our thoughts and emotions?  Entire books are written on this topic, but there are some simple truths that can help us in this area.  We are empowered to reject fear as we live our lives in the fellowship of God’s presence.  We battle fear through our pursuit of Yeshua in prayer, worship and His Word.  We focus on the Lord Himself and His goodness and faithfulness.  We focus on His power to save and deliver.  Again, I’m not talking about living in denial, but rather, keeping our focus on the higher realities of God, His promises and His faithfulness.  Something powerful and supernatural happens when we worship God amid times when there may be reason to feel afraid.  Something powerful happens when we meditate on His Word and think about His promises at times when anxiety is pressing in.  Something powerful happens when we call to mind different times and ways God has come through for us in times past.

On one hand, yes, we certainly do live in troublesome times in which much is happening that has the potential to give reason for fear and anxiety.  But God Himself is not intimidated by the challenges of the times, and He wants us to be a people who put our trust in Him, finding refuge in our relationship with Him and growing daily as we learn His ways.  Don’t allow fear or anxiety to rob you of the relationship with God that He has created you to enjoy.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun8-Feb-202621st of Sh'vat, 5786
Ex 21:1-192 Ki 6Ps 128-129Jn 8:1-30 (1 Ti 4)