**Finding Your New Normal: Establishing a Foundation for Character and Fruitfulness**
As we navigate the complexities of life, it's essential to establish a foundation for character and fruitfulness. In 2 Peter 1:5-7, the apostle Peter emphasizes the importance of building on our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These qualities are the norm, the standard, that God has established for his people. By diligently adding these virtues to our faith, we can develop a robust character that reflects God's character and enables us to live a fruitful life.
**Remembering: A Key to the Fear of the Lord**
One way we learn to live within God's established norm is by remembering what He says about Himself and about us. The Bible encourages us to remember the Lord's character, His ways, and His promises. When we remember, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our place in His grand story. Remembering helps us to understand the fear of the Lord, which is not a negative fear, but a reverent awe for God's majesty and power. By remembering, we can normalize our relationship with God, aligning our lives with His standards and values.
**Normalizing Our Relationship with God**
Just as Job had to normalize his relationship with God in the midst of trials and challenges, we too must find the rightness of our relationship with Him. This involves acknowledging our dependence on God, recognizing our need for Him, and seeking to align our lives with His will. By doing so, we can establish a new normal, one that is grounded in faith, virtue, and a deepening relationship with God. As we normalize our relationship with God, we can experience the transformative power of His love, wisdom, and guidance, leading to a life of character, fruitfulness, and purpose.