GOD IS SOVEREIGN-There are controlling personalities and then there's control

If I did not know and truly believe that God is in control over this world, I think I’d be a basket case. Just the election season alone is enough to give a person the heebie-jeebies. God is in perfect control over all His creation.

We can get ourselves in a tizzy over just about anything. The price of gas, the way someone treated us, whether our dreams for the future will come to pass. We worry about things
we have no control over.

I love Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ definition of God’s providence, which is similar to His sovereignty.

What is providence?

It’s God’s watchcare over His creation. It’s the fact that God sees ahead what is going to happen. God ordains ahead, and God goes before His people to make provision for those circumstances before we ever get there.

As I lay on the hammock in our backyard the other evening, I looked at the high fluffy clouds in the sky. I thought about God’s promise,

My thoughts are completely different from yours. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

Those clouds were awfully high in the sky and God’s ways are awfully different from mine. So when I don’t understand, I try and remember that God’s ways are beyond mine. He works in the unseen and on the inside, when I want to see change on the outside. He is not indifferent, uncaring, unjust or powerless. If you can trust that He is sovereign—even in your pain and confusion—you’ll conquer doubt, one of Satan’s greatest footholds in your life.

We don’t know the future, but know that God is already there, He loves you and He is working for your good in all things.

GOD IS ETERNAL-The urgent vs. the important

Eternal seems so far away. I can’t identify with eternal when I need to make dinner, pay the bills and run the kids to practice this afternoon. We’re so confined by the everyday, the temporary, it’s hard to think in terms of eternal. Time is always pressing on us!

If you have time—no—take time to sit for a few minutes and contemplate eternity. Once life here is ended there are no more opportunities. Mo more opportunities to make things right between you and that other person. No more chances to tell your neighbor about Christ, no more opportunities to develop Christlike character. It’s so easy to put those things off until a more convenient time.

God is eternal and so are we. We will live forever, either with Him or without Him. Are we making time for what’s important or just doing what’s urgent?

Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! 2 Peter 3:11

GOD IS MERCIFUL-More than we can imagine

We are oh so much harder on ourselves than God is. God’s mercy is more extensive than we can comprehend.

The children of Israel had everything going for them—God literally leading them into a land that He had promised to them. And it was full of blessings for them. All kinds of good things just waiting for them there.

Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and orchards in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.

But what did they do? They blew it! They were disobedient and rebelled against God.

In your great mercy, you sent them deliverers…

In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them repeatedly!

But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever.

Nehemiah 9:25-31 (selected portions)

God’s mercy sometimes seems too good to be true. He puts no limit on the number of times we can come to Him for forgiveness, for another chance. The only stipulation is that we come.

GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY-Getting God's promises from your head to your heart

We know, from reading it and from head knowledge, that God can be trusted. That’s a little different from learning it by experience though. It’s easy to give in to fear when trouble comes. Fear affects our decisions, our moods, our words.

I thought about some words I spoke recently and wish I could take them back. Then I asked myself what was behind those words and I realized it was fear.

Have you ever thought about how much of your behavior may be influenced by fear?

We don’t know why God is doing what He’s doing. But God knows. So look for evidence of God’s providence around you. And when you can’t see it, which most of the time we can’t, then trust that He is at work. He is planning. He is preparing. He is orchestrating. He is weaving this great plan, and we get to be a part of it.

Anytime you experience God’s faithfulness in your life, write it down. Keep it in a notebook where you can add to it. Once you begin to develop a track record of His work in your life, it will become easier to trust Him. Then the next time you face something that scares you, go back and review. Sometimes at night just before I fall asleep I recount situations where I was scared that this was the end. Then I thank the Lord that He came through and proved His trustworthiness.

God’s Word…and time…will prove to you that He is trustworthy.

What we think about God is the most important thing about us

One morning as I told God how terrible my life had become, I realized my complaining was a dead-end street. I needed to turn my worry into praise. Instead of fear and hopelessness, I needed to build my faith by praising the Lord. Although I didn't feel like it, I began to say, "I exalt you, Lord. I praise you. I worship you. You are good." I too soon ran out of praise words. I didn't know what else to say. For what else could I praise God?
--an excerpt from Knowing God By Heart

The premise behind Knowing God By Heart is to explore 31 of God's characteristics--one for each day of the month. Each of these attributes is a handle for worship and praise. This is a way I can focus on one of God's qualities each day. Even before I get out of bed in the morning, I try and praise God for the characteristic I'm concentrating on that day. When I'm aware, I will more readily see His faithfulness, His love, His sovereignty and many of the other qualities we'll be looking at. Feel free to give me your comments and the ways you see God's attributes operating in your life.

If you wish to order copies of Knowing God By Heart, email orders are accepted. The books are $15 each plus $3 postage. They are also available at amazon or pleasantwordbooks.