GOD Means You Too, Really!

Family of GOD, I invite you to join me in a novel idea for this New Year 2018 – let’s take all of the same godly advice we give to others in their time of need and apply them to our own hard times.

We seem to be able to render support when support is needed but somehow forget that the goodness of GOD which we tell others about is also there for us.

This year we resolve to give all our worries and cares to the GOD and Father who cares so deeply about us (1 Peter 5:7) and who is well able to deliver us in conflict and despair, and do it perfectly.

“Though our feelings come and go, GOD’s love for us does not.”

We can apply this C. S. Lewis quote also to the people in our lives. Our spouses, closest and most trusted friend and supporter will disappoint us. As human beings we allow feelings to influence our behavior. GOD doesn’t.

GOD is the one constant in our lives and we can trust His WORD and His love for us.

Early Christian theologian and philosopher Augustine of Hippo says about GOD’s ability to love us “GOD loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” We have been given a love which only GOD in His perfection is capable of giving.

Why do we choose to stagger needlessly under the weight of despair that our Father would willingly carry for us? 1 Peter 5:7

When we cease our striving and consider the true wonder that is our Father in Heaven, then we can give ourselves over to what He will and can be for us. Wee can be free of needless care.

In His Providence GOD never passes over His children in need.

He is the GOD who:

• Provides for the sparrows, He will take care of the needs of His family. Aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
• Heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3. Because we are experiencing a momentary affliction we should not doubt GOD’s grace but believe that He loves us as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. There is no hurt that GOD cannot heal
• Sees our pain, keeps track of all our sorrows, collects all our tears in a bottle and records each one in His book of life. Psalm 56:8. His heart beats with compassion for us and longs to comfort us. (Psalm 116:5; 2 Corinthians 1:3.) No one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Lamentations 3:31.

 “Let go and let GOD.”

This saying is probably one of the most overused in Christian circles, so much so that it may have become trite to our hearing. But could we re-examine it carefully, take it at face value and actually live it? Could we practice this in our personal lives in 2018?

Could we leave the providing to the GOD of Providence and place our concerns in the Mighty Hand of our loving and gracious GOD?

We became the children of GOD when we decided to trust Him with our souls for eternity.

Surely we can trust GOD with our lives and bodies during our time here on earth!

“For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 1:19

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Almighty GOD and Father, we thank you that YOU are the GOD whose goodness and mercy will follow us through the days of our lives and into eternity. For that reason, Father, no child of YOURS must sit in despair. We thank you that we can trust YOU our Providence for all time. We thank YOU, Mighty GOD for YOUR perfect love which replaces all our fear and anxiety. Thank YOU for reminding us that YOU are always with us to save us – that YOU have a unique plan for each of us, that we will succeed and have a future; we will finish this race with YOU. Never will YOU leave us, never will YOU forsake us. We are so grateful for all that YOU are in and through us. We pray and ask all in JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile