Reflections: On GOD’s Immutability and You

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, "God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable" and several Scriptures confirm this.  

I am the Lord, and I do not change… Malachi 3:6

If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is. 2 Timothy 2:13

Likewise, all that GOD declares concerning His chosen people remain fixed.

 

This means that God will always:

Be with you

• “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6
• Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. Isaiah 41:10a

Love you

• For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
• For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. Psalm 103:11 

Forgive your sins

• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
• As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Listen to you

• For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12
• I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6
• Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

Answer your prayers

• For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Luke 11:10
• I love the Lord because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2

Comfort you

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. 2 Corinthians 1:3
• Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Provide for you

• If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
• For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
• "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:26

Remember you

• The LORD loves justice, and he won't ever desert his faithful people. He always protects them. Psalm 37:28
• I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25

Work on your behalf

• When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. Psalm 56:9
• We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. Romans 8:28a

Come through for you

• Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10
• And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter: 5:10

Lead you with love, power, and wisdom

• I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Proverbs 4:11-12
• It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
• And sets me on my high places. Psalm 18:32-33

 

Reward your obedience to Him

• The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16
• Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

In all this and so much more, you may rest easy. When you wait on the Lord, you can be certain that the outcome will be perfect, as is His will for you.

Always!

 

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

 

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, Immutable and Sovereign One, You are always faithful to Your promises as You cannot deny Yourself. You choose us, thank You. And now Your ears are always open to listen to us and Your eyes forever upon us to protect and defend us, Your children who worship You and do Your will. May Your Name forever be praised, In JESUS mighty Name. Amen!

Happy Thanksgiving 2020, America!

If you are reading this post, you're alive and well. 

That's reason enough to give thanks and praise to GOD the Father and the LORD JESUS CHRIST whose goodness and mercy have kept you, whose grace abounds, and whose love is everlasting to all who are His children, according to His Sovereign will and purpose!

We have all that we need and more than we deserve.

A Happy And Safe Thanksgiving!!!

PRAYER: O LORD of grace and mercy, our world is a scary place and we are weak and fearful. But we look to You with thanksgiving and praise for strength to stand and for light to see beyond what we do. Thank You for being the shield that protects and the sword that fights for us. By the blood of the One who paid our debts of transgressions, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, we have all that we need. Thank you! Amen!

Reflections: On Our (GOD’s) Money

The world’s richest man back in the 1900s and the first-ever American billionaire was John D. Rockefeller. Yet, his response to a reporter’s question, “How much money is enough?” was, “Just a little bit more.” 

The “just a little bit more” lifestyle philosophy is very much ingrained into society at large today. Whether they have a lot or just enough to get by, everyone wants more money, just to have more.

The Christian attitude towards money must be different; grounded in the Word of God and not the world’s norms.

Money on its own is necessary for our daily needs and the Bible agrees. What the Scriptures do say is that the LOVE of money is evil (1 Timothy 6: 10.)

Everything you are and own is a gift from GOD – including your money (…remember that the LORD your God gives you the strength to make a living. Deuteronomy 8:18 CEV.) But GOD means for you to use it for your joy and that of others, and not have it use you and control your life. When money becomes your god, it can wreak havoc in your life.

Even in challenging economic times, GOD’s will for you and your money remains fixed – He does not change one iota to accommodate your particular situation.

 

Reflect on these five points concerning your money:

Hoarding is unacceptable when you can help others in need. GOD wants you to share your resources, even sacrificially. Generosity pleases Him and He honors it.

• And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16;
• Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
• He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16
• One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.
• A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25
• Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Fear of not having enough should not stop you from supporting your local church with at least a tithe. Trust God to do amazing things with the 90%.

• The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23
• Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops Proverbs 3:9
• I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Luke 12:22-24
• He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

Becoming a slave to debt is being led by your own desire and will and not the Lord’s. Have a plan to save to pay for your needs in full, and ask God to help you to perfect it according to His will, and to stick with it.

• Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay. Proverbs 22:26-27
• Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
• The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7
• Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Living just for today, spending all you get as you get it is unbiblical. GOD approves of you putting something aside for the future – this is not the same as hoarding but being wise and a good steward.

• A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. Proverbs 13:22
• Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11
• Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8
• The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. GOD said so. He had much to share in the Book of Proverbs as well as Ecclesiastes about wise and righteous living, including the use of money.

We listen to and obey his words of wisdom because we trust in the GOD who imparted such wisdom unto him. For our good and GOD’s glory!

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our GOD and Father, forgive us for our lack of faith, remind us not to lean on our own understanding but to trust Your Sovereignty and divine plan for our lives, and Your faithfulness to perfect that plan. Our eyes are on You to WHOM all glory, dominion, and power belong forever and ever. In JESUS Name we pray. Amen.

Always by GOD’s Word and prayer,

Cecile