Stubborn

Some of us can be stubborn at times. We think that we know the right way to do something, until we are proven wrong. To keep us safe and to teach us, various people have had to discipline us. The discipline may come in the form of forceful correction, a driving ticket, or the removal of some privileges.

Psalm 94:12-14 says, “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage.” Sometimes, the only way that God can teach His people is through discipline. But along with the discipline, God promises to give us rest from our troubles. He also promises that He will not forsake us or abandon us to struggle on our own.

I Need Something More

Have you ever made an agreement with someone to provide a service or product? Then, when they deliver the service or product, you are disappointed. You ask them to make some modifications. The modifications are made, but it still seems not right. This request and modification process goes on through several tries, but you are still not satisfied. We do the same sort of thing with life. We search for something that will satisfy us, but nothing quite delivers what we need. That’s because we are looking in the wrong place for the satisfaction of our needs.

Psalm 63:1-2 says, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.   So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.” God created us to have an intimate relationship with Him, so close that we become desperate to always be near to Him. Nothing else will satisfy our hearts.

Sure Footed Faith

Have you seen pictures of goats or other animals on the steep faces of mountains. They can get to places that you wonder how in the world that they got there. On the other hand, my steps are not so secure. I have tripped and fallen many times over the last few years. I don’t trust myself to hike some places that I consider dangerous.

Habakkuk 3:19 says, “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” Security and hope come from God. We can endure hardships and proceed in sure footed faith and in the knowledge that God will give us all we need and protect us from evil.

Oh, What Love!

Psalm 59:17 says, “O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”

Oh, what love our Heavenly Father has for His children. Before the foundation of the world and through eternity, He has loved us and will love us faithfully. His love is abundant, true, good, and constant. We can’t find this kind of love anywhere else.

Is It Done Yet?

We have all started projects only to come across some obstacle that changes what we are trying to do or completely stops what we are trying to do. We know the beginning, but we can’t see the end. Our control over the project is limited by human understanding and outside influences.

Isaiah 46:8-10 says, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'” Time passes and things change for us. God is outside of time and knows the beginning and the end of times. We have little control over the events in our lives. God has complete control so that His purpose will be absolutely and completely accomplished without any failure. In this truth, we can havee courage and stand firm.