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Faith in God's Goodness
Andrea Lende • April 6, 2021
II Timothy 3:15
Faith in God’s Goodness
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Faith-in-Gods-Goodness-eucclo
II Timothy 3:15
“And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].”
The message that touched my heart today wasn’t in the passage, but in the definition of faith as it is used in the passage.
The Amplified Bible defines faith in Christ here as “the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness”.
This definition ushered in a new perspective for me.
First, I need to be reminded to lean my entire personality on the Lord.
There are parts and pieces of myself I don’t allow God to fix even though they need fixing.
So, it seems I am acting like a two-year-old thinking I will do it myself.
But I can’t do it myself.
I need the Lord’s help to change me and mold me into a better version of me.
Second, I need to be reminded to absolutely trust the Lord.
Trust the Lord for everything and in everything.
He desires to help me with everything I need just as I desire to help my children with what they need.
Third, I need to be reminded to trust in God’s absolute power.
God is Almighty now and forever.
He is more powerful than anything I will ever face and all my adversaries.
He won every battle in the Bible, and He is victorious over my battles as well.
Fourth, I need to trust in God’s Wisdom.
He created all things with Wisdom and rules with Wisdom.
His will is perfect for my life and all the lives of those whom I love.
I need not question His perfect will at any time or in any circumstance.
Lastly, God is good.
I should never question God’s goodness for He is good all the time.
I am thankful for the Amplified Bible which helps further my understanding of Who God is.
Today I choose to have confidence in God’s power, wisdom, and goodness as He works out His perfect plan in my life.
May you find a renewed sense of confidence in God’s power, wisdom, and goodness in your life as well.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me to have absolute trust in You. Thank You for reminding me to have confidence in Your power, wisdom, and goodness. Your plan for my life is perfect. Help me remember You are working all things out exactly as You have planned. Help me be patient as I watch You work. Help me give up my will for Yours. When I get in a hurry, please slow me down. When I want to move forward, help me wait for You to make all things ready. Help me lean on You for everything I need. Help me come to You to change my heart, my thoughts, and my emotions. Thank You for molding me and making me a vessel for Your use. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM working out all good things for you My child and watching over you in every way.
Response: Help me trust in You for everything I need and desire, Almighty God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.