God is in Everything

A couple of days ago, I found the above quote and it comes to mind often. Yesterday involved a lot of driving and time with someone who does not speak much English. However, meeting another friend who is fluent in her language was a delight for the three of us. I had no idea what they talked about, but the joy on their faces was a God-thing.

Arriving home and finding God in decisions we were making and giving us ideas through others who ‘happened’ to know this or that was more of that God-thing. Seeing Him in little things makes a difference in personal choices, and the way we think about life.

Today’s reading says, “Nothing but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only the instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we will even find ourselves inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring.”

While the reading goes on to link this idea as a deterrent to sin and complaining, I’m not sure that happens for everyone. Some may think that His presence means He is sternly watching all actions so they better behave rather than make Him scowl. Instead, seeing Him in all things ought to help us  realize His goodness and care. For me, it makes a difference in how I view life's extremes.

All things includes good and not so good. The flesh loves to take some credit for the good as if we made it happen or made right choices. The flesh also complains when things are not so comfortable and can even rail against it, totally forgetting that God is sovereign and has a loving and good reason for allowing any trials. Seeing Him in both extremes and everything in between produces praise and thanksgiving. It helps me to look for that good in trials and makes life a delightful adventure rather than a series of ups and downs.

Today’s reading also says I can believe God is faithful and wants good for me, not because I feel it or see it but because He says He is. This means faith enables the ability to see Him because faith is rewarded that way as my relationship with Him is deepened. He enables me to ‘just know’ that good things are happening, even before seeing or experiencing the results from trials. The Bible says that my faith forms the direction of my life. I know that doubt can prevent me from seeing His goodness, and doubt can be an inlet for all sorts of negativity, but faith enables the Holy Spirit to flood life with His fruit and when I’m filled with the Spirit, it is easy to see God in everything.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22–26)

The flesh is the source of pride, conceit, being annoyed with others or jealous of them. The Spirit is the source of what I really want: love, joy and all of the above. And the Spirit makes God visible to my heart.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m seeing so many of Your children who haven’t realized their battle with sin requires faith but also confession of doubt and fleshy living as being a huge part of redemption. Forgive the pride and send light into those who so badly need to see, not only this reality but the reality of You in all things. Keep me here. I love to see You in all things — and You making sense of the ups and downs of life.

Praising God’s Goodness

 

READ Psalm 125–129

Three things bless my heart as I read these short psalms. One is that God is always with me and taking care of me and all His people:

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 125:2)

The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. (126:3)

The sense of God’s presence is powerful. Even if life lurches and bad news comes, realizing He is here, close, caring, is a great thing. Imagine being in the den of hungry lions and they stay away. Imagine being in a fire and not feeling the heat or the destruction of the flames. Imagine losing someone beloved and receiving such comfort that the loss is made small because of the gain. The Lord does these great things, and I am glad.

The second is that He is not only here but involved in the details of my life. The psalmist says:

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (127:1–2)

My husband makes much of my ability to sleep. After an excursion yesterday, I felt tired and decided to have a nap. There was a loud football game on television but seconds after lying down on the sofa a bare six feet or so from the TV, the next thing I knew was waking up to a different game two hours later and saying, “Who won the other game?”

Good sleep is only part of it. Because He cares about every detail, I prayed much over a recent project. Each step was a challenge, but I prayed for guidance and ideas — and God provided. The project turned out far better than I’d hoped and I credit the Lord for that success.

As the psalmist says, He removes anxiety by revealing that He is sovereign. I visited a neighbor this week, not a Christian yet but she is totally convinced that nothing happens apart from God’s hand in it, including seemingly bad news, accidents, and other horrors. She said, “He has a purpose and we need to realize that.” I rejoice in that truth. The psalmist says all that we do is in vain if we leave Him out of it, yet we cannot leave Him out of it. He does build the house and watch over the city. Our fretting is the vanity. Knowing He is right here and that He cares is the blessing.

The third truth in these verses is about family . . .

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (127:3)

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. (128:1–2)

May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel! (128:6)

There is not enough space here to tell of how God uses our children to bless us, even though my mothering was not as biblical as I now know it could have been. However, through all sorts of trials and good times, His presence has been evident. He uses our children to ‘raise’ us to stronger faith, to greater thankfulness, and to richer blessings. Not only have we seen our children’s children, but the next generation of five great grandchildren . . . and the doctors told my parents I would not live past sixteen! Only God, only God.

Thanksgiving is next week, yet I am thankful right now for God’s presence, His care, and our family, both our offspring and the larger family of God which is also a great blessing. God is good and for that, I worship and praise Him!