Good
Monday morning (8-10-10),
Men
go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea,
at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the
circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering. ~
The hours in each day are best lived when we acknowledge that we are no accident. God has created each of us with a specific purpose; we are designed, each of us, with a nature and personality which is best suited to enjoy our own life adventures and call.
The book of Philippians reminds us that, “It is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
If you think about that, since God is working in each of us, how is it possible that we could be created to live empty lives? Empty lives are never really empty, they’re just filled with shame and disappointment and other evil things meant to detour us away from God’s pattern for us.
Our days will not always be a bed of roses, since we are promised to encounter trials, even fiery trials. The book of 1st Peter –and many other places in the Bible—assures us that life will have its share of problems. But God’s strategy for the overcomer, which are those who apply themselves with all diligence to accomplish His work, is to abundantly supply every first-rate thing needed to accomplish His will. Those provisions absolutely will include peace, joy, and confidence.
God did not create the world in order to destroy it, He didn’t create humanity to ultimately destroy it either, He doesn’t hate anyone. God is love, and His love is not frustrated, it’s not conditional or angry with you.
Yet we each face the daily trials, accusations which go something like this, “God is disappointed with you. The way you behaved today is irreprehensible. Shame on you, you should know better.” On your bad days, have you ever heard those kinds of accusing words? Or perhaps that lying devil also suggests that, “Your past and present accomplishments, and the way you’re acting today, has forfeited God’s call in your life?”
Never forget that the devil’s a liar and the father of all lies!
Trust the Scriptures as they say that God is All Powerful! No wickedness has to be so controlling that it overturns your destiny; we fail when we give up and choose to serve that lie. But if we allow Him to, it’s God who works in us both to will and do His good pleasure, and His pleasure is that we prosper and be in good health, even as our soul prospers.
When we take the time to reflect on how God is working in us, to both will and do His good pleasure, how can we not but leap for joy? Once His love and purpose is revealed in us, how can we help but stand in wonderment of our own selves, His creation? One who is carefully handcrafted, unique, with the single purpose of accomplishing His good will on earth!
When I’m down and need to encourage myself, I love to read Psalm 139. This Psalm celebrates the perfect knowledge which God has of our thoughts, motivations, and actions. Since He is our maker, He understands us far better that we could ever understand ourselves.
Seeing as God is your designer and maker, it’s ok to profess that, like David did, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, with a purpose which only you can fulfill.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth [my mother’s womb], your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would
outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” Psalms
139:13-18
Wayne
Witcher