God’s gift . . .
The Lord has Promised Good to Me,
His Word My Hope Secures
Do you remember where you were when you fully grasped the good news of amazing grace? . . . What were the circumstances? . . . How did it make you feel?
In the day-to-day hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often struggle to remember and recapture the awe of God’s sustaining grace . . . It’s too easy to become desensitized and numb to the sweet sound of amazing grace when we live in a world full of brokenness and sin . . . A world that bombards us from every direction, with every demand, skewed interpretation, and false promises that have nothing to do with the love and grace of God.
However, when we open our eyes to the depth of sin and brokenness in the world—especially our own—the amazing thing about grace is that even in our most difficult circumstances and struggles, the generous, abundant grace of God becomes the beautiful lens we can focus through and see the hope promised through Christ’s cross.
We should never become deaf to the sweet sound of amazing grace—just like we should never get over the good news of the gospel . . . Grace is the very heart of the message from God—the message that our salvation centers upon . . . Even though we don’t deserve it, hope is on the way . . . Even when nothing in this world can fix what’s been broken by evil and sin, grace stands in the gap reaching toward us through the outstretched, loving arms of Christ . . . and it washes over us with cleansing redemption that we never can earn for ourselves.
When we need help to overcome stress, craziness, and chaos in the world around us, stop a moment, take a deep breath, release it and let your mind focus on Who we can trust, and Who we have faith in to guide us in our lives.
God promises each of us goodness . . . His Word provides the hope we can hold tightly to, so that when our lives come to an end, our true possession is joy and peace in Christ . . . God, our Creator, will remain the same and will be with us forever . . . Just imagine, when we reach the glorious streets of heaven, we will be singing God’s praise forever in His presence.
As believers, it’s critical for us to remember that God’s grace doesn’t just get us through difficult seasons . . . or cover us when we kneel at the altar in prayer . . . or when we ask for forgiveness . . . God’s grace is what sustains us every moment of our entire lives . . . For every good thing in our lives, we are completely dependent upon the precious grace of God.
INSIGHT . . .
The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
John Newton drew these words from 1 Chronicles 17:23 and 26, where King David expresses deep confidence in God's word and promises . . . As Newton looked ahead to his future as a believer, he found he could express confidence in God’s promises and find hope in God’s Word . . . Our hope in God’s promises is a certainty because it is grounded in His Word and His Holy character
. . . Because God is faithful, each of us can trust that He will keep every promise He has made.
“O Lord, let the Word that You have spoken
about Your servant and his house be made sure forever …
O Lord, You are God. You have promised this good thing to Your servant.”
1 Chronicles 17:23, 26
The truth of God’s promise is that He has promised good to us, His children . . . God Himself is the "Good”. . . God's promise of "good" is not a guarantee of wealth, ease, or a trouble-free life . . . Instead, the greatest good is God Himself—His love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and more.
It isn’t the “good” that is peddled by ‘prosperity gospel’ pitches (FYI—a religious belief system teaching that God rewards faith, positive declarations, & financial donations with material wealth, physical health, & personal happiness) . . . It isn’t the “good” that ‘Word of Faith’ teachers spout (FYI—‘Word of Faith’ is a movement within charismatic Christianity which teaches that Christians can achieve power & financial prosperity through prayer, & that those who believe in Jesus's death & resurrection have the right to physical health) . . . and it isn’t the “good” that misguided evangelicals push—like physical health, material prosperity, & an abundance of self-esteem & self-affirmation . . . Instead, we need to direct our attention heavenward and realize that the essence of God’s promise for good is the promise that God gives Himself to us—“He will my shield and portion be.”
The best and final gift of the gospel is that we gain Christ …
the highest, best, final, decisive good of the gospel,
without which no other gifts would be good,
is the glory of God in the face of Christ revealed.
(John Piper)
Scripture declares that God himself is both the source and the substance of our good . . . Remember, the good that God has promised to us is God Himself . . . He is the ultimate treasure . . . God has already given us far more than we deserve . . . In fact, according to the Bible, the only thing we actually deserve under our own actions is death . . . But because of the blood of Jesus and the grace of God, we have received so much more.
All the good God has already given to us, and all the good God has promised us in the future is only by His grace upon amazing grace . . . God hasn’t promised good to us because we’ve been good—He’s promised good to us because He is good! . . . And because grace depends upon His goodness, it will never run out . . . His grace is truly endless!
“As long as life endures,” God’s grace will always be enough . . . No matter what we’re facing right now, His grace will be sufficient for each of us . . . It is powerful enough to carry us through tragedy, and it is strong enough to sustain us through every trial—big and small . . . Grace is our shield and our portion . . . It’s our hope and our joy . . . It’s our comfort and our strength . . . The depth of the grace that God offers us through Christ is truly amazing.
INVITATION—TO SPEND TIME & TALK WITH GOD . . .
God’s divine promise is the assurance a particular thing will occur . . . The Holy Spirit lives within you to constantly confirm to you that you are seeing the fulfillment of all of God’s promises . . . Do you believe God’s promises of hope for you? . . . for everyone?
“All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away.
It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”
Acts 2:38-39
~~~~~
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want . . . He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness”
Psalm 23:1-3
Start with ~ Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the focus to open the doorway to hope in your heart, so you will benefit by recognizing what or who you need to forgive in your life . . . and where you need forgiveness, including forgiving yourself.
“Forgive other people when they sin against you.
If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you.”
Matthew 6:14
~~~~~
‘“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my
brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’
Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times,
but seventy-seven times.”’
Matthew 18:21-22
Surely know . . . that God forgives you, and He wants you to forgive others, so that you can have a joy-filled life . . . When you can forgive someone, you allow God into your empty heart where He can gently fill it with His love and grace.
Ask God . . . to place a name of someone on your heart that you need to forgive . . . or a personal sin that you need to ask forgiveness for.
Write . . . a forgiveness list, starting with forgiving yourself . . . God already has forgiven you—do you forgive yourself?
Confide in God . . . where you need “forgiveness help” . . . Where do you need His extra guidance, support and strength to get through the struggles, to be able to forgive?
Imagine . . . Walk on the sand at the water’s edge . . . With your finger, in the wet sand, write the name of whom you need to forgive, or the word of a sin you need to release . . .Ask God to help you forgive this person, or to forgive you of this sin . . . Now, wipe out what you have written with your hand . . . seeing your hand as God’s hand wiping clean what you have placed before Him . . . If you have more to write, then do it . . . If you need to write it again, then do it! . . . until you feel ready to accept God’s forgiveness, and are ready to forgive . . . Then watch the water wash it cleanly away.
Reflect . . . Ask yourself, “Am I ready to forgive this person?” . . . If not, ask God to help you . . . Ask yourself, “Do I really believe I have been forgiven?” . . . If not, ask God to help you.
Take this image with you . . . Forgiveness is something that you may need to discuss with yourself, and God—over and over again . . . Take a coffee break with God (or a smoothie break, or water break) . . . Talk to Him about your day, your joys, your struggles just like you would a friend . . . Lay everything out before Him . . . He knows it already, but God loves to talk with you . . . Ask His advice and listen to the answers.
Going Deeper ~ Healing
Center your heart and mind on recognizing the grace and mercy God provides you in His willingness to forgive your sins, allowing you to move forward and beyond the past in order to heal the many facets of your soul.
“Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.”
Psalm 30:2
~~~~~
“And the prayer of faith will save the one
who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and
pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
James 5:15-16a
Trust in God's timing . . . as you pour out your struggles to Him, having faith that His healing hand is touching you to provide strength, courage, and a quiet heart.
Rely on God's promises . . . as a foundation for hope . . . Lift up your head and your eyes to the Lord . . . Sit tall, knowing God is always with you.
Wait for God's answers . . . Stop and listen . . . Be attentive to the whispers of the Holy Spirit . . . What are you hearing?
Believe in God's mercy . . . and love and forgiveness . . . Rejoice in the knowledge that He cares so much about you that He sacrificed His own Son so that you could be saved.
Imagine . . . lighting a candle in the dimness or darkness . . . It can be a birthday candle, a scented pillar candle, or any size in between . . . Look at the flame as it flickers and moves with the heat and air around it . . . Realize that the tiny flame provides a huge amount of illumination as it pierces the dark and takes away the fear of the unseen . . . The candlelight is defining and healing, allowing you to see your way out of the darkness . . . just like the Light of Christ is healing and defining to your soul, as He leads you forward into the Light.
Reflect . . . on the perception that to be healing, or be healed, means that you can begin to let go of the past and the hold it has on you, and move forward . . . You have given your pains and struggles to God . . . Will you take it back? . . . Probably, but give it up again, and again, and again . . . until it fades into the past and you can live in the present, and for the future.
Take this image with you . . . If you find yourself trying to take back the past, ask Jesus to heal you . . . your heart, your emotions, your body, your soul . . . Ask Him to lay His hands on you and heal you through His mercy and love . . . God reminds you . . .
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
ILLUMINATION . . .
As I sat on the back porch with a cup of coffee in my hands just before the morning sun kissed the sky, peace surrounded me . . . I got to thinking about how even the smallest ray of sunlight begins to brighten the world around me . . . a welcome light in the darkness . . . and then calm snuck in too.
Then I remembered that in a week, the “time” will have changed—fall back . . . and then my mind fell into total confusion . . . Will it be darker or lighter now? [I really am not sure why this clock change is a good thing] . . . How will my dog accept the change in her eating schedule? [probably not well] . . . Will my ‘body clock’ adjust easily or grumble? [it seems to get harder as I age] . . . How many clocks do we have to set back in a house where my husband collects clocks? [I counted - 36 to change, 5 change themselves, & 10 we have given up on completely].
Confusion and chaos . . . I don’t want to live with chaos and craziness driving me through the day, to where I feel like I have lost control of everything—time changes do that to me unfortunately . . . So, deep breath, pause [be still], open my heart and soul to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, laugh or cry [I’ve been known to do either one in the middle of chaos] . . . Look to God, Scripture, sing God-focused songs . . . slow down.
As the time changes, I have to be intentional for God—it’s about Him and His glory, not me . . . Be bold for God—not myself or my way, it must be what He is calling me to do . . . and pray . . . I have to be careful not to leap before I look where I am going or let chaos rule the day.
Can I invite you to do the same? . . . Be intentional for God . . . Be bold for God . . . and pray . . . And as the time changes, move away from the chaos by lighting a candle or turning on a lamp in the darkness and lean into the peace and calm a sliver of light, God’s Light, can provide.
INSPIRATION—PRAYING THROUGH MUSIC . . .
When we don’t have the words to say,
the lyrics of a song can lend us the words we desperately need
but can’t form on our own.
(Unknown)
I encourage you to take time to listen to any or all the songs below . . . there is no right or wrong style of music—it is what speaks to you . . . listen to the melody and the lyrics and feel the response of your heart to what God wants you to hear . . . and I do understand that music doesn’t speak to everyone . . . and that is okay too.
♪♬♪ Current . . . How Loved You Are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJneSZ3Q1lY&list=RDvJneSZ3Q1lY&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Praise & Worship . . . Good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz86EQPCmfI&list=RDSz86EQPCmfI&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Traditional . . . Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdmePlRDn5k&list=RDXdmePlRDn5k&start_radio=1b
INTO EACH DAY AHEAD . . .
If the Lord were to only promise us good in this lifetime, we need to be thankful for His mercy and grace even in that short span of time . . . But God’s promise of good goes beyond our days on earth, extending through the end of our days and beyond—“as long as life endures” . . . As Jesus declares . . .
“I am the resurrection and the source of all life;
those who believe in Me will live even in death.
Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die.
Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26
Do you believe this? . . . We can find comfort and rejoice in knowing that the promise of God is to do good to us, for us, and in us . . . We know it from His Word, and when we see and experience blessings—the birth of a child, a beautiful sunrise, seasons of spiritual growth and renewal, and more—we see concrete, visible proof of God’s promises and His faithfulness . . . But it is also in the valley of the shadow of death, the periods of drought and famine, and the times of spiritual discouragement that we are reminded of God’s promises of goodness that will ultimately prevail over the trials we experience . . . When our lives give way to the perspective of eternity, we are going to see that the Lord has been doing everything for our good all along, just like He promises.
The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
"Heavenly Father, thank you that You are good, and that Your desire toward us is always good.
In the seen and the unseen, in the big moments, in the quiet, and in everyday routines,
Your goodness is always at work.
Forgive us for the times we doubt Your provision
or let fear and uncertainty cloud our view of who You are.
Let Your unfailing love and mercy follow us all the days of our life.
Fill our hearts with Your peace, renew our minds,
and help us to reflect Your goodness and kindness to others.
In Jesus' name—AMEN
“A Journey Through Amazing Grace” © 2020 by Debra L. Parcel
“Amazing Grace” is a Public Domain Christian hymn published in 1779, with words
written in 1772 by English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton (1725–1807)
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your active prayer life, help you stay engaged in
focused prayer, and encourage a
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