Tag: Romans 8:28

How Dare We

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

How dare we question God.

Yet we do.

Why? Because we want our own way.

We think we know better than Him.

Do you see how selfish that is?

How arrogant?

Did we create the earth and all it contains?

Did we place the stars in the heavens?

Did we design life with such variety and beauty?

Absolutely not.

We are God’s creation.

God is not our creation.

I get it though. Often our lives seem to turn unexpectedly, down a path we wished to avoid.

We question God. We question because we hate it. The direction we travel.

God allows things.

He created us with the ability to choose, and sometimes people make bad choices.

Or, sometimes it’s our own fault.

Yet God allows it.

We can be assured from Ecclesiastes 9:1 that “… how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.”

All we do are in God’s hands.

We need God. He helps us filter out bad choices when we cannot see what’s right.

Further, we can rest assured God works all things for His purpose.

Romans 8:28 reminds us,” And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God sees everything.

He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly.

While He might allow circumstances you detest, He will stay by your side.

And He has a plan. Do you trust Him?

You are worth more to God than anything else He created.

He sent His only son to die on the cross for you so you can spend eternity with Him.

Yes, God is holy.

Yes, He created all things.

And no, we are not in charge.

But you can rest assured God is.

God, who created order and beauty, is on the throne.

And when trials come, He will be with you every step of the way.

His ways are higher than ours.

We must not question God, but live peacefully, knowing He cares for all of His creation.

Yet we are of more value than many sparrows.

We are made in His image.

Photos by Marshall Patterson, Mathew Schwartz, Cédric VT, & Nicole Wreyford on Unsplash

Fearing the Lord

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will He instruct in the way that He should choose. Psalm 25:12

Are you someone who fears the Lord?

Fearing the Lord is not cowering in the type of fear we think of first.

It’s honor.

Respect.

Submitting to the One who created all things.

Putting God first and foremost in all things.

Knowing how small you are in comparison to all of creation, eternity, and God Himself.

I know we cannot always put God first, but you can think about Him and what He would want you to do.

With even tiny things like your response to literally anything.

Thinking about what God would want you to do brings security knowing you are under the shadow of His wings.

In return for placing God on the throne of your life, He promises to instruct you in the way He chooses.

And God chooses the best for you.

How do we know that?

Because Romans 8:28 reminds us that “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose“.

Walking with God, submitting to Him, brings us to God’s purpose for us.

And that is good.

Maybe your life has been affected by other’s poor choices.

And maybe you bear the brunt of that.

Remain under God’s instruction as He works everything out for good.

Through trials of your choosing or not, choose to remain God’s.

Confident He will work everything out for your good, because you love Him.

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Good

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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

God is still good.

He is.

He is still good.

Even though….

Fill in the blank with whatever your even though is.

Even though your family breaks apart, He is still good.

Even though your life isn’t what you pictured, He is still good.

Even though your children’s attitudes are louder than their love, He is still good.

Even though your selfishness overwhelms you sometimes, He is still good.

Even though your parents are separated, He is still good.

Even though your child rejects you, He is still good.

Even though your child’s lifestyle doesn’t match your view of them, He is still good.

Even though.

Even though everything, right?

Do the little things matter?

Yes, they do, because we are human.

But the bigger picture remains God’s alone.

God alone is on the throne, and He is good.

He works everything out for our good if we trust in Him.

Romans 8:28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

All things He works for our good.

Because we love Him and are called according to His purpose.

When we keep placing our trust in Him, He works all things out for our good.

Thank goodness.

Purpose to place your family in His hands.

Purpose to place your life in His hands.

Purpose to place your very self within His capable hands.

In return, He will work all things for your good.

Because He loves you that much.

Photos by Clémence Taillez, eberhard grossgasteiger, & Paul Green on Unsplash

Sovereign

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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

God is sovereign.

Over all things.

The definition of sovereign includes these words: supreme permanent authority.

Well, that about covers it, doesn’t it?

God has supreme (total) authority (power) and it’s never going away (permanent, here forever).

He holds the world in His hands.

Now you can breathe.

Deeply.

Focus on this: God is never leaving.

He’s constant.

He holds the universe.

Yet He longs to help you.

Everyday.

With everything.

He wants you to give Him all of your burdens, big and small.

Examples?

Well, my large burdens include the children and where I should teach.

Too much to carry on my own.

Small burdens include transportation for kids going everywhere, holiday planning, and the sudden intense need for milk (who forgot to tell me we were low?).

Small burdens can easily morph into boulders if you’re not careful to give them immediately to God.

You’ll simply crumble under the weight!

So if God is sovereign, He’ll fix our burdens, right?

Well, yes and no.

When you give those troubles to God, He’ll take over and increase your dependence on Him.

He will give you just the right amount of strength, wisdom and peace, because you know He is sovereign and taking care of business.

Will He immediately solve your problems?

Probably not.

He might because He can, but He also might use this time in your life to refine your heart.

To make you holy.

Because God is sovereign, He knows best what do with your burdens.

That knowledge should give you peace beyond measure.

God has your back.

He knows the beginning from the end.

Trust Him to finish what He has started.

And enjoy the journey as best as you can, resting in the knowledge of God’s love and concern for you.

Because He is sovereign over YOU.

Sneakers on a Pier3

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