Knowing God as Father can be simple, or very complicated. It often depends on how we knew our own fathers. Learn to have well-healed wounds and respond to the revelation we have with Father God.
I was asked if I had further study on god as Father. The good news I do-just look below. The problem that many have is that we’ve all had imperfect fathers, so to understand God as Father, we can have difficulties. When we come from homes with silent or absent or abusive fathers, we may not naturally be able to relate to God as Father. But that’s a profound way He has revealed himself to us, and how Jesus taught us to address Him.
Here’s some of the ways I’ve cover emphasized God as Father.
Why do good works matter even more today? Jesus said, "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." What does good works look like in the day-to-day of every day? Why is so critical we get it right NOW? Let's see if we can have God's input on these questions and more.
This is a message spoken in 2021 as we were tentatively coming out of the pandemic.
Get the notes and follow the research for Why Good Works Matter EVEN MORE Today
Why GOOD WORKS Matter EVEN More Today Notes
All of us in life emphasize different things at different times.
I want to show you that emphasis matters. Here’s a sentence where each word emphasized makes a different meaning of the sentence.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
I didn’t say we should kill him.
Problem
Emphasis matters and in the church in the pandemic, we’ve emphasized the obvious.
But we’ve de-emphasized the significant.
We’ve emphasized meeting together and how to do that safely.
We’ve de-emphasized the reason we shouldn’t stop meeting together.
Pastor Shawn did a wonderful job a few weeks ago know now to remind us about WHY it’s important we still do community. But did we really catch it?
The WHY we meet together is so that we can motivate one another towards love and good works.
Hebrews 10:23-24 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Why is this so important?
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Does this really matter?
I made a statement in an online meeting in the past couple of weeks. It was kind of in the middle of rant. I was lamenting how NO ONE is lamenting the loss of our ability to serve one another in love.
I heard myself saying, “If a church can’t learn how to DO service during the pandemic, if all they are concerned about is HAVING a service during the pandemic, then I don’t think they should open their doors AFTER the pandemic.”
“If a church can’t learn how to DO service during the pandemic, if all they are concerned about is HAVING a service during the pandemic, then I don’t think they should open their doors AFTER the pandemic.”
Does this matter? We can’t miss this.
We can’t put off doing acts of love and good works until all this is past. We can’t put off being Christian until we can once again be comfortable being Christian.
I know this from history. This isn’t the first pandemic the church has faced. There was one that happened in even more trying times.
The Story
There was civil unrest in Alexandria in 248 and the mob took out their frustration with a brutal anti-Christian rampage. Dionysius had just been named the Bishop in Alexandria less than a year before. Emperor Decius began a formal persecution of Christians and in 250 and Dionysius had to leave the city. He returned after the formal persecution ended but in 252 an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria.
Dionysius 190 - 265 AD Alexandria
During plague time, the pagans “Pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead and treating unburied corpses as dirt.” Dionysius’s flock, however, heeded his call to take the opposite approach. “Most our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbours and accepting their pains.” It is noteworthy that Dionysius’ policy towards the stricken had results he could hardly have guessed. Historian Rodney Stark believes that the care offered by Christians may have cut the mortality rate by two-thirds or more and eventually led to a large number of conversions to this merciful creed. That, in turn, further secured Christianity’s place in society and history. Thus his church, under his direction, prospered in the face of an almost unspeakable calamity. By This Sign pp 33 - 34
We don’t live in a time or place where people are thrown into the streets.
We do live in a time where people are ignored and suffer in silence.
We live in a time where families who don’t have the tools to cope are imploding.
We live in a time when people who like to be alone have REALLY alone and I’m hearing it’s TOO MUCH.
We live in a time where businesses are failing and unemployment is not getting better and credit card debt is out of control.
We live in a time where health care workers can’t get away from the sickness and people making minimum wage are on the front lines serving whatever customers they have.
We can’t sit back and wait for it end.
Christ did not call us to hang on until the rapture.
People need the peace that we’ve been promised.
And we’ve been stuck on the questions:
How can we safely gather together?
How can we lay hands on the sick when we have to keep social distance?
When will our rights be respected?
And Holy Spirit wants us to ask:
How do I show to acts of love and good works?
How do I let my light shine before people so they glorify God?
Listen…
You need to know the benefit we get as we serve others. We don’t serve others to get this benefit. We serve others because it pleases God when we serve one another in love. But you know, when you bless others you are blessed, when you refresh others you are refreshed. If you’re limited in your thinking because you don’t think you can bless and refresh others now, you need to watch this video clip from Simon Sinek on Service
{Show video - see above}
We don’t know the blessing we miss out on because we don’t extend ourselves to bless others.
We need to stop looking at the problems and start realizing God-in-us is the solution.
What if?
What if we got focused on the things that matter to God? Yes, we need to gather together - however we can gather together - BUT WE GATHER to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
What if it’s not about US as the church having an event, but it’s about you and me BEING the church in the day-to-day of our everyday?
What if people we connect with see us as the light of the world, that city on a hill, those people of peace who know how to really love?
A church that motivates one another to acts of love and good works is a bride who has made herself ready.
Imagine
Are you motivated to acts of love and good works?
Do you motivate others to acts of love and good works?
What would it be like to do acts of love and good works even in a pandemic?
Solution
HOW TO ALWAYS DO GOOD WORKS TOOL
A - Accept Holy Spirit’s Role - Philippians 1:6 L - Love Always - 1 Corinthians 16:14 W - Walk in the Light - John 16:13 A - Act like Jesus - Colossians 3:17 Y - Yearn to Flow - Ephesians 5:2 S - Surrender - 1 Peter 3:15
Let’s unpack this
A - Accept Holy Spirit’s Role
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Am I doing good works in my own strength? Holy Spirit leads you Romans 8:14 , teaches you John 16:13, enables you Philippians 2:13 and empowers you accomplish every good work prompted by faith 2 Thessalonians 1:11
Hint - Don’t do acts of love and good works in your own strength and ability
L - Love Always
1 Corinthians 16:14 And do everything with love.
Am I really doing this out of love? Are you trying to compete or doing this because you deserve the attention?
Hint: If you’re doing it for any other reason than love, rethink your motivation before proceeding.
W - Walk in the Light
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.
Where is Holy Spirit leading me to serve? Coffee in cars, conversations over the fence, other…
Hint - As long as it depends on you, live at peace with all people. Don’t make others uncomfortable - ask.
A - Act like Jesus
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
How do I show Jesus and His love in…my phone calls, text messages, video calls, social media posts and in every interaction with everyone I meet, however I meet them?
Hint - Be authentic. This is not plastic Christianity. You cannot fake acts of love and good works.
Y - Yearn to Flow
Ephesians 5:2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
Do I leave everyone a little more…happy, joyful, at peace, interested in Jesus?
Hint - Be so filled with Jesus He leaks out. Get so in love with Jesus people see Him when they see you.
S - Surrender
1 Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
What if I’m not ready to ALWAYS do Good Works? Confession is agreeing with God not obeying Him is sin. Repentance is changing your mind and behaviour to start obeying Him. Grace is Holy Spirit empowering you to do the things you can’t do on your own.
Hint - Ask for Holy Spirit’s help to start doing acts of love and good works today.
Challenge
1 Chronicles 12:32 (CEB) from Issachar, those who understood the times and what Israel should do
Will you be a person of Issachar? Will you understand the times and know what to do? Will you do acts of love and good works today? Will people see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven?
Jesus did not give us power and authority so we could sit in a pew and wait for the rapture - Bill Johnson
Good works matter Even more today
How will do acts of love and good works this week?
Knowing your good, good Father is one of the most important aspects of faith. We explore why it's crucial to build a strong relationship with our Father and how this knowledge can bring peace and hope, and joy into our lives. Learn more with “How to Know God as your good, good Father”
Listen to How to know God as your good, good Father
That’s a loaded question. You have received a revelation of Him and Jesus through Holy Spirit, so yes, you do know God.
But God is GOD. He is altogether Holy, altogether awesome and altogether right…and we’re not.
But that’s a good thing. We can never stop learning, never stop experiencing His nature and His love.
Through time there is a progressive revelation of who God is down through the centuries. We see this revelation in the names that are used to describe God.
16 Names of God in Hebrew Scripture
El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) Occurs 7 times. First used in Gen 17:1
El Elyon (The Most High God) Gen 14:18 Occurs 28 times. It occurs 19 times in Psalms
Adonai (Lord, Master) Occurs 434 times. First used Gen 15:2
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah) Occurs 6,519 times. is first used in Gen 2:4. Yahweh geek out. Tetragrammaton divine name. No vowels all consonants. Don’t know how it was pronounced. Adonai vowels 2nd century BC Masoretics. There’s no Y in Latin. It’s replaced with J. By the 16th century Jehovah appears. It’s relatively modern…if you agree Shakespeare is modern. Similar thing happened with Yeshua becoming Jesus. Latins couldn’t say “ua” so it became “us”. This has no bearing on if you can trust your good, good Father, but it pretty cool for logophiles.
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner) occurs only once in Exd 17:15.
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd) is used in Psalm 23.
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) is used in Exd 15:26.
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There) occurs only once in Ezekiel 48:35.
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness) is first used in Jer 23:6.
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) is first used in Exd 31:13.
El Olam (The Everlasting God) is first used in Gen 21:33.
Elohim (God) occurs over 2000 times. Elohim is first used in Gen 1:1.
Qanna (Jealous) occurs 6 times. Qanna is first used in Exd 20:5.
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) occurs only once in Gen 22:14.
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace) occurs only once in Jdg 6:24.
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) occurs over 285 times. It is most frequently used in Jeremiah and Isaiah. Jehovah Sabaoth is first used in 1Sa 1:3.
In the Hebrew Scriptures God is holy. God is other…we are made in his image, but there is so much more to God. However throughout the Bible we find God portrayed as a Father. This portrayal, however, is surprisingly rare in the Hebrew Scriptures.
God is specifically called the:
Father of the nation of Israel 8 times see ( Deut 32:6 ; Isa 63:16 ; 64:8 ; Jeremiah 3:4 Jeremiah 3:19 ; 31:9 ; Mal 1:6 ; 2:10 )
Father of certain individuals 15 times see ( 2 Sam 7:14 ; 1 Chron 17:13 ; 22:10 ; 28:6 ; Psalm 68:5 ; 89:26 )
At least another 9 times the father imagery is present although the term "Father" is not used see [ Exod 4:22-23 ; Deut 1:31 ; 8:5 ; 14:1 ; Psalm 103:13 ; Jer 3:22 ; 31:20 ; Hosea 11:1-4 ; Mal 3:17 ]
Father to the Fatherless
Psalm 68:5 ESV Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
New Testament Revelation
But it wasn’t until Jesus came up out of the water and the Spirit descend like a dove and voice from heaven said “This is my beloved son, in whom I well pleased, that we see a shift from the holiness of God to the Fatherhood of God.
Then we come to the sermon on the mount and listen to the language He uses.
Read Matthew 5:43 - 6:33
Your Father is in heaven Your Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you Your Father knows what you need Your Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you Your Father forgives you Your Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you Your Father feeds... Your Father knows that you need them. Your Father is perfect
In the New Testament, God is frequently referred to as Father, according to ChatGTP, depending on the translation God is called Father 245 times, and Jesus calls God Father 165 in the Gospels.
Rom 1:7; 15:6; 1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 1:3; Gal 1:1 Eph 4:6; Jas 1:27; 1 Pet 1:2–3; 2 John 3; Jude 1
It’s clear that the focus in the New Testament is that God is our good, good Father. Need proof? Whenever anyone says; “it’s obvious” or “it’s clear” expect them to provide examples.
21 Attributes of Our Father God
God our Father is…
1.Loving– 1 John 3:1
2. Kind – Ephesians 2:7-8
3. Compassionate – Psa 103:8
4. Giving– John 3:16
5. Faithful – Lamentations 3:22-23
6. Merciful – Ephesians 2:4-5
7. Strong – Psa 24:8
8. Forgiving– 1 John 1:9
9. Good – Psa 136:1
10. Righteous– Psa 145:17
11.Caring– Matthew 6:26
12 Sovereign – Psa 103:19
13. Shepherd– Psa 23:1-3
14. Ever-Present– Psa 46:1
15. Refuge– Psa 91:1-2
16. Gracious – Psa 116:5
17. Healer – Exodus 15:26
18. Powerful – 1 Chronicles 29:11-12
19. Rejoicing over you. Zephaniah 3:17
20. Your Helper– Isaiah 41:10
21. The One Who Makes All Things New– Revelation 21:5
We have a good, good Father.
What is the problem with knowing God as Father?
The problem with knowing God as Father, is that we’ve all had fallen fathers.
Some of us have had evil fathers, some have had missing fathers, some have had bad fathers, none of us have had perfect fathers.
But our experience can’t define who God is. He’s God. By definition He’s the one who defines himself.
Why do we want to know God as our good, good, Father?
Because then we can trust him.
When you trust God you get three signs to show that you trusting him.
Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When we know God as our good, good Father - when we TRUST God as our good, good Father we have joy, and peace and hope.
So the question becomes:
How do we TRUST God as our good, good Father?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
How to TRUST God as your good, good Father Tool
T - Take time to wait for the Lord always. Psalm 27
R - Remember what He’s done Revelation 12:10-11
U - Understand there is more of His love to experience Ephesians 3:14-19
S - Surrender fear. Let His love rule. 1 John 4:17-18
T - Thank God for what He’s done. Colossians 3:14-17
Let’s upack this...
T - Take time to wait for the Lord always.
Read Psalm 27
Psalms 27:13-14 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
The Hebrew word for waiting is not passively sitting back.
kaw-vaw' is a Hebrew word meaning 'to wait or look eagerly for, to lie in wait for, to collect and bind together in expectancy.
The parable of the outrageous Father …. You may know it better as “The Prodigal Son”
Luke 15:20 NLT “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
The Hebrew word kaw-vaw' is not in the Greek text but I can’t think of a better example than this for how we need to wait on the Lord.
We need to give up our expectations and live with expectancy.
When we live with expectancy; we lie in wait for God to move.
You get the irony right? If we’re the prodigal child, then God is the outrageous Father. And so he’s the one lying in wait for us. When he sees us even a long way off; He’s filled with love and compassion and runs to embrace us.
In order to TRUST God as our good, good Father we need to know God as our good, good Father. Make space to curl up on His lap. Give Him your problems. Receive from Him His peace.
Do I wait for the Lord? How can I start doing that again?
R - Remember what He’s done
Revelation 12:10-11 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
If you want to know God as your good, good Father you need to look at what he has done and is doing and decide to focus on what’s still left undone.
Remember the time that John the Baptist was in jail and he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one or if they should wait for another? He expected the Messiah to come and set the prisoners free and he was in prison. So John wanted to make sure the voice he heard from heaven had got it right. What did Jesus tell John’s disciples to tell John?
Matthew 11:4-6 NLT Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
Some translations say “and blessed is he who is unoffended because of me”
When we look to out lack, instead of to our Lord, we can become offended at God.
Look to the Lord, not to your lack. How do we do that?
Through testimony. It’s what Jesus gave John’s disciples to take back to John. He told them to tell him what the saw and heard.
This is the power of testimony. This is why we need talk to each other about what God is doing in our lives. Make it a practice to remember your testimony - write it down and share your testimony - talk to each other about the good things of God.
The saints will overcome by the blood of the lamb AND the word of their testimony.
What can I remember Father God has done for me?
U - Understand you can experience more of His love
Ephesians 3:14-19 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Did you know you can know more and more and more about God? Look at what Paul says in
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
This follows up his section defining what agapeo love is… that love that’s a choice. Love that is patient and kind that isn’t jealous or boastful or proud or rude or demand it’s own way or be irritable or keep record of being wrong … that’s the love we can choose to have and that’s the love God has towards us.
We can’t know that until we experience more and more of his grace. His grace for us and his grace for others.
But what a good goal …experience the love of God, though it is too great to understand fully.
Never stop growing in the love of the Father.
Am I putting God the Father in a box?
S - Surrender fear. Let His love rule.
1 John 4:17-18 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Have you experienced His perfect love? When you experience it you never want to lose it. If you lost it you know you need to have it back.
How do you do that?
When Jehoshaphat was facing three armies; he sent his praisers at the head of his army. When Paul and Silas where thrown in a jail in Philippi… let’s look at that one quickly.
Acts 16:20-26 NLT “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!
There is something that happens when we praise God when it doesn’t make to praise God. The chains don’t always fall off physically; but emotionally and spiritually they do. Sometimes we have to fight the battle, but it’s always best to praise your way through it.
Give up fear. What does Peter tell us?
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
We can cast our worries and cares on God, because He cares for us.
What’s that song we sing? Praise your name
I'm gonna sing my way out of the valley I'm gonna shout my way up to the mountain I will take hold of the truth of Your promise I'm gonna praise, I'm gonna praise I'm gonna push through till every lie crumbles I'm gonna dance in the midst of the rain I'm gonna rest in the arms of the Father I'm gonna praise, I'm gonna praise Your name
Praise him before the victory. Show gratitude and appreciate before the blessing. It’s not wishful thinking it’s rewiring your mind to think about what is true, and noble, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable—and excellent or worthy of praise.
If you want to trust God as your good, good Father you need to surrender fear and embrace perfect love.
Do I let His perfect love drive out all fear?
T - Thank God for what He’s done.
Colossians 3:14-17 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Gratitude is the attitude that helps us trust God to be our good, good Father.
David knew how to thank God. Look at this example from Psalm 28
Psalm 28:6-9 NLT Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The Lord gives his people strength. He is a safe fortress for his anointed king. Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever.
Thanksgiving motivates us to spend more time in His prescence. (Psalm 100:4) It empowers our testimony. (Psalm 103:1-4) It gives us a hunger for more of His love. (Colossians 2:6-7) Thanksgiving reminds us we don’t have to fear. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) If He’s done it before, he’ll do it again.
Gratitude helps us to TRUST God as our good, good, Father.
Do I have a grateful heart?
T - Take time to wait for the Lord always.
R - Remember what He’s done
U - Understand there is more of His love to experience
S - Surrender fear. Let His love rule.
T - Thank God for what He’s done.
It’s not enough to know God the Father, we need to experience more and more of His love. Let’s take time to do that today…
Can we play the music?
Pray.
Reflection
Psalm 139: 1-18 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
More than all the sand on every beach on every ocean and every dune in every desert are His good thoughts towards you.
This Blessing from the Book comes from Psalm 20:1-3. It reminds us that God wants to keep us safe. Sign up for the full course at http://revtrev.link/blessing #blessing #Bible #encourage #encouragement #hope #trust #faith
Watch Blessing - Day 28 - May the name of God keep you safe
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation. Get all the Courses and Resources in Live LIGHT Academy for one low price - Learn more http://revtrev.link/pathway
Verse
Psalm 20:1-3 (HCSB) May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah
Blessing
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May God send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May God remember all your gifts and look favourably on your burnt offerings.
Reflection Question
Am I trusting God to keep me safe?
Can I pray for you?
Lord I thank you that you keep us safe from so many things we will never know this side of heaven. Thank you for the times we’ve recognized your provision and protection was obviously from you. Help us to see your hand protecting us more. Don’t let us give credit that belongs to you to coincidence or luck. Help us to praise you with all of heart for what you’ve done and are doing and are going to do. Amen.
You can get the enhanced audio version at https://revtrev.com/radio. But you can only pick your blessing that you need TODAY and get the enhanced video version when you sign up at http://revtrev.link/blessing. Sign up today!
This Blessing from the Book comes from Hebrews 13:21. It reminds us that God every good thing in us. Sign up for the full course at http://revtrev.link/blessing #blessing #Bible #encourage #encouragement #hope #trust #faith
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation. Learn more http://revtrev.link/pathway
Verse
Hebrews 13:21 (HCSB) equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.Amen.
Blessing
May God produce in you every good thing that is pleasing to Him.
Reflection Question
Is God pleased with the way I’m living the life He gave me?
Can I pray?
Lord I thank you that You rejoice over us with singing. I thank you that You are our good, good Father. I am amazed and humbled that before the worlds began you chose us to be holy and blameless. Thank you that we can trust you to finish the good work you started in us and finish the good work you’ve started in others. Help us please you today. Amen
You can get the enhanced audio version at https://revtrev.com/radio. But you can only pick your blessing that you need TODAY and get the enhanced video version when you sign up at http://revtrev.link/blessing. Sign up today!
This Blessing from the Book comes from Colossians 2:2. It reminds us that God wants us to have complete confidence understanding His plan. Sign up for the full course at http://revtrev.link/blessing #blessing #Bible #encourage #encouragement #hope #trust #faith
Watch Blessing - Day 19 - May you have complete confidence…
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation. Learn more http://revtrev.link/pathway
Verse
Colossians 2:2 (HCSB) I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ.
Blessing
May you have complete confidence that you understand God’s mysterious plan.
Reflection Question
Do I have complete confidence that God is good?
Can I pray for you?
Lord, I ask that knowledge from our lips would supernaturally move into our heart. May we decide we are confident that you are good and in a good mood. And may we act as if you are good and in a good mood. Also, may we feel the joy and hope and peace that comes when we trust you are good and in a good mood. Thank you for being good and thank you for being in a good mood and we can your mysterious plan. Amen.
You can get the enhanced audio version at https://revtrev.com/radio. But you can only pick your blessing that you need TODAY and get the enhanced video version when you sign up at http://revtrev.link/blessing. Sign up today.
This Blessing from the Book comes from Hebrews 13:21. It reminds us that God every good thing in us. Sign up for the full course at http://revtrev.link/blessing #blessing #Bible #encourage #encouragement #hope #trust #faith
Listen to Blessing - Day 21 - May God produce in you…
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation. Learn more http://revtrev.link/pathway
Verse
Hebrews 13:21 (HCSB) ...equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.Amen.
Blessing
May God produce in you every good thing that is pleasing to Him.
Reflection Question
Is God pleased with the way I’m living the life He gave me?
Can I pray?
Lord I thank you that You rejoice over us with singing. I thank you that You are our good, good Father. I am amazed and humbled that before the worlds began you chose us to be holy and blameless. Thank you that we can trust you to finish the good work you started in us and finish the good work you’ve started in others. Help us please you today. Amen
You can get the enhanced audio version at https://revtrev.com/radio. But you can only pick your blessing that you need TODAY and get the enhanced video version when you sign up at http://revtrev.link/blessing. Sign up today!
This reflection helps you to remember to remember. A reflection is the truth of scripture that’s personalized with a question to help you think about how to apply it. Get the devotional at http://revtrev.link/fast. Subscribe to the podcast at https://revtrev.com/radio. #LiveLIGHT #Blessing #Peace #Hope #negativity #thoughts
Watch the live cast Day 39 - I remember to remember Reflection
You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation.
I remember to remember to the good things God has done. I remember His encouragement, His strengthening and His miracles. I remember I have been through the waters and He has been with me. I have passed through the rivers and I have not been drowned. I have walked through the fire, and have not be burned, the flames did not set me ablaze. He has been so good to me.
What’s something God entrusted to me that I haven’t thought about lately?
I help you fast from negativity and move to life-giving positivity. Learn more and sign up to get the 46 Daily Reflections, 46 Daily Devotionals AND the join a life-giving community so that you can move from toxic negativity to life-giving positivity. Get it all at http://revtrev.link/fast #LiveLIGHT #Blessing #Peace #Hope #negativity
