Author: astherainandsnow

“He was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’

“Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” John 20:24-28

What was a grey maroon scrape is now an open wound, blood red on the horizon. Like so many days, widespread and pleasant beauty marked by suffering. The color is what catches attention, catches breath. And catches the heart up into the Savior.

Beautiful Savior He came, ministering welcome to the outcast, friendship to the hated, restoration to the broken. He spent and spilled out love as He walked miles, taught truth, fed thousands, calmed storms. Marvelous were His words and works, only to be punctuated by the ugliness of death. Nails driven through the very hands that broke bread and soothed fever and healed the blind and leprous. Nails through the feet that walked to Lazarus’s grave, among the crowds, onto the boat, across the water, toward the cross. Despised, stricken, His majesty and beauty marred, He died for us. (Isaiah 53:2-4)

When days and lives begin in fresh opportunity and get cut short or turn dark, when dreams and plans are scarred, we can know these are not meant to mar contentment and hope, but to remind of us of ultimate joy. Wounds have meaning, and redemptive power. Scars are symbols of resurrection and healing that Jesus won for us. Would we know, touch, and accept them, and believe like Thomas that our God is Lord over even these?

What do scars bring to mind this day? How grateful are we for Christ’s glory laid by, glory manifested in His love and life raised? What will we sacrifice in response?

“When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.” ~Isaac Watts (1709)

Lord, make me grateful for scars You bore and grant, that I might love and live for Your sake.

“This is the covenant that I will make with Israel after those days, declares the Lord: ‘I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’

“Thus says the Lord,
who gives the sun for light by day
and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the Lord of hosts is his name:
‘If this fixed order departs
from before me, declares the Lord,
then shall the offspring of Israel cease
from being a nation before me forever.’” Jeremiah 31:33-36

Dawn is barely teasing, but its fixed order will surely bring it round. An impatient rouged pink cloud pokes and streaks its way across the deep blue to announce that the sun is on its way. Even the moon smiles, a high small magnet pulling her upward before it disappears, camouflaged in her light. Watch, behold, contemplate the magnificent rhythm, perfection of gravity and orbits and balance, the excellent and beyond-beautiful handiwork of Creator God.

In creation, God fashioned the intricacies of the world for His crowning glory, man, whom He then made in His image. When all was prepared, He brought forth man to rule over it and be fruitful. His order was exquisitely planned and precisely executed in time and design. And He continues to rule heavens, earth, and the human heart. (Genesis 1:1-18)

We know people with high capacity and exemplary giftedness, and may ourselves be able to multitask well or accomplish much in a given span of time. But the infinite capacity of Almighty God is incomparable. It stretches the imagination beyond measure to comprehend a Creator who knows each star by name and upholds them by His power even as He knows every pang of every heart, hears each spoken and unspoken word of our prayers, and works good in every circumstance and sanctification simultaneously for His own. He is indeed beyond understanding and explanation. And in His vast greatness, He is knowable. (Psalm 147:4-5; Isaiah 40:26; Romans 8:28-30; Colossians 1:16-17)

That the Lord chose us to know Him, that by His perfect will and grace He planted in us His living Spirit, and that He keeps us in love and covenant promise, should undo us. When we gaze at His skies, our smallness magnifies His infinite glory. We can both bow and surrender, hush and sing. This omnipotent Sovereign is mine and I am His! (Psalm 8:1-9)

These things are true, yet often do not make their way into our insecurities, conditional comparisons, and fretting. We say we believe He loves and preserves us, yet rue being left out, overlooked, coming up short. When will we draw strength, purpose, and confidence from His pledge of light and order for our days? How will we honor His infinite capacity today?

Father, keep me in honest, right relationship with Your infinite greatness- humble, yielded, thankful.

“While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul… Ish-bosheth [Saul’s son] said to Abner, ‘Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?’ Then Abner was very angry… ‘God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and Judah.’

“Abner sent to David, saying, ‘To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you… I will arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires…’

“Then Joab went to the king and said, ‘What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you… You know that [he] came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.’

“Joab… sent messengers after Abner, and brought him back… But David did not know about it. When Abner returned, Joab took him aside… and struck him in the stomach, so that he died… When David heard of it, he said, ‘I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner’… So Joab and Abishai killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.” 2 Samuel 3:6-10a,12,21,24-28,30

Abner was driven by inner integrity, a reasonableness and loyalty based on God’s promise. He’d been faithful to Saul, and now vowed to support God’s next anointed regent. His transfer of commitment from one king’s family to the next was understood and welcomed by David, who shared his sense of fidelity before God. In contrast, Joab was driven by competition, anger, jealousy. As General, he appeared to zealously support David, but brooding with suspicion and violence, he acted to protect his own pride. His fiery motivations expressed themselves in impulsive vengeance contrary to David’s way of ruling. (2 Samuel 2:12-28; 3:31-39)

What we foster on the inside manifests itself on our outside. Internal process becomes external action. To behave uprightly we cannot hoard or stoke embers of sin within. Acknowledging flesh tendencies as well as God’s redeeming power gives both wisdom and hope. God demands purity in the innermost place to free us to encourage others and please Him. (Luke 6:45)

Where is hidden sin causing misery? Could depression, restlessness, or stress be exacerbated by long-held angst over circumstances, or coddled resentment? Will we bring these habits to the light of Christ’s forgiveness? (Psalm 32:1-5,10-11)

What outward expressions are fueled by inner selfishness, bitterness, or anger? Where are we given to impulse over self-control, and what will we do about it? What tone of voice needs changing, rants assuaging, impatience softening? In loved ones, would we pray for inner purity before outward conformity? God’s grace applied transforms the worst of us, enabling tendencies and expressions to reflect Christ in us, our hope of glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:27; 1 John 1:9)

Lord, keep clean my innermost so I reflect You with my outermost and exalt You to the uttermost. (Psalm 51:2-4,6-10)

“After this David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?’ And the Lord said, “Go up… [t]o Hebron.^’ So David went up there, and his two wives also… And David brought up his men.., everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

“When they told David, ‘It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,’ David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, ‘May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.’” 2 Samuel 2:1-7

Samuel had prophesied that David would be king, but David was content and intent on serving king Saul until God’s appointed time. His lament over the the deaths of Saul and Jonathan displayed genuine grief, and then he humbly sought the Lord for next steps. Continual communion with the Lord and reliance on His word kept David in tune with His will. From this heavenly vantage point he handled the particulars of his reign, winning the favor of men by seeking God’s. The Holy Spirit directed and infused his dealing with all parties and situations. (1 Samuel 15:17-19,26; 16:1-3,11-13; 2 Samuel 1:11-27)

The human heart is fickle, often wavering between loyalties, interests, and intentions. We have high aspirations, desire to be right with God and humble, yet are easily swayed by the enticements of power and notoriety. We care about others until we have to put them first. We champion rights until they infringe on ours. We can’t help but want to seize and exert control, and in doing so can squelch all grace and kindness that would adorn relationships. (1 Kings 12:1-15; Philippians 2:3-4)

Daily surrender to the Lord fits us into our place in His plans. It aligns us with His ways and tempo, directs our thinking and doing. It enables us to have His mind and be strong in what is right but contrary to current culture. It supplies graciousness, selflessness, and generosity in our impulses toward others. It steps us in godly motivation and eternal perspective. And because of these, it blesses those around us.

In what area of influence has the Lord set us? How uprightly are we handling our responsibilities? Do we exercise assigned authority with thankfulness, grace, appreciation, and dependence on God’s leading? How surrendered are we? It’s important to remember where we came from and that every stewardship is from and for the true King. He will not fail to give wisdom and inspiration for required decisions and divine diplomacy. He will establish us when we seek, trust, and obey Him. (Proverbs 3:3-6; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; James 1:17)

My King, keep me aware of and dependent on You in every facet of life, that I may exercise Your graciousness and wisdom for the blessing of others.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 1:9; 4:8

One aspect of the perfection of God is that He infinitely is every one of His attributes, and does according to who He is. He can do nothing apart from the very nature that imagines, designs, plans, fuels, and performs. He who creates is Creator, who lives in us is life, who justifies is just and justice, who loves is love. He is Wisdom embodied and imparted, the Way who guides, the Bread who feeds and sustains. He is Light who reveals, burns, and illumines, the God of all comfort who comforts, the Truth who enlightens. (John 6:35,48; 8:12; 14:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 1 John 4:8)

And this God is ours! He owns us, adores us, and invites our pleas. He is near and intimately involved in all our ways, concerned with all that concerns us. Do we avail ourselves of His grace and bounty? (Psalm 139:3; Jeremiah 33:3; Zephaniah 3:17)

What attribute of God are we lacking this day? Wisdom, grace, physical or mental might? Creativity from the Creator in a work situation or a complex problem? Hope or faith from its Author? From what doubt or anxiety do we need deliverance from the Deliverer, from what nagging sins victory from the Victor? Where are we wanting for the discipline or directing of the Father? (Psalm 103:13; Jeremiah 32:17-21,27,38-41; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 12:2,7-11; James 1:5)

The One in whom is the fullness of all things can fill us with His Spirit. The Savior in whom are all things graciously endows us with the same. Jehovah Shalom, God of Peace, guards our hearts and minds with salvation. (Ephesians 5:18; 6:13,17; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 2:9; Romans 8:32; Hebrews 1:2-3 )

How are we endeavoring to know Christ? As we come to understand His attributes in their fullness, which ones will we claim? Which ones will we praise?

“O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to your praise!” ~Robert Grant (1833)

Lord on High, lift my sights, trust, and praise to all You are and do, unto Your great glory.

“And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews…’ And those who passed by derided him… So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him… And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

“Now from the sixth hour  there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?..’ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.  The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,  and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'” Matthew 27:35-37,39,41,44-46,50-54

The morning had likely been ordinary for the soldiers enlisted to crucify the criminals that fair day. But there was something different about this one. His look, His demeanor. His peaceful countenance. His calm was such a contrast to the vitriolic, cruel crowd. Watching Him changed them forever.

Watching over Jesus changes us too. We cannot help but see His serene and absolutely powerful authority. His perfect yieldedness to His Father’s will. His determination to finish what He’d left the glory of heaven to do for us. His wordless suffering as He suffocated, bearing the full weight of our sins. And His love! What wondrous love!

Do I squirm from keeping watch over Jesus, lingering at the cross, the bleeding nail wounds and excruciating vileness of my sin and its fallout? Am I angry that He did not resist, nor stop loving and administering grace? Do I pridefully look on only at a distance, unwilling to face the horror He endured for me? (Matthew 27:55; Luke 23:32-34)

Do I chafe at watching with Jesus, eager to get on with my day, or task, impatient to wait for His direction, or filling? Would I take time to watch how He would enter and execute my day, then go forth in His countenance and strength?

“O teach me what it meaneth,
That cross uplifted high,
With One, the Man of Sorrows,
Condemned to bleed and die!
O teach me what it cost Thee
To make a sinner whole;
And teach me, Savior, teach me
The value of a soul!

O infinite Redeemer!
I bring no other plea;
Because Thou dost invite me
I cast myself on Thee.
Because Thou dost accept me
I love and I adore;
Because Thy love constraineth,
I’ll praise Thee evermore!” ~ Lucy Bennett (1850-1927)

My Lord Jesus, may I watch over You throughout my days, that they be filled with awe and praise.

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” Psalm 1:1-4

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery… Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:1,16,25

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10

A man’s blessedness has everything to do with his position in regard to God’s word. The blessing of God comes to the one who walks, stands, and sits with Him, yet is withheld when he does not. A pattern of good living, a bold confidence, and a firm foundation grounded and soaked in the living Word ensure His gracious benediction. Those decisions put into motion a lifestyle that pleases Him, bears much fruit, and stands apart from the world’s ways. The choice and call to delight in the Lord and not be deceived are clear.

The carrying out of that call is a long journey in the same direction. Step by step, intention by intention, day by day, when God’s children immerse themselves in His law they will grow roots and flourish with spiritual fruit wherever God leads. The workplace, the home, neighborhood, relationships, and ministries, everywhere he walks will bear the footprint of the Almighty. It will permeate with the fragrance of His presence, the touch of His wisdom and grace. (2 Corinthians 2:15)

The warning for us is to check our positions and keep them in balance. Are we frenzied in busy activity that has escaped the quiet conferring of His insight, the setting of His compass? Would we walk instead at His tempo, in His direction? Have we grown complacent to stand with and parrot complainers? Are we spiritually slouching, weary of doing good, unconcerned about His world, and closed to fresh instruction from His Word? Do we meditate on what is lofty, or worldly? Do we instead fixate? When are we silent and undistracted, jealously and intentionally taking time to worship and listen to God’s voice? Life established in Christ is indeed blessed.

Lord, keep me faithful in my sitting, standing, and walking, that I might bear fruit for the benefit of those around me and to Your glory.

“And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.^’ And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And the blind man said to him, ‘Rabbi, let me recover my sight.^’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.” Mark 10:46-52

The noisy buzz became clamor, the gentle distant rhythm a thundering on the ground as a crowd approached where the blind man sat. But this day was different. He’d heard the Teacher was among them. Rather than beg for a donation as he’d always done, he cried out for Jesus, distinct among men and name above all names, and asked that He’d have mercy on him. Jesus called back.

A great concert of faith wells up when our deepest cries meet the Lord’s awakening of our spirit. Our very recognition of who He is comes by His prompting, and when that swells to specific asking for Him to do according to specific power, there breaks forth a lovely crescendo of will. The cry and the call blend in unison to heal and sanctify and magnify glory.

Is my begging among men and for temporal insignificances, or do I daily assess deeper soul needs and beseech my God? Do frenzied internet searching or satisfaction with cursory conversations reveal the emptiness of a pauper? What would change in my temperament, my outlook, my vitality, if I sought for meaning in the One who created it, and me for it?

Once He realigns soul direction, where is God uniquely calling us to respond in faith according to a particular gift or offering? Do we listen keenly enough in the cacaphony of worldliness to recognize His voice, and quickly spring up in answer to His offered mercy?

“If thou but suffer God to guide thee, 
and hope in God through all thy ways, 
God will give strength, whate’er betide thee, 
and bear thee through the evil days.  
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love 
builds on the rock that naught can move. 

Only be still, and wait God’s leisure 
in cheerful hope, with heart content 
to take whate’er thy Maker’s pleasure 
and all-discerning love hath sent; 
we know our inmost wants are known, 
for we are called to be God’s own. 

Sing, pray, and keep God’s ways unswerving; 
so do thine own part faithfully, 
and trust God’s word; though undeserving, 
thou yet shalt find it true for thee.  
God never yet forsook at need 
the soul that trusted God indeed.” ~Georg Neumark (1641) 

Father, so blend our voices that the world hears and sees only You.

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit… All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-8,11-13

“By the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:3-8

God not only makes, but assigns and arranges His people with certain gifts for His purposes. He orders families, churches, communities at specific seasons and places to achieve a number of coincidental plans for individual and communal benefit. And He designs variations of personality traits to accompany the expression of each measure of grace. Variety is His sacred spice of robust life in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:14-27)

As He wills. Why do we have such problems with His choices? Given through the Spirit. Though all one in Spirit, and all part of the same organic supernatural body, we tend to like variety until we don’t. In one Spirit. We’re fond of those with winsome demeanor, but can chafe at those who are contrary. God has assigned. We confer with the agreeable and supportive, but can resist or avoid those who would challenge or refine. According to grace given. We prefer to pick our place and people and dismiss what and whom we disagree with, or don’t like. One body in Christ.

Change in attitude can happen when we believe these words. If our minds are set on what we think and want, what feels good and causes no friction, we’ll go through life as limp spiritual appendages. But if we take to heart what God says is true, that members of all varieties make vital contribution to us and to His Body at work in the world, we’ll enjoy harmony and fruitfulness.

Which will it be? How can I welcome and foster variety in my relationships and work, both secular and sacred? How can I more practically seek the Body’s good over my own?

Lord, enable me to serve fully as You designed and intend, for common good and Your uncommon glory.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?’
‘Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?’

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

“Behold, God is exalted in his power;
    who is a teacher like him?
Who has prescribed for him his way?..

“Remember to extol his work,
    of which men have sung.
All mankind has looked on it;
    man beholds it from afar.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
    the number of his years is unsearchable.” Job 36:22-26

“Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
    or what man shows him his counsel?” Isaiah 40:13

“Who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?” Jeremiah 50:44

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

There is nothing like considering the Almighty to put man in his place, nor His ways to correct a man’s intentions or redirect a man’s plans. The mighty David knew from his young days as a shepherd that his Lord held glory above the heavens. His son Solomon knew in his vast wisdom that the highest heavens could not contain Him. The scriptures reveal over and over the inscrutable, indescribable, immeasurable ways of the One who was, is, and always will be. (Psalm 8:1-6; 1 Kings 4:29-34; 8:27; 10:1-9; Revelation 1:8)

If we know God’s ways are perfect, we can embrace His every providence. We can receive what flows to us through His sovereign hands, whether by allowance or orchestration, as redemptive and sanctifying. We can accept the order He implements in our days and years as good. We can trust His interruptions as purposeful. We can expectantly seek His directions and trust His eternal purposes. As His ways are without fault, so are His timing, gifting, providing, and withholding. His righteousness, justice, and holiness are infinite and unchanging. His love exceeds the heavens, His faithfulness the skies. (2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30; 36:5; 108:4)

Do we want to be fortified by these certainties? Are we plumbing the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God? How? When? It doesn’t just happen at the snap of desire. What plan are we implementing? What specific time do we guard, what niggling distractions set aside, to dive deep in discovery and wonder of all He is and does? How consistently, systematically, and thoroughly do we read the Word? (Proverbs 2:1-11; Jeremiah 29:12-13)

Is there a friend with whom we could be accountable in study and memorization? In what regular community are we participating that lifts our sights and elevates conversation? Whom are we encouraging to know and marvel at God’s inscrutable deeds? How are we communicating, in word or action, what we learn and love about Him? (Psalm 34:1-3)

Lord, cause me daily to stop and consider Your wondrous works, and respond with vitality in praise, gratitude, selflessness, and joy, to Your highest honor. (Job 37:14; Romans 12:11)