REASONING WITH GOD - Do you have a question about God? A question about your circumstances? Make the Bible your only safe source of knowledge about him. Make this a commitment for the year. “’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD.” -Isaiah 1:18 When tragedy blindsides you and almost knocks you silly, you are understandably bewildered. You feel confusion and panic. You may feel afraid that more hardship will come on top of it all. You may feel like cursing. Or praying. You may feel a thousand things. But at some point, somewhere along the line, if you don’t stop feeling and start thinking about how to attend to the circumstances you find yourself in, you’ll freeze. Yes, intense suffering calls for deep emotions. In the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, people weep. We should weep. God weeps. But there is also a time to think. Neither can replace the other. When you are able to raise your head above the heartache in which you are swimming, the Bible tells you to take the next step. It is full of commands to “think,” “ponder,” “consider,” “weigh,” and “judge.” Jesus often turned questions about the meaning of life, death, and suffering back onto the questioner. “What is written in the Law?” he would ask. People would blink, sniff back their feelings, flip the pages in their mind, think out loud, and come up with the relevant passages. But this didn’t end the discussion. Next was the real work. “How do you read it?”

 

Reasoning with God

Do you have a question about God? A question about your circumstances? Make the Bible your only safe source of knowledge about him. Make this a commitment for the year.

Joni and Friends

Daily Devotional

 

“’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD.” -Isaiah 1:18

 

When tragedy blindsides you and almost knocks you silly, you are understandably bewildered. You feel confusion and panic.

You may feel afraid that more hardship will come on top of it all. You may feel like cursing. Or praying.

You may feel a thousand things. But at some point, somewhere along the line, if you don’t stop feeling and start thinking about how to attend to the circumstances you find yourself in, you’ll freeze.

Yes, intense suffering calls for deep emotions. In the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, people weep.

We should weep. God weeps. But there is also a time to think. Neither can replace the other.

When you are able to raise your head above the heartache in which you are swimming, the Bible tells you to take the next step.

It is full of commands to “think,” “ponder,” “consider,” “weigh,” and “judge.”

Jesus often turned questions about the meaning of life, death, and suffering back onto the questioner.

“What is written in the Law?” he would ask. People would blink, sniff back their feelings, flip the pages in their mind, think out loud, and come up with the relevant passages.

But this didn’t end the discussion. Next was the real work. “How do you read it?”

Jesus would ask. That is, what do you think these Scriptures mean? Jesus never allowed room for sloppy or sentimental thinking about the tough issues of life. (Estes)

What you think about God influences your friendship with him. It affects how much glory you give him.

But your imagination about God (especially in the midst of tragedy) isn’t reliable.

If we simply trust our emotions about him, we recreate him in our own image. We then become like the people Paul described: “They are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge” (Romans 10:2).

Do you have a question about God?

A question about your circumstances?

Make the Bible your only safe source of knowledge about him. Make this a commitment for the year.

Help me to search for you, God, not in my imaginations but in your Word.

Joni and Friends is built on Biblical truth and the foundation of Jesus Christ. Since 1979, we've been advancing disability ministry and changing the church and communities around the world. The Joni and Friends International Disability Center (IDC) serves as the administrative center for ministry programs and locations across the United States which provide outreach to thousands of families impacted by disability around the globe.

We present the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all of our programs around the world. We train, disciple, and mentor people affected by disability to exercise their gifts of leadership and service in their churches and communities. We energize the church to move from lack of awareness of people impacted by disability to including everyone into the fabric of worship, fellowship, and outreach.

https://www.joniandfriends.org/reasoning-with-god/

 

ARE GOD’S PLANS MEANT FOR GOOD? - God uses all things. He even redeems suffering. God wants to take our pain and heartache and transform us through it. He wants to use it for His glory and for our good, to make us more like Jesus for our sake and the sake of the world. Because guess what our world needs? You got it — our world needs Jesus. And guess what God’s good plan for our world may be? A transformed you and me. “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 (NIV) God knows the plans He has for your life, and they’re meant for good. I don’t know your life, but maybe it’s hard to believe that a God with good intentions would plan each part of the life you’ve lived. I get it. But what if God’s definition of “good” is different than ours? When I tell you God’s plans are meant for good, I’m not talking about the Western world’s definition of good: comfortable, easy and successful. I’m talking about the good described in Romans 8:28 (emphasis added): “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” In the next verse, Paul tells us what he means by good: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son …” (Romans 8:29a, emphasis added). While only God knows the plans, we can know something about His intent for every part of them.

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Are God’s Plans Meant for Good?

God uses all things. He even redeems suffering. God wants to take our pain and heartache and transform us through it. He wants to use it for His glory and for our good, to make us more like Jesus for our sake and the sake of the world. Because guess what our world needs? You got it — our world needs Jesus. And guess what God’s good plan for our world may be? A transformed you and me.

Megan Fate Marshman

 

 “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 (NIV)

 

God knows the plans He has for your life, and they’re meant for good.

I don’t know your life, but maybe it’s hard to believe that a God with good intentions would plan each part of the life you’ve lived. I get it. But what if God’s definition of “good” is different than ours?

When I tell you God’s plans are meant for good, I’m not talking about the Western world’s definition of good: comfortable, easy and successful.

I’m talking about the good described in Romans 8:28 (emphasis added): “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

In the next verse, Paul tells us what he means by good: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son …” (Romans 8:29a, emphasis added).

While only God knows the plans, we can know something about His intent for every part of them.

He plans to use all things for good. God wants to use the messy, the confusing, the painful and even that one part of your life to transform you more into the image of His Son.

If God’s good plan is to make us more like Jesus, then we can expect trials. After all, Jesus’ life was marked by trials.

I can’t picture a “comfortable” way to carry a cross, but that’s exactly what Jesus did. And He asks us to do the same. Therefore, we need to accept our trials, instead of run from them.

Thankfully, we know from Jesus’ life that there’s purpose to our pain. God doesn’t waste anything, including suffering. He doesn’t always remove us from trials, because He plans to use them.

God didn’t rescue Noah by stopping the flood; God kept him safe in the waves.

God didn’t save Daniel from the lion’s den; He protected him with the beasts at his side.

God didn’t save Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from going into a fire; He saved them in the midst of the flames.

And do you remember their faith-filled words in Daniel 3:17-18? After they proclaimed, “the God we serve is able,” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said these two words: “even if.”

Even if God didn’t rescue them from the fire, they chose to trust His plans. Wow! Even though God is able, we can trust Him when He doesn’t do what we think should be done.

Even if God’s plans for our lives aren’t what we hoped for, learning to trust God is part of His good plan.

God is not saving us from trials; He’s wanting to transform us through them. And I don’t just know this from studying Scripture; I know this from my own life.

God has used my failures to make me dependent upon my heavenly Father. He’s used rejection to make me full of grace and truth. He’s used my lack of control to form me into a prayer warrior. He wants to use what you’re going through, too.

So, let me ask you, how might God use what you’re going through to form you more into the likeness of Jesus?

God uses all things. He even redeems suffering. God wants to take our pain and heartache and transform us through it. He wants to use it for His glory and for our good, to make us more like Jesus for our sake and the sake of the world.

Because guess what our world needs? You got it — our world needs Jesus. And guess what God’s good plan for our world may be? A transformed you and me.

Heavenly Father, thank You for using trials in my life to make me more like You. Help me to trust You in the process. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Romans 8:29, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (NIV)

2 Timothy 2:11-12a, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.” (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES

God has a good plan for you — a plan to give you hope and a future. Are you ready to believe it? Grab a copy of Megan Fate Marshman’s newest book, Meant for Good, and the accompanying Bible study curriculum.

CONNECT

You can also find out more about Megan Fate Marshman by visiting meganfate.com or by following her on Instagram @meganfate.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

As you consider God using all things in your life for good, which part of your life comes to mind? What might God want to use for good to form you more into the likeness of Jesus?

Megan Fate Marshman loves God and His church. She’s a dynamic Bible teacher to international audiences, and she serves as one of the teaching pastors at Willow Creek Community Church and director of women’s ministries at Hume Lake Christian Camps. Megan currently lives in Southern California with her family. Find her on Instagram @meganfate.

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2020/08/05/are-gods-plans-meant-for-good

 

EPHESIANS 3:20: THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US - God wants us to clearly perceive the exceeding magnitude and excellence of the power He can exert for those of us who believe. He demonstrated this power when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and placed him in a position of excellence far above any other power. This tells us that there is no other power more excellent than God’s, and no authority on earth greater than the authority God has given us in the name of Jesus Christ….As we reach out to others, we sometimes encounter challenges that seem overwhelming. We may wonder whether we can bring the same kind of deliverance to these situations that Jesus Christ was able to bring to those he encountered. At times like these, we must go to God’s Word to get the strength and encouragement we need. Ephesians 3:20 is a tremendous go-to verse in these situations. Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” This verse explodes with power and abundance! But how do we tap into this power? How do we unlock, unleash, and “upload” this power to a greater degree in our lives and in helping others? Let’s focus on Ephesians 3:20 to engrave two great realities into our thinking: God can do, and we can do. Strengthened with these truths, we can put our believing into action as we see it big, dare to do, and walk valiantly for God.

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Ephesians 3:20: The Power That Works in Us

God wants us to clearly perceive the exceeding magnitude and excellence of the power He can exert for those of us who believe. He demonstrated this power when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and placed him in a position of excellence far above any other power. This tells us that there is no other power more excellent than God’s, and no authority on earth greater than the authority God has given us in the name of Jesus Christ….

by The Way

 

As we reach out to others with God’s prevailing Word, we sometimes encounter challenges that seem overwhelming.

We may wonder whether we can bring the same kind of deliverance to these situations that Jesus Christ was able to bring to those he encountered.

At times like these, we must go to God’s Word to get the strength and encouragement we need. Ephesians 3:20 is a tremendous go-to verse in these situations.

Ephesians 3:20:

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

This verse explodes with power and abundance! But how do we tap into this power?

How do we unlock, unleash, and “upload” this power to a greater degree in our lives and in helping others?

Let’s focus on Ephesians 3:20 to engrave two great realities into our thinking:

(1) God can do, and

(2) we can do.

Strengthened with these truths, we can put our believing into action as we see it big, dare to do, and walk valiantly for God.

Like the believers in the first century, we can believe and utilize the superlative power God has freely given us to see His Word prevail, changing people’s lives for the better in our day and time.

First let’s focus on God can do. He is the source of our power.

Ephesians 3:20:

“Now unto him [God] that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think….”

The first part of Ephesians 3:20 describes God’s unlimited ability to supply all the power we need in order to manifest a superior spiritual quality of life.

First, it mentions God “that is able to do.”

The Greek word translated “to do” means to make, form, or produce something tangible.

The Greek word translated “that is able” means to have (inherent and moral) power. It is also translated “can” in the Bible.

I like to think of it as saying “God can do!” To those of us with military backgrounds, “can do” communicates that nothing is too hard, no matter how big or tough the mission is.

Our God is a can-do God!

How able is God? What can He do? Well, the Word tells us that with God, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

Things that are impossible with men are possible with God (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 18:27).

Anything that God has promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:21), and He has given us hundreds of promises in His Word to claim.

Ephesians 3:20 goes on to express the magnitude of God’s can-do ability as “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

Not just “above,” not just “exceeding above” — God can do “exceeding abundantly above” all that we ask or think, when we ask and think according to what He has promised in His Word!

This “exceeding abundantly above” can-do ability was demonstrated in Genesis 1 when God created the heavens and the earth.

Do you know how big the universe is? No one knows for sure, but to give you an idea of its vastness, astronomers have calculated that the Andromeda Galaxy (a huge mass of stars in the northern sky) is 2.4 to 3 million light-years from earth.

A light-year (the distance light travels in a vacuum in a year) is almost 6 trillion miles (nearly 9.5 trillion kilometers).

If it is 3 million light-years away from us, then the Andromeda Galaxy is about 18 quintillion miles (almost 29 quintillion kilometers) from earth. That’s the number 18 (or almost 29) with eighteen zeros after it!

This distance alone almost exceeds comprehension. Yet, the Andromeda Galaxy is considered a local galaxy, only a fraction of the distance astronomers have observed into the universe.

The size of the universe God created is greater than we can comprehend. It is astronomical!

Within the universe, astronomers estimate there are billions of galaxies, many of which contain several hundred billion stars.

This demonstration of God’s power in creating the heavens and the earth shows us His can-do ability is exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think!

Therefore, the power that He is able to supply to us is capable of accomplishing astronomically above anything we could ever want or need according to His Word.

Ephesians 1 also describes God’s can-do ability as follows:

Ephesians 1:19-23:

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energeia, energizing] of his mighty power, Which he wrought [energeō, energized] in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. ”

 

God wants us to clearly perceive the exceeding magnitude and excellence of the power He can exert for those of us who believe.

He demonstrated this power when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and placed him in a position of excellence far above any other power.

This tells us that there is no other power more excellent than God’s, and no authority on earth greater than the authority God has given us in the name of Jesus Christ….

 

This is an excerpt from the May/June 2016 issue of The Way Magazine.

For more information on subscribing to The Way Magazine, Click Here

 

About The Way International

The Way International, a global, nondenominational Christian ministry headquartered in rural Ohio, is dedicated to bringing the accuracy of God’s Word to the world. Established in 1942, The Way International has evolved into a Biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry that spans over thirty countries.

The Way recognizes that many people suffer from a lack of understanding regarding what God desires for their lives. As a result, followers of The Way are devoted to Biblical research in order to understand and teach what God originally intended when He had His Word written. Because the Word of God is the will of God, The Way teaches people of all ages how to understand the Bible for themselves and how to bring God’s promises of abundance and power into reality in their daily lives.

https://thewaymagazine.com/ephesians-320-the-power-that-works-in-us/

HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU - Salvation is God's work, not yours. God is sovereign in his salvation initiative. His work is a good work, and it's a sure work. You can rest in your Creator's capable hands. ”And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6 (ESV) Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi with these confident words. He had no doubt whatsoever that God would finish the good work he had begun in their lives. How does God complete his good work in us? We find the answer in Christ's words: "Abide in me." Jesus taught his disciple to remain in him: ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ”I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, ESV) What does it mean to abide in Christ? Jesus instructed his disciples to stay connected to him. He is the source of our life, the true vine, from which we grow and develop into completion. Jesus is the fountain of living water from which our lives flow. Abiding in Jesus Christ means connecting with him every morning, every evening, every moment of the day. We keep ourselves so interlinked with God’s life that others can't tell where we end and God begins.

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'He Who Began a Good Work in You'

Salvation is God's work, not yours. God is sovereign in his salvation initiative. His work is a good work, and it's a sure work. You can rest in your Creator's capable hands.

By Mary Fairchild

 

 

”And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  - Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

 

 

Today's Inspiring Thought: He Who Began a Good Work in You

Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi with these confident words. He had no doubt whatsoever that God would finish the good work he had begun in their lives.

How does God complete his good work in us?

We find the answer in Christ's words: "Abide in me."

Jesus taught his disciple to remain in him: 

”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

”I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, ESV)

What does it mean to abide in Christ? Jesus instructed his disciples to stay connected to him.

He is the source of our life, the true vine, from which we grow and develop into completion. Jesus is the fountain of living water from which our lives flow.

Abiding in Jesus Christ means connecting with him every morning, every evening, every moment of the day.

We keep ourselves so interlinked with God’s life that others can't tell where we end and God begins.

We spend time alone in God's presence and feast daily on his life-giving Word. We sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his voice.

We give thanks and praise him continually. We worship him as often as we are able. We gather together with other members of the body of Christ.

We serve him; we obey his commands, we love him. We follow him and make disciples. We give joyfully, serve others freely, and love all people. 

When we are firmly connected to Jesus, abiding in the vine, he can make something beautiful and complete with our lives. He does a good work, creating us anew in Jesus Christ as we abide in his love.

God's Work of Art

Did you know you are God’s work of art? He had plans in mind for you long ago, even before he made you:

”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Artists know that creating something beautiful — a true work of art — takes time. Each task requires an investment of the artist's creative self. Each work is unique, unlike any of his or her others.

The artist starts with a rough sketch, a swatch, an outline. Then little by little as the artist works with his creation carefully, painstakingly, lovingly, in time a beautiful masterpiece emerges.

”Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:14, NLT)

Many artists tell stories of complex works of art that took years and years to complete. Likewise, it takes years of abiding and daily connecting with the Lord for God to complete the good work he began in you.

The Day of Jesus Christ

As believers, we are to be growing in the Christian life a little each day. This process is called sanctification. Spiritual growth continues in committed and connected believers until the day Jesus Christ returns to the earth. God’s redeeming and renewing work will reach its climax on that day.

So, let me extend Paul's reassuring message of support to you today: God will fulfill — he will bring to completion — the good work he started in you.

What a relief! It's not up to you. God is the One who started it, and he is the One who will complete it.

Salvation is God's work, not yours. God is sovereign in his salvation initiative. His work is a good work, and it's a sure work. You can rest in your Creator's capable hands.

Mary Fairchild

Christianity Expert

Education

General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center

Introduction

Christian minister since 1988 with General Biblical Studies and Missions degrees

Full-time writer and editor specializing in Christianity, Bible study, and Christian living since 2005

Author and general editor of "Stories of Calvary"

Experience

Mary Fairchild has worked full time in Christian ministry since 1988. While in Bible School, she worked for a major city church as the assistant to the dean of Christian education. Next, Mary served on the foreign mission field in Brazil from 1990-1994. Upon returning to the States, Mary became a pastoral assistant and office manager for a large intercity church.

Mary worked as the general editor on several Christian books and booklets for Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. Recently, Mary joined the team of writers for GotQuestions.org, where she provides responses to questions related to the nature of God, the Scriptures, salvation, and other spiritual topics.

Education

Mary received a General Biblical Studies degree from an Interdenominational Christian Training Center in Central Florida. She also holds a Missions degree from Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School. 

Publications

"Stories of Calvary" (2008, Winepress Publishing)

"Exposing Samson" (General Editor, 2009, Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg)

A Message from Mary Fairchild

As a writer, my greatest passion is to study and expound on the Word of God. I’ve made it my goal to offer practical, applicable resources for living the Christian faith with authenticity in today's world. Inspired by the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12, I’ve adopted this purpose: "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 

Learn Religions and Dotdash

Our mission at Learn Religions is to help you explore the practices of your own faith, understand your neighbor’s beliefs, and familiarize yourself with the world’s major religions — regardless of your own spiritual background.

Learn Religions is part of the Dotdash family.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/god-starts-he-completes-day-89-701935

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He Who Began a Good Work In You

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/05/he-who-began-good-work-in-you-steve.html

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GOD HAS ALREADY WRITTEN YOUR LIFE - It is reassuring in the midst of trouble to know that God has a plan for us, and that it is a good one. Our Lord has been very clear in the New Testament about his intentions regarding those who have come to faith in his Son. And as we continue to place our trust in him, we begin to see that these plans are deeper and more satisfying than even our own ideas about “the good life.” God is taking care of you, you just have to let go and surrender everything to him! Allow him full control and trust him! - Wow! What a year! While many things that happened may have been a surprise to me, they were not at all to God. He knew exactly what trials and tribulations we were going to face. He knew what happy and joyous things were going to happen. God had it already planned out before it began. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. I find great comfort and security in knowing that God has my life planned out exactly how he wants it. God knows the exact moment that our death will occur. We can be free in knowing that we can live life fully relying on God that our life is in his hands. We just have to trust him and surrender our lives completely to him. I can enjoy an intimate walk with the One who is intimately involved in each minor detail of my day who never lets me out of his sight whose fatherly hand guides my every move and who is never limited or intimidated by my circumstances.

 

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God Has Already Written Your Life

It is reassuring in the midst of trouble to know that God has a plan for us, and that it is a good one. Our Lord has been very clear in the New Testament about his intentions regarding those who have come to faith in his Son. And as we continue to place our trust in him, we begin to see that these plans are deeper and more satisfying than even our own ideas about “the good life.” God is taking care of you, you just have to let go and surrender everything to him! Allow him full control and trust him!

lukestrong.org

 

Wow! What a year! While many things that happened may have been a surprise to me, they were not at all to God.

He knew exactly what trials and tribulations we were going to face. He knew what happy and joyous things were going to happen.

God had it already planned out before it began. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

I find great comfort and security in knowing that God has my life planned out exactly how he wants it.

God knew the exact day Jake and Luke would be born. He knew my son Luke was going to be diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 10 before he was formed in my womb.

He knew my son Jake was going to have Chiari Malformation and have to have brain surgery when he was only 5.

God knows the exact moment that our death will occur. I find so much freedom in knowing this profound truth. We can be free in knowing that we can live life fully relying on God that our life is in his hands.   

We just have to trust him and surrender our lives completely to him. I can enjoy an intimate walk with the One who is intimately involved in each minor detail of my day (Psalm 139:1-4 ) 

who never lets me out of his sight (Psalm 139:5-8),

whose fatherly hand guides my every move (Psalm 139:9-10), and

who is never limited or intimidated by my circumstances (Psalm 139:11-12)

I soak up the truth of who He is. I tell Him I am open to receive grace and comfort. I remind Him I trust Him, even though His ways are not mine and I am still sad and hurt.

According to Ephesians 1:11, “God works all things after the counsel of his will.”

This means that your life, all of it, has been worked out according to the counsel of God’s will.

In 2018, my family experienced some devastating events that have resulted in a drastically different outlook for the future than the one I had previously envisioned. 

Like many Christians, in hard times I have found myself considering Jeremiah 29:11, which says “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for you to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

It is reassuring in the midst of trouble to know that God has a plan for us, and that it is a good one. 

We need to stop holding on to our own idea of what the Lord’s plans for our welfare, future, and hope include.

Instead, we need to let the whole of God’s Word define his planned goodness to us.

Our Lord has been very clear in the New Testament about his intentions regarding those who have come to faith in his Son.

And as we continue to place our trust in him, we begin to see that these plans are deeper and more satisfying than even our own ideas about “the good life.”

God is taking care of you, you just have to let go and surrender everything to him! Allow him full control and trust him!

Remember God is so much better at orchestrating our lives than we are. Ask the Lord to help you learn how to better trust him.

Today I’m sharing a prayer to trust God with everything. I don’t want to try to hold on to anything that might slow the Lord’s work in my life and the lives of others. Pray with me?

Dear Heavenly Father,

What an incredible and awesome God you are!

When I look at the beauty of your creation,

I’m in awe of your mighty and majestic ways.

When I see the work of your hand,

I’m overwhelmed by your love for me.

Lord, I believe that you saved my soul;

Help me trust that you have made me whole.

Lord, I believe that you hear my prayers;

Help me trust that your answer is best.

Lord, I trust that you created the mountains;

Help me trust that you can move them.

Please forgive me for trying to be in control and allow me to let go and surrender my life to you. Increase my ability to give you everything. Your ways are much higher than mine.

Thank you, Jesus.

https://lukestrong.org/god-has-already-written-your-life

WAS IT UNFAIR FOR GOD TO ALLOW JOB TO SUFFER OVER WHAT WAS BASICALLY AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN? - Job thought he was being punished entirely out of proportion to any conceivable offense he may have committed. Job questions God incessantly throughout the dialogue. His protest climaxes in a direct indictment of God on the charge of injustice. Job finally sees that God’s governance of the universe is much more wonderful than he could have imagined, and he openly concedes this so this is what Job spoke about God that was “right.” Job obeyed God and was rewarded for his obedience. God’s wager with Satan actually achieved an incredible coup: He harnessed evil and turned it to good and He transformed Job into the most effective servant of all. - A surface reading of the book of Job usually evokes a reaction such as “Why is God making a ‘bet’ with the devil? God is being unfair to Job!” If we are honest and not just trying to defend God, He seems at first like some kind of cosmic ogre. God not only wagered Satan over the outcome of Job’s trials, but He actually provoked the bet. To make matters worse, Job never finds out why he was afflicted in the first place. This is very disturbing for those who hope to see God as just, gracious and loving and not just “playing” with us as if we were pawns on a chessboard. So, in a way, the story of Job puts God on trial.

 

 

 

Was it unfair for God to allow Job to suffer over what was basically an argument between God and Satan?

Job thought he was being punished entirely out of proportion to any conceivable offense he may have committed. Job questions God incessantly throughout the dialogue. His protest climaxes in a direct indictment of God on the charge of injustice. Job finally sees that God’s governance of the universe is much more wonderful than he could have imagined, and he openly concedes this so this is what Job spoke about God that was “right.” Job obeyed God and was rewarded for his obedience. God’s wager with Satan actually achieved an incredible coup: He harnessed evil and turned it to good and He transformed Job into the most effective servant of all.

Got Questions Ministries

 

A surface reading of the book of Job usually evokes a reaction such as “Why is God making a ‘bet’ with the devil? God is being unfair to Job!”

If we are honest and not just trying to defend God, He seems at first like some kind of cosmic ogre.

God not only wagered Satan over the outcome of Job’s trials, but He actually provoked the bet (Job 1–2).

To make matters worse, Job never finds out why he was afflicted in the first place.

This is very disturbing for those who hope to see God as just, gracious and loving and not just “playing” with us as if we were pawns on a chessboard.

So, in a way, the story of Job puts God on trial.

To really understand what is going on in Job, we need to evaluate how this “trial” is litigated in the book’s argument.

On the surface, when God finally “testifies” in Job 38–42, the way He “grills” Job may seem to suggest that God is “against” Job rather than “for” him.

The God-speeches are notable for their deep sarcasm, as if God were simply highlighting Job’s cluelessness (Job 38–39).

However, a deeper look reveals a more redemptive dynamic in this trial: first, Job’s friend Elihu actually serves under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, both as Job’s advocate before God and God’s advocate before Job (Job 32–37); second, we find that God indeed did express His love to Job, both in His speeches (Job 38–41) and in finally vindicating Job.

God confirms that Job had spoken “what was right” about Him, whereas his first three friends had not (Job 42:7).

As Job and his friends debate God’s fairness, it becomes apparent that all of them basically believe in the doctrine of “retribution theology” — every act receives just punishment or reward in this present life, so we should be able to tell who is righteous or wicked by whether they are visibly blessed or cursed on earth.

This is a false doctrine, but Job thought it should be true and went on the offensive, charging God with injustice and calling for a trial (Job 29–31).

Surprisingly, God condescends and agrees to be put on trial.

The speeches in Job 38–41 actually consist of God’s testimony in His own defense.

In the “trial” we see that Job has no legal standing to convict God. Job cannot demonstrate how God runs the universe, so he cannot present any evidence of injustice (chapters 38–39).

Also, God establishes His absolute right to act as He sees fit.

As proof, He points to two creatures — behemoth and leviathan — that mankind has no control over whatsoever and that answer only to God.

Even before God shows up, Elihu makes the same points and argues that God is deeply redemptive in His dealings with man in spite of man’s notorious tendency toward self-destruction (Job 32–37).

Since God validates Elihu’s points (Job 38–41), the adversarial tone in God’s answer to Job makes even more sense: throughout Job’s dialogue with his friends (Job 4–27) and in his formal complaint to God (Job 29–31), Job had assumed that God was unaware of what happened to him or that He was deliberately persecuting him or that Job had inadvertently sinned and God was not willing to tell him what the problem was.

Job thought he was being punished entirely out of proportion to any conceivable offense he may have committed.

In fact, Job questions God incessantly throughout the dialogue. His protest climaxes in a direct indictment of God on the charge of injustice (Job 29–31).

So what did Job “get right” (Job 42:7)?

The upshot of the trial is that Job finally sees that God’s governance of the universe is much more wonderful than he could have imagined, and he openly concedes this (Job 42:2-5); so this is what Job spoke about God that was “right” (Job 42:7).

Now, it is absolutely crucial to note the sequence of events at this point: it is only when Job obeys God and intercedes on behalf of his three friends — who had now become his enemies — that God actually blesses Job with a twofold inheritance (Job 42:8-17).

This “reward” was not at all some kind of “consolation prize” for Job’s unfair treatment; rather, it was the inheritance God promises to all who serve faithfully as redemptive agents of the Creator (cf. Daniel 12:3).

Job obeyed God and was rewarded for his obedience.

In the end, God’s wager with Satan actually achieved an incredible coup: He harnessed evil and turned it to good (cf. Genesis 50:20), and He transformed Job into the most effective servant of all, one who took on God’s own redemptive character and loved his enemies.

And this, in fact, is our take-home lesson from Job.

Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.

https://www.gotquestions.org/God-Job-Satan.html

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