One of the earliest truths a hcild learns in Sunday school is that God is good. The simplicity of this statement masks the depth of such a remarkable attribute of the Lord. He is absolutely perfect and holy, which means that He alone is the standard of all righteousness. And since the expression of the Father’s goodness is revealed in His actions, all that He does is good and right, because He cannot violate His own nature. God is also unchanging, and therefore, His dealings with us are determined by His character, not by our behavior. Even when we are living in rebellion, He is still good to us. As a loving heavenly Father, He responds with discipline which is designed to restore the broken relationship rather than crush the wayward child. The Lord’s goodness is expressed in a multitude of ways. He is our Creator, and we are His people. Every breath we breathe is given to us by Him. As our loving Shepherd who watches over us, He provides for all our needs. But the greatest expression of God’s goodness is the cross of Christ. What appeared from a human perspective to be the ultimate in cruelty and unfairness was the only way to rescue humankind from eternal separation from the Lord. Believing in God’s goodness is one of the pillars of our faith. This truth fills us with joy in happy times and grounds us with confidence when life is hard, unfair, or painful. When we don’t understand what the Lord is doing, we can trust His heart and know that He is good. Throughout the Psalms, we are reminded and even commanded to give thanks to the Lord. Thanksgiving Day should never become a substitute for the daily expression of gratitude to God for all that He has done. Giving thanks refocuses our attention onto the Lord as we remember His love and faithfulness and praise Him for who He is and what He has done. Thanksgiving refreshes our souls as we spend time with God, concentrating on His goodness and grace. Anxiety is replaced with peace, and despondency with joy. Gratitude to God for His faithfulness in the past increases faith and strengthens trust in Him for the future. Remember how He carried you in times of pain, helped you in periods of weakness, and supplied all your needs. You can trust Him with whatever lies ahead.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces