I have been reflecting on the faithfulness of God in my life and family over the past years especially in the past year, 2020. When I think of God's goodness, I cannot but praise him.
He is worthy to be praised. Glory to his name.
God has loved us from the beginning and continues to love us. He wants us to know him on a deeper level not by lip service. God wants to have a relationship with us his children. Let us draw closer to him and we will surely experience his loving kindness and we will learn to trust him more.
According to Heb 11:6, we cannot please God without faith.
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
I am convinced that our lack of faith or little faith stems most of the time from lack of or rather limited knowledge of who God truly is and what he is capable of doing. We can only know God more and understand him better by spending time in his word and be empowered to love him above all and love others.
For instance if two people met for the first time at a meeting or somewhere and chatted for a while and agreed to keep in touch, and exchanged their contact information. All they know about each other was only what they discussed during their conversation. If weeks and months go by and they do not communicate with each other, will that friendship grow? No! After some time of not keeping in touch, they may even forget each other, but if they valued each other they will make efforts to communicate.
This example may not be perfect because in the case of our almighty God, he continues to love, protect and care for us in spite of our lack of communication with him. The relationship is one sided. He is always faithful even when we are unfaithful. However, we must not take him for granted because the time will come for reckoning, we don't want to hear "....depart from me, I know you not..... ". Luke 13:27.
James 4:8 says, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded".
The more we draw near to God, the more he will draw near to us, his holy word cleanses us, he will reveal himself more to us, we become his confidant. That's how awesome our good God is!
I love Psalm 143:8. "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee".
We need God's grace to know him, to love him, to hear him and to follow him.
Jesus himself said in John's gospel,
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me". (John 10:27).
We cannot go this journey alone, we need his grace, his leading in our lives. We cannot lead ourselves.
May his ever abundant grace be sufficient for us in Jesus mighty name. Amen! Shalom!
