Remembering God's Faithfulness

The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought,

so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand”

(Isaiah 14:24, NKJV).

The Old Testament is full of instances where God instructed people to set up some sort of altar to commemorate something wonderful the Lord had done. God knew it was important for frail human beings to be reminded of His faithfulness. Think about it. How many times has God come through for us, causing us to rejoice and thank Him and believe—at that moment—that we will never doubt Him again? And then another trial comes along, and…sure enough, there we go again, wondering if God will do as He promised or abandon us to our own devices.

That’s one of the reasons I love Isaiah 14:24 and quote it often. The verse isn’t just a promise to us that God will be faithful; it is God Himself swearing to us that just as He has been faithful in the past, He will continue to be faithful in the future. If God has purposed something, it will happen. Nothing you or I or the devil himself can do will ever negate or thwart God’s purpose or plan.

Now let’s take that to the next step, remembering that we are an integral part of God’s plan and purpose. God has also promised in Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans for His people are good plans, to give us “a future and a hope.” If that is true—and we know it is because it is written in His Word—and if it is also true that as God has fulfilled His purposes in the past He will do the same in the future, then regardless of the circumstances or situations that threaten and swirl around us, we can rest in the peace and promise of God’s faithfulness.

If you don’t have a memorial of some sort to remind you of that great truth, I encourage you to establish one soon—a piece of paper with the above scripture written out where you can see it, a rock with the chapter and verse painted on it, anything that will serve as a reminder that God’s faithfulness is greater than anything that comes against you today—or ever. Remembering God’s promises has brought me great peace through the years, and it will do the same for you.

When You're Weary or Discouraged...Look Up!

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1, NIV).

I’ve been traveling a lot lately—more than I care to, actually, though I’ve so enjoyed reconnecting with existing friends and making new ones. Still, it’s good to be home, isn’t it? But one thing I noticed, as I crisscrossed the United States several times in the last few months: Regardless of where I was, when I looked up into the sky, I knew God was there, sitting on His throne, sovereign and kind and faithful.

The psalmist wrote that the heavens “declare” God’s glory and the skies “proclaim” His handiwork. The very fact that stars have been hung in place, and the sun and moon continue to rise on schedule, reminds us of God’s unchanging love for us. Whether we are standing in our own backyard or looking up from a hotel terrace thousands of miles away, God is as close to us as our own heartbeat.

That gives me great comfort. At times, during my travels and the busy schedules they entail, I grow weary—more so the older I get. But God has promised that if I will cling tightly to Him, He will use me to honor His name and to bless others, even in my old age and regardless of where I am or the circumstances that surround me.

The next time you find yourself thinking that perhaps you’ve outlived your usefulness or that you’re just too marred and flawed to be a worthy vessel in God’s hands, stop where you are and look up, and then remember the words of the psalmist: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” You see, it isn’t who we are but who He is that matters. Therefore, we can move forward with confidence into all that He has called and gifted us to do—right up until our very last breath on earth.

Where are You, God?

June 9, 2011

“In the world you will have tribulation;

but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV).

How many times have you heard professing Christians in the midst of trials ask, “Where is God?” Perhaps you’ve even said those words yourself. Even if we haven’t actually spoken them, we’ve probably all thought them at times—at least for an instant. But deep down we know the answer, don’t we? God is still on the Throne, faithful as always, never leaving or forsaking us.

So why do we react as if He had abandoned us when disaster strikes? Jesus didn’t say we MIGHT have tribulation in the world; He assured us that we WOULD have it. But what else did He say? “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” His faithful promise to us is that there is no trial or tribulation or disaster that can steal our assurance of salvation, our promise of eternal life with Him. The One who overcame the world when He burst forth from the grave now holds us in His nail-scarred hands. We belong to Him, and He is in complete control, even when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances.

Pastor Peter Paul of Bangalore, India, understands that. A dedicated follower of Christ, this courageous pastor dared to hand out New Testaments to Muslim children. The result? His house and all his belongings were destroyed, and his family is now homeless. When the police showed up, they arrested Peter Paul instead of his attackers, charging him with “disturbing communal harmony” by distributing Christian books to Muslim young people. He was put in prison, but that didn’t stop him. He preached to fellow inmates and won many to Christ.

What does Pastor Peter Paul have to say about all this? “Persecution is not an accident. It is the expectation.”

This humble pastor believes the words of Jesus. He understands that in the world he will have tribulation; he also rejoices in the midst of that tribulation because he knows he belongs to the One who has “overcome the world.”

And so do we, dear friends, so let’s rejoice together!