The fact that Psalm 115:3 says, God “does whatever He pleases” often causes people to view God as arbitrary or selfish. However, we must understand that this verse is couched in the attributes of God, and the knowledge that God will never do anything contrary to His nature. With that in mind, we are reminded by this passage and others like it that on one hand, no one can act and no circumstances can occur outside the bounds of God’s sovereign will. And on the other hand, No one can frustrate His plans or hinder his purposes. God doing as He desires is a statement of comfort to those who trust in Him, because we are brought to an understanding that God not only has the right to do what He wants, and the desire to accomplish His plan, but He also has the ability to carry that plan out. No one, nor nothing can keep God from accomplishing His plan for His creation. Everything that we do and experience is all a part of kingdom living. Isaiah 46:10 reminds us that God has said, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,” This counsel was established … READ MORE

One of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. It is difficult to see God working through secondary causes and frail, sinful human beings. Yet, to believe in the sovereignty of God when we do not see His direct intervention is even more important because that is the way God usually works. While God’s sovereignty is not always apparent, He continues to work providentially in the lives of all His creation. Much of the Old Testament narratives are given to us to see the mighty hand of God in the events of history. Paul writes in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before [Old Testament Scriptures] were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (comment mine). We need to review the Old Testament Historical narratives with an eye to the plan and purposes of God, viewing how He worked in the lives of the nation, and remember that He says in Malachi 3:6, “I am the LORD, I change not!” This is how we can give thanks to God for all … READ MORE

We know who someone is only by what they tell us about themselves. Why is it so hard to be who we are? We try to hide in plain sight of the people around us. No one wants to be singled out, and no one wants to be wrong. Yet we cannot hide who we truly are from God. Psalm 139:12 says, “the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Sin causes us to attempt to hide who we really are from God, others, and also ourselves, and as a result we pervert those things which God has created as “very good”. To begin to understand who we really are, we must come to understand who we are before God. We cannot hide the reality of that, and yet, we must remember God loves us the way we are right now, and He will help us to become what we need to be, as we learn to walk with Him. Turn to Him and follow Him starting today. … READ MORE