Making Sure We Believe God is Good

“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.” Proverbs 14:8

One of the biggest challenges to anything we attempt in life, including our attempts to follow Christ, are the patterns of our thought regarding that venture. What we think about something or someone determines what kind of response we have.

For example, if a child thinks that learning is enjoyable, he will easily become a self-motivated learner. However, if a child thinks that school is a necessary, but not very worthwhile experience, he will less likely be motivated to learn things that can help him grow to be successful in school and after graduation. In a similar way, If we think that God is good and that his ways are the best possible way to live, then we will be motivated to give attention to God’s Word and to prayer and to listening to his voice. On the flip side, if we think that God’s commands hinder our pursuit of joy, freedom and fulfillment in life, then we will have little motivation to get to know God and obey him.

This week, set aside some time to do some soul searching. Do you honestly consider getting to know God through his word and prayer as something that adds value to your life or do you think that you should read God’s Word and pray because it’s the least you can to repay Jesus for dying for your sin? If you think wisely about God and his ways, you will discover much motivation in your pursuit of knowing God and obeying his will. Change and growth will come.

Letting Go of Burdens

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV

Peter’s encouraging words remind us that we were not meant to carry our burdens by ourselves. The truth is we are not strong enough to carry them on our own. If we don’t give our burdens to God, they will eventually wear us down and wear us out. That’s why David also wrote these beautiful words in Psalm 68:19.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

These words teach us that even when we don’t realize it, God is bearing our burdens so they don’t crush us. This week, set aside some time to consider all of your burdens, trials and problems and give them all to your Heavenly Father, one by one. Sit in his presence and give your burdens to him. You CAN let them go. Remind yourself of his faithful love and remember that he is strong enough to take care of you. Remember this: God will never allow you to face more than you and he can handle TOGETHER.