If I said to you "God is good," what would be your automatic response? Most Christians would respond "All the time!"

 

Recently, a reader commented that she wonders if the phrase "God is good" is losing its impact since we use it so much. While that can be a danger, it is less so when the person using it can point to an experience in which that part of God's character became real to them. Then it's not a trivial phrase, but a real testimony!

 

Today's word to describe God is "Good."

 

Devotion

 

"How good can you stand it?"

 

During my prayer time one morning, the Holy Spirit asked me that question and it made me think. I had struggled for a long time before then...with obesity, debt, fear, doubt and feelings of low self worth.

 

However, after paying off the credit card debt, losing 85 pounds, and finally starting to believe God's Word enough to apply it, God was restoring balance to my life. So things at that point were pretty good. But I had to make a decision:

 

Did I want to be complacent where I was or deepen my relationship with God and experience even more of His goodness?

 

Psalm 31:19 came to mind:

 

Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!

 

How good can you stand it? I think it is the same question that God eventually asks all Believers who have a sincere heart to know Him and follow His ways.

 

I hope you will answer the question the way that I did: "I can stand as much good as You give me the capacity to stand!"

 

I want all the good that God has laid up for me. You might think it is selfish to want that but it is not. While I don't want more than my share, I do want every blessing that God has already put my name on!

 

Now don't think that receiving God's goodness means that you'll no longer have problems. Even Jesus said that you will have tribulations in this world. But He also said that you can have peace and be cheerful in the midst of them because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). You can have assurance that God is working it out for your good because you are called according to His purpose.

 

This is a promise that God makes in Jeremiah 33:9:

 

"Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it."

 

Doesn't that promise make you shout? When I read it, I want to shout "God is good!"

 

Heavenly Father, may your goodness and mercy be with everyone who is reading this message according to Your Word! 

Meditation Scriptures

 

·         Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth

 

·         Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

 

·         Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

 

·         Psalm 135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.

 

·         Psalm 145:8-9 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good  to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

 

·         Jeremiah 33:11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever"- and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD.

Be blessed in Health, Healing, and Wholeness,

 

Kimberly Taylor
Take Back Your Temple
www.takebackyourtemple.com

P.S. I hope you have enjoyed this devotional series! As a follow-up, I recommend that you get a small notebook, review each character trait that has been covered, and write down your own stories about how God has shown Himself real to you in that area. You will be amazed at how this will strengthen your faith that we serve a promise-keeping God!

 

Today is also your last day to pledge your support to the Overcomer Magazine project. My goal in creating this magazine is to provide resources to help Believers grow their faith and stand strong in the midst of trials.

 

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