No matter what we’re taught about God, our relationship with our earthly father influences how we view God.
My father was angry. A lot. It seemed his only emotion. You never knew when he’d erupt or at whom, so I learned to try to stay out of his way and try to never set him off. He also on occasion would sit me down and tell me what I thought and how I felt. Yes, you read that right. He didn’t ask. He made his own assumptions and didn’t even care to verify if they were accurate.
FOR EXAMPLE
One time in high school, he sat me down to tell me that I was wearing “short” skirts (skirts above the knee) to attract boys and proceeded to tell me what he thought about that. The whole time, I’m thinking, “You are crazy! I’m wearing them because they’re in style and it’s a flattering look for me. I just want to feel good about how I am dressed. I can’t imagine a guy ever being attracted to me.” He showed no interest in getting to know my actual thoughts. He didn’t care about my needs, wants or desires.
So guess what my view of God was?
Emotionless, except for angry. The all-knowing God, so He isn’t interested in asking me how I feel or what I’m thinking,but will rather tell me what He thinks about me and I am just supposed to accept what He has planned for my life whether I like it or not. An emotionally distant God, quick to anger, quick to judge, who doesn’t care about my heart or desires. It’s kind of hard to view my life as positive, when that was my view of God.
My view of God affects how I see myself
and how I live my life.
When I see God as angry, waiting to catch me doing something wrong, then I struggle with perfectionism, guilt and shame. When I feel God is distant and uninvolved, I struggle with feeling like God isn’t for me, doesn’t care about me, and isn’t actively involved in my life.
Is God good? Is He for me or against me? Does He care? Is He far off and uninvolved?
My view of God, directly affects my view of who I am, my place in the world, and my value.
It has everything to do with how I answer these questions:
Why was I born?
Am I OK?
Am I damaged goods?
Am I lovable?
What is the meaning of life?
Do I have a purpose?
It wasn’t until I started getting a new picture of who God is and how He is for me, not against me and wants good things for me, that I started to see my life as having meaning and perhaps, just maybe a bright future. I challenge you to wipe the slate clean of what you’ve been taught, what you think you know, what your view of God has been and study what the Word says. If you have never experienced these characteristics of God below, ask Him to reveal Himself to you in these ways.
If you entertain lies about God,
right behind them are lies about you.
Joseph Watson
God is All Loving
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. —1 John 4:9-11
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, evenwhen we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— —Ephesians 2:4-5
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. —Zephaniah 3:17
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. —1 John 4:7-8
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:6-7
who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? —Job 34:19
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. —Psalm 86:15
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. —1 John 3:1
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,—Deuteronomy 7:9
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.—Proverbs 8:17
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.—Jeremiah 29:11
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”—John 13:34-35
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.—Psalm 136:26
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.—Romans 5:2-5
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.—Colossians 2:6-7
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.—Hebrews 12:28-29
Read more scriptures of God’s love here.
God is Good All the Time
I have found that one of the most common places I encounter the goodness of God is through Scripture. I need to regularly re-engage with God’s plan for humanity so that I can see the big picture.
Jesus reveals the love and priorities of the Father in His ministry and sacrifice – He is perfect theology. (Hebrews 1:2-3; Colossians 1:19, 2:9; John 1:1,18, 3:16-17, 14:6-7, 8:1-11,19)
The enemy comes to steal and kill, but Jesus comes to destroy demonic works and give us abundant life. (John 10:9-11; 1 John 3:8; Mattthew 9:11-13)
God describes Himself as gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. God is good and, by nature, in a good mood. (Psalms 103:8-14; Numbers 14:18; Zephaniah 3:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 7:11; Exodus 34:5-7)
God Is good regardless of our circumstances (Nahum 1:7; Romans 5:8, 8:28-32; James 1:17)
God is generous. As we remember and retell what He has done in testimonies, He’s able and eager to do it again. (John 3:16; Revelation 12:11, 19:10; Joshua 4:1-9)
God is for us. He chose to redeem us from our sin. (Psalms 139:7; Romans 5:8, 8:30-32; 2 Corinthians 5:19)
God is not mad at us. (Hebrews 1:9; John 10:10; Romans 14:17-18; Psalms 30:11-12; Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 61:3)
God’s desire is to prosper us in every area of our lives: physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and vocationally. (Isaiah 26:3; John 10:10; Luke 9:6, 56; Romans 5:8, 8:1; 3 John 1:2; Genesis 12:1-3; Jeremiah 29:11)
God does not cause sickness to teach people lessons or punish them. Jesus is our New Covenant model as He healed all the sick people He encountered. (Matthew 4:23, 8:2-3; Acts 10:38)
We live from the premise that God wants to save and heal everyone. (2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 1:4-6; Romans 1:18-21; Matthew 4:23-24, 8:1-3, 8:16-17, 9:35, 14:34-36; Mark 6:56; Luke 9:11; Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8)
…God will always bless our decisions. We can do whatever we want and God will never judge us. (Prov. 8:13; Heb. 10:26; 2 Tim. 2:19; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27; Gal. 5:13-24)
…God doesn’t get hurt by our actions and will never confront us on our sin. (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19; Matt. 15:13; John 15:2)
…everyone will make it into heaven. (Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 13:27)
…if we are not healed it is because God doesn’t love us or we lacked faith. (Matt. 4:23; Matt. 12:15; John 9:1-3; John 11:4; Acts 10:38)
…God puts sickness on people to teach them lessons or to punish them. (Matt. 8:2-3; Acts 10:38)
…our lives are always going to be easy and there will be no trials. (John 16:33; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 8:31-39; Ps. 34:19; James 1:2-4)
…we don’t have to grow in our relationships with God or steward or grow our gifts. (2 Tim. 1:6; Mark 4:25; Phil. 3:14; Matt. 6:33; James 4:8)
…our prayers will always be answered the way we expect. (Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thess. 5:17)
The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. Psalms 145:9
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Psalms 86:5
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 1 Chronicles 16:34
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalms 106:1
“Now, O LORD, You are God, and have promised this good thing to Your servant. 1 Chronicles 17:26
Since God is the very essence of love, use God’s name in the place of love in the 1 Cor 13 scripture. God is patient, God doesn’t boast, God keeps no record of wrongs, God always protects.
God is Full of Grace
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. —2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. —Romans 3:20-24
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God– the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. —Romans 1:1-5
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. —Acts 6:8
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. —Ephesians 4:7
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. —Hebrews 13:9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. —2 Peter 1:2
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. —Hebrews 4:16
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. —1 Peter 4:10
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —James 4:6
But just as you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us–see that you also excel in this grace of giving. —2 Corinthians 8:7
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. —Titus 2:11
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. —Romans 6:14
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. —Romans 11:6
No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”—Acts 15:11
People get stuck on God’s ability to judge and forget that He is the One who looks for the opportunity to show mercy. Many of His own children live in ignorance regarding his goodness and therefore continually misrepresent him.
Bill Johnson
God is in a Good Mood!
Someone in a bad mood can make you feel like a failure even on your best day. Their bad mood can make you angry or afraid, defensive or cautious.
What kind of mood do you think God is in?
mood : “A conscious state of mind or predominant emotion or feeling; a receptive state of mind predisposing to action.”
God is in a good mood on purpose. God’s mood is not determined by what is happening in the world or by whether I treat Him well or not. Unlike me, He is in control of His mood.
God responds to the plots of His enemies by laughing. You and I would be alarmed, but God is not alarmed at all. He knows His Enemies hold no real power against Him. —Psalm 2:1-3
There are things that grieve God’s heart like anger, hatred, brokenness, and seeing His people in pain, but these things do not have power to change God’s mood towards me. He is a good Father who loves me and wants the best for me. That never changes.
Many of us view God as angry, irritable, vengeful or waiting to punish us. Some of us have been taught that mistakes, bad decisions, or sin make God angry. But God’s mood is determined by His nature not by what we do. He knew we were going to do it before we even did. —Psalm 2:1-4
God intentionally relates to us as a loving, good Father full of joy towards His children.
Jesus expresses God’s good mood in a life filled with joy.
Jesus is the exact and most perfect representation of Father God. Hebrews 1:3 His emotions, mood, and feelings likewise show us a living, breathing picture of what the Father is feeling.
Jesus was a very happy person on Earth. Remember – He was doing the things He saw His Father doing and His Father was busy laughing at all His enemies! John 5:19 Jesus showed God’s mood to the sinners of His time by loving, caring for, and accepting them. Jesus wants us to be filled with the fullness of joy that He experienced with the Father. John 17:13
God’s emotions found in scripture:
- Anger – Deuteronomy 9:22
- Laughter –Psalm 37:13
- Compassion – Psalm 135:14, Judges 2:18, Deuteronomy 32:36
- Grief – Genesis 6:6,Psalm 78:40
- Love –1 John 4:8; John 3:16; Jeremiah 31:3
- Hate –Proverbs 6:16; Psalm 5:5; Psalm 11:5
- Jealousy – Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Joshua 24:19
- Joy – Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 32:41
REWRITE:
However, are God’s emotions the same kind of emotions we humans exhibit? Is it right to think of Him as “emotional” (does He have mood swings)? In theological circles, personhood is often defined as “the state of being an individual with intellect, emotion, and volition.” God, then, is a “person” in that He is a personal God with a mind, emotions, and a will of His own. To deny God’s emotions is to deny that He possesses personality.
Humans respond to things in this world physically, of course, but we also respond spiritually—our souls react, and this is what we call “emotion.” The fact of human emotion is one proof that God has emotions, as well, for He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). Another proof is the Incarnation. As the Son of God in this world, Jesus was not an emotionless automaton. He felt what we feel, weeping with those who wept (John 11:35), feeling compassion for the multitudes (Mark 6:34), and being overcome with sorrow (Matthew 26:38). Through it all, He revealed the Father to us (
God’s ways have been recorded for us in terms that we can understand and relate to. God’s wrath and anger against sin are real (
There are two wonderful things concerning God and emotions: first, He understands our emotions (since He created us with the capacity to feel them), and, second, His own emotions continually flow from His perfection. God will never have a bad day; He will never change His feelings toward His redeemed.
Abounding in love and faithfulness. Another way to describe this is self-giving love. A love that does not demand a return. It is unconditional. It is about the betterment of another. God’s goodness causes Him to seek that we would be transformed into His likeness. He is more interested in seeing us set free from sin than punishing us for it.
God is forgiving: This is why the next attribute which God reveals of Himself is that He is a forgiving God. If God was not a forgiving God we would all be doomed. All of us have fallen short of the glory of God. Yet the Bible shows us that God is quick to forgive and slow to judge.
Does not leave the guilty unpunished. Ultimately because God is good He is also just. As such one day He will call to account all those who refused to embrace His Son’s Kingship. His Goodness requires that He addresses anything that opposes His Kingdom.
We cannot find God with our minds for God is Spirit. We will never understand God fully with just our mind. God’s Word is made up of words, but it is also Spirit and is living and breathing.
Hebrews 4:12
God Understands Our Humanity
Jesus’ life on earth is our good news.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
God is for me not against me
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:17
Are you like me? I had never heard “God is for me, not against” before. My view of God was of Him sitting on His throne, angry at me, and waiting on me to screw up again. He certainly didn’t seem to be on my side, advocating for me, wanting the best in life for me. Hearing those words, “God is for me, not against me” really started shifting my perspective of God from angry with me to an image of Him as my good Father, who wants nothing but the best for me and is actively, continually blessing me.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY A BRAVE FRIEND IN THE MIDST OF HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER.
“Lord, I don’t have anything left to make this life work. Do what You find necessary to set me free.” I’ve heard pastors call that a dangerous prayer. They will also explain that asking for patience is dangerous. “He’ll put you in the worst situations to test your patience.” But I would say that they don’t know the heart of the Father. They are describing a father who can’t wait to tighten the screws on our out of control life. “I’ve been waiting for them to say that. Now I can show them what real misery is.” Satan loves that view of God.
Here’s a picture that I think is more accurate of this place of total surrender. I’m in the upstairs of a burning house. I can’t get to the door because of the flames. I’m losing oxygen because of the smoke. I lie down on the floor realizing that this is the end. Then a fireman bursts into the room and asks me to trust him. What do I have to lose? He throws a wet towel over my head. He tucks me under his powerful arms. He breaks through the window in the room, and whisks me down a scary ladder. At the bottom he races to his truck, where he slaps an oxygen mask over my face.
Then I respond to all this with, “Wow! That was stupid to ask him to save me. That was the scariest ride of my life. He was just waiting for me to invite him to save me, so that he could have fun scaring the daylights out of me.” Desperation brings us to the place of Jesus’ prayer, “Not my will, but Your will.” If Jesus is Life, then His love helps us see the futility of the things of this world that we trust in.
—Dale Dunnewold
God Cannot Cause Evil to Occur
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. James 1:13-14.
We keep confusing God with the enemy. God does not tempt. He always assures us that there is a way of escape from temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13.This does not say that He tempts, but rather that He comes to help those who are tempted. Remember that Christ himself was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Luke 4:2. “Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:8
God does not tempt people. He does NOT make people sick or diseased. God does not have an angry disposition towards humanity. His very nature is love. In Scripture, you never see Jesus laying hands on someone to impart sickness to them or calling down thunder from heaven. Instead, He healed everyone who came to Him. Because His very nature is all love, all healing, all grace—just by touching his garment, a woman was healed. Luke 8:43-48; Matt 4:24, 8:16, 12:15; Mark 3:10
We use the scripture “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” Romans 8:28 to encourage ourselves during dark times. However, though God can make all things that happen work in the end for our good, He is not the author of all things. He will take what happens and use it for good, but He does not author or initiate everything that happens on this earth. He allows everyone free will to make their own decisions.
Don’t believe lies about the nature of God. Look at the life of Christ in scripture and you will start to recognize that God is good—all the time!
Names of God
Different names of God are to give us different perspectives.
| My Father is | |
|---|---|
| Loving | John 3:16 |
| Caring | Matt 6:26 |
| Forgiving | Psalm 103:12 |
| Compassion | Psalm 103:4-5 |
| Giving | Romans 8:32 |
| Understanding | Psalm 139:1-2 |
| Accepting | Psalm 139:1-2 |
| Satisfies | Psalm 107:9 |
| Persistently Pursing | Luke 19:10 |
| Reasonable | Isaiah 1:18 |
| Pardons | Psalm 103:3 |
| Heals | Isaiah 53:5 |
| Redeems | Job 19:25 |
| Loving-kindness | Psalm 86:15 |
| Renews | Isaiah 40:31 |
| Righteous | Jeremiah 9:23-24 |
| Gracious | Ephesians 1:7-8 |
| Sovereign | Psalm 103:19 |
| Hebrew word | Means | Found in |
|---|---|---|
| EL, ELOAH | God “mighty, strong, prominent” | Genesis 7:1, Isaiah 9:6 |
| ELOHIM | God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” | Genesis 17:7, Jeremiah 31:33 |
| EL SHADDAI | “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” | Genesis 49:24, Psalm 132:2,5 |
| ADONAI | “Lord” | Genesis 15:2, Judges 6:15 |
| YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH | “Lord” | Deuteronomy 6:4, Daniel 9:14 |
| YAHWEH-JIREH | “The Lord Will Provide” | Genesis 22:14 |
| YAHWEH-RAPHA | “The Lord Who Heals” | Exodus 15:26 |
| YAHWEH-NISSI | “The Lord Our Banner” | Exodus 17:15 |
| YAHWEH-M’KADDESH | “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” | Leviticus 20:8, Ezekiel 37:28 |
| YAHWEH-SHALOM | “The Lord Our Peace” | Judges 6:24 |
| YAHWEH-ELOHIM | “Lord God” | Genesis 2:4, Psalm 59:5 |
| YAHWEH-TSIDKENU | “The Lord Our Righteousness” | Jeremiah 33:16 |
| YAHWEH-ROHI | “The Lord Our Shepherd” | Psalm 23:1 |
| YAHWEH-SHAMMAH | “The Lord Is There” | Ezekiel 48:35 |
| YAHWEH-SABAOTH | “The Lord of Hosts” | Isaiah 1:24, Psalm 46:7 |
| EL ELYON | “Most High” | Deuteronomy 26:19 |
| EL ROI | “God of Seeing” | Genesis 16:13 |
| EL-OLAM | “Everlasting God” | Psalm 90:1-3 |
| EL-GIBHOR | “Mighty God” | Isaiah 9:6 |
God’s name shows up in specific situations in life–
call on that name when you’re in that situation.
The more I discover about God’s name(s)—the bigger, more magnified He becomes. There is no one like my God.
Let’s look at two specific names.
God is our Healer, Redeemer and Restorer!
What happens to us growing up, as well as foolish choices we make, can set us on a path of no-return. We can find ourselves so deep in a hole that we can’t climb out of it on our own. Thank goodness God is in the business of redemption.
God redeemed my life from the pit. —Psalm 103:4
God makes all things NEW! —2 Corinthians 5:17
God is my healer
Psalm 103:3
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Psalm 126:1-6
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD ,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 147:1-3
Praise the LORD .
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
Throughout the Old Testament God revealed Himself as the redeemer of mankind through His redemptive names. These all describe the very nature and character of God.
ONE
Jehovah Jireh
The Lord will see or provide
TWO
Jehovah Ropheka (Rapha)
The Lord our healer
THREE
Jehovah Nissi
The Lord my banner (or victory)
FOUR
Jehovah Shalom
The Lord my peace
FIVE
Jehovah Tsidkenu
The Lord my righteousness
SIX
Jehovah Shammah
The Lord is present or there
SEVEN
Johovah Rohi
The Lord is my shepherd
EIGHT
Jehovah McKadesh
The Lord who sanctifies me
NINE
Jehovah Zebaoth
The Lord of hosts (or armies)
TEN
Jehovah Elyon
The Lord most high
Jesus was the fulfillment of all of these names! Jesus is our righteousness, redemption, sanctification and justification!
None of these names say ‘I am the Lord who takes from you, makes you sick, steals your peace, makes you sin, leaves or forsakes you, etc. Instead, He is also our provider, healer, our victory, our peace and so much more! Jesus is our all-in-all.
God’s nature is ONLY to heal, redeem and RESTORE!
God is our Provider
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh, which means “the Lord our provider” or “the Lord will provide.” God is my source for everything I need and He cares about everything I care about. There’s no need so small that He doesn’t know about it, and nothing too big that He can’t provide for it.
“And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19 God wants to meet our “every need…in Christ Jesus.” But we can’t just take this one scripture and expect to have everything we need without reading it in the context of the whole Bible.
But seek (aim at and strive after) first His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things will be given to you as well”—Matthew 6:33
When I seek things instead of God, my focus is not in the right place. My relationship with God needs to be my number one priority all the time, because everything I need is found in Him. When I seek God to know Him more and to learn the right way to live, then I can have confidence that He will take care of everything that concerns me and meet all of my needs.
- The Israelites wondered in the desert for 40 years —did they ever lack anything? Deuteronomy 2:7
- God provides for man the very environment he lives in and all life that forms it. Nehemiah 9:6 / Psalm 36:8
- Who is responsible for rain and fruitful seasons? Genesis 27:28 / Leviticus 26:4,5 / Isaiah 30:23
- Although we look to our parents or employers for food and money, is not God the real provider, silently working His plan behind the scenes? Matthew 24:45
- Who can be counted on to give us “our” food and drink? Psalm 36:8 / Psalm 104:27-28 / Psalm 136:25 / Psalm 147:9 / Matthew 6:26
- God provides in a big general way and He makes notes on the tiniest details such as the number of hairs on our head. Matthew 10:30-31
- Although man has created retirement accounts and insurance for old age, God has already provided for these special years for those that will trust Him. Isaiah 46:4
- God has provided for our “golden years” and for the time after that as well. John 14:2 / Matthew 25:34
- Who else can we call on for physical protection? Psalm 91:4-14
- Like a mother that keeps one eye always on her child at play, so He provides two watchful eyes over our life at all times! Genesis 28:15 / Psalm 121:4
- There are times in our life when we are in such a mess that the only way out is to be delivered, literally picked up and out of a thing. God even provides that at appropriate times. Psalm 91:3 / Psalm 140:7 / Isaiah 31:5
- As the rest of the world chases after the things they need, we have a Father who knows our needs and provides for them. Matthew 6:32-33.
- When I am going through difficult trials, God defends me and will never leave me. Isaiah 43:12 / Psalm 37:23-24 / Psalm 91:15 / Hebrews 13:5b-6
- God’s nearness and companionship is perhaps God’s greatest “physical provision”. Psalm 34:18 / Psalm 145:18 / I Corinthians 1:9 /Revelations 3:20
- It’s never a question of – “will God provide?” but rather are we willing to believe and accept what God wants to give? Isaiah 53:5 / Hosea 6:1 / Mark 3:10 / Luke 6:17-19
- When we feel utterly weak and helpless—God is our refuge. Deuteronomy 33:27 / Isaiah 41:10
- He provides us with answers when we need them. Isaiah 64:4 / Zechariah 13:9 / Luke 11:9
- God’s encouragement can see us through something hard. Isaiah 41:13 / Matthew 14:27 / Matthew 17:7
- God provides us with the security that He knows our every step and nothing can happen to us apart from His will. Matthew 10:29
- As we need it, God provides wisdom. Proverbs 2:6 / James 1:5
- He is the author of and gives us real peace. Leviticus 26:6 / I Chronicles 22:9 / John 16 :33
- He is a good good Father, providing loving care. I Peter 5:7
- Our inheritance from Him is far richer than what our own families could give us. Matthew 25:34
- God has provided us with so much and in turn we are to freely give to others. Matthew 10:8b / Luke 6:38
As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”
Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”
He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”
Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”
The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.
Mark 10:17-31
We’re like that man sometimes, aren’t we? We want God to help us but we don’t always want to do what He says. Specifically, we’re not always interested in letting go of those things that we think are holding us up. It’s tough to release our grip and give control of our lives to God. We kind of know that God will provide but maybe we’re not really sure He’ll come through for us. And so we hold on, and wonder if there is someone else who can help us.
The hardest part of trusting God as my provider is when I don’t see provision in the timing I think it should be in or if He doesn’t provide the exact thing or in the way that I’ve prayed for it happen. God’s ways are not my ways. I don’t always understand God’s ways and I certainly can’t predict them. That’s where learning to trust comes in. I may be asking for a better paying job to be able to make ends meet and He may provide me a surprise check in the mail instead. I have to learn that God is in control, not me. It is His job to provide for me and not my job to control how He does it. The opposite of trust is when I don’t see provision coming soon enough and I try to take control and make things happen in my own strength. I may even succeed for a time. However, what I think I am accomplishing in my own strength is actually still God providing for me. I can worry and fret and try to make things happen — or I can rest in the knowledge that provision is His job and He will take care of me.
For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall.
Isaiah 25:4
Resources for Further Study
The Good and Beautiful God—James Bryan Smith
“God wants me to try harder.” “God blesses me when I’m good and punishes me when I’m bad.” “God is angry with me.” We all have ideas that we tell ourselves about God and how he works in our lives. Some are true–but many are false. James Bryan Smith believes those thoughts determine not only who we are, but how we live. In fact, Smith declares, the most important thing about a person is what they think about God. The path to spiritual transformation begins here. Turning to the Gospels, Smith invites you to put your ideas to the test to see if they match up with what Jesus himself reveals about God. Once you’ve discovered the truth in Scripture, Smith leads you through a process of spiritual formation that includes specific activities aimed at making these new narratives real in your body and soul as well as your mind. At the end of each chapter you’ll find an opportunity for soul training, engaging in spiritual practices that reinforce the biblical messages on your mind and heart. Because the best way to make a complete and lasting change is to go through the material in community, small group discussion questions also accompany each chapter. This deep, loving and transformative book will help you discover the narratives that Jesus lived by–to know the Lord he knew and the kingdom he proclaimed–and to practice spiritual exercises that will help you grow in the knowledge of our good and beautiful God.
I AM: The Unveiling of God—Steven Fry
Taken from true stories, these forty honest, wonderfully crafted insights will allow the reader to gaze upon the inexpressible beauty of God while discovering a personal connection to a God who desires to be our all in all. Each essay in turn explores a different facet of God and how it plays into our relationship with Him. Bite-sized chapters end with a candid prayer followed by questions to spur further meditation on an attribute of God. I Am is a rare gem that deserves to be on every reader’s bookshelf.
Believing God: Workbook—Beth Moore
Beth uses her personal experiences and her humor to help her readers begin to understand who this amazing and awesome God really is. She shares the 5 statements of who God is. Believing God is not just an encouragement, but it gives really practical suggestions on how to believe God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. This workbook will draw you in as Beth reveals to us who God really is.
Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God—Eric Metaxas
Why are we here? Literally. The latest science says we shouldn’t be. It says that the chance life exists at all is less than zero.