Proverbs 3:5-6 "What we know/believe about God matters"

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

How we view God affects every aspect of our life. The thoughts we form, decisions we make, actions we take – they are all done from a starting paradigm of what we believe about God. If He is just another god that we appease with our weekly songs and prayers, then we should be able to plan out our own paths and face our own demons in whatever way we choose.

But…if He really is the Almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, creative, intelligent, loving, grace-filled all-powerful God, then we can trust Him with our life. I don’t have to have it all figured out; He’s got it under control. I don’t have to understand everything happening. He does and I can trust Him. I don’t have to be afraid of tomorrow because as long as I am surrendered to Him and Him alone, He will make sure tomorrow happens just as it is supposed to happen. I am in His capable and gentle hand. It makes no sense to trust any one else but the one true God.

Further Thoughts:

1. What in your life are you hanging on to that God wants to control and why?
2. Do you have trust issues? Explain.
3. Does our trust in God depend on the trustworthiness of man or on our circumstances? Explain.
4. Who is in control of your life right now? Explain how well that is working.

Father, I know you are trustworthy. Help me to daily surrender to Your control and guidance of my life. Amen.

Genesis 1:1 "God is Creative and Smart"

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~Genesis 1:1

We serve such an amazing God! He is not only the creator of all; He is creative. Look at the amazing shapes and colors all around you in nature. He came up with universe after universe and at the same time designed the extraordinary complexities of an atom. Then He made man and woman. And not just one set. He made it so we can reproduce and new life is made in a miraculous combining of cells. And then that life breathes, thinks, moves, and creates in the image of the Father. We stand in awe of His amazing creations and breath out thanksgiving with our lives.

What a mind, if we can so contain His intelligence to a human word! And His thoughts are so beyond our thoughts. He exists and sees beyond time and space. When we are trapped in our large and small challenges of life, He sees the big picture and knows the truth of all that has been, is, and will be. He is the one we want to call Lord.

Further Thoughts:

1. List God’s creative ways.
2. What creativity did He put in you?
3. What creativity and smarts did the Creator place in you?
4. How can you use your gifts for His honor and glory?

Father, You created me and all around me. Your intelligence surpasses all. And I was made in Your image. May I always use the parts of You that You’ve placed in me to honor my Lord. Amen.

Psalm 139:2-4, 7 "God is Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent"

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ~Psalm 139:2-4, 7

What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. ~Isaiah 46:11b

These three huge words describe the very best friend we will ever know or who will ever know us. Our omniscient God is all-knowing. No thought you have ever had was hidden from Him. Every idea you have formed, He knew your intentions. Your heart is His reading material and your mind an open book.

God’s omnipresence allows Him to be everywhere at the same time. No corner of the universe is without His presence. When we are on the mountaintop, He is there. When we walk in the valley, He walks with us.

God’s power is omnipotent. There is no one greater or more powerful than He is. Nothing and no one can overcome Him. He is not fatigued or on vacation because His power is endless. He never sleeps nor does He ever need our help. The only thing He needs from us is our friendship.

Further Thoughts:

1. Describe your ideal friend. How does God compare with your description?
2. Are these attributes of God overwhelming? Why?
3. In what ways do these attributes of God help us in living a holy life?
4. Find other Scripture that talks about God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.

Father, You are the best possible friend anyone could have. You know every part of me, are always with me, and empower me to face each day. Thank You. Amen.

Proverbs 14:19 "God is Good and Righteous"

Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ~Proverbs 14:19

Evil cannot remain in the presence of the goodness and righteousness of God. His holiness overpowers and overcomes any challenge evil can cause. He is perfect goodness. His ways are always right. His whole being embodies holiness like no other so that His goodness and righteous cannot even be understood by our mere human minds. The Creator creates what is good and righteous; evil distorts that creation but can never change it.

All the adjectives we use to describe someone that is good – superior, excellent, magnificent, marvelous – pale in comparison to the goodness of our Lord. And His righteousness will win out over all opposition.

This passage in Proverbs is not referring to God’s presence or His gates. It’s talking about those who receive Him. We are given the power of the greatest Being of goodness and righteousness to live within us. By the power of His presence in our lives, we can overcome evil with His goodness.

Further Thoughts:

1. In spite of the evil in the world, what examples of God’s goodness and righteousness do we see every day?
2. Why do some people have trouble viewing God as good?
3. How does knowing that God’s goodness and righteousness live within us change the way we face the challenges of each day?

Holy Father, Your presence empowers me to face any challenge the enemy may throw at me. Thank You for overcoming evil with Your goodness and righteousness. My life has hope. Amen.

Psalm 99:9 "God is Perfect"

Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy. ~Psalm 99:9

The holiness of God – His perfection – is a concept that our human minds cannot fully grasp. Everything and everyone we have encountered is tainted by a sinful nature. To wrap our minds around perfection we must be able to understand perfect love – a love that only has the other person’s interests in mind, not their own. We must understand perfect truth – complete honesty coming from full knowledge; no falsehoods entering into the equation. We must understand perfect justice – wrongs being made right not out of vindication or revenge, but because justice must prevail.

And to understand the perfection of God, we must understand perfect faithfulness. One who will be with us and never leave us. One who will follow through on all His promises and desires His very best for us. One who loves us more than we love ourselves. This is our perfect God. He is the One we strive to understand, serve, and praise.

Further Thoughts:

1. What aspects of God’s holiness/perfection have you experienced in your own life?
2. Does God’s perfection cause you to feel fear or comfort? Why?
3. How are God’s perfection and our trust in Him related?
4. Are there other areas of God’s perfection/holiness that we did not discuss in the “Observe” section? List them and support with Scripture.

Father, Your perfection astounds me, and causes me to want to know more of You. Help me, Holy Spirit, to see You in all Your glory. I worship You. Amen.

Psalm 42:8 "Attributes of God - Personal"

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life. ~Psalm 42:8

We see God as the deity that He is, but how is it that He is personal – wanting a relationship with me? God is love – not that He has love or knows how to love – He is love. And out of that love He desires to have a personal relationship with His creation, us.

When man had wandered so far from that relationship, God sent Himself through Jesus Christ to become like man and communicate His love in a very tangible and eternal way – by dying on a cross. Someone had to pay for all the sins we had chosen because while being a loving God, He is also just. Since a price had to be paid, He chose to be the one to pay it once and for all. He became the sacrifice in Jesus Christ.

But the personal touch doesn’t end with Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. God sent His Holy Spirit to live with us, guide us, counsel us through this thing we call life. Jesus showed us how to live. His Holy Spirit guides the way. That is a God in touch with those He loves.

Further Thoughts:

1. Make a list of God’s attributes that shows He is a personal God.
2. Even though we don’t always “feel” God near, how do we know He is with us? Support with Scripture.
3. As you live your life, how can you daily acknowledge God’s personal and direct involvement in it?
4. Like all personal relationships, our relationship with God takes work. What is our responsibility in that relationship? Support with Scripture.

Father, thank You that You are not some great Deity that is far from me, but one that loves me and interacts with my daily life. Teach me how to love You better and build a relationship that lasts. Amen.

Psalm 90:2 "The Attributes of God - Deity"

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ~ Psalm 90:2

Attributes of God are vast and could never be dealt with in a couple of paragraphs. Entire books could be written just about His omniscience (the ability to know all) and His omnipresence (the ability to be everywhere at the same time.) And we still would not understand these amazing God qualities. So we’ll focus on His sovereignty – His supreme authority to rule as the God of all.

The Almighty has always been and always will be. He is not restricted by time or space. And as Creator of all that is, He maintains sovereignty over all creation, including mankind. His Word is law. His power has no limits. And as such, He remains the one true God – who wants a relationship with you. We may try to put Him in a box and make Him into the God we want Him to be, but in reality, He will always be who He is – a big God.

Further Thoughts:

1. Make a list of the attributes of God that attest to His Deity.
2. How does man try to put God into a box? In other words, how do we try to make Him small and manageable?
3. How do you know God is who He says He is?How can such a big God love someone as small as we are?

God, I believe that You are the omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign God of all. And yet, You care about me. Lord, in my life, all I ask is that You be Big. Amen.