Through Every Season

He is Faithful

The last couple of months I’ve been troubled by the ending of King Solomon’s life.  I’ve been thinking that if King Solomon was so wise, did so many great things for God, and still fell away what is to keep me from doing the same?  

My thoughts were making me miserable.  Finally, I started praying instead of worrying (Good idea. Right?) and God showed me that I was looking at it all wrong.  It’s not that I have to be so great or so strong or dependable.  He is the One who is faithful.  Whew!  What a relief!  
In 2 Thess. 3 the Amplified says, “Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil one.”
I don’t have to be strong in my own strength.  He is there daily strengthening me.  It’s not about what I do or don’t do.  It’s about living in relationship with Him.  
One of my favorite scriptures has been Galatians 3.  Here it is in the Message:
1 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
 2-4 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!
 5-6 Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don’t these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.
Here are two more..
I Cor. 1:7-9 Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

Phil. 1:6 (Amp.) And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
I don’t know how many different ways the idea that I have to be independent and do things on my own can sneak into my brain (This time I was meditating on a Bible story!), but I am sure glad when He is faithful to remind me of the truth and it sets me free.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Words and Music by Thomas O. Chilsholm and William Runyan

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou has been Thou forever wilt be.
      Great is Thy faithfulness!
      Great is Thy faithfulness!
      Morning by morning new mercies I see.
      All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
      Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

1 Comment

  1. Elayne

    Encouraging thoughts. Here are the words to an old hymn that I heard on the radio and have been thinking about along with The Shack:

    The love of God is greater far
    Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
    It goes beyond the highest star,
    And reaches to the lowest hell;
    The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
    God gave His Son to win;
    His erring child He reconciled,
    And pardoned from his sin.
    Refrain:
    Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
    How measureless and strong!
    It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints’ and angels’ song.
    When hoary time shall pass away,
    And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
    When men who here refuse to pray,
    On rocks and hills and mountains call,
    God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
    All measureless and strong;
    Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
    The saints’ and angels’ song.
    Could we with ink the ocean fill,
    And were the skies of parchment made,
    Were every stalk on earth a quill,
    And every man a scribe by trade;
    To write the love of God above
    Would drain the ocean dry;
    Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
    Though stretched from sky to sky.

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