Hope For Today "Faith"

The story of God connecting with His people in public places like the tabernacle and the temple is told in chapter after chapter in the Old Testament part of the Bible.  So what does that have to do with us today? Amazingly, we are now meant to be those who demonstrate every day this connection between heaven and earth, this God who meets persons and persons who meet with God. 

I bumped into the word “constant” and I find it refreshing to me in these days when very little is constant and everything seems to be moving about, often in unexpected ways. God is the one constant in our lives for stability and goodneess. If we were to look at our use of time and our time spent with God, is there a warmth, a settledness, a relaxed openness to how we interact? Even if we don’t feel like it, God hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s here with us today.

We were created to live securely by living in the care of God – the God who loves us perfectly, weaknesses and all, and yet we’ve all been in stressful or frightening situations where the “fight or flight” response has been activated in us. What does Jesus have to say to us in these kinds of situations?

What does it take to be in right relationship with God? Some say, "Faith." Others say, "Good Work." What does God say? That's what really matters, isn't it?

God wants us to do well today and that’ll happen when we hold onto faith in His goodness and His love for us, not matter what’s gone on in our past. God is committed to our good and if we will come to Him, believe that he is there, and turn our will and our life over to His care, He will bring more good into our lives than we can possibly imagine today.  The big question is, will we have faith in God?

God takes us as we are.  Maybe it’s time we did the same with Him in return.

The power of another person’s abusive words or actions is not stronger than the power of God’s love. Even though feelings of shame are some of the most powerful we experience, God’s love goes deeper and is able to lift us above it all.

The God who knew us before we were even formed in our mother’s womb watches over us and draws us to Himself.  The choice of coming close to God rests with us. In Step 11 we purpose to improve our conscious contact with God so we can understand more about God and how He interacts with us. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

To expose what has gone on in our lives, even to ourselves, is humbling for we feel awkward and ashamed about some of the things that are on our inventory list. And yet God invites us to be clear and thorough in this confession, and do so with all our hearts.

In a world where people believe many things – including some who believe there is no god – how do I know there is a power greater than myself?  How do I know that God has any interest in restoring me to sanity or even more important, has the ability to do so?  Our questions are valid and welcome.  We’re not the first to ask them and we won’t be the last.

We will face difficulties in this life, but the perspective of eternity with God in heaven, can help us get through tough times.

When Thomas was told that they had seen Jesus, he doubted that it was true. He was afraid to hope again.  Too many surprises.  Too much information.  Thomas just couldn’t deal with any more. Like Thomas, some of us have known the discouragement of hopes dashed and opportunities lost.  In our broken fearful lives, we doubt the presence of a loving caring God with us to help.