Waking Up to the Goodness of GodSample
Believe God for Good Things
Sunrises. Sunsets. Belly laughter. Frosted brownies. A colorful salad. A fluffy pillow. Water to drink. Clothes to wear. Friends and family to love. New mercies every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). Unending faithfulness at night. Eternal security. Moment-by-moment grace. Jesus alive in you. Jesus all around you. The promise of His presence and access to His power.
You’re not just blessed; you’re profoundly, abundantly, and lavishly cared for.
Imagine it: God the Father watches over you. He charges angels to intervene for you and protect you (Psalm 91:11-12).
Even so, it’s hard to see and enjoy the goodness of God when pain, loss, or heartache are all we feel. At times, I felt like I lived my life behind plexiglass. I could see God’s gifts, but I didn’t feel well enough to enjoy them. Pain compels us to look down. Faith invites us to look up.
It’s one thing to count your blessings. It’s far more powerful to attach each gift to a God who fiercely loves you. That takes some time, but it’ll change how you think and feel. For instance, consider the food you’ll eat today. You have choices about what to eat. You won’t go hungry today. Before you put a bite in your mouth, pause and thank God for providing such a gift to you in such a personal way. Train yourself to connect every morsel of food to a loving Father who provides for your needs. Over time, you’ll feel grateful for the simplest things.
Counting your blessings is better than complaining about your hardships. But holding each treasure before the Lord and acknowledging His very specific love for you? It’ll change your life. Why? Because with each gift you notice comes a message to your heart that your heavenly Father sees you, knows you, loves you, and has promised to take good care of you.
When you train your thoughts and your gaze to look for the gifts from God’s hand, you’ll start to believe—down deep in your bones—that you not only have a history with God, but you have a future with Him too. It’s impossible for Him to fail you.
Good and gracious Father, thank You for the countless ways You provide for me. Things I notice and things I miss. Things I cherish and things I take for granted. You’re intimately involved with my life, and I can trust You. Amen.
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About this Plan
Do you believe God cares about the condition of your soul and that He still answers prayer? Are you willing to position yourself on the path of His promises and see what He might do in and through you? Join Susie Larson in this devotional based on her book Waking Up to the Goodness of God, to discover God’s goodness—today.
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