Get the appNames of God: Through Thanksgiving & ChristmasSample
Jesus gathers the disciples together prior to His arrest and crucifixion to encourage them and prepare them for what they will face. He desires that they will have peace in Him even though they will have trouble and tribulation in the world.
Jesus makes it clear that those who follow Him will have trouble, but He promises that in the end they will be victorious. It is an incorrect assumption for a believer to think that if trouble comes then they are out of the will of God. Jesus’ followers have been tortured, persecuted, imprisoned, slandered, and killed. As humans, we tend to believe that love comes from achievement and is rewarded with success. When things go wrong in our lives we ask, “What did I do to deserve this? What did I do wrong? Is this punishment?” But in the midst of difficult circumstances, seasons of pain, and unexplainable trials, God’s love for us remains unchanged. Our confidence must rest in that knowledge. Our assurance must be grounded in the certainty of God’s presence and great love for us. God’s love for me never fails, even when I deliberately disobey Him.
Can the Lord say the same about your love for Him when you are being stretched, tested, and wounded in the battles you face in this human life? What challenging and scary circumstances have caused you to doubt God’s promise that all will end victorious? Are you only using success and achievement in your life as your measure for God’s love?
Father God, You are the source of my love and peace. I thank You that I battle in this world from a place of victory. Help me to face the hardships of this world with joy and cheer, without fear of what may happen to me. Lord, help me to rest on Your promises for me and not my desire for a trouble-free life. Lord, let all of the trials that I face while on earth glorify Your power and Your presence in my life. Lord, show me how to keep You lifted high above all of my troubles on this earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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About this Plan
What’s in a name? The many beautiful names of God reveal something about who he is and why he functions the way he does. Names of God – specifically written to help us focus on our Lord during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons – walks us through the study of six of the names God has given himself. Time is spent looking at the truths these names reveal about God, and how this knowledge should practically impact our everyday decisions, emotions, and relationships. “For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?” ~ J.I. Packer. Come join us as we get to know God more fully and spend time adoring him for who he is. God shows himself to us through his names because of his great love for us. We, in turn, have the privilege of loving, worshipping and resting in Him on an even deeper level during this reflective time of year. Journal with us as we go through this study for the next six weeks…reading and writing what God speaks into our hearts.
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