Reflection February 8, 2022 – Learning to Engage in His Word
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
The longer I live, the more I see the love of Jesus all around me. When a half-grown pepper fell off my front porch pepper plant, I cut it open and found it filled with seeds. I smiled and asked, “Who put all those seeds in this tiny pepper?” Immediately, I think about God the Father who created the Heavens and the earth. It was His amazing choice to make seeds. How often God commanded, “Be fruitful and multiply!”
From the time I was a little girl, I heard the stories of faith from the Bible from my parents, Sunday School Teachers, and our minister. Mother chose a verse to live by each year and read the Bible throughout each year.
The one conversation that opened my eyes to the wonder of God’s Word came during my last year in high school. It was at breakfast time. My two brothers and I were ready to rush to school, and Grandpa Suderman slowly reached for the Bible to read a portion. We impatiently waited to hear what he read so we could continue our rush into the day. When he completed the portion that he had read to us, he looked up and spoke. “I never noticed that before!” His blue eyes were filled with wonder and excitement. Knowing he often read the Bible, I felt the first inkling of intense interest.
Since then, I have learned through quotes of many who found treasures of understanding in His word! One was the first president of United States, George Washington. “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” And another president, Abraham Lincoln. “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”
Our reality in this world comes from God’s truth and His promises. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.Psalm 16:11. God has placed more promises in His Word, built on the truth by our Creator, who is and was, and is to come.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world. I John 4:4.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7.
As we meditate on His Word, day and night, we find the Presence of our Lord God. His commandments are not grievous, but our deepest joy and belonging is found in obedience.
Growing up, we often sang the hymn, ‘In the Garden.’ The chorus meant more and more than I realized. These lyrics spell the Presence of our Lord Jesus, Who promises, “And lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b.
And He walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.
Our Lord God opens up vistas of understanding when we search for His Goodness. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33. This is another promise built on truth. Jesus is our Provider of His Goodness and Love unending.
God’s Story of Love is, was, and always will be. When the story of our lives engages His Love, moment by moment, we will be assured of His Provision for our lives.
When He is the ‘I am’ of my Identity, I can be sure of His Presence on my journey through this life. Engaging His Presence through His Word enlarges my understanding of His goodness and l learn about His Will for my life. “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40.
The World tries to rule with fear, lies, and anger. A hymnist, Babcock, in 1859, wrote a hymn, This Is My Father’s World. The third verse completes the why we worship and praise God.
This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad.
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 33:4-5.
So often we look for answers in the world, when the Creator Lord God’s Way of Love and Righteousness contains the answers, we search for in the world. I Corinthians 13, begins with the words, Without love, I am nothing! There are only two commandments, according to Jesus in Matthew 22:38-39. And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. I John 3:23-24.
Prepare to engage with His Word, knowing God will strengthen you and lead you to the wonders of tomorrow. He will turn everyday difficulties and fears from stepping stones to Pathways of Righteous Living in His Love.