“Lord . . You have promised good things to your servant.” 2 Samuel 7:28 NIV.

Don’t lose sight of good things promised, nor lose sight of God in the good He provides.

My thoughts and comments today are about “good things.”

Life can be hard at times, sometimes changing without warning. You build comfortable routines and form assumptions about the future. Things go as you plan, for a while; then life tumbles out of your control, suggesting good times are unrecoverable. The news that shatters your assumptions and shakes your confidence is not the “end of the world” It just feels like it.

In a moment, your expectations can be dashed and you feel, “If it weren’t for bad news, there would be no news at all.” Such moments involve wildly swinging emotions, usually exaggerated and probably irrational. Despair paralyzes you momentarily, your fondness for how things were lies to you about how things will remain. Read Hebrews 12:27-28 NKJV. Dr. Robert Schuller, longtime pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, often reminded people, “Tough times never last; tough people do.”

David was king and concerned that the Ark of the Covenant rested in a tent while he enjoyed a palace of cedar and stone. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17 NIV. David desired to build a suitable “House for the Lord.” But God sent Nathan, a prophet, to tell David he would not build a house for the Lord, but God promised David a future of prosperity, posterity, security, and legacy. David responded with praise. Vs. 18-29. “O Lord Almighty, [You have said, ‘David], I will build a house for you’ . . You are God! Your words are trustworthy, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.” God promises good things for your home and family as well.

A holy desire was in David’s heart to build a proper house for God; God saw his heart, and in response, promised to build and establish a house for David. There is a spiritual principle here to consider. When your concern is to bless God with your life, God’s response is to build your house and bless you with good things. Your joyful response will be as David’s, “Your word is trustworthy and You have promised good things to Your servant.” Your Father promises good things, not the unsettling things of the moment. Jesus reasons, “If you then . .  know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.” Matthew 7:11 NKJV.

Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these [daily] things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these [good] things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV. Trouble diverts your attention from God and distracts you with your own problems. Disappointments can distract you from a Godly focus.

Be advised; prosperity as well as problems can be distracting. “When your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied . . do not forget the Lord.” Deuteronomy 6:10-11 NIV. Don’t lose sight of the good things God promises, nor lose sight of God in the good things He provides.

My prayer for you this day is for the good things God has for you as you love and serve Him.

Devotionals 2 Samuel 7:28, assumptions, bad news, Deuteronomy 6:10-11, disappointments, emotions, God's promise, Godly focus, good things, Hebrews 12:27-28, King David, Matthew 6:33-34, Matthew 7:11, problems, shaken, tough times, your house

“Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT

“People more likely forget what they should remember and remember what they could forget.”

My thoughts today are about “forgetfulness.”

I have learned this about forgetfulness. Without diligence, any one of us can forget even the best of things done for us. The less time or intention to think about things now past, the easier it is to forget even what you thought you never could. Forgetfulness is more a matter of omission than commission, isn’t it? A person is more likely to forget what they should remember and remember what they could forget. I want to remember kindnesses not the disappointments, the regard not the disregard, the helpfulness not the hurt. Sometimes I need help to do that.

Everyone benefits from Godly reminders along the way. My wife, Gayle, is thoughtful and kind enough to remind me of family birthdays and anniversaries. She knows I would not mean to forget those occasions for people dear to me, but I may need reminders.  Charlotte, my secretary of many years, keeps me aware of friends and church families who have special needs or special days for an occasional call or contact. She knows I would not knowingly overlook them, and do not want to do so unintentionally. Forgetfulness occurs even when you do not intend to forget.

Have you heard of self-talk? Everyone talks with themselves on occasion, preferably not aloud. Self-talk is what you tell yourself when no one else is listening. Inwardly, you talk your way through decisions and plans before they’re made, except sadly enough, for the ones you don’t. Self-talk is the normal and useful process of contemplation, thinking, reflection, and musings – not all of which are positive. Your mind is creative; use it well and wisely. Consider Psalm 1:1-3 NIV.

It is easy to rehearse your complaints, or practice your criticism, or convince yourself of slights and oversights. Any benefit to that? Not really. I think the Psalms are largely the outworking of David inwardly processing his struggles, fears, regrets, heartache, hopes, aspirations, and intentions. And now, centuries later, we share his ruminations and learn from his intrapersonal reflections. See Psalm 19:14 NKJV.

King David, older and wiser, wrote, “Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT. Never forget the good things God and others contribute to your life.  Read on in Psalm 103 as David recalls “all the benefits” not to be forgotten – forgiven iniquities, healed diseases, life preserved, crowned with lovingkindness, satisfied with good things, and youth and strength renewed. Read Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV. That is how you remember what you must not forget.

My prayer for you today is to rehearse the mercies, favor, and provision of God to you.

Devotionals benefits, forgetful, good things, Psalm 103:1-5, Psalm 19:14, Psalm 1:1-3, remember, self-talk

“The good man brings good things from the good stored up in his heart.” Luke 6:45 NIV

“Goodness is important, because goodness matters to God.”

My thoughts today are “for goodness sake.”

My Mom seemed to say that a lot when I was growing up. “Allen, for goodness sake don’t do that.” She was a good lady, caring, selfless and generous, and loved by all who knew her. It must have been her way to appeal to what was better in me, wanting me to learn to consider what would be for the best when making decisions or choosing a course of action. I couldn’t tell you whether that was very effective at the time, because teens aren’t always as concerned about the result of things, as they are of their desire at the moment. But at least she planted an idea inside my head, and maybe into my heart, by sincere repetition.

To many, goodness just doesn’t seem good enough. Goodness often sounds so mediocre – so plain vanilla – nothing particularly exceptional about it. Badness at least has some thrill to it; goodness sounds boring. Greatness, now that will get attention; goodness just doesn’t seem to rate much notice. But I suggest that goodness is important, in spite of a culture that evidences anything but that. Goodness matters to God, so that should matter to you, a lot!

Jesus said, “(Even) a tree is recognized by its fruit . . the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45 NIV. So, here’s the deal. If you want to live for goodness sake, it starts in the heart. Goodness is not some occasional, big important thing that you do; goodness is really about who you are, all the time, in things great and small.

Goodness begins with what is “stored up in the heart.” (See Proverbs 4:23 NKJV) It happens over a sustained period of time by living a life that is consistently obedient and pleasing to God. You don’t “get” goodness all of a sudden; you become good by living everyday “for goodness sake.” “That you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work . . growing . . strengthened . . joyfully giving thanks . .” Read Colossians 1:9-14 NIV.

Goodness is expressed by “good things.” You don’t try to do them; they just naturally happen because of what you have placed purposefully into your heart. Good people characteristically do good things. Bad people mostly do bad things. Both are capable of doing either sometimes.

Goodness is the new, redeemed nature of a “good man.” Goodness is a product of God at work in your life. See Galatians 5:22 NIV. “I am convinced that you are full of goodness, complete in knowledge, competent to instruct one another.” Romans 15:13-14 NIV. See Ephesians 5:8-10/Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV.

My prayer for you today is that your heart’s desire is to live to please God always.

Devotionals good man, good things, goodness, Luke 6:43-45, Mom, nature, Proverbs 4:23, redeemed nature

“No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 NKJV

“However much God gives, He is no poorer for it.”

My thoughts today are about “when you don’t know when.”

I think anyone who knows God fully believes this truth: “No good thing will God withhold from them that walk uprightly.” I mean, why would a loving and giving God even want to withhold what is good? However much He gives, He is no poorer for it. You and I with our limited resource might desire to give what another needs, yet not have the ability to do so.

But that certainly is not true of God. God has desire, capacity, and ability. Jesus described a child asking his father for good things, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? . . If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” Read Matthew 7:7-11 NIV.

There are times when life seems to trample on truth. Painful realities force their way into your day, and even worse they linger longer than you think you can bear. I have found that most people can manage slight pain for a lengthy time, or even severe pain briefly, but who can bear the greatest of pain the longest of time? Pain and delay challenges your belief until you cry out, “Where are the good gifts the father gives . . where is the good thing God will not withhold?”

The Apostle Paul wrestled with that kind of physical and emotional pain from an undescribed “thorn in the flesh,” and physically languished in a Roman prison, while what would appear to any of us as being a “good thing” seemed to be withheld. Still Paul wrote confidently to the Philippian Christians, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NKJV. I want to live with that kind of unshakable faith.

But when the real need of your moment remains unmet too long, don’t you wonder or ask why? The unwanted and unanswered question presses into my mind asking, “What is the hold-up?” How about you? It seems I go from wondering how my need will be met, to asking why my need is not met yet, until finally wanting to demand of God, “When will my need be met?” Your heart knows God will provide; you struggle when you don’t know when. It does not help when God remains silent. But know this; God’s delays are not His denial.

There is only one answer for the times in life when all you know about God doesn’t match the  reality you are presently experiencing. That’s when you look up into the face of a loving and gracious God and say with all your heart, “My times are in your hands!” Psalm 31:15 NIV. Either God has something far better for you when you would gladly settle for less right now, or your need is not what you really need right now. When you don’t know when, God does. He is always on time, never late.

My prayer for you today is that your calendar and clock always agree with God’s.

Devotionals good gifts, good things, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 84:11, when?, why?, withhold