ALWAYS TRUE!

With all that has been going on in the last six weeks - since finding out that Pam has breast cancer, I have to admit something to all of you. I have been incredibly overwhelmed. I have doubted the goodness of God...not in a conscious way, but in the way I was thinking and responding. No, I wasn't going off the deep end, but I was trying to lean on my own understanding.
This week I found out that my sister-in-law probably has MS. It smacked me right in the face. I questioned God, "Why? Why is this going on now?" Now, its not wrong to ask God questions, if the questions lead you right back to him. However, in my heart I was thinking, "God, we don't deserve this! Haven't we been through enough already? Why is this happening?" As I told a co-worker who is a believer about my questions, she said, "Jodi, it isn't for us to know right now." A dear friend has also been quick to remind me of truth...even when at the moment I just wanted someone to feel sorry for me. I am so thankful for their godly counsel to help me to see I wasn't thinking right.
I knew I needed some time to get my thoughts together, to focus on truth and get my eyes on Jesus. Well, it was so like God to provide me with that time! I found myself home from work on Thursday and Friday with the beginnings of a cold and then again today (Sunday) with a very upset stomach. So...here was my chance to get my thoughts "together".
Recently I had purchased CD messages (along with a study book) from Walk in the Word minstries. The messages are called Always True - 5 Exceedingly Great Promises of God by James MacDonald. Well, having the time, I thought I would listen to them. I cannot tell you how these messages from God's Word have touched my heart and are helping me to believe the truth about Him! I just want to briefly share with you each of the promises and some points that James made based on these truths. This is what I am going to choose to believe about Him (BY HIS STRENGTH) through the icky things that are going on in our family right now.
Promise #1 - God is always with me...I will not fear.
"The worse the days get, the more He is with you." - James MacDonald
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or afraid of them. The Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you."
Promise #2 - God is always in control...I will not doubt.
"Doubt is the direct result of taking my eyes off the Lord." -James. Like in Matthew 14 when Peter was walking on the water and took his eyes off of Jesus to look at the waves and wind...thats what I do when start to "sink" - I'm looking at my circumstances, not Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."
Promise #3 - God is always good...I will not despair.
"Hope is a confident expectation of something better tomorrow." - James
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Promise #4 - God is always watching...I will not falter.
"He watches the depth of the water, the heat of the fire...at the moment you can't go on He will say, "ENOUGH!" - James
1 Corinthians 10:31 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Promise #5 - God is always Victorious...I will not fail.
I haven't gotten to this one yet :)
SO...If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have embraced Him as your Savior, YOU can rest in these promises too! They are EXCEEDINGLY GREAT AND PRECIOUS! (2 Peter 1:4) If you aren't a believer (yet), hope is just a prayer away!