Faithfulness and your future … He’s got it. We all find ourselves in different places today - physically, emotionally and spiritually too. No matter - let us greet the day with this empowering thought: This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!1 Friends, we can choose joy because we are held close by the God of the Universe. When each of my children was a newborn in my arms, hearing news of something bad or violent happening in our world troubled me so. Sometimes I would think, ‘oh, my goodness…I have brought a tiny, helpless baby into a mean and cruel world! What have I done? What will happen when I have to release him/her out of my care? What, then?’
click here to listen to the podcast of this Morning Briefing Truly, the world is not getting any kinder. But no matter what is taking place—“who God is” does not change-- he is the epitome of faithfulness. And so for the young mother, looking at her tiny baby, may I so boldly say, ‘Dear Mama, God is faithful.’ To the Grandmother who rocks her grandbaby, thinking so tenderly, ‘and what will the world be like for you, little one?’ The answer is the same--God is faithful. He will do what he said he would do. To the ever-loving mother of her grown children, ‘entrust your children and your grandchildren to God. If you did not give them to God when they were babies, do it now. Entrust them to God . . . he is faithful. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”2 One more thing: when the bell tolls for you someday, God will yet be faithful! Your presence is not required on this earth for God to remain faithful to all the prayers you have prayed for those you love so dearly. Faithfulness is who he is. “Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]”.3 Hundreds of prophecies recorded in the Word of God have been fulfilled—they happened just as God said they would. Their fulfillment is a testament to the reliability of Scripture and the ever-faithful trustworthiness of our God. In addition, fulfilled prophecies strengthen our ability to trust God’s promises as well. When people we know keep their word, we grow to trust them … so too with God. The nature of God’s promises tells us about his tender heart toward us. Indeed God’s promises assure us of his presence, leading, direction, peace, provision, forgiveness, character, and everlasting love … all because he is faithful. Do you need to know about the strength of God’s love? Here’s his promise: The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you.4 And nothing, o nothing, can keep us from his love, as Paul wrote, For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.5 NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. Note to self: whether or not I "feel" God’s love on any given day is irrelevant; it does not interrupt or change the fact that God loves me. Do you need some assurance about the future? For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.6 And remember with me that Jesus said, "I am going to prepare a place for you . . .I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."7 O Christian, you have a home in Glory … this world is not your home! It is a training ground and an opportunity to respond to God’s great love for you. Do not worry about tomorrow8 … your Father’s got it. He’s got you. The summary of the Bible is this: God created you, he made a plan for relationship with you forever, if and as you follow him, you will experience his faithfulness in your life, again and again. God speaks this to you today: I AM faithful. Trust in Me. Amen. He's Been Faithful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdO2cRXVHII [I have learned so much by the faithfulness of God through Jim and Carol Cymbala from the Brooklyn Tabernacle. I will worship there again on Sunday, February 5, just before hopping aboard the airplane to Israel to walk in Jesus' footsteps. If you need an inspirational book to start 2023, I highly recommend Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. It is the single most transformational book in my life] Because God is Faithful, Christine 1 – Psalm 118.24 2 – Philippians 4.19 3 - 1 Thessalonians 5.24, Amplified 4 - Zephaniah 3.17 5 - Romans 8.38-39 6 – Jeremiah 29.11 7 - John 14.3 8 – Matthew 6.34, but do yourself a favor and read Matthew 6.25-34 just click: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206.25-34&version=NIV&interface=print