(59) God’s Timing is Everything!

Are you unhappy with the pace of certain things? Do you wish things would happen more quickly? Are you tired of waiting for something to happen? Wait. Be still and contemplate the truth that there is a God in heaven who is indeed sovereign, and who has perfect timing, every time. God has perfect timing - we need to wait.

First, we need to wait for the Lord’s deliverance. When we face uncomfortable circumstances in life, our natural reaction is to try to change things as quickly as possible so that we don’t feel bad anymore. We will do whatever we can to remove the physical pain, financial or relationship strain, or whatever we don’t like in life. Often, we can be successful in getting out of a jam by sheer force of will and hard work. Many times we will resort to finding a simple, quick fix that doesn’t really solve the problem. Other times, we will even manipulate, deceive, or commit some other sin so we can get out from under the pain.

But, there is another, better way to respond when we face painful and challenging circumstances. Instead of becoming frantic and desperately running about tying to find the easiest way out, perhaps even falling into sin, we need to passionately seek to know God’s wisdom for the situation, and patiently wait for God’s deliverance. David understood the importance of these principles. Carefully consider his approach to tough times found in Psalm 27 and 37 and jot down your observations.

Psalm 27:11-14

Teach me Your way, O LORD,

And lead me in a level path because of my foes.

Do not deliver me over

to the desire of my adversaries,

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence.

I would have despaired unless I had believed

that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psalm 37:4-11

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;

And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Next: (60) Waiting for the Lord’s Deliverance

(58) All the Time You Need

Have you ever felt like you just don’t have enough time to get done all you need to do? How do you view time? Is time your enemy? Are you always trying to beat the clock? Perhaps you need to get a fresh view of the God of time.

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

Many of us have loved and clung to this verse for years. We have been encouraged through this verse to trust God for the outcome of our life struggles with sin and evil. These are important principles to apply from this verse. But there is something more here for us to see; a principle that can help us get victory over our stressed out lives.

You see, the context of this verse describes a world in chaos as the wicked seek to destroy the righteous and rebel against God. The statement of verse ten is an admonition to let God take care of things and not try to take responsibility for the things God must deal with. It is a call to let go of control and trying to make things happen on your own. It is a command to surrender to the sovereignty of God and His way of dealing with things as He works that plan out in time. And these principles can help us if we apply them to our daily activites.

We scurry about, trying to make things happen, sometimes quite frankly, we are really trying to force things to happen. We want it done now. We want the problem solved now. And so, we work and strive to win the battle and all the while God says, “Slow down, stop trying to make it happen yourself, let me do it my way in my time. You’re just spinning your wheels trying to make something happen that only I can make happen.”

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NET)

Much of our frantic activity is rooted in a lack of submission and faith. We fail to submit our wills, life circumstances, and plans to God and so we frantically run about trying to accomplish our plans, relying on our wisdom and strength. What we need to do is take all the little worries and anxieties of the day and give them to God. Let Him sort through all the things we think we need to do and show us what He wants us to do and then trust Him to guide us through the day to accomplish what He wants. This is the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NET)

There it is. Don’t trust in or rely on your own understanding of what you need to do. Instead, in ALL your ways acknowledge – or, more literally, “know” God. We seek god for major life decisions, but we think we know what we need to do each day. We establish our goals and make our plans and get to work. And we give little thought of what God wants us to do in our daily activities. Yet, as William MacDonald explains, “Every area of our lives must be turned over to His control. We must have no will of our own, only a single pure desire to know His will and to do it.”

In The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Sid S. Buzzell points out, “This means more than guidance; it means God removes the obstacles, making a smooth path or way of life, or perhaps better, bringing one to the appointed goal.”

So here’s the remedy for a stressed out life or simply a stressed out day. First, submit your will to the will of God for your life and your day. Second, earnestly seek to know His will and follow His lead step by step through your day. Third, trust Him to accomplish what He wants done in this day.

Perhaps we are stressed out over time because we are trying to fill our lives with all kinds of activities that we want to do or we think we need to do that God hasn’t led us to do. Maybe, we just need to follow these three simple principles and realize, we have all the time we need to do all that God wants us to do. Be still and let God be God of your agenda.

Next:  (59)  God's Timing is Everything!

(57) Longview Christianity

According to Wikipedia, the original name of Longview, Texas was Earpville until men stood on a hill and looked out over the town and made the reply, "What a long view." Hence the name Longview. A prison sits on that historic hill today.

Unfortunately, too many of us never get up on the hill of God and see the long view and stay imprisoned to the consequences of short-sighted living. We live our lives for the here-and-now and our immediate gratification and so waste our lives on fleeting pleasures. We liveour lives for what we want now and even in time we end up regretting it. We need to live in God’s “longview.”

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. (Matthew 16:25 NLT)

Living in longview means we will give our lives to God for the purposes of eternity. My human conceived purposes and plans are temporal and only impact time. God’s purposes and plans are eternal. And God wants me to engage in activities that contribute to fulfilling His eternal purposes and plans.

The first step to living in longview is to make a complete surrender of my life to God. I must surrender my plans and goals and live my life earnestly seeking to know and live out God’s plans and goals for my life. This is the only life that constitutes an invested life. When I live my way, by my plans, for my goals, I end up with a wasted life.

It’s one thing to say I am going to live to fulfill God’s purposes and plans for my life, it’s another thing altogether to do it. You see, I think many of us have made the commitment to live in longview but we never move there. We stay put on the edge of living for eternity, making short visits into longview but the majority of our time is spent living in the moment. We never fully “get it” and move into lonview and get settled into a lifestyle of living for eternity.

So, if we are going to live an invested life rather than a wasted life, we will have to choose to give our time to God for the purposes of eternity. Remember, this was the idea of Ephesians 5:15-16. Read it again.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16making the most of your time (redeeming the time), because the days are evil. (Eph.5:15-16 NAU)

The point here is that we live in a time that is characterized by evil, short-sighted living. We need to use our minutes wisely so they are invested, not wasted. This is a conscious choice. Again, I feel I cannot overemphasize the importance of being intentional, discerning, and determined in the use of our time. Don’t just visit longview on Sundays in a church service. Move in. Make every minute count for eternity.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Next: (58) All the Time You Need

(56) Time Investment Strategies

(NOTE: This post is part of a series on the eternality of God)

There are all kinds of strategies for investing money. We are told to invest in gold “because it has never been worth zero.” We are told to invest in stocks for a good return on investment, bonds for stability. There are lots of opinions and plenty of people willing to take your money from you.

With time, there is only one sure investment. Invest your time into fulfilling God’s purposes and plans for your life. Invest your life into activities that last for eternity.

Certainly key in this investment strategy is to invest your life into leading people to know, honor, and worship God with their lives. A fundamental part of this strategy is demonstrating and declaring the glorious Christ to unbelievers.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:5 NKJ)

Again, we see the idea of being intentional and thoughtful about how we live. We are to be wise in our interactions with unbelievers. This wisdom involves discernment, skill, and an acute appreciation that time is short, our opportunity to influence them for Christ is limited.

This brings a thought to my mind. If I were representing my country as an ambassador in a foreign country, I would have to be very discerning and skilled in how I spoke to people. I would need to make sure I say the right things at the right times. I would be obligated to make sure I didn’t say anything that would be inappropriate. So, I would think about various situations and conversations that could be encountered. I would think through what I would say. I would think of ways to steer conversation toward the things my country wanted to communicate. I would think about what questions I might be asked and how I would answer them. I would think about things I could do to give people a favorable view of my country. This would be my responsibilities and if I wanted to be good at my job, I would think, plan, and envision how to be as effective as possible.

This is what it looks like to “walk in wisdom” toward unbelievers. I won’t just wait for things to happen, I will prepare for them to happen, I will plan to make them happen. I will envision how I can “buy up” (redeem) or shall I say, “snatch up” the moments I have in interaction with unbelievers to influence and impact them for Christ.

Now, this does not mean that as soon as our eyes meet I blurt out the Gospel as quickly as possible so I can say I “witnessed” to them. That is not wisdom. No, wisdom is skill, tact, discernment of how the Spirit of God is guiding you and how He is speaking to them.

And, Paul says we are to speak with grace. This means we will be gentle, kind, humble. It means we don’t have a self-righteous, condemning attitude. Yes, we speak of sin. Yes, we speak of God’s judgement and wrath against sin. Yes, we speak about eternity and the eternal torment that awaits those who refuse to repent of their sin and continue to reject Christ. But we speak from the realization that we are sinners saved only by grace. We deserve Hell. We are no better than they are.

God is an eternal God. He created time and He placed us in time for the purposes of eternity. We will invest our time wisely when we develop a keen appreciation of the truth that time is short . . . for everyone.

So let’s be skillful, prepared, practiced, intentional, and gracious in the moments we have interacting with unbelievers. Time is short. Their eternity is at stake.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
 
Next:  (57) Longview Christianity

(55) Making a Time Investment

(Note:  this post is part of a series on the eternality of God)

Have you ever looked back on the way you’ve spent you money and been angry with yourself? Perhaps you have wished you would have used your money more wisely. Maybe you’ve looked back and realized you wasted money. Maybe you wished you would have saved and invested some. The good thing about money is we can usually earn more and even correct our prior bad habits.

This is not so easy with time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Whatever we do with our time is either a waste or an investment. Time is a very precious resource. Because of this, Paul challenges us to use our time very carefully.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time (redeeming the time), because the days are evil. (Eph.5:15-16 NAU)

This short passage is packed with powerful wisdom and vital principles. The important verses that come just before these provide the context that help us understand the depths of what Paul is saying. These verses contain a strong admonition to believers. To sum it up, Paul says, “Don’t live like unbelievers, live like those who have the light from God. Because God’s light will reveal the truth, expose all sin, and judge sin.”

So, because God is going to judge sin, and because God has given us His light to discern righteousness from unrighteousness, you should, “be careful how you walk not as unwise but as wise.” Don’t live thoughtlessly, be careful, thoughtful, intentional in how you use your time. Don’t act like people who have no wisdom, take advantage of the wisdom available to you from God.

Paul continues, “making the most of your time (NAU).” Here, the KJV translates this more accurately, “redeeming the time.” The Greek word here is the word that speaks of redemption, the act of paying the price to buy something. Here, Paul is saying that we need to buy up time. But he’s not just talking about time generally. The word he uses refers to smaller segments of time. We are to buy up segments of time because the “days” are evil.

We could paraphrase Paul’s words this way, “Be careful how you spend your time in life. Don’t live thoughtlessly. Live according to the light of God and His wisdom. Snatch up moments you have to invest in righteousness because we are living in an evil world.”

How do we live in light of eternity? We live on purpose. We live intentionally. We live according to the commands and principles of God’s light found in His Word. We strive to assure that every moment counts. We strive to make sure we are living in such a way that we are living out the righteousness of Christ.

Why? Because we are living in an evil world. The influence of evil is all around us. The world is trying to squeeze us into its mold (Rom. 12:2 Phillips). Because it’s easy just to go along with the crowd and the path they are taking in life. It’s easy to get caught up in the activities that are really a waste of time if not outright sinful. It’s easy to waste your time. It takes intentional and determined effort to invest your time for eternity.

So, be careful, thoughtful, intentional, focused, and wise about how you use your most precious resource. Once its gone you can’t get it back. Don’t waste it . . . invest it!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (56 )Time Investment Strategies

(54) Living In the Light of Eternity

(Note:  This post is part of a series on the Eternality of God)

As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,

And its place acknowledges it no longer.

(Psalm 103:15-16)

A flower springs up, it flourishes for a brief time, and then it is gone . . . forgotten . . . no lasting impact. Before long, the ground it was planted in will show no signs it was ever there. So is the life of man apart from Christ and investing life into eternally significant pursuits.

Man’s life is a mere micro-spec on the scale of eternity. The amazing thing is that what you and I do now, in this micro-spec we call our lives actually makes a difference for eternity. As the redeemed and regenerated, we can make a difference, and impact eternity for the glory of God. Eternity is determined in the present. Lives saved and matured in Christ to the point where they reach others for Christ will result in greater numbers to praise God in eternity.

This begs a question, “How do we live in the blink of time we have in light of the great span of eternity?” Someone has calculated how a typical life span of 70 years is spent. Here is his estimate:

What’s your reaction to this? When I think about how brief my life is and think about investing my life for eternity, and question immediately comes to mind, “How can I free up some of my precious moments from temporal, insignificant activities so I can invest more time into eternity?” I look at this chart, and I realize I have to be careful messing with the sleep time, I’m already employed in ministry, but #3! What it the world? You mean to tell me that the third biggest time consumer for the average person is watching T.V.? I sure hope that’s not true for me!

For there has already been enough time spent in doing the will of the pagans: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. (1 Peter 4:3 CSB)

See what is this verse saying? Basically, it is saying, “You’ve wasted enough time!” OK, so you may not be engaged in the activities listed in this verse, but the principle remains, don’t waste your life. Life is way to short to waste time on fruitless activity. Let’s make it our ambition that we will not spend one more purposeless, unintentionally lived, wasted moment. Let’s live with laser-like focus, assuring that every moment is purposefully invested into making an impact on eternity for the glory of God.

Soli Deo Gloria


Next:  (55) Making a Time Investment

(53) Don’t Waste Your Life

Psalm 90:1-12

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were born

Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You turn man back into dust

And say, "Return, O children of men."

For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it passes by,

Or as a watch in the night.

You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;

In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;

Toward evening it fades and withers away.

For we have been consumed by Your anger

And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.

You have placed our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

For all our days have declined in Your fury;

We have finished our years like a sigh.

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,

Or if due to strength, eighty years,

Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;

For soon it is gone and we fly away.

Who understands the power of Your anger

And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

So teach us to number our days,

That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

In this Psalm, Moses has a sharp focus on the eternality of God. He points out that God has always been the dwelling place and the place of safety for the people of God. God was around before the mountains or the earth were created. He is Eternal God.

He is above and beyond the span of man’s raising up and laying to rest, generation upon generation, while being unaffected by time himself. Man is like grass, he comes and goes. Life is short, God is eternal. And this is what is troubling Moses.

In the view of Moses, in Psalm 90, the sins of the people were before God and they were ending their brief years in sorrow, suffering the consequences of their sin and estrangement from God due to a lack of repentance and reestablishment of fellowship with God.

Moses recognizes the brevity of human life saying that it is soon over and we "fly away." Moses recognizes the tragedy to living out your days separated from the beauty of intimate fellowship with God due to unconfessed sin and rebellion. Moses recognizes the great tragedy of a wasted life. So, Moses pleads with God for help to realize the brevity of life, to realize how little time there is, and to act in humility, reverence for God, and wisdom to maintain an intimate relationship with God which will matter for eternity.

So, are you investing your life or wasting it? Consider this, every second spent doing your thing, every minute spent heading in your direction, every hour spent pursuing your plans, every day spent fulfilling your purpose is one more step in the direction of a wasted life. So give it up . . . all of it . . . every second to pursue God’s thing, God’s direction, God’s plans, God’s purpose. And you will find life . . . an invested life. Don’t waste your life!
Soli Deo Gloria


Next:  (54 )Living in the Light of Eternity

(52) The Eternality of God - Introduction

“What time is it?” “There’s just not enough time in a day!” “How am I ever going to get all this done on time?” “Your time is up.”

Man is bound by time, hampered by time, frustrated with time. If things don't happen according to our timing, we get bothered. God is above all this. God is the “One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15).” Moses declared, “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. ( Psalm 90:2)”

When we speak of God being eternal, we mean that He has no beginning or end and is above all temporal limits of time. He possesses all His existence in one indivisible present and sees past and future as clearly as present.

Two names of God help us understand God’s eternality. First, God is “Yahweh.” Of course we know “Yahweh” as the unique name for God that sets Him apart from all humanly conceived gods as the one-and-only true God. But, it also is a statement of God’s eternal existence. It speaks of God’s self existence meaning that His existence is permanently or eternally within Himself. No one and no thing caused God to come into existence. Existence exists only within God. John Durham explains the meaning behind this name in The Word Biblical Commentary.

“I am being that I am being,” or “I am the Is-ing One,” that is, “the One Who Always Is.” Not conceptual being, being in the abstract, but active being, is the intent of this reply [to Moses]. It is a reply that suggests that it is inappropriate to refer to God as “was” or as “will be,” for the reality of this active existence can be suggested only by the present: “is” or “is-ing,” “Always Is,” or “Am.”

Everything that exists finds its origin in God. We exist because God exists and because God chose to give us existence. God created us. But God has no cause or origin. He is the uncaused cause and the original originator. A.W. Tozer explains:

Origin is a word that can apply only to things created. When we think of anything that has origin we are not thinking of God. God is self-existent, while all created things necessarily originated somewhere at some time. Aside from God, nothing is self-caused.

Second, God is “El Olam,” the God of eternity. This name teaches us that God rules over eternity, He is sovereign over eternity. We are governed by time, controlled by time. But, God is not governed by time but rather, He governs time. Tozer states, “God dwells in eternity but time dwells in God. He has already lived all our tomorrows as He has lived all our yesterdays.”

Your throne is established from of old;

You are from everlasting.

(Psalm 93:2 NAU)

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

(Psalm 145:13 NAU)

But the LORD is the true God;

He is the living God and the everlasting King.

At His wrath the earth quakes,

And the nations cannot endure His indignation.

(Jeremiah 10:10 NAU)

There has never been a time when God has not been on His throne, ruling over His creation as King! You may feel like God has taken a break, but your feelings lie, your circumstances lie.

The eternal God is a dwelling place,

And underneath are the everlasting arms.

(Deuteronomy 33:27)

Trust in the LORD forever,

For in GOD the LORD,

we have an everlasting Rock.

(Isaiah 26:4)

God was, is, and always will be governing and orchestrating His-story to fulfill His “eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11)” according to His perfect plan for His glory.

Your name, O LORD, is everlasting,

Your remembrance, O LORD, throughout all generations.

(Psalm 135:13 NAU)

God is eternally and thoroughly committed to the glory of His name. That’s His agenda for time . . . for your life . . . your day. What’s on your agenda? What are you doing today?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (53) Don’t Waste Your Life

(51) Who is YOUR God?

We end our meditation on the infinite glory of God with a challenge. It is a question we all must honestly answer. But, we must not give a hasty answer or we may be giving an answer that only comes from our heads, and not from our hearts. This question is not meant to be a question of your theology, but of your true heart beliefs, the beliefs that govern your thinking, attitudes, emotions, actions, and view of life.

So I challenge you, search your heart . . . evaluate your life . . . consider your reactions to life’s troubles, disappointments and pain. And, from the reality of your heart, answer the question,

“Who is YOUR God?”

Who is YOUR God . . . When life seems out of CONTROL?

When things seem out of control, there is a God in heaven who is sovereign over all.

Who’s YOUR God?


Who is YOUR God . . . When life seems IMPOSSIBLE?

When there's no way it can happen, there is a God who is limitless in power.

Who’s YOUR God?

Who is YOUR God . . . When you don't know what to DO?

When you don't know what to do, there is a God who is limitless in knowledge & wisdom.

Who’s YOUR God?


Who is YOUR God . . . When you feel like you're all ALONE?

When you feel like you're all alone, there is a God who is everywhere.

Who’s YOUR God?


Who is YOUR God . . . When you can’t see the end and TIME is working against you?

When you can’t see the end and time is working against you, there is a God who is the creator of time.

Who’s YOUR God?


Who is YOUR God . . . When you feel like you've BLOWN IT one too many times?

When you feel like you've blown it one too many times, there is a God who is infinite in mercy to those who come humbly to Him for forgiveness.

Who’s YOUR God?

Are you overwhelmed by the glory of God? Realize the truth that you haven’t barely touched the surface of the vast sea of God’s glory. There is so much more to discover! But for now, would you pause and make the following commitment to your glorious, infinite God.

My Commitment:

Infinite God, source of all creation, you are the one who spoke the universe into existence. Nothing is too big for you. No problem is above your power. No complexity is above your knowledge & wisdom. No place hides your presence. No sin is above your grace & mercy. No chaos is above your control & care. You are a big God and I will put my confidence in you.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Next: (52) The Eternality of God - Introduction

(50) Who is Like Our God?

We have seen a beautiful celebration of our infinite God in Psalm 145. Now we turn our attention to a series of penetrating questions in Isaiah 40 that can all be summed up under the question, “Who is great like our God?” Again, I challenge you to read slowly and thoughtfully. Consider the questions and statements carefully and think about what they say about the greatness of our God. But first, take a moment to pray and ask God to bring His Word alive to you as you read.

Isaiah 40:12-31 (NLT)

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?

Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?

Who else knows the weight of the earth

or has weighed out the mountains and the hills?

Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD?

Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor?

Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice?

Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best?

No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him.

They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales.

He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all.

All Lebanon's forests do not contain sufficient fuel

to consume a sacrifice large enough to honor him.

All Lebanon's sacrificial animals

would not make an offering worthy of our God.

The nations of the world are as nothing to him.

In his eyes they are less than nothing

mere emptiness and froth.

To whom, then, can we compare God?

What image might we find to resemble him?

Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold,

and decorated with silver chains?

Or is a poor person's wooden idol better?

Can God be compared to an idol

that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down?

Have you never heard or understood?

Are you deaf to the words of God

the words he gave before the world began?

Are you so ignorant?

It is God who sits above the circle of the earth.

The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers!

He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain

and makes his tent from them.

He judges the great people of the world

and brings them all to nothing.

They hardly get started, barely taking root,

when he blows on them and their work withers.

The wind carries them off like straw.

"To whom will you compare me?

Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One.

Look up into the heavens.

Who created all the stars?

He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name.

And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away.

O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles?

How can you say God refuses to hear your case?

Have you never heard or understood?

Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth?

He never grows faint or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out;

he offers strength to the weak.

Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.

But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength.

They will fly high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Hallelujah! What an awesome, infinitely great and glorious God! This is an incredibly powerful passage of scripture that just keeps coming at us with heart piercing challenges, demanding that we answer the question, “Who is great like our God?”

If we really let the challenge of this passage reach our hearts we will be overcome with brokenness over our doubts, anxieties, and fears. For what place do these have in the life of one who has a God like this?

If you’re still overwhelmed by some problem in your life, some challenge before you, read this passage again and be overwhelmed by an infinite God who is bigger than anything you will ever face.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (51) Who is YOUR God?

(49) Celebrating the Infinite God

Psalm 145 is a beautiful Psalm celebrating the infinite greatness of God. David paints a colorful word picture of our infinite God. In verse three he says that God's "greatness is unsearchable." Throughout the Psalm he describes the practical implications of Gods infinity. He speaks of God's greatness, majesty, power, abundant goodness, righteousness, grace, mercy, patience, loving-kindness, goodness, and provision. He describes the works of God as mighty, wonderful, awesome, and kind. As you read, think about this question: “Why is God so great?” Let me encourage you to write the answers on a piece of paper as you read this Psalm.

Psalm 145

I will extol You, my God, O King,

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You,

And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,

And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty

And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,

And I will tell of Your greatness.

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness

And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.

All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD,

And Your godly ones shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom

And talk of Your power;

To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts

And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The LORD sustains all who fall

And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You,

And You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

And kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He will also hear their cry and will save them.

The LORD keeps all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

What an incredible portrait of our infinite God. This Psalm mentions so many aspects of God's character and we must keep in mind that the infinite nature of God is in David's heart. While he tries to find words to describe the greatness of God, he says that God's greatness is in reality unsearchable. As we consider the various characteristics of God's nature, we must realize that we too can barely begin to conceive the glory and magnitude of His character. Mortal man can only begin to understand the infinite nature of God's love, grace, mercy, power, and glory.

Are you overwhelmed by the glory of God? Are you overwhelmed at times by God's love, grace, and mercy? Meditate for a moment on the truth that you haven't barely touched the surface of the vast sea of any of these attributes!

Sometimes our troubles can seem so big. They can seem overwhelming. When I am overwhelmed by circumstances, it is an indication that I need to meditate on the infinite greatness of God and be overwhelmed with Him. As we do this, our troubles will become less overwhelming as we realize that we have a God who is far more awesome than any trouble we will ever face. Even if your problems grow bigger, they can never grow bigger than God.

How great is YOUR God?

Soli Deo Gloria!
Next:  (50)  Who is Like Our God?

(48) King David's God

King David had an appreciation for the glorious, infinite greatness of God. Meditate and worship through this beautiful declaration of praise to our infinitely great God.

So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. "Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. "Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:10-13 NAU)

David begins by blessing Jehovah. The word “bless” here is connected to kneeling in honor and reverence. He declared that Jehovah is worthy of reverence and praise forever and ever. God is worthy of this worship because He is the possessor and source of all greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty, yes, in fact, everything in all the universe! And, God rules. He exercises authority over all creation. In fact, no one has a spark of power or energy, or authority that has not been given by God. Realizing all this, David is humbled, gives thanks and praises his glorious God.

"But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. "For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. "Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You.  (1 Chronicles 29:14-18 NAU)

David is overwhelmed because the infinitely great God who owns and controls everything and needs nothing, has chosen to give him the privilege of honoring Him. He is overcome by the fact that God has given him the opportunity to serve and lead others to worship the true King of Glory.

When we come to see the infinite greatness, majesty, and glory of God, it is overwhelming. And then, when we realize that this overwhelmingly great God chooses to have a relationship with us and receive service and worship from us, it becomes too much to bear. The honor, the privilege of a personal relationship with this glorious, glorious God is . . . . . words cannot express it . . . to think that I, wicked, ungrateful, sinful . . . that I can have a personal relationship with this glorious God just cuts me to the core of my heart. I find it hard to express how overcome I am that I . . . me . . . I am not just allowed, but invited . . . encouraged . . . welcomed . . . wooed . . . into personal relationship with God. How can words capture this?

And then, to think that God would want me to serve Him and worship Him. Who am I to serve and worship the God of glory? May my life be consumed with delighting in the glory of this infinitely glorious God. May my life be consumed with leading others to be overwhelmed and filled with passion to delight in, worship, and serve our infinitely glorious God.

Next:  (49)  Celebrating the Infinite God