Make no mistake about it, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” In doing so, he weaves everything together into His design.
From Proverbs 16:20: “Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord.”
God has entrusted to us a great deal. He knows that we can do all things by His grace, so He’s trusting in us to trust Him.
From Psalm 31:7-8: “I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities, and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”
From Psalm 100: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is He that made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Child learning of God’s kindness
Unaware of its vastness
Praise His eternal goodwill
Laboring with steadfastness
Goodness, perfect and Holy
From righteousness, living water
Worship always with gladness
Crafting hands, grace-filled potter
God’s blessings, never-ending
His mercy flows from above
Lives rescued with divine hand
Transforming with endless love
Lost sheep, needing daily grace
Good Shepherd’s assisting hand
Heaven’s gate, darkness scattered
Lifting eyes to God’s homeland
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “At times when we’re struggling to trust God, we should remember all the ways He is good to us.”
Walking through life’s fire
Never to blindly stumble—
God always walks close
Darkness testing faith
Patiently trusting Father—
Accepting His plan
Holy Spirit seeks
Guiding tongues in bringing forth—
Pure and blessed speech
If we only give up something to God because we want more back, there is nothing of the Holy Spirit in our abandonment.
From Mark 10:28: “Peter began to say to Him [Jesus], ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.'”
The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of His love.
From Proverbs 4:25-27: “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
From 1 John 4:9-10: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
Father reigns from above
Revealing divine love
Heaven’s whispering dove
God’s love never changes
Spanning earth’s vast ranges
Blessed interchanges
Mankind living in sin
Loving Christ, life begins
Cross becomes faith’s linchpin
Lasting love, none greater
Needing no translator
Grace shines, from Creator
Love’s divine foundation
Nurturing salvation
Life’s eternal station
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “We didn’t earn the love God has for us, and that’s why we can never lose it.”
“I will hold you up,” God says. When you lean on another person or another thing, your focus is sideways, not vertical. Human crutches paralyze the walk of faith.
From Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.”
God’s love for us and our resulting love for Christ compel us to obey Him in all things.
From John 14:23-24: “Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.'”
From Isaiah 40:3-5: “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'”
World’s brokenness cries out
Peace sprouts, despite faith’s drought
God’s salvation shares grace
Every time and space
God’s love prepares His way
Light of peace on display
Paths straightened, valleys filled
His promises fulfilled
Anticipation warms
Preparation now forms
Mercy reigns, blessed peace
Endurance shall not cease
Faithful waiting with hope
Love focused through God’s scope
His joy draws up new lease
Spirit breathes, filled with peace
Mothering God prepares
Peace surrounds David’s heirs
Of events now to come
Hope’s steady, beating drum
You are invited to join in prayer: Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace. During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior. Amen.
As we leave to go on with the rest of our day or night, here is an Advent hymn to send us out with prepared hearts, “Prepare the way, O Zion.”
