August 6
O God my Lord, how wonderful You are? You are indeed God there is none like unto thee, there is none to be compared with thee. How excellent You are! You makes winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants. You waters the mountains from Your upper chambers, the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His work, You makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate bringing forth food from the earth, wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, bread that sustains his heart. Ps 104:4; 13-15(NIV).
The deep knowledge about the King of kings will help us to accept things He sent to us to build us up for His greater glory. Knowing that all things works together to them that fears the Lord, no matter how painful it might be the Lord is working it out for His own pleasure like Job He will be proud of You. Praise God. Consider further:
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28
Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure. He knows, for instance, that God sits in the stern-sheets of the vessel when it rocks most. He believes that an invisible hand is always on the world’s tiller, and that wherever providence may drift, Jehovah steers it. That re-assuring knowledge prepares him for everything. He looks over the raging waters and sees the spirit of Jesus treading the billows, and he hears a voice saying, “It is I, be not afraid.”
He knows too that God is always wise, and, knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He can say, “If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God ordains it.” “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”
The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact. Everything has worked for good as yet; the poisonous drugs mixed in fit proportions have worked the cure; the sharp cuts of the lancet have cleansed out the proud flesh and facilitated the healing. Every event as yet has worked out the most divinely blessed results; and so, believing that God rules all, that He governs wisely, that He brings good out of evil, the believer’s heart is assured, and he is enabled calmly to meet each trial as it comes.
The believer can in the spirit of true resignation pray, “Send me what thou wilt, my God, so long as it comes from Thee; never came there an ill portion from Thy table to any of Thy children.”
“Say not my soul, ‘From whence can God relieve my care?
Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.
His method is sublime, His heart profoundly kind,
God never is before His time, and never is behind.'”
As difficult as it may be dearly beloved, you have to accept things you cannot change, trusting the hand of providence at each point in your life. The psalmist in the psalms below fret about the prosperity of the wicked and proud nature, it grieved his heart that the wicked knew not God. However when he came to the temple to inquire from God, he learnt the truth about their end and he was satisfy that God is good , He sustain the righteous, He will never allow the righteous to be destroyed with the wicked that knowledge gladdens his heart. Read further:
“Nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Psalm 73:23
“Nevertheless,”—As if, notwithstanding all the foolishness and ignorance which David had just been confessing to God, not one atom the less was it true and certain that David was saved and accepted, and that the blessing of being constantly in God’s presence was undoubtedly his. Fully conscious of his own lost estate, and of the deceitfulness and vileness of his nature, yet, by a glorious outburst of faith, he sings “nevertheless I am continually with Thee.”
Believer, you are forced to enter into Asaph’s confession and acknowledgment, endeavour in like spirit to say “nevertheless, since I belong to Christ I am continually with God!” By this is meant continually upon His mind, He is always thinking of me for my good. Continually before His eye;—the eye of the Lord never sleepeth, but is perpetually watching over my welfare. Continually in His hand, so that none shall be able to pluck me thence. Continually on His heart, worn there as a memorial, even as the high priest bore the names of the twelve tribes upon his heart for ever. Thou always thinkest of me, O God.
The bowels of Thy love continually yearn towards me. Thou art always making providence work for my good. Thou hast set me as a signet upon thine arm; thy love is strong as death, many waters cannot quench it; neither can the floods drown it. Surprising grace! Thou seest me in Christ, and though in myself abhorred, Thou beholdest me as wearing Christ’s garments, and washed in His blood, and thus I stand accepted in Thy presence.
I am thus continually in Thy favour—”continually with Thee.” Here is comfort for the tried and afflicted soul; vexed with the tempest within—look at the calm without. “Nevertheless”—O say it in thy heart, and take the peace it gives. “Nevertheless I am continually with Thee.” Thus He shall hold you by His hands, guide you with His counsel and receive you into His glory. Amen!
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
