Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
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.
(Romans 8:28 (NIV))
If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you know this passage.
Are you applying this passage to your life?
Let me explain.
So many different examples came to mind, but I believe that the following will make sense to everyone.
All throughout our lives, we are told that we should take care of ourselves. We are told that our health matters. That is a superficial knowledge. It is something that we acknowledge, but never really think about. We think that we have all the time in the world, until something doesn't feel right. Then we get a medical report that we did not want to hear. When this happens, we begin diving deeply into the very thing that we gave superficial thought to our whole lives. We begin to find ways to apply this knowledge to our lives so that we can live better lives.
The same is true of our relationship with the Lord.
We read this passage and we superficially acknowledge that He is working in our lives, but do we truly embrace and apply this knowledge? Do we see His hand at work in all things? Are we still trying to run our own lives while we relegate God to being our cheerleader sitting on the sidelines? This reminds me of the bumper stickers that I used to see. "God is my co-pilot!" On the surface, this sounds good, but this still relegates God to a secondary position. It implies that we are still in charge and that God is there as our backup in case we get off of our flight plan.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Acknowledging and applying the knowledge that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him means that we must put Him first.
When you love someone, you place their needs above your needs. You place their plans and desires above your plans and desires. If this is how you have shown God that you love Him, then you are walking in His path. He will guide your steps. He will protect you from stumbling. He will be with you, or should I say that you will be with Him, as He guides your path through this sinful, fallen world.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV))
God shows His love for us in so many ways. How do you show your love to God?
Are you applying this knowledge to your life?
Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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