Text: Genesis 1:1-31
When we read the remarkable account of Creation, we see an epic and historic picture of the perfection of the pre-fallen world. And however the timeline played out, we know that the Bible tells us this: God is the Creator of all things.
And when we talk about beginnings, it is natural for us to also think about the ending. Beautifully woven, the Bible begins with creation and concludes with the new creation. The word of God tells us in Revelation, “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new… I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.’” (Rev. 21:5-6, ESV)
There is one Author and there is one Story. And the all-knowing Author knew how the story would end, even as he penned the seas and swarmed them with living creatures, as He breathed life into the creatures whose sin would one day nail Him to a tree.
And knowing all of that – knowing that He was creating the plants and yielding the seeds that would one day be his cross, that the beasts of the fields would need to be used as sacrifices for His people – knowing this then, the Author and Creator saw it all and called it good.
But why? It may seem trite to say, but the answer is love. He made the world perfect knowing that it would become imperfect and that He would make it new again. And hard as it may be to believe, He did it for the process. God had the power to skip right to the end, or to never create the world to begin with. But He did create it. And He did it to show Himself to us, that we might know Him. That we might know the breadth and length and height and depth of his love for us (Eph 3:18). Tthat we might experience His grace.
What will be your response today? Will you find comfort (even joy!) in the cradle of the Almighty’s hand? Will you rest in the hope that He will restore creation – that He will restore you?
The newness came and it was glorious, and it is coming again! “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (that’s a promise). But take heart; I have overcome the world (and so is that!).” (John 16:33, ESV, parentheses mine)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)
Leave a Reply
161 thoughts on "He makes all things new"
Wow.. it is so great to be able to do this study Fresh Start. Even though it is the beginning of June I definitely needed this. I am in need of a fresh start and thankful that His mercies and grace are new everyday for me. It blows my mind that in the beginning of creation that He didn't just stop and give up. I mean, if I knew the human race would turn evil and wicked as we have, I would have said forget you. AND YET, He didn't do that then and Praise God He doesn't do that now. It's so easy to just think He has given up on me as I am not the easiest daughter He has for sure. It's encouraging to know He doesn't give up and to even be reminded that I will be made new all over again.
Started this plan today late March yet I am reminded that its never too late for a fresh start. How awesome it is to think that he loved us so much that He created all things good- for us!- knowing that His only begotten Son would hang on the cross for us one day! We serve an amazing God.
I just found this gem of a website today, and wanted to say thank you. I've been a christian my whole life and never really questioned why God created all that He did. With this post I was left in awe. I feel even more loved by Christ coming to this understanding! I can't wait to catch up with the rest of this series. Thanks again!
This blesses me so much. It's so hard not to get stuck on feeling like you can't be made new… How silly that is when you see all that He has created and made new. He wants to go through the process WITH us! I find that to be so beauitful.
Love this … so on the page I'm on in my life. Grateful to know I'm not the only one! Hes beginnings are so necessary, including in our walk with God. Thank you!
I love this! What a great reminder. I find myself sometimes becoming impatient to get to the end of something or to the targeted point, but God reminded me just now to slow down. He could have just written the end of the story or not have written anything at all, but He didn't! How blessed we are to be a part of His creation and experience His love through each day of the story written for each of us. In this new beginning, I want to humble myself to God's will and enjoy the journey instead of trying to rush through things.
Praise God for his wonderful works! I had strayed so far away from God (in my mind) that I felt almost ashamed to come to him during my times of needs and it prevented me from doing so. However, our God is an awesome God, for he created me and you to be servants of the Lord and he knew of the trials and tribulations we would face and how they would affect us. His grace has saved me so many times before and it is because of his mercy that I am still standing. I love the Lord, and I had forgotten to place my life in his hands, but now I see that all things start and end with Him, for this knowledge I am forever grateful!
It's amazing how God created everything before we were even though about. We have dominion over the EARTH, it says so in his word.
It’s always nice to go back and start at the beginning of the bible & recognize the “fresh start” in the beginning and when we are born again.
I was also blessed to see that in the translation I use (ESV) nothing had a name until God spoke to it. He called the light DAY, dark NIGHT and so on.
We have been changed because He SPOKE to us & CALLED us before the beginning of time. My, my, my. Praise God for a fresh start.
I’m new here, and so very glad to have found this community! Each year I choose a word to meditate and pray on for the year, this year the word is “present.” I’ve spent the past bunch if years looking forward to the next thing, often missing the important stuff right where I am. I have found myself stressing and anxious about an unknown future. Here I’m reminded that He knows the plans for me, and that’s enough! Enough for me to enjoy the here and now, to be fully present every day and enjoy this magnificent place He created for me knowing that one day I’d be sitting here worrying about what’s next!! Today I choose to let Him lead, to follow, and live fully in the present!!
Something struck me today about the creation story and I just wanted to share. We often think and have said if God knew what was going to happen then WHY did he create us? If God knew we would inevitably break his heart and need a grand redemption story then why did he choose to author the story in such a way? I think the writer of todays post said something very profound tho she said it was simple….Because of Love. And immediately I was struck…..My husband and I do not have a clue who are son will be or who is becoming but we have a maddening and deep love for him that no one and nothing could strip away from us. And our father in heaven willingly created us knowing the end from the beginning our flaws and failures and how we possess the ability to break his heart. And still, he created us in his glorious image to bear his name and take part in his story not because we offer anything but because he loves us. My sweet four month old can give us nothing but we so delight in him to the extent that he takes our breath away. Made in the image of the father to create and love because of love. Thank you for this post.
Beautifully and simply stated.
It’s all about God. That’s what jumped out at me. Too often we spend time remembering what was created when, or debating if it’s a literal 7 days or not.
But as one Pastor’s wife told me, it’s enough for her that God made it all. I didn’t understand then as a college undergrad. Now, years later, I finally understand it. God is at the heart of the Creation story. He is the main character of the Bible. So focus on Him.
Thanks for the beautiful post!
Good morning ladies, I wake up this morning beginning my first day of holidays. God has blessed my 2 little girlies n I with a beautiful getaway on the south coast of Australia. The cabin we are staying in overlooks green rolling mountains & a lake which has a family of black swans swimming by as I spend some quiet time with our God. To read about creation this morning & to soak in my amazing surroundings I am filled with a thankfulness that God created all of this for us. Instead of just looking at the views this morning as something beautiful to look at, I am filled with renewed awe of Gods creativity as well as the depth of His love for me to bless me with this opportunity to see, experience & enjoy with my family. Talk about a fresh start – thanks Lord !
I love how we are starting at the beginning with our Creator. Thank you SRT!
I know it's the beginning of a new year and it's easy for people -me- to say they're going to do big things. So easily broken, those things are. Well, I am such a claim 2 days ago. Total recommitment to Christ. Off with the old man, on with the new. Glad to be seeking Him along with you all, my sisters. Be blessed this day and this year. He who began good things in us is faithful to complete it!
Hoping to find comfort and joy in the cradle of the Almighty's hand more and more each and every day as I seek to pursue Him more and my own pursuits less. I trust He will fully restore creation and me as part of it.
In a separate reading that my pastor asked several of us to do today, the following stuck out: Acts 3: 15, 19-20: "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead … Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of REFRESHING may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus."
I find an amazing link between my SRT reading and my lunchtime reading today – both speaking of creation, as God is the author of life and penned the seas. Also, God created the earth, knowing we would defile it; and he sent Christ, knowing we would defy him. But he offers newness and restoration for those who believe. And ALL that he has done and will do is meant to bring glory to His name. May I properly respond in doing so; and may I know the naturally resulting refreshing that comes with that.
So powerful and humbling.
God IS love, would he have it any other way?
I have devoured everything ‘She Reads Truth’ that I could get my hands on in YouVersion and am so delighted for this devotional. I have learned so much through all of them and so very thankful that God has directed the hearts of the author(s) and that they are willing to be used by Him. What a blessing! And what a blessing to know that He has equipped us with every tool we need for life & I am continually learning to get my self(my will) out of His way and let Him do His will in my my life. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Lately God has been convicting me of not spending enough time with Him, I have discovered that in my busy lifestyle I tend to lose sight of the importance of time alone with Him. I wanted something like this to be the framework for my time with Him, I wouldn't just do this but it would be the structure to get me started spending more time in the word. After stumbling across this website I had been trying to decide whether or not to join. After having a desire to study Genesis I was praying and the thought just came into my head 'what if 'she reads truth' starts their new study with Genesis' then I sort of told God that if it did then I would take it as a sign and jump into it. You can only imagine my excitement when I saw today's post!!!!! :) I am beyond excited for this study and today was a beautiful start!
I think the thing that stuck out the most to me was where it says the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the waters. I always thought that meant God but now I understand it as the Holy Spirit was just hovering waiting to see what God would do. I never thought of the trinity being present at creation. Ephinany! So cool!
He knew what we would do, break His heart, and He created us anyway. That is Love.
I’ve been a follower of STR for over a year and I just want to say thank you SRT writers for sharing what our God has put on your hearts- I love every time we get to start a new plan in His word together and that we can take over a little piece of the internet for Gods glory! :)
I'm trying to remember to give everything over to God. I've been bad in the past about asking for his help but never taking the time to listen to him. I have been faced with a lot of hard decisions this week and even more so in the past 24 hours and this has helped me to remember to turn it all over to him because he and only he alone knows the outcome. I will know the outcome of our decision in time but no matter what the outcome is it is God's will and I have to trust in him. I am also trying to draw closer to him and to stop and think and pray to him and ask for his guidance because it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day. I just read the creation story to my son for the first time (he is only 3 months old) before I laid him down tonight and got a chance to read today's post. Helps me to teach my son more as I continue to read the story of creation to him as he grows :-) God Bless everyone!!
I, like many, have been a silent reader for some time, but I guess it's time to jump in and post with Fresh Start! I've been a Christian for as long as I can remember, but 2013 was the toughest year of all of my life. From losing my mom, trying to take care of my dad, surgery and health issues of my own, and feeling totally abandoned by my church family and best friend, it has been horrible. But in today's devotional it was mentioned that God knew the horrible death that Jesus would go through to save me, and was still willing to do it. I've never really thought about the fact that He could have totally skipped over or come up with something much less painful, but He didn't. So maybe, just maybe, He is going to take my past year of pain and turn it into something beautiful too. I know so much of what He is capable of in my head, but this year has made it difficult to travel to my heart. Praying this Fresh Start and this community is the beginning of tearing down the road block to my heart. Thanks and blessings!
So grateful to finally be a part of the SRT community!! I've used SRT plans on YouVersion before, but wow! It is so much more empowering to hear what God is revealing to each and every one of you through His word! I am grateful for this devotional. I often forget how vital the "process" is; I just want God's promises NOW! God revealed to me in 2013 that the process is necessary to maintain the promise. We gain skills, tools, and character during our process. God had to go through the process of creation in order to show us that only He who CREATES can RESTORE. So grateful that He can make all things new, including myself :-) FRESH START!
I too am new to this site, and have never commented before, but todays reading and lesson really spoke to me. I am in awe of how he created the very things that would betray him and send his son to his death , , , and he did that just to have a relationship with sinners like me. It is just hard for me to fathom that He loved me and others like me that much. I am really going to grow from this study, and I just pray God continues to open my heart and show me that no matter what he loves me anyway.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Creator of all things. Love that we are starting right from the beginning…Thank you SRT for this study.
First time I'm doing a #shereadstruth study at the same time as everyone else. Afraid I didn't really get beyond the scripture – I read it with new eyes, reading it in the context of New Year and a fresh start. I ended up writing a paraphrase of Genesis 1. Its on my blog – http://learning2float.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/he…
This first day of A Fresh Start gave me just what I needed. Looking forward to the days to come! God is soooo AWESOME!!!! Thank you God for your Grace and your Mercy!!!! He already knows the end and that's enough for me!
It’s a good thing He is the God who knows EVERYTHING because I dont know and I dont need to know.
Everytime I stumble I heard God’s voice saying… “It’s okay Abby. Get up again and keep going. I know EVERYTHING. I know and you don’t have to worry. I am patient on you. Keep trying.”
And it just melted me that despite all that I’ve done His love never fails to give me NEW hope, NEW beginning, NEW start and yes NEW everything not remembering any sin I have done.
Thank You Abba that in You we always have NEWs.
Amen! :)
Wow! I enjoyed this post! I am brand new to SheReadsTruth and am so encouraged by the both the post and the comments! Wow! May God bless you all…I am so excited for tomorrow!
Welcome to SRT Eliza! :) Happy to do the FRESH START study with you! :)
God went through the process of creation, making the world perfect knowing that it would become imperfect and He would have to make it new again. All of this to show the depths of His love for us. In the same manner, God went throught the process of creating me in His perfect image, knowing that I would become imperfect and He would make me new again. How could I ever question or doubt His love for me?
love the reminder of the beginning as part of the whole story and that "He made the world perfect knowing that it would become imperfect and that He would make it new again"…and how it is very much a part of the process that my imperfections (that can drive me crazy and lead to a lot of frustration and loss of peace) will be restored – that He will restore ME…because of love. thank you for a fresh perspective.
This was a perfect start to this series and this year! I'm so relieved and comforted in knowing that "newness" is coming again. In this life and in these times, it's sometimes hard to see or even believe that, but it's always nice to be reminded- God is in control and Jesus is coming again!
This really makes me realize how much God values the PROCESS. Sometimes, the day to day hassles seem unnecessary. Sometimes I wonder why we have to go through all these trials (big and small). But the fact that God knew the end but chose to create and redeem the world anyway shows that there has to be some value in it all!
I have read posts here and there, but this is my first time participating in a study. Praying for discipline to continue with the study- I need truth in my life! Excited to be a part of the community.
"And knowing all of that – knowing that He was creating the plants and yielding the seeds that would one day be his cross, that the beasts of the fields would need to be used as sacrifices for His people – knowing this then, the Author and Creator saw it all and called it good."
I've always loved the beautiful word pictures created in the first chapter of Genesis and Raechel's paragraph does the same. My ah-ha moment in this commentary today was — "He did it for the process." My eyes widened and my breath caught a little when I read that. I've never thought of it that way but it makes perfect sense now. As I've drawn closer to God in the last 5-10 years, I have come to know a powerful truth about myself; one that makes me shake my head and chuckle but simultaneously makes me awestruck and grateful — I am a follower who simply must go through the process first. I don't have a naturally sunny disposition and perpetual optimistic mindset. I strive for these things but it requires a real effort from me on my worse days and at least a conscious choice on my better days. No, I'm a process girl. I start out with my head held high, try, try, try; falter, stumble, worry, grumble, try to get back up, fall again, get mad, get sad, and then bottom out. Sometimes I stay down at the bottom, real low, for a while. Somewhere during that time, the process of getting back up begins. But only with God. The more I read the Bible, the more I see myself in the people and stories told of God's process of grace and drawing us back to Him. He didn't create the world and everything in it to be perfect and wonderful and without fault or trials so that we could all sit around and say "Praise the Lord! Everything's great and we love everybody!" He knew that wouldn't be enough for us. Eventually, dark times come to us all. Sin overtakes us. War, famine, death, destruction, refusal to love, discrimination… it's a broken world and He knew it would be. He created a process of redemption for all of us. Some of you maybe don't need as much redemption as I do, and that's awesome for you, but I know that I will fall and sin almost every day of the rest of my life and will walk with the Lord through the process He created for me.
I'm blessed to say that I make it through the process each time, eventually, and only after I seek Him with all my mind and all my heart and all my soul. I'm blessed to say I learn something new about myself and about God every time. I'm blessed to say that my faith is deepened and my self-awareness is strengthened through Him every time. This process can vary in degree of difficulty; sometimes I can recognize what is happening fairly quickly and those are the times where I chuckle and shake my head (and imagine God doing the same thing). Other times, such as the entire year of 2013, the process is so much more painful and takes so much longer to recognize and begin the climb up. Sometimes I get about halfway up out of the hole to the point where I can see the sun again — see the beautiful face of Christ again — only to fall or be knocked back down into darkness again. This particular scenario happened last summer. Anyway, I feel like I am rambling tonight as I await my school system's decision to delay or close school tomorrow :) In conclusion, I will say I have learned to love the process. As bad and painful as it sometimes gets. If God looked at it and called it good, I can learn to do the same. Easy? Not by a long shot. But totally worth it!
I can relate to EVERYTHING that you've written here! :) To know God, in a much deeper level.. to experience His presence and His overwhelming LOVE during the season of pain and despair is WORTH everything that we've gone through during the PROCESS! Thank you so much for pouring your heart out here… Blessings to you! :) -xoxo-
Excited that this is the first day of fresh start. How often we forget that we are good!! All things are created good….we are created in His image and we are good!
Love this new Study and LOVE not using youversion…. Beautiful beginning to an amazing study!! Thank you!
Yay Fresh Start
I am so glad and so ready and in great anticipation for ALL THINGS NEW!
One of my goals for this year is to be more creative & make things physically that my family & those around me can use & enjoy. I was struck by how active God is in this passage. Usually, I have read this with a lens of God speaking magic words & stuff just appeared. But he is also described as making, gathering, and separating. I believe God is doing a new thing in me to reawaken the creative side I had shut down for so long.
How comforting it is to know that although we live in a corrupted, imperfect world, Jesus has overcome it! We're not left with hopelessness but peace that we can be restored and new in him again. (:
As I take this fresh start with God, after years of straying and sinning, I am constantly reminded of his love for me and am ever grateful that he is penning our lives. I see his love through the eyes of my parents who's marriage is constantly strengthened by Him. My boyfriend, who has known me forever, and is the kindest, most God-loving man I know, who made me realize what I was missing and helped me get my fresh start. His parents who welcomed me into their arms and welcome me to church every Sunday. I see the works of God's creation daily, and I truly believe in the power of love. Without the love of others, I would have never been able to return to him and see the faults in my ways. I ask that I learn to love and appreciate life for the beauty of which God has created it and that I live through him on a daily basis. I know I will struggle, but I am really looking forward to dive back into my Bible and discover his word again and again. I'm looking to love. I'm looking to live the wonderful life God has penned for me.
My study of Genesis 1 brought me to God's first miracle…I am amazed at all the things He has prepared for me, before anyone but Him knew me. I love the snowflakes, animals like turtles, lions, dogs. horses. He even prepared my walk to be the mother I am for my children He gave me as one of my most precious gifts. In the beginning He prepared everything for me to glorify Him!
Reading through Genesis 1 slowly and with intent made my heart surge with awe and joy. Maybe more than that. God is definitely in my presence and to read about Him is oh so wonderous!
He did it for the process. As impatient and frustrating as the process might be, when we look back on it seeing the changes and growth in our lives, I can’t help but find the process to be so beautiful. He can take nothing and make it something– I couldn’t help but think of the creation scene in the Narnia books where Aslan wanders around humming the most beautiful tune and life springs up. When reading these verses in The Message Bible, I couldn’t help but feel like he was setting the stage and getting everything ready, while he created. Looking at all this with “process” on the mind- it’s quite special to think that I’m apart of his process. I choose to be obedient and allow him to spend my life however he sees fit, to accomplish whatever my part is in his plan!
So many beautiful comments, but what just hit me is that God prepared a place for us from the start. He didn't just do a mish-mash of things and throw us into the mix, but He created all we would need, and then He breathed life into us.
And when Jesus left this world, He said he was going to prepare a place for us once again (John 14:2). He will make us new, breath new life into these tired old bones, and walk us into new light and love. God made the world in 6 days; think of what He is preparing for us in this new creation! what a wonderful promise.
Must say that God is awesome!!! He could have went straight to the end or not even created us, but he still did!! Great encouragement to know that "God created the world perfect knowing that it would become imperfect and that He would make it new again!!"
Thisbis going to be a great devotional experience…..thank you Lindsey…..
“The newness came and it was glorious, and it is coming again!” Amen!!! Asking God to burrow that truth deep within me in 2014.
I've been a silent participant for some time now. I'm truly grateful that I got wind of the SheReadsTruth movement. As we concluded Advent season, we we're tasked to enter the new year with a list of 5 major goals. Pray over that list, giving each item to the Lord and asking the Holy Spirit to help you put forth Christ in each thing you hope. I will spear you the whole list. The 1st goal I outlined for 2014 that I felt was the most important was "deep my relationship with Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, in hopes of living a more pleasing life full of joy, happiness and peace. As I read today's scripture, I'm filled with emotion as I know I'm on the right path. I'm not perfect yet I too could be made over, have a new start that begins and ends with him so, my #1 goal for 2014 and beyond could be fulfilled. On my quest for peace, happiness and joy my God is at the forefront.. If I keep with him I WILL NOT LOSE!!!
This was just what I needed to read today. It's so amazing, He did all this so we could know him. Thank you, Lord!
God's Word is absolutely alive and powerful! I love that He can take a story I've read many times and give me a fresh revelation through it. He met me right where I am this morning and encouraged me. In the midst of my anxiety and feelings of uncertainty about our house being put on the market and my husband desperately wanting to make a career change, God used the creation story to remind me WHO HE IS. Creator, Sovereign, Loving, Purposeful….best of all…UNCHANGING!!! The same God who spoke into the darkness and created our world is the same One who holds MY world in His hands and is using everything for my good. I can totally trust Him.
Really excited about this new reading plan being on the SRT website. I have never gotten involved in discussion before and I’m really excited to do so! Thank you ladies for letting The Lord use you in such a way!
Thank you for this study. I don't want to walk anywhere without my Jesus this year. I want to fully lean in on His new Mercies every morning all year. I feel so heavy hearted today and I'm not sure why because I know my God is with me and loves me and I don't have to do anything alone.
Today…..I will try and awaken to greet this day with new breath….I will try to allow Him to reveal His love in the small, quiet gestures of human kindness and every good act of His gracious creation! Amen.
I was struggling for days (and a few weeks before the beginning of this year) to find my One Word for this year. But a few days ago through a series of thoughts I think God gave me direction and my One Word for 2014. It is TRUST. Releasing my constant striving, my need for control and just trust God. Trust Him with my life, my family, my needs, my time, my thoughts, my desires. Just relaxing in His arms and being in Him rather than doing things (even if it is for Him). That is so contrary to my nature, my upbringing, my history. It is comforting and scary at the same time. But it's time. It's time to TRUST. I don't know what this year will bring and why God is impressing this so much on me right now. But I know I can't resist. I have a feeling that the way this study started, that is it going to deepen this even more. Thank you.
WOW! Such a powerful and eye opening start to the new study today!! How often do we pray desperately for an end and a way out when we feel discomfort and trials? I know I do! We don't like to feel pain, even discomfort. I can't imagine knowing all that God knew and still sticking with the plan… so to speak. I know I would have wanted to skip right to the end or change somethings along the way. But He didn't!! He knew the bigger picture and how important it was for us! Such selfless love He has for us!!
"God had the power to skip right to the end, or to never create the world to begin with. But He did create it. And He did it to show Himself to us, that we might know Him. That we might know the breadth and length and height and depth of his love for us (Eph 3:18). Tthat we might experience His grace."
It is hard for me to see God's story for my life and marriage today. This weekend I ran from an abusive relationship. Now I have many decisions to make about my marriage. I trust God will direct my steps and I will do what glorifies and pleases him the most. I hold on to John 16:33 specially the part where Jesus reminds me to take heart because he has overcome the world!. Very refreshing, encouraging, and comforting.
Praying for you!!
andrea, praying for your heart as you process and experience healing and restoration in the days to come. may you find peace in the safety and comfort of the Lord and light in the darkness
I pray that you be strengthened, encouraged,and comforted, and that you may know which way to go in Jesus name.
Along with a few others, I decided that this fresh start would be a great time to start interacting with the community instead of just standing by. And what a wonderful start! Creation has been on my heart a lot the last few months, particularly how can creationism and evolution exist together. Through the discussion and research I've done, I feel like evolution is a perfect tie in and it actually strengthens my faith even more! A day in creation surely cannot be the day that I know. Because, "My ways are not your ways…" To me, that makes way more sense than if God just snapped his fingers and BAM! an elephant!
But the best part is why did he do it? Love. Plain and simple. I know God is a loving God, but the perspective of his all-knowing knowledge of the world and what would happen and STILL creating it, that's crazy! But again, "My ways are not your ways." He did it so we could know him and his love. Amazing. Thank you God for your unbelievable love!
"And knowing all of that – knowing that He was creating the plants and yielding the seeds that would one day be his cross, that the beasts of the fields would need to be used as sacrifices for His people – knowing this then, the Author and Creator saw it all and called it good."
My mind is blown. I imagine the Lord hovering over these waters, creating every speck of land and sea, and seeing every sinful, perverse, ungodly thing happening on them… all of the heartbreak, the struggle, the doubt, the hatred and death… and with an endearing, soft smile, confirming it as Good. Worth it. Looking at us, the disgusting, carnal beings that we had become, yet seeing only Christ when we believed in Him, and in a later form, being perfected– and therefore looking on us with nothing but pure love, compassion, and delight. Goodness.
Last night, the Lord spoke to me though a conversation with my sister about how the concept of helping/hurting. We weigh these scales of hurting vs. helping in different situations, truly and sincerely hoping that helping is heavier than what we've hurt — but in life, it can not always be that simple, that easy. We may think we are helping when we're really, in the long run or with more insight, hurting someone, and visa-versa. This is also related to the concepts of Good and Bad. At the end of this conversation and after spending time with God, I realized that in the midst of all of this complex, incomprehensible thing we call life, God is truly the only one who can call anything Good or Bad for us, no matter the current look of things– and the only truly Good thing we can ever experience in this entire existence is a love shared with Him and His radiant smile upon Us, gently and firmly directing Us in the way we should go.
I may cry and get frustrated now, but I have no idea the true value of those tears and how they'll form and shape me. God looks upon it and sees it as Good.
Therefore, I will too.
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Philippians 3:7-9, NIV
Amen! I need to rest in Him that He may work His process in me
I have a question…were Adam and Eve vegetarians before the Fall? Verse 29 talks about having the trees and the plants and seeds for their food, and Verse 30 says that God has given every bird and creature the green plants for life. Verse 28 does say that God has given Man dominion over every living thing, but doesn’t mention food.
Not that I am a huge proponent for the vegetarian lifestyle (I have chicken marinating in the fridge for dinner!), I just thought it was a curious point and wanted to see what you ladies thought!
Rachel, I believe they were, and it's something that always really speaks to me:
"And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And unto every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so." -Genesis 1:29-30, ASV
Nothing ate each other. At all.
Everything was in perfect harmony with each other, and there was no predator/prey relationships between animals or humans of any kind. There was no death. To think that animals were not meant to eat other animals is just another realization of how sin has affected this world. I'm not advocating for others to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle (I'm not even vegetarian), but I've seen others who have, based on their own personal God-given convictions and through this reading.
It's huge to think that the laws of sin and death rule over this natural world. But in Christ (the Root of Jesse), as foretold in Isaiah 11,
"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11: 6-9, NIV)
It will be restored! It's so beautiful to think about. :)
That’s a beautiful thing to think about…when the whole world once again will be restored to peace. Your words totally make sense – God did not intend for there to be death. I had just never considered that our first parents were vegetarians before!
Today as I read through Genesis 1 I truly saw the beauty in that story…in a way that I never have before. What an inspiring way to start the new year. Thank you!
I felt the same way Valerie! Something glorious and wonderful filled my heart and the presence of God was with me! How incredible!
One thing that really spoke into my heart was Revelation 21:5-6. I am grateful to belong to the One who is seated on the Throne, who is making all things new in His time. There is such comfort in the fact that I do not have to fear new beginnings or bitter ending because my Father is the Alpha and Omega, THE beginning and end and He holds my world in His hands. Thank you for this, I desperately needed a fresh start in this season and God was so gracious to provide this wisdom.
Yesterday at church, our pastor did a sermon on Genesis and He pointed out that everything until humans were just spoke into being, but He lovingly and tenderly created Adam and Eve, in HIS image, with a purpose to rule over the earth and subdue it. He has set each of us apart for a crowning inheritance!
Thanks for pointing that out!
The opening words of Genesis are frightfully beautiful and overwhelming. Thank you for presenting this wonderful story
As I was reading this devotion the song that says, "From the creation to the cross, from the cross to eternity, Your grace finds me" came on the radio and this takes God being the beginning and the end to a whole new level. His grace will find you wherever you are at. Such a blessed life we have by this
Yes, so agreed! His grace and love are unfathomable and always there! I pray we'd all realize that more.
It's so encouraging to know that we have a Father who sees the whole picture. That even as the whole earth is rapidly changing, nations are on the verge of war and people are scrambling to make sense of the chaos, God is SURE of the order of all things. He IS a God of order after all. Yes, when He states that He is the Alpha and Omega, He is promising that He has ordained the outcome of His creation (including us). And we groan with all of creation–just as a child waits for something deeply desired–for His glory, His kingdom. Jesus, come and make it all right.
"21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,* including the new bodies he has promised us." Romans 8:21-23 (NLT)
Thank you for the verses from Romans , totally sums up our purpose? I just had the stunning thought that our faith walk should be as
New today as mans first step on the moon walk was.
To be released from daily routines and habits to that extent. To have that sense of adventure knowing we are walking in the footsteps of the CREATOR… LIFE BECOMES BRAND NEW
PRAISE AND GLORY ARE YOURS ,GOD, BOTH NOW AND FOREVER AMEN
Wow, I am once again left in awe of God. He is truely AWEsome. It gives me chills to think about the fact that He knew exactly what would happen, He knew which tree would produce the seed that would one day become His cross. He knew how much pain and suffering was ahead but still in light of it all decided that it was worth the sacrifice. I don't know about you but when I know something painful is up ahead I do as much as I can to avoid it! We are truely blessed that God knew our reched souls and chose us anyway, chose the small amount of good over the bad.
The secret word is "love." That's what it's all about, that's what it's always been about, and that's what it will always be about. God is love and everything He does is centered on His love for us. So grateful for this sweet reminder at the start of 2014.
Looking forward to a great start with my sisters here at SRT! Happy new year :-)
I'm reading through the Bible this year, and while reading Genesis 1 I was really struck by how amazing it is that God created everything with words. It really shows you the power of language that God Himself invoked it to create us and everything around us. I pray that God continues to use His word to help us become the women we were meant to be so we can live the story He wrote for us.
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". Such a wondrous thread.
"He made the world perfect knowing that it would become imperfect and that He would make it new again."
Oh how I long for that final perfection of the earth and of us, His creation. When we see Him face to face and we become like Him. What a glorious day that will be. And until that day His creation shouts His praise, reminding us of that day when He will once again make all things new.
This is for Tricia and anyone else that feels the same as she does.
I totally understand where you are at not feeling God’s love. Knowing it, but not feeling it. I was a Christian for 20 years before I grasped it.
Not sure about your life situation, but I am told our view of God is very often based in our earthly fathers. My father was distant and uninvolved and that was how I viewed God. Far away and too busy with bigger things to be bothered with than my issues. There were no “I love yous” in our home, no hugs, just “get up, get over it!” Then I had too many negative people in my life including my husband. My counselor told me to get more positive people in my life. I didn’t ditch my husband but made a better balance of the positive/negative ratio. I sought The Lord, got into His Word, had some very awesome God times, but strangely, still did not fathom that He could love ME!!!
God knew I wasn’t “getting it” so one day He brought an amazing friend into my life who was not judgemental, did not criticize me, loved me for who I was, encouraged me, prayed for me, prayed for those I cared about, gently rebuked me when needed, loved me unconditionally. I was so overwhelmed. This person was Jesus to me. I thought, “if this friend loves me this much, how much more does God love me with all my faults and failures”.
It hit me! God’s unfailing love. A love so HUGE that He created me anyway knowing the words I would speak before I would speak them. Knowing my thoughts from afar. Knowing where I was going to sit, stand and lay down. He knew all my faults and failures and created me anyways!
The earth was dark and formless and empty. The Spirit of The Lord was hovering over the waters. Gen1:2. Was He pondering as He hovered, knowing what His Creation would do? Knowing how His Creation would abuse what He had made, and each other and hurl insults at Him. Whether He pondered it or not, like our devotional above says, He made us anyways knowing the outcome! Wow! Amazing Love!!!
Thank you for your words Teresa! Perfect!
One of my favorite scriptures in the whole bible is Gen 1.26. "Let US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness…" Its the first reference to the Trinity …. so beautiful to know THEY were present. Everpresent….
He did I for the process oh my what an amazing thing for him to do for us it gives us a better understanding of who He is. I so often think of my own process and how far I’ve come and can just image Him smiling like a proud father watching his baby taking her first steps and beconing us to come to Him as we continue to grow and learn how excited He must be to see us work out our salvation. Oh Thank You Lord for the process even though it looks so hard sometimes He’s standing there loving us and waiting for us to continue our walk toward Him.
Wow, today's message took my breath away and I felt the need to fall to my knees. I love how God's Word is always new and always teaching me more. I have read these passages countless times but it never connected with me that when God called it good He knew the whole story. He knew our sin and He knew the price He would pay to restore us to Him. I know He loves me, I feel it so strongly but I truly cannot fathom why or how. But His love is what keeps me striving to live the way He wants me to and stay on the course.
It is through pure grace that He saves us and continues to love us no matter what. More and more as I read about things in this world I just think "How His heart must be breaking" and yet He never stops loving us or wanting us to ask Him into our lives. Your love for us is unfathomable Father and I thank you and weep with joy that it is ours for the taking.
I pray that more and more people see Your love and accept it for I know that is Your Will. I pray that my actions and words show others how amazing You are and get them on the path to You. Please Father help me to remember this as I live my everyday life.
Thank you SRT for such a revelation.
I'm praying for restoration for myself. Its always amazing to see the reminders of what God can do in our lives and what he has already done for so many, and for all of creation.
Oh, how I love a fresh start! I pray that I will walk with God daily, that I will never lose my grip on His hand as I let Him direct my steps each day. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Praising Him as my Redeemer today. Praising Him for Restoration. God, please help me be patient as I wait on your promises to be fulfilled in your appointed time. Please help my faith to not be dimmed as I continue to wait on you. You tell me in Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Please give me grace to trust you more and may whatever plan you have for my life bring you glory and point others to you. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Luv this-he makes all things new.
First time to post-
I miss the u-version as it is so very portable-for those of us who travel, it is so very comforting.
Wow! I feel like I could jump for joy over this truth today. Praise The Lord for new mercies every morning and a fresh start in Him. He makes all things new. Thank you, lord.
God is good All the time. He is my hiding place my safe refuge.
I believe — help me with my unbelief — grow me in 2014. Don't let me try to make you a God that fits my standards–for your ways are far higher than I can ever understand.
I blogged about this very thing last week – God's ability to bring new life with just a breath. Genesis 2:7 makes it clear that, though we had been formed, we did not live until God breathed. So, he brings new life.
Yet, in the valley of dry bones, we see that, with a breath, he can also restore life (Ezekiel 37:4-5.) There in the valley, when life seemed over and hope seemed gone, what brought the breath of God?? It was the hearing of the Word of the Lord.
So, when we feel dry and weary and like hope is gone, we, too, can have the breath of God. We can breathe in what God breathed out (2 Timothy 3:16.)
Much love to you, sweet ladies. Here's to new beginnings which only come when God breathes upon us with his word.
That is such a beautiful thought Stacy, that God literally breathes life into our being. Far too often I grow weary and tired and feel 'out of breath' as I work through my trials and challenges. It is such a peace and comfort to know that he restores us with his very breath of life. Thank you for sharing these verses! :)
I love love love when we are able to pull scriptures from both the old and new testament together under one theme, and you did that beautifully here. Thanks so much for these encouraging words!
YES!! The word is THAT living, true, relevant, and consistent! I was just thinking that :-)
That was beautifully said Stacy. Thank for the reminder. In Him we live and breathe.
Long time silent reader! Thankful for this push to become involved with this community. I am moved and gain new perspective when I read these devos. It is easy to forget that God IS omnipotent and that he was not only well aware of what creating this earth meant for Him but He is very aware of what I struggle with, rejoice over, cry about and love.
So glad that you decided to "jump in" today Amanda! Looking forward to getting to know you!
There are days where I feel myself forgetting about the hope of restoration within me. This is such a great reminder and renewed my spirit thinking about that. I just picture God creating all (knowing what we as sinners would do) and him mumbling to himself "it is worth it". So hard to picture Him loving us that much, but such a beautiful relief.
Wow! good point.
I am so so thankful for God's love, and that he is always with us. I enjoyed today's reading and being reminded that he did all of this so that we might know him, so he could show himself to us. So powerful that he desires a relationship with us!!
I just started reading the Jesus Storybook to my baby girl a few days ago, & what I read yesterday was from the same passage, I believe. It brought tears to my eyes when I read about him creating Adam & Eve and the love he had for them & has for us- so much more than I love my sweet girl, which is so difficult to comprehend. So glad to be joining in on this round if SRT!
I can't imagine what it would be like to watch God create this world and us. Was He thinking all of these things we've brought to the table? Was he looking at the tree knowing? Or was He able to just see the beAuty in each atom He placed together? Hmm….I like to think that although He knew He chose not to remember what the future would hold…..why? Because I believe His love is so pure we truly cannot comprehend the pureness and depth of His love. He loved every bit of his creation because He created for us. He created it for us to see Him in each sunrise and sunset and in the intricate way each creature functions and lives. Then He created His masterpiece…man! Made to be a companion to Him, a representation of who He is, a glimpse anyway :). So, yes I have contemplated what He may have thought and all of the whys?…but I have to believe that He saw it completely different then we can imagine. I picture excitement at meeting each creature and especially man. :). I wonder what that first conversation was like. :)
Woah, that stopped me right in my tracks, my friend! So amazing to think, to KNOW that the depths of His love and creation far exceed our comprehension. And a beautiful reminder that we were made to know Him and be a companion to Him, to point people back to him.
AMAZING!!!
Truly God is Amazing.
He is just indeed Almighty, All Powerful and He is Good.
With His greatness He thought of you and He thought of me.
That He would restore.
He would make all things Glorious.
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST.
Reflecting on this Today just puts tears to my eyes. How I felt the Almighty God Loves me.
He cared enough in all the creation, He paid attention to the detail to restore me.
I've been silent while following along, this is just amazing & just what I needed!
Thank you father for giving us a new day to be good!
My heart is full with The Lord
I still don't understand WHY he loves me. I read it, I know it is written over and over in the bible. I trust that it is true. But I don't feel it, and I don't understand why he would love a sinner, a nobody like me. How long does it take to finally feel God's love? Is it that I am just not ready for it? Is it that some sin deep in my heart is blocking me from feeling him? I feel like there is a wall, and I just cannot reach God. This is the year I want to break that wall down. I pray that whatever it is holding me back from feeling his love for me is removed.
Oh my dear sister. My heart hurts for you. But you have taken the first step in trusting the Word of God, and what it says about His great love for you. After all, faith is believing without solid evidence (feeling). Keep trusting in Gods word, keep seeking Him and He will make Himself known to you. I'm agreeing with you in your prayer for breakthrough. Be blessed, my sweet sister, for God has great plans for you.
As with Debbates….my heart also breaks. I pray today, that what you 'know' becomes what you 'feel' – that what you have 'heard' becomes what you have 'felt' – that what you have 'read' becomes what you have 'experienced'. That what knowledge is trapped, travels 13 inches to your heart, and becomes more than just words on a page. As for why He loves you? Its purely because He Is Love…..it really is that simple. He loves you so very much…..more than you could think or imagine…..
I believe this with all that I am and I hope you will too: "There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more and there is nothing you can do to make God love you any less. He loves you because He loves you because He loves you." Father, pour out Your grace upon Tricia so that's she might feel Your immense love for her today…Amen.
"This is the year I want to break that wall down." You have chosen to make a marvelous step of faith with that simple statement. I am praying for you. Others will be praying too. One lesson I have had to learn is Trust. Love and trust go hand in hand. Trusting that God loves you even when you can't feel it is hard to do, but it is so worth it!!
Praying for you, Tricia. I pray for your patience and perseverance. None of us can really know the relationship between you and God but I absolutely know that He has you in the palm of His hand and He is working out your life, your feelings, your future, and your attempts to seek Him for your peace and His greater good. I have felt the same as you many times. Even though I have clearly "felt God," and just been blown away by the feeling, I've also felt a gigantic wall between me and Him. Even when I am earnestly seeking Him. Something I've learned in the past year or so with SRT is that God is greater than my feelings. He just is, no matter how I am feeling or why I am feeling it. I'm praying for you.
Praying with you precious one. TRUST… EMOTIONS ARE A TRICKY PLACE.
By faith we believe we are his creation, loved beyond measure. Praying that in these next days and weeks you will realize the depth of His love for you .
This is a wonderful start to 2014. God is penning our new season and I am thankful for his guidance and comfort.
How humbling is this read! Thank you Father for making me new and giving us blessed assurance of your faithfulness, love, grace, mercy.
Amazing. He created us perfect knowing we would be imperfect – knowing He would perfect us once again! As He created us, He knew we would nail Him to a tree. He called us very good as our betrayal and sin were in His mind. What love. What amazing grace. And He will make us new again!
This blows my mind. I'm going to really focus on this truth today. Just goes to show how we can never really grasp just how much He loves us. Calls us very good, knowing what we would do? Unfathomable. If He could do that, it seems I may need to take a second look at how I'm treating people who have "wronged" me!
"What will be your response today? Will you find comfort (even joy!) in the cradle of the Almighty’s hand? Will you rest in the hope that He will restore creation – that He will restore you?"
Praying to really believe this… that He can, He WILL, restore me. That I find my Joy and peace in Him. That I truly know who He is and know His depth and rest in that, instead of believing in my own ideas of who He is or what He can do. So thankful for new beginnings, every morning, and for this place with you, sisters!
Loved this! While reading your comments the song, "You Love Me Anyway" by Sidewalk Prophets, kept going through my mind…He knew, He knew it all, yet He loved me anyway! He would have even done it all if I had been the ONLY ONE!
How great is the Father's love for us!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9ICt1FFTwo
Sisters, if you are participating in the Daniel Fast and need daily encouragement you can join us at http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/2014/01/06/the-da…
I love that song and it fits this beautifully.
I love that song! Perfect song for this devotion … His love is overwhelming :-)
Amazing! I'm excited to see the things that will be shown to me in this study and walk. A fresh start, a new beginning…..I too struggle with the journey and not knowing how things will turn out. But He knows and he is guiding my path. I think of Jeremiah 29:11 (a lot). "For I know the plans I have for you ….."
God did it all that we may know Him. This theme runs through both the Old & New Testament. God wants us to be in relationship with Him. Thank you, God!
I for one find it mysterious that God would create all this knowing we would sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Everyone of us has gone after our own desires and ambitions. I trust that Jesus saved me from my sins, but understanding it for me is unfathomable. His ways are indeed not our ways. For 2014 I pray for a closer walk with Jesus to know Him more. Amen
Amen! I am desiring a closer walk with Him as well. Praying you never stray further than a reach for the Hem of His Robe…..
I too find understanding God's ways unfathomable. It blows my mind without failing every time. Am just looking forward to resting in him more and to see what he is going to do throughout this year. God bless.
Can we also just zoom I on the fact that when God pens us, we aren't "good". Sisters: monkeys are good, strawberries are good, sunrise is good, the ocean is good. But we, the pinnacle of creation are VERY GOOD. We are God's materpiece! Amen, right!?!?! :) I never thought about God being able to see the results as he created. What a beautiful, heart wrenching truth. Be blessed today, my sisters!
Loved this too! It always amazes me when I remember this again.
The part that gets me is that He knew. He knew the ending at the beginning. And yet He created anyway. Too often I want to know how things are going to turn out. I'm not a read the last page at the beginning kinda girl, but I am the kind who doesn't like surprises. Who likes to skip over the bad parts straight to the happy ending. To think that God sees it all, and has since the beginning. Since creation. Phew. And to think that He only wants what's best for us, so what's yet to come must be pretty darn amazing!
This post is so encouraging. It was so cool to read these familiar verses in Genesis with new eyes. It made my heart full and I’m longing for the Lord, this amazing God who surpasses my understanding.
Praise to our Father, our Alpha and Omega. It gives me such comfort that my Father in Heaven, Creator of all things, is already there at the end and knows how His story will play out. To have such a personal, daily relationship with Him is just awesome.
Thank you, SRT for this devotional and thank you for making me dust off my actual Bible instead of reading digitally this time around. I'm enjoying it…May be a "new" thing for me…haha!
"God had the power to skip right to the end, or to never create the world to begin with. But He did create it. And He did it to show Himself to us, that we might know Him."
AMEN!! Oh how I love this post and I am so excited about this study!! Glad to be back, sisters!! Have a blessed day!!
This is the same thing that stood out to me. He knew we would mess up . . . we would sin . . . we would turn our back on Him . . . and our sin would be what would nail the Almighty God to that cross. And yet, despite that, He choose to create you and me so that we might know Him. What a beautiful picture!
Hi, I'm pretty new here and I don't normally comment on things like this but I feel like I really needed to hear that bit about God not skipping to the end. As a relatively new Christian, there are some parts of my life I find frustrating and I want to skip to the "expected end" that God has planned for me where I no longer struggle with sins and heartbreak. I'm learning that although I am a new Christian there will be ups and downs but that's okay because my story has already been written and this isn't the end
Love this! I too was struck by how amazing it is that God wanted the process not just the product. I just want the product!! Learning right along with you, girl!
Good morning girl! I understand the feeling of seeing and imagining what God has in store but practicing patience in the meantime as he changes your thoughts and refines your heart. I wrote out a prayer last night for myself to remind myself to lay my life down at his feet everyday and to remember that he is using all of my struggles, trials, and pain to shape me into the person that he wants me to become. One of my friends recently suggested that I spend time in 1 Peter 5:6-10. Verse 6 is especially important to hold closely as you work through this process, saying 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.' I have learned over my 21 years of life that developing a strong relationship with God is a process that requires work, but it has the most beautiful reward of all. Keep at it and keep your eyes fixed on him :)
I am new to this but have been reading these comments and what you said really struck a cord with me. I went to those verses in 1 Peter 5 and I love how simple God's word is and how much I need these verses in my life. I am working on my attitude and heart towards others and it is so crazy true that the devil is prowling around me like a roaring lion daily! I am praying that God refines my heart and mind to be more like Him this year! Thank you for the encouragement you wrote to Idia. It was a blessing and encouragement to me. I am looking forward to this study as I have never done anything like this before.
Hi Stacey, I am so glad that those verses resonated with you! One of my close friends shared them with me a couple of weeks ago and I book-marked them in my Bible with some colorful tape so that I can revisit them easily anytime I want to. This is my first time participating in an online devotional reading plan too and I am so excited to see how God works through each of us over the upcoming weeks!
And as you go through the heartbreaks and the struggles, hold tight to the fact that God is right there with you….when you asked Him to be your Lord and Savior, He found His place of residence in your heart – And as you go through the valleys and storms of this life – He's there with you shaping you, molding you, making you the woman He desires you to be. And as you struggle up the mountain side of that valley – when you finally reach the mountaintop – you will find yourself so much STRONGER because of the journey and so much closer in your relationship with HIM. Romans 5:1-5
I am amazed at how god is presenting the same scriptures over and over to me lately. I am convinced that He has so much more for us than we could ask or imagine, and that He is near, with a giant smile on his face when we begin to get a glimpse of His majesty, love! and sweet affection for us. #believing4more.
I asked God to humble me so that He can guide me and lead me to where He wants me to go. No turning back.
That's a very beautiful thing, Abby. I pray He'd do just that and more; more than you could ever fathom.
I´ve been a silent reader for quite some time and decided to show up and say hello. It´s great to be part of your global community! :)
Today´s reading made me marvel about God´s ability to masterfully answer to altered circumstances and yet stay who He is. I´m thrilled to know that through Him I have access to these very traits and wish I´d only be more aware of it …
Love this. . .God's ability to masterfully answer to altered circumstances and yet stay Who He is! Awesome!
Wow german_janne! Thanks so much for joining us. Your words have blessed me already, and I look forward to more input from you!
Amen, Amen! "We love him because he first loved us" is the verse that comes to my mind. I am thankful for new beginnings…..for his mercy & love.
I am ready. I will not lean on my own understanding this year. His love is so powerful and amazing. He knew me before I was even born. The message today is great one to fill me hope and to remember his mercy. And that all creation begins with Him. This year is blessed because I began it with him in my heart.
Hi my sister in Christ I am also ready for God to use me and for me to lean more on him instead of me trying to help him out. I realise that when I try and do things myself it does not work but when I rely on him in everything it works out for the best. Be blessed my sister in Christ xxx Dee
I want God to renew me and guide me. He is a great and remarkable God that loves us so much. Be blessed!
Wow! So thankful for the fact that He is penning the things in my life just as He "penned the seas…" What a blessing it is to know and have the hope that He knows what He is doing and is doing things FAR greater than we can imagine!! Looking forward to a fresh start in 2014. His mercies are new every morning…