Early AM, I clicked on the TV to be alarmed by newscasters and experts who described the chaos in our world and potentially, perilous times. Each of these folks pictured a world full of evil, hopelessness, discord, desperation, discouragement, hatred, anguish, sorrow, etc. Thank God, I have begun to do what I suggested last week in Barnabas Man to do. I started the day off with gratitude for God listening to wonderful praise and worship songs to connect me to God with thanksgiving at the very git go of today. A couple of these songs were “Good, Good Father” and “The Goodness of God” by Bethel. The chorus of the last one grabbed my attention:
“All my life You have been faithful,
All my life You have been so, so good,
Every breath that I am able,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God,
Your goodness has been running after, running after me,
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give you everything,
Your goodness is running after, is running after me.”
1 Peter 5:6&7 challenges you to “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God’s mighty hand is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Even though the god of this world is the devil (1 John 5:19), Jesus, “disarmed the rulers and authorities (including the devil). He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through (the cross).” Jesus defused and kicked Satan and his demonic forces’ rear ends at the cross. As Peter says above, those who follow Christ have full assurance that “He will lift you up in due time.”
Living in this fallen world, God’s goodness is so comforting, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the (presence) of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
Today, I choose to lay my life down to God, surrender now, I give Him everything knowing that His goodness is running after me.
Barnabas Man 