One Minute with God

May God’s provision in the past
bolster our peace about the future.

I have been young, and now am old, 
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken 
or his children begging for bread.
Psalm 37:25 ESV

For thousands of years
millions of people
have depended on God;
He has been faithful to each person,
and He has kept every one of His promises.

No unbelief made [Abraham] waver
concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith
as he gave glory to God,
fully convinced that God was able
to do what he had promised.

For all the promises of God
find their Yes in [Christ]. 
That is why it is through him
that we utter our Amen 
to God for his glory.

Romans20-21, 2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

Before we even knew about the problem,
God had it solved.

“I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace. 
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 ESV

False religion says:
Jesus’ death is not a sufficient sacrifice
for your sin; you must do something, too.

The Bible says:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. 
And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, 
not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

The cross was never far from Jesus’ mind.
For thirty-three years He walked resolutely
toward the wrath He would endure
to pay for our sin. What a Savior!

Speaking of his death, Jesus said,
“I have a baptism to be baptized with, 
and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” 
Luke 12:50 ESV

My sin upon His shoulders.
My thorns upon His brow.
The stripes, meant for my horrors,
are taken from me now.
The nails, my due, His torture.
My guilt–alone–He bore.
In innocence He suffered,
my Savior, God, my Lord.
My pardon He accomplished.
In Christ alone I’m free.
My life belongs to Jesus,
the One who died for me.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer 
I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the 
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the 
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 ESV

Also: Isaiah 53

God looks intently down
upon the sons of men
to see if there might be someone
who’s looking back at Him.
And when He finds this faithful one,
He opens heaven’s door,
for God bestows the greatest gifts
on those who love Him more.

God looks down from heaven
on the children of man 
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God. 
Psalm 53:2 ESV

Also 2 Chronicles 16:9, John 21:15-19

The answer to every problem, every question,
every impossibility, is, “Lord, you know.”

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd
was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip,
“Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 
John 6:5-6 ESV

Jesus went about
performing miracles,
thousands of them,
to prove He was
the Messiah, the
Son of God, and the
Savior of the world.
He preached the good news
of the kingdom of God, so
men would know the truth
about their need of Him–
the Savior of the world.
He gave eternal life to all
the Father gave to Him,
and He still does,
because He is
the Savior of the world.

They said to the woman, “It is no longer
because of what you said that we believe,
for we have heard for ourselves, and we know
that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” 
John 4:42 ESV

May the Holy Spirit
teach us to pray
for the good things
God is pleased to give.

Praying at all times in the Spirit, 
with all prayer and supplication.
Ephesians 6:18 ESV

There is a reason for God’s faithfulness to us:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; 
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 
Jeremiah 31:3 ESV

In everything that we think
is in our control, there is a
temptation to not trust God.
We worry and become anxious,
when we think we’re the ones
calling the shots. But when we
leave an outcome up to God,
instead of worrying, we count
on His providential care. So
we speak the truth, we do
what’s right, we pray for
guidance, and we act, trusting
God completely as we go.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 
and do not lean on your own understanding. 
In all your ways acknowledge him, 
and he will make straight your paths. 
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

May we be so delighted
with the love and care
and attention we get from God
that it doesn’t really matter
how we are treated by other people.

Satisfy us in the morning 
with your unfailing love, 
that we may rejoice and 
be glad all our days. 
Psalm 90:14 ESV

May the brashness of the devil
make us bolder in our God.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, 
making supplication for all the saints, 
and also for me, that words may 
be given to me in opening my mouth boldly
to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 
for which I am an ambassador in chains, 
that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 
Ephesians 6:18-20 ESV

Love the One who loves you.
Pray to the One who hears you.
Worship the One who made you.
Fear the One who forgave you.

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 
O Lord, who could stand? But with you 
there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 
Psalm 130:3-4 ESV

If we are just as burdened after we have prayed,
as we were before, this might be the reason–
we don’t really believe God hears and answers prayer.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

We may never know the joy of fully pleasing God,
if we live as though this commandment is optional:

“Honor your father and your mother,
that your days may be long in the land
that the LORD your God is giving you.” 
Exodus 20:12 ESV (also Ephesians 6:20)

Unless the LORD builds the house, 
those who build it labor in vain. 
Psalm 127:1a ESV

Who is building yours?

If God said He would, He will;
His Word prevaileth still.

“All flesh is like grass 
and all its glory like 
the flower of grass. 
The grass withers, 
and the flower falls, 
but the word of the Lord 
remains forever.” 
And this word is the good news 
that was preached to you. 
1 Peter 1:24-25 ESV

I have a difficult time believing what I can’t see. Do you?
I often pray that God would keep me from sinning in this difficulty. The last thing I want is to be guilty of unbelief! So, in my musings about the wonder of IT all, I always ask God my questions.
I know God is real and reigns and will one day come again. I know He lives in me, and I have no doubt that one day I will live with Him in heaven. But still I wonder, and still I ask Him my questions, and because He is my Father, He answers me with His Word and a heartfelt assurance that His Word is true.

Jesus said to Thomas,
who refused to believe without seeing:
“Have you believed
because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.” 
John 20:29 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 
the conviction of things not seen. 
Hebrews 11:1 ESV