The beauty, goodness and faithfulness of God.
By John David Hicks
Remember the beauty, goodness and faithfulness of the Lord in your life.
You can be confident that God ascribes unsurpassable worth and love to you on the basis of Calvary (Rom. 8:32). You are deeply loved, highly favored and greatly blessed (Num. 6:24-26). And remember that your prayer requests are always “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 1:20). So, when you say “yes” to God, it means that you had to say “no” to something else. Every world-class athlete that desires to make the Olympics must say “no” to the things that would hinder them from reaching their goal. He must say “yes” to the disciplines that would cause him to succeed.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–24, Amplified Bible, “Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); 17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit; 20 Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning]. 21 But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast. 22 Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be. 23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 24 Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].”