THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART

I find lately that when I look and hear about all the tough stuff going on in the world……..I doubt and lose heart.  Do you? Is your faith strong enough to hold you securely in an increasingly shaky world?

I don’t know about you, but when I doubt and ask: “why LORD”, then I start to worry…….the worry is about the future for my family and friends.  So I doubt, then ask why, then worry and it becomes a cycle of negative emotions that GOD really doesn’t want me to have.  But satan does!  He wants us above all else to doubt GOD.  When we focus on the problem or worry then actually we are looking away from GOD and all HIS goodness and grace.  Satan will come with his hisses to get you to doubt everything around you and to even doubt yourself!

But I find that when I stop those thoughts that seep into my brain, when I turn to scripture for comfort and say “yes LORD” then my head and heart change because my face is turned towards my GOD.  Scripture will remind you of all of GOD’S goodness in a big way…….

PSALM 52:1  “WHY DO YOU BOAST IN EVIL, O MIGHTY MAN?  THE GOODNESS OF GOD ENDURES CONTINUALLY.”

When those negative thoughts grab me, and we all have them, then I have to remind myself who my GOD is:  a loving Father, merciful, grace-filled and the only perfect ONE there is.  None of us can come close to all GOD is, but we can humbly stand before HIM, glorify and worship HIM with authentic hearts and receive HIS love for us.  Let’s try to remember daily……….

THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART NEVER ENDS!

We are used to beginnings and endings, but our FATHER in Heaven lives the story that really has no end!  And what a glorious story it is!  I might not grasp what eternity is all about, but one thing I do know and grasp with all my heart…….my JESUS lives there and all goodness and purity reside there too!  As much as men live without goodness in their hearts, the true evil kind, oh how much more is the fullness and complete goodness with GOD!  As much as my heart aches for justice and goodness to reign in the world right now, oh how much more reigns in Heaven!  So I need to ask……..

ARE YOU DOUBTING GOD’S GOODNESS FOR YOU?

We all have wondered at one time or another: why do bad things happen to good people?  The fact that we live in a fallen world should answer that question and it should make us strive and ache for GOD’S goodness.  Listen to what Jeremiah has to say:

JEREMIAH 29: 11-13

“FOR I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU, SAYS THE LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.  THEN YOU WILL CALL UPON ME AND GO AND PRAY TO ME, AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOU.  AND YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”

When I seek after the goodness of GOD’S heart, I will find it, recognize it and desire it more than anything else!  The goodness of HIS heart is never-ending.  You can trust HIM at all times and pour your heart out to HIM because HE is the well that never, ever runs dry.  HIS heart is that good!

Scripture tells us that a “broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17) GOD will never despise.  HIS heart is always good, never changes, even if we have sinned…….HIS heart is still good, because HE doesn’t change, only we do.  Only we live in this fallen world, but GOD looks down upon us with goodness in HIS heart…….always. I feel bad for people that think GOD is punishing them……..HE doesn’t do that.  We only punish ourselves and our own hearts are the ones who turn away and turn to evil.

JEREMIAH 24: 7

“THEN I WILL GIVE THEM A HEART TO KNOW ME, THAT I AM THE LORD; AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, FOR THEY SHALL RETURN TO ME WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART.”

Did you get that?  In order to see HIS ultimate goodness of heart, we need to return to HIM with our whole heart.  Don’t just give HIM your left overs and then hope that all will be well with your soul!  GOD wants us to have HIM as our utmost priority……..we need to give our utmost for HIS HIGHEST! We need to slowly but surely, walk with goodness in our hearts and see that GOD is GOOD……..ALL THE TIME!

So when you doubt, cast all your cares on the goodness of the LORD.  Look at HIS WORD and see all the blessings there, including comfort and ultimate peace. Cast your heart upon HIM, because HE cares for you with a heart spilling over of goodness.  And HE will continue to sustain you with HIS mercy, love, and never-ending peace!

ROMANS 2: 4 “OR DO YOU DESPISE THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS, FORBEARANCE, AND LONG-SUFFERING, NOT KNOWING THAT THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADS YOU TO REPENTANCE?”