God is good, all the time.

Do you try to make praise and thanksgiving a habit? Complaining comes so naturally, doesn't it? A teacher of mine once held up a piece of white poster board, 2' x 3' in dimension. On it he had made a small black dot, no more than 1/8" in diameter. He asked the class, 'what do you see?' You know the answer, right? We all saw a tiny dot! Not one of us mentioned the poster board! Why? We were looking for the anomaly.
So often we take note only of the flaws in life, don't we?
The smallest things irritate us.
The voice of the lone critic drowns out the voices of many who support our cause.
The one disappointing situation blocks our perception of the dozens of blessings!

But, we can choose to live differently! Yes, we can become encouragers, positive people who see reasons for praise. And, in this we find joy and reflect God's goodness to our world. Here's how: "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!" (Philippians 4:4-5, The Message)

The Spirit teaches us three principles that make consistent joy available to us:
1. We are God-focused, looking past the temporal problems.
2. We learn to live cooperatively with others.
2. We set our hope on Eternity and God's perfection that will come with Christ's coming as King!

We must stay intimately connected to the Lord, accepting that He has ALL things in His hands, that He is always working for our good, no matter what other people or even the Devil, for that matter, is trying to work against us. God takes the worst things in life, and as we trust Him, and works to bring purpose from them. Sound too 'Pollyanna-ish' for you? It's not just me saying this. It is God's truth. "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory." (Romans 8:28-30, NLT)

Be careful not to mis-read that passage. We are not told that everything that happens to us is wonderful. That's simply not true. Tragedies happen. Evil people try to destroy us. The demons of Hell try to frustrate God's plans and purposes. But, the Word tells us, God is greater- than the world (those systems that oppose His work), the flesh (our sinful nature that resists His will), and the Devil (that Liar who tries to deceive people into rebellion)! God, the Holy Spirit, is always at work, in us and in the circumstances around us, as we cooperate with Him, to turn those situations around. I know that begs the question, "well, why doesn't He stop those things before they happen?" That's the $million question that will have to wait for Heaven! Meanwhile, He teaches us to trust Him.

This week, choose JOY! Take those three principles of joyful living, outlined above, and write them down. Then, practice them.
Pray for God's help. You will find yourself feeling new peacefulness, new hope, and yes, joy. I believe that because God promised it.

Let's make a Kingdom difference, Believer, by rising above our circumstances on the wings of the Spirit.
______________________

God is good all the time.
He put a song of praise,
In this heart of mine;
God is good all the time.
Through the darkest night,
His light will shine;
God is good,
God is good all the time.

Though I may not understand,
All the plans You have for me,
My life is in Your hands,
And through the eyes of faith,
I can clearly see.

If you're walking through the valley,
And there are shadows all around,
Do not fear, He will guide You,
He will keep you safe and sound.
He has promised to never leave you
Nor forsake you, and His Word is true.

We were sinners so unworthy,
Still for us He chose to die;
Filled us with His Holy Spirit,
Now we can stand and testify,
That His love is everlasting,
And His mercies,
they will never end.


Title: God Is Good All The Time
Author: Moen, Don / Overstreet, PaulCopyright: 1995 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) / Scarlet Moon (Admin. by Copyright Management, Inc.)