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January Devotional
Did you know that you serve a good God?
He is not mad at you ... He is not going to throw
thunder and lightning down from heaven and aim it
directly at you ... nor does He carry a heavenly fly-swatter
and look for opportunities to whack you over the head
with it. Our God is so good ... so loving ... and
so kind that we cannot begin to comprehend it.
It is bad theology to believe that God is out to get
you ... that He is just waiting for you to make a
mistake so that He can smugly turn His back on you
or send bad things into your life. It is a slap in
the face of God to accuse Him of being unkind or impatient.
He sends only good gifts from heaven and 100% of His
character is composed of unconditional love.
As you begin this New Year, let me encourage you to
do one very important thing: Get your theology straight!
I want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that
the Lord has great things planned for you. The success
of the year 2006 does not depend upon how many pounds
you lose, how clean you keep your house or even paying
off your credit cards. 2006 will be your best year
ever when you realize that God is a good God and that
He has great plans for you this year.
Jeremiah 29:11 says it like this, "For I know
the plans that I have for you," declares the
Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity,
plans to give you a future and a hope."
God is planning on taking care of you this year and
it is His perfect will to turn all of the bad circumstances
of your life into good. Only God can do that. Only
God can take our mistakes, our disappointments and
even our tragedies and turn them into good.
Romans 8:28 promises that every detail of our lives
will be worked into something good when we love Him.
The only pre-requisite for this promise to be fulfilled
in your life is simply that you love Him.
So, as you re-evaluate your theology for 2006 and
as you make your New Year's Resolutions, why don't
you resolve, first of all, simply to love Him more?
Spend more time in the presence of God ... read your
Bible every day ... listen to praise and worship music
continuously ... and allow Him to fill you with His
joy. As you pour your love for the Lord heavenward,
you will find His goodness miraculously fill your
life on earth!
Let me challenge you to expect His goodness and His
favor in your life. Begin this New Year with joyful
expectation about the absolutely incredible plans
that He has for you. Wake up every morning and say,
"Father God, I believe that the best is yet to
come in 2006!" |
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