retain – Praying Pint

24. According to the riches of his grace

Numbers 14:17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

Exodus 34:6-7     The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Psalms 103:8   The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Micah 7:18     Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Nahum 1:2-3    The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.  The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Romans 3:24-26     and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 1:7-8     In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  which he lavished upon us

It is hard to explain forgiveness of sin to those who do not believe in God, Sin, Judgment, Anger, Wrath, Redemption, and Salvation. As a believer we have had our heart and mind opened up to know God and the need of salvation. I wonder if we limit our understanding of what this means. God reached out, He called us, He demonstrated His love for us, He opened our understanding, knowledge, and wisdom, He showed us the need for redemption, He provided a sacrifice for our sin, He sent Jesus Christ His only son to die for us, He forgave us, He gave us new birth, He promised to never leave us or forsake us, He promised eternity with Him, He gives us peace, rest, joy, faith, hope, and love, He filled us with His Holy Spirit, He leads us, and He has plans and purposes for us.

We should never become complacent and neglectful of time with Him and His word. Commit to reading it everyday.

Why do you doubt?

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Numbers 11:23 And the LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Deuteronomy 7:21 You shall not be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God, nothing can hinder the LORD

1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Psalms 93:1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Matthew 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Matthew 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

When you read words like; “Nothing is impossible with God,” “He is able to do far more than all that we ask and think,” “God is able,” “God, nothing is too hard for You”, ” why do you doubt,” do you feel a bit like your faith is not living up to what God can do? In some ways this is to be expected for we do not understand the “limitless power of God”. When we come to a situation in our life where all of our being clings to, relies on, and trusts in God, we still are limited by our finite understanding and knowledge of God. This does not limit what God can do.

Even if we try to think of all the possible things God can do, we would not barely scratch the surface of what He is able to do.

Why to we fret? Why do we worry? Why are we anxious? Why do we doubt? Why do we put limits on what we think God can and will do? Why do we fear? Why do we get upset? Are these indicators of our thinking of what we think God can do in our lives and situations?

Is it possible we have limited thinking on what God can do because we spend limited time with Him. We may give him the courtesy Sunday morning nod and maybe even a christian radio station on in the car but is there more substance to our walk than this? Are these turning into a performance “check the box” kind of things and not really living and experiencing a faith filled daily walking together relationship with God.

Having a mind set on being in the presence of God throughout the day is much different than a “touch base with God” on and off during the week. Walking with Him throughout the day is a choice. This is similar to the choice to learn more of Him and from Him. It is a choice to hear Him whisper into your life. It is a choice to call on Him, to thank Him, to worship Him, to rely on Him, to wait for His leading, to follow Him, to obey Him, and to serve Him.

We will never approach seeing His mighty hand at work or doing the impossible unless we are in the presence of God, with faith leading our heart, mind, and soul closer and closer to Him.

Restore us, O LORD God

“For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.”

“Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.”

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Psalms 85:1 LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.

Jeremiah 31:18 I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.

Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored!

Acts 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Colossians 2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Isaiah 54:7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.

Psalms 78:38 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.

How do you know if God is angry with you? How do you know if you are being disciplined? How do you know if you are right with God? How do you know if your life is on the straight and narrow path of God? There are many examples in scripture that speak of generations of people who lived in a way that was apart from God. There was a choice made in their life to neglect Him and His statutes. This choice, I have to think, was not all at once but was the result of many small steps on a path that did not honor, serve, follow, or obey God. Taking many small steps or fewer large ones in the wrong direction on the wrong path will always end up further and further away from God. Soon you are lost and forget what the path of God for your life looked liked. The light on His path for your life becomes totally dimmed, if not dark and deserted. Everyday we battle our sinful desires that want to direct our heart, mind and soul. Neglecting Him and being complacent in service and obedience to Him is what Satan desires and uses to light a path away from God. The only way to win this battle is to stay in His word, desiring to stay close to Him, and wanting to be led by Him. Do not wait until you are totally lost before turning back to Him. Call out and seek to be rescued and restored. Seek Him and He will be found. Humbly serve Him and He will guide you.