Trusting the Sovereignty of God
"O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle" (Psalm 140:7)
– When our confidence is in the sovereignty of God, we will not panic when we face tough circumstances. But when we try to control our lives and manipulate events and people to our advantage, we will become frustrated and joyless.
– Paul trusted the sovereign hand of
God and he learned to be content in the ups and in the downs, in the
abundance and in the lack, in the sickness and in the health, in the
courts of the kings and in the dungeons and the prisons. Paul
recognized God as the source of his strength: "I can do
everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians
4:13).
– Whatever God called Paul to do--whether speaking
with the powerful or the poor, whether preaching to thousands in a
coliseum or to a lone Philippian jailer, whether speaking to King
Agrippa or to a lowly soldier in Rome--Paul knew that God would equip
him for his tasks.
– Paul's God-centered focus brought joy
and contentment to his life. The psalmist declared, "The Lord is
my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song"
(Psalm 28:7).
– God will also provide for us and strengthen
us as we seek to follow Him in faithful obedience. "And my God
will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ
Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
Whatever needs we
have – salvation, comfort, encouragement – Jesus can meet them. He can
lift us above the hurts that others have caused. He can give us
perseverance when we are in the middle of the valley. He will meet
our needs in His perfect timing and in accordance with His glorious,
inexhaustible riches.
Prayer: God, thank You for
Your sovereignty. Help me to trust in You, knowing that You are more
than able to see me through every trial I face. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
By Michael Youssef – February 11, 2012
Blog author's note: This is from my collection of misc email devotions.