John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” With all the voices competing for our attention – people, media, TV, the devil, even our own voice - how can we tell which one is God’s?
We have the complete bible, which is the inspired Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 Timothy 3:16-17 God’s voice never tells us to take a direction that is counter to what His Word says. If you have need of direction or have a decision to make, go see what His Word says about it first.
We also have the Holy Spirit residing in us. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 As you feed on the Word, the Holy Spirit will quicken it to your remembrance as you have need of it for specific situations in your life. This is why it is so important to keep making “daily deposits” of the Word into your heart. The Spirit will quicken the Word already deposited in your heart in a variety of ways. Often I have been stumped about a problem and all of a sudden a scripture will *pop* into my brain; it is the exact road sign I need to direct me to the answer I need. In other words, I am hearing God’s voice.
The time you spend in the Word and communing with Him will help you get to know Him more and more. You will have a plumb line in which to compare all the other voices you hear – if they don’t line up with what the Word and the Holy Spirit speak, you know they are not of Him.
Read 1 Samuel 3 about how Samuel became acquainted with the Lord’s voice. And give thanks that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts!
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Picture yourself in court, accused of a crime. You are sitting at the defendant’s table with your attorney, and the petitioner is sitting in the witness stand spewing accusations about you – some certainly true, but most assuredly false. The judge sits high up on his bench, listening attentively. What is going to happen to you? Your heart is beating in fear; you can practically hear it pounding.
There is some good news! Today the court you sit in is not an earthly governmental office; today the trial is being held in God’s court! God realizes that the petitioner is the accuser of the brethren and even we know (though we don’t always remember) he is the father of all lies. Yes, he always mixes a little bit of truth into his diatribe against you; that is because you will most likely feel guilty and condemned because you know you really did do that bit of bad. However, the bulk of his accusations are trumped-up charges as he is hoping to sideline you and needs to build a case against you God will believe. He is pretty stupid, though, because there is no way he can outsmart our good God.
The judge tells you to stand and asks you “How do you plead?” Your attorney whispers in your ear, “Tell him “I plead the blood of Jesus”. You are flabbergasted as you look to see your lawyer is Jesus Himself! A mixture of relief and shame hit you all at once. You cry out, “Lord, it is You! I am so glad but I am so sorry I really did do some of the things the devil is saying I did.” With much compassion, He stands and says to the judge, “Father, I present your child for sentencing.” You then realize the judge is THE Judge – God Himself!
You wait, almost unable to breathe. The Most Holy God is going to pronounce sentence upon you. Incredibly, He says, “I am faithful and just to forgive your sins. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.” In your immense relief, you are filled with even more love for Him. Your attorney puts His arm around you and says, “I have redeemed you. Go and sin no more.”
What joy! How glorious it is to know God is good, He love us and He is on our side!
Remember, to know God is good, to really know it, you must get to know Him. Grab your bible and read His Word today!
Isaiah 44:22, John 8:1-11, Romans 8, and John 8:44
In an effort to come to the knowledge that God is good, one must know Him. Just as you know your spouse, the sound of his or her voice, the beat of their heart, you can know God; just as you are able to differentiate the many cries of your child, you can know God. To know Him you must spend time with Him.
I am not speaking of a legalistic routine that must be gotten out of the way like brushing your teeth, not hardly. But, there is a joyous place where you can meet with God, where He can talk to you and you can really talk to Him. It is a place of quiet, where the noise and cares of the world are turned off. It is a place of rest, where the taskmaster of your time is silenced for a spell. It is a place of instruction, where the confusion and fog of indecision are lifted. It is a place of healing, where all the hurts and damage the world inflicts upon you are repaired. Ahhh, it is a comforting place.
When God first drew me aside daily to get to know Him better, He asked me to spend time with Him early in the morning. There are things to be said for meeting with Him early, before the noise and schedule of awakened life starts to take over.
God you are my God. Early I will seek you. Psalm 63:1
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place and He prayed. Mark 1:35
For many, perhaps even most, people, early morning is the best time to meet with Him. But you should do what works best with your body, your energy levels, your schedule, as long as you don’t put it off until there is no time left in your day!
So grab your bible, find a quiet place and get to know your good God!
How do I know that God is Good?
Because the Bible tells me so!
No one is good but One, that is God. Luke 18:19b
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8
Once you know – without a doubt – that God is good, you can approach Him in all confidence, knowing He won’t hurt you, won’t bring suffering to you, will never leave you or let you down. He is always there in time of need.
When you go through troubles it is tempting to cry out “God, why are You doing this to me?” There are, sadly, many Christians who will tell you exactly that – God is causing this trouble to teach you a lesson. Refuse to believe it because it is a lie from the pit of hell!
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be by tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. James 1:13
The Word says we learn by hearing the Word, not by being sick and broke. God does not put cancer on His kids to teach them lessons. He is good, after all!
The enemy, and/or our own consequences for wrong choices bring on troubles and trials. We know the enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy. When he comes, we must take a stand against his works.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
When you stand, and stand firm in faith, you will be able to say to the enemy, as Joseph did:
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20a
How can you get it into your heart and get rid of all your doubts that God is really good? Spend time getting to know Him!
Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Job 22:21
My name is Faith Mama and my mission in life is to tell people the truth – that God is good!
There are multitudes, millions, of Christians in this world whom the devil has deceived into believing God sends sickness, poverty, struggles and trials to His people ”to draw them close to Him” or “to teach them a lesson”. This could not be further from the truth, yet good, well-meaning Christians are living unfulfilled and unnecessarily troubled lives because of this deception.
Sadly, the enemy uses other Christians – pastors, preachers, Sunday school teachers, bible study leaders, Christian counselors, and more – to perpetuate these erroneous lies. Satan is the father of all lies. His goal is to keep Christians deceived so they do not realize the power they have to change the world for the Lord!
My “why”, the reason I exist, is to empower Christians who have bought into the suffering doctrine by teaching them the truth of God’s Word and helping to catapult them into the freedom of knowing who they are in Christ and live the abundant life God has planned for them!
John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
