You and I have no clue what 2106 holds for us as individuals or as families. Oh sure, we have loose plans or like my type A friends – you have firm plans for every month in 2016. But really when it comes down to it we don’t know what tomorrow holds.
And that could be really scary.
It could be scary as we look back on the past and remember what happened to some of our friends, our loved ones, ourselves or people we don’t even know. Our hearts broke. For Paris. For school shooting victims, for the cancer diagnosis, the death of a child, the shattered marriage, the…..
Life will happen to everyone of us in 2016.
And it could be scary but it doesn’t have to be. And not because we choose to not look back or remember tragedy around us but because of something different we choose to know and remember.
If we approach 2016 with knowing who God is it changes how we respond to whatever 2016 brings our way. And really if I say it right I will say it this way: If we approach 2016 with knowing who God is it changes how we respond to what God brings our way in 2016.
Because when we know and believe who God is and we filter everything through that, while we don’t necessarily understand everything, we can trust God does.
If you aren’t sure who God is this January 2106 take a look at just a few attributes of God below. These are characteristics of God that we see in scripture in different places. They ascribe who God is.
If we believe God’s word is true we can also know these following things about who God is no matter what comes our way this year.
In 2016 we can know that God is…….
Supreme – Highest in rank, power, authority, superior, highest in degree; utmost. (Gen. 14:19, Deut. 10:14-17, Job 11:7-9, Isaiah 44:6-8, Hebrews 1:4,6)
Sovereign – Holding the position of ruler, royal, reigning; independent of all others; above or superior to all others; controls everything and can do anything. (Job 42:2, Psalm 93, Ps. 135:6-7, Isaiah 46:9-10, Romans 8:28, Isa. 40:10)
Immutable – Never changing or carrying; unchangeable ( Numbers 23:19, Ps. 100:5, Ps. 119: 89,152, Isa. 51:6, Hebrews 6:17-19, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17) *This means we can enter all the years prior to 2016 and all the years after 2016 and He never changes.*
Good – Virtuous, excellent; upright; God is essentially, absolutely and consummately good. (Ps. 25:8, Ps. 34:8, Ps. 86:5, Ps. 119:68, Ps. 136:1; John 10:11, I Tim. 4:4, II Peter 1:3-4
Faithful – Constant, loyal, reliable, steadfast, unwavering, devoted, true, dependable ( Ps. 33:4, Ps. 89:8, Ps. 146:5-8, Lamentations 3:21-24, II Tim. 2:13, I John 1:9)
Other verses reveal to us in scripture that God is also all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, Mercy, Compassionate, Eternal, Wise, Master Planner, Holy, Just, Creator, Revealer, Redeemer, King of Kings and so much more.
This is our God!
And so whatever comes our way in 2016 let’s filter it through the grid of who we know God to be based on who he says he is in scripture.
This is a game changer.
We can get through anything when we have a God like we do. Friends, get to know Him this year. I’m glad to help in any way I can. Email me, message me, pull me aside in town and let me know you want to get to know Jesus more this year and I’d be glad to pray for you. My desire is to know Him more this year as well. So let’s do it together.
What attribute of God do you find yourself needing to cling to the most right now?
I’ll answer in the comments. Would love to hear your thoughts.
The attribute I’m clinging to most right now is God’s faithfulness. I am believing Him to be faithful in a situation that seems hopeless right now. My heart and head wants to intervene and fix and solve and repair but I am trusting God’s faithfulness to do his perfect, sovereign plan.
AMEN! He is the God who sees me. He is for me, not against me. He is faithful, just and true. I’m clinging to who He is. So glad you stopped by. I have been missing you!
Nice to meet you 🙂 This post was encouraging to me today. I think I’m clinging onto SLOW. Life has bullied me with busy for far too long and for the past year (a very difficult and life changing year), I have had to pause and overcome busy with slow. I’m amazed at how much God has helped me in this area.
Hi there….I pray God will continue to help you incorporate slow into your life this year. It’s hard isn’t it? Busy is the name of the game these days. It will take a concerted effort and help from God to replace busy with slow for many of us. I’m included for sure.