Has The Lord Been Good to You?

Prayer – I love You, Lord…with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my might and strength. To love someone, you must know them—so show me more of Yourself today, Lord, that I may know and love You more. I praise You and thank You. 

God doesn't come as a snake or...
as an alligator to devour us.
He comes as our Savior,
protector, merciful, and loving God.

Painting by Zander Shultz

I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: "Please, LORD, save me!" How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the LORD has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the LORD's presence as I live here on earth! I believed in you, so I said, "I am deeply troubled, LORD." In my anxiety I cried out to you, "These people are all liars!" What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD's name for saving me. I will keep my promises to the LORD in the presence of all his people. The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die. O LORD, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains. I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people—in the house of the LORD in the heart of Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! Psalm 116:1-19

 

Meditate. Consider God’s love.

 

From somewhere in my early childhood, I hear my Mom’s voice saying, “God is love.” That is right out of 1 John 4:7-8. I hope that my kids hear the same teaching…or a song with those words…and my voice. God is love. Do you recall this as the Verse of the Week, last week?

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. - 1 John 4:7-8 KJV 

Jesus was adamant and encouraging about people loving God and each other…their neighbor. Remember that when He was asked about the greatest commandment, He responded with the wise advice, love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Love God.

 

As this psalmist wrote…I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because…He bends down—comes close to me—to hear my prayers. He is kind, merciful, good, protective. He is my savior. Most of all…I love the Lord because He has promised to never abandon me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). God keeps His promises (Psalm 145:13).

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. Psalm 145:13

Even though Thanksgiving is over…I continue to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. Do you keep a prayer journal or a thankfulness journal? How about starting one TODAY?! Don’t wait until the New Year, although that would be a good goal for the coming year. A few years ago Ann Voskamp wrote a book “One Thousand Gifts” focusing on giving thanks. She challenged her readers to find three things daily for which to be thankful. It was a good challenge. Can you do that? I’m sure you have an empty notebook—so start today recording your thankfulness. I had an inspiring thought…add your prayer requests and praises to the journal so that you can see how God is working in your life now. Again, as this psalmist wrote… Let my soul be at rest again, for the LORD has been good to me. I can see that the Lord has been good to me…over the last fifty or sixty years, as well as today. Has the Lord been good to you?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:6-9

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 

It is still November – consider today: For what are you Thankful?

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.

Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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