Beyond Borders

The Lord rules over all creation

I’ve been pondering this question lately. Do I really believe God is sovereign? A simple definition of sovereignty is that God rules over all.

If God is sovereign. If He does rule over all things and I (we) truly believe that then why do we worry so much?

If our Heavenly Father is a good God, and He controls all things for His glory, what do we have to be anxious about?

Yet we all worry to some degree or another. Many suffer ill-health due to stress and how that stress is handled. I’m not saying that I don’t think we should be concerned or that we should be apathetic about what’s going on in our life, rather that we should lean hard on our loving Father.

As I read many other blog posts on the web it is apparent that a number of people struggle with believing God is good, because of the difficulties they experience in life. These are valid concerns. I cannot hope to fully address all that is involved with these questions here. There are volumes of books that have been written on these topics. I hope rather to bring some light and to uplift those who may feel squashed.

I believe life is full of mysteries that are not fully understood this side of heaven. Still there are some promises that can and should keep us grounded. They should give us courage to live in this broken and fallen world.

Here’s some of the promises that I keep going back to when I start to worry, and get my eyes off of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul lists some very powerful and comforting promises:

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:17)

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38,39)

These three passages I include in my prayers almost daily. And these are only a small sampling of all the marvelous promises that are found in the Bible.

Dave praying with Juan Arjona

When I start feeling overwhelmed with the demands of life. When I begin to lose sight of the fact that God is in control I remember these passages and pray them out loud.

My prayer: “O, Lord, you have not given me a spirit of fear, but one of power and love and self-control. I receive the peace of Christ that passes all understanding and guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I thank you, Lord that you are victorious, you have defeated sin, death and Satan on the cross. We are more than conquerors in Christ, and nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation shall separate me from the love of Christ. Amen.”

If you are you in Christ you have much to be thankful for. Christ does say that in this world we will encounter trials, but we are to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. I hope that this might lift you up!

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Please pray for our ESL outreach which starts today at 4:30 PM (PT).

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