Isaiah 46 (NIV) 8
“Remember this, keep it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.
9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
what I have planned, that I will do.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,
you who are now far from my righteousness.
13 I am bringing my righteousness near,
it is not far away;
and my salvation will not be delayed.
God is in Control and Reigns Sovereign over all the earth. Do you really believe that? Do I really hold tight to that truth? Do we question it when we hear of such tragedies as Hurricane Sandy, 911, or the tornado that ripped through Joplin? Do you believe that God could have spoken one word and the storm would have obeyed? Yet, since He reigns sovereign over all the earth, why didn’t He stop these tragedies from occurring and why does He allow storms in my own life? Did He not also say? John 3:16 (AMP) 16 "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life" Do you believe that God loves you? Do you believe that He reigns in sovereignty over all the events in your life? Did He not say Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV) "29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." If the hairs of your head are numbered and He knows when each one falls out, how intimately does He rule over the minutest details of your life!!! He also said in Romans 8:"28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Do you really believe that? God is Sovereign, God loved mankind so much that He was willing to pay the penalty for man’s rebellious heart at a tremendous cost to Himself, and only God knows what part those storms play in His bringing His righteousness and His Salvation near. Do you trust Him with the storms in your own life? Do you say, Lord You reign supreme, what gift are you delivering to me in this storm? Is it faith you are growing up? Is it hope that you want to grow in my life? Is there some chaff that needs to be sifted out of my life? Do you want me to find my Joy in You? No matter what I will trust you–because You, God are in Control. You will accomplish all that You have planned.