Our human nature tends to always try to take advantage of God’s lovingkindness. Or at the least we tend to expect His goodness to give us everything we desire, as though we somehow deserve it. Then we become angry, frustrated, disobedient, and critical whenever God tells us no or wait. Our faith goes muttering on about how unfair God has been. Or in some cases, we worry, fret, and try to fix it ourselves. We don’t trust Him or His promises. Then again, when we fail, we try to blame God for our failures. Meanwhile He patiently waits for us to ask for His help. Just like a loving father would do. In so many ways we abuse the Goodness of God. Despite that He remains faithful to those who know Him. Then the question must be. How do we really stop abusing the goodness of God?
Let me propose 8 actions we can take to alleviate our abusing the goodness of God. Not only will these actions stop our abusing the Goodness of God, they will bring us into a sweet fellowship with Him. When the fear, hostility, and lack of faith we have created in our own hearts is gone, then we can overflow with His peace, joy, hope, and love. We are the ones who are blocking the flow of God’s rivers of life by our own rebellious hearts. This is true of those of us who know Him as Lord and Savior. We clog up the pipelines with our own bitterness, so His lovingkindness within us cannot flow outwardly to others nor can it bring forth joy in our own hearts.
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Set aside time to spend with God each day in a quiet place.
Whether that be in a closet or in a specific chair doesn’t matter. What does matter is consistency of time alone with Him each day. For me that is very early in the morning. A few weeks ago, I found myself busy with life early in the morning—added chores, etc. It wasn’t long until I found myself grumbling and irritated. The joy and peace I had known began to fade. I need that time alone with Him.
Genesis 19 27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Leviticus 3:23
3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up. Psalm 5:3
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Study His word, for His word is life.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:67-69
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is(tried and) proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
2 Samuel 22:31 (NKJV)
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Laying aside all else, just to know Him.
Seek Him in your thoughts throughout the day. Keep your hearts focused upon Him. He will guide your path.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 7-12
“For You are my lamp, O Lord;
The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
2 Samuel 22: 29 (NKJV)
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Keep a Diary of Life
I am not just talking about a diary of the good times, but also the difficult times of life. Why the difficult times? Because when you look back and see what God accomplished in your life during the bad times, you will realize He never left you. In fact, He allows the difficult times to help to guide you to a closer relationship with Him. He did not promise all the times would be easy; but He did promise that “all things work together for our good” Romans 8;28. Why?
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son Romans 8:29.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-4 (NKJV)
When you look back you will see what He has done and how He has transformed you one glory at a time.
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Trust Him
He who gave His son that you might be saved is worthy of our praise and our trust.
Faith is believing God IS and He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (paraphrase of Hebrews 12:6).
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn[a] of my salvation,
My stronghold and my refuge;
My Savior, (2 Samuel 22:2-3).
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23
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Remember the Goodness
We choose which we focus upon. In every situation there can be positives we can focus on. So many books have been written on positive thinking; but all truly are paper and pen. Except that which comes with all the weight of the gospel behind it. For God has provided joy amid all our trials through His promises. Therefore,
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your [b]gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 (NKJV).
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Keep Your Sword and Shield ready
One key help is to keep His promises near you. When you are studying His word, write down a verse-a promise and keep it near. When life throws its curveballs, read the scripture. I attach mine with tap just above my computer so I can quickly read it throughout the day. The closer you grow to God the more diligently Satan goes on His attack, so keep the sword of the word near and your shield of faith ready.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:14-18
Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and [a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:2-3(NKJV)
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them (Hebrews 10:16).
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Share Your Life story with Others
As you begin to share your life story with others, of how God saved you, loved you, and has guided every step (even the times of trials) your faith also grows. Most certainly they had been abusing the Goodness of God.
2Hear this, you elders,
And give ear, all you inhabitants of the land!
Has anything like this happened in your days,
Or even in the days of your fathers?
3Tell your children about it,
Let your children tell their children,
And their children another generation. Joel 1:2-3 (NKJV)
Joel in this case was referring to the horrible famines and heartbreaks that came when God held back His blessings because the children of Israel did not seek Him. Yet, His promise to them?
12“Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:12)
Moses just before his death sat before the people of Israel and told the story of their ancestry. A story filled with human failure and God’s faithfulness. He had clearly watched people abusing the goodness of God over the years.Then “he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. (Deuteronomy 32:45-47).
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
Scriptures taken from the NKJV
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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