God Is Good

Pastor: God is good

Congregation: All the time

Pastor: And all the time

Congregation: God is good.

If you’ve been in church for any period of time, you are very familiar with this call and response. We have been conditioned to respond automatically. Of course, God is good. You hear it all the time. But do you respond affirmatively because it is expected or is your response based on your intimate understanding of who God is and His favor and grace upon your life?

God has already abundantly blessed us. We should not take for granted the everyday blessings we receive; the breath we take over 20,000 times a day, the food and shelter he provides, the safety of our family and friends. These are all things we don’t give a second thought to most days. Add to that the “big” things; the job that you got even though you were the least experienced and credentialed of all the candidates, the healing that you had been praying about for years, the financial blessing that only God could have orchestrated. All of these reflect God’s goodness in our lives time and time again.

God wants to do good things for His children. As a loving father, He enjoys blessing us as any loving parent would. We all love showering gifts on our children. Matthew 7:11 tells us “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him”. The Message version ends by saying “So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?”

God also wants us to ask Him for the things we want AND expect Him to give them to us. The preceding verse to Matthew 7:11, verse 7 & 8 tells us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” We have not because we ask not. Are we afraid to ask God for what we want? Do we worry that we are asking for too much or it’s too big? Or do we feel we are not deserving of what we want? All of these things are just not true. Do not let the devil fill your head with these lies. There is nothing too big for God. Do you know that anything you want is small compared to our God? If He can part the Red Sea so His children can walk on dry land, feed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish and calm a storm with his words, He can certainly answer our prayers.

Are you trusting God enough to allow Him to be good to you? Whether it is a BIG ask or a routine, everyday item, bring all your requests to God. He is waiting to bless you.

God, you are a good, good Father. Do not let my lack of trust block my blessings. I know you have wonderful, amazing things in store for those who trust in you. You are just waiting for me to ask. So, Father, I humbly ask for your favor and blessings on my life and may I use those blessings to bless others. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!