pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: thwart


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A Choice

Reading: Psalm 138:13-18

Psalm 139:16 – “On your scroll every day was written that was being formed for me.”

Returning to Psalm 139 today we read verses 13-18, a most personal and intimate look at our relationship with God – should we choose it. Whether or not one is currently walking with God, these words are true. Each and every one of us, no matter our ethnicity or vocation or gender or place in life or place of birth or anything else, each was “knit together” by God in the womb. Each of us was “marvelously set apart” – each formed and shaped by God in our own unique ways.

As God wove and weaves each human being together, there was or is a plan and a purpose in God’s mind. To this one that gift was given and to that one this talent is given, each to play a role in the building of God’s kingdom. Each of us was and is seen and known by God. Because of this love and knowledge, “on your scroll every day was written that was being formed for me.” Here is where we have a choice. Here is where free will can thwart God’s plan. This is possible because God loves us. We were created this way by God.

The divine within some leads them to be good and kind and merciful and loving in places where Christianity isn’t even known. The human within some leads them to be evil and cruel and oppressive and hateful in places where most folks claim to be “Christian.” The Spirit of God – whether know by this name or as our conscious or as another force – this Spirit speaks into all people’s heart. Again, here we have a choice: to listen and obey or to ignore and deny. No matter one’s choice, though, God remains loving and present. Oh what great love God has for each and every one of us!

Prayer: Lord God, you create us just as you want us to be. You have plans and a purpose for us, just as you want it to be. Open our hearts to hear and follow where you lead and guide, just as you want it to be. Walk with us daily, living out your incomprehensible plans for us, just as you want it to be. Amen.


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God’s Plans and Purposes

Reading: Psalm 33:6-12

Verse 11: “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of God’s heart through all generations.”

Turning to Psalm 33 we are first reminded that God is the creator. The psalmist calls us to “fear the Lord” because God “spoke and it came to be,” because God “commanded and it stood firm.” For the ancients there was a “forever” feeling to this world. To a large degree that is still the secular feeling today – the world will be here forever.

In verse 10 there is a pivot. Humanity likes to plan. It makes us feel like we are in control. We’re really not. In verse 10 we are once again reminded that God “foils the plans” and “thwarts the purposes” of humanity. This, of course, is humanity living outside of God’s will and ways. It is when the world tries to guide the shop that God foils and thwarts those plans.

By contrast, in verse 11 we read, “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of God’s heart through all generations.” Those words – “forever” and “through all generations” – they contrast to our temporary and earthly plans. Our lives and therefore our plans are but a tiny, tiny blip on God’s timeline. This is our reality. So let us turn to the promise and truth of the next verse. We are “blessed” when “our God is the Lord.” When we choose not the things and ways of the world, but instead choose to faithfully and obediently participate in God’s plans and purposes, then we are blessed. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, when decisions arise, guide me to first turn to you in prayer, seeking you in the discernment process. By the power of your Holy Spirit, reveal to me the way that I should go. Then fill me with the trust and courage to faithfully and obediently live out your plans and purposes for me. Amen.


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Hope Eternal

Reading: 2nd Corinthians 4:13 – 5:1

Verse 16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day”.

Photo credit: Aron Visuals

Paul begins our passage for today and tomorrow reminding us that because we believe in eternal life, we must speak of it. As ones who believe that God raised Jesus Christ from the grave, we also believe that we too will be raised. For Paul, we are to speak about this belief so that God’s grace may reach more and more people. As more and more people come to believe, God’s thanksgiving overflows.

These are important words to believe and to speak for our time and culture. Our post-Christian culture sees death as the enemy and goes to extraordinary means to stave it off. There is a pervading fear of death in our society. Even though our reality is that each day we are one day closer to our death, human beings will do much to try and thwart, to counter, to deny this reality. While even those who believe love life and want to have a long, good life, we do not fear death nor do we fight it’s coming when it is our time. We know a deeper truth in all of this. Paul writes of it in verse sixteen: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day”. Hope. Our hope is founded on our belief in resurrection, in eternal life. There is more – much more – yet to come. And what will come is more wonderful – much more wonderful – than the best that the world has to offer.

Paul knows that this earthly tent, this body, is wasting away. It becomes more and more true for all who live into old age. Yet. Yet God remains at work in us to the very end, making us new every day, growing and developing the part of us that speaks what we believe, the part that overcomes and moves beyond this temporary world. As we live to the full today, may our lives speak of the hope eternal that grows in us day by day.

Prayer: Loving God, you renew me day by day, bringing me closer to your love. May my thanksgiving overflow into the lives of all I meet today. Amen.