Gracious Father, we stand astounded at your love and grace. By way of the sacrificial work of Christ, we are partakers of your extraordinary gift, one of a restored relationship that yields goodness and blessing. You have made an everlasting covenant with us, one declared by you that is unstoppable. The thought that you—with extraordinary love, incalculable means, and incomparable power—promise you will never stop doing good to us is breathtaking and undeserving.
We see this covenant of love and goodness at work amid desert experiences when you, Father, feel so far away, yet your eyes are clearly focused on us, and your protective hand guides us. You are good! We experience it when we go on mad chases after fleshly remedies and your mercy prevails as we experience emptiness from the chase. You lovingly draw us back into your arms of peace, truth, and blessing. You are good! We encounter it when the world falls apart around us creating distress, heartache, loss, and pain, and you Father—and only you—are our comfort and peace while purposely leading us into greater dependence upon Christ. You are good! We know it when our comforts are taken away and you drive us closer to what is truly vital. You are good! We engage it when we unwittingly slip into the trap of making idols of people, positions, or things, and life experiences disclose them as empty hopes creating a painful sense of loss. You race to rescue us with your hand of forgiveness, life-giving Christ-centered focus, and eternal blessing. You are good!
Father, You never work in spite of our circumstances, but through our circumstances. Bless us with faith as we face trials to remember that we are not victims in this life, but always objects of your grace, goodness, and purpose. We don’t always know why something is happening, but we always know you are in it. You are always promoting deeper dependence on Christ and ultimate blessing. We are assured that in all things you work for the good of those who love you, who have been called according to your purpose.
Gracious Father, to experience this type of faith is not natural but is supernatural. Our hope is found in your promise to inspire Holy Spirit derived fear, respect, and trust in you, so that we will never turn away from you. Oh, to know this assurance! To know your faithfulness! We are dependent upon you. You rejoice with all you heart and soul as you pour your goodness upon us.
Glory to Christ who gave his body and shed his blood so that we might experience the new covenant.
Through Christ and in Christ we stand.
In Christ,
Blessings!
Jeremiah 32:40-41
40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
Luke 22:19-20
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.