Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“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.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121: 1-2 (ESV)

It’s not usually our first response when life hits us full in the face.

I suspect that for most of us, our first response is not to praise God. Certainly not a response of thanks and total praise for whatever happened.

As we stand there wondering why us, and which way to turn, or what in the world we should do now.

But “thanks.” Or “praise.” Probably not.

When instead, we may be wondering whether God is even there, aware or cares at all.

Or maybe we wonder, even if He did care, whether He would be able to do anything about it anyway.

I suspect we have all had one or more of those thoughts before.

And then along comes the Apostle Paul with a most unusual reminder of the God he served, and always cared for him.

Notice in Romans 8:28, that Paul didn’t say “we think,” but he said “we know.” And he didn’t say “that in some things” or “that every now and then.” He said “that in all things” God works for the good of those who love Him.

Now maybe Paul was a lunatic or a liar, or maybe he sustained a pretty serious blow to the head along the way. After all, his life was not without trouble, certainly not one of ease and comfort.

He was regularly imprisoned, lashed, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, always on the move and in danger from the elements & the bandits he confronted, as well as friends who betrayed him, and often experienced periods of hunger and thirst.

And yet Paul reminds us that no matter what we go through, the God who is at work supernaturally will work it all out for good.

We may not see it right away, or in a week or two, or maybe not until we look back from Heaven.

But Paul assures us in that promise he was inspired by God to write in Romans—that God will work it all out for good. And it will be as God defines “good.” Which will be a whole lot better than you and I could come up with.

So why not consider making our first response to whatever hits us full in the face—a response of thanks and total praise.

A response that may surprise the world listening nearby, but which will honor the God who is always with you and me, and promises to work it all out for good.

Why not lift up the song words inspired by Psalm 121—

“You are the source of my strength,

You are the strength of my life,

I lift my hands in total praise to you.”

To the God who is always there.

A response of—thanks and total praise.

In His Name–Scott