“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14
Beware of thinking you see a natural pattern in history that enables you to predict a great awakening or a great catastrophe.
God’s governance keeps you uncertain and trusting.
“If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.” Jeremiah 15:19
Don’t speak endlessly of innocuous things. Tell me what you feel is precious. Show me why.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7–8
Trust taps the springs of life in a drought of death.
“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2
No one teaches God anything. Our entire posture is be taught and be thankful.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27
So, sleeping around while serving the poor is not justice.
And staying out of bed while ignoring afflictions is not purity.
“The sun shall be no more your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.”
Isaiah 60:19
The point of venturing to express the inconceivable is to impress on us the reality that God will be all to us, and without competitor.
I will never get over how Scripture told us to renew our minds and take our thoughts captive long before we had the language of neuroplasticity
What you dwell on literally shapes patterns in your brain
God knew exactly how He designed us
“God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” Acts 3:26
“God must do for us what he requires of us.” —Matthew Poole