God's goodness in your life
God's goodness in your life: We should be more aware of what God is doing in us
We sometimes get so caught up in the boring realities of life. Daily routines – getting up, getting the kids ready for school, getting ready for work, getting stuck in traffic, getting a request to do something you are really not looking forward to – these are just some of what we will call boring. Yet, we have to go through them. We sometimes get so entangled with the boring realities of life that we forget that in the midst of these, God is present, and fills our lives with unbelievable goodness.
Because we have already looked at Psalm 23 in more detail (See more here...), I am not going to repeat all of it here, but just look at this:
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. – Psalm 23:5
In the midst of troubles worse than most of us will ever face, David says that God prepares a feast for him, he is blessed because he is anointed with oil, and he has more than he could ever need.
Anointing someone with oil is very significant in the Bible. When you invited guests over, you would often anoint esteemed guests with oil. In a stern rebuke, Jesus tells Simon Peter that he did not do any of the things the culture of the day required – water to wash his feet; a welcome kiss; and anointing his head with oil (Luke 7:44-46). Yet the woman who was present in the house of the Pharisee (Luke 7:36) did all of these things (Luke 7:46). Jesus is not rebuking the Pharisee in whose house they met but refers to a probable incident in Peter’s own house and addresses him on the rules of Jewish courtesy (Luke 7:44). Imagine how Peter must have felt.
Anointing someone with oil also carries the message of joy being bestowed on the person. Coming back to Psalm 23:5, God anoints us, and wants us to share His joy for us and over us, in overflowing measure. Now read the last verse of the psalm:
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. – Psalm 23:6
Goodness and mercy will not just happen to cross his path throughout his life, they will follow him. Why do we follow someone, or something? Mostly because they are of value to us. In the same way, God values you so much that His goodness follows you, not only goodness, but also mercy, without which we will not survive even one day. Have you given any thought of how God’s goodness has been present in your life today? Before you continue reading, think back on your day today. What happened in your day that shows God’s goodness? Even if you really had a most dreadful day, let us say you had to say goodbye to someone who passed away; you had an operation and are not feeling well at all; or received bad news of some sort, Psalm 23:6 is still valid. How can I make this statement when you have had the worst day of your life? Because of this promise:
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. – Hebrews 13:5, quoted from Deuteronomy 31:6
God will not let you down in any circumstance. His goodness follows you wherever you go. In my circumstances, I am grateful for the awesome weather we have in our area; I am grateful for the birds outside my window in the early morning; I am grateful to be healthy. Most of all, I am grateful that He so loved me that he chose me to be saved and share in His goodness! If not any of this, then we are still commanded to be thankful:
18In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Why should we give thanks (be grateful)? Because this is God’s will for our lives. God’s goodness operates in us and we in turn can show goodness through the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). The same Spirit that demonstrates the goodness of God, works in you to produce the same to others. (See our article on the fruit of the Holy Spirit.)
Conclusion
A Christian artist sings about the evidence of God’s goodness that he experiences in his life every day. Maybe we should make more effort to find the evidence of God’s goodness, evidence that is not only known to me, but visible to those around me. Evidence is something we can see, possibly even quantify. Do not only look for the big, important things, but also for the small things that we sometimes overlook.
The goodness of God is one of the intrinsic characteristics of His nature:
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. – Psalm 34:8
In addition, since one of the other characteristics of God is His immutability (that He does not change) it goes to reason that He will also not change His goodness – He is good to all, whether they deserve it or not. After all, if you are a farmer, and a believer, and pray for rain, the chances are good that it will also rain on your neighbour’s farm, who may be a staunch unbeliever, and he sees what you call as a blessing from God, as natural and nothing special.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. – Matthew 5:43-45
If you have not done so up to now, take some time, think of the good things He has done for you, and write them down. Then thank Him for each of them. Then go out and share this with others. The world out there needs to hear that all is not lost for them, and that God loves them. However, we should never delay as we know the hourglass is running out. On the clock, it is close to midnight, and we may have only a few seconds left. Do not waste the opportunities you still have, for your sake and theirs.