I Believe God!

"Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told." (Acts 27:5)

The setting of the above quotation was a ship in the midst of a storm in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul, the faithful soldier of Christ, was on his way to Rome to argue his case before (Nero) Caesar. Though falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned, he was  making his way to the imperial city that he longed to  visit (Romans 1:11; 15:30-32). During his voyage, a  terrific storm battered the ship and frightened those aboard her (Acts 27:13-20). It was at the hour of despair that God sent an angel to assure Paul that things would work out and that he and the other passengers would be saved if they stayed with the ship (Acts 27:21-24). Paul then pronounced his firm belief that God would do what he said he would do.

I thank God for this great statement  of Paul! It gives me a message to  repeat and meaning to my life. Let me set forth some things concerning in which I believe God:

¨         I believe God that "all things" will work together for the benefit of those who love God and are faithful to him (Romans 8:28). I do not believe that "all things"  I do or go through are good, but I believe that through his providence, God will work them together for my benefit.

¨         I believe God  that  he  will hear  and  answer my prayers (James 5:16;  1 John 5:14). He may say "No" sometimes; he may substitute something in the place of what I ask; he may give me what I ask. But it is his will that is most important (Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:42).

¨         I believe God that he will provide a way of escape from every temptation that confronts me (1 Corinthians 13:10).

¨         I believe God that he will one day judge everyone and that he is a just judge (2 Timothy 4:8). I am distressed by the injustice that I see in the world, but I am not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:7-9). I know that final judgment rests with God  and that vengeance also belongs to him (Hebrews 10:30).

¨         I believe God that he will reward his faithful servants (Revelation 2:10).

May I suggest that you and I make this our daily motto? If we do not say it aloud, may we at least think it. Repeating it in the good times will make it possible and easier for us to say it in the bad times.  --Lance Cordle