Guest Post! The Giver, Not the Gift

Today’s guest post is brought to you by my favorite reader- my husband, James. After much fierce bugging some gentle nudging, he agreed to set aside some time and share his thoughts and convictions with us. I pray you are blessed.

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To believe = To be persuaded of, to place confidence in, to trust.

Faith = Firm persuasion, a firm conviction producing a full acknowledgment of God's revelation or truth, a personal surrender to God.

As we go into this year full of hope, expectation, etc., we are constantly looking with our physical eyes and mind’s eye for God's promises, or prophecies to come to pass.  We also look for opportunities as well as ways that we can accomplish things that we desire, and maybe even look to the Mayan Calendar. “HA!”  Let us step back and once again put our feet on the ROCK, our foundation.  For He never moves and can never be shaken.

The book of Romans says (as it is written.  “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed-God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; (Rom 4:17) and later He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform (Rom 4:20-21).

Abraham did not put his faith in the promise but the One making the promise.  Believe in God. Trust in God for who He is.  When we walk in the darkness, we need light and hope, and God gives us light and hope.  However, light and hope are only as good as their source.  Therefore, let us not overshadow the Giver with the gift or with the obsessions of our life.  Rather, let us take a deep breath as we plunge into the future focused on whatever our spiritual eyes may detect from the lamp of God, and be at peace because all things are being molded together for your good by Him who loves you with great love.  So let’s set our gaze on the Lover of our soul like a love struck teen, and not be so overwhelmed by the details but with the Source of the details.  For He is GOOD.