God is Love and Desires Our Love

1 John 4:15-17 | MSG

15 “Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. 16 We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. 17 This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.”  

When we abide in Jesus, He abides in us. We and Jesus are one. Due to the sacrifice of Jesus and our Heavenly Father, we are His beloved restored in relationship. He keeps us close when our desire is to be in His presence. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. We have His Spirit, Love, Grace, Favor, Joy, and Peace. When we keep our focus on Him and not on our circumstances, He keeps us in perfect peace. 

Isaiah 26:3-4a | MSG

“People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. 4 Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.”

Isiah 6:2-5 (MSG)

The profit Isiah says, “God sent me to announce the year of His Grace-a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies-and to comfort all who mourn. 3 to care for the needs of all who morn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy, instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them ‘Oaks of Righteousness’ planted by God to display His Glory.”  

Many are hurting from the destructive nature of this world. Cyber bulling is pervasive in social media. Mass school shootings murder and injure of our precious children. Drive by shootings with stray bullets injure innocent people in and near their homes. Is there any place in our lives where we are safe?  Why would God allow such pain in our world? Is God in control? Are we protected?

Well-meaning Christians say that God is in control. However, we know in this order of life, God has given His children free will. Free will was given with the first created humans, Adam and Eve. Free will was given to Lucifer the fallen angel from Heaven. Free will is given to us. However, every decision or choice yields consequences. 

The Word of God identifies our enemy, Satan, aka. Lucifer. He has free reign over this planet. Evil exists, but we have power in the Word of God, the Bible. Do not allow the enemy to steal your peace or your families. 

We have what we say when we declare our future. We can say, I will never get ahead or we can profess that our future will become better than our past! The latter is from the Word of God. We can say, Every day our futures are getting better and better! We are the righteousness of God by Jesus Christ! Our family is getting stronger, healthier, and more united. Jesus came down from Heaven to become our sacrificial lamb, that we might have abundant life. We are not going to give the right to abundant life over to the enemy! Satan, you have no power over us or our families, in Jesus’ name! 

James 1:5-6 | MSG

5 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. 6 Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind–whipped waves.”

We are safe. Psalm 91: 1-11 (MSG)

1 You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, 2 Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” 3 That’s right—He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. 4 His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; His arms fend off all harm. 5 Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, 6 Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. 7 Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. 8 You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses.

9 Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, 10 Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. 11 He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go.” When you need reassurance of your safety, read the Psalm 91. The whole chapter is marvelously reassuring.  Psalm 91:15  (MSG) continues 15 “Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.”  Read the chapter daily and as needed. 

While prayer is very effective, God has given us many tools to fight the enemy of death and disease. He also says we have the mind of Christ and the Wisdom of God. Medical Management is wisdom from God. He is omniscient, all knowing. He was very aware that we would experience this current pandemic. This world attack of the COVID virus was not from God.

James 1:17 (ESV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Medical management and medical intervention are perfect gifts to fight disease. The COVID vaccines are positive interventions to fight the pandemic and to fight against death due to the COVID virus.

In prayer we are more productive when we speak His Word, which are His promises to us. It is fruitful to focus on positive thoughts and not simply tell Him about the problem. He is already aware. This type of prayer confirms that we trust in His Word and are not elevating the situation over His promises nor over His ability to care for us. 

When we pray, we simply talk to God as if we were talking to our best friend. He is the best friend we could ever have. When we confide our deepest thoughts, they are safe with Him. We never have to worry about Him being condescending. He is totally understanding of our hearts. Our secrets are always safe with Him and never shared with others. He will not hold our faults against us when our thoughts fail in measure to His standards. His Holy Spirit will help us to work through emotional hurt, fear and anger.