Our good friends from college, Bob and Patricia, were the first to bring this verse to our attention on the the card that accompanied their wedding gift. Then card, after card, after card came with the same verse written on the bottom.  Even Karen made a calligraphy of it that stood on our piano for many years. We knew God wanted our attention.

Our attention was the first step. This verse has come alive in deeper ways as I’ve prayed for other difficult things our family and friends are experiencing.

What stood out to us 48 years ago were the words, no good thing does the Lord withhold. Our wedding coincided with our first ministry years. We were in the very beginning stages of raising our support while Bill worked part time for Orkin and I served in the Navigator office. Our check book almost zeroed out at the end of each month. They were hard days. We desperately needed to know that the Lord would not withhold good which in those years we defined as finances.

God is faithful. We have heat in our home , bread on our table, and so much more!

After 48 years of quoting that scripture to myself, the wealth of its truth is transforming and leading me into 2021.

Psalm 84:11 is an identity verse. It’s not speaking about those who do something, rather those who are something; they walk uprightly . They are the righteous ones, the ones greatly loved. For those righteous ones, the Psalmist offers wonderful promises.

God is our sun. The light of the sun leads us on the path of life. Psalm 16:11 explains this more deeply. God’s path is joyful and offers pleasures forevermore. God gives the light of life. Psalm 23 tells me that God leads me in the path of righteousness.

Often I wonder, what is God’s will. What is the right path? I wonder that for our adult children these days and pray for them, God show them your will, your path for them which sometimes seems dark to me. As I pray God reminds me, He is the sun. He provides light. Rest in that truth, Sue!

God is our shield. God provides protection.  I am so thankful. It is too easy for me to charge ahead with a decision, not understanding what God might want. Even in the midst of my charging, God is protecting.

God bestows favor. Favor — this word has taken on deeper meaning in the last month as I’ve been meditating of Luke 1:28 and what Gabriel communicated to Mary. He called her favored one. The same Greek word is used in Ephesians 1:6 translated beloved.

God bestows honor. Because these are given to the righteous, they will not be turned into a source of pride. Honor often comes in the form of affirmation. I’m learning that affirmation helps me own who God created me to be.

Several years ago, a man I greatly respect said to me, Sue, you need to trust God for a national ministry. Nice thought, I thought. But I didn’t believe his affirmation. I also never forgot it. God bestowed honor on me through our friend. It took about 15 years before I really heard those words and owned them.

No good thing does he withhold. Good things are so much more than finances. I often squirm when I hear the ditty, God is good all the time; all the time God is good. Not that I don’t agree, rather I wonder, is the speaker trying to convince her (him) self of its truth. Or have they really stopped to think how they are experiencing it. In 2021, I want to experience the goodness of God, believe it, and be able to label it.

I will continue praying this verse regularly and looking to see God’s truth worked in my life. Will you join me?

 

Copyright, Sue Tell, January 2021