"Walk Satisfied"

Moses asked the Lord, “shew me thy glory.” (EX 33:12-23) What was God’s reply? “I will make my goodness pass before thee ...” When we get a clear, personal grasp on the goodness of God, faith is extended into whatever circumstances confront us, and we shall be satisfied. God's goodness is satisfying! "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." Psalm 65:4

On the other hand, from the very beginning, the most common ploy of the enemy has been to distract us from seeing God’s goodness and focus our attention on our apparent lack. God had given to Adam and Eve all the trees in the garden but one. The serpent pointed to that one tree and began to plant doubt ... “Has God really said you can’t eat that ...?” “If God is so good, why .... “ We have all heard those arguments and fallen for some of them.

Where is God’s goodness? As we look around the world today, the insecurity we all feel, the impending terroristic threats, the general corruption in society, faith is a vague concept sometimes. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” ( Heb 11:1 ) More than ever, our “work” must be staying centered, keeping our eyes on “the prize.” So many distractions scream for our attention, but if we are to walk in faith, our gaze must be locked onto our Source and our Goal, Jesus.

Luke 18:1-8 contains the familiar parable of the widow and the unjust judge. I have always heard that the widow got what she wanted because she was persistent and wore down the resistence of the judge, but verses 7-8 contain interesting questions ...

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

I think, maybe Jesus was saying faith, instead of perseverance (or nagging), might have taken this parable in another direction, one of greater victory.

As we focus our attention and energy on the goodness of God, praising Him for saving us and loving us into relationship with Himself, faith tells us to trust when we cannot see. Trust in His goodness, trust in His love, trust in his “bigness”, trust in His Word. Circumstances lie, feelings deceive, people betray us, but “ ... the Word of the Lord endures forever...” (1 Pet 1:25) And “God is not a man that He should lie” (Num 23:19)

In these days of uncertainty and new threats everywhere, our stability remains the same. We cannot hide in ignorant or blind faith. We must know in whom we believe, and trust His character and His word. When fear rises, stand fast focusing on the very goodness of God, rehearsing His goodness to us personally. Faith is the antithesis of fear. Speaking and singing about the goodness of God allows faith to rise in us while simultaneously chasing away the fear and doubt. Then when the enemy whispers, “Has God really said ...?” we can stand in faith knowing that God’s love for us supercedes our understanding, and His goodness outweighs any opposing argument.

So. I will declare the goodness of the Lord and trust in His loving-kindness all the days of my life. One by one, as we maintain our focus on Jesus, indeed, “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” Num 14:21 and we will join with the saints before us singing (or saying) “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

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