NOVEMBER 18 - God’s Idea of Good

NOVEMBER 18 - God's Idea of Good     For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You! — PSALM 84:11 – 12 NASB     I learned those verses from Psalm 84 when I was a teenager. I relished the thought, No good thing does he withhold. . . . The way I figured it, I just needed to do my homework, finish my chores, keep myself from spats with my sisters, be nice to Aunt Kitty, go to church, say my prayers . . . and . . . and. . . . I assumed that if I kept my nose clean, God would give me good grades, good friends, a good college to attend, and good knees to last me through field hockey season. We think that if we are obedient, God will give us financial blessings or trials that can be easily managed. If we do our part, God will dole out the good. Won't he?     I've lived long enough in this wheelchair to know that sometimes our idea of "good" is very different from God's. So how do we read Psalm 84? If our walk is blameless, God will not withhold peace. He will not withhold virtue or faith or courage. He will not withhold grace when we come to him in need. We will be able to run spiritually and not grow weary; we'll be able to walk in faith and not faint. He will not withhold opportunities to sow his seed, to shine his light. He will not withhold patience or endurance or the favor of his nearness and sweetness. He will not withhold the gift of heaven-sent joy. None of these things will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.     Some of God's best gifts must be unwrapped in the darkness. Think of your last major trial. What "good thing" did the Lord slip into your hands in those difficult days?     Lord, lift my gaze to see life from your perspective. Help me to understand — and treasure — every good thing you send from heaven.

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