When Adam ate the fruit in the garden, he invited sin into the world. Every person born since has been born with the nature to sin. After that first bite in the garden, Satan has used sin to wreak havoc on this planet. This is important to know-- Satan is the one who brought down destruction after tempting Adam to sin.
How many times have I heard my peers blame God for their problems. "Why is God doing this to me?!" Well, let me tell you, He isn't. There is evil in this world because Satan is in this world. He lives here, people. And he is determined to make our lives a living hell (literally). Satan and the other fallen angels live on this earth awaiting the day of destruction the Lord set apart as punishment for their rebellion. Until then, they are here amongst us, tempting us to follow fleshly desires and trying to lead as many of us as possible away from Christ.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (NIV)
John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (NIV)
Revelation 12:9-12 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”(NIV)
Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)
James 1:13-14 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (NIV)
My point in saying this all, is that bad things do not come from God. They are a product of the world being run by Satan. God is not looking down from Heaven trying to find new ways to make our lives difficult or "test" us. He is always looking for every opportunity to help us live the fullest and most Godly life possible! That is why He sent His only son to die for our sins, so that we might be saved from the evils of this world. Our flesh is weak and apt to succumb to evil desires, but our spirit is willing to resist (Mark 14:38). When we rely on Jesus' Spirit in us, we will overcome!
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (NIV)
God promises only good gifts to His children! He loves us and has only good in store for us when we follow Him. He never sets us up for failure, but rather makes every opportunity for our success. He made a good and beautiful plan for our lives, knowing we would mess up. He loves us so much and wants to lavish us with His affections. Breathe in that reality today.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
There will always be sin in this world and there will always be problems to face because of that. Whether consequences from our own sins, or just the repercussions of others' mistakes. We are in so deep that our culture is rooted in sin! No matter what is going on today in your life, remind yourself of His goodness. No matter if your illness is taken from you or not. No matter if your prayers get answered or not. No matter if things look good or not. He is still good. Always. Do not focus on why circumstances still look bad, focus on His goodness! Praise precedes the victory! Live in His goodness and grace and you won't even notice the world around you falling to pieces. We are only here for a short time anyway. Focus on the eternal! He is good!
Psalms 31:19 How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world. (NLT)
Psalms 27:13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! (ESV)
Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (NLT)
Psalms 145:7-9 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (NIV)
Lamentations 3:22-26 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (NIV)
Nehemiah 9:17 But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them (NIV)
How many times have I heard my peers blame God for their problems. "Why is God doing this to me?!" Well, let me tell you, He isn't. There is evil in this world because Satan is in this world. He lives here, people. And he is determined to make our lives a living hell (literally). Satan and the other fallen angels live on this earth awaiting the day of destruction the Lord set apart as punishment for their rebellion. Until then, they are here amongst us, tempting us to follow fleshly desires and trying to lead as many of us as possible away from Christ.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (NIV)
John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (NIV)
Revelation 12:9-12 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”(NIV)
Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (ESV)
James 1:13-14 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (NIV)
My point in saying this all, is that bad things do not come from God. They are a product of the world being run by Satan. God is not looking down from Heaven trying to find new ways to make our lives difficult or "test" us. He is always looking for every opportunity to help us live the fullest and most Godly life possible! That is why He sent His only son to die for our sins, so that we might be saved from the evils of this world. Our flesh is weak and apt to succumb to evil desires, but our spirit is willing to resist (Mark 14:38). When we rely on Jesus' Spirit in us, we will overcome!
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (NIV)
God promises only good gifts to His children! He loves us and has only good in store for us when we follow Him. He never sets us up for failure, but rather makes every opportunity for our success. He made a good and beautiful plan for our lives, knowing we would mess up. He loves us so much and wants to lavish us with His affections. Breathe in that reality today.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
There will always be sin in this world and there will always be problems to face because of that. Whether consequences from our own sins, or just the repercussions of others' mistakes. We are in so deep that our culture is rooted in sin! No matter what is going on today in your life, remind yourself of His goodness. No matter if your illness is taken from you or not. No matter if your prayers get answered or not. No matter if things look good or not. He is still good. Always. Do not focus on why circumstances still look bad, focus on His goodness! Praise precedes the victory! Live in His goodness and grace and you won't even notice the world around you falling to pieces. We are only here for a short time anyway. Focus on the eternal! He is good!
Psalms 31:19 How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world. (NLT)
Psalms 27:13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! (ESV)
Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (NLT)
Psalms 145:7-9 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (NIV)
Lamentations 3:22-26 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (NIV)
Nehemiah 9:17 But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them (NIV)
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