I read a quote this morning by John Owen, a Puritan pastor who lived in the 17th century. He said, “Think greatly of the greatness of God.”
What’s it mean to think greatly? To think to a great extent or degree : very much.
I jotted the quote on a postcard so that I could remember it throughout the day. Why? I need to be reminded to consider my moments each and every day in light of Who He is. I need to always be reminding myself of His greatness.
Frankly, you know what I see mankind thinking most about (me included)? Ourselves: our desires, our opinions, our needs, our interests, our livelihood, my worries.
Take a minute to jot down the thoughts that seem to play on repeat in your mind. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
This morning I spent intentional time reflecting on who God is as I see in His Word and just what this AMAZING GOD did for me. I reflected on the fact that He is Victor and Lord over all – all my problems, all my fears, all my enemies, all my tomorrows. They are all under His authority.
In the Bible I reflected on:
HIS WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE: Romans 11:33 NLT says, Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
HIS STEADFAST LOVE: 1 John 3:1a says, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says, The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
HIS FORGIVENESS: Colossians 1:13-14 says, He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Psalm 32:5 says, I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
HIS MERCY: Psalm 145:9 says, The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
HIS GRACE: Hebrews 4:16 says, So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
HIS LONGSUFFERING: Isaiah 30:18 says, Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
HIS PROTECTION: Psalm 34:6 says, This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 35:17-18 says, The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
HIS PLAN FOR THOSE WHO CALL UPON HIM: Galatians 4:3-7 says, In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
I could go on and on talking about the wonders of God but we could never, this side of Heaven, completely understand or articulate the glory of our Great God. So, my question to you is this. Go back to your jotted list. In light of all that He is and all He promises to us, how do your cares and worries measure up? Do you feel more hopeful after gazing upon His Majesty?
PINIMAGEIt would do us all a great service to “think greatly of the greatness of God.”
My prayer for you today (and for myself) comes from a passage of scripture in Ephesians 1.
(I pray)…That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:3-10
Lord, we turn our eyes to You today and think greatly about Your greatness. All hope is in You. All glory belongs to You. Thank you! In Jesus name, Amen.
