Menu

alt

How Great Is Your God?

Last week we saw how approaching God with humility and weakness enables God to bless us with answers we never thought possible. That in turn brings praise to Him.
Acknowledge our needs.
Accept His gifts.
Give Him praise and thanks.

Let’s look at a few Bible examples.
David, in 1 Chronicles 13, couldn’t even bring the ark of God back to the city. One of the priests was killed instantly by God when he tried to steady the ark. 
David was angry at God. 
What could be more hopeless than to be angry with the only One Who can help us?
But David was trying to do good things his way.

By I Chronicles 14, David was seeking God, 
(Notice David didn’t ask a prophet what he should do with the Philistines, who were raiding his area, he asked God himself. 
He is different from other kings.) 
The Philistines were always raiding their lands.

What could he do to stop them?
Nothing.
He asks God.
Verse 10, “David inquired of God, saying “Shall I go up against the Philistines?... And the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 
(That also implies David waited for God’s answer.)

But God didn’t answer like David thought, notice verse 15, “When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

That would not be my answer on how to fight an enemy—listen for marching in the trees? 
That was God’s answer to David.
God brought a miracle.

David asked.
God answered.

Know what happened when David obeyed?
Verse 17, “Then the fame of David went out into all the lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations.”

But David still didn’t have the ark home.
In Chapter 15, David again seeks to bring the ark home.

The Israelites hadn’t sought the ark of God in the days of Saul. (I Chronicles 13:5).
So David wasn’t even shown how moving the ark should be done. 
(That’s why they had done it wrong the first time.)
The time of the judges weren’t examples of how to follow God, either.

But somehow by I Chronicles 15:2, David now knows.
Verse 2, David says, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites. For the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”

David acknowledged he couldn’t do it. 
He went to the Law to find out how the ark should be moved.
And waited until he found God’s answer.

Verse 15, “The sons of the Levities carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.”

What happened when God gave?
There was great rejoicing.

I Chronicles 16:2-3 says, “…David blessed the people in the name of the Lord. He distributed to everyone of Israel both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a raisin cake.”

What did David do then?
Thanked and praised God.

Chapter 16 is a psalm of thanksgiving worshipping God for answering David’s need—to have God close.

Do you think God was pleased?
Know what happened to David through his praise?
God gave again.
Verse 43, “…And David returned to bless his household.”

As David kept acknowledging his need for God, God gave.
Look in chapter 17. 
David wants to build God a house.
He wants to thank God for His presence with Israel.
God doesn’t give him the answer David expects.
God says, "No."
But God promises that David’s son would. 
Not only that, but his throne would be established forever.

God is giving again.

Know how David responds?
He sat before God and asked “Why do you take pleasure with me?”

Let’s see the exact words, 17:16, “Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God and what is my house that You have brought me this far?’”

David acknowledged his need before God.
He knew he didn’t get himself where he was.

Know what God did in the next chapter?
He blessed David. again.
In chapter 18, all that David did prospered.

Know what happens when we try to do it ourselves?
Saul lost the ark to enemies. The ark represented God’s presence.
He lost God in a real way. 
The enemies triumphed over Saul throughout his kingship. 
They killed his sons. 
Saul committed suicide. 
Then his enemies disgraced their bodies.
All because he would not acknowledge his need to God.

Read the battles of David. He never lost!
Why?
He sought God's counsel, telling how needy he was. And obeyed what God said.

What a contrast between Saul and David.

It wasn’t the greatness of the man.
It was the man’s dependence upon the great God.
And God gave.

How great is your God?


No comments found

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
The Ripple Effect
How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
  (reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass

Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?

See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 
alt
under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
   Passover Explained
    

Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation

Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2

Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

Receive weekly articles by giving your email address below: