It is easy for us to compare God to our earthly fathers, or think of Him as this big “religious” figure who shakes His finger at us or is a wrathful mean foreboding figure. He’s not.
He is the meet-you-right-where-you-are-at kind of God. He is the knows-your-thoughts-before-you-think-them kind of God (see Psalm 139). Our perception of Him should not be led by how we are feeling, because our feelings fluctuate. God does NOT fluctuate, scripture says in Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
However, we are not. Our perception changes with experiences we go through; with our thoughts and feelings, our insecurities or even pride. We do not stay the same and based upon what we go through in life we form opinions (which are not always factual or are based on what we think is “logic”) and live and move according to our moods.
Thank God that He IS unchanging and stable. It’s why we can depend upon Him, but in order to not be led by our experiences or our perceptions we need to be fed and led by the Word of God. It’s not an easy thing to realize that we need to change our perception of Who God is. Sometimes it can feel is though we are running against the tide of ALL we have been taught in life to truly turn around and view God as who He is. Who is He? That IS the best question and place to start. It is examining Who God is by studying His Word that helps us to understand on a personal level, Who God is and in doing so Holy Spirit gives us a deeper understanding and draws us closer to the Father which helps us to stabilize our emotions, change our perception and deepens our relationship with the One who loves YOU most of all.
The Trinity – There is ONE GOD, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal. (See 1 John 5:7, Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, Luke 1:35, Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 3:7-11)
God the Father – God is great. He is all powerful and all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all Holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises. (See Exodus 3:14, Numbers 23:19, Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2, Psalm 11:4-6, Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24, 5:26, 14:1, Acts 17:28, Romans 3:3-4)
God the Son – Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second part of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man to ever have lived a sinless life. He was born of the virgin Mary, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (See John 1:1, 14:20-28; 1 Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:5-6, 1 Timothy 2:5)
God the Holy Spirit – Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Jesus Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgement. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts and makes us more like Christ. Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrates the validity of the resurrection and confirms the power of the Gospel. The Bible’s lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters. (Hebrews 2:4, Romans 1:1112; 4-8. Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:1-40, 1 Peter 4:10).
THIS is WHO God is. This is the God who is faithful. This is the God WHO SEES YOU. He sees you! He brought you to this page for a reason – maybe it was to give you a better understanding of who He is. He is not like your earthly Father. He is not a “stern-always-shaking-His-Finger” type of God. HE LOVES YOU. Right where you are at right now. No matter what you are feeling. He is not the God of “NO!” He IS the God WHO KNOWS. And if He is saying NO to you in what you are going through or praying about right now it is because HE KNOWS what is best for you. And He loves you more than ANY person ever could. Right where you are at, right now. And He wants you to know it. REALLY know it. HE SEES YOU. RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AT. He knows the good, the bad and the ugly of us and He loves you anyhow. The most important decision we can make in life; truly the only one that matters – is to turn our focus on Him – not our feelings, not our circumstances, not our perceptions, perceptions that can warp our minds as to Who He is; and we can pray this prayer:
“Father, thank You for being the God Who Sees. You see me… Right here, right now. There are times when I can’t even stand myself and I want to hide from you like Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden. But You search me out. You find me where I am… So Father, please forgive me. Forgive me for all my sins, please wash me with the precious blood of Jesus. Help me to see myself as YOU see me. Help me to be the person You created me to be. Help me to have a better understanding of Who You are. As You see me, I want to see YOU – for Who You are. Help me Holy Spirit to look beyond my thoughts and beyond my circumstances, and beyond my feelings, past ALL the voices and noise and opinions of this world. Quiet my mind and help me to see YOU. Thank You Father for being the same today, yesterday and tomorrow that tells me I can rely on You. I can trust You. I can love You – just as I am, knowing You have the ability to change the things within me that need changing. I willingly ask you to do so. Draw me closer Father. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. AMEN.”
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