As I sit here and ponder over the goodness of GOD … there are some one-word gifts that my heart sings about.
His Presence.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NLT
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 Amplified
I can confidently say that each morning awakens me to new and fresh mercies from the Lord. Not having to think about even asking, I am a recipient. How cool is that? And with that, I know that I know He fulfills His gift of being with me everyday and throughout the course of each one of those days.
In my frustrations, disappointments, joyful moments, laughter, sorrow, mental and emotional upswings and uncertain circumstances — GOD says He is always with me; because He lives within me, He is not simply ‘beside’ me but inside me. That’s a privilege only made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit, Friend.
His Provision.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NIV
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Psalm 116:1 NIV
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29 ESV
More than once have I seen this come to my reading eyes in recent days. Devotionals, Bible text, personal study and pastoral sermons from the pulpit. Okay, Lord, I get the message.
We humans are so fixated on the next meal, event, what to wear to the next occasion … even our next email! What really matters to us shouldn’t always be the top priority of the day. And yet, GOD says He takes care of those unnecessary worries and concerns — He’s got us covered before the thought even enters our brain.
And while He does invite us to speak to Him through prayer and to utter those things (details and all, Girlfriend), He encourages us to not lose sleep over them, but to trust Him.
His Protection.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18 ESV
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. Psalm 5:11 ESV
Now I’m certain that all of us have had those moments where we thought if not for the grace of GOD we would not have survived a specific situation. Heart pumping and adrenaline rushing … sweat on the upper lip and drenching our fist-clenched hands … we’ve lived through those. And we seem to all utter the same response, “Oh, my gosh! That was crazy close!”
It may have been a car accident that should have involved you (or totaled you). Maybe it was an accident that actually did occur but you remained unscathed or sustained very minor injuries. Or you witnessed something tragic that could have pulled you into the storm but you were untouched and on the sidelines. Possibly you missed a deadly incident due to traffic delays or other responsibilities.
Supernatural powers prevented catastrophic experiences. Yes, that was the Hand of GOD working His covering over you. Shielding you.
His Promises.
Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:14 NIV
Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. John 6:37 CSB
God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 Amplified
The Lord is faithful to His Children. Never desiring that any should perish or be eternally separated from Him, He gave His only Son to take the punishment that each one of us deserved. And to add to our gift of salvation, Sister, He gives us the sheer joy of experiencing Him in real time — not just the hope of tomorrow, but joy for today, knowing that He will meet us right where we are. Yes, we can live a fulfilled life before we get to Paradise. That was where I said, “Sign me up!”
Your Heavenly Father wants to bless you — and He will keep His Promises to you. If a blessing requires that we wait a bit in order to receive the fullness of the benefit, we can still count on GOD to come through, even though we may not see our promised blessing in the immediate distance. That’s where our walk of faith must kick into our brain. Life in the faith lane is not a microwave experience. We grow spiritually (just as we do physically) — one day at a time.
His People.
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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 1:19-21 ESV
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22 ESV
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. Exodus 14:30-31 ESV
His Power.
I’ve chosen to give up — as in surrender. After years of striving and trying to make things happen, I had decided to allow the GOD of all creation rule in my daily dealings. Why did it take so long for me to recognize that if He can part the Red Sea, raise Lazarus from the dead, bring people like Saul (the headhunter of all Believers) 180-degrees to become Paul (the Apostle) and cause pagan women like Ruth and Rahab to be included in the genealogy of the Messiah, that He could certainly fix the wooly and wonky wagon of this 5-foot Asian American woman who has a bent for perfection and productivity?
I shake my head in disbelief that I was floundering in that murky sea of unbelief.
I was not faithless — but I was futile. Thinking that while I was saved that I could continue on my own merry way and GOD would be “okay” with that. Underestimating the fact that I could be included in that lineup of Biblical characters by sheer virtue of being made in His Image.
His Power is for me also. Not just for a few. And certainly not limited to those mentioned in the Bible. But for me. For you.
Presence.
Provision.
Protection.
Promises.
People.
Power.
We are blessed to be surrounded by the goodness of GOD, Sister. Not earned nor deserved. Simply given. Received in prayer. Celebrated with praise. (There’s a couple more “P” words for you!)
It’s high time that we pause and ponder over the presents of GOD towards us who are in fellowship with Him.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 
I love all the these “P” word.
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