As this year comes to a close and a new one begins, I can’t help but wonder what adventures await us. 2017 has been a blur of busyness and blessings. Sometimes I get so caught up in the present, and excited about the future, that I forget to take the time to look back and remember the goodness and grace of God up to the present time.
It’s important to ponder on and praise God for his presence, power, provision, and people he’s placed in your life. Look back at your prayer journal and see all the answered prayers and wonderful works of the Lord.
How have you grown in your faith, character, and in ministry? What trials did the Lord bring you through? Who were you able to invest in and bring closer to Christ, or who helped you grow this year?
As you look back, remember to thank God for every answered prayer and divinely appointed person who affected your spiritual growth. Remembering the goodness and grace of God is good for our soul because it grows our faith.
A Psalm about the Goodness and Grace of God
Psalm 107 is a song of remembrance of the goodness and grace of God toward the children of Israel. It begins with: “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever,” and closes with: “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD”. There are 41 verses in between them recounting the story of God’s deliverance, chastening, provision, and character.
Here are 8 of those verses that reveal the goodness and grace of God despite the rebellion of His children.
- v. 6- Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
- v. 13- Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
- v. 19- Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
- v.28- Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
- v.8, 15, 21,31- Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
God shows His goodness and grace by being merciful
While it only appears as this English word one time in this Psalm, the Hebrew word “checed” appears 6 times as:
- mercy (v.1)
- goodness- 4 times (vs.8, 15, 21,31)
- lovingkindness (v.43)
“Checed” is goodness, kindness, faithfulness, favor, and mercy. This Psalm perfectly combines God’s character and His conduct.
Even while chastening their disobedience and rebellion, God is in the very essence of His being, good, loving, and kind. That is clear in all He does.
God is Good
As I look back on all the answered prayers, and the goodness and grace of God, I can’t help but praise Him. Did we have some tough times? Of course. Were there trials and tribulations? Absolutely. Have I made mistakes and missed the mark? You betcha!
But through it all, God’s mercy endures forever.
Even in the heartbreak and hard times, He has been faithful. God is good and is working all things out for good.
How have you seen the goodness and grace of God in your life? Remember it, record it, and remind yourself of that goodness and grace the next time trials come your way.
Whatever lies ahead, the same Lord who was with you this year will be with you in the next, and the year after that until he comes again or calls you home.
Psalm 107:9 KJV ~ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
More posts on the character of God:
God Isn’t Just Good, He’s Great!
You are Loved and Cherished by God
5 Reasons You Should Trust God to Write Your Story
The Significance of Praying ‘Our Father’ in the Lord’s Prayer
Ditch the Distractions and Delight in the Lord
God is Faithful in the Fearful
Record the goodness and grace of God with My Jesus Journal
I designed and published a tool to help Christian women grow in the knowledge of Christ daily. My Jesus Journal focuses your time in the word on Jesus and helps you cultivate a closer relationship with Him.
My Jesus Journal has space to record the date, the scriptures you read, and lined spaces to write your observations about Jesus. There is a verse from the KJV Bible at the bottom of those pages. The next page is for writing your prayers related to what you discovered in your reading. And there are extra prayer pages in the back.
Beautiful, portable, and affordable!
If you are looking for a tool to help you grow in your knowledge of Jesus, build intimacy into your relationship with Him, and deepen your love for the Lord, then My Jesus Journal is just what you need!
My Jesus Journal is compact enough to fit into your purse, backpack, or diaper bag. Grow on the go when you use wait times in the Doctor’s office, the carpool line, etc. for Bible study.
Priced at just $8.99, you can purchase one for yourself and a friend. Or consider buying one for your entire ministry, to begin a season of seeking Jesus together. It makes an excellent gift for any Christian woman in your life! Click on the picture to order today:
Looking for a guest blogger?
Need someone to contribute articles to your website, or to collaborate with you on a project? Then view my portfolio and my beliefs to see if I would be a good fit for your readers. Contact me at dailyhisdisciple@gmail.com.
FREE guide to learn how to study the Bible
Want to dig deeper into the Bible, but don’t know where to start? This handbook is for you!
I’ve written a 17-page guide on how to study the Bible, which is available for FREE in my resource library. It has step-by-step instructions, study sheets, study guidelines, and more!
My devotional bundle titled 7 Days to More Peace of Mind is also available for free when you subscribe.
If you want a copy, and more tools for spiritual growth, including my regular posts in your inbox, then hit the subscribe button and enter your email address. (If you are on your mobile device, the tab to subscribe is on the left side of your screen. It is at the bottom of the page if you are on your desktop.)
When you do that, you will get a confirmation email with the password to my Resource Library.
Already subscribed to Daily His Disciple? Email me and I will send you the link and password!
Pray With Confidence
Prayer helps us to see the goodness and grace of God in our lives. If you would like to grow in your prayer life, then check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the regular contributors. Here are some articles I wrote that will renew your mind and strengthen your prayer life:
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
When Your Prayer for Pain Relief Goes Unanswered
Check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs as well. There are many great options for your spiritual growth!
Amen
Thank you for the reminder to look back at what God has done! We are so undeserving of His many blessings and provisions, yet His love is so much greater than us!
Amen! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I really loved your post. Taking the time to look back and build memorial stones to God’s goodness in our lives. Yes! I need to do that more! Thank you for that encouragement.
Thank you for reading and commenting, I appreciate it! 🙂
Congratulations Annie! I nominate you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Please see our post for more information! Hugs … Donna https://freshgracefortoday.com/2017/12/29/sunshine-blogger-award/
Awe that’s so sweet, thank you! I’ll check into it! 🙂
Annie, I LOVE how you dig into the Word. I also love how you explained what different Hebrew words mean. I really felt God intimately involved in the smallest stuff this year. He is intimately interested in ALL that concerns me! Thank you so much! Looking forward to 2018!! 🙂 Blessings sweet friend!
He is definitely intimately involved and interested in every detail of your life, and mine. His love is just unimaginable, unfathomable, and infinite. I’m looking forward to 2018 as well, blessings right back atcha! Thanks for reading and for the feedback! 🙂