Who God is to Us -

God is the creator from the vastness of the universe to the minutia of quarks. His reach is limitless and his time is not like our own. There are countless examples in the Bible that teach us about God - his creation, his love for us and his patience towards us. These truths that have been gifted to us in the Bible are still alive and applicable today; the Bible is God's living word.

God is the Lord who Provides. Genesis 22:14 "So Abraham called the name of the place, "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."

God asked of Abraham something that I could not fathom in my own understanding. He asked him to surrender his beloved son as a sacrifice. And being of sound faith and truly fearful of the Lord our God, Abraham did as he was instructed. BUT, being the loving and caring father that God is, he stopped Abraham from going forward and provided instead, a ram, to be sacrificed.

Much like Abraham, we are given many obstacles and tests in this world. The same truths apply now as they did then. We may not hear a booming voice spoken from the clouds or even see in real time the miracle as it unfolds, but do not be deceived by worldly ways or devilish thoughts that our God isn't still very much at work in our lives. I have witnessed firsthand how the Lord is the God who Provides. In allowing myself to be humble and seek his will above my own, I have witnessed the very fact that he provides when we need it most. Both in spiritual revival and in physical needs.

God is our Restorer. Psalms 23:3 "He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Just as David conveys in Psalms, the Bible gives us multiple examples of God being the restorer of his chosen people. Ezekiel 36:26 tells us "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." God is telling us that he is literally going to transform our hearts - from hearts that are inflexible, unfriendly and unkind to hearts of flesh made to love and care for others above thyself. The prophet Zechariah states this in verse 9:12: "Return to your stronghold, O' prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will RESTORE to you double." In this message from God, supplied through the Prophet Zechariah, we see a promise of physical restoration of possessions and lands lost. God is the ultimate restorer - in all things; mind, body, soul and physical possessions. There is no limit for God. However, Zechariah is careful to repeatedly explain to us that WE must accept God's covenant and be faithful and obedient to God in order to obtain this restoration.

I read today about the Four R's of Restoration in the Bible:

Replace - God replaces our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26.

Renew - By focusing, studying, and understanding the Bible, we can be renewed in thought, feeling, and faith.

Revive - Through the resurrection of Jesus, we are given new and everlasting life. We were once dead in our transgressions but now revived through the love and selflessness of Jesus.

Return - And through that same act of love from Jesus, we are reunited with God and able to directly communicate with him through prayer and reading our Bible.

God is our Hiding Place. Psalms 32:7 "You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance."

God is our refuge. Whatever our needs may be, they will be met by God if we allow him to be our hiding place. If we turn to the Lord and continually abide in Him, we are secure in His arms. Our protection and purpose are found in our relationship with Him. Nahum 1:7 " The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take REFUGE in him."

God is our Deliverer. Psalms 70:5. "But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!"

Deliver - de-liv-er - verb - save, rescue, or set someone or something free from. To free us, liberate us, rescue us, redeem us. David refers to God as his deliverer on many different occasions. In Psalms 18:2 "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my DELIVERER, My God, My rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my SALVATION, my stronghold." Again in Psalms 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and DELIVERED me from all my fears." Psalms 34:17 "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and DELIVERS them out of all their troubles." Yet again, David says in Psalms 50:15 "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will DELIVER you, and you shall glorify me." God offers us deliverance through his covenants, promises to bless and prosper us in our faithful walk with Him. He offers us deliverance through grace and mercy. Deliverance is a message continued in the New Testament as well. In Matthew 6:13, as a part of the teachings from Jesus on how we should pray, he says "lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER us from evil [the evil one]."

God is so much more than what can be put into mere words - and there are a lot more titles in the Bible for God that we will dig into. But for now, friends, know that dwelling in the Lord and taking refuge in Him, will allow us a more joyful and purposeful life full of deliverance, security, and provisions that only the Good Lord can provide!

Bountiful Blessings and Glorious Grace upon you!

Kasey