God is Always…
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)
For Insight
If you have ever been in couple’s therapy or counseling, you may have learned to be a better listener and communicator. For example, you might have discovered during a disagreement you should stay focused on the present issue; not go back to prior disagreements or bring up things from long ago. Some people are very good with that kind of thing. You start out with one point of disagreement and the next thing you know they have brought up something that happened five or ten years ago! That’s not only annoying but you never make any progress that way. You might have learned that finger-pointing and laying blame is not productive either. Sending your mate “You” messages is not advisable such as, “You do this, “you do that…” and especially to avoid saying “you always…” Because no one “always” does or does not do something no matter how frequently they do or don’t do that thing.
When it comes to “always” God is the only One who is “always” anything. Even if you are not a Bible Scholar or trained Theologian it doesn’t take much to recognize the consistency of God’s character and nature in the Bible. God does not surprise you by throwing some new way of acting or responding to sin or situations, and he does not react differently when it comes to his love or care. He is always a God of comfort, always forgiving, always a God who pardons and shows compassion toward his created. He is always kind and generous; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Knowing these things about God, we might not be able to apply “always” to others, but we can with God and knowing he will never change can be our comfort, our strength, our peace regardless of what life does or does not bring our way.
Praying Hebrews 13:
Gracious and loving Father, human nature, reaction, and response is not always consistent but that does not matter. What matters most is knowing you are truly consistent in nature and character; always the same yesterday, today, and will be forevermore. May we find comfort, assurance and peace in this truth. Amen
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to make you a better communicator, and help you avoid accusing others of being “always” something, especially during tension or disagreement.
Digging Deeper:
Devotionally Yours 