God Thoughts

READ: Psalm 135

I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

I was challenged by this question: What attribute of God are you showing by your life to be the most important to you?

It really got me thinking about the attributes of God in general. So the next day I sat down at the computer with my Bible and typed out the alphabet.

I tried to come up with a characteristic of God that begins with each letter, and a Scripture verse that corresponds with it. This may sound simplistic, but for me it’s a good exercise and something that has turned into a profound act of worship.

As I’ve matured in my faith over the years, so has my list. Because I have experienced God in many new ways, the words I use now are more thoughtful, more personal, more heartfelt, more understood.

Here are some of the words that I feel characterize the God I love and serve.

Almighty (Genesis 17:1; Psalm 89:8). Beginning (Revelation 22:13). Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). Deliverer (Psalm 18:2). Eternal (Jeremiah 10:10). Father (John 10:30). Gracious (Exodus 34:6). Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Immortal (1 Timothy 1:17). Just (1 John 1:9; Revelation 15:3). King (1 Timothy 6:15). Loving (Psalm 25:10). Maker (Ecclesiastes 11:5). Never-failing (Lamentations 3:22). Omega (Revelation 1:8). Powerful (Jeremiah 32:17). Righteous (Psalm 145:17; 1 John 2:1). Savior (1 Timothy 4:10). Trustworthy (2 Samuel 7:28). eVerlasting (Isaiah 40:28). Worthy (1 Chronicles 16:25). eXalted (2 Samuel 22:47).

Try this exercise, and if you can, come up with words I didn’t use. Find a verse that supports each word. And when you look back over your list, thank God for those characteristics. Worship Him for the ways He makes Himself known to you.

Then, next time, put a twist on it. (This one’s a little harder.) Write out the alphabet again, only this time use words for the way God sees you.

What if you’re reading this and you don’t know God in those ways or don’t know how He sees you? Let me encourage you to look for Him! God’s Word says that if we seek Him, we’ll find Him (1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13).

It’s not as easy as ABC, but in time you will learn to know God’s characteristics through His Word. —Peggy Willison

REFLECTION

• What are some words I immediately think of that characterize God?
• What are some ways I can respond to Him in worship? How can I make worship a daily priority?

God thoughts lead to a godly walk.

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