It's been a bit.
Blame it on the Hurricane. It's a good excuse these days.
Here's some notes that I read this morning out of the book "Taste and See" by John Piper. It's a book filled with short devotionals that I've been working through. They are often quite challenging or encouraging and I plan to reread the book at least once. In comparison to most of Piper's other books, this one is easy to understand and I don't have to reread every sentence to comprehend it!
I won't rewrite the whole thing, but here's some bits and pieces from number 89: "The Sovereignty of God: A Precious and Practical Doctrine":
The sovereignty of God is a most precious doctrine.
The word "sovereignty" does not occur in the Bible. I use it to refer to this truth: God is in ultimate control of the world, from the largest international intrigue to the smallest bird-fall in the forest.
The Bible puts it this way: "I am God and there is no other...my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish all my purpose" (Isaiah 46:9-10). "He is unchangeable and who can turn him? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me" (Job 23:13-14). "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3).
One reason this doctrine is so precious to believers is that we know that God's great desire is to show mercy and kindness to those who trust him. Therefore, the mercy and sovereignty of God are the twin pillars of my life. They are the hope of my future, the energy of my service, the center of my theology, the bond of my marriage, the best medicine in all my sickness, the remedy of all my discouragements.
George Mueller writes this when his wife lay dying of a fever: "Thou [God] wilt do the very best thing for her, and for me, whether life or death...only help me to continue to be perfectly satisfied with Thy holy will."
Taken from: Piper, John. Taste and See. pp: 266-268. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2005. Print.
Mueller words hit me this morning. How often do I complain about things going wrong in life: having no electricity because of the hurricane; it's too cold out, or too hot, or too rainy or not rainy enough; I don't like the clothes I have or the food I have to eat; I want more or less; I am not satisfied.
This is God's will for me. That I live each day satisfied in Him, knowing He is sovereign and in control, knowing that whatever happens for me is for my deepest and highest good (Romans 8:28, Psalm 84:11). He is sanctifying me and making me holy, so what happens to me is not always easy or "fair" or pleasant, but it is for my good and He is loving me through every day.
Let us be satisfied with Him today and take our stand upon in His sovereignty over all things.
