YOU CROWN THE YEAR WITH YOUR GOODNESS
Brad Brownell
DATE: Jan 29, 2022
Last week we finished great series called, ‘What do you see for 2023’!
The series spoke to the vision of HC for 2023
Do it BIG (quantity), Do it
Shifting to not just building hope, but also building
LOVING GOD and LOVING PEOPLE is our mission!
You crown the year with Your goodness. Your ways overflow with plenty. Ps 65:11
To understand how God crowns your year – your 2023 with His goodness…
We need to establish that God is
But for many this leaves a question in people’s minds…
- If God is good, then where is He in my pain and unanswered prayers?
But NOT knowing God’s goodness is what leads to most of your stress, worry, and fear…
God’s motivation toward you is His goodness.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11
You have no hope without God’s goodness…
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Ps. 27:13
How many times have you lost sight when you don’t see the goodness of God in your life?
How often do we see it, but don’t wait, and try and rush into something or withdraw?
Sometimes we see God’s goodness, but we get stuck in insecurity and it blinds us from moving forward or we withdraw.
When we take God’s place in our lives - we get results that show that, instead of giving God His place and experiencing God’s goodness in us and around us.
Psalms says, ‘He is good, and does good’ and knowing this will make or break your responses to what life throws at you!
- The bible tell us that God
- All creation reveals God and His divine nature
‘From the creation of the world, the invisible qualities of God’s nature have been made visible, such as his eternal power and transcendence. He has made his wonderful attributes easily perceived, for seeing the visible makes us understand the invisible.’ Rom 1:20
The creation story tells us that God made everything and called it good. Only good can come from good.
I Tim 4:4 says,
‘Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks.’
This is why it’s so important that we give thanks. God commands giving thanks (1 Thess. 5:18).
Because gratitude sees goodness
When we don’t see God’s good and goodness in our lives we become…
- We are
- Our prayers lack
- And we live
So, to understand how to experience God’s goodness crowning your year we need to understand why good doesn’t always happen.
First, our perspective is
Ps 73
‘Truly God is good’…3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. 7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 12 Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? 14 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. 16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! 17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Second, the human condition and experience till receiving our future hope of full redemption, Heaven, and eternity:
Roman’s 8:20-23 explains…
20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.
Now if God loves everyone and cares so much, why wait? Why allow suffering and evil to persist?
1 Peter 3:9 says this…
‘This means that, contrary to man’s perspective, the Lord is not late with his promise to return, as some measure lateness. But rather, his ‘delay’ simply reveals his loving patience toward you, because he does not want wany to perish but all to come to repentance.’
If God wipes out evil, He has to wipe out all mankind.
Free will is a gift – one that as people throughout the ages have used and abused it greatly.
God wills that no one perish but discover His love and plan for them if they choose to believe and receive it!
The question isn’t ‘how can a loving God allow evil and suffering’? But ‘How can a loving God allow us to be – sinful as we are?’
Thirdly, His goal for you is to make you more godly and
Even Jesus learned obedience through the things which He suffered the Bible says.
Sometimes the hardest times are the biggest opportunities for growth and gained perspective.
James 1:2-4 says,
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Why then do we wrestle with seeing God’s goodness in our lives regardless?
We wrestle not because don’t believe it in principle, but we don’t receive it in practice.
Instead, we choose to…
Beat
o But we miss seeing His goodness because we spend time in pity or beating ourselves up and not the problem
o It’s hard to focus on God’s goodness when you are fixed on beating yourself up.We blame
o First we beat ourselves up – but then we beat others up, don’t take responsibility, or live in denial and defensiveness.
Instead of drawing closer to each other we get defensive towards each other
The focus is on reaction to hurt instead of reconciliation of hearts
Instead of letting God use us to bless others with His goodness, we use others to serve us.We choose to be
21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant.Not being in balance…
o This is living with the right priorities – living in faith and obedience to God’s word and will for your life
o Seeking first His kingdom and way
Start praying this prayer…
God, thank you that you know what will make me happy more than I do and even when I don’t understand something you have my best interest at heart more than I do.
When it comes to a year crowned with the Goodness of God, the grace and favor of God is yours in Christ and what He has done for you – you just have to surrender in faith your ways for His and receive it!
Knowing that in every delay, God is developing your faith in Him and wanting to develop your character in Christ.
That every setback is a setup for your good and His glory
In the story of Joseph in the Old Testament…
‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.’ Gen. 50:20
Romans 8:28 – We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.
3 Simple Ways to harness God’s goodness for your life this year:
Ps 23…
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
3 He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised.
Recognize that Jesus is your
o Jesus is the good shepherd.
o God’s goodness toward you is sourced in His good nature
o As a shepherd He guides you and guards you and lays His own life down for youKnowing God is your
o All you have and are come from Him.
So, we need to act like we believe it and not fear or try to control circumstances or change others
TRUST GOD as you sourceKnow that God is your
- You and I can’t do life alone nor in our own strength
- You need community – church family/spiritual family
- You can’t fight spiritual problems with natural means
Phil. 4:13 - I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.
Isa. 40:13 says, But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.