God Is …: A Year-Long Biblical Journey Interacting with God

God Is…

A Year-Long Biblical Journey

      Interacting with God

JAN COOKSON

Copyright © 2013 Janet Cookson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (JPS) are from Tanakh, A New Translation of The Holy Scriptures According to the Traditional Hebrew Text, copyright © 1985 by The Jewish Publication Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from The Holy Bible, King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Figures for the following months by James Cookson©: January, March, May, June, October, December.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-9871-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-9873-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-9872-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013911150

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/31/2013

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement

Preface

Getting Started

Daily Bible Readings

January

Creator

Merciful

Good

Sovereign

Generous

All-powerful (omnipotent)

Peacemaker

Faithful

Present

Aware

Grace giver

Convictor of sin

Provider

Intercessor

Our Shepherd

Unexplainable

Wounder and healer

Unreachable

Autocratic

Witness

Wrathful

Giver of common grace

Sovereign over death and Satan

Judge

Great

Marvelous

Ruler of all nature

I Am

Lord

Purposeful

Liberator

February

Warrior

Fearsome

Fair

Designer

Sanctifier

Jealous

Equipper

Commander

Pleased

Speaker

Perfectionist

Clean

Appeasable

Unique

Holy

Absolute

Organized

Pure

Mover

Forbearing

Annihilator

Portion

Unifocal

Just

Punctual

Director

Distributor

God of our fathers

March

Near

Humbler

Supreme

Champion

Destroyer of evil

Victory giver

Respecter of people

Covenant maker

Restorer

Rock

Living

Commander of the Lord’s armies

Law giver

Conquerer of kings

Fulfiller of promises

Boundary setter

Completer

Fighter

Test giver

The Angel of the Lord

Responsive

Unknowable

Unexcitable

Deliverer

Refuge

All-knowing (omniscient)

Lord of hosts

Heart minder

Kind

Unchangeable

God of Israel

April

Upholder of causes

Adversary of evil

Strengthener

Ruler over kings

Establisher of kingdoms

Righteous

God of David

Controller of victory and defeat

Account keeper

Terrible

Shield

Detester of evil

Majestic

King

Hidden

Benefactor

Glorious

Silent

Stronghold

Communicator

Instructor

Steadfast love

Chastener

Sustainer

Rich

The Most High

Purifier

Listener

Trustworthy

Fortress

May

Satisfier

Joy giver

The One of Sinai

Hope

The Strength of my heart

Wonder worker

Admonisher

Householder of loveliness

Lover of Zion

Polar

Eternal

God of vengeance

Enthroned

One who regards prayer

Worthy

Forbearing

Champion

Solid

Visible

God of the Word

Keeper

Enfolder

Home builder

Quieter of souls

Pleasant

Friend of the lowly

Omnipresent

Rescuer

Praiseworthy

Music evoker

Establisher of leaders

June

Wise

Hater

Originator

Insightful

The Source

Gift giver

Despoiler

Concealer

Truth teller

Master over time

Empowerer of joy

Determiner

Endpoint

Impassioned

Intimate

Valuable

Uncontainable

Sovereign over nations

Offended by sin

Miracle worker

Finisher of our days

The God of Elijah

Answerer of prayer

Able

Gracious

Restorer

Pity

Punisher

Warner

Declarer of Death

July

Exclusive

My husband

Genuine

Inescapable

Torn

God of every kingdom

Dread majesty

Commissioner

Immanuel

Shoot and root of Jesse

Unsurpassable

Glory remover

Thresher

Desolater

Death slayer

Crown of glory

Stability of our times

Defender

Incomparable

Servant

First and the last

Mighty one of Jacob

Comforter

Man of sorrows

Reviver of the contrite

Beautifier

Herald of joy

Potter

Hard

Pardoner

Indignant

August

Sign giver

Exultant

Inscrutable

Unrelenting

Fountain of living waters

Avenger

Persistent

Covenant keeper

Teacher

Name giver

Our righteousness

Sender of prophets

Planner

Transformer of hearts

Multiplier

Preserver

Relenting

Disciplinarian

Sovereign restorer

God of recompense

Afflicter

Personal

Familial

Bookkeeper

Supporter

Evoker of praise

Honorer of servants

Compassionate

Musical

Heart worker

Wisdom giver

September

Unapproachable

Blessed

Allower of free will

Reciprocator

User of evil

Cause of rejoicing

Sovereign over history

Serious about sin

Heaven’s abider

Fulfiller of prophesy

Radiant

Symbolic

Forsaker of the evil

Revealer of his prophesy

Revealer of the depraved

Upholder of his name

Furious

Demolisher of kingdoms

Decrier of Satan

Life-giver to the repentant

Renovator

Opener of graves

Precise

The Prince

Companion of his people

Lord of kings

Performer of signs and wonders

The Ancient of Days

History’s planner

Unseen

October

The Scepter

Giver of Gladness

God who is in Jerusalem

Shaker of the nations

The Branch

Strengthener

Coming one

God of heaven

Protector

Rebuilder

Practical

Revival director

Transformer of curses

Messenger of the covenant

Jesus

Fulfiller of the Law

Healer

Carpenter’s son

Son of God

Son of David

Messiah (Christ)

Risen

Caller of Disciples

Encourager

Exorcist

Heir

Obedient

Holy Child

Lord of the Sabbath

Lord of life

Tough, yet tender

November

Rejoicing

Prophet

Suffering Servant

The Lamb of God

The Bread of life

Good Shepherd and door

The Resurrection and the Life

The Counselor

All-knowing (Omniscient)

Holy Spirit

Rejected stone

Soul seeker

Impartial

Sovereign in choice

Father of lights

Imminent

Justifier

Abba

Unifier

Increaser

Fulfiller of Judgment

Grower

Moral

Up-builder

Last Adam

Influential

Reconciler

Abundant

Bridegroom

Clarifier

December

Helper

Deep

God of endurance

Constrainer

Timely

Life preserver

Cornerstone

The Head

Peace

Firstborn from the dead

Anointed with gladness

High Priest

Sacrifice

Mediator of a new covenant

Humble

Volitional

Patient

Mystery of godliness

Godly

Savior

Continuer

Light

Love

Truth

The Son of Man

Lion of the tribe of Judah

Sovereign over the spirit world

Authority

Harvester

Vengeful

The Word of God

Appendix A

Appendix B

To Joann, Jeremy, Jessica, Jonathan, and other descendants whom I don’t yet know—that you may fully know and enjoy our God

So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

your power to all those to come.

Psalm 71:18

Acknowledgement

Deepest gratitude to Jim, my soul mate and husband—without you I wouldn’t know Jesus! You caught the vision of the graphics I selected, and your additional designs superbly completed the set of twelve icons depicting God’s interaction with our race.

Preface

This book has been a journey that began in my early years of coming to Christ and gathered momentum during my time as Teaching Leader in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). By January 2008, wanting to go deeper in my relationship with God and know more of him, I took God’s challenge to read through the Bible and discover a different name, title or character trait (attribute) belonging to him derived from each daily passage. I originally thought I would pass on the handwritten diary to one of our children, but increasingly the Holy Spirit nudged me to share it not only with my own family, but with others, especially with young people and those who want some direction to practically interact with the God of the Bible.

God has used several people in my life to give me resources to write. Discussions about religious exclusivism lasted till the wee hours of the morning at college as my recently-converted future husband Jim led me to embrace Jesus as the only way to God. When I was a young wife, ninety year old sister Anna Campbell—who had read the Bible through fifty times (once a year since she was first saved)—inspired me to develop the same faithful spiritual discipline. Teaching Leader Carol Benstead and the women of my first BSF Discussion Group taught me about the place of God’s Word in the normal Christian life: it enters the mind, descends to the heart, and exits out hands and feet to walk his word, to do his work. Our family, our church, becoming part of the leadership of BSF, and taking part in multiple short term foreign mission projects have all provided me with plenty of enjoyable opportunities to do his work. Rosemary Jensen, BSF’s Second Director taught us Teaching Leaders to discover God’s attributes and teachings (doctrines) within the Bible, and use them to interact with him through prayer as well.

But more importantly, God prevails with me, and every year he reveals more of himself as we dig into specific books of the Bible and journey together by reading it cover to cover—each year in a different translation. God has taught me to spiritually breathe, that is, to take in and to give out; to study and to serve. Changed thinking and real action always follow a faith walk with God. He’s changing me and the journey continues!

O God, you are my God

earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you,

my flesh pants for you

as in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you

in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love

is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

Psalm 63:1-3

Getting Started

God is too wonderful to not know well! Getting to know him is challenging, for how can we relate to someone we can’t even see? But we do have the Bible—all God wants us to know about him in one amazing collection! Lack of familiarity or even increasing familiarity can easily shift the purpose of our Bible reading from discovering God to following a fix-it manual so life can work better for us. The point of our reading subtly changes from looking at God to fixing me. If you’ve caught yourself saying, I just didn’t get anything out of reading that chapter or book of the Bible (and we all have at least thought it), your reading focus was in serious jeopardy at the time. In I Timothy 3:16 it says, "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable …" (emphasis added).

Each of the biblical passages and corresponding pages of this book gives glimpses of God, highlighting his different names, titles, attributes, or characteristics. You’ll get to know him by discovering how he responds and relates to beings. You’ll get to know him by responding and relating back to him. At times his traits will blend into each other, like colors in a spectrum, for God’s personality can’t be separated into distinct parts any more than ours can. Those mentioned here are starting-blocks, jumping-off points to begin to understand him; they’re not an exhaustive review, for God’s full character is infinite.

Instead of the traditional order, the books of the Scripture are arranged in chronological order, based, for the most part, on the Bible reading plan of L. B. Flynn¹. Each day’s first paragraphs illustrate how God revealed one aspect of himself through that day’s Scripture, and additional stand-out Scripture passages describing the same aspect are brought in as needed to follow significant tie-ins elsewhere in the Bible. Basic Christian teachings (doctrines) developed from God’s character and dealings with people wend their ways through these observations. Doctrine understood is God comprehended.

With God in view, the sample prayers are a starting place for your own interactive praise, thanks, confessions and requests. Some extra space above the icon on each page is provided for you to record your own response to God, if you wish. Most selections include questions to ask of yourself or God as you sit in his presence. As you answer these specifically for your own situation—and allow the Holy Spirit to move you to action— you’ll find him showing up day by day, and you’ll become more aware of him. Since we become like those we’re around the most, you will be changed.

To get the most out of this journey, ask God right now to help you get to know him better. Set aside a time and a place to meet with him. Morning people will want to do this before their day begins, and evening people will draw aside with God when the evening quiets down. Get into the habit of giving him the time when you are most alert so you’re sharp enough to appreciate as much of him as you can. Plan in some time to talk with and listen to him in prayer—the listening will come as you think over the Bible’s words and consider these God is discoveries and prayers in light of what you read in the Scripture.

I pray that you will delight in God, love the Lord Jesus, and be receptive to what the Holy Spirit wants to do with you and within you this year. May you learn to look at God first whenever you come to the Bible, so that he’ll receive the honor that he deserves. Appreciate his diversity! Wonder at his complexity! Marvel at his unity! Celebrate his love!

Enjoy the journey—from now until—forever!

January

Genesis

Job

Exodus 1-13

January 1

Creator

Genesis 1-2

When God first created, he made everything out of nothing but his words. After matter and energy came to be, when God created, he divided and separated what already existed and then added something new. He moved over darkness and added light. He separated Adam from the animals and added Eve.

As he worked, he also created a sense of hope. The future world would have light to reveal it; Adam would have a delightful world to enjoy, including the future companionship of Eve.

Creator God, thank you for the hope you give me today, separating out and creating this new year! Thanks for the hope of a spiritually stronger year as you reveal yourself in these Scriptures!

Forgive me when I fail to see each day as one newly created. Each is an opportunity to know you better, to live out what I take in. My hope is that others will know more about you from what they may notice in me.

When I despair, take me back to your hopes for me in my creation.

How will you spiritually re-create me this year? I’m looking forward to great changes!

January 2

Merciful

Genesis 3-5

God could have immediately judged and destroyed Adam and Eve as well as Cain. However, with merciful love and self-control he approached by calling, Where are you? and asking, Where is your brother? He gave them the opportunity to explain their faulty reasoning and to ask for his forgiveness from their self-will, their disobedience, and their sin.

In love, he delivered what they would perceive as bad to protect them from greater evil. Banishment protected Adam and Eve from the certain suffering of existence in eternal deterioration and enabled Cain to survive human vengeance.

Lord God, forgive me when I quickly judge others instead of offering inquisitive, controlled mercy!

Thank you for providing bad circumstances that keep me from worse ones that I cannot even now imagine.

How can I begin to extend your measured mercy today?

January 3

Good

Genesis 6-9

God’s goodness was affronted by his own image bearers’ wickedness. At the point that he said, No more, he expressed his goodness decisively at both ends of the spectrum of good and evil.

He saved blameless Noah, who was living a God-focused life, and graciously included his family in the ark. He then completely destroyed the wicked, to eradicate their pervasive sin. God foreshadowed the ultimate outcome of his goodness, which would be the preservation of his chosen people (counting them good), and the eradication of everyone else.

Because God is good, he must—no, he will destroy evil. This is foundational evidence for the existence of hell. Hell attests to the absolute nature of God’s goodness, and so does the cross. Jesus’s cross enables his chosen followers to escape to the Father in heaven by faith, and its rejection enables rejecters to escape from God to hell. God will never force his goodness on anyone.

Father, forgive me for coexisting with evil in my little world and not being outraged and grieved enough to do something about it.

Thank you for the security of my salvation through the cross of Christ, which is in reality my ark.

What good, what destruction of evil have you for me to do today? Is it in the world around me, or is it located within my own sinful nature?

January 4

Sovereign

Genesis 10-11

God is sovereign. He’s the ruler, the one in charge, the one who has the power to direct mankind, even against our wills! Noah’s descendants didn’t want to be scattered; their hearts led them directly away from God’s proclaimed blessing at creation, Fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). Rather than enjoy the wonder and variety of the world that he gave people as his special gift, they wanted to climb to the heavens to assume his position of sovereignty, to make a name for ourselves.

His power is far superior to ours! One sole change, the introduction of diverse languages, instantly transformed their nesting desires to travel plans. They couldn’t remain together and understand each other. God used confusion to drive them apart. God can change the circumstances so that we want to do his will.

Though he gave us the ability to make our own decisions (free will), he is sovereign, and still entirely in control—two truths hard to simultaneously accept.

Lord God, I don’t do well with change, and I complain even when little, insignificant things change! Forgive me. I know you had my best in mind.

Thank you so much for the security of your sovereignty in an unpredictable and sometimes fearsome world! It will never get beyond you.

What can I do to gladly work within your sovereign will today? What preconceived plans or wrong ways of thinking will I give up?

January 5

Generous

Genesis 12-15

God is unreservedly, sovereignly generous. For no reason on Abram’s part, God gave him the numerous blessings of future land (Israel), and descendants (the Jews). He gave him wealth from Egypt, even though Abram had proved himself a liar before Pharaoh. He gave Lot lush land, even though Lot’s motives were entirely self-aggrandizing in choosing the very best for himself.

God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect and pure to show us his generosity. He lovingly gives his wealth in various forms, and he gives in abundance.

Father, how unlike you I am. I only want to give to those who have provided me with some benefit, and I want to withhold from those whose ways displease me. Forgive my stingy nature!

Thank you for all the spiritual wealth you have showered upon me. The Bible is a prime example. Thank you for the physical and material wealth that you have given me—my health, my shelter, and the food I eat.

How can I follow your lead to be unreservedly, sovereignly generous?

January 6

All-powerful (omnipotent)

Genesis 16-19

I am God Almighty. The Hebrew words title him as El Shaddai—powerful over all—almighty. The totality of God’s power is broadly swept over these chapters as he:

• convinced rebellious servant Hagar to return home to certain future mistreatment.

• convinced aged Abraham and doubting Sarah that they’d bear a son.

• entirely destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the lush plain where they were located at precisely the time he had set.

• saved Lot and his daughters from destruction by sparing one city on the plain, Zoar. He listened to Abraham’s intercessions, and Lot’s as well.

God is just as powerful over our wills as he is powerful over our world.

Father, frequently I doubt your power to intervene over the wills of my unsaved relatives and friends. I can’t conceive of how you could change them, and this keeps me from interceding for them in prayer, and telling them about you in person. Forgive me for doubting your power.

Thank you for making your power available to me through Jesus’s Holy Spirit.

How can I presume upon and rest in your power today? What do you want to accomplish in my will, and in my world?

January 7

Peacemaker

Genesis 20-22

God makes peace through:

• revelation. He revealed the truth about Abraham to Abimelech so that they would deal with it.

• separation. He approved Sarah’s plan to separate Ishmael and Isaac, so that both sons could mature.

• deliberation. He was the unseen director in the negotiations between Abraham and Abimelech, being acknowledged by Abimelech before them (21:22), and by Abraham after them (21:33).

• substitution. He provided the ram for sacrifice, so that Isaac wouldn’t have to be killed for the offering.

Father, I follow your lead with the above peacemaking methods more often with others than I do when I am upset with you. I try to find the truth, I stay apart from the offender until my anger subsides, I initiate a conversation, and I pray to have the humility of Christ, the Lamb of God in it all.

However, when you surprise me with the unexpected, I complain immediately! I avoid coming to you for your truth and perspective, and refuse to consider that my own sin probably played into the surprising event. Were it not for Jesus’s sacrifice substituting for that sin, I would not be worthy to be heard. I’m so sorry for such belligerent anger!

Lord Jesus, how can I live out your peace and be a peacemaker today?

January 8

Faithful

Genesis 23-26

God is faithful to his promises. He had promised Abraham land, offspring, and blessings that would pour out to the whole world (Genesis 12:1-3). Here he began to fulfill those promises:

• Abraham received a down payment (of sorts) on the land by the purchase of Sarah’s tomb (23:16-20);

• Abraham’s servant found God’s choice of wife for Isaac (24:27), and Rebecca bore children to Isaac (25:24), as did Keturah to Abraham (25:1-3);

• Isaac forged peace with Abimelech, even though he had previously lied to this Philistine king (26:6-32).

The world was beginning to be blessed through Abraham (26:4). Land, offspring, blessing to the world—God proved his faithfulness. And he doesn’t require our loyalty before he commits himself to us. His faithfulness comes as a gift.

Thank you for the faithfulness you’ve shown me through the promises in these Scriptures. Thanks for the faithful people who have taught me about those promises, too. I really benefit because you always follow through on what you say. I can solidly count on every one of your words.

Father, how unlike you I am! I speak without actually intending to carry out what I promise—I need your faithfulness as well as your forgiveness.

What loose ends, what unrealized promises, can I tie up today, as a thankful tribute to your faithfulness? Make me a faithful person, Lord!

January 9

Present

Genesis 27-29

We usually are not consciously aware of God’s presence. Jacob marveled, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it (28:16).

When we realize God’s presence, we see ourselves for who we really are. Isaac didn’t discipline Jacob for his deception because he must have seen God’s hand in it. God’s words to Rebekah, the older shall serve the younger (Genesis 25:23) must have been shouting within his soul as he upheld the circumstances, and gave Esau a different blessing. Isaac realized that he, himself, was a rebel, and he trembled (27:33).

Jacob invoked God, calling for his constant presence after the vision of the ladder at the start of his journey, vowing, If God will be with me… (28:20). When Laban’s deceptive bride-switching was revealed, Jacob wailed, Why then have you deceived me? (29:25), pronouncing judgment on his own character. The deceiver had recognized his own true identity, because God had never left him.

Father, thank you for reminding me you’re there as you use people I know. Forgive me when I envy their status or good works instead of appreciating your character in them. I need to own my own ungodliness instead of being envious.

Help me faithfully come to your word each day, knowing I’ll become more and more like you because I’ll be around you regularly.

Would others say that I’m around you enough to be taking on your character? Why or why not?

January 10

Aware

Genesis 30-32

God knows about all our current, personal affairs. He sees the present, remembers the past, and responds with what we both need at the moment.

• He remembered and listened to both Leah and Rachel, and they bore sons.

• He directed Jacob back to Canaan at the point that Laban’s ill will began to emerge.

• He noted what Laban had been doing to Jacob, and the flocks mated in Jacob’s favor.

• He knew Laban’s fury concerning Jacob, and warned him in a dream to moderate his speech, using words neither good nor bad.

None of our personal struggles are hidden from him, and we sell him far short when we don’t approach him for help, guidance, comfort, or vindication during them. God’s awareness magnifies his great care for us.

Father, forgive me for forgetting to come to you in my struggles– such neglect is the fruit of unbelief. At those times I essentially don’t believe that you are watching to intervene. When I don’t even admit that I’m struggling, I become unhappy, and then I end up feeding a sense of hopelessness.

Thank you for all the times you have remembered me, even when I was unmindful of you, feeling alone or defeated. Nothing in the universe ever gets by you. You offer that kind of security.

In what struggle will I trustingly look to you today, expecting your clear response?

January 11

Grace giver

Genesis 33-36

When God gives us something good that we don’t deserve, he’s giving us his grace.

Jacob didn’t deserve peace with his brother Esau after deliberately deceiving him. As Jacob humbly bowed low before him, essentially repenting of his sin, Esau and his four hundred men accepted the unspoken apology. Their newborn peace was a gift of God’s grace (33:4).

Jacob’s family didn’t deserve protection from the potential wrath of Canaan’s towns after annihilating Shechem’s men, and pillaging their city. Yet a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob (35:5).

God’s grace is best appreciated against the backdrop of his forgiveness of our sins; if our sin were not involved, we’d call it his provision. God extends saving grace to his own, and he had selected Jacob’s family as his own through Abraham, to produce the preeminent grace-giver, Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, your love is inconceivably deep, for you not only forgive me after I deliberately do wrong, but on my repentance you give me peace, a gift of your grace that touches my inner mind and soul.

Like Jacob, I’ve deliberately hurt those closest to me in my family, running my will roughshod over theirs in numerous ways. Forgive me for taking them for granted! By your grace I have their presence, patience, forgiveness, love, and loyalty. Thank you for all of them!

What can I do to extend your undeserved gifts of grace back towards someone in my family?

January 12

Convictor of sin

Genesis 37-39

When God’s Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, he’ll convict us of sin (John 16:13). Without listening to him, we’d even consider killing others with no regret, as did Joseph’s brothers (37:18), however today our weapons are mostly our tongues, which we use to kill relationships. Spirit-influenced, we’ll admit the sins of our past like Judah did when convicted by Tamar (38:26). We can even become convinced of the possibility of future sin, so that our lives in the present remain pure, as Joseph proved by avoiding Potiphar’s wife (39:8-10).

God uses the committed sin of the past, and the potential sin of the present or future as tools to equip us in living holy lives—but only as we listen to and comply with his Holy Spirit’s silent and convicting voice within.

Lord Jesus, how many times I have inwardly sensed your Holy Spirit saying, don’t do that!, don’t say that!, and have barged through the conviction and committed the evil anyway! I need forgiveness for my hardened ears, and especially for my hardened heart.

Thank you for teaching me about my wrongdoing with every inner conviction. The shame of being found a sinner is memorably distasteful, and I know you intend to use it to make me better in the future.

I need your assistance for self-control. Help me to slow down and listen, stop giving excuses, and obey when you try to stop my sin before it occurs.

Which sin of mine will you make so distastefully clear that I will walk away from it forever today?

January 13

Provider

Genesis 40-42

When God provides, it may take years before we know of his provision:

• Joseph waited for two years before the cupbearer’s confession accomplished his assured freedom;

• Jacob’s fears kept the family from immediately experiencing Egypt’s provisions when his sons returned;

• Pharaoh had to wait the full fourteen years to see that God’s provision administered by Joseph would adequately feed Egypt.

God is not in a hurry to provide, and when he does, the provision is over-abundant—Joseph was exalted, Egypt fed the world, and Jacob would eventually live with the beloved son whom he had thought was dead.

His provision in some cases is also astoundingly unique.

Father, even in hardship, disappointment, and disaster you provide!

However when I’m stressed, my complaints and worries prove I don’t really believe that you’ll provide the best for everyone. Forgive me for not trusting you to provide in your own