His steadfast love: God in action
by Tatiana Overduin
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The Lord takes pleasure in those who … hope in his steadfast love (Psalm 147:11).
Read Psalm 147:1–11,20c
Sometimes it’s so challenging to have hope. As we view the world around us, we can easily become despondent, calling, ‘Where are you, Lord?’ But despite experiencing a heart that aches for a failing world, this day, and every day, we can be reassured that our God ‘… takes pleasure in those who continue to hope in his steadfast love’.
Our God is a God of action!
Our God continues to be active, even when our eyes do not see it. He does not abandon us (Hebrews 13:5). In Psalm 147, we read that he is building his kingdom; gathering unto himself those who are outcasts, healing the brokenhearted and binding their wounds. And while the Lord has determined the number of stars in the sky and given them their names, he continues to exercise his immeasurable understanding over our lives, our world. Our God is such that he lifts the humble while casting out the wicked. Covering, preparing, making all things new – God is in action, even while we may doubt or fail to trust and believe that he is always at work.
And, in response, God wants us to continue to trust him and live in faith, to sing praises to him, make melodies to him and worship him above all things (Philippians 2:9).
‘God takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love’ (Psalm 147:11).
When the world around us, glorifies the ‘strength of a horse, or the legs of a man’ (verse 10), we can remember that what God wants from us mostly, is to also take action: to honour him with humility, and we will recognise that he will lift us up. ‘Praise the Lord!’ (verse 20).
‘If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest’ – Corrie Ten Boom.
God of action: satisfy us with your truth. Supply us with your power, so that we, too, take righteous action in our lives to withstand the challenges that confront us. O Lord, teach us to revere you, but especially, provide for us with your hope. Thank you for bestowing on us the richness that the psalms offer, everything to fulfil in us faith and love toward you and for one another. May our lives be a witness to your saving gospel truth that illuminates this dark world. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Tatiana is married to Jim, and they live in Largs North, a seaside location in Adelaide. They have two adult children and six grandchildren, who are a wonderful blessing to them both. Tatiana teaches full-time as an English, History and Religion teacher; she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Australian Lutheran College in 1996, and in her spare time, she enjoys knitting, gardening, singing for church, writing and swimming. Her home congregation is Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide.
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