How to Focus on the Goodness of God All the Time

  

How to focus on the goodness of God

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

When we don’t get our way about something, or we experience a bad situation, our minds don’t think about the goodness of our heavenly Father.

Our humanity defaults to negative thinking unless we make the effort to turn our thoughts the opposite direction. Much like we change the channel on the TV when the broadcast is not favorable, we can flip the switch on thoughts.

Despite the fallen world we live in, God made a way for His love to shine through and show us His mercy and grace. He is not the author of disaster, He is the answer to our ability to overcome.

The Bible contains numerous verses that reveal the goodness of God. When these Scriptures are scattered through the Word, we don’t always see how many times the benevolence of the Lord is recorded for us.

Here are 6 verses that show us how to focus on the goodness of God all the time.

Do You Ever Feel Unworthy to Ask For God’s Help?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

What happens when we fail but we feel unworthy to ask for God’s help?

The Lord may have rescued us, but we fell into the same repeated behavior.

We can then feel guilty for asking for deliverance again.

We feel unworthy, condemned, and disappointed in ourselves.

If God Already Knows Everything, Why Do We Need to Pray?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Jesus’ disciples saw their Master spend time in prayer. On more than one occasion, He separated Himself and spent the night talking to God. These followers saw the fellowship Jesus had with the Father, and they wanted to know how to do the same.

These men asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and He answered them with what we call the Lord’s Prayer or the Model Prayer. His instructions, given in Matthew chapter six, were preceded by the following verses.

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:7–8 emphasis mine)

Jesus told His followers, and us, that vain repetition is not the way to talk to God. Prayer is not a recited formula, but a heart to heart conversation with our heavenly Father.

Why would Jesus tell us to pray if God already knows what we need? Multiple verses tell us to pray through all occasions. The Lord wouldn’t tell us to pray if we didn’t need this powerful assistance. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Here are 7 reasons we need to pray:

An Independence Day Prayer to Heal Our Land

 

 by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We celebrate our country’s birthday on July 4 because that is the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress.

But we don’t often contemplate the suffering the revolutionary patriots experienced to give birth to this country. A good exercise, not only during an Independence Day celebration, but anytime of year, would be to research the sacrifices of some of our founding fathers and the soldiers who fought the Revolutionary War.

If we answer the following questions, we can learn how to pray an Independence Day prayer. We can find information we may not have known that can show us more reasons to be thankful. We can discover more about the spirit behind the forces who opposed them, and what we can do about this invisible enemy that still threatens us today.  

Why was America founded?

What Can We Learn From the Triumphs and Failures of Biblical Fathers?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I’m thankful the Lord tells us about the failures of some of the biblical characters. If we didn’t know about their struggles and sins, we would think they were perfect. This could make us feel like we could never be successful at obeying God.

These accounts were given to us as an example (1 Corinthians 10:11). We can learn from all the triumphs and failures of biblical fathers. The same lessons can apply to mothers, as well.

Here are few examples of how our ancient ancestor’s parenting mistakes brought consequences, but also how God’s mercy and grace brought redemption.

4 Lessons From a Clay Pot

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I learned 4 lessons from a clay pot during a pottery demonstration.

I watched a potter spin the wheel with his foot. The talented hands worked the clay until it softened enough to form a pliable lump. Even though his hands moved and formed, the clay had to submit to the fingers pressing on it. If the clay was too hard, the bowl he wanted to create would not turn out like he planned.

The Practice of Biblical Meditation

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

As Christians, sometimes we hear the word “meditation” and we back off as if we are being pursued by a cult. We associate this practice with New Age religions. But is meditation a bad thing? 

The negative image comes from eastern religions that teach people to empty their minds, hum, and sit on the floor with their eyes closed.

But meditation simply means thinking about something. The difference in the benefit (or damage) is in what we think about. The practice of biblical meditation is in God's Word.

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God: for to you I will pray. (Psalm 5:1 AKJV)

We can see from this Scripture that biblical meditation is thinking about God’s Word and praying.

2 Reasons Christ's Disciples Didn't Believe Mary's Resurrection Report

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Even though Jesus warned the disciples more than once about the future suffering He would endure, they still didn't get it (Matthew 16:21).

Despite Christ’s warnings, His followers, like the rest of Israel, waited for a Messiah with military might. The Israelites conquered other nations and entered the Promised Land through war. Their history involved conquering and being conquered. Centuries later, when the Romans ruled over their country they assumed their long-awaited Messiah would rescue them through armed conflict.

The Master Teacher tried to prepare His companions for what lay ahead. But they couldn’t even stay awake to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Mary Magdalene was the first one Christ appeared to after the resurrection, and He gave her the task of proclaiming the good news that He was alive.

She went to the hidden followers and told them she had seen the Lord’s immortal body. They still didn’t pay attention to this eyewitness.

When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark 16:11)

Here are 2 possible reasons they doubted Mary's report.

How Does Perfect Love Cast Out Fear?

 

by Barbara Latta

What does the Bible mean when it talks about perfect love?

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. (1 John 4:18a NKJV)

I used to think the perfect love this verse talked about meant I had to display perfect love toward God and others for anxiety to leave me.

But after I heard someone explain this Scripture, the light came on in my mind. (Sometimes I'm slow!)

This verse speaks of God's love, not ours, because His love is the only perfection. We can't express perfect love no matter how close to Him we grow because we still have our flesh (mind and emotions) to deal with.

The second part of that verse says, But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18b)

How does perfect love cast out fear? 

Consistency is the Key to Success

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Do you ever suffer with being wishy-washy, inconsistent in accomplishing goals, or procrastinate like Scarlett O'Hara?

I often struggle with these ailments and frustration follows because of uncompleted tasks.

When I prayed about my dilemma, I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Consistency is the key."

Consistency is the key. What does that mean, Lord?

4 Scriptures to Overcome Thoughts of Condemnation and Guilt

 

4 Scriptures to overcome thoughts of condemnation and guilt

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Does your mind play games with your conscience over past sins? Do you suffer with guilt even though you know you are forgiven?

Sometimes the words of others can ignite those thoughts and bring the hammer down on any positive progression we have made in our souls.

I have heard these words from people before. "(Name of person) told me I have cancer because there must be sin in my life."

Or thoughts and accusations come after a disaster or tragedy such as, "This happened because of what I did." (Meaning they think they are being punished because of a past sin, not a consequence of a bad decisions such as having a wreck because of speeding.)

3 Ways to Win Spiritual Battles with the Sword of the Spirit

 

By Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

In ancient Rome, the army of Caesar was an institution to be feared. Everywhere they marched, these soldiers conquered. To resist them meant certain death.

They were heavily armed, trained, and disciplined. They had at their disposal an arsenal of weapons. Among these were various types of swords.

3 Benefits of God's Love

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Love is the foundation upon which all biblical doctrines rest. It is the cement that holds all other revelations together. How can we trust our heavenly Father to save us, provide for us, or heal us if we question the depth of His affection?

We may not feel His heart at times, but that doesn’t change the truth. We should believe He is passionate toward us because He said so.

We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19 NKJV). We can’t love God first because there isn’t anything in us to love Him with until we receive for ourselves the life He extends to us.

Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). We don’t deserve His mercy, but He gives it to us because of His grace.

God's love gives us more than we can ever count, but here are 3 benefits we can live out daily.

Remedies for Emotions That Can Create Thoughts of Insignificance

Remedies for emotions that cause thoughts of insignificance

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Have you ever felt insignificant? Hidden from God? That your life doesn't really matter?

The Bible provides examples of women who felt less than worthy. They didn’t feel as if their existence contributed to anything or anyone. Lives full of pain, despair, brokenness, and condemnation were all they knew.

Since the Bible does tell us about these women, we know their story is important. Their lives had a special meaning we can all learn from.

These biblical women are examples of how God overcame their difficulties and redeemed their souls. He will do the same for us with these remedies for emotions that can create thoughts of insignificance.

Start the New Year With New Thinking

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Have you ever thought about what you think about? We may not realize it but our thinking does control our lives.

New Year's resolutions usually involve changing some type of behavior. Rather than a resolution, why not a renewal? Why not start the new year with new thinking?

A renewal of our minds can bring about changed behavior.

Where do thoughts come from?