The God Who Is Personal

Hello Church Family!
 
You have likely heard me say that, “God is personal” (if you’ve been around long you’ve heard that a lot!) and I truly believe it! I am regularly reminded of that fact. Let me explain so that (hopefully) you too are encouraged to go to Him.
 
Just this week I have been reminded that God is at work in writing a story that I get to be a part of. Among challenging things happening in my life, I have seen Him at work as well – He’s been answering specific prayers that I have brought to Him, some prayers that are more recent prayers and some of them I’ve been asking Him about for some time. I have seen His provision; seen His care for us; seen His Spirit’s stirring in people. I have been reminded of His compassion for us. In my prayer cohort this week we talked about how our cynicism will thwart seeing His compassion and work in and around us. It was such a good reminder for me.
 
God is personal. We see it all over scripture, and we see it all around us. Look what Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”  That’s close. That’s personal. That doesn’t sound like a God who is just perpetually disappointed with us – like He is just waiting for us to get it right for once! No, no, He is the God who comes close. And we see it on display as we read the Gospels and watch Jesus move close to people – the down-and-outers, the broken, the discarded, the ones who couldn’t get it together. Frankly, people like you and me. He is accessible, He’s personal.
 
So how about you? When you slow down for a moment, in what ways can you think of how God has been personal to you? Do you have any Bible verses you can look to that will help remind you of His care and comfort for you? Do you feel distant from Him? What can you pray right now to invite Him to draw close? (James 4:8a, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”)
 
I will pray for you right now that you will see His closeness and how personal He is. I will pray that your own cynicism will be seen for what it is and crushed.
 
I love you church! And I love watching God at work among us.
 
 
Held By His Abundant Grace,


Pastor John

P.S.: We will be giving an update in the near future on our coming new location. We are excited, things are happening in the background but they are happening.