“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob” (Psalm 81:1)

Jacob? Why Jacob?

I can think of so many better, more qualified, worthier candidates than Jacob in the Bible. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Isaiah, Samuel, Noah, Adam, and so many others.

Why does God keep referring to himself as the “God of Jacob”?

Jacob wasn’t the nicest guy.

• He entered the world holding onto the heel of his brother. Jacob literally means heel grabber
• He stole the right to be first born from Esau
• He tricked his father into blessing him instead of his older brother
• He gained a vast wealth by tricking his father-in-law’s family
• He played favorites among his sons
• He was not the best husband nor father

Sheesh! And that’s just the beginning of the reasons why Jacob is such a flawed character.

A flawed character…

Aha!!!

That’s precisely why God refers to himself as the God of Jacob. God’s choosing of Jacob had nothing to do with Jacob’s worthiness. It had everything to do with God’s grace and favor.

And did you know that’s why God loves flawed characters like you and me? It has nothing to do with our worthiness. God’s love for us has everything to do with God’s grace and favor.

Thank you, God!

God of Jacob. God of James. God of Brad. God of Lisa. God of Becky. God of Jan, Rex, Teri, Alan, Sharon, Amy, Bob, Bill, Shirley, Deanna, Kay, Jean, Cathy, Rick, Gayle…

“Be still and know I am God!” (Psalm 46:10)

Be anxious and know I am God? Nope.

Be filled with worry and know I am God? Nope.

Despair and know I am God? Nope.

Be still…and know I am God.

When the world around us is running amuck, when we’re stressed, when we are filled with worry and anxiety our minds run a million miles an hour. There are so many anxiety-filled thoughts we can’t even sleep. Our minds just run.

Ever been there?

It’s hard to find peace, rest, much less God in such a state.

So, take a big breath. Silence your mind. Quiet your heart. Focus on the presence of God as you draw near to him. As you quiet your mind and heart, as you become still, that’s when you’re going to find God.

I encourage you to read the entirety of Psalm 46 and pay attention to the context in which the psalmist writes.

• “…in trouble” (v.1)
• “…though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea” (v.2)
• “…though the seas roar and foam, though the mountains tremble” (v.3)
• “…the nations are in an uproar” (v.5)

The world has run amuck. Yet the psalmist discovers peace and comfort because he knows who his God is.

That same God is available and present today. Seek him.

“Be still and know I am God!”

Today’s verse of the day isn’t a verse but a meme I came across that I want to share with you.

So much of today’s feel-good, self-help, pop-psychology is terrible advice! It goes directly contrary to scripture and the teachings of Jesus.

Stick to Jesus and his leading. Follow him.