Character of God – Day 24 – Light

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2)

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” (John 1:9-11)

“To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79)

Twinkling lights are one of my favorite things this time of year. Whether a tasteful display of white lights glistening off a home or a fully decked out yard with all of the colors and inflatables, I love lights. We try to take several nights as a family going on the hunt for Christmas light displays. I have been dreaming and scheming for the day we can put up lights on our house. 

There is something special about light. Even the night sky does not seem nearly as brilliant and wonderful without the light of the moon and stars. Light shows us what is there. My oldest insists on having light in her bedroom to go to sleep at night. Why? So she always knows exactly what is there. Nothing is mysterious or scary when light is present. 

We are a people who once walked in darkness. But now a great light has come! What I love most about Jesus being the light of the world (think greater than the sun) is that darkness never can overtake Him. His light is that much greater than darkness. To say that the darkness of evil is greater would be like saying the moon is more powerful than the sun. 

Even the darkest night of the soul can be illuminated by the light of Christ. I have heard many evil and wicked deeds. Such wickedness is unrepeatable. One can feel heavy and burdened by the weight of bondage evil brings. But to speak of light overpowering the darkness is to speak hope into an otherwise hopeless situation.

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:19). “Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High…He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart” (Psalm 107:10-11, 14).

Praise God that we no longer have to sit in darkness! We do not have to be overcome, beaten down, or destroyed by it. God is not scared or weighed down by your darkness. He wants to shine light on it, not to expose you and shame you, but to make the darkness go away and be filled with the radiant warmth and goodness of His light. “He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:22). 

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness” (Psalm 18:28).

“Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:13). 

Let no crevice of your heart be hidden from the light this year. Allow light to shine into every part of you. In turn, may you shine brightly with the radiance of the light of Christ.

Challenge: As you look at lights today, praise God for being the light that shines brighter than the darkest night.

Character of God – Day 23 – Savior

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.” (Luke 1:68-71)

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

“For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32)

Today, I may sound a little redundant. After talking about Jesus being the good news of great joy, we start talking about Him as Savior. Can we ever talk enough about how wonderful Jesus is?

For roughly 400 hundred years there was silence. There were no new prophets or significant manifestations of God. To the outsider and even to the people of God it seemed as though God had forgotten them. 

Then an angel appears and starts proclaiming life changing messages to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph. The silence was broken with the anticipation of a Savior. Hope was alive!

Why do we need a Savior? Because we are without hope – in this world and for eternity – without one. Apart from Christ, we are prone to all manner of evil. In Titus, Paul refers to the state of the believer before Christ as “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” (3:3). We have no eternal recourse to bridge the gap of the sin of humanity with the salvific requirements of a holy God. We can’t knock on heaven’s door and request entrance based on anything good we have done. A fact I am grateful for, for none of us would enter.

Truth be told, I need to be saved from myself. Pride, irritation, impatience, selfishness, unrealistic expectations, laziness, envy, the list of what I need to be saved from feels neverending. If I focus on my failures and temptations, I will be feeling fairly hopeless. When I remember, however, that I am saved not only from the eternal effects of these sins, but I am saved by the power that conquers sin, the sins lose their grip on me. I don’t have to swirl in shame. What happened five minutes ago is redeemed, forgiven, and I can move forward in freedom and hope that God is making all things new in me. I am not a slave to that sin. I am no longer bound by the sin. Sin doesn’t define me. 

The enemy is against you. He does not desire for you to have a Savior. He wants to convince you that freedom in Christ is too-good-to-be-true. He wants to keep you down, feeling helpless and hopeless, and ineffective for any kind of kingdom work. Hope is a threat to him. He hasn’t won the battle against Christ, don’t let him win the battle for your soul. 

The baby born in Bethlehem so long ago came to save you from your worst enemy. He came to save you from hell itself and from the disastrous effects of living a loveless eternity. He came for you. There may be many things about faith that you question and doubt, but this doesn’t have to be one of them. Don’t make yourself an exception to salvation. You are part of the all He came for.

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

Challenge: Talk about Jesus today. I encourage you to speak more than He is the reason for the season. Speak of how He has saved you and the hope you have in Him.

Character of God – Day 22 – Good News

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)

Put aside for a minute expectations. Take out presuppositions of what it means to live a Christian life. Think of the emptiness that you would (or do) feel without Christ. In a world where sin is celebrated and on display, one can feel helpless and hopeless. 

Once sin entered the world, so did death – physical and spiritual. We see decay and fallenness all around us. Our world is in culture wars, gender wars, political wars; which ultimately these are spiritual wars. There is much confusion about what is right or wrong. If you have an opinion about something, unless it is the ‘right’ opinion (which is usually that of the loudest voice), you are not tolerated. Everything seems so upside down.

The writer of Ecclesiastes has something to say about this. “There is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us” (1:9b-10). While the methods and mechanisms of some sin may be different, truly there are no new sins. 

This is why we need good news! 2,000 years ago, good news was needed. We need it just as much now! 

The news is only good if we recognize that an awesome, holy God came to earth to love us in such a way that He would sacrifice Himself for us. The key is not only the sacrifice, but He conquered death, too. He did what we could not. The news becomes not so great when we start attaching our works, our failures, and our views of self to it. The news of Jesus is good and of great joy because we need a conquering hero, warrior King, mighty to save! We need someone who is not us, but knows what it is like to be us, to rescue us. 

You can’t work for it. You can’t earn it. You will never be able to make up for the sacrifice it cost. What you can do is receive the free gift to you of Jesus Himself and spend the rest of your life in humble gratitude to Him. 

I wonder how many people look at salvation as a burden rather than an unencumbered gift. When you think of your salvation, do you think in terms of self-deprecation or do you think in terms of grateful joy? Do you consider it good news for others but not for yourself? If it is only good enough for others and not for you, too, then it really isn’t good news of great joy for all people, is it?

Think of the best news you’ve ever had in your life. What was your reaction? Did you smile, shout, get excited? Did you cry tears of happiness? Chances are, the excitement of the good news faded over time. How incredible would it be for us to remember that the good news of great joy – Jesus – is for all people and its benefits are for all of eternity? The gift does not fade or lessen in value. There is no downside, gimmick, or trick. Instead, there is eternal hope, love, and freedom. 

Challenge: Think about Jesus. When you think of Him, do thoughts of joy and gratitude come up? Praise Him for the good news of great joy that He is!

Character of God – Day 21 – Trustworthy

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:37-38)

We’ve seen God as Redeemer, Provider, mighty, holy, omniscient, faithful, good, just, merciful, and kind. He is infinite, incarnate, peace, and love. He keeps His promises and prepares the way to Jesus. He is sovereign and great. He is peace and love. He helps and guides us. He is Truth. This is the God we get to say is also trustworthy.

Mary must have known this about God, because her response was one of trust. We don’t know what all she felt or thought. We do know, though, that she trusted God to do what He said He would. 

What keeps us from believing that God is truly trustworthy? He is the most trustworthy being. Yet we find ourselves hesitating to trust Him with every part of us and everything that is to come.

We tend to not trust people either because we don’t know their character or because we know their character and it has not proven to be trustworthy. Or we have been hurt by some and project the results of that hurt (distrust) onto others. Then we have the conundrum of not being able to trust ourselves, much less someone else. 

God does not fit the characteristics of the people who have hurt us or those out for selfish gain. Nor does He distrust Himself. He is not unstable or unsure. He is certain. He is all-knowing. He is worthy to be fully trusted and fully believed because He is not us. 

Could it be that our lack of confidence in God is due to our lack of belief that He is all of the characteristics (and more) that we have been studying? Perhaps we are picking and choosing the attributes that we feel good about believing, leaving some to skepticism. Because He is fully all of His character, we have to trust it all, folks.

But what if I don’t like what God is doing in my life? What if trusting Him means I have to go to Africa or sell everything I own? What if trusting Him involves great risk of my heart getting hurt? Answer the what ifs. Answer them with, God is still God. He is still good. He is still all of His attributes. Yes, you will still encounter pain, suffering, heartache, loss, and stress. But you will be trusting the God of all comfort to carry you and sustain you through those times. I think we get a little disoriented and disillusioned in thinking that life with God means no struggles. He says, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Instead of trying to trust that God will do what we want Him to do, let’s focus on trusting Him to be who He says He is and to do what He says He will do. That is a lot more secure!

May we with confidence (and without superstition) boldly proclaim as Mary, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). 

Challenge: Pick one area of your life that you will trust the fullness of God’s character with today. 

Character of God – Day 20 – Truth

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

When I was a child, I was a terrible liar (this is not an admittance of getting better with age). One day, Mom thought I was awfully quiet and found me in the kitchen. Before she could say a word, I put my hands behind my back and said, “I didn’t get two cookies!” I told on myself in the lie. 

The need to protect ourselves because of shame starts young. Children often lie either for fear of getting in trouble or because they are simply using their imaginations. My two-year-old has been committing rather intensely to her imaginative stories lately. 

The natural tendency to lie from a place of shame is not something Jesus would have done. He was truth in the beginning, even before the world was created. When He came to the earth as a newborn, He continued to be truth. In His death and resurrection, He was still truth. 

In a world where people are touting, “Live your own truth,” the meaning of the word “truth” has become watered down and unclear from a cultural perspective. (Side note: I highly recommend the book Mama Bear Apologetics for tips on how to approach such issues in a healthy way.) We need clarity. We need truth to be solid. We need truth to not be based on our fickle selves.

No argument can change the fact that Jesus is truth. He is not only the source of it, truth does not exist apart from Him. We need Jesus to be the absolute truth because He never changes. He is pure. He is just, holy, and righteous. He is entirely good. And He is all-knowing. I would not trust anyone else to be the source of truth, would you?

Truth came to show us His glory. And what is that glory full of? Grace and truth. Yes, God’s glory is about God and for God, but the benefits of it are for us. He doesn’t need grace and truth. We do. And His glory is full of it. “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). 

The last thing the enemy wants us to know is the truth. Shame is all about hiding in the shadows. Truth calls for vulnerability and trust, resulting in freedom. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). The enemy wants us to question truth, to convince us that life with Christ is “too good to be true,” to walk around enslaved to shame and sin. 

Remember the full character of God when it comes to believing that Jesus is Truth. Jesus made it possible for us to know God better than ever before. Know that Jesus is not deceptive or conniving (James 1:17). He knows and sees the realities of the fallenness of this world and He meets us with truth to both anchor us from dissuasion and set us free from the weights of shame. 

Challenge: Memorize one of the verses mentioned in today’s reading. Even if it takes you months to memorize one verse, you can do it. You won’t regret trying.

Character of God – Day 19 – Guide

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“…To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79)

Much like God helps us, He guides us. He guides our feet to the way of peace. As we discussed before, peace and tranquility are not always equal. There is a rich steadiness to peace. Jesus calms us with peace in the midst of a chaotic swirl of emotions or circumstances. 

I have been reading the allegory, Hinds’ Feet on High Places. The story is such a great example of the unexpected ways in which Jesus guides us. Just as the main character is guided through difficult paths, Suffering and Sorrow as her companions, she thinks she is almost done with the journey. Then, another turn is taken that seems to distance her from her destination. The Shepherd encourages her this is the way she must go. She is scared and apprehensive at first. Then she is reminded of the goodness of the Shepherd. He is only leading her in the good and best ways. To get where she wants to go and become who she wants to be, she will have to trust Him.* 

Most of us can identify, can we not? I fear too many are settling for a passive form of Christianity because of fear of what may be hard. Either hard to give up (Matthew 19:16-26), hard to go through, or hard to submit, we shy away from it if we can’t control it. We lose out on really knowing Christ and experiencing the eternal privileges we have access to today. Perhaps what is really hard is allowing ourselves to be guided (hello prideful heart). 

Think of the path it took for Jesus to guide us to peace. His journey was not easy. He humbled Himself to earth, taking on human form. What followed brought people questioning Him and His validity, people not believing Him, betrayal by someone He discipled, grief, threatening His life, and then a brutal unthinkable death. 

It was the Lord alone who guided Israel and provided for them along the way (Deuteronomy 32:12). While the journey was difficult and ridden with many obstacles, the Israelites were led by God. “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode” (Exodus 15:13). 

He guides us for His name’s sake (Psalm 31:3). He will guide forever (Psalm 48:14). He guides the nations (Psalm 67:4). He guides in and to truth (John 16:13). I love this one, “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:23-24). What a comforting, assuring truth!

Challenge: Do you trust the Shepherd to guide you to peace? Do you trust the guide over the journey or even the destination? Ask Him to guide you, knowing that He will guide you to peace. He is much more trustworthy than GPS, and we tend to utilize that regularly.

*References
Hurnard, H. (1979). Hinds’ Feet on High Places. Living Books.

Character of God – Day 18 – Helper

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.” (Luke 1:54)

I have heard this statement countless times, “I have a hard time asking for help.” In the past, this rang true for me, too. That was, until a friend challenged me that to serve others well, I had to learn to be served, too. 

We miss out on receiving so much goodness when we resist asking for help. Even more, we miss out on the strength and power of receiving help from God Himself when we don’t ask. Thankfully, He often helps us regardless if we have requested it. 

In His mercy, God helps. I can think of multiple major times in my life where God helped me by keeping me from following through with some serious decisions that would have been life altering. At the time, I didn’t see His interventions as helpful. But, having come through to the other side, I am grateful He helped me by saving me from disaster. Does He always do this? No. I think sometimes we have to walk out some consequences of our lack of wisdom. But in a way, He is helping us there, too. He sanctifies us through this.

God has provided for us a constant Helper, the Holy Spirit. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17a). The top two things I personally ask Him for help with are wisdom and patience. Lately, I’ve been trying to remember to ask His help to be gentle in my responses with my children, too. I need His help every day, all day.

Back to the verse. Think of Israel’s history. Time and again they were unfaithful and turned away from God. They worshiped idols. They neglected the mercy of the Lord. Yet the Lord has helped Israel in the greatest way – by sending the ultimate Rescuer, the ultimate help, through Jesus. And all because of His mercy. 

He helps us because He is merciful. And kind. And compassionate. Just like Israel, He loves us and knows our frame and how much we need help, so He gives it. He doesn’t leave us to struggle needlessly.

When you ask God for help, ask with an open mind. Usually His methods of help are not what we anticipate. We want help with our finances and He may provide in a way that calls us to be patient, faithful, and consistent. We want help with our relationships and He may allow some challenging opportunities in order for hurts to be healed. God is always looking at the long-term, big picture sanctifying process. But remember, He is kind and gracious, and is good in the way He helps us. 

Challenge: What are you hesitant to ask God for help with? My challenge for you this year is to surrender your pride and ask Him for help. Trust that He will.

Character of God – Day 17 – Just & Merciful

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“And His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” (Luke 1:50-52)

“That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant… To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high.” (Luke 1:71-72, 77-78)

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:18) 

Discussing the justice and mercy of God is challenging, but even harder if we do not talk about them together. God is fully just and fully merciful. He is never off-balanced in either.

If God is just, why does he allow abuse? If God is just, why is there sickness? If God is just, why is there hunger? If God is just, why are there natural disasters? If God is just, why is there death?

I want to counter all of these questions with, what makes us think we are more just than God? Keep in mind that God is holy. There is none like Him and no other that thinks like Him. We function according to His justice, not our sense of it. Though I would say that our sense of justice usually reflects His in a way.

We want what is right according to what we think is right. God requires what is right based on what He deems so. He is not elusive as to what is right or wrong. He clearly communicates what is sin. And it is also clear that we have all sinned and don’t even come close to reaching His standard of holiness on our own (Romans 3:23).

The truth is, because of our sin and God’s justice, we deserve eternal separation from God. That is what is ultimately just. But God’s justice is met with God’s mercy in a way that wholly benefits us. “To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…” (Luke 1:77-78). In God’s justice and mercy, He provided the only solution – Himself. We are “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). 

Because of God’s justice, Christ came. Because of His mercy, Christ was provided to take the punishment on Himself for our sins. Why? Because God wants us. He wants us to be restored to Him. 

God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). His mercy is abundant (Psalm 69:16). His mercy is great (Psalm 119:156). His mercy is “over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:9). His mercy and justice are what connect us to Him forever (Hosea 2:19). 

May our cry in response to God’s justice and mercy be, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1). And, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). 


Challenge: Reflect on all of the ways God has shown you mercy recently. From that place of receiving mercy, to whom can you show mercy this week?

Character of God – Day 16 – Kind

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:48-49)

“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25)

These two verses so beautifully represent the kindness of the Lord. He considered Mary to carry the Savior. He blessed a humble young woman who was unsuspecting of any fame and glory in her life. 

Then we have Joseph. He is one of my favorite characters in the Christmas story. His humility, kindness, and devotion to the Lord and to his betrothed are remarkable. When I think of who displays the kindness of the Lord, I think of Joseph. Even his thought process before the angel came to him was to be kind to and honor Mary when the law stated he could have done otherwise. 

When you think of God, do you think of Him as kind? He exudes and proclaims kindness. In His kindness, He will show us “the immeasurable riches of his grace” (Ephesians 2:7). In His kindness, He leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). He doesn’t shame us to repentance. In His kindness, He saved us (Titus 3:4-5). 

God has the power to obliterate. He has the power to condemn. He has the authority to wield His power in any manner He chooses. Yet, He does not do those things because He is kind to us. He is patient with us. His mercy, goodness, love, and kindness are bestowed upon us instead of His wrath. Christ took on His wrath on our behalf. The Savior came to this earth out of His steadfast love and kindness for us. 

The Holy Spirit offers us help with exemplifying kindness as God is kind. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Because this is of the Holy Spirit, it is also of God Himself. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have the same attributes. And these listed in Galatians are ones He wants us to walk in, as well. In His kindness, He empowers us with the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

What is our response to God’s kindness? Consider the following verses as a heart posture of learning, receiving, and pursuing.

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Challenge: Think of God looking upon you with kindness. Who can you be kind to today that would reflect God’s heart for you?

Character of God – Day 15 – Good

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:53)

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.” (Psalm 145:15-17)

How many times in your life have you heard the phrase, “God is good?” For the believer, it is such a familiar phrase – and rightfully so. But what is the overall understanding of this truth? How do you respond to it? 

God is never not good. (You are itching to say, “God is good all the time,” aren’t you?) We face mountains of stressful and overwhelming circumstances. Some are brought on by the natural brokenness of the world in which we live. Some are due to our own sin. Some are as a result of the sin of someone else. No matter what kind of “bad” we face, God is always good. 

From His goodness, He responds to us. From His goodness, He shows compassion on us. From His goodness, he teaches us and sanctifies us to reflect more and more of His character. 

I love what Amy Gannett has to say on the subject of God’s goodness. “God’s holiness tells us something about where we get our human standards of morality and perfection; God sets that standard. But God’s goodness takes this conversation a step further – God is not only the standard of moral purity, but he is benevolent in all that he does. From top to bottom, God is good. He is a fountain of generosity (James 1:5; John 3:16)…” (Gannett, p.36-37)

Reflecting back to our conversation on holiness, remember that God cannot sin. Therefore, nothing He does is ever bad or wrong. We may feel like some of His actions are bad or wrong because of the challenging and often weighty effects of them. But we have to stop trying to understand God based on our feelings or interpretations of what He does and does not allow in our lives. Doing so only brings about confusion, hurt, and a shaky foundation of belief in Him.

The verses mentioned at the beginning reflect God’s compassion and goodness. He satisfies with His goodness. He fills the hungry with good things. Those things may not be what we think we need; they are better. In a way, we could look at it as though He fills us with more spiritual nutrition compared to the less nutritious options we may choose for ourselves. 

You are not exempt or excluded from being a recipient of His goodness. “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” (Psalm 145:9) Life does not have to be easier or better for you to see and experience that God is good. I will venture to say that you will find a richer belief in God’s goodness when it is not based on how good your circumstances are. 

What should our response be to the goodness of God? I think there are two primary ways to react. The first is through praise. “They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness” (Psalm 145:6-7). The second is to ask the Lord to help you reflect goodness in your dealings with others. 

Challenge: Find a worship song that speaks of the goodness of God and sing along with it today. 

References

Gannett, A. (2021). Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him. B&H Publishing Group.

Character of God – Day 14 – Love

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

Does God’s love ever feel like a mystery or an intangible out-of-reach concept? I think it is often misunderstood, questioned, and misconstrued. We tend to approach trying to understand God’s love through our earthly experiences of human love. No wonder we can have a difficult time comprehending the true love of God!

God did not create love. He is love. Just like He is 100% all of His characteristics, so He is of love. He didn’t have to learn to love. Love comes from Him. It is not merely something He demonstrates, but it is His very being. He does not turn off love in order to exhibit any other characteristic. Love is exercised with all of the rest of His character.

God’s love is not like any other you could ever know. His love is eternal. His love is pure. His love is not shaken or impacted by our failings. No one and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). He is good in His love. 

His love is for you. Argue all you want to try to prove why God shouldn’t love you, but it won’t change the truth that He does. Is there anyone else in your life who would selflessly sacrifice himself for you? And not just for you, but for the whole world! You can bring Him all of your good, bad, and ugly and He will meet you with love. 

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). 

His love is greater than a parent’s love. His love is deeper than any romantic love. He doesn’t just have good intentions to love and then turns on you with anger. Actually, God says He is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). He is consistent. He does not change (Hebrews 13:8). We never have to question His love for us, because of this.

The great God who knows all, sees all, is above all, and is all-powerful, He is the God who loves us. This almighty God humbled Himself into human form to demonstrate His love for us in the most loving, powerful, unmatched act ever. This is an overwhelming love because it wrecks our natural tendencies to feel like we have to earn love or that love has to be equal in some way. We can never love God back in the same way He loves us.

And it is humbling to admit how desperately we need His love. All of the crevices of your heart that long for hope and healing, His love reaches. His love is healing. His love is forgiving. His love is saving. There is nothing sketchy, shady, deceptive, or manipulative about His love. (Side note: if any of those words are part of your definition of love with anyone, that is not really love.) Some say His love is too good to be true. But His love is too good to not be true. 

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

Challenge: Ask yourself if there is anything that hinders you from receiving the love of God. Confess it to Him and ask for His help in having the faith to believe that His love is true. How can you share the love of God with others this Christmas?

Character of God – Day 13 – Faithful

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.’” Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s Magnificat is such a testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness. We discussed that God keeps His promises. We talked about Him being a great provider. Both of which are strong reflections of His faithfulness. The three could probably be lumped together. But His faithfulness is what I cling to and want to exclaim with Mary, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” 

Once again, we are going down a different path. Sitting with the Restoring Hope Counseling team today to celebrate Christmas together, I was freshly reminded of God’s faithfulness. I want to honor God and the team by sharing testimony of His faithfulness. I want to share a portion of what would be my magnificat to the Lord.

God has brought each team member at just the right time and with much purpose. No two people are alike, yet we are all unified in the truth and love for God. We get along in such a unique and wonderful way and enjoy spending time together. This is such a gift.

The team has worked so hard in these last five years to build RHC. They have put blood, sweat, and tears into its growth (literally, because we have had some old buildings to contend with). They have sacrificed time and resources. And it has all been so we can help more people. 

As much as I tell them and God how grateful I am for each of them, I don’t know that they will ever truly know the depths of my gratitude. Because in the process of growth, they have also been instrumental to my own healing. Their trust and encouragement have been a salve to my soul.

Words spoken to me, about me, and over me through the years left indelible marks and not for the good. While I don’t think any of the speakers intended harm, their words were unkind and unnecessary. I was told by one that they could never see me directing anything. I was told in my early 20s that I had a strong personality (I get why that was said, but it made me very self-conscious). The first time I was in a position to lead a team, other leadership changed and the environment became very toxic, impacting everyone.

I am not sharing this to invite sympathy or to paint myself as a victim. My actions, words, and attitudes are not always stellar and sadly, I have likely hurt others in the way I have been hurt. What I want you to know is that God is so faithful to redeem. He heard each of those comments. He knew every situation. He knew how beaten up and bruised my heart was as a result. I felt very insecure about leading a team after the last job. 

God has so graciously gifted me with a team who is faithful. I tend to freely and openly talk about dreams and goals for RHC. Some may get wide-eyed in response, but at the end of the day, their trust is so kind and solid. In gratitude for their trust, I want to do as much as I can for them. We have had a lot of challenges thrown our way – more so this year than any other – and they chose to continue doing the work God has put before them rather than give up. I am amazed by them. I am even more amazed that God is this faithful to heal through ways that weren’t sought after, but much needed. In His time, in His omniscience, in His sovereignty, in His provision, He does great and mighty things to display His faithfulness. 

I am forever grateful.

Challenge: What would you say in your magnificat (hymn of praise to God)? What has God redeemed in your life through His faithfulness? How will you respond in faithfulness to Him?

Character of God – Day 12 – Omniscient

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed…so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34b & 35b)

I hope by now you are seeing that not all of the characteristics of God we are covering are explicitly stated within the Christmas story. This is exactly why this theme has both excited and challenged me. When you are so familiar with the story, as many are, it is easy to miss key elements that reflect God’s heart and character. 

God being omniscient (i.e. all-knowing), is not usually something mentioned during Advent. But if you look closely, you will find a reflection of His omniscience tucked away in Luke 2:35. In this part of the story, Simeon shifted his blessing from talking to Joseph and Mary to directing the conversation to Mary. What he tells her may have been a bit confusing at the time. The very last line of what he said is where I want us to focus today.

“So that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 

The statement may feel a little disturbing, as it should. What do you think about the fact that Jesus knows your innermost thoughts? The great, holy, sovereign, mighty Redeemer knows your thoughts. And He loves you, by the way.

God knows all. There is no escaping the knowledge of God. (See Psalm 139.) There is also no beating it, mastering it, or knowing everything that He knows. 

If we were to even try to come close to knowing what God knows, we would be crushed under the weight of such knowledge. Which is why I think we have such intense levels of anxiety. Our anxiety is not because God knows all of our thoughts, but because we are trying to grasp what is only for Him to know. 

I never thought I had a problem with anxiety. Part of that was due to ignorance. Anxiety issues really came to the forefront when I was pregnant with my first child. The anxiety issues then continued into postpartum. I wound up needing to take medication to help. The theme was always centered around loss…or ants. But that is a conversation for another day. 

Here I am, a well-trained counselor, trying to help others with their anxieties and experiencing it myself. On one hand, it was confusing – trying to implement all of the tools I knew how to do and still thoughts and images popped up regularly. On the other hand, it was a gift to understand my clients better. 

Why am I telling you all of this? Because it is the truth that God knows all things – past, present, future – that has been the predominant alleviant to anxiety. Has knowing this truth magically made thoughts go away? No, but when they come, I know how to speak to them. This truth comforts me. Anxiety wants me to guess at really horrible outcomes. But only God knows what is to come. And when I trust that He is for me and not against me; that He is kind, good, merciful, loving, just, righteous, holy, almighty, I can with quivering lips and tearfilled eyes remind myself to stay in the present and trust God with the future. The more I’ve done this, the less frequent the anxious thoughts have risen. 

Trust that, because God is all-knowing, you don’t have to be. You were not meant to be God. There is so much freedom in this truth! 

“The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out… I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:1b, 3-5)

Challenge: What have you been eager or desperate to know, but perhaps is not for you to know or understand? What keeps you from trusting God in this area? Allow your thoughts to be revealed. God already knows them, but it can help if you reveal the theme of them to yourself and be vulnerable before God. 

(Once again, we didn’t address the ‘why’ questions when it comes to God, though His omniscience applies here, too. Sometimes the answers are more than we can handle.) 

Read Psalm 139.

Character of God – Day 11 – Holy

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35)

“For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:49)

Mary repeated what the angel told her. She believed what the angel said and worshiped God as a result. The angel is telling her that Jesus will be born and will be called holy. She, in turn, praises God for being holy. 

But what is holiness? Amy Gannett explains it this way: “God possesses absolute moral purity. He is perfectly perfect in his nature, will, ways, and character.” (Gannett, p. 35) God defines pure. He alone is sinless. He can never sin, because He is wholly pure. He is set apart. There is none like Him. 

I love what Jackie Hill Perry says about God’s holiness. “If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against me. If He can’t sin against me, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?” (Perry, p.2) 

Let’s challenge a few faulty thoughts with this truth: God cannot sin. I feel like God is out to get me. That would mean He is malicious. He can’t be malicious, because that is sin. God seems cruel sometimes. Cruelty is sin. He isn’t cruel because He isn’t sinful. I see how He cares for other people, but He can’t love and care for me the same way. It’s too much. If this were true, then God would be a liar, which would make Him a sinner, and he can’t be a sinner. He is holy.

The list is long of thoughts that tend to question God’s character and impose on Him sinful qualities that He does not and cannot have. If we address those questions with the truth that God is holy, He cannot sin, it can change the questions. It can also stop us from asking questions that imply God is sinful. That frees us up to look at who He really is and take comfort in His holiness. 

This sinless, perfect God decided to come down to a sin-filled earth, taking on human form and lived out perfection before us. He did so that we may know Him. He did so because we are sinful. We can never meet the standard of holiness that is who He is. So He brought Himself to us, sacrificed for us, that we may have the opportunity to be holy, too.

But I mess up, daily. You don’t know and understand the sins I’ve committed, the thoughts I’ve had. I could never be holy. I could never be considered holy. 

Yes…and no. You can never be considered holy on your own. It isn’t possible for any of us. The weight of performance to try to be holy is way too heavy. It is a burden we aren’t able or meant to bear. This is exactly why we desperately need Christ.

Christ imputes His holiness to us. In other words, He has put His holiness on us. We get to respond to it, not strive for it. Believing this truth to the very core of your soul can help relieve you of perfectionism. Now that would be a great Christmas gift, wouldn’t it?

“For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45)

“Since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16)

“And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’” (Isaiah 6:3)

“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” (Isaiah 43:15)

“Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!” (Psalm 99:3, 5, 9)

“But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.” (Isaiah 5:16) 

Challenge: Evaluate yourself. Are you striving for holiness or responding to holiness? Striving could look like trying to consistently do a checklist of “holy” things. Responding takes on more of the heart that because Christ has done for me and He is holy, I want to be holy, too. Therefore, I will respond to conviction. I will respond to the truth. I will respond to the call to be obedient.

References

Gannett, A. (2021). Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him. B&H Publishing Group.

Perry, J. H. (2021). Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him. B&H Publishing Group.

Character of God – Day 10 – Mighty/Omnipotent

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

“For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:49)

“He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:51-53)

Only God is all-powerful. Your boss, your spouse, your parents, the government, they do not even come close to having an inkling of the power God has. No ruler has ever been or ever will be greater. Death does not have victory over Him. He is mighty.

Before you start asking the ever plaguing and challenging question of If God is so powerful why doesn’t He stop sin and death, let me address part of it. He has plans for this. So far, all of His plans have come to fruition, so there is no need to believe that He will suddenly not do what He says He will do. The day is coming when, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Perhaps some of our longing for Him to use His power to right wrongs and make things better is because we only have the temporal things in mind instead of eternal gain. 

I know it is tricky to think of why God uses His power to physically heal some and not others. Why do some die so young and others are saved in near-death experiences? Those who tend to carry anger in this area have many questions for God. Why didn’t He protect me from the abuse? Since He is all-powerful, He could have stopped anyone and anything. He is greater than sin, right?! I won’t even pretend to know the answers to these questions. But I will say, I think we often misappropriate them.

There are two veins of thinking to consider today. First, God is mighty. Mightier than anyone or anything imaginable. You think your sin is overwhelming? Sin can feel so powerful that we will cave to temptation because we find it to be stronger than us. God is more powerful than our sin. Think about that. That can really preach good news to your soul!

The second is that we see acts of God’s power all throughout Scripture. And His enactments of power have greater purpose than our comfort (though we see that, too). He is the Almighty God who spoke planets, galaxies, and living beings into existence. He is the Mighty God who parted the red sea so the Israelites could cross, brought the dead back to life, came to earth as a baby born of a virgin, and was Himself resurrected. Not to mention the countless miracles displayed in Scripture.

We can trust His power. We can trust His might. We can trust His control of it and over the world, too. While sin and darkness look menacing and overpowering, they cannot and will not overcome the Lord our God. 

“O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?” (Psalm 89:8)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, emphasis added)

Challenge: Think of the things in your life that seem to have the most power. How do they compare to the power of God? Ask God to help you see Him as mighty in your life and over your circumstances.

For further reading:

Job 9:4

Psalm 24

Psalm 93:4

Psalm 106:2

Psalm 145 (compare to Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55)

Psalm 150:2

1 Peter 5:6-7

Character of God – Day 9 – Peace

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“…Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20b

“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’” Luke 1:30

Fear and alarm pop up consistently through the Christmas story. Mary is frightened by the angel. Joseph feared to take Mary as his wife once she found out she was pregnant and not by him. Zechariah was “troubled” and “fear fell upon him” when an angel appeared to him (Luke 1:12). Herod was fearful of his throne being usurped by an innocent child (Matthew 2:3).

In most of these cases of fear, the person is told to “fear not.” The declaration is then followed with a why, which is an assurance of what was happening and what was to come. The recipient then had a choice to make: believe or not believe.

We don’t exactly get the luxury of knowing what is to come when it involves fear. Do not most fears involve an anticipation of what is unknown to us? Other fears, like coming across a poisonous snake, being caught in a tornado, facing a life-threatening diagnosis, are body driven and the intent is to protect us and keep us alive. These are very functional fears.

The not so functional fears are the ones that our imaginations do to combine some of what we do know with a lot of what we don’t know. What if I say or do the wrong thing? What if I get in a bad accident? What if my spouse gets very ill? These are but a few examples of the ways our minds can start heading down a road of crippling fear. 

To these fears, I would say a similar approach applies as to that of the angel’s instruction. Fear not, because… This is where the importance of speaking truth to our minds and hearts is needed. Because a little baby grew and became the slain lamb to save the world. Because the sinless Savior died and rose from the dead. Because that one act has offered a deeper, more profound peace that is better than any other we could ever grasp. Because He wants us to know peace. Because knowing peace means knowing Jesus.

Peace does not mean an absence of pain. Peace is not the same as tranquility, as one of our pastors recently stated. “The Hebrew word for ‘peace’ is one of the most remarkable words in that ancient biblical language. Its meaning is much more profound than simply the cessation of war. It refers to wholeness, completeness, total well-being.” (Barker, K. L. (1999). Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Vol. 20, p. 191). Broadman & Holman Publishers.) We can only find that wholeness in Jesus. 

I get that peace can often sound and feel elusive to some. But I believe we experience true peace when we are confident in the truth of who Jesus is and that He has the power over our circumstances. One of my favorite ways of applying truth to fear is, once the “what if” comes to mind, I say “even so,” or “God is still good,” or “even if, He will comfort and provide.” Then I ask God for help with the fear. Help to focus on truth, to focus on Him, to be confident that He knows what He is doing so I don’t have to. And when I struggle to do this on my own, other believers help to gently, kindly, and firmly remind me of the truth. This helps combat the fears, too.

What gospel is most often preached to your heart? Is it the gospel of peace or a gospel of worry? Is fear more familiar than peace? Do you know that this can change? You can experience a peace that reaches the depths of your soul, fills your entire being, and carries you through life. It has to be completely anchored in Jesus and not your circumstances. It takes having confidence in Christ, which involves having an unshakeable belief in Him, too.

Here are some verses of peace to reflect on:

“And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15)

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7)

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Challenge: Consider what tends to keep you from, rob you of, or threaten peace. What is the root of it? Once you can pinpoint that, ask yourself what that fear is saying about God. For example, the consistent fear may be of losing your job. The root of that may be not feeling like God will provide or that there is a false sense of security. Then ask the Lord to help you believe what you need to believe about Him in order to confidently address your fears.

Character of God – Day 8 – Provider

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’” (Genesis 22:8a)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

“…For he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation…that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.” (Luke 1:68b, 71-72)

The Lord provided the greatest gift in all of eternity by providing Himself. From the story of Abraham and Isaac (which was a type of foreshadowing of what was to come through Christ), to the prophecy in Isaiah, to the prophecy proclaimed by Zechariah, there is a theme of provision. The provision was not financial, or legal, or any type of earthly kingship. There was nothing temporal about it. God provided a child. And not just any ordinary child, but a great One. He was (and is) the One who had the power to save all the people through all generations. 

The eternal provision of the Lord far surpasses any earthly provision we receive. God is not slack in His provision. Yet, sometimes we get so caught up in the stress of wanting earthly provision that we miss the faithfulness of and to the eternal. Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe He provides for our day-to-day lives, too. I have seen Him do so over and over again in my own life.

A few years ago, I lost my job. Not long before this happened, I bought a house. Needless to say, that layoff was very unforeseen, but also very needed. The last year of that particular job had been inexplicably difficult and I had been praying for rest. God provided in a very unexpected way.

I was left with a very quick decision of turning what I had been doing part-time (counseling) into full-time work. Growing a counseling practice is typically not something that happens overnight. And it didn’t. It took time.

That next year, I think I made around $15,000. On paper, nothing made sense. But I never missed a mortgage payment.

The Lord provided in so many ways, many of which were through my church family. A friend who is a professional photographer offered to do headshots as a gift. Another friend provided a website. My pastor, without hesitation, let me use the building we were in at the time to see clients. My sister-in-law’s sister-in-law (yes, you read that right) designed my business cards. My parents paid for me to receive counseling, too. 

That year became one of the most exciting years yet! I started looking forward to how God would provide. I felt truly taken care of as His daughter. What I was doing was scary, unpredictable, and a big risk. The only financial stability I could depend on was God Himself. The whole time the Lord kept confirming, This is the way, walk in it. And now, I absolutely love what I get to do.

That time of provision has driven how I pray, dream, and lead. While yes, there have been sufferings, heartaches, a lot of trials and temptations, and a lot of struggles, none of those have kept God from providing. And He usually provides in ways that I did not plan (I can do some planning), but works out better than my ways ever could.

I want to give you one more perspective on this that may be a little uncomfortable. God does not always provide an easy way out from the natural consequences of our sin or unwise choices. Scripture is filled with examples, usually of the Israelites, of consequences to faithless actions or from idolatry. Even still, God provided for His people. 

Sometimes the provision is through pain. Christ is the ultimate example of this. Other times, the provision may be through a perceived lack. Provision can also come through the answer of “no.” No matter the method, God provides for you. I pray this Christmas, when it is so tempting to get caught up in what we can and can’t afford, that you see all the good God has given you, starting with the Savior.

Challenge: We can either look at all we lack or we can look at what He has given us. Here is a little homework assignment for you – write down all the ways God has provided for you this year (or over your life). Include how He has provided for you spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially, any way you can think of, write it down. Feel free to share with others (and us)!

Character of God – Day 7 – Sovereign

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:32-33

We are revisiting these verses from a couple of days ago. There is so much contained in them that deserve our attention. Today, I want to focus on the acknowledgement of the sovereignty of God within these verses.

Never on this side of heaven will God’s sovereignty be fully understood. We try to wrap our minds around it with ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions. Through the most trying times we may be told, “God is sovereign” or try to remind ourselves of this truth. But the statement can feel like it is lacking if a deep-rooted belief in the wholeness of His sovereignty is not present. 

To tell anyone who has suffered at the hands of cruelty or grief that God is sovereign can feel unkind. Yet, this is one of the many truths to which we cling when trying to make sense of the harshness of life. For the believer who truly believes God is good and not out for our harm, there is comfort in knowing God reigns over everything. To the unbeliever, there is a question of how good can this sovereign God be if He allowed _______. 

Though He is sovereign, we still ask Him the why questions. He may or may not reveal the whys to us. What an incredible King that He allows us to ask the questions and does not strike us for them! The question is, can we accept and take comfort in knowing that the all-sufficient, all-knowing, fully just, fully loving King has authority and purpose in what we do not understand?

He is good. There is nothing bad or wrong in Him. He is just. Nothing goes unseen or unaddressed. He is perfect. He is pure. He is righteous. He is holy. This is the God who reigns.

He does not reign with unkindness or cruelty. He is not egotistical, for how can a sinless God be selfish? He orchestrated a plan of redemption at the moment it was needed and executed it throughout time to bring us the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He cares for His people greater than any earthly king ever could. He sent His own bloodline – royalty – as a sacrifice for our sins. He is a King that laid down His life for His people.

Amy Gannett, in her book Fix Your Eyes, states, “God’s lordship extends into all areas of the universe. There is no place where God does not possess total and right authority and rule… This doctrine is not the result of a democracy. God hasn’t campaigned for the place of universal authority, listing his incommunicable attributes as the traits that would make him a fitting king. We are not voting on whether or not God takes the position of unrivaled ruler; it belongs to him. Authority is his because he is the author of all” (Gannett 33).

He is all-knowing. He is faithful. He never changes. He always was, always is, and always will be. Death has no power over Him. “He’s an uncorrupted King with a kind hand, wisely directing all that goes on in the Universe” (Gannett 34). This is the God we trust to rule and reign. This is why we can say, You, oh Lord, are sovereign over us. 

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” Daniel 4:34-35

“…He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:15b-16

“…And the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14b

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:6-7

“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:16

Challenge: Do you take offense or comfort in knowing that God is sovereign? When you think of authority, do you have negative responses to it and project those onto God? Take some time to really reflect on God’s character and that He does not reign apart from it. Also consider, do you trust His authority in your life?

Work Cited

Gannett, Amy. Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him. B&H Publishing Group, 2021.

Character of God – Day 6 – Prepares the Way

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1:16-17

Today we are going to go a slightly different route and look at some of the preparatory aspects involved in the Christmas story. In Luke, the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Zechariah regarding the coming birth of his son, John, is before the announcement of Jesus. Elizabeth was pregnant first, then Mary, though their pregnancies overlapped (Luke 1:41). 

Jesus did not just arrive on the scene unannounced. While baby John was a little too young to be announcing the birth of Jesus, God had the specific purpose for him to one day prepare the hearts of the people for the ministry of Jesus on earth. He was instrumental in communicating the gospel. 

The angels were the primary ones to prepare the hearts of some of the key characters of Christmas. Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, to Mary, and he was likely the one that appeared to Joseph, as well (the account in Matthew does not state the name of the angel). An angel, along with a “multitude of the heavenly host” (Luke 2:13) appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of the Savior. 

And let us not forget the star appearing to the wise men, indicating that Jesus was born. 

Then you have Simeon who was promised that he would not die before he had seen Christ. 

The whole earth seemed ripe with expectation of what was to come.

The application of the concept of preparation is a little tricky. For some of you, you may over prepare. Others, preparation happens on the go, rather than intentionally. (I am guilty of both, usually the latter more so.) 

God is intentional in His preparation. Keep in mind, He prepares the way to Jesus. We may not always know the behind the scenes details, why we are suffering, or what is upcoming. But we can know with certainty that much like He prepared the way for Jesus, He prepares the way for us to know Jesus, too. 

Preparation is part of our design. Even what we learn must be built on a previously learned concept. A baby doesn’t come out of the womb walking. Soil must be prepared for optimal growth of a seed into a plant. 

Much the same, we cannot expect ourselves to know everything there is to know about God on the first day of faith. Actually, I would venture to say we can never know everything there is to know about God (for then we would be Him…and historically that has not bode well for those who have attempted). Such is the beauty of sanctification, that God knows the state of our hearts and builds on the truths implanted through the work of the Holy Spirit. He prepares us to learn. He prepares us to grow. Again, He prepares the way for Jesus to be our vision, our hope, our affection, our peace, the anchor for our souls. 

Challenge: Who (or what) in your life has God used to help prepare your heart to know Jesus? Can you see the many ways in which He has prepared you for the good work He has you doing now? How does it impact your viewpoint to consider God preparing you to know Jesus versus God preparing you for the future? Who are you helping to prepare the way to Jesus?

Character of God – Day 5 – Great

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:32-33 (emphasis added)

The English language has absconded with the word “great” to diminish it to a point that it no longer seems to have an impressive meaning. How often we have said, “That sounds great!” The word has simply become part of our day-to-day vocabulary. Let us not let the English language, however, rob us of the impact this description of God can have on our understanding of His character.

God being “great” goes beyond a meal blessing of “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food.” (Albeit, that is a sweet and true phrase.) We may talk and sing about God’s greatness, but do we ever pause to think of how truly awe-striking it is?

Picture an aspect of creation that you think the word “great” easily applies. If it is the ocean, imagine its vastness. When you look out over the waters, nothing else is in view but the horizon, acting as if it touches the water. Ponder its depth. No one can reach the depth of the ocean. 

Consider the sky. Beyond it, outerspace. It is not physically possible to explore the entirety of space, for it goes farther than we could ever envision. 

Think of the mountains. They appear massive in height, splendid in detail, rich in color. They are great in size and beauty (and sometimes fear if you are scared of heights). 

Do you ever stop to think that there is something – someone – greater than creation? God cannot be contained in creation, though He certainly is involved in it and present with us. But He is greater than the oceans, skies, land, and space. And to think, those are only glimpses of His greatness. What is more difficult, I think, is to comprehend that His greatness is more than what He does but it is who He is. He defines greatness in His very being. 

And here we have, in the Gospel of Luke, the reflection of God’s greatness coming in the form of Jesus. This greatness heals, redeems, brings hope. This greatness conquers death. This greatness reigns. There is no one greater than our God. 

Without having to prove or showcase it (though He did and does), God is great. Therefore, Jesus is great. He is beyond mere significance or importance (those words describe Him, as well). He cannot be contained or measured. With Him, no one can compare. His power is unlimited, His knowledge is unsearchable, His mercy unending. He is not bound by time or space. His very being is unmatched. 

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” Psalm 147:1-5

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:3-5

“For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.” Psalm 86:10

“There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. 

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.” Jeremiah 10:6-7, 12-13

Challenge: Go back through the verses above and read them out loud, using inflection and emphasis on God’s greatness as you read. Let the speaking aloud of Scripture be an offering of praise to God.

For further reading:

Deuteronomy 11:1-7

Job 9:10

Psalm 47:1-2

Psalm 77:13

Psalm 86:13

Psalm 92:5

Psalm 96:4

Psalm 99:1-5

Psalm 104:1

Psalm 111:2

Psalm 119:156

Psalm 126:3

Psalm 136:3-4

Lamentations 3:23

Luke 1:49

Hebrews 10:21 (specific reference to Jesus)

God’s Character Through the Story of Christmas – HHH 1 – Redeemer

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

Each year, a theme begins percolating in my mind, causing an exploration of possibilities. This year, I have been pondering God’s character as seen in the Christmas story. As with so many facets of Scripture, sometimes we do not notice certain elements until we look for them. Such is the case here. 

Before now, I have not purposed to look for God’s character in this particular part of the gospel. After all, is it not evident due to the magnitude of the event? Perhaps. But there is something special about giving close attention to who God is and who He shows Himself to be throughout Scripture and particularly in incredibly significant accounts of the Redemptive Story. My hope is that our understanding of God – His love, mercy, faithfulness, and so much more – will be enriched and deepened this advent season. Explore with me His faithfulness through prophecies fulfilled, His mercy sent through a Savior, and His holiness through the incarnation.

Do we begin this study with a baby born in Bethlehem? No, rather, let us go back to the beginning, where the need for this innocent babe in the flesh came to be.

A garden, lush with the magnificence of God’s creation. The first two people and God. Going on walks together daily. Speaking with the very One who created them (this includes Jesus), daily. Sheer bliss and peace. Pure delight, no deception. 

Then enters the serpent. Evil, cunning, intending only to deceive and destroy. He thinks he is better than God. He wants to rule and reign. He wants the authority he cannot have. 

He tempts. The two innocent reflections of the image of God, falter in their trust of their Creator. Suddenly, the innocence, purity, and peace are gone. Shame, fear, and death are invited in through one sinful act. 

Sin entered the world. Death entered – spiritual and physical. It would take another act – one of sacrifice – to redeem what was lost and broken.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin… Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:12, 15-16a, 18-19) 

If not for sin, we would have no need for a Savior. If not for God’s redemptive nature and His desire for creation to be restored into wholeness, unto Him, there would be no birth of a Savior, for there would be no sacrifice. If not for the birth, there would be no crucifixion, there would be no resurrection. We would be unredeemed. If not for God’s character to rescue us from ourselves, to redeem us from the eternal effect of sin, there would be no Christmas.

Challenge: Consider what led to the birth of Christ. Read Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12-21. Praise God for sending Jesus to redeem and for being your Redeemer.

Humility – Part 2

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:1-5)

Continuing our conversation from last week, what does humility look like and what are the benefits of humility?

Humility accepts help. Humility says, I can’t do this on my own. Even more so, it is not good for me to do this on my own. All too often I hear, “I don’t want to be a burden to others.” This is not humility. It is a lie that robs us of connection and participation in the body of Christ. We are called to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). The verse prior talks about restoring each other in faith after sinning. There is not a burden of existing in Scripture. There is a burden of sin. And we are to help each other out even with that.

It is a very vulnerable position to be in need. But there is a beauty to embracing vulnerability. Jesus came in the most vulnerable form – as an infant, completely dependent on earthly parents to take care of him. There is no greater vulnerability than a helpless infant, not able to survive on its own. 

Humility acknowledges that we are going to make mistakes. We will sin. Humility accepts the grace and mercy that is the response to our sin and chooses to walk in the joy and light of forgiveness rather than wear a cloak of shame. 

And while we still live affected by the impact of sin on this world, we live knowing we are rescued from its punishment. We can humbly accept God’s ability to redeem us – even us – and know that he will one day make all things new. 

Humility impacts contentment. When we concede that we have what we need, that we are in the time or season we are in with purpose, and that God is not withholding from us, we can be content. Humility recognizes that we don’t deserve what we do have. We don’t deserve a life free of friction, pain, and difficulty. And from that perspective we can see that all the good that we do have is a gift from God. 

Humility desires to think like Christ. My thoughts can be good and life giving. My thoughts can be terrible and harmful to my soul and to others. But no thoughts I have, no matter how great or strong, are as great as God’s thoughts. Humility says, Lord, help my thoughts line up with yours. Help  me believe. Help me know the truth that you want me to know. Humility recognizes that our thoughts are futile. They don’t have to have the power we give them. 

Humility invites joy. Humility has joy in mind and knows that suffering can lead to joy. Joy comes in the presence of our Savior. Joy, peace, and humility are close-knit friends. It is hard to have one without the other. And while they can sometimes seem elusive, they tend to start with humility, which points us back to Jesus. When we put ourselves in a posture before him, kneeling our hearts to the steadfast love of our Savior and King Jesus, we invite joy, peace, and all the goodness he brings to our broken lives and world. 

Jesus gives us the example of joy. He humbled himself with purpose. “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2b). The Creator of the world came to earth to redeem his creation. Restoring his creation unto himself is his delight. We are who he had in mind when he went to the cross. We are his joy.

This Christmas, as you reflect on the humble beginnings of our Savior in the flesh, remember all that he brought to us. Remember that we are called to be unified in him and that comes through humility. May we humble ourselves before our great Redeemer, Creator, and King.

Humility – Part 1

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

Pride hurts people. It hurts the ones who are functioning out of pride as well as the recipients of it. I recently was behind a man at the grocery store. His card wasn’t working. He only had two or three items. I offered to pay for them and he wouldn’t even look at me. He just walked off. I get that it’s hard to accept help and those situations can be embarrassing. But I have been on the receiving end of others’ generosity so many times, that I also know how encouraging and life-giving it can be to both give and receive help. 

While I know the circumstance was not about me, I did feel a little disappointed and discouraged at the man’s response. He could have had his bread and received a gift. He could have walked away encouraged. We both could have walked away feeling that sense of gratitude for the timing and provision of the Lord. 

Pride doesn’t feel great for anyone involved.

Pride can also be very deceptive in its nature (pride does not like to be called out). Pride prefers to slip in unnoticed. When I ask people about pride, many say they don’t want to be prideful, but what they often mean is that they don’t want to be boastful. Pride runs much deeper than that and can take on many forms. 

Here is a biblical concept of pride. “Pride refers to an unwarranted attitude of confidence. While pride can have a positive connotation of self-worth or boasting, it is often used in Scripture to refer to an unhealthy elevated view of one’s self, abilities, or possessions.”1

But I don’t think highly of myself. It’s more like the opposite. Other people are so much better than I am. 

Pride can also look like self-debasement. While it is not a specific elevated view of self, it is elevating the sin of self over the redemption of self. When we think we are beyond redemption, we are allowing pride to take root in the form of shame. Because we are saying, though not outright, that our sin is more powerful than God’s ability to redeem. He is not as powerful as we are. We elevate our sin over God’s holiness.

Jesus, the divine, all-powerful God, took on human flesh in the greatest act of humility. By coming into the world as a baby, He was completely dependent on His human parents in the early days. And then, in the ultimate act of humility, as God and man He laid down His life for the world. 

But the beauty of God coming to earth in such a humble way is that He set an example for us. True life-changing power is clothed in humility. And receiving that life-changing power comes through humility. When we acknowledge how desperately we need Him to save us not only from the eternal effects of sin but also from ourselves, we get to humbly walk in freedom. We can hold on to and know peace.

If only the world understood that humility promotes peace, we would experience something close to heaven on earth. 

This Christmas, consider how you can approach it with humility. Think of the baby born in Bethlehem so long ago, in the humblest way. He humbled Himself for you. In humility, will you accept His love for you and in turn show it to others?

  1. Williams, W. A. (2014). Pride. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.

The Word

Posted on by Holly Randle Spiars

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

The Word became flesh. The Word of life. The Word of grace. The Word of peace. The Word of Hope. The Word of comfort and joy. The Word of truth.  

He came. 

You know the feeling when someone speaks genuine kind words of adoration to you? Magnify that times 100 and you may come close to grasping the impact of the Word bringing us life. 

Our lives revolve around words. On average, we speak 16,000 words per day. We think even more words than we speak. 

It is clear that God has given us language. Language is a key source of communication. We read and listen to words to gain knowledge. We use words to inform, correct, express. 

Words can speak life and they can speak death (Proverbs 18:21). They can build up and they can tear down. Chances are, you have memories in both categories. We tend to think thoughts that range the full gamut of negative and positive words. 

You know those words that swirl around in your mind, striking fear, causing doubt, making you self-conscious? Those are not words from the Word. He speaks life.

You know those words someone else said to you that cut you to the core and after a while you started believing they were true? Those are not words from the Word. He speaks life. 

You know those words that seem to condemn you at every turn? Those are not words from the Word. He speaks life.

And the words of life that He speaks, started in the very beginning. In the creation story, we see His powerful word literally speaking life into existence. 

Let’s pause to ponder this: the world came to be through the spoken word.  

God spoke and the world was formed. His words are so powerful that life is created through them. Entire galaxies were created with His words. He has only to speak and things happen. 

Jesus was there, in the beginning. He was there when the world was formed. But He wasn’t a passive observer. “All things were created in him and for him” (Col. 1:16). Jesus is God. And since He created the world, then we can surmise that the Creator of the world is also the One who saved it.

While He created the world with His word, He saved the world with His life. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5). 

Jesus brought life in creation and He brought life through the resurrection. From creation to the cross, the Word brought life. His blood shed for us signified the purchase and redemption of life. The resurrection solidified Him as the Word in that He fulfilled what He said He would do.

Again, words are very powerful, but none are more powerful than One whose name is The Word. That one name encapsulates life, truth, and light. There is none like Him!

This Christmas season, pay attention to the words you hear, the words you speak to yourself and others, and the words of God. Do any of them match? If not, I want to encourage you to trust that God as Word is the most trustworthy you will ever know. There is no truth greater than Himself. He defines truth. From that understanding, evaluate the thoughts you have and the words you hear. Do they say what He says? If not, you may want to reconsider which words you’re going to trust most. Yours? Someone else’s? Or God’s?