DAY 03 : GOD IS SOVEREIGN
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 peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”Daniel 4:34-35
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.Psalm 135:5-7
WHAT DOES THIS TRUTH, THAT HE IS SOVEREIGN, MEAN FOR ME?
First, let’s talk about what the word Sovereign means -- if we were to look it up in a dictionary we would see “supreme ruler” or possessing “supreme or ultimate authority or power”
But what does that mean when we apply it to God? It means that He is the ultimate source of all power, authority and everything that exists. It means that there is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority because He is over all and above all. He has no limitations.
This attribute of God, His being sovereign, over all and above all, supreme and ultimate power and authority, is what makes Him superior to all other gods and makes Him, and Him alone, worthy of worship. Worthy of our trust.
So what does that mean for you and me today; how does God being sovereign help me in the middle of my pain? In the middle of my paralyzing fear?
It means that if He is over all and above all, and if nothing happens in the universe that is outside of His authority or His control then I am safe.
It means I don’t have to be afraid or live in fear because He is in control.
It means I can live with a joy even amidst my pain because I know that He has not forgotten me, He sees me, He loves me more deeply than I can ever imagine so I can trust that what is in front of me can be used for my good and His glory. Even when it hurts.
Maybe it’s because we can’t fully fathom a God who sees all and knows all and is above all and over all that we have a hard time being ok with this attribute of God. Or maybe it’s because we have seen people with power or authority abuse it or mishandle it at the expense of others. But here’s what we know to be true. God is perfect. He has no imperfections. And because He is the embodiment of love and loves perfectly. That means He perfectly rules in love.
He never misses it. He never makes a mistake. He never falls asleep on the job. He is never not in control and because all of these things are true and because He loves you -- we can trust Him with our lives.
Even when it hurts.
Even when we can’t possibly understand or see any good ever coming out of the brokenness we are in, we can trust that He is good and He is loving and He is perfectly ruling and reigning, and in complete control.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for this reminder that we can trust you because you are over all and above all. That you love us and that you are in control. Nothing gets past you God. You are never surprised or caught of guard and because of that we don’t have to live in fear -- knowing you have got this.
Father would you help us to believe this truth; would you help us to see you rightly that we might trust you fully. Would you heal and mend what has been broken and let us taste the good you promise you are doing. Thank you Father.
