Part 1 of SWAGG's July series about the characteristics of our great God
Hi SWAGG family!
If you were with us last month, it was a blessing to journey with you through learning to rest in God. If this is your first time with us, welcome, we hope you feel loved here!
It's now time for our July series. It's called The Greatness of God. So, how are we going to cover God's greatness in just five weeks? That's a good question!
The short answer? We can't. Instead, we'll focus on just five broad elements of God's greatness.
Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash
For the first six months of SWAGG, we’ve focused on how we can grow as Christians and draw near to God. Helping our readers do this, is one of the main parts of our mission. Sometimes though, we get so caught up with doing that we forget the reason for why we want to do these things. It’s good, from time to time, to step back and reflect on the greatness of God.
The Bible is full of scripture that describes God’s knowledge and wisdom. Isaiah records God reminding us that His thought processes are different and higher than ours. He doesn’t think the way we do, for we don’t understand or know everything. Furthermore, God’s thoughts are pure, where we struggle with sinful thoughts at times. Solomon, in Proverbs, tells us to trust God – not our own understanding. This is because His understanding is trustworthy, where ours can be faulty. In Job, we find that God’s knowledge is perfect. The fact that, God’s understanding is untainted, unbiased, and perfect, is why we can trust Him. Proverbs also shares that everything God says is full of knowledge. This means that the Bible, God’s Word, is full of perfect knowledge.
Through His knowledge and wisdom, three great things happen: One, God gives us His counsel and wisdom. We always have the ability to ask God for understanding of His Will and wisdom to make good decisions that please Him. Two, He knows us completely. God knows every single person, inside and out. He knows things about us that even we don’t. He also knows everything about our future selves. Lastly, all the answers we could ever wonder about or want to know are found through knowing Christ. If we really want to grow in our knowledge and wisdom, we need to spend time with Jesus.
Here is what not to do, knowing how great God’s knowledge and wisdom are: Rely on your own knowledge and experience – Rely, instead, on God, who He is, and what He wants You to do. Think that God doesn’t know what you’ve done or what your future holds – God knows every single detail about your past, present, and future. Believe that God wants to harm you – God protects you and creates an amazing future for you with His wisdom, He doesn’t hurt you with it.
God’s Guidance:
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) – ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 28:29 (ESV) – “This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”
Psalm 147:5 (ESV) – “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.”
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”
Job 37:16 (ESV) – “Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,”
Proverbs 2:6 (ESV) – “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
Psalm 139:1-4 (NIRV) – “Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away. You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live. Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it. You are all around me, behind me and in front of me. You hold me safe in your hand.”
Colossian 2:2-3 (NIRV) – “My goal is that their hearts may be encouraged and strengthened. I want them to be joined together in love. Then their understanding will be rich and complete. They will know the mystery of God. That mystery is Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Application:
1. Journal about what God’s knowledge and wisdom mean to you
2. Ask God to pour wisdom into you
3. Take five minutes to meditate on His understanding and thoughts
Strength Point:
God’s knowledge and wisdom surpass all measurement, yet, He cares about the littlest parts of your life and His patience with you never runs out.
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You, God, for being so great. Your knowledge and wisdom have shaped my life and saved it. I’m sorry for when I don’t acknowledge that you know everything and have the wisdom to do what’s best for my life. I’m also sorry for thinking that my human wisdom could ever compare to Yours. Humble me, Lord, when I don’t trust your ways. I want to walk the path that You’ve directed me to. Please open up doors to where You want me to go and what you want me to do, especially with __. I pray that I’d be quick to ask You to pour wisdom into me, for I know it’s perfect. Help me to find comfort in that there is nothing You don’t already know. You know my doubts, You know my struggles, You know my sins, You know all my secrets, You know __; and yet, You still pursue me with Your great love. I praise and worship You, for Your thoughts and ways are so much higher and greater than my own. I love You!
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