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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Goodness

I read this aloud to myself two days ago as I sat beneath the afternoon sun. It gave me the words that I did not have as tears filled me eyes. He is so lovely like that. So utterly perfect in all His ways and in all that He is.

I have one place of confidence,
one place of rest
and peace
and hope.
I have one place of surety,
where courage
can be found
and strength
waits for the taking.
I have one place of wisdom
where foolishness wanes
and truth grants freedom.
Alone I am not confident,
no pride in strength
or knowledge
or character.
I know who I am
the duplicity of my heart,
the weakness of resolve,
the covert disloyalty
that makes me susceptible
to temptation's hook.
I have one place of confidence;
it isn't theology
a book
a set of principles
a well-researched observation
a world view.
No, my confidence is in You.
You are my hope because you are Good.
I rest in the goodness of Your sovereignty,
in the goodness of Your power,
in the goodness of Your faithfulness,
in the goodness of Your wisdom,
in the goodness of Your patience,
in the goodness of Your mercy,
in the goodness of Your holiness,
in the goodness of Your grace.
I have learned
and I am learning
that the physical delights
of the created world
were not designed to be
the source and hope
of my confidence.
No, all of those things
in their temporary elegance
were meant to be
signposts
that point me the
eternal
never-failing
always available
never-changing
always holy
grace-infused
goodness that can only be found in You.
I have learned
and I am learning
that confident living
always rests its foundation on You.
I am confident
because of this solitary thing,
You are
and You are good.
~ Paul Tripp, A Shelter in the Storm


I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
~ Psalm 27:13

1 comments:

Nolan said...

This is a beautiful writing of His shelter!