Daily Devotional
Do You Have a Negative View of God?
“The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:8-9
October 31, 2023
Ponder This
Many think of belonging to the Lord as taking bad medicine to get well. The idea of serving God is painful to them. The idea of being a Christian is negative; it's something you endure. They believe God is a cosmic killjoy. If that is you, you better get that negative idea of God out of your heart and mind. God is not some sort of a cruel, vengeful deity, sitting upon a throne somewhere hurling down thunderbolts of wrath.
The truth is, if Satan can get you to think negatively about God, he has you. Can you imagine the glories of the Garden of Eden? Can you imagine how beautiful Eden must have been? Not so long ago I was at Butchart Gardens in Canada. Those gardens are indescribably beautiful. As you walk through, you wonder what the Garden of Eden must have been like. God, with a smile on His face, said, “Adam and Eve, I made that for you. Help yourself.” But there was one tree that God said, “Don't eat of it.” That wasn't a threat; it was a warning. Every time God says, “Thou shalt not,” He's saying, “Don't hurt yourself.” And every time God says, “Thou shalt,” He's saying, “Help yourself to abundant life.” God loves you. Life with Him is good because you are with Him. The devil doesn't want you to know that.
- When have you had a negative view of God? How did that impact your relationship with Him?
- What helps you see the goodness of God?
Practice This
Write down all the reasons God is good. Remind yourself of His character traits and praise Him for those qualities.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
