A.W. Tozer makes this significant and profound claim …. “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

That’s a powerful statement worth meditating upon.  If you’re like me there’s a natural tendency to think about God and then approach him focusing on my problems, pains, and disappointments.  It’s not that he doesn’t want to respond in our time of need.  He does.  However, we’re challenged in scripture, over and over again to approach God on the basis of who he is and all that he has done in our lives.  It is imperative to have a RIGHT view and a HIGH view of God.

Here are a couple of questions to ponder:

• Do I view God in light of my circumstances or in view of His Character?
• Do I approach God with praise and gratitude for the many benefits that he has bestowed upon me?

Psalm 103 is a hymn of Thanksgiving written about the all loving God and points out the “many benefits” that God has bestowed upon us:

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Irene had a good day.  Jocelyn took Irene to dialysis this morning since I was traveling to S. Cal.  Sue Martinez picked Irene up from dialysis and took her to the Silver Spur for breakfast.  Afterward they wandered through Beverly’s (fabric and craft store) one of Irene’s favorite stores!!  She rested this afternoon and enjoyed somewhat of a reprieve from the nausea!!!

As we think about God, Irene and I want our perspective to reflect that of the psalmist.  We strive for a high view of God so that we rightly relate to him.  We praise Him for who he is and “forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

We also wait, hope and trust for God’s complete healing of Irene’s disease (Psalm 103:3b).

Caminando con Fé

Dave