Psalm 11:7

 

"For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright."

Psalm 11:7 (NKJ)

    God's complete righteousness is so great. He's never sinned and never will, which means that we don't have to be afraid of Him doing something like breaking a promise or losing His temper. Also, His total righteousness is something beautiful; something pure and unequaled.
    So the Lord's goodness is both an anchor and a wonder! :D

Psalm 147:5

 

"Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."

Psalm 147:5 (NKJ)

    The fact that God's wisdom has absolutely no boundaries is so mindblowing. It can't be equally compared to anything. Even the galaxy hardly reflects the limitlessness of God's creative power, with billions of stars, planets, comets, and other marvels scattered far and wide.
    And then there's His understanding of complex things like problems. Christ led a human life on earth, handling each and every issue that people go through, living out His own wisdom and never failing to provide the best solutions.
    So the Lord not only knows every truth and fact that is, but He's seen and experienced them. His wisdom in all matters is completely unsurpassable.
    Our God truly is amazing and above all; amen? :)

 

Nahum 1:7

 

"The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."

Nahum 1:7 (NKJ)

    It's awesome how this verse is phrased to say that God not only protects us, but "He knows those who trust in Him." Because it's one thing to know you're being protected, like a law defends someone's rights, but when the one protecting you actually knows you, it's so much more personal and secure. It's like being put under the watch of a guardian or parent; they not only care about you deeply, but they know your strengths and weaknesses; which way is best to take and what things that need to be avoided at all costs.
    And the Lord knows us! Isn't that a wonderful blessing? :)

Romans 14:9

 

"For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living."

Romans 14:9 (NKJ)

    The day of Easter, the day of our Lord's resurrection from the grave, is an awesome, awesome holiday! When that tomb was opened and people saw it empty inside, it showed the world that Jesus Christ is alive! That He defeated death, and that He won salvation to give to mankind, so that we could be saved from eternal death.
    And it also means something this verse proclaims: that when Christ rose again and created a way to salvation, He also became King of those He redeems. When He saved us and made us part of His family, He founded a future in which He'll rule as rightful King over a righteous, eternal kingdom! What a great day that'll be!
    So many good, good things happened on that first Easter Sunday; God is good! Amen?

Proverbs 3:19-20

"The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew."

Proverbs 3:19-20

    This verse sounds so eloquent it could be part of a psalm, don't you think? It's fit right in with one of David's worship psalms, glorifying the Lord for His creation of the universe, and for His incomprehensible wisdom.
    Both are intricately beautiful. The natural world is extremely detailed with various ecosystems, terrains, and different styles for each place, but God's wisdom has much of its eloquence in that it's consistent; it's always been the way it is, unchanging. And another great thing about His all-knowing intelligence is that it's kind, merciful, and loving; not tightfisted or cold like a computer's intellect would be.
    The natural world and the wisdom of God are both so wonderful to behold; amen? :)

Jeremiah 32:27

"'Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?'"

Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJ)

    I love how there are so many verses like this in the prophet books; sentences where the Lord speaks so frankly. A lot of the time the statements are actually sad--because these are the prophecies where God is giving warnings of imminent judgment--but there are also plenty of verses like this one, where God's kind, loving heart shines so clearly!
    "Is there anything too hard for Me?" There's something really personal about the phrasing of it, a soft kind of tone in the words that hints of fatherliness. And of course, we all know the answer to this rhetorical question. There's nothing too difficult for the Lord to build, accomplish, or bring us through; there's nothing He can't do. This lovely verse is a solid assurance that we can depend on Him, and it's given with very kindly words.
    Don't you love verses like this? :)

Psalm 32:8

 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."

Psalm 32:8 (NKJ)

    This statement really shows something touching about the Lord as a Teacher. He guides us, encourages us in doing good, makes us wiser and kinder, and He does it so personally and kindly. Day by day, He makes us stronger, and He does it because He genuinely has our best interests at heart.
    His loving care in this verse is palpable; in teaching us, He guides us with His eye, carefully monitoring us, ready to catch us if we slip, and prop us back up again. It's easy to see that He wants us to grow stronger and closer to Him, that He wants us to do well.
    The Lord is a very caring, loving Teacher, isn't He? :)

Psalm 92:4

 

"For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands."

Psalm 92:4 (NKJ)

    God is the Creator of many works. He's the Maker of all creation, He designs every individual person, He shapes our lives into something beautiful once we give ourselves to Him, and of course there's the mighty, incredible work that is salvation.
    The natural world we live in is breathtakingly beautiful with colors and light; and the intricate uniqueness of each person is interesting and fascinating; the way God makes great, helpful things happen in our lives is just awesome; and of course, the salvation that the Lord won saved all of humanity--it's grace powerful enough to wash away all our sins and let us be with the Lord. That is a wonderful, wonderful thing!
    All of these works of God are wonderful things, worthy of getting excited and joyful about; don't you think? :)

Psalm 59:17

 

"To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, the God of my mercy."

Psalm 59:17 (NKJ)

    It's cool how the psalmist refers to the Lord as his strength here--especially with a capital S. The Lord is a sure and reliable Protector, and He gives us enough strength to accomplish anything and everything that needs to be done. God's mercy itself is also something that He strengthens us with. Remembering how great His mercy is gives confidence and assurance that God cares, that He has great grace, and that He is (and always will be) with us. So the title of Strength definitely seems appropriate to give to the Lord, right? :)

Psalm 57:10

 

"For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds."

Psalm 57:10 (NKJ)

    I really like the imagery of this verse. Because sometimes when a person just stops and looks up, when there's nothing else obstructing the view, the sheer massiveness of the sky and the tremendous distance between the ground and the clouds is mind-boggling.
    The loving mercy of the Lord is just the same way; it's amazing, wonderful, and it's so plenteous and vast that it could fill up the space between the ground and the heavens. Don't you agree? :)

Matthew 19:26

 

"But Jesus looked at them and said to them 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Matthew 19:26 (NKJ)

    This fact isn't difficult to believe (the Lord did create an intricate universe out of nothing, after all), even in the middle of difficulties that don't seem to have any possible solutions. On the contrary, once a person is in the midst of such a sticky situation, the incredibleness of God's unmatched power can really branch out and give the fullest kind of hope to the person who puts their faith in Him. Because since God can do things that are impossible for humans to accomplish or even think of as an option (like making bread, manna, fall from the sky), there's always a solution to whatever problem we're in! There's always hope; there's always a way.
    Our God is an unstoppable and incredible God. Amen? :)

Psalm 93:4

 

"The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea."

Psalm 93: 4 (NKJ)

    God is incredible; stronger than anyone could imagine, able to do anything. He can (and has, in fact, as Matthew 8:24-26, Mark 4:37-39, and Luke 8:23-24 state) easily calm a raging storm.
    "The noise of many waters" and "the mighty waves of the sea" can be likened to fear, and the things in life that prompt fear, can't it? Because  the sound of water crashing against things close to a person, sloshing around their feet, and churning into powerful currents tumbling at them is frightening, and it threatens to damage anything it touches.
    But God is more powerful than the things that can make us afraid, just as He's greater than the oceans He created. He's far mightier than fear, able to conquer it, and this same God who's stronger than fear is willing to deliver us from it.
    And this in itself can strengthen us in hope; the Lord's invincible strength. It's so marvelous, isn't it?

Isaiah 7:14

 

"'Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.'"

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJ)

    That name Immanuel is such a good point in this prophecy about Christ. It means "God with us," and it totally describes how when Jesus came to earth as an infant, He could have come as an adult with angels for company, but instead He chose to live with us, amongst the people He would be saving. There's just something wonderfully personal and loving about that decision; it's another example of how true and deep God's love for us is.
    Merry Christmas, everyone!

Psalm 18:28

 

"For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness."

Psalm 18:28 (NKJ)

    Light is good. There's safety in light; it keeps someone from standing/sitting/walking around in complete darkness. And in addition to that, light also provides enlightenment by which to see things (like one's surroundings).
    These two factors can be applied to the Lord as well. Like an unwavering, pure light, God protects us from being swallowed up in darkness and He also enlightens us, giving us a true understanding about Himself and about everything in life.
    God is light, and He is very, very, very good. Amen? :)

1 Chronicles 16:27

 

"Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place."

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NKJ)

    God is so great. Among many, many, many pure virtues, the He has invincible strength, and He has perfect joy. This truth is a delightful and comforting thing to know, and 1 Chronicles 16:27 is good for remembering that.
    And in addition to that, this verse also points out another wonderful truth: as we walk through life with the Lord, and spend time with Him, He makes us stronger and more glad! As we read the Bible, He helps us remember His word and strengthens our spirits; as we worship Him, our hearts come alight with joy.
    God is great, and He's also so generous and kind! He is good, isn't He?

Lovingkindness

    "Lovingkindness;" what a wonderful, wonderful word. The very sound of it emanates emotional comfort; kindness with immense care, beautiful grace.
    It's used in the Book of Psalms in the Bible a couple times. "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You" (Psalm 63:3, NKJ),  "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You" (Psalm 143:8, NKJ).  Most if not every time, "lovingkindness" is used when referring to the Lord, to His deeply caring nature.
    Which is fitting, since such continual kindness from love totally fits the way the Lord is. He is deeply kind, lovely, and His care for us is obviously immeasurable.
    This word in and of itself is great for how it's an instant reminder. Just hearing "lovingkindness" can bring to mind all the good, kind things the Lord has done and still does for us, and it reminds of how unstoppable and strong God's love is.
    Part of me wishes that "lovingkindness" was still in common use today, but the other part of me likes how its rarity makes it special and associated with God. You know what I mean? Don't you think "lovingkindness" is a beautiful word?

Psalm 147:5

 

"Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."

Psalm 147:5 (NKJ)

    The understanding of the Lord is infinite. What an awesome thing to point out. Understanding is tantamount to having sensibility and knowledge in a matter (or in God's case, all matters). Having understanding also speaks of great experience, having seen what occurs when certain things happen. All in all, someone with great understanding has great wisdom, which is a very impressive quality.
    And the Lord's understanding is limitless. He literally understands everything.
    Our God is incredible; isn't He?

Psalm 119: 114

 

"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word."

Psalm 119:114 (NKJ)

    I think it's cool how God is given analogies like this. Shield, hiding place, rock, tower, strength, salvation. The imagery strengthens one's understanding of God being like these things. As our hiding place, He gives us a place to go to be sheltered from the craziness of the world and just rest in Him. And as our shield, it's like He stands in front of us, putting a protective barrier between us and stones being thrown our way.
    Being our hiding place and shield, the Lord is our mighty, invincible Protector. What an awesome thing!

God is Not a Braggart

    There's a certain passage in Exodus where the Lord makes an in-person appearance to His people. As He makes His appearance and passes before Israel, He says something to them; what He told Moses would be "the name of the LORD" in Exodus 33:19.
    "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression of sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.'" (Exodus 34:6-7 NKJ)
    Quite a resume. A lot of people get somewhat puzzled the first time they read it though, because it sounds a little bit like bragging, like the Lord is going on and on about how wonderful He is. God definitely is all of these wonderful things, but He definitely is not a narcissist. Haughtiness is at the top of the Proverbs 6:17-19 list of things He hates. So why does He announce His own flawless characteristics to the people? Why not have an angel do it?
    Omission of the truth counts as deceitfulness, and God can't lie, but since Moses and the people undoubtedly already knew that Lord is righteous, a need to announce His characteristics in order to be truthful probably wasn't the reason. The Lord would also never allow His Holy Word to be polluted with a lie, including a fictional event written by someone who just wanted to "add a story" to the Bible like oral tales like Beowulf were edited over time; so that's not it either.
    Maybe the reason the Lord announced Himself like this is was an act of assurance. Because He wanted His people to know--really know--that He has all of these characteristics. To keep them and future generations from thinking of Him as only just (without mercy) or only gracious (without justice). Maybe the reason He proclaims all these wonderful things Himself is to ensure that it's not the wishful thinking of man, but that mercy, grace, patience, goodness, truthfulness, forgiveness, and justice all truly are in His character. The people knew that God can't lie, and He knew that they knew. Maybe this is the reason He chose to make the introduction Himself.
    What do you think? Have you ever wondered about this event in the Bible?

Psalm 147:4

 

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name."

Psalm 147:4 (NKJ)

    The Lord is so immeasurably incredible. The fact that He's made such a massive universe full of uncountable stars is mind-blowing in and of itself. But the fact that He's actually named every single star?
    Even if this verse is only referring to the stars that we can see from Earth, having an individual name for each star (and keeping track of them) is amazing and intricately diligent! There's so much thought He puts in every part of His creation!
    God is a good, wonderful Creator, isn't He?