Practical Applications of God’s Providence

What benefit does it yield in our lives to believe that God, in His providence, controls all things?

It gives us deep gratitude to God for all good things–including our love for Him and faith in Him–because all good things are from God (see Romans 11:36 and James 1:18).

It keeps us from despair and instead gives us patience and comfort, strength and hope through suffering and adversity. In all bad things that happen to us, we can have the confidence of Joseph: “God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20, NASB) and the worship of Job: “…and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said, `…The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord‘” (Job 1:20-21).

It causes us to marvel at God’s great wisdom because He works all things together for His glory and His people’s good (Romans 8:28)–not just in spite of the opposition but by means of the opposition. He makes evil backfire and makes satan continually shoot himself in the foot because when satan intends something for the harm of God’s saints, God’s intention is to ultimately benefit them. This is amazing wisdom to praise God for!

It gives us joyful trust in God for the future.

It frees us to obey with confidence and security–even when obedience appears risky or “foolish” by the world’s standards. Thus, God’s providence encourages us into risk-taking obedience for God’s great glory.

It gives us deeper trust in God because He will accomplish all of His purposes. None can fail (see Job 42:2 and Isaiah 46:10).

It gives us great encouragement to and confidence in prayer. For God can do what we ask.
We need never feel overwhelmed, because God is in control.

It gives us great courage and boldness through all things.

It shatters bitterness and complaining and shows us to be satisfied.

It makes us strong people.

It glorifies God.

A denial of this truth involves a reduction of the supremacy of God in our hearts.

Source.

God is Sovereign

“It is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things but that He does so always and without exception.” – John Piper

• God is sovereign over the entire universe: Ps 103:19; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11
• God is sovereign over all of nature: Ps 135:6-7; Mt 5:45; 6:25-30
• God is sovereign over angels & Satan: Ps 103:20-21; Job 1:12
• God is sovereign over nations: Ps 47:7-9; Dan 2:20-21; 4:34-35
• God is sovereign over human beings: 1 Sam 2:6-7; Gal 1:15-16
• God is sovereign over animals: Ps 104:21-30; 1 Ki 17:4-6
• God is sovereign over “accidents”: Pr 16:33; Jon 1:7; Mt 10:29
• God is sovereign over free acts of men: Ex 3:21; 12:25-36; Ez 7:27
• God is sovereign over sinful acts of men and Satan: 2 Sam 24:1; 1 Chr 21:1; Gen 45:5; 50:20

35 Reasons Not To Sin

By Jim Elliff

Because a little sin leads to more sin.

Because my sin invites the discipline of God.

Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.

Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.

Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.

Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.

Because I am doing what I do not have to do.

Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.

Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.

Because my sin saddens the godly.

Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.

Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.

Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.

Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.

Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.

Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.

Because my sin may influence others to sin.

Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.

Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.

Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.

Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.

Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.

Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.

Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.

Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.

Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.

Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.

Because my sin is adultery with the world.

Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.

Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.

Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.

Because to sin is not to love Christ.

Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.

Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it’s own.

Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

Source