A description of God, an understanding of why bad things continue to happen, and an example of His mercy. These are things found in the first chapter of Nahum.
You spent quiet time this morning talking with God but you found your mind wandering back to things that have recently happened and you wonder why such evil takes place. You start to get frustrated and angry at the world. How can this world continue in this mess? God says to you in Nahum 1:3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
A reminder that the Lord is slow to anger. You realize you are glad that He is because you have wandered in sin before as well. You see His great power and are thankful for His forgiveness.
Yet you wonder what about those who refuse His gift? God says in Nahum 1:2 A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; The Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
This causes you to fear for those who refuse His gift. You realize that you are wrong for desiring His mercy and grace for yourself but for His wrath to be done on those who have wronged you. In His almighty wrath, you see nothing can withstand so you become even more thankful for His forgiveness. Then you read in Nahum 1:15 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; Pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; He is cut off completely.
You pray that since God declared His Gospel (goodnews) from the mountaintops for all to hear that no one would refuse to receive His Salvation. You realize that peace is coming to the earth one day and this realization brings you peace in the present. You see that God will in His time change this world and no evil will pass through and you are at ease.
You have changed from a mind of frustration and anger to a mind of peace and thankfulness in a short period of time with God. What brought about the change. Was it not God speaking back to you through His word? Let this be a lesson that quiet conversation with God should go two ways. You speaking to God and Him speaking to you through His word. His word to us reveals the Savior and all the attributes of God that we get through Him but it also reveals what He brings upon the world when they don't listen and receive the Good news. Let each day start with God speaking to you. This provides peace for the day and a desire to see all people come to Christ! It removes your frustration and replaces it with compassion.
Love Bro. Scott
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