God Is…, July 15
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Karen Wonders
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM who I AM’” (Exodus 3:14 NIV).
Suppose I gave you a piece of paper and asked you to write down everything you know to be true about God. What would you write? Where would you even begin?
God reveals a lot about Himself through His Word. By studying scripture, we can see that He is holy, powerful, and wise. He is just, loving, and trustworthy. You could easily fill an entire page, maybe even two, listing His characteristics. But there would still be more. There is so much more about God than we could ever grasp.
What could He possibly want with humans? What did He intend when He gave us life?
Paul gave us some insight when he addressed the Athenians in the book of Acts: “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:27-28a NIV).
In other words, He created us simply because He loves us!
When my oldest daughter, Abby, was two years old, she came downstairs as I was reading one day. She asked me what the book was about, and I explained that it was all about the ways God speaks to us. She was intrigued, and immediately wanted to hear God speak to her. Unsure of what to do, I explained that sometimes if we are really still and quiet our minds in prayer, He will gently speak to our hearts. Of course, she wanted to give it a try. Immediately. So, she squeezed her little eyes as tight as she could and sat very still for as long as an energetic two-year-old could. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and smiled. Then she hopped off the couch and began to play with her toys.
A little nervous, I asked her if she happened to hear anything. “Oh yes, Mommy,” she said, and continued to play. My curiosity was getting the best of me, so I prodded a little more. “What?” I asked. Abby smiled really big and quickly answered, “He said He loves me!” Just like that. Then she went back to combing her doll’s hair.
I was left speechless. I’m pretty sure my mouth was hanging wide open.
He loves me.
The God of the universe. The One who made the heavens and the Earth and everything in it. He loves her. He loves you, too. He created you simply because He loves you.
As you fight this battle, remember who God is. Remember He is on your side. He loves you and cares about every detail of your life. As the enemy tempts you to despair, remember that God won’t leave you to fight alone. He will fight for you! He is limitless in His power and might. Nothing is too hard for Him. If He brought you to it, you can trust Him to bring you through it!
Pray: Father God, thank You for the ways You reveal yourself to us. Thank You for desiring a relationship with us. You call us friend! Help us to remember who YOU are when we fight battles that seem so much bigger than us. Nothing is too big for You. You love us and will care for us. Help us to be still and take hold of this truth. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your Turn: God is FOR you! Ask Him to fight a specific battle on your behalf!
Karen Y. Wonders, PhD, FACSM, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Founder and CEO of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, and Professor/Program Director of Exercise Physiology at Wright State University. Her passion is to advocate for exercise as part of the national standard of care for cancer. Her non-profit organization provides free exercise training to thousands of cancer survivors every month (www.mapletreecanceralliance.org). Dr. Wonders and her husband have 7 children—aged 16 and younger. If you think her hands are full, you should see her heart!
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
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