In Step with God

Thomas Nelson

Contents

Introduction.................................................................viiChapter One: Intimacy with God: An Essential Requirement.....................1Chapter Two: God's Way Is the Best Way.......................................11Chapter Three: You Can Trust God's Promises..................................29Chapter Four: The Ways God Reveals Himself...................................54Chapter Five: God Brings Good from Evil......................................75Chapter Six: Expect the Unexpected...........................................97Chapter Seven: Right on Time.................................................124Chapter Eight: God Uses Adversity............................................149Chapter Nine: Forgiven!......................................................167Chapter Ten: The God of Absolute Love........................................185Chapter Eleven: God Delights in Obedience....................................200Chapter Twelve: In Step with God's Plan......................................213

Chapter One

If you were to ask me to tell you about my mother, I would begin by telling you that her name was Rebecca and she was born in Dry Fork, Virginia. After her parents died, she helped raise her family. She did not have much education, but she was committed to doing the best she could. I also might add that she passed away a number of years ago. With this small amount of information, you would not know very much about my mother.

However, what if I told you that she was pretty and a very godly woman who always provided for me? My father died when I was quite young, and she willingly accepted the challenge of raising me. At one point, she worked two jobs in order to pay our bills and keep food on our table. Most of the time, she got up extremely early to go to work. While I was in school, she came home from her first job and prepared to go to her second job. Before she left, she would cook dinner and set the table for me so I would know exactly what to do and what to eat. She would lay it all out, and without fail, she would write me a note telling me things that I needed to remember or sometimes she would just write, "Charles, I love you."

Mom was disciplined and persistent. She had to be in order to keep our family together. She never gave up and never quit. Even though life was difficult, she rarely became discouraged. She always wanted me to look my best. Therefore, at night she washed and ironed my overalls so I would have a fresh pair for school the next morning. I had only two pairs. She would make sure that my shoes were shined and that I had a handkerchief in my pocket. Anytime I went to her with a problem, she never said, "Charles, I'm too busy to talk." She always stopped whatever she was doing and listened. Sometimes I did not make very good grades, but Mom never scolded me. She would say, "Do the best you can, and I will pray for you." Almost every night, she would come into my bedroom and kneel beside my bed. Then we would pray together. I can still recall how she said my name to the Lord while praying about the things that concerned me. I saw her become angry only a couple of times. She was far more forgiving than I knew how to be.

Even though she made just nine dollars and ten cents a week, we got through the difficult times. I can remember her sitting down, going over the bills, and saying, "This needs to go to this bill and this much on this one," and so on. She was meticulous and careful with money. Yet she also was very giving. There were times when we had little to eat. However, if someone dropped by who had less than we did, Mom always found something in the refrigerator to give to him or her. There are many things I remember about her, but the one thing that I will never forget is how much she sacrificed for me. If I stopped at this point and asked, "Do you know something about my mother?" I believe you would say yes.

Relationship Counts

If I asked you to tell me about God, what would you say? Could you tell me about the personal relationship you have with Him? Or would you say, "There is only one of Him. He lives in heaven, and I believe that His Son died for my sins. He has promised to create a place for me in heaven. He saved me, justified me, and forgave me"? I probably could list a few more doctrinal truths, but the real questions are: Do you know who God is? Do you know something personal about Him that goes beyond what you have learned while sitting in church or having conversations with a friend? Do you know His ways? Far too many people do not understand the way He works. The problem is, many of God's people know about Him, but they do not have a personal relationship with Him. And this is where we face our greatest challenge-knowing God and loving Him above all else. The bottom line to any relationship is this: if you want to know someone, you must know him or her intimately.

Over the years, the word intimacy has been redefined and misinterpreted by our morally out-of-step society. Having intimacy within a relationship does not mean having sexual contact. True intimacy is involved in fellowship with others. You can have a friendship and not be intimate with that person. You can become intimately involved in his or her life, but this does not mean that you are involved in a sexual relationship. Two friends can enjoy knowing each other on a very deep level. In fact, having close friends-intimates-is very reflective of God's nature because this is exactly what He desires from you and me-a close, personal, and especially intimate relationship. Many people are satisfied with just knowing a few things about God but not knowing Him deeply. True, unbridled intimacy touches the soul and the hidden places of our hearts like nothing else can. It goes much deeper than physical expression. And only God has the ability to love us intimately and unconditionally. He created us for one purpose, and that is to have fellowship with Him.

He wants you to know that He loves you. And there is nothing you can do to surprise or disappoint Him because He knows all things and is never shocked by your actions. Although He does not approve of sin, He loves the sinner. Therefore, when you do sin, you have an Advocate before the Father-Jesus Christ-who hears when you pray for forgiveness and cares when you are hurting. God may discipline you when you yield to temptation, but He will never withhold His love from you. This truth never changes. It never shifts and never fades. He is righteous and steadfast: "For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you" (Deut. 4:31 NIV). You are His workmanship-created in His image for good works (Eph. 2:10). There is within the heart of every man and woman a place that only God can fill. You may try to satisfy your longings with different things. But until you come to a point of full surrender to Him, you remain vulnerable to fearful thoughts, feelings of discontentment, selfish desires, as well as pride and lust. Fellowship with God starts at the very core of your being. It shifts your focus from being me-centered to Christ-centered. When you develop an intimate relationship with the heavenly Father, you discover He is surrounding you with His eternal care. Abraham drew near to the Lord,...