Rethinking my view of God

Tom Holladay & Santosh Swamidass

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145:3 (NLT) 

6 ways to change your life by rethinking your view of God:

ACCEPT HIS  

unconditional love

For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.Ephesians 2:8 (TEV)  

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.Romans 5:1 (NLT)  

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5b (NLT) 

APPRECIATE HIS  

Holiness

No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 (NLT) In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.Psalm 33:21 

I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.Isaiah 57:15 (GNT) 

TRUST HIS  

judgement

Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?”Romans 9:20 (MSG) 

Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don’t all parents correct their children? Hebrews 12:7 (CEV) God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.John 3:17 (NCV) 

UNDERSTAND HIS  

timing

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 (ESV) 

The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.2 Peter 3:9 (CEV) 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 (NLT) 

RESPECT HIS  

strength

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.Psalm 18:2 (NLT) 

Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.Romans 2:4 (MSG) 

ENJOY HIS  

presence

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 (NIV) 

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2 (NIV) 

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.””Romans 8:15 (NIV) 

Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45 (NCV) 

But God has given us his Spirit. That’s why we don’t think the same way that the people of this world think. That’s also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us.1 Corinthians 2:12 (CEV) 

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145:3 (NLT) 

Verse List

TEN VERSES TO REMIND ME WHO GOD IS:

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) 

For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:38-39 (GNT) 

No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 

I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.Isaiah 57:15 (GNT) 

I am the Lord your God who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 

At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting--it will happen!Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV) 

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to anyone who seeks help from him. Lamentations 3:25 (GNT) 

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) 

God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence.Psalm 46:1-3 (GNT) 

You have shown me the paths that lead to life, and your presence will fill me with joy. Acts 2:28 (GNT)

YOUR VIEW OF YOURSELF

Buddy Owens & Jeremiah Goley

“Be made new in the attitude of your minds.” Ephesians 4:23 (NIV) 

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”Romans 12:2 (NIV)  

•  

Conform means... 

to fit into a mold; make or become the same; to behave in a conventional way by accepting without question the customs, traditions and prevailing opinions of others

•  

Transform means...

to change the nature, character or personality

Repent: metanoia = change the way you think

Confess: homologeo = say the same thing

• When I  

say what God says

I begin to  

think like God thinks

“Be made new” = renovate

•  

Renovation

begins with  

the removal of unwanted things

“Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery . . . ‘LORD, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; He snapped their chains. Let them praise the LORD for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them. For He broke down their prison gates of bronze; He cut apart their bars of iron.”Psalm 107:10-16 (NLT) 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (ESV) 

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) 

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) 

• God isn’t asking me to  

make

a promise  

I cannot keep

He’s asking me to  

receive

a promise  

only He can keep

My Faith Confessions

I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again from the dead on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) 

I am a new creation in Christ; the old life is gone, a new life has begun. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

The Son has set me free. I am free indeed! (John 8:36) 

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) 

God is faithful. He will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

Nothing can ever separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39) 

He is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me. (Ephesians 3:20) 

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) 

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) 

God is for me! Who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)