In emphasising reading God’s Word daily (EDWJ’s purpose), there’s a danger that we assume we’re critical to the understanding and communication of God’s Word. Whilst it’s true that the Word needs proclaiming (Rom. 10:14), God’s creation itself always remains as a clear revelation to His reality (Rom. 1:20). Our challenge is never to lose sight of God’s Word but to order all of life so.

'Goodness’ entered the English language as ‘godnes’, indicating confidence in God’s divine goodness. We always want God to be good to us. Our difficulties arise when what we encounter doesn’t match our imagined path in life: a divorce, loss of a job, an unwelcome health condition.

This week we will conclude our reflections on God’s Word by looking at Psalm 119. It declares that God is all-sufficient and revives our spirit. It begins by inviting us to do three things: to walk in God’s ways (vv1–3), to write Scripture on our heart (vv11–12) and to daily profess it with our lips (vv13–15). In every sandwich, the essential part is the filling; in feeding our heart, Scripture is the essential element.

Imagine if you were to drive your car with your eyes fixed on the rear-view mirror. It would be very dangerous for you and others. Yet, many of us live our lives looking backwards, not forwards. We feel safe with what we know and have no real desire to discover the freedom of the unknown. The familiar is comforting; the future uncertain.

We need confidence to navigate life effectively, a confidence in God (Jer. 17:7). It is both the assurance we place in the truth and reliability of someone or something, combined with an ability to rely on it, come what may. It means our glass is always half full! Jesus invites us to live as ‘glass half full’ people, finding God’s goodness in all eventualities of life.

The word ‘apologetic’ suggests an expression of regret for something to someone offended by words or deeds. Add an ‘s’ and we have ‘apologetics’, ‘a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity’.* – not apologising, but offering a clear, reasoned case for Christianity.

One of Jesus’ promises is that in turning to Him we receive rest (Matt. 11:28). A quick Google search reveals the rapid rise in anxiety. Many who experience Long Covid report a degree of personal anxiety that they hadn’t previously known. The media reports an increasing antidepressant use.

We recently had friends around with their five children, the youngest just one year old. As we sat around the room, we had fun adopting the same pose and watching how the baby would pause, look at us and then seek to copy our action; for example, all sitting with our arms in the air.

A Christian disciple is someone who’s been turned around by God’s grace. No longer tossed and blown about by what others think, their deceitful scheming (Eph. 4:14), but rooted in God’s Word from which we draw our daily nourishment (Ps. 1:3). Filled with God’s Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16), we become points of presence so that wherever we find ourselves we can give birth to God’s purpose.

Once we make God’s Word part of our daily diet, we can expect our lives to bear good fruit. Paul lists the fruit as, ‘love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’, where forbearance is an old-fashioned word for patience (Gal. 5:22–23).