Day 2 God is Unchanging
Day 2: God Is Unchanging
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
- Psalm 18:30
If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you’ve probably heard that God is unchanging. You’ve probably also felt like that’s more of a stubborn or unreasonable characteristic than gracious and loving. It’s possible, because you’ve experienced the inability to reason with parents, employers, children, or other people you care about, that you’ve projected those experiences onto God. Today, challenge yourself with this excerpt from A.W. Tozer’s “Knowledge of the Holy”: “For a moral being to change it would be necessary that the change be in one of three directions. He must go from better to worse or from worse to better; or, granted that the moral quality remain stable, he must change within himself, as from immature to mature or from one order of being to another. It should be clear that God can move in none of these directions. His perfections forever rule out any such possibility.” For God to change is for Him to become better, or become worse - neither of which are possible. This shows us that God’s unchanging nature is rooted in His perfection, not in stubbornness or hardheadedness. The implications of God’s perfection are many. Let’s pray through them with an attitude of worship and awe today.
Suggested Guided Prayer Focuses:
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
- Psalm 18:30
If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you’ve probably heard that God is unchanging. You’ve probably also felt like that’s more of a stubborn or unreasonable characteristic than gracious and loving. It’s possible, because you’ve experienced the inability to reason with parents, employers, children, or other people you care about, that you’ve projected those experiences onto God. Today, challenge yourself with this excerpt from A.W. Tozer’s “Knowledge of the Holy”: “For a moral being to change it would be necessary that the change be in one of three directions. He must go from better to worse or from worse to better; or, granted that the moral quality remain stable, he must change within himself, as from immature to mature or from one order of being to another. It should be clear that God can move in none of these directions. His perfections forever rule out any such possibility.” For God to change is for Him to become better, or become worse - neither of which are possible. This shows us that God’s unchanging nature is rooted in His perfection, not in stubbornness or hardheadedness. The implications of God’s perfection are many. Let’s pray through them with an attitude of worship and awe today.
Suggested Guided Prayer Focuses:
- Today, let us meditate or “chew” on in prayer the following qualities of God as it relates to His unchanging nature:
- God’s perfection (reflect on what it means for God to be perfect).
- His steadfastness and security for you in the midst of your wavering and uncertainty (prayerfully read through Psalm 18:30-36). How has God been steadfast in your life?
- Praise Him for the ways He has been unchanging, which is rooted in His perfection, in your life.
- We often take God’s perfection for granted; reflect on what some of the implications might be of having an ‘imperfect God.’
- For further reading, check out Chapter 9 from A.W. Tozer’s “Knowledge of the Holy” online here: tinyurl.com/knowledgeoftheholy
- See how many names from Scripture (hint: check out the Psalms) related to the unshakeable nature of God you can come up with. Write these down in a journal or on your phone.
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer
4 Comments
I am thankful for Christ's unchanging nature because He is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is my perfect rock and I can rest confidently in every Word He has spoken. Too often my foundation cracks and crumbles when turmoil strikes, but with Christ I can have peace in the midst of the storm because He has already given me the victory! Thank you Jesus for your perfect shield! P.S.- let's please continue to pray for the people of Puerto Rico and that they will also find God's peace and comfort in the midst of this devastating earthquake.
In today's devotional we were challenged in the "Action Steps" to look in Scripture for names of God refering to His unshakeable nature. I came across "Jehovah Shammah", which means "The Lord is There". What a comforting attribute, as we cannot always be with or watch over our loved ones who are needing special care right now! To take it a step further, "He is there" and can watch over that situation/problem/burden that we are so concerned about. Knowing that, let's commit our current concerns and fears about others and situations in His hands, because, "He is there" and He can work out the concern or problem with a positive outcome, if we trust Him. We can rejoice in knowing this, and live this day with a joyful heart.
I love that! Jehovah Shammah! He is there - always and forever, though trials come and seasons change, always and forever our ever present help in time of need.
"What peace it brings to the Christian's heart to realize that our Heavenly Father never differs from Himself... In all our efforts to find God, to please Him, to commune with Him, we should remember that all change must be on our part." - from Tozer's "The Immutability of God." He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever - in all of His perfection, in all of His love, in all of His grace. He is the great I Am. What changes do I need to make to grow in intimacy with Him? And even when my heart grows hard and I don't change, He remains the same steadfast and faithful God through all eternity.