Closing Out 2017 with the Attributes of God

Last year I aimed to close out 2016 with 31 days of hindsight.  I got close to my goal but not quite there. I made 21 days and that was “all she wrote.” “She” being me of course.

Although I plan to spend time with my 2017 journals doing a year-end review, I have decided to shift my focus. I will be examining my life but I will be searching for the attributes of God over the past 12 months first and foremost.

I am beginning to understand that my life in the light of His is the whole point of this life in the first place.  I now see abiding in Christ as so much more than a collage of spiritual moments.  I see abiding in Christ as the whole canvas. He is the frame, the foundation, the filter and the focus. I don’t say all of that to sound super spiritual. I say all of that on my face. I have never felt more grateful for a God who put His life on the line for me, and for you. He entered this mess of a world in the most humble of circumstances to carry us home to the Father.

I personally do not have parents this side of Heaven anymore; so the sacrifice He made to make a way for me to be the apple of a doting Father’s eye is especially significant to my heart. For whatever reason, the enemy chose to attack me at the “belonging” level on and off this whole year.  He would whisper in my ear at the most vulnerable moments,”You don’t belong. No one loves you unconditionally. Without parents you are an orphan. Your parents had to love you but now no one has to etc…”  You get the point.  Just writing out those abusive words makes me cringe but it also helps me identify the voice of the father of lies, the voice that comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Although the enemy landed a few punches this past year, God gets the first and the last Word on my life, and yours.  If He spoke me into being, I am claiming His words about me, not the creepy words of a defeated foe.  I am choosing to worship, not wallow in self-doubt or pity. I am choosing to wear my identity like a banner. I am chosen, redeemed, called, and HIS! My God “gets to love me”; HE doesn’t have to. HE delights over me and is proud to be seen with me, then, now and forever.  I am all that and a bag of chips to Jesus  and so are you!

If that sounds overly confident, you better believe it! I am overly confident in a God who made it all, gave HIS all, and holds it all together. I am overly confident in the One and only God who did, does and will always DO LOVE!  “Love Does” just in case you didn’t know about That Jesus or just in case you haven’t heard of Bob Goff. (Check Bob and, most importantly, Jesus, out if you haven’t already:)

Here are just a few of the golden nuggets, attributes (characteristics, names, titles, and descriptions) of God I plan to mine in this year-end review and I pray that it prompts you to go looking too. The cool thing is, God said, “If you seek ME, you will find ME;” therefore, we are promised to score!

**I would love for you to add to this list.

How have you experienced God this past year?

What attributes of God have you cherished the most in 2017?

TREASURE HUNTING:

Lord of the harvest (Matt. 9:38)

God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3)

God of grace (1 Peter 5:10)

God of Peace (1 Thess. 5:23)

The Lord is my Banner (Ex. 17:15)

My Confidence (Psalm 71:5)

My Hope (Romans 15:13)

The Spring of Living Water ( Jer. 2:13)

The God who sees me (Gen.16:13)

He who searches hearts and minds (Rev. 2:23)

Indescribable Gift (2 Cor. 9:15)

Light of the world (John 8:12)

My Friend (Ver. 3:4)

My Intercessor (Job 16:20)

Another Counselor (John 14:16, 26)

The True Vine (John 15:1)

My Advocate (Job 16:19)

My Hiding Place (Psalm 32:7)

My Song (Ex. 15:2)

My compassionate and gracious God (Ex. 34:6)

The Gardener (John 15:1)

Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6)

Lord who heals you (Ex. 15:26)

Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)

Savior of the world (John 4:42)

Teacher (Matt. 23:10)

Sure Foundation (Isa. 33:6)

Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5)

Source of strength (Isa. 28:6)

A shelter from the storm (Isa. 25:4)

The Beginning and the End (Rev. 21:6)