Perspective from the Psalms

Happy day, friends!

I am thrilled to present my blog to you from my new domain, joshuawatts.me. (The “.me” sounds super pretentious, I know, but it apparently stands for a website based out of Montenegro. To which you might confusedly bring up, “But, Josh, you’re not based out of Montenegro.” And then I would suspiciously say, “Shhh.” )

Anyway, if I’m honest with you – and this is probably no surprise to those who are close to me – I am a “major weeper.” There is ostensibly a lot of water stored in my head that decides to unleash itself when I am moved. And I have been ‘moved’ a lot lately – moved mostly by the rich goodness of our God.

For some, it is difficult to read that last expression… “the rich goodness of God.”

Maybe a past situation would suggest to you that God is alright, but not good. Or maybe your current situation proposes that God is conditionally good… or that perhaps the goodness itself is conditional. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: I wonder if we in fact lower our theology to match our pain?

Friends, it’s high time we stop living by what we see and living by faith instead. We must allow the gentle and wonderful Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us. And this is truth:

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things He does for me.

He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

He revealed His character to Moses
and His deeds to the people of Israel.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.

He does not punish us for all our sins;
He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him
Is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
As the east is from the west.

The Lord is like a father to his children,
Tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

For He knows how weak we are;
He remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass;
Like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone –
As though we had never been here.

But the love of the Lord remains forever
With those who fear Him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
Of those who are faithful to His covenant,
Of those who obey His commandments!

Psalm 103:2-18

How breathtaking! I sincerely believe God is better to us than we could ever be to ourselves! He is holding onto us with a tight grip – His great love for us causes Him to never let go!

Whatever season you are in now, friend – a season of happiness, a season of despair – be reminded that no moment we endure is ever wasted. God is ensuring that all things, every loose string, every confusing element, all things are working together for our ultimate good.

What a God! What a Friend to be trusted!

There is so much on my heart and in my soul.. too much to say now. I could go on for days! But I am looking forward to writing again, when I have even better words to frame the active love and processes of our good God.

Until then, find great encouragement in His Word. He is exactly who He says He is: a God who forgives sin, a Friend who loves our company, and an Architect who is causing all things to fall into place for our good and His glory.

My heart,
Josh