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Genesis 1: 27

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
In order to be able to trust someone, it helps to know them. We were made in God’s image, in His likeness. We love like Him because He is love. (1 John 4:8) As we feel more blessed when we give to others over when we receive, so does He. (Acts 20: 35)
John 4: 6-8
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well.  It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.)
John 4: 32-33
Meanwhile His disciples urged Him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.

Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman but did not eat or drink.  He imparted His grace to her, blessing her and by the time the disciples came back to see Him, Jesus was full.  He felt blessed and refreshed from being able to give to her over receiving anything in return. 1

It pleased God the Father to give us and bless us with His Son; to allow Jesus to be crushed on our behalf for our sins so that we can be free. (Isaiah 53:10)

We don’t necessarily need reminders of God’s existence; but we do however need continual reminders of His goodness towards us.  We are not perfect, we fail, hurt others; see pain and suffering in the world from the fall of man and get discouraged and fearful.  The Bible helps us to see the opposite of these things by getting to know Jesus.  In seeing Jesus we get to know God’s heart and then it becomes easier to trust Him sometimes against all present odds.

I read somewhere years ago about an acronym about how to read the Bible:

Scripture – read a verse(s)

Objective – write out what the verse was saying and to whom; the context of the chapter

Application: try to determine how it could be applied to my life

Response:  respond to God in prayer about all of the above

I did this for a number of years, filling diaries on my bookshelf.  Looking back on it now, all I was really looking for each time I opened the Bible was to try to see a God that I could trust to bless me, trust to accept me and trust to love me.

In one sentence:

See Our Awesome Redeemer – Jesus Christ on every page of the Bible and it will lift you up.

Galatians 3: 13-14
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) so that theblessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Seeing that we have been redeemed from the curses that the law brings by Jesus’ work on the cross, will continually bring our hearts back to rest, away from fear and doubt.  Rest in being able to believe God for every blessing we desire with the same belief we have in His payment for our sins.

The Message Bible says it best:

Matthew 7:11

Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in.  If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust?  If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate?  As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing.  You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think that God who conceived you in love will be even better? …How much more will your Father who is in Heavengive good things to those who ask Him.

He held Himself down to the Cross, to the earth – cursed ground;
so that we can soar above every lack and curse the law brings
and receive His blessings instead.
God bless you today!

 

Reference:

1. Destined to Reign, Joseph Prince. 2007.