Four Confessions For Hard Times

by Derek Gentle

1. Lord, Your plan is RIGHTEOUS

Psalm 145:17 - The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Psalm 48:10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm 65:5 - By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

• Your plan for my life will never violate your holiness.

• You are doing me right.

2. Lord, Your plan is GRACIOUS and GENEROUS

Ps 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Isaiah 63:7 - I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 2:3-8 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

• I do not deserve better. If I got what I deserved, I would be in hell.

3. Lord, Your plan is WISE

Romans 11:33 - O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Romans 16:27 - To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
1st Corinthians 1:25 - Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

• If I had all the facts, as You do, and were able to interpret them accurately, and with the right motives, Your will would be the thing I would want.

• You are doing the smart thing.

4. Lord, Your plan is PERFECTLY TIMED

Galatians 4:4 - But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law

1st Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time

Other verses on God's control over timing: Revelation 6:10-11, 6:17, 9:15, 12:6

Psalm 83:18 - That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Psalm 135:6 - Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Ephesians 1:11 - In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will

Ps 33:20 - Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Ps 37:7 - Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Isaiah 33:2 - O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

• You control the timing as well as the results.
• Your delays have PURPOSE:

• Sin purging purpose.
• Motive purifying purpose.
• Strength building purpose.
• Skill training purpose.
• Circumstance arranging purpose.

• Your plan always runs on schedule.