What Is God Really Like

In review of Psalm 100:5 it says, ”For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation” (TLB).

Today’s verse is from Psalm 100:1-5. In the Psalmist invites us to enter joyfully into God's presence. I’m told to shout with joy to the Lord, worship him with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made me, and I am his. I am part of his people, a sheep in his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving; and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

I acknowledge that the Lord is God when I shout his praises, appreciate his status as my Creator, accept his authority in every detail of life, enthusiastically agree with the guidance he provides, and express my thanks for his unfailing love.

God is my creator; I did not create myself. Many live as though they are creator and center of their own little world. However this mindset leads to pride, greed, idolatry, and if everything should be taken away, a loss of hope itself. But when I realize that God created me and gives me all I have, I'll want to give to others as God has given to me. Then, even if all is lost, I still have God and all he gives us.

God alone is worthy of being worshiped. What is my attitude toward worship? Am I willingly and joyfully coming into God's presence, or am I just going through the motions, reluctantly responding. This psalm reminds me of God's goodness and dependability, and then to worship with thanksgiving and praise!

If knowing who God is, shapes the way I pray, then what is God really like?

What I’m learning is that, God has many characteristics. He is all-knowing (omniscient), he is all-powerful (omnipotent), he can be everywhere at the same time (omnipresent). The Bible tells us God is holy, just, kind, loving, and faithful.

The goodness of God is the basis for all prayer. If God is not a good God, then I would have no motivation to pray.

The only reason there’s any good in the world is because God is the Creator of the world, and he is a good God. His goodness is in the universe. You can’t spell “good” without “God.” If there’s no God, then there is no right and wrong or good and bad.

But that leaves some thinking, “Why is there evil in the world?” It’s simple: God doesn’t force us to do good. Evil exists because God gave us a free choice and we choose not to do good a lot of the time. Evil is really easy to explain. The hard thing to explain is why there is is any good in the world. In a world of “dog eat dog” and tough luck, the only reason there is good is because God is a good God.

Bottom Line:

The Lord is good; his love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts forever.

What this means to me:

I recognize that the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on not only to myself but also to each generation.

In summary, God is good, so I should shout with joy to the Lord, worship him with gladness. Acknowledge that the Lord is God and that he made me. I am part of his people. Therefore I can enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, and give thanks to him. The Lord is good and his unfailing love continues forever. His faithfulness continues to each generation. His generosity and goodness compels me to give to others in the same way. Overall, he is all-knowing, all-powerful, he can be everywhere at the same time. God is holy, just, kind, loving, and faithful.

Today Father I thank you for your caring and goodness to me. I ask today for your wisdom and guidance in my work, my leadership and how I interact with others. I pray this through your Son Jesus name, amen!