Who is God, Really?

PhotobucketAs Ive grown and met many different kinds of people in different churches across the US, Ive noticed that everyone seems to have a different view of God. This is sad in many cases. For me, He has seemed to change as Ive grown up, though that isnt the truth, of course.

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8

When I was a kid, God was like my daddy I had a great daddy who loved me and my sister to pieces, so it wasnt hard for me to accept that God was my Father who loved and cared about me. It was a very simple faith, a childs faith, and it lasted all the way up into my late teens. I trusted Him.

When I was about 20, we moved across the country and started looking for a new church. We found one that we thought we liked, though we did have a funny feeling about it. Still, we thought maybe we were being picky and stuck with it. We ultimately were sucked into a deeply legalistic form of religion there it was not all about God. It was all about man and what we could do to earn our way to heaven. There, I felt my child-like faith unravel and I began to doubt my salvation and my ability to please God or even communicate with Him. It was just too hard if I had to try to please the God that the pastor showed us. A God who was ready to pound his fist down right upon our heads and turn us to dust the minute we messed up. Leaving that church was the best thing we ever did.

It took me awhile, but Ive studied the bible for myself since then and seen who really God is. When I was unable to read the bible, I prayed for God to show me Himself and His plan for my life.

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.Deuteronomy 4:29

I found a God of love

Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:7-10

(I love the amplified bible version, too you can read this chapter from the amplified bible here at Bible Gateway)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

A God who promises not to forsake me

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have neverforsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 (It says this in the bible at least eight times!)

A God who doesnt turn away from me when I mess up

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

A God who is ready and waiting for us to come to him

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (Not all men will be saved, but he is ready for us!)

A God who wants good for those who choose to trust in Him

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

Everything you need to know about who God is is in the bible. And I know that He is faithful by looking at my past prayer journals Ive seen him answer prayer after prayer. Maybe not always in the way I wanted, or not as quickly as I wanted (never as quickly, lol). He has also always been faithful despite the mistakes I make in life (as perfect as I tried to be, I still made mistakes and continue to do so). He has made good come from them, even!

I feel like I learned a lot about God even from writing this! Thanks to At the Wellfor starting a bible study for women and encouraging everyone to link up! If you would like to join in on this bible study that started just yesterday, head on over to Week One of God, Who Are You?

I would like to know now, who is God to you?