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Who Is Like You, O Lord?

July 1, 2026June 25, 2026 krisshetter

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” – Numbers 23:19

“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; “ — Acts 17:24

I recently heard Pastor Alistair Begg relate a conversation he had with a fellow pastor at a church conference. As they walked toward their meeting room, the fellow pastor said, “Let’s head to the sanctuary.” Pastor Begg replied, “There is no sanctuary.” It left his friend confused because clearly there was a sanctuary – one like all churches have where we meet and worship God.

He went on to say that when the temple curtain was torn at Jesus’ crucifixion, God no longer dwelt there. Instead, He is found everywhere. He is no longer encountered only in one earthly place, closed off to all but a select few.

A Boxed God

Yet we humans love our little boxes and borders. Church is where we “do God.” Work is where we “make money.” We love to define God in our human terms, making Him more like us. Frequently untrustworthy, unloving or unforgiving. We box Him up and retrieve Him only when needed.

But friends, God is so much bigger than our little boxes. He is far grander than us humans. He is transcendent.

“But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?” — 2 Chronicles 2:6

We’ve spent many weeks looking at the character of God—all the reasons He should be revered and worshipped. He is merciful, patient, loving, forgiving, infinite, omnipotent, and so much more. Yet He longs to grow us into people who are more like Him. That’s a bit mind-blowing!

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”. – Isaiah 55:9

Even among my Christ-loving friends, I hear echoes of a god who “can’t.” We forget to pray because we think we know best, or because we assume God couldn’t possibly understand our problem. We place Him in our little box and open it only when absolutely necessary.

My dad, even as an 86-year-old man, lived with the “terrible twos” mindset: “I can do it myself!” It was one of the main reasons he remained so resistant to giving his life to Christ. If my dad couldn’t do it or think of a solution then no one else could. No doctor, no counselor, no mechanic, no one. Least of all the human-like God he imagined.

A Higher God

“In practice men do not by any means always “love the highest when they see it,” and truth is not always a welcome visitor.” J.B. Phillips, Your God Is Too Small

We say we believe in the infinite and almighty God, yet when faced with a problem, we first tinker away at it ourselves. And maybe after failing a time or two we begrudgingly turn to God. And even then we come to Him with our list of suggestions!

I count myself among those who think too small of God at times. I imagine Him more like a fallible human at times rather than the prefect, transcedent God that He is.

I’ve heard many a Christian woman comment that they struggle with the idea of God the Father because of their own imperfect human fathers. They won’t cry “Abba” because they don’t trust Him and can’t understand His perfect love for them. We make God more human instead of asking Him to make us more like Christ.

‘Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:11

Friends, there is no one like our God — no one. And we can know Him only as much as He chooses to reveal Himself to us. We glean from His Word and through His creation the pearls He has laid out for us.

I have found that unbelievers who seem to hate God have dragged Him down to their own level of humanness. They have stripped Him of His glory and holiness in order to sustain their own false ideas.

But when we see the God of the Bible—and I mean really see and study Him—we encounter an otherworldly, awe-inspiring God who entered our time to accomplish a great rescue of love. So let us stop shrinking God down to our size. Let us meet Him as He truly is—holy, infinite, glorious, and far beyond all we can contain. And let that vision of Him lead us not to fear, but to worship.

Our God by Chris Tomlin

Water You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You

Into the darkness, You shine
Out of the ashes, we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer, awesome in power
Our God, our God

Did you miss a blog post in the 30 Days of Reverence series? Check out the series page by clicking here!

City in mountain valley at sunset with river and sun rays

Resting In God’s Sovereignty

June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 krisshetter

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;” Daniel 2:21

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

As I write this my 2026 primary election voting information guide sits nearby. It lists 61 candidates for governor of California. Yes, 61. By the time you read this, the top two candidates will have been decided.

There was a time that I would fret over and engross myself in the politics of elections. I don’t find myself doing that anymore. Partially because our voting process in my state has become corrupted. But mostly because I realize the limited power I have in the outcome. I vote and encourage others to vote. In the end, I rest on the truth of one of God’s most important characteristics – His sovereignty.

El Elyon

“And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Genesis 14:20

That “God Most High” translates to “El Elyon.” It means the God over all rulers and authorities. There is no one higher up. No other supervisor to move your request or complaint to. He is it.

It wasn’t until I completed Kay Arthur’s, “Lord, I Want To Know You” study on the names of God that I fully grasped what it means for God to be sovereign. Soon after, I was engrossed in a Precept study of Isaiah. In that book you come upon scripture that says things like, “Go tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

Which left me wondering why God would close the eyes and ears of certain people. He did the same with Pharaoh and I suspect with a few of Jesus’ friends, the Pharisees. He does the same still today.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8

And there was my answer. If I bow down to the Sovereign Lord, I must accept that He sees the greater, better plan. He is moving pieces on the board I can’t even see. For reasons which may only be revealed after I am long gone from this life.

He Chooses Leaders

The other aspect of this was found in another Isaiah passage: “who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’Isaiah 44:28

Why was this important? Because Isaiah wrote God’s words about Cyrus around 160 years before Cyrus was even known to the Israelites. About 130 years before he was even born!

We read the same prophecies of future kings, military leaders and other rulers throughout the book of Daniel and the prophets. God firmly establishes His role as the Most High God who is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. (Daniel 4:25)

So back to the election. Of course, I want to see a person in my state capitol who loves the Lord. Who obeys the will of the people. Who wants to make life for its citizens better, not repressive. I also know that God will place whomever He chooses in the governor’s seat.

His Will Be Done

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

He will use every means to bring about His purposes. Unfortunately, my state is ruled with an iron fist by unbelievers. So, I have come to the acceptance that the voters may get exactly who they want– someone who institutes God’s punishment, whether he or she realizes it or not.

As believers, our place in this increasingly foreign world is not to be paralyzed by our pagan governments. We are to pray for God’s mercy. We pray for repentance of our people. We continue to do God’s will by sharing the Gospel, in some cases under the threat of death or imprisonment.

Just last year after completing that Isaiah study, I started praying for my federal, state, and local leaders. I pray they will bend their will to God. That they would know the One True God. And I pray they would repent and ask for mercy.

We can be bold in our faith in a faithless community because we understand and fully accept that God’s Will, will in fact be done.

Yes, we acknowledge that even weak, ineffective, greedy, ruthless, leaders hold their place because God has allowed them to. It’s not hard to look around and answer the “why?” One need only read of the Israelites constant acceptance of sinful leaders during their own times of disobedience to God. The world’s countries are now filled to the brim with unbelievers seeking their own will.

The Final Word

But Friends, there is a caveat to Romans 13. Let’s not forget Acts 5:29 when the apostles declared: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” How is that the standard? By remembering who is the final authority over all rulers; where the buck actually stops. God.

So for those of you in the United States, as we enter yet another election season do not fear. If the outcome isn’t what you hoped, we can know who really is in charge. And those of you under repressive governments I pray for God to open the eyes and hearts of the people. For a groundswell of the faithful to spread God’s truth.

His rule and reign will one day become evident to all. And every single knee will bow to the Sovereign King.

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36

Did you miss a blog post in the 30 Days of Reverence series? Check out the series page by clicking here!

Snow-covered mountain peak emerging from clouds with sunset sky

El Shaddai – The Almighty, Self‑Sufficient God

June 24, 2026May 4, 2026 krisshetter

“When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.” Genesis 15:17-18

“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” John 5:26

God doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need me.

That may sound shocking or stark to some. But truth is what sets us free. Just like God’s self‑existence, understanding His self‑sufficiency is essential to our Christian walk.

Now, God being self-sufficient doesn’t then lead us into the heresy of deism. That’s the claim that God did create the world but doesn’t intervene daily in our lives. Deists must disregard just about every page of the Bible, including the entire New Testament in order to hold to their views. They must shut their ears to the millions of testimonies by believers of God’s daily intercessions.

On the flip side, we must believe in God not needing us lest we become like pagan idol worshippers or followers of superstitious practices. Rubbing coins for a god to make our wishes come true. Or making daily sacrifices to please an unpleasable piece of wood.

Oh, we Christians do try and fall into this practice. I heard a friend once say that as a new Christian she was led to believe if she didn’t end a prayer with “In Jesus’ Name,” then God wouldn’t hear her prayer. If we miss church, “God will be mad.” If we skip our daily 15 minutes of Bible reading, our day will be filled with quiet punishments.

The Truth and The Balm

We need to leave all those big and little lies behind us. God may not need us but the balm to that hard truth is that He still made us and loves us. He shows up, He blesses, He listens, He comforts. The worshippers of the goddess Artemis in Ephesus didn’t have that same security.

We find in Acts 19 the apostle Paul making quite a stir when, with the work of the Holy Spirit, he was making headway into spreading the Gospel. That not only angered all the artisans responsible for the booming Artemis idol trade but it also frightened them.

They were worried that without the constant bowing down and sacrificing then the goddess would lose her divine stature and authority.

But the One and Only True God doesn’t need us to rub our beads, wear our crosses, lay flowers at the church altar. Without us, He is still God. With or without belief, He reigns.

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” Acts 17:24-25.

This truth, my Friends, should bring you to your knees in loving worship. He’s not just a god who loves people. He is God who IS love. Between the Son, the Father and the Holy Spirit they have all the love they ever need. But He chooses to bestow that love upon us. How glorious is that?

“Goodness (love, truth, beauty, holiness) is not some external standard He tries to emulate. He is goodness. God has no parts on which he depends.” Michael Reeves, President, Union School of Theology

He Doesn’t Have To

This Spring as the flowers around you begin to bloom and the colors explode in all their majesty remind yourself of this point: God didn’t have to. He could have been content in His own perfect triune situation. Instead, with an expert painter’s brush He created the world and everything in it. He then became the eternal steward of His creation!

The Westminster Confession of Faith (2.2) says this about God’s self-sufficiency:

“God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; … To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them.”

God is contingent on no one and nothing. He is to be reverently feared while at the same time loved as a good, good Father. When you read the covenants of the Old Testament you’ll find a remarkable aspect of each.

Our opening OT verse today mentions the flaming pot moving amongst the animals split in two. It was a type of longstanding ceremony done in those times. But when done by man, man was responsible for the keeping or breaking of the deal. A broken deal meant death. But God’s covenants are made and kept by one faithful person, God. God makes the promise and God fulfills it. His promise is sufficient.

All we need to contribute is our gratefulness through obedience. That should help us not only have confidence in God but also allow us to rest easy that we don’t need to be in constant “please God” mode.

Instead, we can wake each day knowing the gifts we have received come without burden and therefore should be received with all honor and love.

Glowing humanoid figure surrounded by swirling cosmic data streams and galaxies

Jehovah, the Self-Existent One

June 19, 2026May 1, 2026 krisshetter

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” ” Exodus 3:14

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”” John 8:58

In conversations with my dad about God I used this analogy: If you see a beautiful watch and open it up and marvel at the craftsmanship we then assume there was a craftsman. I would point out to my dad each item around us. The table where we sat, the meal we were eating, the clothes we wore, the plants around us – all were built, planted, mixed, sewn, by someone. Everything has a creator, even us. The problem was when my dad asked, “But who created God?”

Who created God? Should be an easy question for you to answer today before your coffee when asked by an unbeliever, right? For those who know me personally they can probably hear me make this statement tinged with humor. I don’t want us to get lost in the weeds of philosophy and metaphysics today, but acknowledging God as self‑existent is essential to the Christian life.

Why? Because most other religions rely on gods which were created, limited or dependent on man.

The most honest answer we average folks can give to the age-old question of who created God is “I don’t fully understand the mystery God’s self-existence.” While we may not completely understand it, we should know and accept that He is self-derived or self-originated. We don’t come to that acceptance out of whole cloth.

I AM

When God assigned Moses the task of speaking for the Israelites, Moses rightfully inquired, “Who should I say you are?” With God’s short and mysterious answer of, “I AM who I AM” He made the bold announcement of being Jehovah – the self-existent one. (On a side note reading that scripture always reminds me of Popeye the Sailor Man: “I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam!)

“He is wholly and completely “other” and unlike anything else in the known or unknown universe. He is autonomous, operates with complete control, and is infinite in all of His power, ability, and knowledge.” For The Gospel

That “other,” as described by Pastor Costi Hinn, must be front and center of our Christian life and reverence for God. He is not us. He is not like us. He is outside us and created us. In fact, He created every single molecule. The Bible affirms this concept and Christian thinkers have wrestled with what that means.

Outside Time

C.S. Lewis has some wonderful chapters in his timeless book, Mere Christianity, on this puzzle of God’s self-existence. He surmises that God is outside time, having created that as well. He has no history and no future. He just is. If you really want to get deep one day, just think about time as a created thing. We think of it as “real” because we see the clock move, the sun rise and set, our bodies grow old. But God is above all that.

Lewis describes God in this way:

“If you picture Time as a straight line along which we have to travel, then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn…God has no history. He is too completely and utterly real to have one. For of course, to have a history is losing part of your reality (because it has already slipped away into the past) and not having another part (because it is still in the future): having nothing but the tiny present.”

God is always in the Now. Our yesterday was His Now. As is our tomorrow. He is without a beginning or an end. We should find comfort in that mystery because it speaks to His authority and power. It reminds us that He is wherever, whenever we are. He is not beholden to another.

Friends, God is not reliant on our concepts of physics, time or space. Mysteriously, He just IS. He is the I AM for time eternal. The steady rock or north star to place our sights upon.

“For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.” Isaiah 46:9

Did you miss a day of 30 Days of Reverence? Click here for all past posts!

Wooden cross on rocky cliff by stormy sea at sunset

The Righteous Judge and the Gracious Savior

June 17, 2026April 20, 2026 krisshetter

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” Jeremiah 23:5-6

^“God made him who had no sin to be sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Fair play, unselfishness, courage, good faith, honesty, truthfulness, and a respect for human life—what do these have in common? For centuries, many called them the Laws of Nature. Today we’re more likely to file them under “human nature” or “the moral law.” And they often become a stumbling block in conversations with atheists: when you ask where “right” and “wrong” come from, the reply is, “Everyone knows what’s right or wrong!” I suspect people who stop there haven’t thought very deeply about the question.

Not everyone knows how to fix a car engine by simply “knowing.” I can’t walk into an operating room and perform brain surgery—yet we often assume we can define morality without reference to its Creator. You and I can list skills we do and don’t have; some overlap, others don’t. I’m terrible at math and good at writing. My friend is the polar opposite.

Universal Morals

Why do we universally condemn lying, cheating, and murder? Why do we instinctively admire courage and honesty? And why do we sense those virtues aren’t just preferences, but standards we ought to live up to?

“You find out more about God from the Moral Law than from the universe in general just as you find out more about a man by listening to his conversation than by looking at a house he has built…we can conclude that the Being behind the universe is intensely interested in right conduct.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Deep thinking isn’t exactly the “in thing” these days. Our attention is shaped by ten‑second videos and endless scrolling. But let’s slow down for a moment and consider where this human hunger for righteousness comes from.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” – Psalms 89:14

When God created the earth and called it good—very good—he set the standard for what “good” means. He is perfect in righteousness. Imagine there were only one potter in the entire world—and there would only ever be one. Every pot, plate, cup, or vase he makes, he declares perfect, without defect. Who would we be to dispute him? He alone makes pottery; he alone knows it.

But if you’re honest, you’re already imagining an imperfect pot—some blemish the potter “must have” missed. The unskilled, non‑potter quietly assumes he knows better than the expert. Isn’t that what we so often do with God? And isn’t that why we’ve drifted from moral laws that were once widely recognized—broken, yes, but still acknowledged as real and good? Instead, we increasingly encounter what Scripture describes: “those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). In modern terms, we call that being “gaslighted.”

Our Touchstone

When we pretend there is no Creator, we can also pretend there is no touchstone for righteousness. We can flip morality on its head. We can treat human life as disposable. But in the end, there is no escaping the truth so many try to avoid: God is the standard of perfection and righteousness.

That truth is also what separates us from Him. Sin bends our hearts toward pride—toward living beyond the gifts God has given us. We’re told, “Who are you to judge?” Our answer should be, “We won’t—but he will.”

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.– James 4:12

And friends, here is the beauty of the gospel—the love behind it, and the reason God sent his only Son. He knows the truth behind Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount:

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

Oh, those “righteous” Pharisees. On the outside they worked hard to clean up their acts and appear holy. On the inside, they were soiled—just like us. They refused (and many still refuse) to see that the only way to stand before a perfect God is for God Himself to provide the sacrifice for our sins. Only through Him—the true standard of righteousness—can we be clothed in white.

The moral law, written on our hearts, isn’t something dreamed up by a politician, preacher, or parent. It is God’s imprint on our hearts and minds—a direct reflection of who He is. And He is very, very good.

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” – Deuteronomy 32:4

Monk kneeling and praying by a wooden cross inside a dark cave during a storm

Rest, Refuge, and the God Who Holds Us

June 12, 2026April 20, 2026 krisshetter

“My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior.” 2 Samuel 22:3

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15

At the time of writing this, my BSGs are beginning a new study by Priscilla Shirer titled Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath. The idea of maintaining sabbath has become so foreign that, just a few years ago, the fast‑food chain Chick‑fil‑A came under fire simply for refusing to open on Sundays. The company’s founder is a devout Christian who has chosen to live out his faith publicly. Imagine—people being so riled up because a chicken restaurant honored the sabbath and gave every one of its employees a guaranteed day off.

As part of the study, we were asked why we think the world values busyness over rest. The truth is, the world often views rest as inconvenient and unnecessary. My response was this: the farther we drift from God, the more tightly we cling to the idea that success comes only through striving harder and relying on ourselves. We stop looking for rest and refuge anywhere—but within our own effort. A God‑centered perspective says otherwise:

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27

True Rest

I am one of those always‑striving types. Even when I try to rest, I wrestle with guilt—feeling as though I am not being productive enough by the world’s standards. Just as I never learned how to wear makeup, I never learned how to truly wear the refuge and rest of God. I am still learning how to rest in His arms in a way that allows my work to have purpose and boundaries, and my rest to be true rest.

God taught so many of us a profound lesson about refuge during the COVID years. We lost businesses and friendships. We lost dreams, finances, loved ones, and trust in institutions. In the midst of all that loss, however, I began to recognize what I was also gaining—a deeper understanding of what God truly offers when He calls Himself our refuge.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29

He became my shelter from the outside chaos. My refuge from my internal strife. He gave me the opportunity to not work and instead fully support my husband whose business was under fire each day. The Holy Spirit encouraged me to start this blog and delve deep into the ways of the Father, encouraging others along the way.

But as the world around us began opening up I felt the familiar tug at my heart and mind – “start producing and striving.” The world was pulling me from His arms again. Taking my eyes off the only thing that could give me the safety and security we all so desire.

Run To His Refuge

Friend, the Christian life is not easy street. It’s work. The world comes at us full bore with sparkly lights and gems. Always wanting more, being better, doing more. But the psalmist reminds us:

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Psalm 5:11

I want to sing for joy while resting safe and secure in His arms. Last year I chose two scriptures to memorize. It wasn’t until I started researching for this post that I realized both focus on God’s promise of refuge. It was obviously something on my heart!

“My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

“God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. God will help her when the morning dawns.” Psalm 46:5

The LORD commands us to rest and find refuge in Him. It’s the only place we can find perfect peace. Let’s all make it our priority today to swim against the world’s current of ceaseless striving. Take time this week to turn all your troubles over to Him and rest in Him.

I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say by Horatio Bonar (1846)

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, O weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quench’d, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, your morn shall rise,
And all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I’ll walk,
Till trav’ling days are done.

Bighorn sheep standing on rocky terrain with mountains and a colorful sunset in the background

The Lord Provides

June 10, 2026April 17, 2026 krisshetter

“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.” Genesis 22:1-19

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

The story in the Old Testament of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his God-given son is the cause of so much anxiety about God. These scriptures have led to many deep discussions into the night by my friends, all mothers. The horror of being asked by God to not only release a child to death but to also be the one responsible for that death seems unimaginable and cruel.

It’s important to notice that Abraham didn’t go gleefully to the hill where the sacrifice was to take place. In fact, you get the impression he was taking his time, slowly preparing the funeral pyre. What he did go with was the ultimate trust that God would provide. God had already provided for Abraham in many ways, not the least of which was resurrecting Sarah’s womb so they could have the very child he led up the mountain.

Commentators say, and I agree, that Abraham not only trusted that God would provide a substitute sacrifice but also that if one were not given, God would be able to resurrect Isaac. Somehow, he had already developed the deep insight into Jehovah jireh, the God Who Provides.

Complete Trust in the Provider

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24

When the bill arrives or the diagnosis comes, do we trust God’s provision as fully as Abraham did? Do we believe Jesus when He tells us how much more valuable than birds are we! Or do we scoff at His words when He commands us:

“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” Luke 12:22

I think we get a bit confused by His promises for provision. While yes, God provided water from a rock. Or miracles of a place to stay, a check to cover rent right when needed, or even a baby when we have been deemed unable. Those are amazing experiences of His provision!

Day to day however, we should be so thankful for the more mundane. The physical ability to go to a job. The job itself. The education that got you that job. The paycheck from which you can buy food and pay the mortgage. The strength to wrangle your kids when you just don’t feel well. That solution suddenly revealed to a nagging problem.

The idea of seeing our lives as being provided for by God was foreign to my dad. He told me once, “I’ve done everything on my own, by myself.” One day I finally pointed him to the many miracles when God intervened during his 80 years. As I listed them all, my dad became quiet. He had never reviewed his life through the lens of God’s provision. He had never stopped to contemplate that someone “out there” was watching over his needs.

When we see the thousands of ways Jehovah jireh works in our daily lives we become people of thankfulness. I believe we also become people who, in the name of our LORD, become providers for others.

Our Good Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

Friends, sheep don’t worry about what they are going to eat or where they are going to sleep. They don’t even seem to worry about any dangers on the perimeter of their wooly lives. They trust completely in their Shepherd. That is the picture Jesus paints for us throughout the Gospels.

^“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

We are such independent people and being likened to sheep really rankles us. That’s because our sinful nature begs and brags about doing everything ourselves. This striving without ceasing brings us separation from the God who loves you so dearly that He wants you to come to Him for all your needs.

Whatever worry is on your heart and mind today, bring it to God. Bring it to the Father who is the giver of all good gifts. I hope you will also ask Him how you can be a blessing in return.

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

Have you missed a “30 Days of Reverence” post? Click here to read all the past blogs!

Jesus holding a child's hand walking on a meadow path surrounded by flowers and trees

Perfect Patience for Imperfect People

June 5, 2026April 15, 2026 krisshetter

“The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression;” Numbers 14:18

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

When my youngest daughter, now 28, was a toddler I found myself praying the same prayer every day throughout the day. “Lord, give me patience!” At times I prayed in exasperation but often I prayed through tears. She is a lovely young woman, now with toddlers of her own; a woman full of love for the Lord.

As a child, however, she was relentlessly busy—emptying cupboards, climbing counters to reach what I had forbidden, and leaving toys in my path. Rarely idle and endlessly creative, she moved with a confidence that suggested my “no” simply meant I hadn’t yet understood her reasoning.

A friend who was never going to have children once told me to not break her spirit. Teachers loved her wit and creativity even in Kindergarten. I responded to them, “You don’t have to live with her.” She always wanted more – more things, more activities, more of me, more, more, more. I loved and love her dearly but I was at my own wit’s end most days when she was little.

More Than Just Patience

One Sunday our pastor at the time spoke the words I so desperately needed. “If you keep asking for the same thing from God over and over and you aren’t seeing any fruit, then maybe it’s time to ask for something different.” In that moment I realized I wasn’t praying wrong – I was praying too narrowly. I had been fixated on patience as if it were something God handed out in isolation, rather than part of a much richer work He was doing in me.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

You find “patience” nestled right in the middle of the fruits of the Spirit. But surrounding it are so many other good gifts He provides. I started asking for God to help me release those other aspects of the Holy Spirit. I needed to slow down, be kind, have joy in what He had blessed me. Instead of demanding, I started co-working with my daughter. I sat calmly with her talking about trust and my desire for her safety. Patience came to me through other gifts.

His Patience Is His Mercy

This struggle with patience didn’t just shape my parenting—it reshaped how I see justice, mercy, and grace. We should all seek to be patient and merciful to others as God has so graciously done for us throughout our years. It’s why Christians must push back against the concept of “karma.” You notice most people who invoke the idea do so in glee of someone else’s suffering? And yet we all deserve some sort of punishment, probably every day. For things we said, thought or did or for those things we didn’t.

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18

The LORD has been patient with this world for millennium. He promised never to flood the earth again with His wrath against sin and evil. Instead, He sent prophets armed with His Word to warn people and to plead with people to trust in Him and Him only. He even sent His son to take our punishment we so rightly deserve.

“But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.“ 1 Timothy 1:16

Friend, His patience is a perfect gift for us imperfect people. We should never say we can’t come to Him because of our failures. He is waiting for us to seek Him so He can lavish us with forgiveness. He doesn’t grow weary in His waiting. However, we are promised that one day the waiting period will be over. We will all face His eternal justice.

When non-believers question, “Where is your God?” We can faithfully answer that He is in the midst of us, patiently waiting for them to repent. For now, we thank Him for the patience He shows us and the unbelievers we love. We can thank Him too for the patience He has gifted us through the Holy Spirit.

As for me and my daughter I can be so thankful for how patient He has been to both of us. Thankful for how much He has loved us. He has blessed us with a beautiful relationship filled with joy.

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

Hiker overlooking river valley with snow-capped mountains and sunrise

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He Knows All Things

June 3, 2026April 14, 2026 krisshetter

“Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30

Of all the blog posts I’ve written so far in this series it’s this one that I’ve spent the most contemplating. It’s not for lack of material to work with; no, it’s the abundance that has caused me to ponder my focus.

God’s omniscience shows up in scripture in various ways, both in the obvious and not so obvious. It’s why I chose the two pieces of scripture to get us started. One exemplifies the idea of God knowing exactly what we think and feel. While the other represents God’s knowledge of everything in the natural world. He is not only everywhere and all-powerful; He sees and understands all.

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” 1 John 3:20

The Apostle John apparently was paying attention during Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. If you drill down into all that Jesus taught and can be found in Matthew 5-7, He’s talking about God knowing our thoughts and hearts. Even back in the book of Isaiah God told His people not to come with empty sacrifices; He wants our hearts. This was the downfall of Cain.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

There is no place to hide, as the post on God’s omnipresence reminds us. He is both physically everywhere and knowledgeable about all. To truly grasp God’s mercy we must understand this.

No one gets away with anything. God is a just God and cannot let sin go unpunished. We should be thankful for that. Conversely, we should be eternally grateful that the punishment for our sins has already been paid. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” We may not understand it all but we don’t need to.

“God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.” Life Principle #5, Charles Stanley, 30 Life Principles

When we completely accept as truth the “3 O’s of God,” as I once titled a blog post on His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence, we let go of our wills and submit gladly to the power of Christ. When we accept that the Holy Spirit is not just the angel on our shoulder balancing the red devil on the other, we move into a Christian life free of bondage to sin.

His Eternal Wisdom and Knowledge

“Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:13-14

When James tells us in His book to seek God’s wisdom if we are lacking, he’s simply building on the truth of God’s omniscience told throughout the Old Testament. From the creation of the world to leading His people out of Egypt and the wisdom books to prophets foretelling both the first and second coming of Christ, we can see God knowing what came, what is happening and what is to come. All knowledge and wisdom finds its source in Him.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33

Friends, when we realize this truth, we can laugh when scientists “discover” something “new.” In fact, I read there are at least 10 major scientific ideas found in the Old Testament. For example, long before explorers circled the earth pronouncing it round, Isaiah tells us, “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22).

Rest In His Insight

Honestly, when we feel lost, unsure, unseen, unheard, unloved by those around us in this physical world it can be very discouraging. But God. He sees you, has wisdom and knowledge to impart to you, and loves you. He has a plan laid for you and for me. And it is good.

Countless Stars: At a time when people believed the stars could be easily numbered, Scripture declared the opposite: “As the host of heaven cannot be counted…” (Jeremiah 33:22). Modern astronomy reveals billions of galaxies each containing countless stars. The more we look, the more we discover that it’s truly an innumerable multitude sparkling in our night sky. Science and The Bible, Bible Hub

Fragmented wooden statue head and limbs in desert sand under cloudy sky with sun rays

The Lord in the Midst of You

May 29, 2026April 12, 2026 krisshetter

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” 1 Kings 8:27

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20

A quick look up on Wikipedia will inform you that the Egyptians at one point had 17 gods of war. When one Egyptian city went out to battle another, they brought their gods to fight alongside them. When the Assyrians and Babylonians came up against Israel, they too carried their idols on the backs of slaves. Assured that with their gods in their physical midst the battle would be theirs. Yet when Moses and Joshua faced the fierce Amalekites all they had was Moses’ arms. But was that all they truly had?

“And he called the place Massahand Meribahbecause the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:7

This verse sits just prior to the story of the great battle against the Amalekites. The Israelites once again, believed God had left them without food or water. The LORD told Moses to strike the rock so that water would flow freely from it. Afterwards, we find Moses naming the place as he so often did, when God performed a miracle. I would imagine their question, “Is the Lord among us or not?” caused God to further show His omnipresent state with the ensuing battle. The Israelites didn’t need an idol carried into battle, they only needed hands lifted to Him.

All throughout the ancient world idol worshippers felt compelled to have an object on their person or in their household in order to be in the presence of the gods. But I love this (long) piece of scripture from Isaiah mocking this concept:

“He (the carpenter) cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.
It is used as fuel for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
    he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
    “Save me! You are my god!” Isaiah 44:14-17

And yet, modern “spiritual” people still do the same with beads, rocks, and stones. If you wear a special bead bracelet then you are protected by some sort of god or spiritual being. A bracelet probably made in China by child labor. I prefer the God who is omnipresent like the one Paul describes here:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

This God is everywhere with us at all times, throughout all time. We don’t need to conjure up some spirit out of our craftsmen’s hands. We, through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, have the Holy Spirit living in each believer. We are His temple, His dwelling place. Wherever we go, He goes.

There are so many other beautiful truths about God’s omnipresence in the Bible but this Psalm is a standout to bring the point home.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10

I want to be held fast while in my car, in my bed, on a plane, in the presence of believers and non-believers. And knowing that He sees me everywhere should also hold my feet to the fire to remember to whom I belong.

“Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24

For the believer in the western world, we can easily forget that we need this God to be with us throughout our days. But think about the believers in hostile lands such as Egypt, Somalia, Nigeria, North Korea, and unfortunately too many other places. Even without a Bible in their hands, they can know the truth, that God is with them. God the Father was with the more than 20 Nigerian Christians slaughtered by Islamic terrorists over Easter. Now they are with Him in His arms for all eternity.

Friends, may we never face the terror some of our brothers and sisters face in defense of our Savior. What we more likely face each day is the clash of cultures. We face decisions to stand up for our faith or be ridiculed. I pray each time you do, you remember the LORD is in the midst of you. He is with you always.