Providence

8-10-2007

Reginald Fredericks

My soul rejoices in the Lord

for all His ways are right and just

and no other question is greatly answered

than to know that in all things

He preserves, both holy and divine,

all creation and actions

To Him, all is ever known and done,

not allowing but ordaining,

not a mystery but foretold,

for a purpose and not for amusement

That all things in the end shall work

out for the good to those who love Him

as well as exalt Him as King and Lord

throughout all eternity

My soul, thus, rejoices in Him

for all His ways are known only by Him

For what is revealed belongs to His people

but all others, including known things,

is all the Lord's

For the Lord is sovereign and

providentially rules over all actions and words

and nothing is said, spoken, done, or planned

unless the Lord does it

The Lord does no evil,

nor does He exists in evil

but rather all evil, though under His control,

submits to Him, and sin desires nothing but man's flesh

the Evil One, thus, causes not many things,

but only accuses our brethren

while the flesh destroys us

For a while, I sought onto the Lord many questions

Not reasoning in my own mind the authority of His power

As I saw behind me the path taken, journeys made

I saw my choices, my sorrows, and my desires

all but fall into the one thing that makes me finite

"Why Lord, of all this, then, can any good come out of?

Why has the Lord brought me only to a road filled with pain?"

Foolish me, I was; shall I question the Lord and His reasons for being?

All, however, is the same thing that is said in the beginning

God is sovereign, reigning supreme, governing and ruling

all words, hearts, and actions and tasks

all will go to the appointed end that God has ordained it to be

So, finally at last, one final thought came, my mind bleeding with pain

"Lord, understanding I know not, but trust I do; thus shall my heart forever

trust in Your ways, ordering them and orchestrating all things to your glory and pleasure

I shall see the end of my life when You come and receive me into your glorious kingdom

knowing that you purposed the wicked man for judgment and the righteous for everlasting life

Therefore, I say again, my heart greatly rejoices in the Lord."
I can, now, live my days following your lead, your footsteps, your guidance

so that in the end I know that in every second, minute, hour, day, month, and year

that you have ordained all events, both small and great, to glorify you

All things, have a purpose, and all things have a reason

Is this known to man? Only what is given by the Lord is

But if He doesn't give it, then nothing is known except the Lord be praised

No more, why this or why that, but rather "thy will be done, Lord"

Guide me, lead me, providentially rule over all things and nothing is outside your grasp.

You don't allow things to happen but you have already ordained all things before the foundations of the earth to come to pass in the time that you have appointed

Over all things, you have rule; while you do no evil or tempt with evil,

as evil beckons us and our sin is our instigator, you have purposed for the good of all things

So, one should not say, "the Lord allowed this" or "God will allow you to" or even

"God will withhold" and even "God let's you" because if He cannot control all things, then we, and our actions are governing Him

This is absurd!!!!!

So, while you may not understands His providence, His rule in governing all actions, words, and deeds, and even events, one thing is clear: God be worshipped and praise for all eternity

And even among this cruel evil world, God will surely display His full providence to all men

No one, nothing, is outside of that; otherwise, He is not God

Providence of God doesn't equal tyranny

Providence of God displays His glory

And His providence, governs, preserves, controls all...even the wicked for the day of evil