"BUT GOD"

What a difference a word makes. Prepostions and conjunctions can be words that change the course of history, bring life or death, joy or sorrow, hope or dispair. Whether used as a preposition or conjunction or just implied there is one phrase that always brings faith and joy to my heart - "BUT GOD." It is wonderful to remember and meditate on the "but God" stories and promisis of the Bible, like in the Old Testament in Exodus 19:12, God commanded the Israelites to not go up or even touch the border of Mt. Sinai because of the presence of the living God was on the mountain. But under the New Covenant God's people are invited to "come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy for appropriate and well timed help just when we need it" (Heb.4:16 Amp.). From aloofness to intimacy, Jesus interjected Himself into "His-story" and became the "But" that gave us access to an intimate relationship with the loving God.

In the story of Daniel in the lion's den (Dan.1:1-6:26), but for God's deliverance, Daniel would have perished at the hands of cruel, deceitful and jealous men.

The three Hebrew children would have perished in the fiery furnace but God kept them from destruction so that their clothes did not even smell of smoke, (Daniel 3).

Jonah would have died in the raging water but God prepared a fish to save him. But for lack of time and space we could go on and on showing that but for God's intervention in lives, including ours, we would have all been destroyed, which proves God's faithfulness.

But for God's intervention we would still be blind, naked and wretched sinners. "But God clearly proves His love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom.5:8). But God did not leave us helpless and comfortless when Jesus returned to the Father but sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter, Guide and Teacher. Before sin reigned in our mortal bodies but by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit we now, through Him, have dominion over sin in our lives (Rom.5:10). Although the Holy Spirit lives within and sin cannot rule over us, we will be tempted. But remember, " no temptation has overtaken you but what is common to man, but God is faithful and will with the temptation provide a way out that you may be able to bear up under it patiently" (I Cor.10:13).

This is an election year and with that reality brings changes of voters' minds, new poll numbers, new flip-flops and new fears of the future. Neither side can become cocky or arrogant about the end result of this Presidential race. Psalm 75:5-7 says "Do not lift up your horn on high, do not speak with insolent pride. For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation, but God is the Judge. He puts down one and exalts another."

All the plans and schemes of man are futile without the inspirational thought and power of God behind, ahead and underneath them all. God has already told us in Zech.4:6b, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." We are hopeless without Him, but with Him "we can run through a troop and jump over a wall" (II Sam.22:30)! "We can be the head and not the tail" (Deut.28:13)! Whether "our man" wins or not in the election, God will have put the one elected in office. God is still in control!

Remember, To God Who is able, by the power that works within us, is able to do super abundantly above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams." (Eph.3:20 Amp.)

Mary Jones