Shifting Focus: Experiencing God's Goodness Amidst Chaos
Summary
In our journey of exploring the goodness of God, we are called to shift our perspective from the chaos and challenges of life to the divine goodness that is ever-present. Just as a black backdrop in a theater highlights the performance in front of it, the difficulties we face serve to accentuate God's goodness. Our natural inclination is to focus on the negative—the brokenness, the chaos, and the things that aren't going right. This focus breeds anxiety and hopelessness. However, God invites us to redirect our attention to the glimpses of His goodness that are always present, even in the darkest situations.
Through the story of Moses, we see how God's goodness was evident even amidst the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. Despite Pharaoh's evil plans, God's goodness was at work, ensuring the survival and growth of His people. Moses' life is a testament to how God's goodness pursues us, even when we find ourselves in low places. His encounter with God at the burning bush and later on Mount Sinai reveals that personal encounters with God's goodness are transformative. Moses' request to see God's glory was a desire to experience God's goodness firsthand, and God responded by allowing His goodness to pass before Moses, clothing him in divine presence.
This narrative teaches us that God's goodness is not just a concept but a tangible reality that we can experience personally. It is a call to look beyond the backdrop of our struggles and see the divine goodness that is always running after us. When we focus on God's goodness, it changes us, and we become carriers of His presence, impacting those around us. Worship becomes a natural response to recognizing God's goodness, and it shifts our focus from the chaos to the Creator.
Key Takeaways:
- Shift Your Perspective: In a world filled with chaos and challenges, God calls us to shift our focus from the negative backdrop to His goodness, which is always present and highlighted by our struggles. This shift in perspective can transform our experience of life. [01:40]
- Personal Encounters with God's Goodness: Like Moses, we need personal encounters with God's goodness. These experiences are transformative and allow us to carry His presence into the world, impacting those around us. [20:16]
- God's Goodness Pursues Us: No matter where we find ourselves, God's goodness is always pursuing us. We must have the eyes to see where God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of challenges. [19:05]
- Worship as a Response to God's Goodness: Recognizing God's goodness should naturally lead us to worship. When we focus on His goodness, we ascribe worth to Him rather than the chaos around us. [30:25]
- Gratitude for Glimpses of Goodness: Practicing gratitude for the small glimpses of God's goodness helps us redirect our focus from what is lacking to what God is doing. This discipline fosters a heart of thankfulness and contentment. [31:19]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:40] - Shifting Perspective
- [02:38] - Highlighting God's Goodness
- [03:40] - Exercise in Seeing Goodness
- [05:32] - God's Boundaries and Goodness
- [06:39] - Challenges as Opportunities
- [08:10] - Moses and God's Goodness
- [10:41] - Pharaoh's Evil Plan
- [12:51] - The Ark of Moses
- [15:01] - Negative Focus vs. God's Goodness
- [18:01] - Moses' Encounter with God
- [20:16] - Moses' Request for God's Glory
- [23:17] - Personal Testimonies of Goodness
- [25:03] - God's Goodness and Glory
- [30:25] - Worship and Ascribing Worth
- [36:59] - Invitation to Know Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Experiencing God's Goodness
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 33:12-23
2. Psalm 104:1-9
3. Exodus 1:20-22
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Observation Questions:
1. In Exodus 33:12-23, what does Moses request from God, and how does God respond to his request? [20:16]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of challenges and difficulties in highlighting God's goodness? [01:40]
3. According to the sermon, what was Pharaoh's plan to stop the growth of the Israelites, and how did God's goodness manifest in that situation? [10:41]
4. What exercise did the pastor lead to help the congregation see glimpses of God's goodness in their lives? [03:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Moses have felt the need to see God's glory, and how does this relate to personal encounters with God's goodness? [20:16]
2. How does the sermon suggest that focusing on God's goodness can transform our perspective on life's challenges? [02:38]
3. In what ways does the story of Moses illustrate the idea that God's goodness is always pursuing us, even in difficult circumstances? [19:05]
4. How does the sermon connect the act of worship with recognizing and responding to God's goodness? [30:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might shifting your focus to God's goodness change your perspective on that situation? [01:40]
2. Can you recall a personal encounter with God's goodness that transformed your life? How can you seek more of these encounters? [20:16]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel God's goodness is pursuing you. How can you be more open to recognizing and embracing it? [19:05]
4. How can you incorporate gratitude for small glimpses of God's goodness into your daily routine? What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart of thankfulness? [31:19]
5. In what ways can you make worship a natural response to recognizing God's goodness in your life? How might this shift your focus from chaos to the Creator? [30:25]
6. Consider the people around you. How can you become a carrier of God's presence and goodness, impacting those you interact with daily? [34:33]
7. What specific distractions in your life prevent you from focusing on God's goodness? How can you minimize these distractions this week to better experience His presence? [36:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Shifting Focus to Divine Goodness
In a world filled with chaos and challenges, it is easy to become consumed by negativity and despair. However, we are called to shift our perspective and focus on the ever-present goodness of God. Just as a black backdrop in a theater highlights the performance, our struggles can accentuate the divine goodness that surrounds us. By redirecting our attention from the chaos to God's goodness, we can transform our experience of life and find hope and peace amidst difficulties. This shift in perspective is not just a mental exercise but a spiritual discipline that opens our eyes to the glimpses of God's goodness in every situation. [01:40]
Psalm 27:13-14 (ESV): "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you tend to focus on the negative? How can you intentionally shift your perspective to see God's goodness in that area today?
Day 2: Transformative Encounters with God's Goodness
Personal encounters with God's goodness have the power to transform us deeply. Like Moses, who experienced God's presence at the burning bush and on Mount Sinai, we too can have life-changing encounters with the divine. These moments allow us to carry God's presence into the world, impacting those around us. When we seek and recognize these encounters, we become vessels of His goodness, spreading His love and light in our communities. Such experiences are not reserved for biblical figures but are available to each of us as we open our hearts to God's transformative presence. [20:16]
Exodus 33:18-19 (ESV): "Moses said, 'Please show me your glory.' And he said, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a powerful way. How did that encounter change you, and how can you seek more of these transformative moments in your daily life?
Day 3: God's Goodness Pursues Us
No matter where we find ourselves, God's goodness is always pursuing us. Even in the midst of challenges and low points, God is at work, ensuring our survival and growth. The story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt is a testament to this truth. Despite Pharaoh's evil plans, God's goodness was evident, ensuring the survival and growth of His people. We must have the eyes to see where God is at work in our lives, recognizing that His goodness is always running after us, even when we feel lost or overwhelmed. [19:05]
Psalm 23:6 (ESV): "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you identify God's goodness pursuing you in that situation, and how does this change your perspective on future challenges?
Day 4: Worship as a Response to God's Goodness
Recognizing God's goodness should naturally lead us to worship. When we focus on His goodness, we ascribe worth to Him rather than the chaos around us. Worship becomes a response to the divine goodness we experience, shifting our focus from the struggles to the Creator. This act of worship is not just about singing songs but about living a life that honors God and acknowledges His presence in every aspect of our lives. As we worship, we align our hearts with God's heart, allowing His goodness to flow through us and impact the world around us. [30:25]
Psalm 95:1-2 (ESV): "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine as a response to God's goodness? What specific actions can you take to honor God in your everyday life?
Day 5: Gratitude for Glimpses of Goodness
Practicing gratitude for the small glimpses of God's goodness helps us redirect our focus from what is lacking to what God is doing. This discipline fosters a heart of thankfulness and contentment, allowing us to see the beauty and blessings in our lives. By cultivating gratitude, we become more aware of God's presence and work in our lives, even in the smallest details. This practice not only transforms our perspective but also deepens our relationship with God, as we learn to trust in His goodness and provision. [31:19]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: What are three specific things you can thank God for today? How can practicing gratitude daily help you become more aware of God's goodness in your life?
Quotes
1) "Our flesh is drawn to focus on what's wrong, what's not happening, what's broken, what's chaotic, what's out of control. And it's broken. It's breeding an epidemic of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideology. It's breeding. An epidemic of hopelessness. But God is calling us. He's calling a generation to shift our perspective away from the backdrop to begin to focus on what's in front of it. And when you shift that focus, beloved, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, when you shift the focus, all of a sudden, the goodness of God begins to pop out. The goodness of God begins to highlight. And you see things that were there all the time, but you missed them." [02:38] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "How do you know the goodness of God unless you've been through something? How do you know? know how good he is unless you've been in a dark place, a difficult place. You see, Adam and Eve took his goodness for granted because there was no sin in the world. But as soon as sin entered the world, his goodness was on display. His goodness was highlighted. And then we read in Psalms 104, David's testimony of creation, that all you got to do is look outside your door. All you got to do is look at nature. And the one thing that really arrested my heart is when David spoke about the ocean, that God put a boundary around the ocean, around the seas, and told the ocean you cannot trespass." [05:32] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "I want to establish today that those challenges are opportunities to encounter. To encounter the goodness of God personally. I shared a quote last week by a monk. a catholic monk and he talked in terms of the goodness of god being something that we experience personally not by hearsay it's our own testimony do you have a testimony of how good god is do you personally have a testimony of how good god is i want to share with you through the life of moses some revelation that really blessed my heart because moses was one where the goodness of god was chasing after him." [08:10] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "You see, you have to take a deeper look. Into what we're going through, what we're dealing with. You have to take a very close look. And if you do, you will begin to discover those glimpses of goodness I'm talking about. You'll begin to discover. You know, because if we don't focus on those glimpses of goodness, what happens? We walk around. I mean, this is... This is the phrase that we hear all the time, negative Nancy. Now, Elder Perry's wife is named Nancy, and that is no offense against you, because she is not negative. But you know, that's the phrase we hear, right? Negative Nancy. Negative Nathan, maybe. Is there any Nathans in the house? Sorry, Nathan. Am I right? We just carry a negative attitude. Negative attitude. Negative attitude. Any one little thing said to us, whew, it just blows up, and it just gets all negative." [15:01] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "The point is, is that no matter what you go through in life, no matter where you find yourself, God's goodness, as the song says, is always running after you. He's always looking for you. We just have to have the eyes to see where God is. Where God is and what he's doing. Because he's constantly looking for us. And then Moses takes a charge and he begins this journey. And we know the story of him rescuing the children of Israel." [19:05] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "We need personal encounters with the goodness of God. You can't live on somebody else's testimony. And you can't rob others of their testimony. Listen, some people are suffering and we want to rescue them. But what we're doing is we're stealing their testimony. We're stealing their testimony because God is trying to create something in them that they can testify on their own behalf. He said, show me something, God. Show me something. And this is what I love. Then God said, I will make my what? My goodness." [24:05] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "When Moses encountered God and God's goodness passed before him or overshadowed him or covered him or clothed him, he came off the mountain and he came to the mountain looking a little different because he was wearing the glory of God. He was wearing the goodness of God. You see, God had answered his prayer. He says, look, I'm not going a step further. This is tough. The things that you're asking of me are tough. Don't you see what I'm going through? The things you're asking of me are tough. This is tough. I'm not going a step. I'm not going a step further until you show me your glory. And God says, okay, turn around. Wedge yourself in that rock. I'm going to show you my glory." [33:50] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "You know, when you carry his goodness. Folks want to be around you. Really, they do. One of our pastors had the Lord just gave him this beautiful phrase. I believe it was a prophetic phrase. He said, Mount Olivet is going to be comfortable. I'm a solution center. That was powerful. When people come with questions of life, God will give answers. I believe he said that. i believe as we clothe ourself with his goodness we will attract all kind of folks and it won't be our ideas it won't be our answers it'll be god's ideas and god's answers and they'll meet them right where they are because we are clothed in his goodness goodness my greater prayer is that god will continue to shift our focus away from the backdrop." [36:19] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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