01242026 Doing Special Things

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God. He holds us as beloved and special, and His love takes action, as He declares, “I want to do special things for you.”

Sometimes we can feel humdrum and ordinary. In human relationships, we can feel like we are on the fringes – perhaps overlooked - included in the group, but never near the center. Not the first one looked to for help or leadership, and neither the first one singled out for acknowledgement or assistance. In the divine relationship, we can mimic these same feelings. We can fall into doldrums where it seems like we are not special to God. Sure, we are His child, but it doesn’t seem like anything noteworthy is going on. We can feel unnoticed and taken for granted. We slog away week after week, and we don’t see the extraordinary intervention of God that we hear reported by others. If we aren’t careful, our discouragement can turn into doubt about whether God actually takes pleasure in us. But God says . . .

“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (5:12).

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (13:5-6).

“He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me” (18:19).

“Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips” (21:2).

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (23:2).

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace” (29:11).

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness” (30:11).

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (37:23).

“Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. … He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee” (81:10,16).

“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, to his saints” (85:8).

“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (103:5).

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (103:11).

“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (107:9).

“He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings” (107:35).

“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him” (111:4-5).

“For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation” (149:4).

God says, “I want to do wonderful and bountiful acts on your behalf. Certainly there are times within My greater plans when you might not perceive abundance or bounty, but even then I am working all things for good. Surely if you think carefully, you will be aware of the multitudes of times when I have bountifully provided, when I have wonderfully answered prayer, when I have done amazing things beyond the bare necessity. I do these things because I love you deeply and desire your good. My love compels me to treat you as special by showering you with My abundant interventions: protection, provision, strength, comfort, guidance, reversals, pleasures, superfluous blessings. I work powerfully for you because My love for you has no bounds.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA