everything

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Luke 2:1-35. And we read about something that Romans 8:28 explains for us.

See, the story from Luke tells us that the Roman leaders decided to take a census, and so Mary and Joseph had to take the unborn Jesus to Bethlehem. The leaders were most certainly not trying to do God's will. But the thing that they did WORKED for the good of Mary and Joseph, anyway. God worked it for their good. And the prophecy was fulfilled.

In your life, you see many things that do NOT seem to agree with what God wants for the world, right? Politicians make laws that seem to thwart God's intentions. People all over the world do things that are not in agreement with His will for our lives. However, even THOSE things God will work for your good.

Now, it's important to realize what "working for your good" means. If we aren't in tune with His will, then even though He's working something for our good doesn't mean that we're going to like it. It might be contrary to OUR plans for our lives. But the more we learn to sync our will to His, the more we will appreciate and enjoy the way that He works these things for our good. They are ALWAYS worked for our good. God works them for our good, if we love Him and are called to His purpose. But we enjoy that fact more when we align our will with His.

So be encouraged. No matter who is in power, no matter how things look in Hollywood or Washington or Iran, God will work it for your good. He is in control. He loves you. And He's working everything - EVERYTHING - for your good.

That's good news.

God, thanks for working everything for our good.... help us to learn to align our will with Yours.