Say the word, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7.

I love the above Scripture found in Luke 7:1-10. It was said to Jesus by a centurion of the Roman army. He understood authority because he was under authority and he was in authority over others. His word had to be obeyed just as he had to obey others over him. I thought about that this morning. Ultimately the centurion was under the authority of the Emperor who had absolute power over life and death. Under his authority, crucifixions were carried out. We can’t always see the good that is being done by Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit. He works always. Do we trust that God knows what is good? Jesus, the Son, came to this world we live in to work good for us. What we can only be horrified by, Jesus’s crucifixion and death, God was working for good even through the horrifying worst of mankind killing God. What was horrifying in and to mankind…was the good Creator God was doing. The reason My Father loves me is that I lay down My life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father. John 10:17-18. That understanding is helping me trust God for everything. God knows what He is doing and He knows what is needed.

And our chapter, Proverbs 12, showing wisdom in choices we can make in our own lives today. Choices. No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted…The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful…The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them…From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward…The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice…Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment…Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy…In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality…v. 3, 5, 6, 14, 15, 19, 20, 28.

I hope you can open your heart and mind to trust God. That openness to Him changes us and we can find hope. He knows what He is doing and what He is doing is for our good in Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8.