God is not a human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

“Mrs. Hughes, I’m phoning because your daughter is in the school office waiting for you.” Imagine my panic as I realized that it was the once-a-month minimum day schedule, and I had failed to pick up my daughter from kindergarten!

Our car was getting repaired, so I could not get to my daughter quickly. I woke her baby brother and then walked twenty minutes with him in the stroller. By the time I got there, my daughter was in tears. I had proven myself undependable.

Sometimes it is others who are unreliable. They forget a commitment or cancel at the last minute. I can sympathize, even though it is frustrating.

I’m so glad God never forgets us, or cancels being with us. God is dependable. He will always keep His promises. He never changes His mind, nor His character. We can rely on Him to do what He says He will do, for He is faithful, as we are told in Deuteronomy.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

God’s dependability is consistent and reassuring.

When we are lonely, we can know He is with us. He promised to never leave us. The Holy Spirit lives within the one who believes in Jesus.

When we are struggling with something or need to make a decision, we can ask God for wisdom and discernment, and He willingly gives it to us. We can rely on His guidance and His strength, knowing that God always has His best for us. Nothing can happen without it being filtered through God’s hands.

Sin may trip us up, but God is faithful to forgive the repentant, as Scripture tells us in First John.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 NKJV

The Holy Spirit helps us to obey God and to reflect the heavenly heritage we have in Christ Jesus. We can rely on His promptings.

Even when we may not see God act, He still works on our behalf. We can trust God with all confidence that He is dependable at all times.

How can we become more like Jesus?

We are to imitate Jesus’ communicable attributes, those characteristics that humans can possess to a finite extent. Let’s spend time reflecting on how we are growing in some of His attributes listed below:

• Abiding. Am I abiding daily with God like He abides with me?
• Compassionate. How did I reach out with kindness and compassion to others around me this month?
• Forgiving. Do I forgive others as God in Christ forgave me? (Ephesians 4:32) Do I show grace?
• Love. How am I showing love for others? Ephesians 5:2 instructs us to love one another, just as Christ sacrificially loved us.
• Wisdom. Did I rely on God’s wisdom or my own for situations this week? This month?
• Dependable. Am I consistently dependable at home and away from home? Do I do what I say I will do? Does this apply to my work, my family, my parenting, my friendships?

May we grow more every day in God’s attributes as we spend time soaking in the light of His presence, taking in His Word, and in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to emulate You. Please help me be dependable like You are. Amen.

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Top photo of sunrise by Gareth Davies on Pexels.com

Photo of mountain range by Kathryn Hughes (aka Kathryn Breckenridge)

Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.

Scriptures marked NKJV are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION (NKJV): Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION®. Copyright© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.