Running Into The Arms Of God

Running into the Arms of God

Topic: God is our refuge and strength

Where are you going? Do you know the way? Why are you not there? Have you been distracted along the way?

We all are running from something,

We don’t want our past catching up with us, or we are trying to leave something behind.

Some are running around looking for answers,

Looking to find themselves, looking to fill the emptiness in their lives, and looking for meaning and purpose in life.

Satan is chasing us all the time, and the race is on.

Edward McKenzie Bounds once used a story told him by A. C. DIXON his close friend, to illustrate our need of God in our life.

"A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: 'Rising early one morning,' he said, 'I heard the baying of a score of deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood. A moment later two of the hounds came over, when the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.' So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God."

We need the arms of God since we have so much, pain, disappointment, and pressures in life.

God wants us to run into his arms: Example of the prodigal father: Luke 15:11-32

20 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

We need to find our way into the arms of God

I used to have a dream which I understand is quite common in life.

I’m running hard and as fast as I can. The problem is that, as hard as I run I don’t seem to get any further away. The person is just as close to me, no matter how much I put forth.

Application: “It is not the running that makes me safe, but it is the arms to which I run”.

No matter what we might be facing in our life, we can confidently jump into God’s arms

Why doesn’t everyone run naturally into the arms of a loving God? I can thinks of several distinct reasons.

First there are under achievers, who would rather not deal with Gods plan for their lives. Some are satisfied with whatever life gives them. They are happy running from problem to problem.

Second some think in their mind they will loose more than they will Gain. They are not willing to totally surrender to God, so the drag their feet.

Third, Pride, some think that they can handle the situation at hand.

Fourth some hide from responsibility in life: Jonah is a good example of this, his plan was to flee the ends of the known world because God’s plan was not his will.

Fifth, we runback and forth to God. Some don’t fully understand all that God has done for us.

Anytime we’re happy just growing in our own strength, we’re setting ourselves for failure

We Are Safe in Gods Arms.

There are always times in life when we are in danger, or in difficulty or in over our heads.

Whether we are aware of it or not, whether we appreciate it or not, whether we deserve or not God is longing over us and longing to guiding us.

Being in Gods arms brings you security in life and enables you to face any danger, cross any river, and face any challenge with the sure and certain knowledge that God will be with you all the way.

Psalm 18:32 we find David writing, “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”

Those who have ran into the arms of God

They are content, joyous people.

A son’s reflections on fatherhood, abandonment, and forgiveness.

John Fountain, I believe in God. The God who embraced me when Daddy disappeared from our lives—from my life at age 4—the night police led him away from our front door, down the stairs in handcuffs.