My Higher Power

I could not recover with a Higher Power who wasn't on my side.

As originally posted by STEVE G. at the now defunct sarr.org website.

I grew up in a Christian church, but I never had a relationship with the God of the Bible. I always thought that God was angry, vindictive, spiteful, distant, judgmental, and just waiting to strike me when I got out of line.

I came to realize that I could not recover with a Higher Power who wasn't on my side. I decided to write down what I wanted in a Higher Power. I came up with characteristics like loving, compassionate, wants me to succeed, forgiving, and powerful. These didn't conflict with what my head knew about God, but I had a hard time getting my heart to believe them.

I still kept failing and kept acting out, until a friend of mine suggested that I learn what God was really like. He suggested I read from the Psalms in the Bible, and write down whatever characteristics were ascribed to God. I'm just about half way through the book of Psalms, but it has changed my image of God considerably.

Listed below are just a few of the characteristics of God I've found in the book of Psalms in the Bible:

God watches over the righteous God laughs God gets angry God is my Father God protects me God sustains me God is righteous God hears my call God hates those who love doing wrong God destroys those who love to lie God abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men God is righteous God protects those who take refuge in Him God blesses the righteous God's love never fails God accepts my prayers God searches minds and hearts God is a righteous judge God reigns forever God governs with justice God is a refuge God never forsakes those who seek Him God avenges God remembers me God does not ignore my cry God is just God helps the fatherless God hears my desires God encourages God listens God hates the wicked God loves justice God will keep me safe from the wicked God's love never fails God is present in the company of the righteous God counsels me God will not abandon me to the grave God vindicates me God sees what is right God probes my heart God examines me God tests me God answers my call God's love is great God saves God stills the hunger of those he cherishes God is my strength God is my rock - a sure foundation God is my fortress God is my deliverer God is my shield God saves me God is my stronghold God can get angry

God scatters the enemies God lifts me up God rescues me from my enemies God supports me God delights in me God rewards me according to my righteousness God is faithful God is blameless God is pure God is shrewd God's way is perfect God's word is flawless God delivers me from the attacks of the people God is alive God avenges God subdues nations God's kindness is unfailing God's law is perfect God's law revives the soul God's statutes are trustworthy God's precepts are right God's precepts give joy to the heart God's commands give light to the eyes God's ordinances are sure and altogether righteous God's love never fails God is wrathful God grants my needs God restores my soul God is with me even in the worst times God owns the earth and everything on it God can be trusted God will not let me be put to shame God's mercy is great God remembers God is good God is upright God teaches God guides the humble God's ways are loving and faithful God forgives iniquity God confides in those who fear him God releases me from the snare God is my light God is my salvation God is the stronghold of my life God keeps me safe in times of trouble God hears my cry for mercy God is my strength God is my shield God is the strength of His people God is a fortress of salvation God has a voice God's voice is powerful God's voice is majestic God gives strength to His people