This is a re-post of a blog first published in October 2013 – it bears repeating!
You know how some sermons and teachings stick with you for years? Those a-ha moments when the teacher says something and bam! the light bulb goes off and it is engraved on your mind forever. Such a moment was delivered to me by Dr. Bob Barnes, a counselor in Fort Lauderdale who was serving as interim pastor at First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach Florida, more than a few years ago. Dr. Barnes had such a way about him, I could have sat there and listened to five or six teaching sessions of his at a time, he was witty, funny, practical, and very wise.
This particular Sunday he said, “Write this down, and next time you are blind-sided by some news that takes you right to the wall, remember this: GAKAT! God Already Knew About This.”
Simple, yet so profound. If I was going to get another tattoo (yes, I already have one), I would have GAKAT inked on my wrist or somewhere I would see it every single day. [ I do have it tattooed on my wrist now. ]
God Already Knew About This!
I learned something last week that just about rocked me right out of my boat. Put me into a state of shock and semi-despair. Then, as I was fretting and stressing, I remembered, God Already Knew About This and my soul was flooded with great peace.
Friends, nothing, I mean NOTHING, takes God by surprise. Our stories were written before the foundations of the earth were formed, before breath was God-breathed into man. He really knows the beginning from the end and all the stuff in-the-middle.
Why can’t I get “that” once and for all? I long to walk through every day and just laugh at adversity, saying GAKAT, GAKAT, GAKAT! My God, who loves me with an everlasting love, has this and has my good and His glory in mind, in ALL situations.
I hope this simple little GAKAT lesson helps YOU, because just writing it down and remembering the principle has helped me tremendously.
xo
If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers – most of which are never even seen – don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6.30-33 The Message
GAKAT!
GAKAT! wonderful. Also love your wish for me today: not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.
THANK YOU! This was very good….very needed. Love you!
xo
I will carry this message with me. Thank u Susan.
I will try to keep this in mind now when I fear the worst and when there is nothing I can do but worry about something within the family walls. GAKAT!!!! so let it go and let him take care of it for me!!!! Thanks for sharing.
You may be interested to know that the Chapel By the Lake in West Palm, owned by the First Baptist Church is being sold to make way for giant condo’s on the lake. They call that, “PROGRESS!”
Was just reading about the Sovereign God who put old Nebuchadnezzar in his place: humbled before HIM and heaven and earth. God sets up and He brings down. Nothing in this world misses His eye. Neither do we, our loved ones, our circumstances, the world’s condition. Nothing. He is KING and LORD over, above and under all. Knowing all this I still allow myself to get tied in knots. Amazing. May we all grow in the fact that HE reigns and we are HIS and it’s okay. It really is okay.
AMEN!!! Sharing this for other friends who need to keep this in mind! Thank you, Susan!
So very true and what a great comfort!
Susan…this is wonderful. Just what we all need to hear. Lifted me right up…and gave me a spark of renewed hope. Loved the wildflower analogy…I have been concentrating on the “Be still and know that I am God” and this fits right in. Trying to slow down and hear God and respond to his giving! Good stuff. Thank you Susan….we may get blind-sided…but God certainly doesn’t. G.A.K.A.T.
Love it! 🙂
So so good Susan
You have a tattoo????????????
GAKAT! [And so did I!…about the tattoo] Thanks for the reminder!
GAKAT
Abiding still!
Susan,
I have many memories of the First Baptist Church by the Lake in West Palm Beach Florida as that is where my sister Yvonne was a parishoner and served the Lord there in many ways. I believe Margie H. also went there with Yvonne.
GAKAT is the reason why I try to turn everything over to him as He is in control
Your comments are a balm for me – always great to know that my ear is tuned to Spirit! Thank all of you for taking the time to post a word or two! xo
As my friend, A.W. Tozer says, “When you turn a corner in life that surprises you, remember: God wasn’t surprised at that corner because He’s already been around it. He was around that corner before He got to that corner.”
Tweeted, sharing with my readers on Fb! xoxo
Thanks Gigi.
love that tozer quote – thanks!
AMEN! and THANK YOU!
Kathy
xo
This is a keeper and a passer-on (not a word) to some others. Thanks Sus.
It’s a truth!!! GAKAT!
I love this – both your words, the phrase, and the fact that God isn’t surprised by any detail of our life. Thanks for linking up with me at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Yes! I ♥ TWW
Amen friend! GAKAT! I think this is going to be one of my mantras because I need to hear it over and over. Every time I think i have this figured out, I realize I do not. Great lesson from your pastor and one that I am thrilled you shared with us. Have a blessed day!
GAKAT GAKAT GAKAT. Take that devil,
You are right. That’s a good word! And now I want to see a pic of the tattoo 🙂
Promise, forthcoming.
wow – a tattoo – so fun (and funny!) i think i’ll have it engraved inside my glass frames – less painful. bless you friend
ps prayers appreciated for speaking at a women’s retreat March 4-6 should be a blast (i’m sure there are tattoo parlors – it’s santa cruz, CA after all – maybe not actually in the Hilton…but nearby. (:
A little ink is fun!!! Prayers indeed.
GAKAT! Yep….oh how I need to remind myself of that mantra over and over and over and over and over and …… I think you get the point! 😛 Great reminder today friend!
Ink?
Writing these words in my journal!
XO
Tammy
It’s an acronym with worth!
GAKAT–that’s a good one to remember! Funny how some phrases stick with us and become such an encouragement when we need it. Visiting from #ThreeWordWednesday.
Ginger…thanks for coming by! GAKAT!!!
Thanks, Susan, for reposting this – what a great little acronym … GAKAT! So true – will have to remember this! (Visiting from Tell His Story linkup)
Thanks Cherry!
Oh my goodness! I love this! What a great reminder of God’s sovereignty. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing this.
Christine, I love having it on my wrist…at the ready!