Present Tense

"Today we are going to be talking about present-tense verbs," Mrs. D-- introduced the new English lesson to our third graders. "There are three tenses of verbs," she explained. "Past, present, and future. The past tense tells what the subject already did, the present tense tells what is the subject is doing, and the future tense tells what the subject will do. Past and future tenses are topics for other lessons; for now, we're going to focus on present tense."

What a great reminder for me! In my own personal journey I need to focus on the present tense. I live before the "I AM" God. As His name attests, He exists in the present. (He's got my past and my future covered too--but those are topics for other posts.) Today I find much encouragement from this list of present-tense verbs.

God . . .

• lives (see 2 Sam. 22:47; Psa. 18:46; Gal. 2:20; Heb. 7:25; Rev. 1:18).
• hears (see Psa. 69:33; Prov. 15:29; John 9:31; I John 5:14).
• knows (see Psa. 103:14; Mat. 6:8; 2 Tim. 2:19; 2 Pet. 2:9; I John 3:20).
• cares (see I Pet. 5:7).
• loves (see Deut. 33:3; John 16:27).
• heals (see Psa. 103:3; Psa. 147:3).
• comforts (see I Cor. 1:3-4).
• strengthens (see Phil. 4:13).
• protects (see Prov. 2:8).
• gives (see Psa. 68:5; Psa. 119:130; Psa. 136:25; Psa. 146:7; Prov. 2:6; Isa. 40:29; John 6:33; I Tim. 6:17; James 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:5).
• provides (see Psa. 111:5).
• sustains (see Psa. 3:5; Psa. 18:35; Psa. 54:4).

* This list was compiled using dictionary and word searches on the Blue Letter Bible website.