Rock of Refuge

"But the LORD has become my fortress,

and my God the rock in whom I take refuge."

Psalm 94:22

They run but there is nowhere they can go where the insidious evil will not find them.  Even the innocent children are not exempt from the brutal acts of terror.  How do our brothers and sisters cope in such darkness, under such pressure, in the face of such evil?  They have a safe Place, a Refuge where they can take shelter; and He is the Lord whom they worship.

I may not face trouble on this level, but living in an evil, dark world can lead me to discouragement and heartbreak as I witness all the suffering and experience some myself.  Even though it may seem wickedness is winning and I have nowhere to take shelter, I am offered a refuge by faith in Jesus.  I may be on the verge of destruction, but I can take heart that through Christ, I will not be crushed, driven to despair or abandoned by God (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).  

Here is the kind of protection I need and can expect when I take refuge in Him.

Help.  When I was in the hospital recovering from surgery, I appreciated the tender, loving care of my husband.  Normal daily tasks like getting out of bed, taking a shower and putting on my clothes became a huge undertaking.  The pain and swelling in my abdomen and the slight confusion and wooziness caused by the drugs and anesthesia still lingering in my body teamed up to make it hard for me to function normally.  I needed assistance to accomplish most everything.  

I remember attempting to eat my first meal.  The nurses' aid delivered the tray to my table and helped me get in position to eat.  As I tried to raise my hand with the arm tethered to the IV, I found it awkward and difficult.  I spent several minutes attempting to adjust the tray table, to pull it closer and lower it down, but I just couldn't get it.  Finally my husband returned with his meal and was able to help me so I could eat.  Without help, most simple functions were difficult and overwhelming.

This is a picture of God as I'm going through hard times, facing evil attack, or in the midst of strife.  He offers gentle assistance, empowering me to keep on living and carrying on in the face of such hardship.  In the same way I couldn't function normally on my own after surgery, I need the help of my ever-present God who is my 24-7 support system (Psalm 46:1).

When I take refuge in God during times of trouble, I will find the help I need to get through.

Love.  I felt my foot slipping but before I even knew what was happening, a strong arm upheld me until I could regain my footing.  If my husband hadn't been right there beside me, paying attention to my plight, I may have fallen.  Similarly, God is right there with me, paying attention to every step I take.  His love-nature drives Him toward the suffering, the hurting, the needy.  Therefore, I can count on Him to be there for me when I need Him.

Not only that, but there's more about the love of God that keeps Him by my side, holding me up.  God's love never gives out, runs out of steam, or stops working (1 Corinthians 13:8).  His love just is, and it's the same now as it always has been, ever strong and faithful.  Therefore, I can cry out to Him in my greatest hour of need or in the smallest of irritations and His love will sustain me.

When I take refuge in God during times of trouble, I will find the love that holds me up.

Consolations.  Nothing I said made a difference.  Her heartache was so deep that she could not be consoled.  Only God was able to bring relief to my friend's hurting soul.

When the cares of life get me down and I feel discouraged by all that is coming my way, I can trust God to cheer me in just the way I need.  He knows how to comfort me in all my troubles, to ease my pain, and to encourage my heart.  He is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. . ." (2 Corinthians 1:3b).

When I take refuge in God during times of trouble, I will find the consolation that cheers my soul.

There is no doubt this world is filled with darkness and evil.  As I pray for my brothers and sisters in harms way, I know they are finding haven in our Father who is their Rock of refuge.  I can follow suit, and when I do, I will find the help I need, the love that holds me up, and the consolation that brings cheer to my soul.  In these ways, I will join with the family of God and take shelter in my Rock of refuge.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to help me.

How do I try to muddle through on my own, attempting to negotiate the potholes of life without my Helper?

When do I wallow in sorrow, robbing God of the joy He finds in consoling me in my pain? 

   

The LORD Reigns

"The LORD is king!  He is robed in majesty.

Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty

and armed with strength.

The world stands firm and cannot be shaken."

Psalm 93:1 NLT

Who is king of the world?  It is not Leonardo Dicaprio's character Jack from the movie Titanic as he so famously proclaimed while perched on the bow of the iconic ship.  It's not the president of the most powerful country, or the head of the United Nations.  God is the one who reigns over all things.  

As king of the world, the Lord reigns over all my struggles, governs the entire earth, ruling over the details of the world.  Since He reigns in such majesty, how does this affect me and the way I live my life?

Nothing.  I love watching the Veggie Tales, not just because they are entertaining and make me laugh, but there is a deeper reason to pay attention to "Larry's Silly Songs" and Veggie versions of familiar Bible stories like Rack, Shack, and Benny (Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego thrown in the fiery furnace), Dave and the Giant Pickle (David and Goliath), and Josh and the Big Wall (The battle of Jericho).  I enjoy these programs created for children because I find there a powerful truth about God that resonates deeply.

One of these songs is the infectious, "God is Bigger than the Boogie-Man."  The lyrics are catchy and the tune gets stuck in my head, but the thing that sends me back for more is the message: God is bigger than anything that scares me.  While I may no longer fear the mysterious monster lurking under the bed at night, there are things that send my heart to racing.  Cancer.  Terrorism.  Financial disaster.  Sudden tragedies.  The what if's twist my stomach into a knot.  Reminding myself that He is more than able to handle my problems, protect me through any disaster, and preserve my life sets my heart at ease.

Moses faced an impossible situation as he led the Israelites on their 40-years of wandering through the desert.  In response to the complaints of the masses over discontent with the manna God had provided, God instructed Moses to proclaim to the people that He would give them enough meat to eat for an entire month, gorging them into learning a lesson from their faithlessness and ingratitude.  Thinking practically and thus limiting God, Moses questioned how He would provide such a quantity of meat.  God simply replied, "Is the LORD's arm too short?" (Numbers 11:4-23)  

Nothing is too much for God; He is more than able to handle any problem I face.

Everything.  It's not that I doubt that God is in complete control, but I often forget that fact.  Especially in the face of a crisis, a difficult dilemma, or a danger that threatens.  When I'm sitting in the doctor's office receiving the news every human dreads, or suddenly facing single motherhood after a dozen years of marriage, or attacked by a gang of thugs as I walk through my neighborhood, it's easy to feel like my life is spiraling out of control and that I have nowhere to turn.

God, however, is firmly planted on the throne.  He is not pacing the floor, wringing His hands with the thought of trying to handle what I face.  His majesty is absolute, and He knows exactly how to deliver me from or through the sickness while supplying all the strength and peace I need to endure, to serve as my husband and the Father of my children, to dispatch a battalion of angel warriors in my defense.

Everything is under God's command, He is never worried about anything that occurs in this world.

Power.  What kind of power does it take to generate something from nothing?  Or to create such a wide variety of species like what we see in the world?  Or to take what was meant for evil and somehow use it for my good?  The power of God is beyond compare and cannot be fathomed (1 Chronicles 29:11).

With such a God as this at the controls, I can expect great things from Him.  I can pray big prayers and look for mighty acts.  The power of God can change a stubborn, hardened heart, can enable me to do what I can't picture myself doing, can empower me to thrive even though conditions are not conducive for prosperity.  God can do it.  And He will if I will only believe (Mark 11:24).

The power of God is beyond my ability to comprehend but not greater than my capacity to believe.

When looking around at the chaotic state of the world, I could wonder, Sheesh, whose in charge around here, anyway?  Even though it may look like a freight train barreling down the track out of control, God is King.  He is firmly planted on the throne so that nothing is too much for Him, everything is part of His domain, and the power He wields is beyond compare.  With such a King as this, I can rest easy, knowing that all things are in good hands.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust the sovereign Lord.

When do I doubt God's ability to do the impossible?

How do I pray puny prayers?       

His House, His Way

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1 NLT

What does it look like to dwell in God's protection, in His hiding place, in His house? Sometimes I think I must wait until heaven to find out what that's like, but the truth is that I can live there now. In the midst of the evil and chaos that swirls around me, I can rest in His wonderful home.

To live in the protection of His presence is where I'm meant to be.  But I don't automatically dwell there.  Just because I'm made in His image doesn't mean I'm ushered through the foyer of His mansion and into His living quarters. Simply due to the fact that I accepted Jesus as my Savior doesn't guarantee me a ticket there either.  In order to find my place in His home, it is necessary for me to let Him rule me, to allow Him to be my Lord instead of me taking control of my own life.  To live in my Father's house, I must agree that it's His House so things go His way.

What are the benefits of such an arrangement?

Deliverance.  "For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.  He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection." (Psalm 91:3-4 NLT)  

Living in my Father's house means I'll be liberated from the destructive ways I cope with life.  I could use alcohol to numb my aching heart, to enable me to endure another day of the hurts I hold deep inside.  Or I may try drugs to anesthetize my mind so I don't have to think about my present circumstances and my past failures.  Or it could be that even though the abuse I receive is bad, I've convinced myself that it's better than being alone, so I accept it as normal.  Or my body could be taken over by one who hates me and wants to destroy me, giving me no choice but to do his bidding.

Whatever my mode of survival, my Father will deliver me from such captivity, drawing me close to His breast as his precious child.  When I surrender to Him, He'll rescue me from the snare that holds me captive or the deadly pestilence that is slowly killing me.  He sent Jesus to rescue such prisoners as I (Isaiah 61:1-3).

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find deliverance from all that holds me captive.

Protection.  I can't sleep.  When the sun goes down my terror rises up like a beacon, calling me to pay homage to her.  All that plagues me keeps me up at night, pacing, worrying, fretting.  So much could happen, my life hangs by a thread, balancing precariously on the edge of a cliff.  One wrong move and I'm a goner (Psalm 91:5-8).

Even though there is much to fear in this world, I need not be afraid.  Why?  How could I possibly live at peace when there is so much to threaten me?  I can be at rest no matter where I am because I have a Father who protects me.  He has me hemmed in, going before me like a guide and following behind me like a guard (Psalm 139:5).  My loving Father also has His hand of blessing on my head, constantly releasing a flow of goodness into my life.  Under such protection as this, I need not fear, no matter what I see around me (2 Corinthians 5:7)! 

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find protection from all that threatens me.

Security Detail.  The President of the United States has men constantly at his side, making sure no threat can get to him.  He also has a crew of personnel who go before him, sweeping an area of danger, giving him a clear path to walk and move about in that day's planned activities.  Backgrounds are checked of all that will come into contact with him, the physical surroundings are wiped clean of any and every possible hazard, and any risky obstacles are removed before his arrival.  In short, the Secret Service is there to preserve the life of their charge.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ who has decided to abide in my Father's will for my life, I also have such a security detail who protects me wherever I go (Psalm 91:9-13).  Who knows how many times in my life that attacks against me have been thwarted or threats have been removed?  I bet I've had dozens of close calls where God's angel warriors and protective spirits have shielded me from harm.  To think that God has an entire battalion of angels ready to jump into action on my behalf gives me great comfort.

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find a security detail that keeps me safe from all that threatens.

I don't automatically live in my Father's House, but I can dwell there if I give up trying to control my own life and let Him have His way.  When I do, I'll find that I am delivered from my destructive patterns, protected from the harshness of this world, and given my very own security detail as I walk unscathed through the battles of life.  In these ways I'll discover my Father's attentive love for me, but only if I choose His way over mine.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with every detail of my life.

When do I fear what God is already protecting me from?

How am I failing to trust God in the midst of the threats, instead choosing to fear?

Companionship

"'Don't let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God, and trust also in me.

there is more than enough room in my Father's home.

If this were not so,

would I have told you that I am going 

to prepare a place for you?

When everything is ready,

I will come and get you,

so that you will always be with me where I am.

And you know the way to where I am going.'"

John 14:1-3 NLT

God is all about togetherness.  He has been from the beginning.  He wants to enjoy closeness with me.  He made me for Himself.  So, when He sent Jesus, its no surprise that His mission was restoration of this bond that has been broken by sin (Romans 5:10, John 3:17).  It's what He really wants; for us to be together.

What does this companionship with God look like in the here and now?

Connection.  There is only one God, but three parts.  Our God is a triune God: each person separate and distinct, yet completely and fully God.  In the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I see a picture of what it means for me to be connected to God.

Jesus is the conduit, the delivery system that transports all the good things from God to us.  In His death, I am offered abundant, eternal life, all through faith in Jesus.  Therefore, it is vital that I stay connected to this delivery system, Jesus, in order to continue receiving the power I need to live a fruitful life.  I can't produce the fruit on my own.  It comes from my connection to Jesus (John 15:5)  

Jesus demonstrated the need I have for my heavenly Father when He walked the earth as a man.  He said, "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (John 5:19) There is a relationship there where the Son resembles the Father in character, but all power and authority comes from the Father.  He is the source.  

Jesus set the example but He is also the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Therefore, I must stay connected to Jesus to receive the power to live as I'm called to live.  This ability to love, to have peace that makes no sense, to experience joy, to be able to wait, it all comes straight from the Father, delivered through the Son and installed into my operating system by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus is my connection to my Father as the Source and His Spirit is the manifestation of that relationship.

Exchange.  To live as a child of God through faith in Jesus, I must stop fighting against Him.  In order to live in His house as His daughter, I must yield to His plan for my life.  As a rule, what God wants for me is at odds with what I want for myself (Galatians 5:17).  Therefore, if I am to live in the peace with God that Jesus secured for me, I must stop resisting His work and let Him have His way.

Jesus beautifully and powerfully modeled this obedience to His Father's bidding when He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane before His trial, suffering and death.  As He prayed to His Father, dreading the horrible ordeal He was facing, He appealed to Him, asking His Father to "take this cup of suffering away from me." (Luke 22:42a NLT)  Then, in submission to His Father's wishes He continued, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (v 42b NLT)  This is to be my attitude as well.

Companionship with God means exchanging my will for His.

Enjoy.  Contrary to popular belief, religion is not dry and boring.  Well, maybe religion is, but relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ and expressed by the Holy Spirit in my heart is meant to be enjoyed.  It is what I was made for so it makes sense that it would be what brings the greatest sense of fulfillment and joy (Psalm 37:4, Matthew 6:33).

The Sons of Korah, those singers of psalms, knew the joy that comes from living in relationship with the One who made them.  They sang to the Lord, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." (Psalm 84:10)  Were they saying the most fulfilling service is that which is done to the Lord, or were they speaking of their relationship with God?  Since one came through the court in order to enter into the King's presence or to draw close to God in His temple, I believe they were singing of communion with their Father.  There is nothing better than to be in the presence of the Lord, for that is what I was made for!

I was created to live in relationship with God, and this companionship is where joy is found.

Loneliness is perhaps one of mankind's greatest modes of suffering.  It hurts to live this life alone and I was not meant for such agony.  Instead, I was made for relationship, primarily with the One who made me.  Therefore, when I enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ I'll find the connection with Him is vital, and that it is necessary to stop fighting against Him and exchange His will for mine, and that I was meant to enjoy Him forever.  This is the companionship for which I was made.  This is the companionship for which I have been searching.  This is true companionship!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let my guard down so that He can draw as close as He wants to me.

When am I afraid of intimacy with God?

How am I resisting His will in my life?

God's Perspective

"Before the mountains were born,

before you gave birth to the earth and the world,

from the beginning to end,

you are God."

Psalm 90:2 NLT

Moses prayed to the God who always has been and always will be.  He pointed out that time loses its impact in the face of such eternity.  He also noticed that in the scheme of things, the life of man is fleeting, as a passing thought to God, like the life cycle of a blade of grass which is here today, gone tomorrow.  Moses also understood that the sin I try so hard to hide is perfectly apparent to God.  

What do these truths mean for me and the way I live my life?

Stress.  I see the second hand ticking by and compare what's left of the day to my list of things-to-do.  I ponder the time wasted in waiting and feel my blood-pressure rise.  Anxiety is forming like a tight ball in the pit of my stomach as I think of what little time I have left.

If God is not concerned with the matter of time-how long something takes or how long I must wait-why should I?  To Him who is perfectly in control at every moment of time, no matter how out-of-control I feel or how crazy life gets, it doesn't matter how much time passes by.  His plan is firmly in place.  With such a God as this at the helm of the ship of my life, I can keep my eyes trained on His masterful leadership and my thoughts focused on His amazing management of all things.

God is not concerned with the passing of time, so, as His child, the stress I experience in a clock-oriented world is none of my concern.

Cherish.  "Why do today what I can put off until tomorrow?"  I chuckle to myself as I repeat the mantra of the procrastinator.  I've come to realize that instead of assuming there will be another day, tomorrow is never promised and every moment is a gift that is meant to be cherished.  If God gave it to me, then there is good to be found in each passing tick of the clock.  

With the recent passing of two stalwart women of God who meant much to me and were still in the prime of their lives, I've come face-to-face with the reality that life here on earth is not as long as I think it is.  Add to this sobering awareness the fact that my father is on the slow decline of dementia, sometimes called "the long goodbye," and you can see that I am even more in touch with the precious nature of every minute I've been given.

Therefore, I am learning to be more intentional with how I spend my gift of time.  It is important that I live in the moment, being all there instead of always racing ahead to what is to come, what's next on the list, or how I'm going to handle this afternoon's challenges.  I'm growing in my faith as I take each minute as a gift meant to be treasured, putting into practice Jim Elliot's advice; "Wherever you are, be all there!"  

God has given me this moment in time with the hope that I would cherish it as the gift it is.

Authentic.  I ignore the enormous problem, the way I cope with life apart from God, all the hurts I wear like a comfortable sweater.  I pretend everything is okay even though the tears are always there, just under the surface.  I feel fragile as I attempt to negotiate my days, refusing Jesus' offer to take my burdens and nail them to the cross where they will lose their power.  Instead of letting Jesus make me whole, I try to fix myself in the only way I know how.

While I may fool others into thinking I'm A-okay, God knows my problems.  He sees the sin I try to cloak in busyness, selfless service and surface conversations.  If only I would know how secure I am in His hands, close to His breast as His well-loved child, I would cease trying to muddle through alone.  If I could grasp how vast is His love, I would run to Him with open arms, allowing Him access to every deep and shameful part of me.  He already knows and loves me deeply.  He just wants me to willingly admit to my need for Him and my utter failure at living life my way.

Since God knows my sin, seeing everything I try to hide yet loving me wholly, I can trust Him with my deepest secret failings.

From God's perspective, things look different.  Since He is eternal and time means nothing, life is fleeting, and my sin is not as hidden as I think it is, I can begin to live my life differently than I always have.  I can cope with stress in the shadow of the Almighty where it loses it's power, cherish every moment as a gift, and live openly and authentically before Him.  From God's viewpoint, way up high, my issues and problems don't look quite as big.  To Him, all things are under control.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can cherish each moment, being all there.

How do I pretend before a God who calls my bluff every time?

When do I let the stresses of life dictate my mood, forgetting that God is never worried?  

Like the Moon

"No, I will not break my covenant;

I will not take back a single word I said.

I have sworn an oath to David,

and in my holiness I cannot lie:

His dynasty will go on forever;

his kingdom will endure as the sun.

It will be as eternal as the moon,

my faithful witness in the sky!"

Psalm 89:34-37 NLT

Man counts on the rising and setting of the sun and the cycle of the moon.  I can set my clock to the faithfulness of the sun coming up at a certain time.  The waxing and waning of the moon is so predictable that it's cycle is recorded in writing.  By checking the schedule, I can know how long I can expect to see the moon in the sky today and at what phase it currently is. 

God is as faithful.  He can be counted on to keep His promises and do as He has said He will do.  Therefore, whenever I gaze at the moon in the night sky, or enjoy a magnificent sun rise, I can think of our great God.  He will not let me down!

Offspring.  "Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100:3)  The psalmist who penned these beautiful words of worship knew of his position as a part of God's people because he was born into the nation of Israel.  By his heritage, he was secure in the pasture of his Shepherd who cared for His flock so lovingly and faithfully.  I, however, have not been born into such a heritage.  I was not born into a family of faithful followers, nor can my lineage be traced back to Abraham, but I can still claim the same as this psalmist.  How?  By faith.

When Jesus descended from heaven and left behind His divinity for a time, it wasn't just so He could be among those He had created.  No, He was on a mission to deliver this amazing gift of an eternal heritage to all people on earth (John 3:17), not just a select few who happened to be born into the right family (John 10:14-16, Romans 11:17-18).  He came to die for me, to sacrifice His life for you, so that in His perfect and final sacrifice for our sins, He opened up an opportunity for every man, woman and child ever born to experience rebirth.  Through faith in Jesus, then, I can be born again into a new family, the heritage of God that will last forever (John 3:3).  And because God said it was true, I can count on my position as His daughter (1 John 3:1).

As I can set my clock to the rising of the sun and the cycle of the moon, so I can trust in God's promise to accept me into and keep me secure in His eternal family.

Royal.  I am not an ordinary daughter.  As a child of the King, I am royalty.  As Jesus called God His Father when He walked the earth as a man, I can do the same through faith in Jesus Christ.  I am the child and God is my Father, my loving Caretaker, my Provider of all needs.  As such, I share this position in common with Christ, and I have become an heir along with Christ. 

This means I have much to look forward to in heaven as a princess.  I have an inheritance like nothing I have seen here on earth.  I am destined to share in the glory that is Christ's (Romans 8:17)!  I have to remember, though, that if I am connected to Jesus in such a way, walking on common ground with Him, I can expected to be treated as He was here on earth (John 15:18-21).  He was rejected, scoffed at, tortured, treated like a criminal.  In short, I receive the whole package of inheritance; suffering and glory.  The good news is that the suffering is temporary while the glory lasts forever!

As I can set my clock to the rising of the sun and the cycle of the moon, so I can trust in God's promise to consider me as a co-heir with Christ.

By Faith.  I don't always feel worthy.  I know my sin makes me unfit for receiving anything good and that Jesus came to make me white as snow even though my sins are as scarlet (Isaiah 1:18).  Still, my pasts haunts me, tainting my whiteness with it's grime.  I carry around a negative image of myself like dirty baggage.  Even though Jesus has relieved me of this burden, it's hard for me to let go.  I just don't feel good enough.

Thankfully, there is good news for me!  A simple faith in Jesus does make me worthy, despite how I feel.  As long as I depend on my own standards, looking at myself through my own glasses, I'll never measure up.  But when I truly receive the forgiveness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, I'll realize my new identity as a child who belongs.  No matter who I am, where I came from or what has been the pattern of my life, I am accepted by faith.  I'm just as much a treasured child as Jesus Himself is.  I don't have to worry that I'm not good enough, because none of us are (Romans 3:23).  Instead, I can rest in the arms of a Father who welcomes me into His family by simple faith.  Nothing more is needed because Jesus did all that was necessary in dying on the cross.

As I can set my clock to the rising of the sun and the cycle of the moon, so I can trust God's promise to accept me by faith.  

The sun and the moon can be visual reminders of God's faithfulness.  He can be trusted to make me part of His forever family and to consider me in His inheritance, all by faith.  So the next time I gaze at the moon in the sky or witness a gorgeous sunset, I can ponder the faithfulness of God.  On Him I can count, just like the moon!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can place my full weight on God who can fully be trusted.

When do I doubt my inclusion in His family, thinking there is something I must do to keep my place there?

How am I afraid of losing my place or His inheritance?  

  

With My Mouth

"I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness

to all generations."

Psalm 89:1 ESV

There are many ways to use my mouth.  I can speak out against injustice, fight cruelty, expose corruption.  I can inspire others to stand up for freedom and liberty, to defend our rights, to preserve our nation as it was created to exist.  I can get up on my soap box to enlighten others on how to live, what to wear, who we should become.  

There are many things that get my motor running and drive me to speak up.  While my mouth is used for a variety of causes, I can take a lesson from David and his desire that spoke to God's heart.  I can use my mouth to tell everyone of God's faithfulness; His steadfast character that never changes and on which can always be counted.  Now this is something to sing about, to shout from the rooftops!

Steadfast Love.  When I try to comprehend the concept of infinity, it hurts my brain.  Everything in my little world has a beginning and an end, a finite boundary.  Thinking about space going on forever is impossible.  How could I keep going and going and going and never find the end?  Or to ponder the fact that I could start counting now and never be finished; that I could just continue forever.  It's just plain crazy!

As much trouble as I have thinking about the limitlessness of space or the endlessness of the sequence of natural numbers, it cannot compare to the boundless nature of God's love.  His love can always be counted on because it is part of His character.  Paul tried to describe God's love by saying it was his desire that we could "have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." (Ephesians 3:18 NLT)  It cannot be contained nor can it's immenseness be defined.  His love just is.

With this kind of love I can endure all things, let go of hurts, always have hope, rejoice in truth victories, never give up and cease from losing faith (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).  Rooted in God's love I will worry less about being right and getting my own way and more about letting His light shine through me.  I will be complete in the "fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:19 NLT)

Let my mouth always speak of the steadfast love of God that is mine through faith in Jesus Christ.

Covenant.  I am securely planted in God's family, surrounded by brothers and sisters who share a common bond.  Even though I often feel as if I don't belong, like someone is about to tap me on the shoulder and say, "I'm sorry, but you can't be here.  I don't know who you think you are, but this is not for you," I do belong.  My membership in this exclusive family has been guaranteed for me by the promise of God that is delivered through Christ Jesus.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, I am secure in His clutches, firmly planted in the middle of a world-wide family who accepts me as one of their own (1 John 3:1, John 1:12).

Now this is something to shout about!  What a benefit I enjoy through faith in Jesus!  Doesn't every human want to belong?  To fit  in?  To feel welcomed and valued?  Isn't this message of having a place in this world one that each person could welcome, even if it may seem foreign or foolish on the surface?  Yes.  This is the kind of message that resonates with all image-bearers because it is why we were made.  We were created for God and without Him, we are left seeking for something that will satisfy.  He also placed in us a desire to connect in meaningful ways with other humans, and there is no better place to do this than in the center of a family where we are safe and valued.

Let my mouth always speak of the covenant of God that delivers me into His family by faith in Jesus Christ.

Might.  I love to read stories about great battles.  It's not that I like fighting and warfare, but I am drawn to clashes between good and evil.  There is also something in me that desires someone to fight for me, to love me so much that they are willing to risk life and limb to save me.  I guess it's the dream of every girl to be rescued from evil by her knight in shining armor.  

Perhaps God wired me this way to draw me to Jesus (John 6:44, John 14:6).  You see, out of His great love for me He sent Jesus as my Knight in shining armor to rescue me from certain death.  I was in jeopardy of suffering eternal punishment as well as living a meaningless life of worthlessness and emptiness until He saved me (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, John 10:10.  This unlikely hero plucked me from the clutches of Death, drawing me into His loving arms and giving me reason to carry on.  He is now my Warrior who fights my battles for me, vanquishes darkness and avenges evil.

Let my mouth always speak of the valor of a God who is my mighty Warrior.

It's easy for me to get up on a soap box.  While there are many issues of which I could speak, it would please God if I would follow in David's footsteps and use my mouth to make His faithfulness known to all.  I can count on His steadfast love, the security of His promise, and the power of His might: What a better purpose to use my mouth to speak!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will trust God to do as He has said He would do.

When do I doubt my inclusion in His family?

How am I trying to fight my own battles?

Coping in the Pit of Depression

"You have put me in the lowest pit,

in the darkest depths.

Your wrath lies heavily on me;

you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

You ave taken from me my closest friends

and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape;

my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, LORD, every day;

I spread out my hands to you."

Psalm 88:9-12 NLT

How did David gain the reputation for being a man after God's own heart?  Was it because he lived a perfect, upright life?  Or due to the fact that he never wavered in his faith, never doubted God's presence?  Or for the reason that David stayed true to God, never falling into despair despite the hard times he faced?

The answer is: None of the above!  David was considered by God as someone who pursued His own nature and core spirit because David didn't fake it with God.  Even when He fell into the pit of depression, he coped by sharing his true feelings with the God he knew would love him no matter what.  He didn't worry that he'd lose God's favor or kindness by telling the truth of how he felt to a God who would never leave him nor forsake him.

I can follow David's lead and cope with depression in the same way he did.  Since God often holds David up as a model of how to live in relationship with Him through the ups and downs of life, I would be wise to do as this shepherd-boy-who-became-king did.

Honest.  I've always heard that honesty is the best policy, but if I try to live by that maxim it doesn't always work out so well for me.  If I tell people how I really feel, I risk hurting their feelings or damaging our relationship or influencing the way they think of me.  So, I've learned to keep the ugly feelings, the dark thoughts, the inappropriate questions to myself.

This is not how God wants me to approach Him.  Even though people respond negatively to my openness for a variety of reasons, God is not at all threatened by my efforts to tell Him like I see or, or share my honest feelings with Him.  He will not be hurt and lash out in retaliation.  He doesn't back away in repulsion.  He doesn't think less of me.  David understood this heart of God and His desire for open, authentic communication with Him so he didn't sugar-coat his words.  I can do the same.

When I'm feeling down, like there is no hope, I can follow David's lead and share my honest feelings with the God whose love I cannot lose.

Face it.  I have learned from a long line of experts how to sweep things under the rug and leave it there, pretending like it doesn't exist.  Sometimes it's conflict that gets cleared away.  Other times I stuff down feelings that make me uncomfortable so I don't have to look at it's full ugliness.  Then there are times when I act like I have no problem with how a situation is handled by someone close even though I'm deeply hurt.  Yep, I'm good at living under false pretenses.

David didn't live this way.  Instead, he openly examined his thoughts and feelings no matter how inappropriate or uncomfortable.  Perhaps because he was so secure in His Father's love, he was able to bring out the deep, dark feelings that lay hidden in the recesses of his heart and look them over thoroughly in the light.  He even welcomed God's inspection, asking Him to "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT)

Since David knew how well He was known by God and, at the same time loved completely and enduringly, he felt safe in allowing God access to the most secret parts of him.  There was no fear in being found out but rather a deep desire for intimacy that drove David to stand emotionally naked before God.  It is vital that I truly comprehend God's durable love for me so that I can face my own dark places and allow God in there as well.

When I'm feeling down, like there is no hope, I can follow David's lead and face the feelings I tend to hide, allowing the God whose love I cannot lose access to my dark places.

Faithful.  My dog thinks the best of me.  He follows me around like a devoted friend, always keeping me company.  When I am agitated or upset, he doesn't run away but draws even closer in an attempt to comfort me.  If I walk ahead on the path, he cannot rest until he has caught up.  My dog is faithful to me, of this I can be sure.

In order to follow David's lead, I must cultivate this same spirit of faithfulness to God.  David never gave up crying out to God, casting all his cares upon the God he knew was there, even when he couldn't feel His presence.  David knew without a doubt that God would come through for him and always reminded himself of this truth, especially when he felt all alone, estranged from his Life-Source and like he had been kicked to the curb.  David didn't rest until he had shared his heart with God, and he never gave up on Him, knowing in his heart of hearts that God was his only hope.

When I'm feeling down, like there is no hope, I can follow David's lead and stay faithful to the God who will never leave me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 28:20).

When depression hits, how do I cope as a follower of Jesus?  It's easy to feel guilty that I sunk down into the pit in the first place, but I can gain much hope by realizing David often experienced similar despair and feelings of hopelessness.  Since David was considered a man after God's own heart, I can look to his example of how to cope with depression.  I can be open and honest in communicating my feelings to God, facing the truth of what is hidden within, and staying faithful to God, not giving up on Him because of how I feel.  In these ways I can learn to deal with depressed feelings in a way that honors God and grows my relationship with Him.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can realize how secure I am in God's love.

When do I fall prey to my feelings and think God won't accept me if I tell Him the truth?

How am I failing to understand the depth of His love for me and depriving Him of the opportunity to love me right where I am?

   

Trust Brings Blessing

"For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.

He gives us grace and glory.

The LORD will withhold no good thing

from those who do what is right.

O LORD of Heaven's Armies,

what joy for those who trust in you."

Psalm 84:11-12 NLT

Fear grips her heart as the headlines scroll across the screen.  She ponders all that is happening and her chest tightens with anxiety.  Projecting forward into the future, she foresees calamity entering her own world and she cannot breath.  

It's easy to fall into such a trap while living in a world that is filled with things to dread and worry about.  Tragedy could strike at any time, so precariously balanced is my fragile life.  I want to trust God in all things, and I know that's what He wants from me, but it means letting go of the fear of the unknown, releasing my desire to have some semblance of control, and turning from the oh-so-familiar anxiety which I wear like a comfy sweater.

There are some things I can learn about God that will help me to trust Him.  And when I do place my faith in Him, there will be such joy!

Sun.  Without it, the inhabitants of earth would have no light.  It brings warmth to an otherwise cold planet, also serving as the center of orbit for this solar system, holding the planets on course.  Plant life uses it's radiation and heat to grow and produce and without it, there would be no life as we know it.  The sun is the source of life-giving energy as well as the center of our universe.

On a much grander scale, God could be compared to the sun.  He is the source of all good things and without Him, life would not exist nor would it be able to endure.  God made everything, and if it wasn't for Him, I would not be here thinking the thoughts I'm pondering about Him (Genesis 1).  Even though I'd like to think I'm pretty important in the scheme of things, mankind wasn't even brought into existence until the final day of a week filled with creative invention.  While I'm not an afterthought, I am certainly not the center of the universe.  That is God's rightful place.

As the source, He is also good so everything that comes from Him is good (James 1:17, 1 John 1:5).  This means I can trust what He gives, knowing that it will be beneficial to me and my life.  I need not fear anything with such a God as this in my life!

When I understand that God is the source of life and all good things, I can trust Him with my life.

Shield.  I scrambled for shelter as the hail stones pelted my exposed sin.  I had been caught out in the storm as I rode my bike home from school one day and while the adventure of it all had been exhilarating, I was glad to reach the protection of my home.  

Life can be like that sudden hail storm I experienced as a child.  I find myself out in the midst of difficulty, feeling like I'm exposed and vulnerable to the harm that often comes from every angle.  God wants to serve as my shield, my safe place in the midst of the hard times, the heartache and the struggle (Psalm 46:1-3), but I must enter into His shelter.

When I understand that God is my ever-present help in times of trouble, I can trust Him with my life.

Generous.  His character is kind and big-hearted.  He wants His children to experience all the goodness He has to give.  He is not stingy, giving only what is needed, nor is He conditional, withholding until I get my act together.   Instead, it is His desire to lavish heavenly gifts upon me as His well-loved child.

The thing is, I often look elsewhere for meaning and purpose, depending upon other sources to give me what I need.  Sometimes it's my own ability to provide and protect that I rely on.  Other times it's the people I respect as dependable and able to take care of me.  Then there are times I even believe good will come if I just let it, not even considering the source of such good things.

If I put all my eggs in God's basket, inclining my heart toward Him and expecting Him to give me what I need, I'll find Him come through every time (Matthew 6:32-33).  If I live as if He doesn't exist, as if my actions don't matter, then I'm not open to what He has to give and I'll miss out on all His blessings (James 1:5-8).

When I understand that God is a generous God who wants to shower me with blessings, I can trust Him enough to walk His way. 

It is hard to trust God, I'm not going to sugar-coat it.  But gaining a larger view of God helps make it easier.  When I understand that He is the source of all good things, my protection and a generous God, I will begin to see that I can place all my weight on Him, trusting Him implicitly.  You see, this God is truly trustworthy, and when I trust Him, I'll find much blessing in return.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can place all that worries me into the hands of a God who is able to handle it.

How do I hold back from letting God have free-reign in my life?

When do I forget all good things come from God?