Sing!

"But I will sing of your strength,

in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely."

Psalm 59:16-17

The words fall easily from my lips, natural to my carnal self.  While I don't mean to be negative, my flesh loves the pessimistic and cynical mindset.  Complaining can be a group practice, a way for me to connect with others, a common ground we share, like at the supermarket checkout.  "Can you believe the traffic around here?"  "Typical Monday; dreary and wet."  "It figures, I usually get in the line where the register runs out of paper or the cashier is slow."  Rolling of eyes, snickering under the breath, connection made.

Is this what I want to be about; all that is wrong in life?  Sure, there is plenty to complain about, don't get me wrong.  If I wanted to, I could maintain an endless list of circumstances, situations and incidents that are bad and worthy of sharing with others.  But why would I choose all that is broken and amiss in this world when I have a God who is so good?  I have much about which to give Him praise.  Why not choose to sing?

Strength.  God never gets fed up with me, growing tired of my failings or giving up on my weaknesses.  He never runs out of steam as He takes attentive care of all His children.  He doesn't need to take a break to refuel and recuperate after a long day.  God doesn't need to sleep so He'll feel better in the morning, ready to face another day of ruling over His creation.  He is the same this moment as He was the last.  His strength never runs out (Isaiah 40:28).

This is the kind of strength I need to sustain me.  I do get fed up with others, grow tired of my own failing as well as the shortcomings of those around me.  It's easy for my flesh to want to give up the fight, wondering if I'm capable of taking another step.  With all I face in life, I tend to run out of steam, needing refreshment and rejuvenation.  I can't go without sleep, but need it so my body can rest.  

In my weakened human state, I need the strength of God to sustain me.  He makes it possible for me to carry on when I'm ready to throw in the towel.  He renews my resolve when I'm done dealing with the world.  He sprouts a seed of hope inside me that gives me supernatural strength to carry on.

Why not choose this day to sing about this strength upon which I can rely? 

Steadfast Love.  It doesn't matter what I do, I can't lose it.  Even if I fall a thousand times, I will never be out of it's abundant flow.  While my behavior may give humans a reason to withdraw it, there is nothing that can make God stop loving me.  His very identity is love and it is His nature to love (1 John 4:8).  Because of His character of love, I am secure in Christ (Romans 8:35-39).  I am always His beloved child.

For this reason I need not despair when trouble comes my way.  No matter what happens I can never lose my place in the family of God under the devotion of a Father's love.  Even if my heart despairs to the point of death over my failings, my Father looks compassionately upon me as if looking upon a wounded bird who needs an extra dose of tender loving care.  When I feel the whole world is against me and I can't find a lick of sympathy or anyone to show concern for my plight, God's love is there to minister to my wounded heart.

Why not choose this day to sing about the steadfast love of God that never runs out?  

Fortress.  Life can be cruel.  The blows come fast and hard.  I wish someone would cut me a break, that the onslaught would slow.  Still, the difficulty comes like a relentless wave threatening to take me under.  Then I see it.  The sturdy lighthouse standing firm in the raging sea.  Once inside, I am safe and secure, able to rest in the midst of the storm.

God is this lighthouse against the powerful tempest.  He is a fortress in times of trouble.  He is my Rock and my Redeemer.  He is my refuge in the midst of the turmoil that swirls around me.  Resting in Him gives me inner peace and tranquility even though I should be panicked and disturbed.

Why not choose this day to sing about the God who is my fortress against the trouble found in this world?

   

It's too easy to complain, it comes so naturally.  This day, it is my prayer that I will choose a different path, that my heart will be moved to sing about all God is to me.  He is my strength, abounding in steadfast love, and providing a mighty fortress in which I am safe and secure.  For these reasons, I choose this day to sing!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can focus on the goodness of God instead of all there is to complain about.

How am I drawn to the negative?  How can I retrain myself to look instead at God and His goodness?

When am I most prone to whine and grumble?

  

Because of Who He is

"I love you, LORD;

you are my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;

my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me,

and my place of safety.

I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,

and he saved me from my enemies."

Psalm 18:1-3 NLT

God is worthy to be praised.  It is easy to extol His virtues after a successful rescue mission, or when He protects me from harm, or on the occasion of witnessing a work of His mighty hand.  

If I believe He is so great, however, I can choose to always give Him praise, as if I believe I am already saved, guarded, and delivered, even before I am.  Yes, I can praise Him at all times because of who He is.

Rock.  The door to the barn shifted in the bitter cold Northerly.  As big as it was, rising 15 feet up, it's weight was no match for such a strong wind.  I found some large boulders nearby that would do the job of shoring up the door for the next storm.  Heavy as they were, these rocks would not be moved by any force of nature.

Stones have that reputation.  They are used as paperweights to keep light sheets from blowing off the desk, or can be fashioned into a foundation for a house, or can even stand as a landmark for generations to use to find their way.  A rock is going to stay in place even when mighty trees could be uprooted by strong gusts or heavy rains.

God is this rock.  He's unmovable.  He doesn't change (James 1:17).  He isn't susceptible to suggestion (Isaiah 40:13).  God is solid and dependable (Numbers 23:19).  For this reason, I can take refuge in Him.  Despite what is going on around me, I can always find Him right where I left Him.  I can believe He is there even if I don't sense His presence because He is my solid, unwavering rock.

When everything is swirling around me and I don't know which way is up, I can stand on this firm foundation, gaining my bearings once again.  When I begin to sink down into the pit of despair, feeling hopeless and discouraged, I can step up onto this solid pillar of strength, finding firm footing again.  When I'm confused and unsure, like I'm wandering through a wilderness of uncertainty, I can look for Him as a beacon of guidance, knowing I will find Him in His steadfastness.

I can praise God because He is my solid Rock.

Fortress.  The wind was relentless up on top of the mountain.  While the view was gorgeous, all of Puget Sound laid out before me, the bitter cold was made worse by the gusts blowing right through my clothes.  I made my way to the stone tower, hoping to find some shelter.  As soon as I stepped inside the solid structure, I was surprised how much warmer it felt.  I had found a fortress against the storm.

Life is like a storm, relentlessly pounding against me, wearing me down.  In such an environment, I need shelter.  I need a fortress that will protect me from harm.  I need a refuge where I will be safe.

God is that fortress.  No matter what happens in this world, I can find security in Him.  His solid nature can guard my mind from confusion, providing a refuge from the tantalizing lies I am tempted to adopt as truth.  His protecting Spirit keeps me from bearing too strong a temptation, giving me a way out in His mercy (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I can praise God because He is my Fortress.

Deliverer.  When I went through Lifeguard training, one of the important skills I learned was how to escape from an aggressive victim.  Those who are trying to save themselves, thrashing around in desperation, make for a dangerous rescue because they can take the rescuer down with them.  For this reason, a lifeguard prefers to help someone who knows their need for help and has surrendered to the lifesaver's efforts.   

It's the same with me and Jesus.  I am unable to help myself, but that doesn't always stop me from trying.  Before I can be saved, however, I must realize my need for a Savior.  If I don't think I'm in jeopardy or danger, or believe that I can somehow save myself, I won't see my need to be delivered nor will I make a good candidate for saving.  It is necessary for me to feel the weight of my sin in order to truly appreciate what Jesus did for me on the cross, but it's also important that I fully give into His rescue plan, trusting fully in Him as my Deliverer.

Sometimes I think I'm partially responsible for my own deliverance, like I can play some kind of role in my own rescue.  In reality, God is the only One who is able to deliver me from the punishment of my own sins.  After all, I am unable to meet His perfect standard as is required to enter into His holy presence (Romans 3:23).  I need the blood of Jesus to save me from the wrath of God my sins have brought down upon myself (Romans 6:23).  Trying to take part in my own salvation is even more ridiculous than me thinking I can save myself when I'm drowning.

Other times I feel guilty for letting Him bear such a load so I attempt to take some of the burden back until I cry, "I can't take this anymore!"  I can even get the idea that I can help myself this time, thinking that I'll let God handle the next crisis, until I buckle under the pressure of trying to be my own savior.

I can praise God because He is my Deliverer.

I don't have to wait until God comes through.  Instead, I can praise Him now for what He is always doing on my behalf, honoring Him as my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer.  I can always worship Him for who He is, not just what He's done.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can praise God in the midst of the storm, giving Him accolades for who He is.

When do I withhold praise until things turn out the way I want?

How am I guilty of only worshiping God for what He has done for me instead of admiring His character and attributes?