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?

Olive Tree

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good, 

in the presence of the godly."

Psalm 52:8-9 ESV

Olive trees are virtually indestructible.  No matter the conditions, whether hot, dry, cold, wet, planted in rocky or sandy soil, the robust olive tree will live and produce fruit.  Even if it is cut down or burned, new shoots will sprout up from its roots.  Furthermore, these tenacious trees can thrive with a minimum of water in great heat and some even grow from roots systems that are over 2,000 years old.  

No wonder David compared himself as one who trusts in God to an olive tree.  In Christ, we too can make such claims.

Trusting.  In the same way that this durable tree can survive the harshest of conditions, I can endure whatever comes my way when I put my trust in the steadfast love of God.  His love can help me weather any storm, pull through any trial, and endure even the harshest of conditions.  While its one thing to survive, His love enables me to thrive as I live connected to His root system (John 15:5).  

I wouldn't expect to be able to produce fruit during times of trouble, but I've noticed in my life that some of the sweetest times have been when I've been enduring the most difficult circumstances.  In the middle of the crisis, God comes through in some powerful ways, giving me the supernatural ability to exhibit His love, reach out in mercy, and maintain a peace that cannot be explained.  Letting God be my strength has never let me down (Isaiah 40:28-31).

I am like an olive tree, fruitful and indestructible, when I trust in the steadfast love of God.

Thankful.  Olive trees are old souls.  These hardy plants are not just able to withstand any kind of condition, but they tend to multiply.  One root system not only survives for thousands of years, but can have ten or more other trees surrounding it that have sprouted from its one source.  

Like this productive plant, I can cultivate an atmosphere of praise wherever I go.  When I give thanks to God for the good things He is constantly at work bringing about in my life, my thankful attitude tends to rub off on others, promoting thankful hearts in their lives as well. 

Furthermore, the more I praise Him, the more I can see of His handiwork and the greater is my vision of His power at work.  It's like a cycle of praise that expands each time I give Him thanks, opening my eyes up to even more that He has done in my life and in the lives of those around me.  Before I know it, I'm living in constant gratitude to Him for all He has done and for who He is to me.

I am like an olive tree, sprouting shoots of thanks, when I cultivate a grateful heart to a God who is worthy to be praised.

Hope.  The thing about an olive tree is that it is a source of food that gives sustenance, oil for lamps that provide light, medicine that brings healing; possessing an olive tree in one's garden is a symbol of hope in the good things it will provide.

Similarly, I always have hope in Jesus Christ, because through Him I have a Father who generously provides for all my needs and even lavishes good gifts on me as His child (Matthew 6:31-32, Matthew 7:11).  

Waiting on His good name gives me a mental toughness that enables me to endure even the most harshest of conditions with the confidence that He will come through for me.  I can believe without a doubt that I will make it through because He has promised to go before me and to never leave me (Deuteronomy 31:8).

I am like an olive tree, sure to possess all that I need and more, when I wait on the good name of the Lord.

Olive trees are symbols of prosperity, perseverance and privilege.  When I trust in the steadfast love of God, give thanks to Him forever, and hope in His good name, I can do as David did and compare myself to an olive tree.  In Christ, I will bear much fruit, multiply in praise to God, and enjoy more than I could ever imagine.  The olive tree is more than just a gnarly old tree; it is a symbol of all that I can be in Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can wait on the Lord.

When do I falter, losing hope when Jesus died to deliver me all the hope I need?

How am I cultivating a griping spirit instead of a heart of praise, missing out on noticing all the good He has surrounded me with? 

Photo courtesy of http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2004/01/Ancient-Olive-Tree.jpg

   

On the Precipice

"O LORD, how long will you forget me?  

Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?"

Psalm 13:1-2 NLT

Ever feel like falling into despair?  David did as his enemies relentlessly pursued him.  I often do as I live life in an evil world with an Enemy bent on my destruction.  

It often feels like God is far away, as if He doesn't care.  But I know better.  Will I trust in my feelings, or do as David did and trust in what I know to be true (Psalm 13:5-6)?

Steadfast Love.  I am human.  As such, I am intimately familiar with failure.  I make promises, truly desiring to follow through but ultimately unable to foresee the obstacles which make keeping those pledges impossible.  I let those I love down despite my best intentions.

It's easy to transfer this inconsistent, inferior and counterfeit brand of love with which I am so familiar to God, assuming He will love in the same way as man.  Nothing, however, could be further from the truth.  God's love never fails, never gives up, never runs out (Psalm 6:4, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Psalm 107:1)

What does this mean for me?  There is nothing I can do that will make God stop loving me, contrary to what I've learned from people.  I expect to lose a little in the eyes of family and friends when I hurt them, fall off the wagon, or fail to do what needs to be done.  God is not like a human, however.  His love cannot be lost (Romans 8:38-39).

It also means there is nowhere I can go that is away from His love (Psalm 139:7-12)  His love knows no boundaries.  There is no line I can cross where God will say, "That's it!  I've had it with you!"  His love drives Him to seek me out no matter how lost I am (Luke 15:3-7).

Furthermore, I can't come to the end of His love, using up my allotment or fair share.  His love overflows like an eternal spring, never running dry (1 Timothy 1:14).

I can trust God when I feel like giving up because His love never does.

Salvation.  Who do I call when I need help?  I guess it depends.  When my car breaks down, I call the mechanic.  When the toilet is backing up, the plumber comes to the rescue.  When I develop health concerns, I visit the doctor.  There are many sources to which I turn for help.

There is only One, however, who can truly save me.  While I can go to a counselor and receive medications and good therapy to help when I am depressed, I can trust God to pull me up out of the pit of despair and set my feet on solid ground (Psalm 40:1-3).

When I feel like my life has no meaning, I can busy myself with beneficial activities, well-meaning programs, and benevolent events, trying desperately to save myself from the mundane and insignificant.  Still, something is missing until I discover the rich and abundant life I have in Christ (John 10:10b).

There are significant strides being made in medical treatments that have worked to lengthen lives tremendously.  While modern medicine can work wonders, there is only one Physician who is truly equipped to bring complete healing.  

I can joyfully trust God when I feel like giving up because He is in the business of saving.

Bounty.  More than enough.  Overflowing.  Beyond my wildest imagination.  These are a few phrases to describe God's generous Spirit.  He doesn't just give what I need, but He tends to offer in abundance (Ephesians 3:20).

When I was growing up, I vividly remember the times my dad would pull out the blender.  As I sat at the kitchen table finishing my dinner and watching him work, I knew this appliance meant one thing:  Milkshakes!  I would get so excited as I saw him walk to the freezer and pull out the container of ice cream, scooping generous heaps into the wonderful device.  Soon, a thick helping of the frosty treat was set before me and I realized my father's love for me.  

Just as there was no special occasion to call for those yummy milkshakes, just a dad's love for his daughter, God is always at work giving me good things (Matthew 7:11, James 1:17).  He delights in showering His goodness down on me.  I may miss the bounty, however, unless I am looking for it.  

I might think the field of daisies is just a natural phenomena instead of realizing it was placed there just so God could bring me joy.  I could think the prime parking spot opened up by happenstance instead of acknowledging that God wanted to bless me with a bit of extravagant convenience.  It would be easy for me to pass off the unexpected discount as a fluke instead of admitting I have a Father who loves to tickle me with an extra bit of spending money.

I can trust God when I feel like giving up because He is a generous God who fills my life with bountiful gifts.

I often find myself on the precipice of despair when I focus on the world around me.  Evil is everywhere and I often feel without hope.  In place of trusting in my feelings, however, I can turn my attention to my God whose love never fails, is in the business of saving me, and who is generous and lavish.  In these ways, I'll step back from the edge of despair and place my feet on solid ground.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my hope in such a God as this.

When do I trust more in my feelings than in what I know to be true?

How am I talking myself into despair because I only have eyes for what is wrong?

For This

"For this I will praise you, O LORD,

among the nations,

and sing praises to your name.

Great salvation he brings to his king,

and shows steadfast love to his anointed,

to David and his offspring forever."

2 Samuel 22:50-51 ESV

"God is good!"

I mostly hear this when something goes well for another.  I, too, often feel ready to praise God when things go my way, or when I am comfortable with the turn my life has made, or when everything falls into place the way I envisioned it.  "God is good!"  rolls easily off my lips.

What about when the test results are positive?  Or when I'm forced to wait in the unknown?  Or when my beloved's heart seems stuck in concrete?  Is God still good, or am I only willing to make such a profession when things are well for me?

There is a better reason to praise God for His goodness, and it is completely independent of my circumstances.  Not matter what I'm going through, I can still brag of His goodness because of these two gifts.

Salvation.  I deserve eternal death. (Romans 6:23) My sin has earned for me permanent condemnation, resulting in separation from God and all that is good.  Due to my transgressions, I have no hope of a future or anything good of which to look forward. (James 1:15)

In the same way a drowning man needs a lifeguard to save him from certain death, so I am completely incapable of rescuing myself from the inevitable.  My sin comes quite naturally, making it impossible for me to ever measure up to God's perfect standard.  Therefore, I can never hope to enter into God's kingdom based on my own merit.  If it were up to my goodness, I would be doomed to hell. (Romans 3:23)

Thankfully, God sent a Savior to rescue me from the path of death my feet so easily tread.  He offers a way for me to travel instead on the road that leads to life, even though I am completely incapable of walking such a way.  It is only through the blood of Jesus that I am made righteous and able to enter into the family of God, having a hope and a future of a place that is prepared specifically for me.  I am saved from the doom my sin secured for me. (John 14:2-3, Jeremiah 29:11-13)

With such a treasure held firmly in my grasp, my life takes on new purpose.  Instead of living for myself and my own selfish desires, I now live for God and His eternally good purposes.  Everything takes on significance.  Even the most mundane of chores can be done with the intent of bringing attention to the One who saved me. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Life now is rich with meaning. (John 10:10)

The salvation from death and an empty life God freely gives me through Jesus Christ is a reason to always give Him praise.

Steadfast Love.  The kind of love I'm used to seeing comes and goes, dependent upon my performance or as a reward for good behavior.  Human love is conditional, incapable of reaching the depth of God's unwavering love.  

This unconditional love is shown perfectly through the sacrifice made by His Son on the cross.  While I was still completely unaware of my need for help, while I was ignorant of the way my selfishness offended God and His holy nature, His loved compelled Him to make a way to repair the relationship my sin destroyed.  His love is so deep, so wide, so unfathomable that He took me as His child while I was still His enemy!  (Romans 5:10)

Such love cannot be lost.  There is nowhere I can go, nothing I can do, and no depth to which I can sink which will cause me to lose such love.  (Romans 8:35-39)  No matter how I feel, or how much I suffer, or how often I fail, His love for me is secure.  

This is a love that can take a bunch of wayward criminals and form them into a family.  (1 John 3:1)  This is the kind of love that sets the captive free.  (Luke 4:18)  This love melts even the hardest of hearts, turning it from stone into flesh.  (Ezekiel 36:26)

This steadfast love secured through faith in Jesus Christ is a reason to always give praise to God.

It is easy to base my praise of God on my circumstances, honoring Him and exalting His name when things go well but remaining silent when times are hard.  God, however, has given me so much of which to praise Him no matter my situation.  I have been granted salvation and a never-ending supply of His steadfast love through faith in Jesus Christ.  Completely apart from my own effort or merit, I have been given such precious gifts.  Of these alone I can always give praise to such a generous God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can always remember the love and salvation that are mine through faith in Jesus.

When do I base my praise on my circumstances?

How am I quick to sink into despair when things go differently than I expected, forgetting that God has a great plan for me?