Trade Your Temporary Happiness For God's Permanent Contentment And Joy

Psalm 16:1-2 and 7-9 -  Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.

 

Even as David cried out one moment for God to be his refuge ….he boasted the next about his love for him…even praising him for all he had done . His temporary sadness was always replaced with an inner peace and joy that only comes from a deep relationship with God. As he allowed God to wash the fear and uncertainty from his soul… he stood in awe of the life he had been given so far. The presence of God in his heart led to a deep contentment …to wait…no matter what.

 

I couldn’t help but wonder…if David had somehow managed to take some of God’s word with him in the caves he hid…or if all of his scriptural knowledge had been memorized. I tend to lean toward the concept that David had nothing but what he had hidden in his heart…just as he wrote in Psalm 119:11.  Somehow he had managed to capture what he needed for God to recall it to his mind …exactly when he needed it.

 

David knew that everything he had been given in the past…and everything that would be done for him in the future…came from God above…a precious gift that he appreciated…no matter what circumstance he was in at the present. He… like Paul had learned to be content in whatever circumstances God placed him. Philippians 4:12 says… “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

 

The secret to this concept is concentrating more on our relationship with God …than the material manifestations that he provides to us in any season of our life. The happiness we feel from receiving the material blessings of life are temporary…they fade away as soon as that new phone screen cracks…or the first dent is placed in the door of the new car we parked at Walmart. The giddiness we feel as we unwrap those presents under the tree…fade as we begin to clean up the mess of wrapping paper that invaded our clean living room.

 

The joy we begin to infuse in our heart from time with the father…never leaves us.  It becomes a rechargeable battery of hope and trust and faith in something we can’t see….when the tangible blessings are taken away for a time. The scripture we have hidden in our hearts become the exact words we need to kick satan to the curb when he attacks the joy God wants to be a permanent fixture of our soul. Happiness is just a fleeting feeling…but the joy we can receive from our constant visits with God…..will fill our hearts with the insights we need to sustain us through the harder times of life.

 

Father…I thank you for the time you allow me to spend with you each evening and morning.  You have been my refuge so many times when I have failed to see your hand of provision on my life. And what is even more amazing is that you have done this for me even when I did not ask…or even tried to run from your love.  Thank you father for your constant love….that has helped me to understand more of who you are ..and how you can sustain me through whatever you allow satan to throw in my pathway.  Help me to internalize even more scripture in my heart…so that when satan comes to try and steal that permanent joy you have given me…I will know exactly what scripture will shut him up and send him away. Thank you for all you have done for me…and helping me through some really tough times.  Show me how to help others with the knowledge of life’s hurts you have helped me through.  Amen.

The Do's And Dont's Of True Christian Living

Psalm 15:1-5 -  LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?  He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart  and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,  who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,  who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

 

David had many times of joy and celebration before the Lord. One of these times was the reclaiming of the Ark of the covenant that had been stored until the Tabernacle of God had been prepared for it. David may have well written this psalm as a reflection after being rebuked by his wife Michal for his public dancing …so overwhelmed by the goodness of God …he couldn’t help but show the whole city how much his God meant to him.

 

His reflection of his worship practice and the tent that he would use to speak to his creator prompted him to record for all of us these 5 short verses that give us a powerful do and don’t list to help keep our passion for God at its highest level.  They contain 10 standards for living that are key to keeping our love for God from eroding away with the passing of time. They put the emphasis on loving the people that God created …and treating them with the same respect we would treat God.

 

It will take some work to follow all 10….but we are told to strive to be blameless…refuse to slander others….close our ears to any gossip….not to harm others in any way…speak out against the sin we see around us…to rebuke the sin that crosses our path….commend and encourage the ones we see doing good….keep our promises no matter what…to avoid taking advantage of others in charging interest…and to never falsely testify against the innocent.

 

I have some work to do if am I am to follow all 10 in a complete way. I will admit that my greatest weakness in this list is closing my ears to gossip.  I join in too often with the discussions around me that suppose theories that may or may not be true about the people they are said.  But I need some work on the other 9 too. I make excuses to many times for my inability to be blameless...instead of just trying to be more holy.  I allow my mouth to shrink…thinking of a way to be more politically correct….instead of just speaking the truth of the Bible as it is clearly written. …when I am given an opportunity to speak out against sin.  And I know I need some real conviction to do a better job keeping my promises to others.  I give up way to easy when things get tough.

 

At least now I have a list of some things I need to add to my prayer requests to God. For only he can give me the strength to change my current habits and find the strength to do a better job with all of these standards that I committed to when I accepted Christ into my life. David knew that he needed to work on these things too...and I just bet he was in that Tabernacle…praying and asking God to help him be more committed too.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me that I must constantly strive to be a stronger Christian.  Help me to internalize this list of the things that will help me keep my passion to follow you stronger than the influences around me that trick me into staying lukewarm. Show me how to be more holy and walk away from any discussions that tear down the people around me.  Give me clear direction when sin around me needs to be exposed or rebuked.  Give me the courage and kind loving words that will cause the sinner to search for the truth…instead turn farther away from it. Help me seethe Zacheus’s in the trees around me that need me to sit down and talk with them…even visiting their homes to share the truth of your word.  Amen.

Don't be A Fool....Accept Jesus As Your Savior

Psalm 14:1-3 - The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

 

These are indeed harsh words that came from David’s pen.  The days of trying to figure out why he had to hide from Saul…wondering over and over in his heart why Saul did not accept him as God had ordained him to be…and call off the craziness had him wondering just how many people were tricked into believing that something other than God could ever satisfy or sustain them. 

 

David probably did not know that Paul was going to use his words later to describe the general state of man in Romans 3: 9-12.  It says… “ What shall we conclude then? Are we any better ? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.  As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;  there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

 

We have 2 choices…to stay fools….and just go on being corrupt…in whatever degree.  OR we can be wise and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior….and begin to draw from his love to learn how to transform our corrupt nature into good.  His love begins to teach us how to love…and make God’s agenda more important than our own.

 

I am reminded by this short chapter…that my decision to follow God…should show to others.  My choice to follow God should be evident in everything I do. The love that transformed my heart should fuel the actions that my hands and feet engage in on an everyday basis. It should be obvious to everyone that crosses my path what choice I made when I was 14.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me this morning that I need to distinguish myself from the fools who have chosen not to believe in you. I should model for them the love of Jesus that can change the world one person at a time. Help me to pray for more people to realize their sinful nature can only be washed clean with the blood of Jesus sacrificed on that cross so long ago. Show me what to do daily to lead more people to know you and your life changing love. Amen.

Expressing Your Deep Emotions To God Gives You Strength To Wait

Psalm 13:1-6 - How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?  Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;  my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.  But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.

 

David found himself struggling with patience many times in his life.  Perhaps these words were penned as he hid from Saul…trying to understand why God did not explain his great plan to him and end the craziness of trying to kill him.  God wasn’t giving him any answers…and David was just plain tired…exhausted from the physical and emotional baggage he was having to carry in his heart every day.

 

The pure heart that loved God so much just turned to him and kept asking him why.  His honesty with God allowed him to vent his deepest hurt and pain…unloading it on the one person that would not judge him for being weak. He begged for God to at least let him know…how long…he needed to endure this season of life that was so very hard.

 

I believe it was David’s expression of his true deep emotions...that provided him the strength to go on. His questions became requests for new light to understand his plight.  His pleas for answers became statements of trust in God.  His trust in God led him to worship  and praise him for just being. For deep in David’s heart…he knew… that he knew …that he knew God would answer him …someday…and the only way he could wait would be to hold God’s hand until that day came.

 

I keep reading passages that reinforce that the answer to the pressures and pain we feel in life is to turn to God in prayer.  God loves it when we come to him with our honest emotions…and begin to ask him to handle the struggles of life for us…instead of us trying to do everything ourselves. Our expression of honest emotions allows us to vent them directly to the only source that can ease the pain and pressure…and we experience the trust that David felt …that builds our faith so deep it cannot be shaken…no matter how long we have to wait on answers.  It leads us to thank God in pure worship…even in our saddest times of life.

 

Father…thank you for the opportunity to come to you with any problem I experience in life. I thank you that it is okay to ask you why…to vent to you the deepest hurts in my heart. Help me to build the kind of trust that David had in you…so I can ride out any storm that you allow in my life.  Use the time I have to wait to teach me how to love you more deeply…and praise you just for being you. Give me opportunities each day to sing your praises and tell of all the blessings you have showered on me.  Amen.

Refine My Thoughts And Words Like Silver Lord

Psalm 12:1-2 and 6-7  - Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.  Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.

 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.  O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.

 

David looked around the world he had been placed and saw many who did not understand what the phrase…be truthful…meant. They may not have lied outright ….but they did not have any problems stretching the little truth they knew into something more flattering.  He wondered how these people could claim to know the same God he served…and allow their insincere hearts and minds to be so blind to the pure truth of God’s word.

 

Things haven’t changed much since his day.  As I speak with others….especially when I invite them to church…I hear story after story of how they have chosen to not be a part of an organized church.  The stories mention the people of God’s church in unflattering ways....and how they just chose not to be a part of a body of believers that say they believe one thing…and see do another day after day.

 

I think David had seen the same problem in his people.  They built themselves up with prideful statements that stretched the truth of who and what they really were. They began to believe that their self-worth had more to do with what they wore…or how much money they made….and how much the outfit they wore cost.  David saw them begin to judge others around them as lower that themselves if they could not boast the same.

 

David knew that God would only allow this kind of pride for a time…because satan takes these lies we tell to ourselves and puffs up our egos….leaving no room for the humility that needs to grow to truly understand God’s pure truth. David likens God’s truth to the refining process of silver…each step of the process cleansing more and more of the impurities form our hearts that cause us to latch on to the need to be measured by things.

 

God’s pure truth cultivates humility….that understands the blessings we have are to be shared with others…not hoarded for ourselves.  It produces a kind of pure love that draws people to come and gather together to worship …without worrying about what we wear…or what denomination’s theology is the most true. The worship spurs the spirit of giving instead of taking…that Jesus demonstrated when he walked the Earth.  The gathering of the people becomes a way to transform our lives into servants that want to help others understand the pure truth of God.

 

Father…I thank you for the reminder that I need to be careful what words I use to describe what you have blessed me with.  Help me to remember that none of it is really mine….that you have only loaned any of it to me to do your work.  Help me to guard against using words to flatter or brag about what you have done for me…but be more like Mary….and ponder them in my heart…so that you can refine the thoughts into a pureness that you can use to transform me into who you need me to be. Help me to recognize satan when he tries to trick me into thinking anything different.  Amen.

When You Feel Like Running Away...Run To God

Psalm 11:1 and 4 -  In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain.

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.

 

There were times in David’s life when he had to hide from his enemies. But he never felt he had to run from them. As he hid from King Saul…..or he tried to gather those around him that had not followed his son Absalom’s rebellion…his heart knew that God was working some great plan to save him…and had provided a safe place for him to wait out the storm around him.

 

There were those around him that did not understand David’s lack of fear.  They advised him to run even further up the mountains from his enemies. They advised him to take matters into his own hands and flee from his problems completely.  They advised him to use what human strength he had to fight the enemies that threatened him.

 

But David knew that he was right where he needed to be…because God was in his Holy Temple…and had anointed him…and was watching every move that was made on the Earth around him.  David knew that he was being protected by powers that David could not provide for himself if he ran. David’s faith in God’s love and covering helped him maintain hope…resisting the fear that gripped those around him.

 

David used his faith to wait out the storm exactly where God had led him to hide.  God used the time hiding in those caves to write some of the great prayers we use today to find strength and courage when things get rough in life.  God used the time to deepen David’s relationship with him…instead of gain false pride in his human skills and abilities.

 

Father...thank you for the reminder that I need not run to the mountains when I am struggling with things I do not understand.  Help me find the place you have provided for me to wait out the storms around me…till you have pieced together the plan that will provide peace and comfort and new growth.  Use every moment that I have to teach me more about your great love and care…and help me to grow closer to you.  Show me how to use the talents and skills you planted in me at birth to help others. Amen.

Prayer Keeps Anger In Check

Psalm 10:12-14 -  Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.  Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?  But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

 

David’s emotions were not frozen in one mode. Some days he experienced the highs of victory and success.  Some days he felt the pain and grief of loss and war.  And still others he looked around him and saw the affliction of others less fortunate than he and wondered why God would allow them to be treated so bad…by people who did not even love God.

 

David did not let his anger manifest itself into some useless action….or tirade. Instead…he lifted up his voice to Heaven in a beautiful prayer to God to not forget them….to shorten the time of their suffering…. to bring justice to the evil men that caused their plight. David used the energy from his questioning heart…to ask God to help him understand and trust why so many around him suffered so at the hands of evil people who did not even believe in God.

 

David models for us how to correctly manage our anger at everything we see happening around us that seems totally out of whack with what we think God wants for the world. It is especially hard for us when it hits our families…or close friends….or church. Satan tries to trick us into letting the anger grow and explode into a scene…but God calls us to quietly bow our heads and lift all that makes us angry to him.

 

Jesus felt the weight of the world’s sin on the cross.  He could have at any moment called down an uncountable number of angels to rescue him and right the massive wrong that had him nailed to a cross for being innocent of everything he was accused. But he chose to lift his voice up to heaven in a prayer to his father.  In Mark 15:34 we can read his cry… asking God to explain why he was having to suffer so… “And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

 

Maybe that is what he really meant when he used the phrase “turn the other cheek”… in Matthew 5:39. It says… “But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.” When anger tries to capture our hearts and manifest itself in righteous indignation…that will damage the testimony God has built in our lives so far….we need to remember to lift our faces to Heaven…and pray for them instead.

 

I’ll just bet that is how Shadrach… Meshach… and Abednego were able to walk around in that fiery furnace in Daniel 3.  They had taken a stand for God…and were ready to die serving him rather than cave in to the world around them. And that must be how Abraham found the strength to walk with his son in Genesis 22 …knowing he would be sacrificing him to God when they arrived at the mountain.   I bet he lifted up a silent prayer the whole walk there…trying to trust…trying to understand. I bet he wasn’t surprised when that angel grabbed his hand either…and God provided the goat for them to sacrifice.

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Father…thank you for the reminder that you gave us the emotion of anger.  Help me to learn to pray to you when I feel it rising up in my soul…because I see the injustices of the world around me…and want to right them…and ease the suffering it causes. Help me to wait on you to fix things…to pray to you for peace and understanding…so I can release the seed of bitterness that satan is trying  to plant in my heart. teach me how to stand courageous and strong like your three servants Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Help me learn to quietly walk anywhere you tell me like Abraham.  Help me learn to cry out to you in my questioning heart like David…when I see things happening around me that I don’t understand. Amen.