Psalm 31:6-13 WE ARE LOVED BY GOD, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Your sin is not greater than the grace of God. 

Your enemies are not stronger than your Lord! 

You might be forgotten by the world, but you are never abandoned by Christ!

Psalm 31:6-13

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,

but I trust in the Lord.

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,

because you have seen my affliction;

you have known the distress of my soul,

8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

my eye is wasted from grief;

my soul and my body also.

10 For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my iniquity,

and my bones waste away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,

especially to my neighbors,

and an object of dread to my acquaintances;

those who see me in the street flee from me.

12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;

I have become like a broken vessel.

13 For I hear the whispering of many—

terror on every side!—

as they scheme together against me,

as they plot to take my life.

If we heard one of our friends describe their life this way, how would we react? Would we try to change their perspective quickly? Would we look down upon their discouragement?

Even though these seem like desperate words, they are interwoven with wonderful truths. There are times when our lives are hard, when dealing with the trials of life can seem overwhelming. As I read this, I am encouraged by the fact that God wanted these words to be included in the Scriptures, for they were inspired by Him.

The writer shows us that, in the midst of what seems to be a very bleak situation, maybe even a long-lasting situation, one can and should keep some very important things in mind.

David knows that the world’s view is worthless. For a believer, although the situation he is facing is hard, there is no alternative to trusting in God.

Jesus asked his disciples if they wanted to leave him.

John 6:65-69

65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Everyone was leaving Christ. His way seemed to many as too difficult and too restrictive, but His disciples knew that the alternative was earthly and without hope.

David knew that he could count on the steadfast love of God. We are blessed! That love initiated, maintained, and sustained by the Lord, is the same love we enjoy! We cannot, should not, ever lose sight of this. As I am writing, I am encouraged by these truths, for where else would I go? I am loved by the eternal true God!

David does not hide his frailty and the reality that his sin has brought much grief and hurt into his life. He certainly cannot demand anything from God, but he can ask for grace from his God, Who has shown him such mercy.

Our God is a gracious God. He does not overlook our sin, He does not always take away the sorrow that has resulted from it, but He certainly is a gracious and forgiving God.

Has David been crying, has the weight of his grief burdened him? Are his enemies surrounding him? Does he feel abandoned by all? The answer is certainly,”Yes”!

Dear friend, is that where you are today? Does it seem impossible to snap out of your situation? You are not the first one who has felt this way! Your sin is not greater than the grace of God. Your enemies are not stronger than your Lord! You might be forgotten by the world, but you are never abandoned by Christ!

God inspired David to write these words so that you and I could know that when we are in grief and in distress, God is always aware. Therefore, don’t look anywhere else for help, don’t ever think that you cannot approach God, and never believe that God’s love is earned.

The end of this psalm will show us that keeping your mind on what is true will bring reprieve!

We are loved by God, and it does make a difference!

PSALM 31:1-5 BY GOD’S GRACE WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRIALS ALONE!

Dear friends, what kind of life would we be living today, 

had we not been saved by God and received His loving grace? 

We certainly don’t want to lose sight of that contrast.

PSALM 31:1-5

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame;

in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me;

rescue me speedily!

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress;

and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;

4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Again, David guides us in a journey from problems to praise. We don’t really know when this psalm was written, but we know that it was probably written at a different time from other ones that follow the same pattern. This likely means that David had to deal with problems most of his life and he needed constantly to focus on his Lord.

Isn't that a familiar scenario? We are constantly dealing with problems, and the idea that they will disappear is probably not a biblical one, for these problems will expose sin, will grow us in our sanctification, will bring us closer to God, will prepare us for ministry to our brothers and sisters, and will be an opportunity for God to shine through us in a difficult world.

Problems are always going to be part of our lives, but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us!

David knew very well that his hope in a God Who would rescue him depended on the character of his Lord. It is God’s righteousness that delivers us.

As we run to find refuge in the Lord, we are assured that He is stable. It is wise for us to set our feet on the rock! What a privilege we have because we have a firm foundation. We are wise when we build on it.

Matthew 7:24-27

24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

By God’s grace, we have understood the words of God. Also by His grace, we have repented and turned from sinful ways. And so now we live our lives with a totally different final destination.

Dear friends, what kind of life would we be living today, had we not been saved by God and received His loving grace? We certainly don’t want to lose sight of that contrast.

The writer knows that even though every situation, every enemy, was supposed to drive him into the arms of God, he needed God to lead him and guide him.

We so desperately need to be close to the Word of God, to allow it to shape our expectations, goals, reactions, and emotions. What a privilege we have to be taught by the Word of God, so we may be shaped and matured.

All David could do was to commit his spirit to the Lord. We cannot read these words without remembering the same words coming from the mouth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

Luke 23:44-46

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

These words followed other words by Jesus just before the cross.

Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Jesus, our perfect example, submitted His will to God and committed his Spirit in the hands of His Father.

We will have a very difficult time committing our ways to the Lord, unless that commitment is preceded by our complete submission and we know there are very good reasons to make it. David reminds us of them: God has redeemed us and He is faithful. They are certainly good enough reasons for us also!

May the Lord continue to work in us!

Psalm 30 DO YOU LOSE SIGHT OF GOD?

Take the time today, to recognize God’s tender mercies in your life!

Din't allow circumstances to make you lose sight of God.

Make sure you read the whole psalm so you have the flow of the passage.

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me.

3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

I have always asked myself why we are not more grateful. It certainly cannot be that we have no reason for gratitude. It seems that during life’s pleasant situations, we are complacently distracted from appreciation of God’s caring providence, and during difficult ones, we become absorbed by desire for a reprieve. We might even focus more on fear about the next calamity, than gratitude for God’s loving care through the present trial. In other words, our conscious thankfulness to Him is often sadly lacking!

But here, David gives his attention to writing a song of praise to God, recognizing that even in his most difficult of times, when he feared for his life, his God had been faithful.

David goes on to encourage all the saints to rejoice in God’s provision.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name.

5 For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

He reminds us that the hard times, caused by our sin or by the trials of life, are only momentary. We need not fear that they will never end. Sorrow and tears are, and will be, part of our human lives, but we must never lose sight of the fact that God’s favor is for a lifetime, and our joy in Him will return.

As we meditate on the corrective purposes of God, we can be assured that joy will be restored in His time. David remembers that in his arrogance, he acted as if the difficulties would never come.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,

“I shall never be moved.”

7 By your favor, O Lord,

you made my mountain stand strong;

you hid your face;

I was dismayed.

When David was enjoying peaceful times, he needed to be reminded that those were times of favor from God. He had done nothing to deserve them; they were gifts of God’s grace. And when hard times came, he was dismayed.

Doesn’t that look like a familiar reaction, when thoughts like “Why is this happening to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” go through our minds? But this psalm shows us David humble return to God, for he immediately approaches Him, pleading for mercy.

8 To you, O Lord, I cry,

and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9 “What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

O Lord, be my helper!”

David knows so well that the Lord is his helper, and that the Lord will receive ultimate glory from all His children.

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

you have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

David’s trials were real, and his mourning profound, but it did not last forever. How quickly we forget or overlook the purposes of God: to bring glory to Himself through every situation.

So, knowing that God is in sovereign control of our lives should always produce deep gratitude. How wonderful it is, for us to know that the Creator of the universe is “our” God.

Take the time today, to recognize God’s tender mercies in your life! Allow neither good nor difficult circumstances to make you lose sight of God.

PSALM 29 ARE WE WORSHIPING AS WE SHOULD?

Do we live in continuous amazement and worship? 
Are we humbled by His careful supervision? 
Are we secure in the awareness of His character? 
Are we peacefully trusting in His power? 
Are we joyfully embraced by His enduring love? 
Are we living lives that proclaim the sovereignty of God?

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

What a wonderful psalm of praise! David begins with the angelic beings’ praise of the Lord. These heavenly creatures recognize the glory and the strength of God. They are in His presence, where His glory shines. His power is displayed as He rules over the earth and sustains it with His strength.

In His presence, His character is magnified His holiness is clearly proclaimed and all the created heavenly beings can do is worship.

We all remember the reaction that Isaiah had, when he saw the angels worshiping God. 

Isaiah 6:1-4

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isaiah was impacted with the holiness and majesty of the Lord.

This psalm cannot leave us indifferent, as we stop and meditate on the holiness and majesty of God.

Not only the angelic beings worship the Lord, but the whole creation,  proclaims the majesty of God.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, over many waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth

and strips the forests bare,

and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 

God’s power is displayed in every event of nature. His voice rules with total control over every storm, every cataclysm, every clap of thunder, and every birth. Nature screams God’s glory and majesty.

It is so sad that man calls the majesty of nature, “mother nature”, or refers to “acts of nature” in our insurance policies, as if nature had a mind and power of its own. Man has suppressed the truth about God expressed by nature.

Every earthquake, every tornado, every tsunami, every most terrifying event in nature is following the command of the God of creation.

The power and holiness of God in heaven caused Isaiah to worship and to see himself as a finite, sinful being. The display of nature, according to God, is sufficient to condemn every man who does not worship the evident Creator.

Romans 1:18-21

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

In this psalm, David is inviting every man to recognize the power and holiness of God.

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

11 May the Lord give strength to his people!

May the Lord bless his people with peace!

The Lord is the King of every person; He rules forever, and expects man to worship him.

As we read this psalm and are confronted with realities we know: that God is in heaven, a holy and perfect place, and that He reigns sovereignly over all, how do these truths affect our everyday lives?

Do we live in continuous amazement and worship? Are we humbled by His careful supervision? Are we secure in the awareness of His character? Are we peacefully trusting in His power? Are we joyfully embraced by His enduring love? Are we living lives that proclaim the sovereignty of God?

If these are not our reactions, we should ask ourselves what is wrong. Have we allowed the cares of this world to distract us? Have we allowed our sinful desires to overshadow the will of God? Are we caught up in worldly endeavors, with no eternal perspective?

David ended the psalm with a prayer for the strength and blessing of God’s people. May this be our prayer, as we live our lives today!

May our knees be bowed in reverential worship at all times.

Romans 14:11-12

11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Let’s do it faithfully, because God will hold us accountable for our testimonies about Him!

PSALM 28 TRUTH MUST PROTECT AND INFORM OUR HEART!

God is generous with His help and does not hold back His wisdom and grace from those who trust in Him completely.

Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;

my rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if you be silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,

when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,

with the workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors

while evil is in their hearts.

4 Give to them according to their work

and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

render them their due reward.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord

or the work of his hands,

he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

In time of need, David finds rest and hope in his secure trust in the character of God and His promises.

David again, as in many of his psalms, approaches the Lord in prayer. He is encountering a very difficult time. His situation is so difficult that he pleads with God to be heard. His concern seems to be that God might not hear him.

When our difficulties are great, when our enemies seem to be having the upper hand, it is very easy to wonder if God is truly hearing. David does not lose sight that God is in a holy place and that he must approach Him in reverent prayer. Even though reality is very difficult, to the point that he worries about dying when he mentions the pit, he still affirms, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord is his rock. He knows that he needs a stable place from which to deal with his circumstances.

When we are going through a hard time, do we waver and wonder if God is really our rock, our hope, and our God who does listen to our cries?

  

James 1:2-8

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Even James reminds us that, when going through trials, we must trust the character of God and not doubt, as we ask for wisdom and help to go through them.

God is generous with His help and does not hold back His wisdom and grace from those who trust in Him completely.

David realizes that the wicked will receive their due rewards from God. He wants to make sure that he will not in any way be part of their behavior and their certain end. He knows that they live like hypocrites, with no regard for what God says or does.

Looking at this truth another way, when we doubt God and waver, we are behaving as if we do not believe in His power and works. Way too often we get so caught up in our situations and the people who are misbehaving, that we forget that our faithless reactions are really an insult against God.

Everything we do, every reaction, reflects the state of our relationship with the Lord. When we are bitter, unhappy it is always a reproach against God and this is always going to have sinful consequences in our life.

David has not seen the result of his prayers yet, but in verse seven, he acts in faith, as if he has already received the answer. He blesses the Lord; he brings everyone’s attention to the faithfulness of his Lord. His trust helps him already, and his heart rejoices.

I know that we often lack this kind of expectant faith. We wait to see the end of the trials and the disappearance of our enemies, before our heart exults.

But the truth we know must direct our thoughts and inform our heart! What a wonderful testimony David has, as he does not allow the trial to direct his emotions. As our hearts respond correctly, our mouths will proclaim grateful praise to God.

David knew very well the promises of God for His people. He had total trust that God would keep His covenants.

Do we live with that same assurance? Do we believe the promises of God? If we really do, then our hearts and mouths will respond in righteousness.

Is it difficult? Yes, it is at times. And that is why we have the psalms and the whole Bible to guide and direct our thoughts and hearts. When you find yourself struggling, go to the Word. Pray its truths into your heart, and live in light of the character and the promises of your God.

Psalm 27:13-14 WAIT WELL, SIN NOT!

Don’t tell me what you believe, but let me watch your life, 

and then I will know what you believe!

Psalm 27:13-14

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord

Don’t tell me what you believe, but let me watch your life, and then I will know what you believe!

In this psalm, David has expressed very clearly what he believes about God and His character. There is no arrogance in his believing, since he knows that he does, because of the grace of God. What he knows about God is the result of the Lord revealing Himself to him. What he understands about God’s involvement in his life is the result of the Lord’s loving teaching. All through the psalm, we see the careful resolve David has to not allow the world or its external pressures to shape his thoughts and reactions.

David has no doubt that God’s goodness is not reserved for a future time, but is to be presently experienced by him, in his relationship and submission to the Lord. His belief shaped his life.

Here we are today, thousands of years later, worshiping the only true God, the same God Who led David. We have God’s Word to inform us and instruct us on the character, wisdom, power, and love of God. We have the local church, where the teaching and our fellowship with other believers should encourage growth in our lives. What do we really believe? Well, what does our life look like?

Should we ask ourselves if there are reactions and behaviors that should cause concern in our lives?

Ephesians 4:31

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

This verse sums up both the inner feelings and the exterior manifestations of those attitudes.

Can a person who is resting in the will of the Lord and has abandoned all things of the past into the hands of God have these kinds of feelings? Or should our faith in God produce totally different reactions?

Let me be even more clear: are there people in your life whom you are avoiding or, worse yet, you are not even speaking to? Have you lost contact with a loved one who has caused you to have bitterness? Is going to work becoming a chore that you must endure? Is your marriage relationship becoming an unbearable burden? The fact that you are avoiding some thoughts or people does not mean that those sinful attitudes are not present in your heart!

When Paul wrote this verse under the inspiration of God, he was delivering a clear command for all those who are children of God!

The test comes in the next verse.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

If God has forgiven us, we have known the grace of God, and that must produce a change in our attitudes and behavior.

This verse does not encourage avoidance or indifference. This verse is pregnant with inner love and visible actions. It’s hard to avoid its clarity. Read the preceding verses and allow them to shed light on your life.

No one can look at these lists and think that they have never been guilty of one or more of those actions, but there is NO EXCUSE for us to continue in them!

One of the areas where so many professing believers struggle is forgiveness. Not only do they struggle to forgive, but they struggle to ask for forgiveness. If you cannot remember the last time you have asked forgiveness of someone, it is not because you have been living a perfect life, but because you have minimized your sin, or worse, you have justified it. Are you ready for a real test? Go to the person you are closest to and ask them if they see you as a person who is quick to repent and ready to forgive. But don’t go and ask, unless your prayer is to become more godly in that area!

Why do we struggle so much in these areas? Because we are impatient! We are impatient with our circumstances; we want them to be resolved as quickly as possible. We are impatient with people, because they don’t change as quickly as we would like.

David had learned to wait upon the Lord. When we feel that circumstances and people are not changing quickly enough, our impatience is actually directed to God.

Is it easy to wait? Certainly not! Pain and hurt are real and if we cannot see their value, they become unbearable. David reminds us to be strong and to let our heart take courage. What does that look like?

We come back to the ongoing teaching of Scriptures: know God, believe His Word, meditate on what is true, surround yourself with godly teaching and godly people, and trust the Lord.

Quick responses and reactions driven by impatience never produce godliness.

David learned many lessons through his seasons of sin and their consequences. He learned well and, by God’s grace, He was used by God to instruct us. Wherever you are in your life right now: learn, repent, strive, trust, and wait upon the Lord.

PSALM 27:7-11 DON’T ALLOW LIES TO DRIVE YOU DURING A TRIAL!

God does not provide grace for our fears, 

but graciously gives us faith in Him that erases our fears!

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

9 Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the Lord will take me in.

David has clearly shown that he relies upon God, and his trust is active. His prayers show dependence, urgency, and awareness of his need for mercy and grace.

David’s prayer is immersed in his desire to know God and to know what He desires. He knows that it is God Who must reveal Himself to him.

I find that many times when we are going through trials, our prayers might be fervent, but the request is basically dictated by our desire for the uncomfortable situation to end. Some feel it is more spiritual, when in a trial, for them to ask God to teach them His lessons quickly, so that the trial will be brief.

These verses display the attitude that drives David: he knows that he deserves the anger of God, but he also knows that God is his Savior.

Our acquaintances and even our loved ones can abandon us, but God, once he has made us His own, will never forsake us.

How can we evaluate our attitude as we pray? If there is anger or bitterness or complaining, then it is evident that our prayers are directed toward meeting our felt needs and not directed to becoming the servant that God desires.

Some have given up on prayer, when they think that God is not answering them, but the reality is that God has promised to answer our prayers according to His will.

James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

What does it look like for us to seek the face of God? We certainly cannot depend on our emotions, but only on the Word of God. It is there where we can discover His character, His will, His desires, and what He expects from us.

It is very hard, during the times of trial, to know what God wants, if we have not been diligent in filling our tank from His Word during our times of peace.

Surrounding ourselves of godly people will also help us to learn what God wants from us.

The psalmist’s requests flowed out of his heart and desires:

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

David knew two things: that within himself, he did not know which path was the correct one, and that reacting to his adversaries would only lead him in the wrong direction.

How many times have we allowed others to bait us into sinning? How often do we even use the behavior of others to excuse our own poor reactions?

As the writer prays this heartfelt request, he does not to be abandoned to the will of his enemies. What a privilege it is, to have the Lord’s promises recorded in the Scriptures!

Hebrews 13:5,6

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

It is very instructive that our appreciation of God’s care begins with our contentment about His provision. God has promised to never leave us and He never does. Feelings of abandonment can only begin when we concentrate on our unmet expectations.

When we are facing trials or enemies, we must keep our mind on what is true! The Lord is our Helper: no one can attack us without God being at our side to give us strength and to help us.

God does not provide grace for our fears, but graciously gives us faith in Him that erases our fears!

Dear friends, we have said it before: trials are real, enemies are real, but we should never allow ourselves to become our own greatest enemies. We must keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and we must be disciplined in immersing ourselves in the Truth, rather than in our emotions!

Psalm 27:4-6 FOCUS ON GOD PRODUCES PEACE AND PRAISE!

The length of a trial is not caused by God’s inability to bring it to an end, but on the intention of the almighty God to bring it to its good end.

Psalm 27:4,5

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

The length of a trial is not caused by God’s inability to bring it to an end, but on the intention of the almighty God to bring it to its good end.

David had learned he truly needed God’s help to go through his trials. He knew that his journey in the storm had to begin with prayer. His prayer was to be faithful and remain in close fellowship with God,

becoming more and more aware of Gods beauty.

Many, during trials, tend to lose sight of God, many ask themselves where God is, in all they are experiencing. The problem is that our view of God is dependent on our own desires and perceived needs, which rule our feelings.

Even in his days of trouble, David did not question the character of God. His prayer was to be in fellowship with God. Dear friends, our prayer during troubled times should be to ask God to show us His beauty.

God never stops being utterly glorious, even during the times when this world becomes extremely ugly and the people around us seem to be especially hateful. The world should never become our shelter or our hope for comfort.

Think about the thoughts that go through your mind in times of trouble and desperation. Are they driving you into the arms of God? Are they causing you to focus on the temporal? Are they leading you to look at yourself or to God?

David never lost sight of the beauty of God, nor of His intentions. He knew that there was always room in the shelter of God. He knew that he could hide in the protection of his God, and that there was always a stable place of safety close to His Lord.

David’s resolve drove his feelings and actions.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord

David would not allow his enemies to beat him down. His head was high; he was not living in dejection or self-pity. His enemies did not necessarily disappear, but neither did David’s worshipful view of God.

What David knew about God informed his actions. His God deserved his worship. When David went through the rituals of sacrifice, he made sure he was pure before God by asking for forgiveness and praised his God in humble submission.

The trials, the enemies, the difficulties could drive him to sadness and despair, or into the presence of God, where praise is the only appropriate focus.

Because David’s songs were often born from trouble, they were not lighthearted; but they were always driven by truth, for his knowledge of God was informing his praise.

Dear friends, what kind of words do you utter in times of trial, when you are being mistreated? I know what kind of words tend to come out when I allow “me” to get in the way. We might feel free to vent our frustrations to those close to us, but no matter when and how we do, they are never honoring to God.

Is your head lifted high today? Are you looking at the example of your Lord? Are you driven by your passion to know God in a deeper and more meaningful way? Are you praying Scriptures into your heart? Are you watching what is feeding your mind?

Dear friends, how I wish I could claim that this has always been true in my life. My sins and scars prove the contrary. But I know that I do not need to live in the past; there is forgiveness for those who repent. Our repentance should not be driven by a desire to see situations change, but because we realize that we have offended our gracious and perfect Lord.

Today, I don’t have to live without hope or in desperation, but I can live in the arms of my Savior, grateful that the trials, the enemies are driving me back into His arms, where my heart can find protection and my lips can utter praise.

May the Lord be our focal point today!

PSALM 27:1-3 WHY DO YOU FEAR?

Are you worried? 

Are you overwhelmed by others? 

Are you facing situations that are too great? 

Well go to the light, rest in the truth!

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

If we could only live in light of this truth, each of our days would be  much different! The Lord goes before me and shines a light over every shadow. The Lord, Who saved us by giving His life for us, is the one Who has promised to provide clarity and help for the shadows of each day.

My problem, our problem, is that we want to have clarity for tomorrow, too. We fear because of our imagined futures, instead of enjoying the light God sheds on today’s needs.

Our lack of light is also, for many, the absence of the Word of God from their daily lives.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 43:3

Send out your light and your truth;

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill

and to your dwelling!

We certainly need the light, so why do we not go to the light? Then we wonder why we fear during the difficulties. We fear because we do not know the character of God, because we do not know His Word; we do not know His promises for the same reason.

I desire to live without fear, to know where my stronghold is and know that I do not need to fear anyone!

Are you worried? Are you overwhelmed by others? Are you facing situations that are too great? Well go to the light, rest in the truth!

Enemies are real! But you don’t have to pretend they are not present, or that they are overwhelmingly fearsome.

2 When evildoers assail me

to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

God knows what to do with your enemies. They seem strong, they are evil, but we know who the Victor is! Yes, they might be scheming against you, but our God knows their thoughts and their intentions; He is never taken by surprise. Our hearts do not need to fear, even though our emotions might want to take control. We must be careful about how we are feeding them. Are we informing our minds and hearts with truth, or are we allowing our imaginations to run wild? Our enemies might rise against us, but we can be confident. Confiding in ourselves will make us fall, but confiding in God will give us peace.

You might have already decided what you want the outcome to be, but you need to trust God to guide you, love you, and protect you in the outcome He chooses for you.

Dear friends, I am concerned that we often live in fear instead of trust, in confusion instead of clarity.

Sometimes we allow our feelings to run our lives, instead of God’s truth. There is no enemy who is stronger than the Lord, there is no enemy raised up against you that can take our loving God by surprise. In fact even a group, an army of enemies, is not stronger than our Lord.

Maybe it’s time to stop and ask yourself, if you are fearful, what the cause is for your fear. And then talk to God about that. I believe that some of us can get so self-focused that hope is lost. God’s purpose in allowing enemies in our life is to bring us closer to Him and teach us to find our security in His arms.

We must confess our sin of distrust and self-reliance, and align our lives with the truth of the Word of God. Even if you are experiencing a time of peace, I am sure that you have a friend who needs you to help him focus on God in the way David did.

May God help us to enjoy our life with our Savior!

PSALM 26 LIVING IN DEPENDENT INTEGRITY

Dear friends, do we forget the privilege we have, 

to have been redeemed by the gift of God’s amazing grace? 

Do we forget the responsibility that this redemption demands of us?

Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,

nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,

7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

and the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10 in whose hands are evil devices,

and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground;

in the great assembly I will bless the Lord

If read quickly, this psalm could almost seem to be a song of boasting by David. Probably David is being accused, though he knows that he is innocent of those accusations.

David proclaims his integrity in verse one; in verse two, he invites the scrutiny of God, but in verse three, he remits himself to God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

Only those who have known the everlasting and perfect love of God and His faithfulness can ever hope to walk in integrity. David does not forget that his walk is completely dependent on God’s grace and help.

When we forget our total dependence on God, we will always fall away from a life of integrity. Depending on God requires our submission to his Word, our devotion to purity, and our reliance on corporate worship. In this psalm, David will mention how much he loves worshiping in the house of the Lord.

To walk in integrity, a careful choice has to be made, and that is to choose carefully whom one associates with. David was careful in evaluating those whom he spent time with. He distanced himself from evil doers as well as from those who pretended to do good, though were living as hypocrites. This is not implying that we should completely isolate ourselves from the unsaved, but that our close friends should those who are like-minded.

As David proclaims his innocence, for he has, according to the Old Testament Law, ceremonially washed his hands before approaching the altar with his sacrifice of praise. He knew that to approach God, one must be cleansed.

One of the great blessings of knowing the Lord is the privilege of going to Him for cleansing. 1 John reminds us that everyone sins and that everyone needs to confess his sins regularly. Our fellowship with God requires it and our integrity demands it.

1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.   

‘Walking in the light’ requires regular confession of sin. Only those who go to God in repentance can experience the beauty and privilege of true fellowship with God.

David, in verse eight, proclaims the joy of inhabiting the house of the Lord. He reminds us that God is enveloped by His glory. We must approach God aware of our need for forgiveness and grateful for the mercy He has shown us, in allowing us to have a relationship with Him.

Men who turn away from God are evil, and have no limit to their greediness and selfishness. How could we ever choose companions of those who live only for themselves?

David is committed to walk in integrity, but in verse ten, he reminds us of the basis on which he can approach a Holy God: He needs to be redeemed by God’s grace.

Dear friends, do we forget the privilege we have, to have been redeemed by the gift of God’s amazing grace? Do we forget the responsibility that this redemption demands of us?

Only when we walk in integrity will our feet be stable and our worship be true.

I am sorry to say that many believe that worship is done by singing songs and allowing our feelings to transport us, in moments of emotional bliss. Biblical worship is done in spirit and truth.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Later in the same chapter Paul writes.

Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Paul knew that a life of integrity was the result of pressing on. Our sanctification was never compared to a walk on the beach, but the life of an athlete or a soldier at war. Dear friends, may we learn from David first, and then Paul, that a life of integrity is the result of hard and careful work. We must never forget that this walk would never have been possible, without God’s work of grace at salvation and His continuing, sanctifying work of grace in us, every day.

May you and I walk well today, in God-enabled integrity!