YOUR LIFE SCREAMS WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD!

READ PSALM 69

WE LIVE IN A DIFFICULT WORLD, BUT CARED FOR BY A LOVING GOD

Psalm 69:16

            16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;

                        according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

As David goes to God there no spirit of demand, he knows that God’s dealing with him is always good. God has shown His love and His mercy over and over. God’s love is so wonderful because it is based on His faithfulness. His love is eternally perfect. He chose to love us when we were His enemies; He knew exactly how much it would cost Him and how unfaithful we would be.

His mercy is abundant! He has shown us mercy from the beginning and will continue to prove Himself merciful; we will never exhaust His provision.

 At times it is useful to reflect on the kinds of behaviors that expose an attitude of demand.

When we complain, when we are bitter, and when we are angry, in reality we are saying that we deserve something different from what we have received, that in some ways we are being treated unjustly.

David had looked at men for reprieve and had found none. His concern at this point is that God’s reputation would be honored. All men knew that he was dependent on God and that his life brought attention to his God.

David’s pain is real and he is looking for a solution.

Psalm 69:29

            29 But I am afflicted and in pain;

                        let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

Pain is real! People know how to wound our hearts and souls. This world is so full of sin and hatred that it is impossible to live here without suffering. We should not be surprised.

Some people with unbiblical thinking have equated God’s blessing with a life without any problems. Biblically, however, a blessed life is one lived with faith in God’s eternal purposes, in the midst of temporary trials. All of our difficulties and trials will certainly end when we meet our Savior face to face.

Psalm 69:30-33

            30 I will praise the name of God with a song;

                        I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

            31 This will please the LORD more than an ox

                        or a bull with horns and hoofs.

            32 When the humble see it they will be glad;

                        you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

            33 For the LORD hears the needy

                        and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

God is not looking for rituals, but He desires the sincere praise of those who recognize who He is and are satisfied with His provision. Thankfulness is the result of a heart that recognizes the hand of God. When one knows the character of God and has experienced His love, then He will truly be grateful.

The praise of God’s children will be an encouragement for those who observe it.

Dear friend, have you stopped to reflect on how your attitude and demeanor affects those who observe you? We should be more aware of what people are learning about God by watching our lives.

Is our God worthy to be praised?

Is our God wise in what He does?

Is our God really in control?

Is our God showing mercy to us?

Does our God have eternal purposes that we care about?

Is God protecting us?

Is God providing what we need?

These questions are clearly answered in all the conversations we have, in the attitudes we portray, in our responses…

If the Word of God is not feeding us, then we will not be able to respond correctly to the difficulties and pains of this world. If we are not in the fellowship of godly men and women, it will be difficult to stay correctly focused.

Psalm 69:34

            34 Let heaven and earth praise him,

                        the seas and everything that moves in them.

May we faithfully please and praise our God! 

AM I WITHOUT HOPE?

READ PSALM 69

AM I TRUSTING MYSELF OR AM I TRUSTING GOD?

Psalm 69:1-3

            1 Save me, O God!

                        For the waters have come up to my neck.

            2 I sink in deep mire,

                        where there is no foothold;

            I have come into deep waters,

                        and the flood sweeps over me.

            3 I am weary with my crying out;

                        my throat is parched.

            My eyes grow dim

                        with waiting for my God.

Oh have you felt this way? Have you come to a place where you melt that the problems were assailing you and there was no way to stop them? When every step made you feel like you were going to fall and there was no place to grab on? When the waters were still advancing with no hope of stopping them? When your tears were dried up and your voice was gone from crying out? When even the hope in God was growing deam?

David begins with simple words: Save me o God!

Maybe he did not even know what that salvation would look like. Have you come to the place where you did not even know what to hope for? The enemies were too many and too powerful.

Psalm 69:4

            4 More in number than the hairs of my head

                        are those who hate me without cause;

            mighty are those who would destroy me,

                        those who attack me with lies.

            What I did not steal

                        must I now restore?

He is not sure even of what he did, even though he knows he is a sinful man.

Psalm 69:5

            5 O God, you know my folly;

                        the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

As I read this I am reminded that I should never forget my sinful state. How foolishly I sin. As I look back on my sin, at times, I am even surprised of how foolish I have been. God has seen all my actions, He knows my motives, in fact He knew what I would do even before I entertained the idea.

Even at this time David’s concern if for the reputation of his God and for those who see him go through this time of heavy trial.

Psalm 69:6

            6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,

                        O Lord GOD of hosts;

            let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,

                        O God of Israel.

Oh I know that my actions would be different if I was more conscious of how my actions bring consequences not only on myself but also on others.

David knows that many are speaking evil against him. He knows that he has been concerned for God and His house. Now he desires God to intervene.

Psalm 69:13

            13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.

                        At an acceptable time, O God,

                        in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

Why would David come to God? What would he appeal himself to?

His prayer is to the LORD, the creator and sustainer of all. The One Who has everything in His hands. Nothing escapes Him, all is ordained by His perfect and eternal will. He knows that God is loving; His love is unchanging and abundant. The LORD dispenses His love faithfully. He loves to save. He is faithful to His promises. His timing is always perfect.

How different is God from us. Our love is imperfect and changes easily. Our love is measured and limited. We are so unfaithful. Our power is limited. Our awareness of the situations is limited to our personal point of reference.

Are you going through a difficult time? Then there are some questions you should ask yourself.

Am I looking to God alone for help? Is He the one I depend on?

Am I willing to trust the LORD’s timing?

Do I really believe He is loving?

Am I aware of the abundance of His love?

Do I trust God’s purposes?

Do I believe that God is faithful?

Am I concerned on how my behavior effects what people think about God?

Am I concerned with how I affect the faith of those who watch me?

Dear friends the way we answer these questions will affect the way we behave today! They will affect our thoughts and our attitudes.

Our prayer must be centered on God Himself. We are so blessed if we know Christ and have been transformed by His love and by His death and resurrection. May our life be visibly different!

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU!

READ PSALM 68

HOW CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT BLESSING OUR GOD?

Psalm 68:19

                19 Blessed be the Lord,

                                who daily bears us up;

                                God is our salvation. Selah

David continues this psalm, reminiscing about the ways that God has taken care of Israel. God was working in their lives daily; He was the one who saved them from every foe and every danger.

Dear friends, has God changed? Does He still care for His own? Is He the one who saves? Is there a day when He does not meticulously care for us? Is there a day when we are left to fend for ourselves? Is there a moment when our enemies have the upper hand? The answers are obvious. So do our minds rule our emotions, or are our feelings feeding our fears?

Can anyone of us ever lengthen our days? Who holds our health in His hands?

Can anyone provide for his needs apart from God’s loving and careful provision?

Can we control the behavior of our enemies, or even our friends? Are we able to thwart any attack from those around us?

Can we control the weather or the dangers that come because of natural events?

Can we protect our loved ones, as they deal with the difficulties of life? Can we be shields against their hurts?

Can we order the direction of our countries or governments? Or the use of our money, when we are taxed?

Can we prolong the life of our loved ones?

Can we control our neighbors?

Can we control the behavior of our spouse or the future of our children?

These are the things we worry about, although we know the answer to these questions is, “WE CANNOT”!

If we can’t, then who can? Even that answer is not complicated: only God can!

Does He have a perfect character that we can trust? Does He have the wisdom to make the right decisions? Does He have the power to do what He wills? Does He love us enough to do what is best for us? Even now, the answer is emphatically “YES!”

Psalm 68:32-35

            32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;

                        sing praises to the Lord, Selah

            33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;

                        behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

            34 Ascribe power to God,

                        whose majesty is over Israel,

                        and whose power is in the skies.

            35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;

                        the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.

            Blessed be God!

David took the time to remember, and God inspired him to write this psalm so that, as the children of Israel sang the song, they, too, would remember!

Dear friends, are you like me? Do you tend to forget who your God is? Did you trust Him for your eternal destiny and now fail to trust Him daily?

There are many questions today that have easy answers, but they expose difficult realities. We struggle in our lives. God is not surprised; He is so aware of it that He had David write this psalm for our benefit. Don’t gloss over it. Meditate upon the truth of His wonderful care for you! God cares for each of you individually, and He is totally aware of all you need.

God is awesome! If you take the time to meditate on God, you will be overwhelmed by His love and care. And if you are not, then you probably don’t know Him.

I want you to know that if God has blessed you, He wants you to be a testimony for Him. If someone has been used to encourage you, it would be great if you let him know. We need to learn to show gratitude to God and to those whom He uses in our lives. It might help them deal with the difficulties of life and turn their attention to their God, too.

Our hearts should be actively expressing what David wrote as he ended this psalm…Blessed be God!

GOD CARES FOR THE DEFENSELESS

READ PSALM 68

GOD USES US TO TOUCH LIVES FOR HIS SAKE

Psalm 68:1-3

            1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;

                        and those who hate him shall flee before him!

            2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;

                        as wax melts before fire,

                        so the wicked shall perish before God!

            3 But the righteous shall be glad;

                        they shall exult before God;

                        they shall be jubilant with joy!

As David begins this psalm of praise and remembrance God’s goodness to His people, he is expectant of the mighty works that He will continue to perform, according to His character and promises.

God has always triumphed, has never lost His majestic control, and will always bring about His eternal purposes. The wicked will always be eventually defeated! Wax will always melt when in contact with fire. The wicked have no chance of resisting the unsurpassable power of God. The righteous will rejoice in due time.

Dear friends, even though you may be facing some extremely difficult situations, or have some enemies who are oppressing you, God would never want you to forget that His power is overwhelming for them. When God chooses to display His power, they will melt away like wax. Our pain and troubles are very temporary. God cares.

Psalm 68:4-6

            4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

                        lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

            his name is the LORD;

                        exult before him!

            5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

                        is God in his holy habitation.

            6 God settles the solitary in a home;

                        he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

                        but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

The children of Israel are invited to praise the Lord. He is totally aware of what is going on in the most difficult of places. His eyes are upon those who are suffering. The orphans, the widows, those who are defenseless, are not forgotten by the LORD. Yes, the God Who created heaven and earth by His word, who sustains life by His will, is aware and cares deeply for them. God provides for those who are alone and He frees the prisoners.

God lives in a holy place, His holiness is offended by all sin, and so the wickedness of man will not go unjudged. God had proven Himself providential with the children of Israel many times, and would continue to do it. His love for the abandoned is still true today. In fact, James reminds us of our responsibilities in this area.

James 1:27

            Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

God expects His own to be pure, to live a life that is pleasing to Him morally, and to care for those He cares for. There is no special merit gained by these actions; they need to be the normal consequence of genuine faith. Faith that comes from hearing the Word of God needs to transform the way we live. This is exactly what James states in the preceding verses.

James 1:22-25

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Our care for the needy should begin in our local churches, where we can easily be attentive to the needs of our fellow believers.

Galatians 6:9-10

            And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Dear friends, today divorce has multiplied the number of those who do not live the reality of a normal, God-planned family. Their needs might not be always physical, but children are growing up without the care of a mom and dad. Women, many times, are left to carry a burden that is very great.

God cares for those who are alone, living through this kind of pain. Would you take the time today to pray for those you know are struggling through this kind of difficulty? Would you ask God to use you to encourage them?

Maybe there is a widow or a widower who would be greatly encouraged by an invitation to a meal, or a card reminding them that you are praying for them… The list could go on, but I know that as we pray, God will bring to mind people and ways to help them see the care of the Lord.

This psalm invites us to praise and rejoice in a God Who cares deeply. May we be more like our God and may our lives portray the attitudes and produce the works that please God.

WE HAVE A DUTY TO REACH THE LOST

READ PSALM 67

THE NATIONS WILL BOW BEFORE GOD

Psalm 67:4-7

            4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

                        for you judge the peoples with equity

                        and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

            5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;

                        let all the peoples praise you!

            6 The earth has yielded its increase;

                        God, our God, shall bless us.

            7 God shall bless us;

                        let all the ends of the earth fear him!

The author reminds us that God guides the nations with equity and justice. There is an expectation of God’s care and a natural response of praise.

When we look around, it is easily apparent that the world is great chaos, nations are suffering under the leadership of totalitarian governments, and within same countries people are killing each other because of their religions or ethnic hatred. Countries are at war with each other, driven by decades of animosity. Natural calamities are bringing destruction and sorrow.

Where is God in all of this? He is both judging the people and attracting His own to Himself. He is active, and His glory will be made manifest. One day, every knee will bow and will recognize His majesty and lordship.

Romans 14:11-12

            for it is written,

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

                        and every tongue shall confess to God.”

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

           

Philippians 2:9-11

            Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As believers, how should we react to these truths?

First of all, we should have great confidence that God is in total control. We are not abandoned in the hands of ungodly rulers, but we are continually under the careful scrutiny of our God Who is accomplishing His purposes, so we have no reason to fret.

Secondly, we should not lose sight of our responsibility to reach the nations with the Gospel. God has chosen to use His own to reach the lost. We should do this at any cost.

2 Timothy 2:8-10

            Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

During Paul’s ministry, some questioned his life and methods because of his many sufferings. He reminds the readers of all of the power and veracity of the Gospel. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death. His word is not limited by the will of man or by the schemes of the devil. Paul’s responsibility was to endure all for the sake of those who would believe the good news. He was certain that there were God’s chosen people who needed to be saved.

Even though Paul lived during unjust times, where nations were ruled by other nations, when social injustice was normal, his focus never became fixed upon the governments, but always on the only true hope, the Gospel that transforms the hearts of people.

Dear friends, our focus must continue to be the spreading of the Gospel around the globe. Proclaiming Christ and then teaching the believers in local churches, making disciples who are followers of Christ.

Today, many missionary efforts give more importance to physical needs than spiritual ones. Although it is noble to help the nations, this must not replace our primary responsibility to confront the spiritual state of men. Others have evangelized, giving little attention to the establishment of local churches, which requires discipling the converts and training men for ministry.

Dear friends, this psalm demands that we review our commitment to reaching the lost around us and in the whole world.

Romans 1:14-17

            I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Four things must be clear in our mind. As believers we are under obligation, we are responsible to preach the Gospel. Secondly, we need to respond: we must be ready. And thirdly, we must not be ashamed. We are preaching a powerful message, which we must not change in any way, because it is the power of God. Lastly, it is God’s plan that His message will go forth through His children: we must be faithful.

Our praise to God begins with our faithfulness to Him. What a privilege we have to know Him, to know His care, to be aware of His promises! We must shine as lights, as we live in a world oblivious and uncaring of who God is, nevertheless in desperate need of Christ.

May God bless us and use us to reach the lost for Christ! That is the only hope for a world in despair!

MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE ON ME, O GOD!

READ PSALM 67

WHEN WE ASK GOD TO BLESS US, WHAT ARE WE ASKING FOR?

Psalm 67:1-3

           

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us

                        and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

            2 that your way may be known on earth,

                        your saving power among all nations.

            3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;

                        let all the peoples praise you!

What a wonderful request the psalmist makes to God! As we read this, we are all eager to participate, and cheerfully say “Amen.”  Of course we all desire for God to show us His grace and bless us! We all have different ways that we would define those blessings, and probably what comes to our minds are mostly tangible ones.

Just think of what makes us exclaim that God has blessed us. Recall the last time you told someone that God has really blessed them. Our thoughts go to something we received, a situation we avoided, the care that someone has had for us. Is it plausible that we too often define blessing and grace as whatever makes our lives easier or more comfortable?  When we think of having God’s face shine upon us, our thoughts easily go to situations where God shows us His care and grace by giving us something more than we had expected.

I have heard quite a few worship services end with the pastor pronouncing this passage as a benediction. As the believers listened, I wonder what kind of hopes filled their minds when they left the service.

Did you notice the reason why the author asks God to show His favor to the children of Israel? His desire is that all the nations would know the ways of God, and that His saving power would be made known among all people.

One of the first questions we should ask ourselves is if that concept is important to us. In some ways, as we stop and think, we would all say yes, but does our life really show that kind of desire and goal?

How often does the eternal state of those around us drive us to God and cause us to ask God to do what is necessary through our own lives, in order that men would know His ways and His power? Such thinking could cause our definition of God shining His face upon us and showing His grace and blessing to drastically change.

The center of the desired blessing is no longer merely our comfort or personal gain, but it becomes God’s forgiving and sustaining power to all who will know Him, in the midst of a crooked and sinful world.

When we consider how the writer’s words reveal his thoughts about the salvation of all the nations, how do our own attitudes toward world missions compare? Are we aware of the need around the world? Are we driven to pray for countless people who die and then face their eternal judgment having never heard anyone explain the good news of God’s salvation, the Gospel, to them?

Have we asked God to increase our burden for lost souls? Does our giving and our praying expose a burden for global missions, or does it expose our lack of practical love for the nations? Are you involved in the missions outreach of your local church? Do you know the names of supported missionaries? Do you know what they do? Have you ever encouraged them through a note or an email?

The end goal of the psalmist is that the nations would praise God. Remember the words of the Apostle John in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 7:9-12

            After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

What an amazing scene! As many from every nation, having spoken different languages, lived in different places, faced different difficulties and trials, are now united before the throne of God. With heightened awareness of His majesty and splendor, they are praising Him, for they know that their salvation was made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ.

Our God is saving today, and reminds us that we should live for His glory, and to attract people to Him. His work in us is purposeful: to prepare us for the day when we will be part of the multitudes in heaven, and to use us to bring His own to Himself.

As His own people, we should not be self-centered, but centered upon the needs of others and driven to point others to Christ.

Is it possible that God wants to use your trial to make you more adept, to open opportunities for sharing the gospel with others?

As you ask God to bless you and for His face to shine upon you, I trust that there will be a new understanding that will accompany your prayer.

May God make us more aware of His eternal purposes; may His compassion for the lost increase our own compassion. May our lives, even today, expose a desire to share the good news with the world through what we say, how we pray, and how we encourage the missionaries we know.

PRAISING GOD IN THE MIDST OF TEARS!

READ PSALM 66

OUR LOVING GOD IS ALWAYS WILLING TO FORGIVE HIS REPENTANT CHILD

Psalm 66:16-20

            16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,

                        and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

            17 I cried to him with my mouth,

                        and high praise was on my tongue.

            18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

                        the Lord would not have listened.

            19 But truly God has listened;

                        he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

            20 Blessed be God,

                        because he has not rejected my prayer

                        or removed his steadfast love from me!

God has listened to me! God is my faithful loving Father. He is the one who heals my wounds. He has rescued me from my life of sin. The Lord watches over my steps, He has protected me  many times that I have seen, and so many more that I have never been aware of. He rescues me through the words of the Bible that are so pertinent. He has cared for me through the words of a faithful pastor or preacher. I have been blessed through the love of godly brothers and sisters in Christ. My God has perfectly cared for me, and even when I have strayed, He has brought me back to Himself.

Dear friends, is not this the testimony that all of us could give? Are these not the words that should be on our lips daily?

The psalmist is calling us to praise with him, but he is also challenging us to testify of Him.

This testimony is about the care God has for our souls. Dear friends, are you aware of the many ways God has and is caring for your soul? At times, we are so focused on our physical needs that we lose sight of the loving and tender way the Lord cares for our inner being.

As the writer cries out to God in his difficulty, his words are equally accompanied by faithful praise. The difficulty he is living through is not blurring his awareness of God’s faithful care. So many times, when I have taken the time to reflect, I have been able to see how God had prepared me and my past circumstances to deal with the difficulty at hand. Other times, I have seen the unfolding of God’s provision and preparation, as the trial moved along. Nevertheless, I know that God has never abandoned me in the past, and will never do that in the future. Expectant praise should always accompany my requests for His help.

How much easier and more productive our times of trial and difficulties would be, if we truly rested in faith on the perfect and loving sovereignty of God. It’s not easy; we must prepare our own hearts, and help others be ready. The apostle Paul knew both the reality of trials and the reality of God’s love, and that is why he prayed that the believers would know the same more and more.

Ephesians 3:14-19

            For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

           

This should be one of scripture’s prayers that we commonly pray for each other. Is there someone you should pray for right now? Have you spent more time praying that circumstances would change than praying that their soul would be blessed?

The writer reminds us that purity of heart is very important. At times, our trial is the loving way God is bringing attention to our sin. We must confess and come close to God. At times our response to the difficult circumstances is sinful, and we must confess our lack of faith and submission. God is reminding us that we must not allow sin to reign in our lives.

The wonderful blessing is that God never rejects our honest prayers and is always listening. He is not too busy or distracted. His attention is always perfect and His answer is always appropriate. Oh, how He loves to hear His children cry out to Him, as they become more and more dependent upon Him.

I wonder if His words to me many times would be: “Why did you not come sooner? Why did you not trust Me more?”

I need these words to remind me and to prepare me for the difficulties that I will have to encounter in my daily living. God’s love is continuous and faithful. He loves me because of His faithfulness, not because of mine!

Do not wait to go to God. Even though you might have strayed, His faithfulness and His perfect and steadfast love are the bases on which you can return to Him with full assurance of His grace.

Dear friend, we have said it before: life is hard, pain is real, but our God is greater than all our hurts and all our sin. May our cries to Him be accompanied by our trust and praise!