Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
32 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away Through my [c]groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My [d]vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. [e]Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the [f]guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [g]in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with [h]songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s book The Brothers Karamazov, one of the characters gives another this advice: “Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others.”[1]
1 Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov: A Novel in Four Parts with Epilogue, trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (1990; reprinted Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2002), p 44.
Nearly three millennia before, David also described the potential effects of self-deceit about what we are really like.
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away Through my [c]groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My [d]vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. [e]Selah.
Honesty with self is vital to the discovery of happiness. Joyful, contented people do not lie to themselves or to anybody else. We cannot deceive ourselves and enjoy genuine happiness too; deceit and happiness don’t sleep in the same bed.
The Bible calls us to be as honest about ourselves as it is repentance. (Psalm 51)
It directs a great searchlight straight onto our hearts and minds, revealing the hardcore truth of the seriousness our impossibly sinful human predicament.
We are told that we live in iniquity, which results in an internal bias towards wrongdoing and a nature corrupted by sin.
We’re perpetual transgressors, going where we shouldn’t go. We’re sinners, failing to live up to our own standards, let alone the standard God has set.
I believe that the surprise of this verse is that David starts off with the word “blessed” or “happy,” but then immediately introduces such hard realities as our iniquity and our impossible capacity for lying to ourselves and God about it.
But the reason he can do that is because the predicament(s) he faces is more than outmatched by the cure God offers.
32 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Notice that David doesn’t say, Blessed is the individual whose iniquity the Lord does not count.
He says, “Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity.”
Because God is holy, He must count sin—but He counts it against someone else.
He counts it against His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We find in David’s words the amazing doctrine of justification by faith, which we first see in God’s relationship with Abraham, who “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).
Genesis 15:4-7 New American Standard Bible 1995
4 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own [a]body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your [b] descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to [c]possess it.”
The moment we honestly truly believe that our sins have been counted against our Savior, Psalm 32 says we’ll be blessed; we will be happier than ever before.
So the path to blessing starts with honesty.
We are not good people who make the odd mistake.
We are not wonderful individuals with a few flaws that can be blamed on our upbringing, our environment, or our lack of sleep last night.
We are sinners with impossibly deceitful hearts, who fall far short of God’s glorious standards and by nature stand to inherit only wrath (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3).
We are trying to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ, better imitators of the life lessons Jesus revealed in, throughout, His Gospel Narratives and we are failing.
Social Media wreaks severest havoc on what is said is truth and is to be the truth according to “fact checkers” who are themselves being fact checked against all that someone else with a secretive financial and politically motivated agenda.
That someone with “authority” declares the lie “The truth is what I say it is!”
Then Social Media flies in every which direction imaginable to “make it so.”
Then it becomes a jumbled mass of every kind of confusion and chaos possible.
Then who is going to be the “believable one” to dig in both heals and sort it out?
That is the significantly complex, deeply conflicted situation in which we each find our hearts and souls in right now and who is going to show us the path out?
Who do we send shipwrecked people to if we ourselves are just as shipwrecked?
Psalm 51 New American Standard Bible 1995
A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when [a]Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For [b]I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You [c]are justified [d]when You speak And [e]blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the [f]innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 7 [g]Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; [h]Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 [i]Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create [j]in me a clean heart, O God, And renew [k]a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will [l]be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, [m]open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. 16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion; [n]Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You will delight in [o]righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then [p]young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Be honest about who you are. Be specific about how you have sinned against the Lord. Then you will be ready to embrace the most joyful news in the world: that each day, though the magnitude of our sins they are much, His mercy is more.
Finding True Honest Happiness in What We Do
Psalm 119:89-112 New American Standard Bible 1995
Lamedh.
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word [a]is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness continues [b]throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. 91 They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants. 92 If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have [c]revived me. 94 I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. 95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies. 96 I have seen [d]a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Mem.
97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever [e]mine. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your [f]words to my [g]taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
Nun.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. 107 I am exceedingly afflicted; [h]Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. 108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your ordinances. 109 My [i]life is continually [j]in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. 111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.
True, Honest Happiness is not just about avoiding the way of wickedness and folly. And it’s definitely not about staying away from people. The life of the monk, the hermit is not the ideal of the Christian faith, as some early Christians believed. Christianity is distinguished by a lifestyle in tune with the will of God.
How can we know what God’s will is for our lives?
Psalm 1:1-2 answers, “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
The Word of God is our source of joy and happiness.
We are encouraged to meditate on it daily. We must fill our minds with God’s truth. We must feed our hearts with the promises that come from the Word of God. His Word is infinitely better than all refined gold and sweeter than honey.
Honestly, all of God’s Word restores the soul and gives wisdom to the simple.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 New American Standard Bible 1995
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, [a] perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is [b]inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for [c] training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In this time when so much garbage circulates in local and national news, on the internet and other media, the Word of God is bread that nourishes, water that purifies. Through it we keep our hearts pure, and we triumph over the enemy.
Today, every day, remember to feed honesty with the truth God’s Word and to enjoy the nourishment that sustains us, heart and soul, on the way to full life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Luke 8:14-15 New American Standard Bible 1995
14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with [a]perseverance.
Psalm 139:23-24 New American Standard Bible 1995
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any [a]hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
73 1-5 No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
6-10 Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.
11-14 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what— a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
15-20 If I’d have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache . . . Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare! We wake up and rub our eyes. . . . Nothing. There’s nothing to them. And there never was.
21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy, I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence. I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.
25-28 You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Is God out to Lunch or Taking a Long Vacation?
Psalm 73:10-14 New American Standard Bible 1995
10 Therefore [a]his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are [b]drunk by them. 11 They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge [c]with the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have [d]kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14 For I have been stricken all day long And [e]chastened every morning.
Verse 11 … They say, “How does God know? And is their knowledge with the Most High?” Verse 13 … Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; verse 14 For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning …”
This is indeed, quite the lament of a heart and soul that is securely padlocked into doubt – One might believe this heart and soul is confined to a solitary cell.
Alone, and deep into its own thoughts by something hardcore, whatever it is.
Something is drawing someone’s faith into a state of doubt, deep questioning.
Someone’s faith journey is taking a whole bunch of body blows to their guts.
Someone’s faith seems to be on a heavily greased descent into someplace it definitely does not want to be. Its descent seems to be growing unstoppable.
Is this somewhere we ourselves find ourselves slipping and sliding into? Is our faith unable to gain any traction of any kind that we might stop its fast descent?
Are we asking ourselves, shouting to ourselves at the very top of our lungs to God for answers to questions which are going through our souls at warp speed?
Except that the slipping and sliding is only getting much faster by the moment?
11-14 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what— a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
Psalm 73: Psalm for a Slippery, Sliding Faith
Doubt is guaranteed. We will doubt.
Psalm 73 begins by affirming a core teaching: “Surely God is good to Israel.”
Then doubt comes in tidal waves. The psalmist faith is slipping. He’s trying to keep faith, but he’s tottering on a miles deep precipice. He has a bad case of vertigo, that dizziness some people feel when they look down from a high place.
The psalmist thought God was good to Israel, but something he saw made his head start spinning.
We’ve seen things like that too.
The baseball team with the most respectable players doesn’t necessarily win the World Series.
The quarterback with the best moral character doesn’t always start on the college team.
The stock market takes a sudden nose dive taking someone’s education fund.
Someone’s spouse suddenly walks out without any notice, taking the children and the bank accounts are suddenly empty and the spouse in not taking calls.
Upheaval at the 2019/2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Disarray …. Disarray …. Disarray …. Every measure of it is flung off the charts!
Oddly, seems some arrogant, ungodly people often prosper with the greatest of ease and have no troubles or suffering. But then people who love God and try to serve him seem to get nowhere, slapped, face all kinds of trouble and suffering.
Whole bunch of people are severely questioning: “Is God taking a lunch break?”
Asaph, the writer of this psalm saw this. So do we.
A common reaction to unhappiness is to wonder, “does God even know what’s happening?”
When He doesn’t intervene as we’d prefer, our habit is to question His goodness and His power.
According to the writer Asaph, those who abandon faith (Psalm 73:10) tend to soon follow the prosperous wicked (Psalm 73:1–3) also will tend to rationalize their decision to follow the wicked, question God’s knowledge of the situation.
In one sense, this means questioning whether God is aware of their pain. In another, it’s an expression of arrogance: that God isn’t going to notice their sin.
The truth is … God notices everything …
Psalm 139:1-12 New American Standard Bible 1995
God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know [a]when I sit down and [b]when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You [c]scrutinize my [d]path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 [e]Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in [f]Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will [g]overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark [h]to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
Even today, those who find themselves undergoing times, seasons of great pains of doubt, may question whether God knows or cares what is happening.
That’s an understandable reaction, but it’s deeply flawed.
This verse Psalm 73:11 is purposefully ironic.
It’s self-defeating to address God as “the Most High” while also questioning His knowledge. God not only knows what happens to His people, He also cares.
James 5:1-12 New American Standard Bible 1995
Misuse of Riches
5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of [a]Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [c] put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
Exhortation
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [d]it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not [e]complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing [f]right at the [g]door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the [h] endurance of Job and have seen the [i]outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [j]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
James addressed the rich, wicked farmers who abused their Christian workers; he told them, “the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts” (James 5:4).
1Peter 5:6-9 urges us to cast all our anxieties on the God because He cares for us.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [a]But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [b]brethren who are in the world.
The end of the wicked (be very careful about who you call or refer to as being “wicked” Matthew 7:1-3) is ruin.
Matthew 7:1-3 New American Standard Bible 1995
Judging Others
7 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and [a]by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
And while God doesn’t promise to make his people wealthier or healthier, he does promise he is always working for the heart and restoration for the soul.
John 5:14-17 New American Standard Bible 1995
14 Afterward Jesus *found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
In Father, Son, Spirit’s presence and care, we have everything we truly need.
We are under God’s constant continuous observation … Psalm 23, Psalm 121
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 The Message
23 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Psalm 121The Message
121 1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you— Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the Lord? 5 There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous. 6 You shame the counsel of the poor, But the Lord is his refuge.
7 Oh,[a] that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back [b]the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
High and Low, Is there Not Even One to be found?
So, do we reflect on incentives God gives us for seeking him?
Can we see that the rewards for engaging in such a search are priceless?
Are we even minimally prepared, they are what we all, deep down, really crave?
The problem is that we often look for the right things in the wrong places.
And, worse, as we endeavor to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ, learn from heaven’s point of view, not even one of us is willing to look in the right place?
We are completely stuck on trying to do things our own way, not God’s way?
So when God looks down from heaven (Psalms 27, 139, 2 Chronicles 16:8-9) searching to and fro for even one person searching for him, he finds no one.
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the [a]defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I [b]shall be confident.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the [c]beauty of the Lord And to [d]meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [e]tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices [f]with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 [g]For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a level path Because of [h]my foes. 12 Do not deliver me over to the [i]desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 [j]I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
“GOD FINDS NO ONE?!”
That’s beyond astounding, that is so far beyond comprehension, isn’t it?
Or does it come as no surprise to anyone discerning, observant enough?
There is so much spirituality these days—and, in fact, there always has been.
We will rigorously, vigorously, defend the claim we are “incurably religious” “incurably spiritual.”
The world is full of cathedrals, temples, mosques, shrines, churches, and synagogues. Songs, liturgies, dramas, art—all are laced with appeals to God.
But when God looks down on all this “god–seeking religion and spirituality” he announces to all of us he really does not see any true god–seeking in any of it.
What people are looking for is a god to serve them, automatically affirm all of their whims, all of their so called “God seeking” and politicalized agendas.
And, truly, God is a great help to us all. He is our only help and strength.
But God is seeking people who are authentically looking for the God they can trust with their whole life and future, rather than simply a god they can use for their own personal self centered, finite temporary temporal illogical purposes.
Sadly, none of us surrenders on our own.
It takes God’s grace to lower our knees.
God Does Not, Has, Will, Never, Accept Any Bribes
Isaiah 1:13-20 New American Standard Bible 1995
13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are [a]covered with blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, [b]Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.
“Let Us Reason”
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; 20 “But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The sins of Judah were beginning to resemble those of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God’s people didn’t understand the holy will of their God.
Injustice against the weak and vulnerable was becoming rampant.
God’s people thought they could make up for their sinful actions and appease God’s holiness by sacrificing animals, doing other self serving religious rituals.
But they continued in their evil ways of injustice and oppression against weak and vulnerable people.
The society had become dominated by rich powerbrokers who thought nothing of accumulating wealth and gaining more clout over the poor and powerless.
In addition, the judges and religious leaders did not condemn them but instead enjoyed their generous bribes and elaborate parties, manipulated their people.
But those who are being manipulated, trampled under the heel of oppression of the self serving creators of their own “about God” agendas have God on their side. God doesn’t accept bribes, doesn’t run a revolving court open to bribery.
And God expects nothing less of his people in return. Addressing the leaders of Judah, the prophet Isaiah demanded, “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widows and orphans.”
That is our calling still today.
Beyond supporting those who only want to hear their own voices, who’ll only want to hear, listen to and be told how right they always are, no disagreements only unconditional support for their own brand of ideologies and theologies, preach, teach from their own interpretations, representations of God’s truth.
Where opposition is suppressed, underrepresented, cancelled out, minimized.
Where rational, logical reasoning like God expects from us, is shouted down.
Our practice of compassion and justice anticipates the coming day when the Lord himself will come in person to “give decisions for the poor of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4).
Isaiah 11:1-9 New American Standard Bible 1995
Righteous Reign of the Branch
11 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; 4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. 5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion [a]and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Kingdom Agenda: A World Where God Is Known
Isaiah 11:6-9New American Standard Bible 1995
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion [a]and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah likens the Messiah’s kingdom to the sea.
He says peace will be the order of the day because “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
In the righteous kingdom of God, life is at full tide.
Buoyed by currents of the knowledge of the Lord, life will be full and colorful.
In that day, no one will need to “teach his neighbor … saying, ?Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me,” says God (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Imagine a world in which everyone knows the riches of God’s wisdom and each person has tasted God’s grace and understands how to give it. (Psalm 34:8-10)
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
Isaiah’s imagery also suggests something about our mission in a world that is not yet full of God’s glory. We who have this knowledge must make God known by our words, actions, until the day God’s glorious kingdom vision is realized.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Let us Pray,
Psalm 34 New King James Version
The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God
A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
34 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The [a]angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no [b]want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To [c]cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [d]have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be [e]condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
2 (1) How long, Adonai? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 3 (2) How long must I keep asking myself what to do, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long must my enemy dominate me?
4 (3) Look, and answer me, Adonai my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death. 5 (4) Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”; and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
6 (5) But I trust in your grace, my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety. (6) I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me even more than I need.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
That God Given Gift of my Frustrated Heart
Psalm 13 The Message
13 1-2 Long enough, God— you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.
3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.
5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.
This lament of David is a cry of the heart from someone who feels that he is alone and forsaken.. isolated, forgotten and cut off from the favor of the Lord.
Young Shepherd, Mighty King, Husband, Father, David’s soul is crying out in bitter anguish of mind and inner confusion of the soul because the Lord seems to have forgotten all about him, apparently hidden, His face from His servant.
From deep within himself David’s heart and soul could not understand why the Lord was now delaying that help he desperately needed.. and so his heart was grieving and his soul cried out in bitterness and distress – how long O Lord?
David felt that the enemy , we do not know who, or even when or why, was triumphing over him while the Lord seemed to have distanced Himself far away from His faithful servant.. so he challenged the Lord with multiple questions:
How long O LORD.. will You forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
David wanted to know how long the bitter trial and manifold difficulties that were flooding into his life would go on, before the Lord would finally step in.. to reveal His face, reveal His Justice and right the wrong and comfort His servant.
And we look upon these days of disaffiliation, division, and dysfunction, and in this day which the Lord just gifted unto us and or these God given gift days of highest distress and difficulties we too often find ourselves in David’s position..
calling out in desperation to the Lord as we become increasingly submerged by the struggles and sorrows of our day – as we all cry out to an iron-clad heaven and we find ourselves wrestling inwardly with the same rhetorical questions that burdened David’s heart and flowed from his pen, three thousand years ago.
A Heartfelt Prayer for those Moments When God’s Great and Greatest Things Feel Too Small for You
Psalm 118:17-29 The Message
17-20 I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death. Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates! I’ll walk right through and thank God! This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise.
21-25 Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name— from God’s house we bless you! God is God, he has bathed us in light. Adorn the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! You’re my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God—he’s so good. His love never quits!
How often we too find ourselves feeling that God has forgotten us and that like David we seem to have been vigorously scissored off from the favor of the Lord?
How often we now find ourselves, experience deep depression, discouragement of heart, anguish of soul, bitter taste in our mouth, heartache as the enemies of our soul seem to be attacking us from every side.. and we discover ourselves to be increasingly alone, overwhelmed by all that is coming on the earth today.
But David is a man after God’s own heart.. and although that does not preclude him from having to go through the inevitable trials and tribulations of life- his confidence stands firm in the goodness of the Lord and his bitter pleas for help.. came from a man who trusts in God’s loving-kindness; and rejoices in the joy of his salvation. “For this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice in it!”
However, it was not long before the bitter lament of David in Psalm 13 turned into a hymn of high praise when he remembered the many precious promises of the Lord – for he knew that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the true glory that is to be revealed to us in the days to come.
The same is no less true today.
Indeed those difficulties, dysfunctions and dangers that we face in life today.. should be considered as momentary, light affliction, which are producing for us God’s Gift of an eternal weight of glory far beyond what we could ask or think.
Pondering and Praying those Greatest Gifts of God
James 1:13-18 The Message
13-15 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
16-18 So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Music:How Great Thou Art Swedish folk melody, adapted by Stuart K. Hine.
Have you ever looked at the gifts God has given you or the life God’s given you and wondered, “Is this really it?”
This is a spiritually deep, heart and soul searching question; it’s typically laced with all our worrying about what lies ahead, wondering what you could’ve done differently, and filled with vast wishful thinking of what you thought would be.
I believe it’s safe in the arms of God to assume we’ve all been here, but the truth is we can’t stay in these thoughts for long. It will deliver each of us to a place of questioning who God is, what He’s doing, if He really wants good things for us.
“Why would God bring me here? Do I really have something meaningful to offer to the Lord, to the Creator of my very life and Author of my Salvation?
David in the Bible was a shepherd boy, the youngest of his brothers, and nothing was set to come of his life in a big, outlandish way.
Imagine how that felt day after day, might after night, imagine the thoughts that constantly went through his mind on guard, at night. I wonder if, while keeping watch over his sheep for long periods of time, he found himself asking My God (in the same way we do), “Is this really all you have planned for me?”
Little did David know God had many plans for his life.
Plans that David could’ve never imagined for himself.
Plans that could only unfold by the hand of God.
David’s small beginnings and small gifts were just the start of God’s incredible future for His life.
That said, even if the only plan God had for David was to be a shepherd, that would’ve been the perfect life God had penned for his days. But, because of how his life had panned out, we can look unto David’s life to be truly encouraged and know we can trust that no matter what the plans are, they will be for our good.
1 Samuel 16:10-13 New American Standard Bible 1995
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and [a]bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
David Anointed
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Here, we see the plans unfolding.
Wow, I can imagine that after this encounter happened for Jesse and his older sons, they found themselves sitting in complete disbelief, probably asking:
“How could God choose the youngest boy?”
“How could God choose the shepherd boy?”
“How could God choose the one who doesn’t look to have a great life ahead of him?”
This might be how you feel about yourself, asking how God could ever choose you and how God will ever open doors for your gifts to be used.
This goes back to what I shared at the beginning; asking these questions are fine only for a moment – lest we find ourselves digging a ditch for daily rest.
We can’t stay stuck here because God wants to use you right where He has you.
God wants you to see that every single day, He is giving you an opportunity to minister and labor and work, sweat, as his shepherd for the Kingdom of God.
I want to invite you to trust what God is doing in your life and to trust that He will continue to open doors for you to use the gifts He’s given you.
It may look radically different than what you pictured; it may even look smaller than what you were hoping and praying for, but the way God pans out and the “small size” of its unfolding doesn’t discount the faithfulness of God to use you.
He is faithful to use His children’s gifts in big and small ways.
Like David, He makes a way in His perfect timing.
Trust Him with your life and with your story.
Trust Him when you’re sitting at the table feeling like the “lesser” one.
Trust Him when you cannot stop feeling looked over.
Psalm 139:23-24 The Message
23-24 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Let Him investigate your life.
Let Him find out everything about you.
Let Him cross-examine and test you.
Let Him get a clear picture of what you are all about.
Read His Report Card of His findings … make those adjustments.
Let Him lead, guide, and direct your steps.
Follow Him boldly.
He will be absolutely faithful to use you no matter how you feel now!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 The Message
23 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
99 The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He [a]is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! 2 The Lord [b]is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. 3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is [c]He. 4 The [d]strength of the King loves [e]justice; You have established [f]equity; You have executed [g]justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 [h]Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His footstool; Holy is He.
6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called on His name; They called upon the Lord and He answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; They kept His testimonies And the statute that He gave them. 8 O Lord our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. 9 Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His holy hill, For holy is the Lord our God.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
BOW BEFORE GOD
In times of disappointments, distress and heartaches sometimes the only thing to do is to simply place ourselves in humble submission before our great God.
When doubt floods into our minds, there is a comfort to be found.
Looking away from our situation to the vastness and holiness of our Lord, we find comfort in Him.
But what do the words mean, here, “to worship at his footstool?”
Here is what we find in the Barnes Notes on the Bible commentary:
“the reference here is to the footstool on which the feet of a king rested when he sat on his throne or chair of state.”
Even as those kings of old would make decisions for justice from their thrones, we can trust that our High King is listening to our stories and tears, and hearing our pleas, and making decisions for holiness and justice from His own throne.
When we bow our hearts before Him, we recognize His king-ship over our lives.
WORSHIP AT HIS FOOTSTOOL
It is not just our approaching our King, there is one more necessary action that this verse speaks of, and that is not to just bow, but to also bring worship there.
Many servants bowed before those kings of old and they brought their petitions.
Yet not many humbled themselves to worship that king.
We have been given the privilege to come into the courts of our most High King.
This is made possible because of the way that His son, Jesus, opened for us.
Will we come, and bow and worship before the holiness and might of our Lord?
Can we permit ourselves a time of sacred pause today and bring unto Him our highest measure of utter surrender, highest praise before our Holiest of Holies?
Are We Authentic About Worship at God’s Footstool?
Psalm 99 The Message
99 1-3 God rules. On your toes, everybody! He rules from his angel throne—take notice! God looms majestic in Zion, He towers in splendor over all the big names. Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you! Holy. Yes, holy.
4-5 Strong King, lover of justice, You laid things out fair and square; You set down the foundations in Jacob, Foundation stones of just and right ways. Honor God, our God; worship his rule! Holy. Yes, holy.
6-9 Moses and Aaron were his priests, Samuel among those who prayed to him. They prayed to God and he answered them; He spoke from the pillar of cloud. And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them. And then God, our God, answered them (But you were never soft on their sins). Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain. Holy. Yes, holy is God our God.
When this psalm was written, each nation claimed top honors for its gods.
But Israel knew who the God above all gods truly is—the Lord God Almighty.
But do I, You, we the Church truly know who the God above all gods truly is?
2 Corinthians 4:1-5 New American Standard Bible 1995
Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving [c]so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [d]for Jesus’ sake.
Paul had a glorious ministry that flung wide-open the door of salvation to men.
He opened up the Word of God and taught the glorious gospel of grace to Jew and Gentile alike.
This apostle of God revealed so many of the biblical truths and treasures which we have received as a free gift of grace, by our trusting in Christ Jesus as Savior.
Paul had been a strict Jew – a Pharisee of the Pharisees.
Paul had followed the traditions of men.
But since his being commissioned by God as His apostle unto the Gentiles and renouncing his former ways, he insightfully recognized that the very deceitful handling of God’s Word by the legalistic Pharisees, that combined with Satan’s crafty deceit, caused the shining light of the gospel of God to be hidden to those that were lost, and veiled to those that are perishing.
Satan, the scheming god of this world, has cunningly placed a veil of deception and dark shadows of deceit over the hearts, souls and minds of those unsaved.
Although Paul faithfully taught the truth of God’s Word, the minds of sinners have been blinded to the truth and deceived by Satan, the cruel god of this age.
Paul discovered that God’s grace is sufficient, that His strength is freely supplied and His mercies are new every morning.
Despite his careful teaching, his systematic delivery of the gospel, and his earnest desire to clarify the truth of God’s Word through precept and practice, Paul recognized the gospel remained hidden to those that were perishing – for the god of this world has cast a veil over the Word of God, which has shrouded the truth from those that are lost, misguided, misdirected and dead in their sin.
Yet the magnificent God, who has no human limitations, chose to do something even more revealing and even more magnificent than we could all comprehend.
God took on our humanity to become one of us.
Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit is the God above all gods, chose to humble himself so that instead of kneeling at God’s footstool in awe and wonder, we could sit at his feet.
All Men, women, and children were invited to gather around Jesus as he told stories about the kingdom of God, taught people how to live as true worshipers of God, had compassion, healed diseases, bruised hearts, and withered spirits.
What’s more, Jesus’ final act of worship was died and rose again and ascended to heaven, where he again sits on the eternal throne.
Everything is under his feet, even the last and bitterest enemy of all: death (1 Corinthians 15:21-26).
21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in [a]Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
May we each be ready and willing and able to share the good news of salvation with those whose ears are deaf and eyes are blinded to the truth – so they may hear the good news of the gospel of grace – come to the footstool and be saved.
Hallelujah! Let our 24/7 worship declare that Our God reigns forever and ever!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many witnesses to the Word of truth. Thank You that salvation is freely available to all who will open their eyes to the truth of Your Word and unblock their ears to the satanic lies and deceptions that come from the evil one. Look down in pity on those that are in the valley of indecisions and bring many into saving faith this day, through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord [b]Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and [c]not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with [d]thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
For the choir director. A [a]Maskil of the sons of Korah.
42 As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks, So my soul [c]pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and [d]appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and [e]lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you [f]in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? [g]Hope in God, for I shall [h]again praise [i]Him For the [j]help of His presence. 6 O my God, my soul is [k]in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the [l]peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. 8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning [m]because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you [n]in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? [o]Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The [p]help of my countenance and my God.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Doesn’t Anybody Hear Me? My Soul Thirsts for God!
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
5 Why are you [f]in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?
9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning [m]because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you [n]in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?
Does anyone get the obvious gest of the Psalmists state of mind?
What is NOT happening in the Psalmists life he would not immediately if not sooner exchange it out or run away as fast as he could in any other direction?
Been there, done that, too many times to try and count?
Right there, right now – world is just a whirling and a swirling and a twirling?
If not you the reader, then someone you know, someone you love a whole lot?
Psalm 42 New King James Version
BOOK TWO
Psalms 42–72
Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses
To the Chief Musician. A [a]Contemplation of the sons of Korah.
42 As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and [c]appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you [d]cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him [e]For the help of His countenance.
6 [f]O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From [g]the Hill Mizar. 7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. 8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a [h]breaking of my bones, My enemies [i]reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The [j]help of my countenance and my God.
The author of Psalm 42 is mired in the quicksand’s of deep distress.
He is longing for God, and people around him have been taunting him, saying, “Where is your God?”
People in this world also taunt and judge us sometimes.
But we should not let that bother us, because people judge others by their own standards.
God’s standards are infinitely more important.
Isaiah 55:8-9 New King James Version
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
The psalmist also didn’t see any sign of help from anyone and could not go to worship God in the sanctuary—and that caused him to feel forgotten by God.
It made the psalmist ache inside.
If we are not able to worship God with his people, we too can feel lonely and hurt inside.
The poet longed to be with God and to meet with God.
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”
This Psalm helps us to see that our faith can be jostled around, so badly shaken, wildly stirred up – our faith’s dizziness scale might never seem to stop raising.
Within this Psalm are many issues and concerns which have been left inside the pressure cooker for too long, might just lead us to disastrous results-giving up!
This psalm also helps us to envision that God is giving us his permission to be optimistic-possibly keep faith despite the stresses of feeling distant from God.
In God’s strength, the psalmist keeps talking to his soul, saying, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (42:5, 10; see also Psalm 43:5).
When Someone Seems to Walk Away from the Faith
Psalm 42 The Message
42 1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep drafts of God. I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it— arrive and drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears— tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?”
4 These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving— celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!
5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.
6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God’s prayer.
9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, “Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?” They’re out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, Taunting day after day, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.
From the very beginning, people walked away from the faith.
Even one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Judas, betrayed him for money.
The apostle Paul talks about those who have rejected truth and left the church.
In the end, the Bible tells us many will fall away, what many call the Great Apostasy.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 New American Standard Bible 1995
“Preach the Word”
4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with [a]great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Part of living a life of faith is watching others fall away.
People who we felt followed Jesus with all their hearts one day reject their faith, usually after a process of compromise and doubt.
A young man I discipled in Christ once sat with me at lunch and admitted he was now an atheist.
I appealed to him in love, of course, but he made up his mind. It broke my heart.
And it should break our hearts.
But what should we do about it?
1. Ask Questions to Understand
When someone we love appears to be straying from their faith, it’s essential to engage them with compassion and understanding.
Begin by asking questions and seeking to understand their perspective and journey better.
This method not only demonstrates care and empathy but also provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and support.
Proverbs 20:5 states,
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
We need to prioritize discerning individuals’ underlying motivations and struggles, especially when it comes to matters of faith.
By asking questions with genuine curiosity and openness, we can help uncover the root causes behind their doubts or struggles, paving the way for authentic conversation and connection.
Asking questions allows us to listen actively and attentively to their perspective without judgment or condemnation.
Instead of imposing our own beliefs or attempting to provide quick solutions, we create a safe space for them to express thoughts, feelings, and uncertainties openly.
Generally, someone giving up on their faith has come to the decision with some grief, great struggle, they may feel unsure or awkward sharing with someone of faith.
This approach prayerfully fosters building trust and respect in the relationship, building and edifying a foundation for deeper understanding, mutual support.
Not only does this help us engage with compassion, but the person walking away from God may not fully understand their journey yet.
Asking questions encourages self-reflection and introspection, prompting them to articulate their beliefs and values more clearly.
2. Keep Conversation Going
After asking questions to understand better, it’s crucial to maintain an ongoing conversation with those who walk away from the faith, with the goal fostering an atmosphere of openness, understanding, and support.
This approach not only demonstrates our genuine care and concern but also provides an opportunity to journey alongside them through their spiritual struggles and uncertainties.
In Galatians 6:1-2, the apostle Paul exhorts believers,
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The principle here can apply to entering into their picture, walking alongside our loved ones in their times of spiritual struggle, offering gentle and careful support as they try to sort out how they can again navigate their faith journey.
Many who begin to fall away from the faith may fear losing relationships with family or close friends. Being willing to keep that conversation going assures people we aren’t ending associations or relationships.
Keeping the conversation going involves creating a safe and non-judgmental space for them to express the weight of their doubts, questions, and concerns openly, knowing that they are being heard and they are likewise being valued.
In addition, continuing the conversation allows us to demonstrate our own unconditional love and acceptance, regardless of spiritual beliefs or choices.
This continued conversation provides an opportunity to share our own faith journey and experiences, offering a perspective of hope and encouragement.
3. As much as possible, Stay Involved in Their Lives
Along with keeping the conversation going, we must continue to be active in their life, attending events and always willing to offer support in major areas.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, believers are urged,
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
By staying involved, we can continue to spur them on toward love and good deeds, offering encouragement and support along the way.
Staying involved in their lives entails remaining present and attentive to their needs, concerns, and experiences.
It involves actively participating in their day-to-day activities, celebrations, and challenges, demonstrating our commitment to walking alongside them through every season of life.
There may be times and decisions we can’t support or attend, but there will be several other opportunities to show we love them.
By investing time and energy in building and nurturing our relationship, we can work to create a safe and supportive environment for them to open up, to share their doubts, questions, and struggles openly.
Staying involved also provides an opportunity to model Christ-like love and compassion in action.
Through completely random acts of kindness, service, and generosity, we can demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in our lives, inspiring our loved ones to one day re-think, reconsider their faith and draw closer to God.
4. Continue to Invite Them into Your Life
As we stay involved in their lives, we also need to keep inviting them into ours, demonstrating hospitality and acceptance.
In 1 Peter 4:9, believers are encouraged,
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
If these are people we genuinely and authentically love, we should demonstrate God’s brand of hospitality and extend God’s brand of kindness and His brand of generosity to them, even if we don’t have even share the same spiritual beliefs.
By inviting them into our lives, we create a welcoming space for them to feel loved, valued, and accepted.
This entails extending invitations to spend time together, share meals, and engage in meaningful conversations.
It involves demonstrating genuine interest and care in their well-being, making them feel included and they are cherished as part of our community and family.
Showing hospitality allows us to cultivate deeper connections and relationships with our loved ones, fostering trust, openness, vulnerability in the relationship.
Furthermore, showing hospitality provides an opportunity to model Christ-like love and compassion in action.
Through random acts of kindness, service, and generosity, we exemplify the transformative power of the gospel in our lives, inspiring our loved ones to re-think and one day reconsider their faith and draw closer to God.
Also, as we keep inviting them to events important to us, our church activities are one of many.
Remember, we can invite them, but that doesn’t ensure they will respond or attend.
However, others may walk away from the faith; we should show love even if they never come back to God.
This hospitality demonstrates our commitment to Christ-like love, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:9.
1 Peter 4:9-11 The Message
7-11 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
5. Keep Speaking Truth in Love
Through the previous actions—asking questions, keeping the conversation going, and continuing to be involved in various aspects of life—we will have the trust and relational capital to share truth in love.
In Ephesians 4:15, believers are urged to
“Speak the truth in love.”
The idea isn’t simply to share a Bible verse but to share truth in love.
Love means desiring the best for a person, even at our own expense.
Because we are spiritual beings with an eternal destiny, the greatest love shares truth for eternal good.
Christ revealed this type of love, sacrificing and humbling himself to share the eternal gospel of the Kingdom of God.
We communicate with honesty, sincerity, and compassion, especially when it comes to matters of faith.
By speaking truth in love, we can offer prayerful gentle correction, guidance, and encouragement to our loved ones, helping them navigate their spiritual journey with wisdom and discernment.
We also don’t randomly share verses.
Since we continue having relationships, our conversations, including faith, will be relevant, relatable, and accessible to our loved ones.
With established open conversation, we encourage addressing doubts, questions and struggles with grace.
Additionally, our conversations allow us to confront misconceptions, misunderstandings, falsehoods that may lead our loved ones astray from faith.
Gently guiding them back to the foundational truths of the Bible, we help them rediscover the hope, peace, and joy that come from a vibrant relationship with Christ.
6. Pray Regularly, Pray Ceaselessly
None of this works without prayer.
We must commit to praying regularly for those who have fallen away from the faith, seeking God’s guidance, comfort, and intervention in their lives.
This demonstrates our dependence on God’s power and sovereignty to do his work and acknowledges our loved one’s need for His divine intervention and transformation.
In James 5:16, believers are encouraged,
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
This biblical exhortation emphasizes the significance of prayer in believers’ lives and underscores the transformative impact of intercession on the spiritual well-being of others.
The verse includes a specific type of person whose prayers are effective—a righteous person.
Our actions and lives must reflect faith, this integrity gives our prayers power.
Praying regularly for our loved ones entails lifting them up before the throne of grace and interceding on their behalf with fervency and perseverance.
It involves an ongoing pouring out of our hearts to God and expressing our concerns, hopes, and our desires for their spiritual restoration and renewal.
Moreover, regular prayer allows us to align our hearts and minds with God’s will, seeking His wisdom, discernment, and guidance in how best to support and encourage our loved ones in their faith journey.
By surrendering our concerns and burdens to God in prayer, we acknowledge he is the one who saves and trusts his perfect timing and plan for their lives.
From the very beginning, people walked away from the faith. Even one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Judas, betrayed him for money. The apostle Paul talks about those who have rejected truth and left the church. In the end, the Bible tells us many will fall away, what many call the Great Apostasy.
Part of living a life of faith is watching others fall away. People who we felt followed Jesus with all their hearts one day reject their faith, usually after a process of compromise and doubt.
A young man I discipled in Christ once sat with me at lunch and admitted he was now an atheist. I appealed to him in love, of course, but he had made up his mind. It broke my heart.
And it should break our hearts. But what should we do about it?
Here are seven things to do when someone you love seems to walk away from the faith.
Photo Credit: @Pexels/Ankit Sihag
1. Ask Questions to Understand
When someone we love appears to be straying from their faith, it’s essential to engage them with compassion and understanding. Begin by asking questions and seeking to understand their perspective and journey better. This method not only demonstrates care and empathy but also provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and support. Proverbs 20:5 states,
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
We need to prioritize discerning individuals’ underlying motivations and struggles, especially when it comes to matters of faith. By asking questions with genuine curiosity and openness, we can help uncover the root causes behind their doubts or struggles, paving the way for authentic conversation and connection.
Asking questions allows us to listen actively and attentively to their perspective without judgment or condemnation. Instead of imposing our own beliefs or attempting to provide quick solutions, we create a safe space for them to express their thoughts, feelings, and uncertainties openly. Generally, someone giving up on their faith has come to the decision with some grief and great struggle, and they may feel unsure or awkward sharing with someone of faith. This approach fosters trust and respect in the relationship, building a foundation for deeper understanding and support.
Not only does this help us engage with compassion, but the person walking away from God may not fully understand their journey yet. Asking questions encourages self-reflection and introspection, prompting them to articulate their beliefs and values more clearly.
After asking questions to understand better, it’s crucial to maintain an ongoing conversation with those who walk away from the faith, fostering an atmosphere of openness, understanding, and support. This approach not only demonstrates our genuine care and concern but also provides an opportunity to journey alongside them through their spiritual struggles and uncertainties. In Galatians 6:1-2, the apostle Paul exhorts believers,
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The principle here can apply to walking alongside our loved ones in their times of spiritual struggle, offering gentle and careful support as they navigate their faith journey.
Many who begin to fall away from the faith may fear losing relationships with family or close friends. Being willing to keep the conversation going assures people we aren’t ending associations or relationships.
Keeping the conversation going involves creating a safe and non-judgmental space for them to express their doubts, questions, and concerns openly, knowing that they are heard and valued.
In addition, continuing the conversation allows us to demonstrate our unconditional love and acceptance, regardless of their spiritual beliefs or choices. This continued conversation provides an opportunity to share our own faith journey and experiences, offering a perspective of hope and encouragement.
Along with keeping the conversation going, we must continue to be active in their life, attending events and willing to offer support in major areas. In Hebrews 10:24-25, believers are urged,
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
By staying involved, we can continue to spur them on toward love and good deeds, offering encouragement and support along the way. Staying involved in their lives entails remaining present and attentive to their needs, concerns, and experiences. It involves actively participating in their day-to-day activities, celebrations, and challenges, demonstrating our commitment to walking alongside them through every season of life. There may be times and decisions we can’t support or attend, but there will be several other opportunities to show we love them. By investing time and energy in building and nurturing our relationship, we create a safe and supportive environment for them to share their doubts, questions, and struggles openly.
Staying involved also provides an opportunity to model Christ-like love and compassion in action. Through acts of kindness, service, and generosity, we can demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in our lives, inspiring our loved ones to reconsider their faith and draw closer to God.
As we stay involved in their lives, we also need to keep inviting them into ours, demonstrating hospitality and acceptance. In 1 Peter 4:9, believers are encouraged,
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
If these are people we love, we should demonstrate hospitality and extend kindness and generosity to them, even if we don’t have the same spiritual beliefs. By inviting them into our lives, we create a welcoming space for them to feel loved, valued, and accepted. This entails extending invitations to spend time together, share meals, and engage in meaningful conversations. It involves demonstrating genuine interest and care in their well-being, making them feel included and cherished as part of our community and family.
Showing hospitality allows us to cultivate deeper connections and relationships with our loved ones, fostering trust, openness, and vulnerability in the relationship. Furthermore, showing hospitality provides an opportunity to model Christ-like love and compassion in action. Through acts of kindness, service, and generosity, we exemplify the transformative power of the gospel in our lives, inspiring our loved ones to reconsider their faith and draw closer to God. Also, as we keep inviting them to events important to us, our church activities are one of many.
Remember, we can invite them, but that doesn’t ensure they will respond or attend. However, others may walk away from the faith; we should show love even if they never come back to God. This hospitality demonstrates our commitment to Christ-like love, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:9.
Through the previous actions—asking questions, keeping the conversation going, and continuing to be involved in various aspects of life—we will have the trust and relational capital to share truth in love. In Ephesians 4:15, believers are urged to
“Speak the truth in love.”
The idea isn’t simply to share a Bible verse but to share truth in love. Love means desiring the best for a person, even at our own expense. Because we are spiritual beings with an eternal destiny, the greatest love shares truth for eternal good. Christ revealed this type of love, sacrificing and humbling himself to share the eternal gospel of the Kingdom of God. We communicate with honesty, sincerity, and compassion, especially when it comes to matters of faith. By speaking truth in love, we can offer gentle correction, guidance, and encouragement to our loved ones, helping them navigate their spiritual journey with wisdom and discernment.
We also don’t randomly share verses. Since we continue having relationships, our conversations, including faith, will be relevant, relatable, and accessible to our loved ones. With established open conversation, we encourage addressing doubts, questions and struggles with grace. Additionally, our conversations allow us to confront misconceptions, misunderstandings, and falsehoods that may lead our loved ones astray from faith. Gently guiding them back to the foundational truths of the Bible, we help them rediscover the hope, peace, and joy that come from a vibrant relationship with Christ.
None of this works without prayer. We must commit to praying regularly for those who have fallen away from the faith, seeking God’s guidance, comfort, and intervention in their lives. This demonstrates our dependence on God’s power and sovereignty to do his work and acknowledges our loved one’s need for divine intervention and transformation. In James 5:16, believers are encouraged,
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
This biblical exhortation emphasizes the significance of prayer in believers’ lives and underscores the transformative impact of intercession on the spiritual well-being of others. The verse includes a specific type of person whose prayers are effective—a righteous person. Our actions and lives must reflect faith, and this integrity gives our prayers power.
Praying regularly for our loved ones entails lifting them up before the throne of grace and interceding on their behalf with fervency and perseverance. It involves pouring out our hearts to God and expressing our concerns, hopes, and desires for their spiritual restoration and renewal.
Moreover, regular prayer allows us to align our hearts and minds with God’s will, seeking His wisdom, discernment, and guidance in how best to support and encourage our loved ones in their faith journey. By surrendering our concerns and burdens to God in prayer, we acknowledge he is the one who saves and trusts his perfect timing and plan for their lives.
Paul, when describing the divine love of God, finishes with love, hopes, and believes all things (1 Corinthians 13).
There is still hope in God.
Romans 15:1-6 New American Standard Bible 1995
Self-denial on Behalf of Others
15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor [a] for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God [b]who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one [c] voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s essential not to give up hope on people but instead to persistently extend invitations and offer resources that may help reignite their spiritual journey.
This approach demonstrates our unwavering commitment to their well-being and also acknowledges the transformative power of community and spiritual guidance.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, believers are encouraged,
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Through maintaining fellowship and community, especially in times of spiritual struggle, we continue to engage and create opportunities to show and share the love of Christ.
As time goes on, it becomes easy to give up on a person on a destructive path.
However, God doesn’t give up on us, even when we continue in our rebellion.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son?
The younger son technically wished his father (God) dead and wanted his inheritance now. As final as that seemed, the father in the story was waiting at the window, expectantly, for the son to return. There’s always hope with God.
Through our relationship with them, we can exhibit this continual hope in God’s work and love. We can only accomplish this through his power and Spirit.
We have all walked away from the Father at some point or another; each of us rebels against God and is deserving of wrath and rejection.
However, God is love; in that abundant love, he bestowed mercy and grace upon us, reaching out to us and saving us by his power.
Lamentations 3:19-23 New American Standard Bible 1995
Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy
19 Remember my affliction and my [a]wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses [b]indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
We couldn’t save ourselves; neither can we save anyone else.
Salvation belongs to God alone.
Repentance and faith are both spoken of as gifts in the Bible (2 Timothy 2:25; Ephesians 2:8-9), granted by the Father.
Let us pray for those we love, God will grant them the gifts of repentance and faith, and when they return, we will receive them back as sons and daughters once again.
It may take awhile to feel close to God again, especially if we cannot worship God with his people.
But God is always with us, watching over us. Our souls are in his hands. Our own destiny is safe in his care. Like the psalmist, we can keep reminding ourselves of these good truths in faith. We can praise the Lord, for he is our Savior and God.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 New American Standard Bible 1995
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd, I [a]shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside [b]quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the [c]paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no [e]evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You [f]have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 [g]Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will [h]dwell in the house of the Lord [i]forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 New American Standard Bible 1995
Psalm of Thanksgiving
8 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; [a]Speak of all His [b]wonders. 10 [c]Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Continual Revelation
Seeking God is not meant to be a one-time event.
We’re not meant to run off the fuel of an occasional encounter with our Father’s love. Rather, seeking, finding, God’s heart is to be the foundation of all we do.
It’s to be intertwined in our thoughts, actions, and emotions.
He longs to reveal himself to us whether we’re at home, working, watching movies, in a church service, or out with friends.
Life with God is meant to be about continual revelation of his heart.
In Jeremiah 29:13-14 God says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.”
God longs to be found by us.
He longs for us to seek out a revelation of his invisible nature, unconditional love, and abounding grace.
He longs for us to taste and see that he is good (Psalm 34:8).
Psalm 34:8-14 New American Standard Bible 1995
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
When you seek out God you won’t be met with nothingness.
When you seek to know the will, attributes, feelings, and reality of your heavenly Father, you will find what you seek. His presence is his promise.
We go through too much of our days apart from a revelation of God’s heart.
We suffer through insecurities, disappointments, fear, doubt, and worry as if we are continually on our own.
We take too much of our own lives into our own hands and work to feel valued, continually fight for what we feel is owed to us, we feel like quitting when we fail, and wallow in our inabilities to live life perfectly, when all the while our heavenly Father waits, beckoning us with his grace to simply ask for his heart.
All the while he longs to root and ground me in his love that isn’t based on what we do, but based on his unwavering, unchanging character.
The best news we have today is that God is continually available to us.
He’s continually ready and continually willing to pour out a love so rich, so real, and so continually powerful that everything continually changes.
He’s continually knocking on the door of our hearts, continually hoping that we will simply and continually take the time to continually open up and let him in.
Please take an extended period of time today as we will now enter into guided pray to seek a fresh revelation of God’s heart.
Begin a lifestyle of continually seeking God by giving God all you have right now: yourself.
May you be continually empowered and set free today to live in continual communion with your loving heavenly Father.
Guided Prayer:
1. Reflect on the importance of continually seeking God that he might be continually found.
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.”Jeremiah 29:13-14
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”1 Chronicles 16:11
2. Ask God for a fresh revelation of his heart today.
Take an extended time to quiet yourself and open your heart to receive.
3. Spend some time in solitude simply being with God.
Rather than asking him questions, journal what you are discovering about God.
Write down how you feel, aspects of his character you are noticing, and what he seems to be speaking to you.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Sometimes simply being with God teaches us more than a thousand questions he could answer.
In being still and knowing he is God we learn the reality of his presence and the communion we have with him.
We discover his personality and learn to trust in his quiet, calm assurance.
There’s nothing as comforting as sitting with him and simply knowing that he has us. May you find continual peace and comfort in the nearness of God today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 34 New American Standard Bible 1995
The Lord, a Provider and Deliverer.
A Psalm of David when he [a]feigned madness before [b]Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.
34 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. 6 This [c]poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. 10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are [d]crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be [e]condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be [f]condemned.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
38 O Lord, rebuke me not in Your wrath, And chasten me not in Your burning anger. 2 For Your arrows have sunk deep into me, And Your hand has pressed down on me. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me. 5 My [a]wounds grow foul and fester Because of my folly. 6 I am bent over and greatly bowed down; I go mourning all day long. 7 For my loins are filled with burning, And there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am benumbed and [b]badly crushed; I [c]groan because of the [d]agitation of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is [e]before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even [f]that [g]has gone from me. 11 My [h]loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 Those who seek my life lay snares for me; And those who seek to injure me have [i]threatened destruction, And they devise treachery all day long.
13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth. 14 Yes, I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth are no arguments. 15 For I [j]hope in You, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, “May they not rejoice over me, Who, when my foot slips, would magnify themselves against me.” 17 For I am ready to fall, And my [k]sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I [l]confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous and[m]strong, And many are those who hate me wrongfully. 20 And those who repay evil for good, They oppose me, because I follow what is good. 21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
As I was preparing my presentation for Good Friday, I was reading the Psalms.
I eventually got to reading David’s disquieting words from Psalm 38 and there was my profound reaction to a reaction by David that leaped off the page at me.
His reaction was over his sin, and when I read it, I thought deeply about how we view sin in our lives.
I know how we often view sin in other people’s lives, many times being quick to highlight it, even quicker to cancel its relevance, or quicker to condemn them.
My concern is not about sin found in other people, but for us to consider what happens within our own hearts, souls and spirits when we sin in our own lives.
King David in and throughout the Old Testament had his fair share of suffering.
That’s clear from Psalm 38, described as “a psalm of David.”
He speaks often of being wounded and filled with pain.
Friends and neighbors abandon him. Enemies hate him and accuse him.
Even his own family dynamics turns against him as his son Absalom kills his brother and gathers an angry army against his father to over throw him as King.
Many are sick and tired of all the intrigue emanating from his throne room.
Many do not believe he is not the least bit worthy of such a high office as a King.
Some want to kill him.
It’s “because of my sin,” he says.
And he’s painfully right.
Not every sin leads to a particular suffering.
And not all suffering is from particular sins.
But rebellion against God’s ways does unleash a torrent of suffering into our human experience. So David the sinner suffers, and from the very throne of his self inflicted suffering he cries out to God. Maybe you know what that’s like.
We are no different in our own ways making questionable choices, decisions and getting people all hopping mad, consistently questioning our motives.
God certainly knows all about His creation’s sinfulness. (Genesis 3)
Jesus certainly knows having in these last days of his own life witnessed the fickleness of the human heart and soul, limitless depths of human depravity.
It’s all profoundly expressed there in Psalm 38.
Perhaps Psalm 38 was rolling through Jesus’ heart and soul in Gethsemane.
Yes, this psalm is about sin.
And no, Jesus himself never sinned.
But he did suffer enormously – echelons more than anyone else in all history.
He suffered because the full weight of all the sins of the world, including my sins and yours, were laid on him. He carried that immense burden to the cross.
One cannot imagine the measure of weight of all that sin upon his shoulders.
The silent anguish, the pounding heart, the failing strength, the pained cry of forsakenness—it’s all right there in Psalm 38, and it was all there on the cross.
But that was not the end. From his own suffering, Jesus cried out to God.
And his cry was heard. On the third day, God raised him from the dead.
Jesus had won the ultimate victory over sin.
Yes, we still sin.
And we still suffer.
But sin no longer has the power to separate us from God. Jesus saw to that!
Have we lost our Psalm 38 Grief over our own Sins?
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 New American Standard Bible 1995
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
I am wondering where that attitude toward sin has gone in our westernized interpretation of “Christian” culture – where sin is dismissed all too easily.
The Sheer Horror of Sin Has Not Changed one bit
Hebrews 13:5-8 New American Standard Bible 1995
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their conduct, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Regardless of how the world feels, or refuses to believe about God and sin, the way God feels about it has not changed and we should expect, will never change.
It seems as if the church has slowly been adopting worldly attitudes toward sin.
Instead of living out our call as “Ambassadors”, calling people to repentance, and reconciliation, it is as if we give people justifications for continuing in sin.
Yet, the way God sees sin is still the same.
He hates it.
He hates it because it destroys you and also because it drives a wedge in your relationship with him because he is a holy God.
I want to be clear, I am not saying we become judges of people in the world.
We need to spare no amount of personal effort and suffering to share the gospel with them and to allow the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sinful condition.
We also shouldn’t expect people in the world to react like David did over his sin.
But, for those in the church, it is a different story.
We have God, we have the Word of God and we have the Spirit of God, so our personal mindset towards sin should radically differ from those in the world.
Instead of focusing on what people in the world are doing first, instead of our cancelling everyone left and right, I am saying we start by calling the people in the church to repent because we all need to change our attitude towards sin.
Psalm 38 questions to ask yourself about our own Sin
As I stated earlier, I don’t want this to be a focus on someone else.
I want you to ponder about yourself.
Here are some questions that are introspective.
Ask them of yourself, as I am doing the same thing.
When was the last time you felt guilt over sinful behavior?
When was the last time you grieved over sin?
When was the last time you felt burdened because of sinful actions you had taken?
Think on these questions for a moment, but go to the micro level.
So often we think of the big sins, maybe adultery or some kind of fornication, but we miss the little things such as how we love our neighbor or harbor anger towards someone – up to and including the worst kind of anger against “self.”
When was the last time your heart was anguished over those “insignificant” sins that are just as destructive?
I don’t know the answer to these questions in your life, I do not have all the answers about myself, but I know if we are not careful, the attitudes the world displays toward sin can become the attitude those in the church display towards it as well.
Key Motivators for Changing Your Attitude toward Sin
1. Because You Love Him
John 14:12-15 New American Standard Bible 1995
12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Could it be that part of David’s anguish and grief over his sin was because he knew God and loved him?
I think so.
After all, the Bible called him a man after God’s own heart.
When you love God, then you know how much sin hurts him and if you love the Lord, why would you want to hurt him?
I have colleague and I can see the disappointment that wells up in their eyes when they do something that they feels lets so many people down.
They are devastated over it.
For those of us who claim to love Jesus, we simply cannot continue to have casual attitudes towards sin in our lives.
Again, I am not saying we become judges of others; I am saying we become too harsh a judges of ourselves.
2. Because You Know Him
1 John 3:1-8 New American Standard Bible 1995
Children of God Love One Another
3 See [a]how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or [b] knows Him. 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil [c]has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
If you claim to know God, then sin cannot be an ongoing part of your life.
These verses are not saying you will never sin.
These verses are saying you don’t live to sin or for sin.
When you do sin, your response becomes like David, one of grief and a call to repentance. This happens because you know him and are in fellowship with him. When that fellowship is broken, you quickly seek to repent and restore it.
3. Because His Life Is in You
Since God’s life is in you, in the person of the Holy Spirit, and you have been born of God, this should change your attitude toward sin.
If your attitudes towards sin are growing lukewarm, then maybe you need more of God’s Spirit working in your life. Remember, he has not changed, nor has his attitude toward sin. If yours has, then we know exactly where the problem lies.
Psalm38 Final Thoughts
This devotion is not about judgment or condemnation.
This devotion is really about a call to holiness.
We must be holy because God is holy.
For those who don’t know what that means, holiness is not a state of perfection.
Holiness is when you are set apart for God’s use.
When we are walking in holiness, we see sin the way God sees it and we see people the way God sees them.
I can’t say where, when, or how the church got off course, but the remedy is simple.
Return to your first love.
It is mu personal belief it’s long past the time we should suffer for Christ as Christ suffered for us to rekindle that love for Jesus we had when we first got saved, that deep passion that sought to please him in every area of our lives.
When we get back to that place, then our attitudes towards sin will change. Not only will we turn away from it, but we will grieve over it should we fall into it.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 13 New American Standard Bible 1995
Prayer for Help in Trouble.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when [a]Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For [b]I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You [c]are justified [d]when You speak And [e]blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the [f]innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 7 [g]Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; [h]Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 [i]Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create [j]in me a clean heart, O God, And renew [k]a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will [l]be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, [m]open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. 16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion; [n]Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You will delight in [o]righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then [p]young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Our devotional verses today comes from David’s song of confession and prayer after his multiple, grievous sins against Uriah, Bathsheba, and God are placed before him by Nathan – David had tried to be so clever but God misses nothing.
His sins were especially heinous because God had blessed David with an eternal deliverance, and given him the very highest responsibility as Israel’s new King.
We serve a God of powerful transformations.
All throughout Scripture God takes those whom the world deemed the lowest, the hopeless, and the helpless and uses them to change the world.
You are not beyond transformation.
God longs to break off that which inhibits you from experiencing fullness of life.
He longs to heal you, deliver you, and set you free.
As humans burdened and suffering from both our sins and the fallen nature of the world around us, we are in desperate need of relational transformation.
We are in desperate need of help from a God who has the power to not just clean us up on the outside but to transform us at the core of who we are.
But this God doesn’t force transformation on us.
He works when we make space for him to do so.
If we are going to authentically experience the freedom, joy, and purpose that can only come from the inner working of the Holy Spirit, we must be those who seek transformation in our relationship with God, with all our fellow neighbors.
Psalm 51:10-12 says,“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Here in Psalm 51 David exemplifies the heart of one who seeks transformation.
He models for us a posture of humility that will lead to powerful encounters with God’s transformative love. He doesn’t sit back and merely live with that which plagues him but goes to God with his problems that he might be changed.
David begins as we all should in asking for God to do a mighty work in his heart.
And in this contrite act of asking God to create in him a clean heart, David opens himself up, leaves his throne so to receive the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
To receive transformation from God we have to come before him humbly and honestly that he might have all time, space, to do the impossible in our lives.
Often we spend a majority of our efforts trying to convince others and ourselves that we don’t need help.
We work tirelessly to build up a façade that we always have it all together.
We do everything we can to maintain a sense of control in our lives—even in regard to our spirituality. But in doing so we place appearances above reality.
We allow that which is destroying us from the inside to persist simply because we are unwilling to acknowledge that we have need.
It’s as if we deliberately tried to cover up an external wound with our jewelry expecting the surface-level beauty of something to contain the power to heal what’s underneath. We don’t need that which covers up. We need the healing that only comes from going with an honest, open heart to the one true Healer.
God’s heart for you and me today is that we would put down our guards, take an honest look at our hearts, and recognize our need for the truest transformation.
He longs for us to take a moment and call out that which is robbing us of the abundant life he so willingly died to give us.
Your God is willing and able to transform you.
That which has plagued you for so long will be healed and broken off your life if you will continually seek transformation from your merciful heavenly Father.
As we come to relive those momentous moments in the Upper Room, in the Garden of Gethsemane, moments of hardcore betrayal, witness the long and brutal march to Golgotha, watch as he is nailed, listen as he tries to speak his final words above the din of laughing mocking witnesses, may you experience some powerful transformation today as you enter into a time of guided prayer.
When we listen to the false witnesses, see Pilate wash his hands, may our life be forever changed as we spend time discovering God’s heart for transformation.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Guided Prayer:
1. Meditate on the importance of seeking transformation.
Allow Psalm 51:10-12 to be your model.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
2. Take an honest look at your heart.
Psalm 139:23-24 New American Standard Bible 1995
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any [a]hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Where do you need transformation?
What lie, habitual sin, perspective, or fear is robbing you of abundant life? What’s chaining you to the backward ways, cares, and burdens of the world?
3. Declare your need for transformation in that area to God.
Psalm 25:1-7 New American Standard Bible 1995
Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.
A Psalm of David.
25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; [a]Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been [b]from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Tell him you need his help.
Ask him to come and do a mighty work in your heart.
Listen to whatever he would speak over you, and trust that he will transform you if you continually seek his help.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
We all have areas in which we need transformation.
We all are in need of God’s help.
Not one of us is perfect.
Proverbs 3:5-8 New American Standard Bible 1995
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your [a]body And refreshment to your bones.
Rather than spending all our energy trying to keep up appearances with others, yourself, with God, devote yourself completely to living honestly and humbly.
Stop exhausting yourself doing that which is of no value and seek help.
If you will commit to seeking continual transformation, your efforts will produce life and peace rather than more burden.
May your heart be filled with hope as the Holy Spirit works in your life today.
32 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away Through my [c]groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My [d]vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. [e]Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the [f]guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [g]in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with [h]songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
17 Fools, because of [a]their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. 20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their [b]destructions. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His [c]wonders to the sons of men! 22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Have you ever asked yourself if can you or you will ever be healed or whole?
Life has a way of breaking you down.
Piece by piece, no peace by absent peace, sin has an insidious way of destroying you from the inside out.
When we take the time, and we dare ourselves to look at our world and the mess it is in, and even our own personal lives, this side of eternity can feel hopeless.
Corrie Ten Boom, a holocaust survivor who lost her father and sister in a concentration camp, said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.”
As I looked up verses on healing and wholeness, I came across this verse in Psalm 107:20. “He sent his word and healed them.”
When I saw “He sent his word,” I was reminded of John 1:14, which says,
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Jesus is the Word that John is referring to here. Sometimes, the Lord doesn’t change our situation because He wants to change us. He wants us to depend on Him and to rely on the truth about His character and His promises in His Word.
In Exodus 15:26, the Lord refers to Himself as the Lord who heals you.
No one is beyond healing.
But we also must acknowledge that this is not heaven.
We live in a fallen world, and on this side of eternity, we will never be fully whole, but in Christ, we are enough because He is enough.
He is sufficient.
Yet, He can still heal, restore, and make whole, but it has to be His will, in His way and in His timing.
One thing we can cling to is truth!
John 8:32, it says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
So if you’re struggling because you’re believing sins lies, if you know the truth, the truth will set You free. God’s Word also transforms us (Romans 12:2).
Appreciating the Word of God Sent From Psalm 107
Psalm 107 New American Standard Bible 1995
BOOK 5
The Lord Delivers Men from Manifold Troubles.
107 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary 3 And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the [a]south.
Four dramatic stories of reversal and rescue make up the heart of this psalm.
These are hard, perilous circumstances: lost in the desert, locked up in prison, afflicted and near death, and perishing at sea.
In all of the situations in the Psalm, God unhesitatingly, directly and decisively, acts in powerful, life-giving, life transforming ways to rescue and restore.
If we think or believe that our lives are beyond help or rescue, we are wrong.
God guides us into the desert, to springs of water, out of the desert, breaks our chains, opens prison doors, speaks words of healing, and calms the stormy sea.
We may go down, even stay down for awhile, but God will always bring us back.
Whatever it takes, however long it takes, by all means necessary, God can do it.
Many readers and students note that the stories in this psalm remind them of Jesus’ ministry.
1 John 1:1-4 New American Standard Bible 1995
Introduction, The Incarnate Word
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
John 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible 1995
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Jesus comes to connect, to relate, refresh, to rescue, deliver, free, and restore.
He feeds the hungry and provides living water, releases people from chains of disability and illness, rescues people from the grave, and calms the stormy sea.
The gospel Jesus indelibly proclaims is the good news of God’s steadfast love.
In all that Christ does, we see all of God’s love in ceaseless, continuous action.
We may not have stories like these to tell, but all have the story of Ephesians 2: we were dead in our sins, following the ways of this world, deserving of wrath.
But even though we were unable to utter a simple cry for help, God—out of his steadfast love and mercy—He rescued us all through the work of Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 17:14 New American Standard Bible 1995
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.
Do we acknowledge this?
Do we believe this?
Do we believe we can be healed and made whole?
Do you believe that you can be healed and made whole?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 30 New American Standard Bible 1995
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. A Psalm of David.
30 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. 3 O Lord, You have brought up my soul from [a]Sheol; You have kept me alive, [b]that I would not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy [c]name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
6 Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, “I will never be moved.” 7 O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong; You hid Your face, I was dismayed. 8 To You, O Lord, I called, And to the Lord I made supplication: 9 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?
10 “Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper.” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 That my [d]soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 