relationships (Psalm 17:1-15) Getting Perspective

(Psalm 17:1-15)  Hear a just cause, Lord, give Your attention to my cry;

     Listen to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.
2   Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;
     Let Your eyes look with integrity.
3   You have put my heart to the test;
     You have visited me by night;
     You have sifted me and You find nothing;
     My intent is that my mouth will not offend.
4   As for the works of mankind, by the word of Your lips
     I have kept from the ways of the violent.
5   My steps have held to Your paths.
     My feet have not slipped.

6   I have called upon You, for You will answer me, God;
     Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
7   Show Your wonderful faithfulness,
     Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand 
     From those who rise up against them.
8   Keep me as the apple of the eye;
     Hide me in the shadow of Your wings 
9   From the wicked who deal violently with me,
     My deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have closed their unfeeling hearts,
     With their mouths they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
     They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
     And as a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, Lord, confront him, make him bow down;
     Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14 From people by Your hand, Lord,
     From people of the world, whose portion is in this life,
     And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
     They are satisfied with children,
     And leave their abundance to their babies.
15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
     I shall be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God blesses people in several different ways.  The unbeliever while here on earth can enjoy the beauty of creation.  And even though they might abuse it, they can find success, power, wealth and pleasures that are from God.  Verse 14 mentions that this is their portion.  And they will try to get as much as they can and enjoy it while it lasts, because it is only temporary, and it still never is enough to satisfy.

We don't know all of God's reasons, but I do believe it is in part to give the unbeliever a chance to see God's goodness in the midst of this sinful, fallen world.  If a person cannot experience both, how can they make an educated decision?  Therefore the sinner can never say, "God doesn't exist..  God isn't good...  God has never done anything for me..."  So when they stand before Him to be judged, there will be no excuse.

For those who look at God's creation and realize God has done everything for them, and choose to believe, God blesses them in more and better ways.  Besides eternal life, God will hear our physical and temporary desires and requests, and will give those things to us if it is in His will.  But most importantly, He gives us what we actually need.  And His word directs us in the way that we should go, because He does want the best for our lives.

The temptation to go along with wickedness often begins with either wanting to just fit in somewhere, or thinking it is the only way to protect ourselves.  So, it was when I lived in very dangerous areas that I learned to rely on God to protect me.  Obviously, I practiced "street-smarts", but I definitely put into practice: praying without ceasing.  And I experienced many amazing miracles, In moments where things should have gone very wrong.  

The temptation to go along with wickedness can also begin with a desire to get rich, or get ahead in life, with the excuse of "just" wanting to provide for ourselves.  So, it was in times of poverty that I really learned how to be content, trusting that God would see to all of my needs.  Obviously, I worked and budgeted wisely, but I also "dared" to tithe, even though it was "scary".  And I experienced many amazing miracles, in moments when there were unforeseen costs.

God was and is faithful!  As I rely on the Lord God for everything, and grow closer and closer to Him through devotions and prayer, I experience more and more of His peace, joy, contentment, comfort, strength and purpose.  

Meanwhile, we are to focus on storing up heavenly treasures, which happens when we serve to help build God's heavenly kingdom.  Whatever we have on earth is merely temporary and we cannot take it with us.  But heaven will be beyond anything we could ever imagine, and it is for all eternity.  Knowing this just helps to put everything into perspective.

relationships (Psalm 16:1-11) Sacrifice Required

(Psalm 16:1-11)  Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.

2   I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
     I have nothing good besides You.”
3   As for the saints who are on the earth,
     They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4   The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
     I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
     Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5   The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
     You support my lot.
6   The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
     Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7   I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
     Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8   I have set the Lord continually before me;
     Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9   Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
     My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
     You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
     In Your presence is fullness of joy;
     In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We were created to have a personal relationship with the Lord God, but sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him.  Because God is holy and cannot have a relationship with sin, there is a separation between us and God, until we reconcile with the Lord through His forgiveness and salvation.

Since we still have souls, which were intended to be filled by the Lord, it remains empty until we become believers.  If a person doesn't receive the free gift of salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit, a person will be constantly searching for ways to fill that void.

Innately, because everyone is born with a God-given conscience, people will have this sense that they were made for eternity.  They can also understand that a sacrifice is required.  What they don't understand is - what should the sacrifice be.  And depending on who or what they make as their god, will determine what they need to sacrifice.  

If one's god is their work and money, then their sacrifice will be time and energy and maybe even their integrity and any close relationships.  If one's god is a manmade idol or religion, there will be certain hoops to jump through, and definitely money will be required.  If one's god is a deceased person, they will bring various items to gravesites and/or spend time talking to the deceased.  If one's god is a living person, much time, money and effort will be used to appease and appeal to them.  If one's god is themselves, sometimes there is a lot of time and money spent trying to find joy.  And sometimes, when they feel unworthy, they will cut themselves to find temporary relief and release from whatever internal pain they are feeling.  All of these sacrifices will only ever bring temporary feelings of some sort of satisfaction.

The price of sin is death - which means bloodshed.  Therefore, because He loves us all so very much, whether we accept Him or reject Him... the Lord Jesus came to sacrifice Himself - to die on the cross - to take our place in death.  The Lord always knew that He would have to come in flesh to pay the price for all sin, for all time, for all people.  Because He is God, as verse 10 prophesied, He rose again to have victory over death, so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life in heaven with Him.  And because He is God, salvation is forever.  Once we are a child of God, we cannot lose our salvation. 

This is why we can find refuge in Jesus Christ.  And then, why would we worship and follow anything or anyone else?!  He is the only God.  All other gods lead to eternal death, but Jesus leads to eternal life.  Jesus rose from the dead to conquer death, so that we may have victory over sin and death.

Taking refuge in God is not just for our eternity, but for right now, as well!  The "right now" aspect involves growing closer to the Lord, by studying His word, and praying, trusting in Him and being obedient in His strength and guidance.  It also includes corporate worship, fellowship and teamwork with our brothers and sisters in Christ!  Our only sacrifice required - is our pride - to humbly deny ourselves and seek the Lord and His will!  This is in obedience to what God asks of us!  And it is a blessing to our lives, right now!!!

relationships (Psalm 15:1-5) Aligning Our Desires

(Psalm 15:1-5)    Lord, who may reside in Your tent?

     Who may settle on Your holy hill?
2   One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness,
     And speaks truth in his heart.
3   He does not slander with his tongue,
     Nor do evil to his neighbor,
     Nor bring shame on his friend;
4   A despicable person is despised in his eyes,
     But he honors those who fear the Lord;
     He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;
5   He does not lend his money at interest,
     Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
     One who does these things will never be shaken.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verses 3-5 is not a list of do's and don'ts in order to get to heaven.  These are the things that someone who has been born again through Jesus' free gift of salvation will want to do because we love the Lord.  And as we get to know God better, through studying His word and seeing Him work in our lives, we will be more and more willing and eager to trust and obey.  We will desire to embrace His wisdom and guidance, and rely on His strength and love in every aspect of our lives, so that we will walk in integrity and practice righteousness.

Who can be with God in heaven, but the one who has accepted the Lord as their Savior.  And our faith, belief and trust will be evident by what we say and do.  This includes, firstly, how we see ourselves in the Lord's kingdom.  The end of verse 4 demonstrates how we are to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus.  

Just for example: God's will is that marriage is between a man and a woman (both believers), and sex is only to be enjoyed within the marriage.  There will be temptations and desires that go against God's will, which in the moment might feel like it is a detriment - but it only feels like that to one's sinful nature.  The verse tells us to hold on!  Remain steadfast, because God has something far better for us!

Verse 5 demonstrates how we are not to love money or power.  If we do, this will impact us in making decisions that are very wrong and hurtful.  Selfishness, pride and greed puts us in first place.  God should come first, and then, we are to consider others as more important than ourselves.  When we do this, then what we say and do for others will be done in God's love and compassion.  When we do this, we will not be impressed with those who sin and even brag about it, but we will align ourselves with people who are also godly.  In this, we can encourage and build up one another in the Lord, which will help keep our desires righteous!

relationships (Psalm 14:1-7) Experiencing Joy with Certain Hope

(Psalm 14:1-7)   The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

     They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts;
     There is no one who does good.
2   The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
     To see if there are any who understand,
     Who seek God.
3   They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt;
     There is no one who does good, not even one.

4   Do all the workers of injustice not know,
     Who devour my people as they eat bread,
     And do not call upon the Lord?
5   There they are in great dread,
     For God is with a righteous generation.
6   You would put to shame the plan of the poor,
     But the Lord is his refuge.

7   Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
     When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people,
     Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Understanding and seeking the Lord and His salvation, to have a personal relationship with Jesus, leads to joy and gladness.  David knew, not only this, but also the future hope, that the Lord would come in flesh to make salvation possible for everyone (even for the believers in the past).  So that spiritual peace and hope has always been present and even prophesied, starting with Genesis 3:15.  

As well, because of God's covenants with the Israelites where He promises them land, seed and blessings, David knew that the Lord would come to bring physical peace and justice on the earth.  This will happen at the end of the Tribulation which will complete the Jewish Age.  Jesus will then establish the Millennial kingdom.

Although, people generally tend to focus on what is going on around them in the moment.  In part, we do need to do that, all the while studying God's word, meditating and praying about how we can always be living out Jesus in His strength and guidance.  I'm just trying to process and put into words a thought... and Apostle Paul explained it best when he used the analogy of running a race.  

If you have never run a long road race, there are several phases that the athlete will typically experience.  Therefore the athlete not only has to be physically trained and prepared, but also mentally prepared.  So besides the physical aches and pains, thirst and exhaustion... the battle in one's brain involves having a high, then suppression, panic, disillusion, and hitting rock bottom... which usually and finally shifts towards "seeing the silver lining" (real hope).  The real mental change comes when you cross that finish line.

The Christian journey can involve all of these phases - at any time!  And even though we are living in the present, it helps to "see the silver lining" which could happen at any time.  The difference in real life, is that we have our Coach and Trainer with us at all times, and He is right there to give us strength and encouragement in and through every phase!  So no matter what phase we find ourselves in, it helps to stay focused on and close to the Lord.  No matter what we are going through, we can experience His joy and gladness with certain hope!

relationships (Psalm 13:1-6) Processing Towards Truthful Conclusions

(Psalm 13:1-6)  How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?

     How long will You hide Your face from me?
2   How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,
     With grief 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 faithfulness;
     My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6   I will sing to the Lord,
     Because He has looked after me.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Interestingly, when we find ourselves in struggles, our biggest struggle can be within ourselves,  Our pride tells us that we are strong enough to get through anything, and smart enough to figure things out.  Our arrogance takes credit for our hard work and accomplishments as we try to surround ourselves with things that we think will make us feel safer or better about ourselves.  And then when issues arise, we wonder where God is.  But if we are not asking God to be part of our life, in every aspect, we only have ourselves to blame for feeling empty and alone!

Let's consider David, a man after God's own heart.  David understood that God had placed him over Israel as king, but relied on God's instructions and direction.  David understood that everything he had was from God, and while he was very thankful, he knew that he could not rely on his wealth, manpower and authority for his peace, comfort or fulfillment... David relied on God for everything!

David obviously made mistakes, but he would always return to the Lord to humbly confess his sins, and then continue on in living out God's will.  He also experienced hardships that were not of his own doing.  Without blaming God, he would vent, process and ask God questions, but would always arrive at the same conclusions!

David would remember, meditate on, and trust in God's faithfulness and truths!  Salvation and eternal protection is from the Lord only!  And David gave all credit, honor and glory to the Lord for everything, even in the midst of trouble and turmoil!  After pleading his case to the Lord and asking Him for help and guidance, he ends his prayers with resounding confidence and thanksgiving.

When we find ourselves in various hardships, we must remember to ask God into every aspect of our lives.  Not to ask for God to be on our side, but that God will help us to be walking along His side!  He is sovereign (all-powerful, all-knowing and everywhere present)!  Most definitely, we can be very confident in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our faithful Lord and Savior, who loves and cares!

relationships (Psalm 12:1-8) Do Not Be Shocked!

(Psalm 12:1-8)  Help, Lord, for the godly person has come to an end,

     For the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind.
2   They speak lies to one another;
     They speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
3   May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
     The tongue that speaks great things;
4   Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
     Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
5   “Because of the devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy,
     Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will put him in the safety for which he longs.”

6   The words of the Lord are pure words;
     Like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times.
7   You, Lord, will keep them;
     You will protect him from this generation forever.
8   The wicked strut about on every side 
     When vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We can definitely relate to David's observations of the society that surrounded him!  And as his son, Solomon, pointed out:  there is nothing new under the sun, and all things of this earth is vanity!  Even when the world is striving for peace and unity in their own way, we can see the evidence of garish pomposity by watching something like this year's Olympic opening ceremonies.  

No matter what evil exists, seductive or physically dangerous, the Lord will help us, the believer.  It is difficult for people to be faithful, but God is faithful.  The Lord will keep and protect us.  And our salvation is forever.  Nothing can change that.  God promises us in His word, and His words are pure, holy and true!  Therefore, we can fully trust and depend on Him with great confidence. 

To pray more effectively, it helps us to know what God wants us to do when we are faced with things that are shocking or offensive.  As believers, we do need to be careful how we react, otherwise we will come across as either fearful or prideful and judgmental towards the world.  So how should we react, and what should we do?

(1 Peter 4:12-19)  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

(1 Peter 3:8-9) To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.

relationships (Psalm 11:1-7) Finding Refuge

(Psalm 11:1-7)   In the Lord I take refuge;

     How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2   For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,
     They have set their arrow on the string 
     To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3   If the foundations are destroyed,
     What can the righteous do?”

4   The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
     His eyes see, His eyelids test the sons of mankind.
5   The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
     And His soul hates one who loves violence.
6   He will rain coals of fire upon the wicked,
     And brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7   For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness;
     The upright will see His face.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

When faced with struggles, the world would suggest that a person stay and fight, or run for the hills.  But then you are trusting in your own feeble strength and in your own very limited wisdom.  Another thing that the world would suggest is to find any religion and "climb the mountain" to some sort of god or gods, which are created by mankind based on their very limited wisdom!  And/or these religions are inspired by Satan, who is the father of lies, who seeks to deceive, distort, divide and destroy!

So many people say that there are many different ways to climb up the mountain, meaning, they believe there are different ways to get to God.  But, whoever climbs a mountain to try to find God, once they arrive at the top, if they ever do, they will still only find themselves at the top of a mountain.  

Verse 4 tells us that the Lord's throne is in heaven.  And He, being holy and righteous, cannot have a relationship with sin.  Therefore, no one can get into heaven unless they are holy... perfect... righteous... spiritually born again!  This is impossible to achieve in our own strength and wisdom.  The only way anyone can be righteous is to humbly approach and repent and believe in the Lord Jesus, who then forgiveness all sins, and seals us with His Holy Spirit of promise for all eternity.

The "upright" and the "righteous" are terms used for those who are believers.  True Christians are those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  If we have already done that, why would we not always take refuge in the Lord?  And if someone hasn't done that, until you die, it is never to late - and it is never too soon!  God, who sees and knows everything, AND LOVES US so very much that He came in flesh to suffer and die on a cross to pay the price for all sin... He is the very clear choice!  We should always run to Him, and let Him fight all our battles.