Wow! One of the things that stood out to me the most and caused me to really reflect was Psalm 4:2. "O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity and seek after leasing?" Vanity is understood as worthlessness and leasing as falsehood. This is a check point in the verse to take a minute and reflect on your heart. Do I long for worthless things and desire to seek falshood instead of truth?
It goes on to say to stand in awe, and sin not... Literally be agitated or tremble (shake) and don't allow it to cause sin. That's some serious restraint. The fact that it tells it to do this is proof that we CAN actually do it! Praise God that no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it! 1 Corinthians 10:13 This is so encouraging because so many times we think that we have met our match. We think that we cannot go on with the assignment that God has placed before us. The verse reads to commune with your heart, and be still. I really believe that we must quiet our doubts and trust in God, waiting on Him to bring peace into our lives at those times. Remember when you are going through trying times where the enemy is attacking from all sides and you feel no hope or security, your strength is in God and as verse 8 states, I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Speak that over yourself and know that God's Word will NOT return void but accomplish the task for which it was sent! Isaiah 55:11 Amen!
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I will admit that I have put the things of this world before God several times :( But it is a work in progress! I desire to be among the people whom God sets apart for Himself. (v.3)
ReplyDeleteThe one verse that really got my attention was verse 7: "You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased."
If David was given MORE gladness than one who was living wonderfully, imagine how much more gladness he had when things were going poorly!
I strive to continue to grow in that area. Where I only seek after God, the things of this world are no a big deal to me, and be given gladness that isn't limited to my circumstance.
I read the chapter and what I recieved is as follows:
ReplyDeleteVerse 5:
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the Lord (NAS)
This spoke to me particularly because often I find myself in situations where working righteousness is a sacrifice. Sticking to God's plan rather than filling voids that He has placed there for a purpose. If I try to fill this void, it's an indirect way of saying God "I dont trust you."
Which in light of that, it brings me up to the two verses prior, which reads as follows
Verse 3 and 4:
But I know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself. The Lord hears when I call unto Him. Tremble and do not sin; meditate in heart upon your bed, and be still. (NAS)
God has put us in places and specific seasons for certain reasons. And though some of these places are dry at times and we cannot feel God as we would like, verse 3 assures us that God is, in fact, still listening when we call and/or cry out to Him.
So understanding that my current condition or position is God-ordained, I simply must stand still and not walk out of the place no matter how uncomfortable it is. It is best to be be still; and in the most irritating moments, THIS is when my sacrifice of righteousness is offered unto God. This sacrifice signifies trust. Because I know I can't stand still and just wait on God and do what's right, unless I REALLY trust that He has a purpose for my situation.
OH WAIT! I just got something else. HAHA! Moving down to vs. 6 and such... Reffering back to my prior post...
ReplyDeleteIn these place of discomfort, the pesimestic attitude is SOOOO prevelent! These voices of discouragement come in many forms. Some by way of the people we talk to, the things we read or see, and some are straight from hell. The common question that arises from this voices is, "What good can become of this?" I believe this is why it is SOOO important to understand the times, seasons, and cycles of our lives as Believers.
The devil is always posing the same question he asked Even in the Garden of Eden, "HATH GOD SAID?" Knowing what God has said about where we are in our walk and what He's trying to accomplish will help us stay rooted even when the storm escalates to the point of no visability of His Sovereign orchastration.
The next part of that verse says, "Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord" (NAS)I just pictured David having a battle with unbelief; I just see how all the darkness of his different realities created clouds surrounding him. I am reminded of the scripture in Mark 9, i believe it's vs. 24. Jesus was present at the scene of calamity. He spoke to the father of a demon possessed boy and told him, "ALL Things are possible for a person who believes." The father's reply has been my prayer especially in the midst of my battles with doubt and unbelief, "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief"
Going back to the Psalm, David asks for the light of Lord's countenance. There's something about the presence of Jesus in the midst of a storm! A surge of peace, the building of confidence, a soaring of faith, all these things are activated in the light of the presence of Jesus! If we could just stand still and earnestly seek the face of God in our times of trouble, no the situation may not change, but our paradigms and attitudes will! This is where that gladness David talks about in vs 7 comes from, the PRESENCE OF GOD!
So I'm encouraged and I encourage you, dont run from where God has placed you at this time, just run into His presence. This is where true release and abundance of peace and gladness is found! PRAISE GOD WE HAVE A PLACE RUN TO!
And obviously as a result of being in God's presence, rest comes naturally. The agitation, fearfulness, discomfort, all of these things pale in comparison to presence of God surrounding us. And THAT, my friends, IS PRETTY FRIGGIN AWESOME I THINK!
LOL! ok i'm done now! FOr real this time