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Then I will shout all day, “Praise the LORD God! He did what was right.” Psalm 35:28 (CEV)
Three seconds left in the second overtime of the state championship game. The moment all of us athletes (armchair and otherwise) dream of. He’d probably pretended to make this shot a million times in his backyard. The only difference then was that this time three seconds was really three seconds and there would be no second chance.
The ball was thrown in; he dribbled to half court and let it fly. As it flew through mid-air the final buzzer sounded. By the time the ball slipped softly through the net, the game was officially over. The only difference and it was a major difference, was that when the ball left his hand his team was down by two points. Now, they were the champions.
The crowd roared. On the one side? A ‘roar’ of anguish and disbelief. On the other side? A roar of amazement and celebration.
There are so many analogies we can make to the athletic field and life. Even the Apostle Paul makes athletically based references to this journey, this race we call life. All run, few are rewarded the champions crown. All serious athletes train diligently. None enter the contest hoping to come in second. Yet only one is left standing.
Before the ball hit that gymnasium floor that day, the ‘hero’s teammates surrounded him. His name is still in the record books these 20 years later, but relatively few remember the joy of those fleeting moments. And only those of us who experienced it really understand the euphoria.
When David reflected back his life he saw the ruins of broken relationships, the scars of battles lost and the oasis’ of encouragement from his followers. But one thing reigned supreme. His God had not failed him. Ever.
David had failed. Miserably sometimes. Others had turned their backs on him and thrown him under the bus. But God had always remained faithful. It was God who walked him through the dark, lion infested fields as he tended sheep. It was God who directed the stone that day as he faced the giant. It was God who protected him from the angry outbursts of a jealous King Saul.
Our journey on earth if full of various types of battles. Some we win, some we lose. But when those battles are done there is cause for rejoicing. Even in the darkest part of the night when the storms rage we can praise Him because we know he will bring us through and we’ll be stronger because of it.
Make every day a day of praise. Celebrate the fact that good or bad, even if you don’t see the good right now, your Heavenly Father always does right.
PRAYER: Father, it’s easy to celebrate the victories of our lives, but remind us to praise you in the midst of the darkness as well because we know you always do right. Amen.
“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23
Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” Psalm 35:3
There are times in life when it seems the enemy of our soul has us completely surrounded. During those times everything we do seems to be a struggle.
Have we lost faith in Christ? No.
Do we believe all his promises? Yes.
But in the deep recesses of our souls that doesn’t seem to be enough. The battle for peace of heart rages between the emotion of our current reality and what we know to be fact. The trust, confidence and faith we talk confidently about becomes a cover-up for the despair, worry and heartache deep inside.
A friend of mine is going to bring his daughter to treatment this weekend. Drugs and alcohol have taken her captive. He and his wife have ‘done everything right’ in bringing her up in the church. They’ve prayed with her and for her. But she took a different route. In the mean time his parent’s health is failing and he is battling a life-threatening disease.
The prayer of David rings true. We pray that he will fight our battles, that he will brandish spear and javelin against the enemies that war against our souls and take those we love captive.
We plead with him to block the path of those who pursue us: guilt, worry, fear, bitterness, anger, fatigue (and the list goes on).
Yet in those times when it seems our very heart will be ripped from our chests, we long most of all to hear his voice reminding us, “I am your salvation.”
“I am your Salvation.” Let those words seep into the cracks of your soul. Let them linger for awhile. The battle isn’t yours. Salvation (yours or anyone else’s) isn’t your responsibility. The Great Warrior, the King of Kings, the Lord of all creation will see you to ultimate victory.
Will there be battles? Yes. Will there be dark nights in which the cold is relentless and his presence seems impossible to find? Unfortunately, yes. But during those times, if we take time to listen, if we seek him in the darkness, he speaks to the most intimate, inner corners of our hearts, “I am your salvation.”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, during those times when I feel most alone and weakest. During those times when the battle seems too great and I feel alone, defeated and unable to see your light. Let me hear the gentle whisper of your promise that you are my salvation. Amen.
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Acts 2:32
For those of us who have lost a loved one, we know what it’s like. We are reminded of him/her in those little things of life. Sometimes they are unrelated events in life that trigger those feelings. Other times the memories come out of the blue. Events take place and we find ourselves wishing we could share with them what we are thinking.
It seems the closer we are to the passing of a person, the more passionate we are about talking about them. The closer our relationship with them, the more intimate our memories. Those of us on the outside may even feel like we know that person because of the stories.
Can you imagine then, the passion the disciples must have had in those days following Christ’s ascension? Add to their stories the power of the Holy Spirit to take away their fears, to grow their self-confidence and to strengthen their resolve.
Whenever they saw a blind man begging along the road, did they remember when Jesus gave sight? When storms rose up in the night, did they remember the night they were terrified on the lake? When the funeral procession went by, did they remember the first time they visited the empty grave?
I’m sure they did. Those memories of Jesus were vivid to those who had seen him long after the rest of the world had forgotten. It was, no doubt the memories that spurred them on to spread the good news of the gospel. Theologians may say it was the power of the Spirit that moved them, but the real passion behind them was the memories.
People around us aren’t really interested in the doctrines of the church, they want to know how to get rid of the guilt. People around us don’t need to be reminded of their weaknesses; they see those every morning when they look in the mirror. They don’t need to be reminded of the futility of life, the unpaid bills piled on the kitchen counter are reminder enough.
The disciple’s most intense proof of Jesus, their most powerful argument was simply the fact that they saw Jesus. In the same way, our most powerful weapon won’t be our church experiences, or our scriptural knowledge, it will be the reminders of what Jesus has done for us. When we remember what Jesus did for us it’s easier to show others the love and grace he has to offer them.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, let me never forget what you have done for me. Keep your grace and mercy towards me ever before me as I rub shoulders with those who need to find you. I remember, and I thank you. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 