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You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. Psalm 119:57-58
No doubt as a young man alone in the fields, David had seen prey divided among the victors and heard their joy as they claimed their part of the spoil. Perhaps he’d watched his own men celebrate joyously as they divided the plunder from fallen enemies. The joy is in the ‘portion’, that part of the treasure which is all yours.
As he reflected on the blessings he’d received from Jehovah God, he rejoiced in the one true treasure that would last him far beyond gold, silver or any earthly object. David’s ‘portion’ was the salivation and shield that Jehovah God provided. Elsewhere he praised Jehovah for being his salvation and shield, his power to overcome and his protection from attack.
It is because of the love and protection David received that he gladly treasured the Words of his God deep within his heart. They were the well spring of guidance and wisdom. They were the source of all that made him who he was. Obedience to God’s commands wasn’t a hardship for David for he saw obedience as the least he could do in return for the blessings Jehovah God provided.
David’s joy seems to spill over into prayer. He seeks the ‘face of the Lord’ with every ounce of his strength, for through heartfelt, honest, persistent conversation with his God he was able to rest in the promises of God’s unending love, grace and mercy.
Don’t miss the significance of David’s words. These words came from a man guilty of adultery, murder, poor parenting and a whole list of other failings in life. David had a criminal record that rivals the most heinous of criminals. Yet he was considered a ‘man after God’s own heart’, not because of his own righteousness. David knew full well that his salvation came as a result of Gods working in him and not because of anything that David could do.
Our motivation to go on, to pursue our dreams, to live lives that are full of the joy of Christ have nothing to do with the circumstances and struggles of our lives. We can base everything we have the unending grace of God, who wants to bless us beyond all measure because of Jesus. Like David, we can rejoice in a living, loving all-powerful God, our eternal portion.
PRAYER: Jehovah God, I thank you for the many blessings you desire to lavish upon me. I confess to you that too often I seek worldly pleasures and riches over the eternal riches of a relationship with you. Help me to seek after you, to pursue you through your word and prayer. Empower me to want to obey and to have victory over the things I’m struggling with today. Empower me to today to believe that you want your very best in my life. Help me to believe in myself as I earnestly seek your direction. Amen.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 (NLT)
The 23 Psalm is commonly read at funerals as words of comfort for those of us left behind and while the words are certainly comforting during those times it’s unfortunate that for many the Psalm is meant for the dead and/or mourning. Nothing is further than the truth. The 23rd Psalm is a song of rejoicing for the living!
The Psalmist, David, begins with a simple statement that is loaded with truth for those of us that follow Christ. “The Lord is My Shepherd…” Dwell for a few minutes on those words alone.
- The LORD is my shepherd-King of Kings, creator God, ruler of the Universe, All-powerful, Almighty, All-knowing. The same Yesterday, Today and Forever!
- The Lord is MY shepherd-He is personally interested in me. I am His number one. He knew me in my mother’s womb. I am not a number, I am His special creation!
- The Lord is my SHEPHERD-As All-knowing, all-powerful Creator God, who is personally interested in me and loves me personally, He chooses to guide and protect me and supply my every need. He knows my enemies, knows my needs, and is willing and able to protect me in every circumstance!
David begins this psalm with an overall statement of the God who loves us personally. He ends with a summary statement of what that means for me in the daily battles that I will encounter. ‘Surely’ is a word that implies finality and authority. There is no doubt. The statement that follows is as true as His word itself. This is something you can take to the bank.
‘His goodness and unfailing love’ tells of God’s character. If Creator God is who we say He is then his very nature is goodness. Goodness means moral excellence, feeling kindly towards someone. Our Heavenly Father’s love is a love of excellence. A quality of love that meets our every need knows our inner most being and knows exactly what our physical, spiritual and emotional needs are at any given moment and during anything life can throw at us. The words imply that this excellence in goodness and love is given in spite of the fact that the receiver of this love is undeserved. There is nothing we can do to earn the goodness and unfailing love of our Father.
Our all-powerful, all-loving Heavenly Father pursues us, earnestly seeking to show us His excellent love. As we go through the valleys of life, He is there. As we suffer the consequences of our own poor choices, He is there. As we suffer at the hands of others, He is there. He is not silent. He is not apathetic. He is a loving, kind and gentle shepherd who wants to lead us from danger to the fresh and fertile fields where we can enjoy the safety of His presence.
Don’t allow negative thoughts about yourself keep you from experiencing all that God has for you to experience in life.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for desiring to be my guide even though I’m so unworthy of your goodness and love. Thank you that you made me as I am but are not willing to leave me this way. Help me to grow stronger in my faith and trust in You and in myself. AMEN.
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)
At first glance one might think Peter was being a bit harsh when he asked Jesus how often we should forgive someone who has done us wrong. After all, isn’t forgiving someone something we just do, or are supposed to do. In reality though, Peter was really being quite generous. In his day the Pharisaical law stated (traditionally) that after a person sins against you three times you were no longer obligated to grant that person forgiveness. Peter’s offer to forgive seven times went way above and beyond the call of duty.
Jesus, of course, blew all that away by saying that true forgiveness should be granted 7 times 70. This isn’t a math question. Jesus intent wasn’t to come up with the number of 490 times before we could withhold forgiveness. What he was simply saying to those gathered around him was that there is NO magic number of times. Forgiveness was to be granted continually, as many times as is necessary.
In theory, that sounds good. Reality is harsh. Much as we’d like to be able to forgive, it’s just not always that easy to do. Two reasons why we may find it hard to forgive are that we think forgiveness is:
- A sign of weakness-“No one likes being a doormat! If I forgive you I’m just rolling over and playing dead. I have rights. I’m a real person. I deserve some dignity and you took that away from me!” In reality though, forgiveness shows real strength of character. Those who are generally able to forgive are those who have a strong sense of their own value.
- Permission for continued abuse-When someone hurts us, whether it is physically or emotionally, forgiving them does not alleviate the seriousness of their actions. To forgive someone does not mean you trust them immediately, or ever! While trust may be able to be established after a time, abuse is never okay.
As difficult as forgiveness can be, it is also very beneficial.
- Forgiveness frees you from bitterness, anger and depression.
- Forgiveness allows you to move on with life.
- Forgiveness allows God to work more freely in your own life.
- People who are forgiving are generally happier people and people that others want to be around.
In reality, when I forgive you it is more for my benefit than yours. When I forgive you it doesn’t mean that I’m okay with what you did to me. Forgiveness means I’m giving myself permission to be released from the hurt. It means I’m okay with me. Forgiveness is freedom to live above the pain caused by the injustice.
Forgiveness isn’t easy to do. It’s a supernaturally empowered act that tells the world that you trust God to do the healing. It’s a two step process. First, I must make a decision verbally, to myself (not necessarily the one who wronged me) that I will forgive the wrong done me. Secondly, I begin a process of healing in which I daily remind myself that who I am in Christ and that God, the creator-God of the universe loves me. Healing can take a long time, but true healing will not happen until I release the person who wronged me. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9
PRAYER: Holy Father. Right now you know there are people in my life I’m having a hard time forgiving. They have hurt me over and over again and I don’t want to be hurt. Still, You tell us to forgive just as you have forgiven us. That’s a tall order. Please help me to believe enough in You and in myself to release the person(s) that have hurt me. Amen.
For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Psalm 89:17
When I was growing up we had a big Cornucopia that adorned the Thanksgiving table. It was one of my favorite decorations, although to this day I’m not sure why. There was just something about that horn shaped basket full of brightly colored fruits and vegetables that stirred my made me happy. Now when I look at one it reminds me of the many blessings that we have been given from our heavenly Father.
I wonder if that was on his mind when the Psalmist writes, “by your favor you exalt our horn”? In the original languages the word ‘horn’ refers to strength, so perhaps the New Living Translation gives us a better idea of what the verse means when it says, “You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong. Psalm 89:17 (NLT)”.
This part of the Psalm is talking about those people who follow God’s commands and walk with Him. Our Father delights in helping us grow strong. His desire is to see our strength result in healthy vibrant fruit that, in turn, will empower us to live healthy, satisfied lives even in the midst of turmoil.
The fruit of the Cornucopia signifies several things. It shows the hard work, determination and commitment of the farmer to plant, cultivate and harvest the fruit. But all the planting, cultivating and loving care of the plants would be of no use unless the Father provides the growth. The Apostle Paul attests to that when he says, “Some plant, and some water, but God gives the increase.”
The ‘fruit’ our Father has for us is not always physical fruit. At least not right away. His intention is for us to rely on Him for inner strength and inner growth. As we grow closer to Him and rely on him more he gives us the physical things we need to go on. For a crop to grow healthy the weeds and rocks need to be removed and the soil needs an adequate supply of water. Think of rocks and weeds a being those things that keep us from trusting God. It could be worry, addictions, anger, a judgmental attitude or any other number of sins. These things must be removed from our lives and the ‘refreshing water’ of God’s word administered to the dry soil of our lives so that His fruit can grow in us.
The beauty of all of this is that our Father wants us to succeed. He wants to see fruit in our lives. One of the Father’s greatest joys is to give me the strength to make it through challenges of today. That’s why, like a patient farmer, He is willing to patiently and lovingly help us remove the things that keep us from enjoying all that He has for us.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, there are too many times when I’ve tried to do things entirely on my own only to find out I’m too weak to accomplish the task. It seems like the fertile soil of my life is strewn with rocks and weeds. Help me this day to trust you to empower me to remove the rocks and weeds in my life and trust you fully to provide my spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Amen.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:13-14
On September 11, 2001 the world was shocked into attention by the terrorist attacks leveled against the United States in and around New York City and Washington D. C. The attacks that day served as a wake-up call to the United States of America as well as the rest of the world. The world would never again be the same and security would always be in jeopardy.
In order to try to offer some sort of warning the Department of Homeland Security came up a system to alert us to the possibility of terrorist attacks and/or activity. Threat levels range from Green (low risk of terrorist attack) to Red (high risk of terrorist attack). To authorities it is no longer a question of ‘if’ we are attacked, but ‘when’ we are attacked, and ‘how’?
When the Apostle Peter wrote to the early Christian church his world was equally dangerous. The threat wasn’t nuclear attack or blowing up airplanes or shopping malls of course. In his day Christians were more likely to be used as lion food or as torches to light Nero’s gardens at night. A Christian, or ‘little Christ’s’, as they were mockingly referred to, lived under constant threat of attack.
It’s under these circumstances the Peter pens the warning. “Prepare for action…don’t conform!” The warning still holds true for us today as Christ followers. We are under a ‘threat level of Red’ because our enemy is standing at the door waiting to attack when we least expect it. His attacks aren’t physical but mental and emotional. That’s why Peter tells us to prepare our minds for action. That’s where the battle is fought. We need to live with the knowledge that the enemy is at our door. It isn’t a question of ‘if’ he will attack, but ‘when’ and ‘how’?
The enemies attack on our minds is often a subtle one, telling us that this sin or that sin isn’t so bad. We start to believe the lies we hear about ourselves, about God, about Christianity. We lose sight of who we are and what it really means to be a Christ follower. We take God for granted and take advantage of the fact that we are forgiven. We harbor hatred and unforgiving attitudes towards those who reject us.
Peter tells us to stop thinking as the world thinks. Don’t allow your mind to guide you into a life of negative thoughts about yourself or others. Don’t allow your bodies to become subject to the actions you know are displeasing to Jesus. Focus on making your thoughts and actions take the form of Jesus. Each day, before you even get out of bed ask Jesus to help keep your mind and actions focused on Him. Even though our enemy is powerful, “greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.”
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. I confess that I’ve been lulled into being complacent. My thoughts and actions too often take on the form of the world and I find myself succumbing to the attacks and losing the battle. Help me to seek your help and power each day to live with a mind ready for action and a body that refuses to be conformed to the sinful actions of the world. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 