Looking For Guidance?

Chris came home from school with a note describing his involvement in a fight with his best friend Will. They had a major disagreement over whose turn it was at bat and ended up in the principal’s office.

Embarrassed, his mother was lecturing him about the importance of settling disagreements without fighting. “I want you to be good!” she demanded.

Looking her in the eye he said, “But I don’t want to be good if I can’t have my way! That’s being a sissy!”

Many have an attitude like Chris’. It’s my way or no way. But there was one man who chose to be different. “Send forth Your light and Your truth, and let them guide me...to the place where you dwell.”

The Psalmist was in a difficult situation. He had strayed from God and was well aware of his need for restoration. He had lost his close and personal relationship with God who had been his stronghold. He was struggling in a life filled with darkness. He was well aware that the “light” that guided him was gone from his life and he was wandering aimlessly looking for forgiveness and direction. No matter what he possessed or who he knew there was only One who could help him.

In his heart of hearts he knew that he needed God’s light to be his guiding light and His truth to lead him to his Redeemer. Without His light to lead him and His truth to transform and restore him he had no hope. Finally, in desperation He asked God to give him His light and His truth that would lead him into His presence and he would once again enjoy His salvation.

This Psalm begins with “O God” – a God who seems far and distant. It ends with “My God” – one who is in his heart!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for being the light of our life and the giving us Your truth that leads us to dwell with You in peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 43:3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 

Storms And Struggles

As James was preparing to leave for the weekend, the vice-president called him into his office and asked him to sit down across the desk from him. In a somber voice he said, “I’m sorry, James, but we are reducing the sales staff and this was you last day with this company. Here’s a severance check that will help you make the transition.”

Now he was not only out of work but facing a difficult job market. He was overwhelmed with the prospect of going home and telling his wife the news. She was a stay at home mom with a child that was paralyzed from an automobile accident. He could not help but ask, “Where’s God in all of this? Is He for me or against me?” Those certainly are fair questions.

Life is often one storm after another. None of us can escape the fierce winds, raging waters or crashing waves. Sometimes they come swiftly. Other times they seem to brew slowly and painfully. Often a problem that started as a whispering breeze turns out to be a tornado.

The Psalmist said, “Deep calls to deep...all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” It sounds as though he is accusing God of a conspiracy. But that is not true. He wants us to realize that our God is a God who, in the midst of life’s storms, will never forsake us.

Think of it this way: In the depth of life’s storms and in the midst of life’s sorrows, God wants us to call on Him for the depth of His sympathy and support. He is ever present and all powerful and His grace is more than sufficient.

Never forget that whatever sorrow we experience in our lives Jesus experienced it before us. He has been there, endured that and understands our greatest sorrows and deepest needs.

Prayer: We are comforted, Lord, to know that You have gone before us, know us and care for us. Give us your grace to survive. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

Here's Hope!

Jake Hess, the great gospel singer was known to say, “Things are going to get better, get worse or stay about the same.” How true!

We all seem to face three types of trouble: things that trouble us from the past, things that are troubling us now and things we expect to trouble us in the future. Trouble seems to be a large part of everyone’s life.

David had his troubles, too. In fact, his troubles were so severe that he was downcast by what had happened in his past and when he viewed his future he became discouraged by what he expected would someday happen to him.

However, one day when he realized what was going on, he asked himself two questions: “Why are you downcast, O my soul, Why so disturbed within me?” The word “downcast” means “to be depressed” and the word “disturbed” means “to growl like a bear.”

When he looked within himself at his depression, he became so disturbed that it sounded like a bear was growling inside of him. But suddenly, he decided to look upward and said to his soul, – himself – “Put our hope in God,” not in yourself!

And when he did he said, “For I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” His inner feelings expressed themselves in questions of despair and defeat. In that moment of loneliness his faith was tested and tried but not trampled by doubt. Ultimately he triumphed by giving himself some great advice: “Put your hope in God,” he said, “and continue to praise Him!” And he did.

Faith and doubt often appear as twins. But when doubt was about to triumph, his hope surged within him and he overcame the troubles he faced by the hope he had in God. What an example for us to follow.

Prayer: Father, in our moments of despair may we turn to You with a never-ending hope that assures us of Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:5b Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 

"Soul Food"

“Mother,” cried Sally as she climbed into bed, “you forgot my soul!”

“What do you mean, Sweetheart?” asked her Mom. “I don’t understand.”

“Well, when we said our prayers you didn’t say, ‘I pray the Lord my soul to keep.’ What if God forgets about my soul tonight? What will happen?”

It is difficult to watch television, listen to the radio, or read a paper or magazine without the ever present emphasis to lose weight, get in shape, have cosmetic surgery or try a new shampoo. We are constantly challenged to nourish our bodies more carefully, strengthen our muscles to become healthier or do something to look more appealing.

Certainly God expects us to care for our bodies. He created us in His image and gave us the breath of life. But too often we are encouraged to care for our bodies at the expense of caring for our souls.

David longed desperately for God’s presence in his life. He compared his longing for God to that of a thirsty deer panting for water. “My soul,” he cried, “thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

The Psalmist had a “thirst” in his soul that could only be satisfied by God’s “living water” – much like a deer panting for water.

God places in each of our hearts a thirst that cannot be quenched by the waters of this world. As appealing as they are – fame and fortune, power and prestige, wealth and well-being – nothing will ever satisfy the thirst that God has planted deep within us. As Jesus said, only those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” and find it in Him, will ever be satisfied.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for that never-ending thirst that can only be satisfied when our lives are filled with Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Who God Blesses

WHO GOD BLESSES

What do we need to do to receive blessings from God?

Are they automatic? Do we have to be in the right place at the right time? Sit quietly and meditate? Think positive thoughts and pray for wealth without working? Is there something we can do?

We would all have to agree that God’s blessings are not equally distributed nor given automatically as some would expect. In fact Psalm 41 begins with an insightful statement: “Blessed is the person who has compassion for the poor or weak and does something about it.” God cares for the weak and the poor and the oppressed and is delighted when we do something on their behalf. In fact, David says that those who show God’s compassion will be delivered when they are experiencing the difficulties of life. But there is more.

The first Psalm begins with a statement about the person who God will bless: “...the man who avoids contact with those who have evil intentions and instead finds pleasure in the teachings of the law of the Lord.” As we “hide” God’s Word – His law – in our hearts, it will give us light for our lives and directions to our destiny – eternal life with Him. And still more!

In Psalm 32 we read that “Blessed in the one whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered.” When we go to God in faith asking for forgiveness and salvation He will accept us, cleanse us and bless us.

So God’s Word is clear: If we want His blessings then we must follow His instructions. First, when we accept God’s salvation we will enjoy the blessing of forgiveness. Secondly, we will be blest if we avoid the influence of those who are evil and obey His law. Finally, we will be blest if we do His work in His world by caring for those in need of His love, mercy and grace.

Prayer: We all are in need of Your blessings, Father. May we follow Your Word and walk in Your ways and be blest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 41:1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.