Week Twenty-Four - Hold Yourself Accountable

Citizenship, along with the responsibility and accountability it holds, is a rare yet valuable commodity these days. We say that we expect moral and honest leadership from those to whom we entrust our government, but sadly, these qualities seem to be missing in so many. 

We should not be too quick to condemn politicians when we ourselves often fail in the same qualities. We speed, fudge on our taxes, litter, gossip, and think no one should say anything to us about it. But good citizenship requires us to hold ourselves accountable for how we live, how we respect the laws of the land, and how we treat other people.

Citizenship, as defined by Google, "is the legal relationship between an individual and a state, granting the person specific rights, such as voting and legal protection, in exchange for duties, like obeying laws and paying taxes.  It also refers to membership and active participation in any community."

I see citizenship as a privilege. It means I have an invested interest in my community, a voice, and a part in what happens to the whole.

As I was reading Psalm 50, I noticed a stark description of citizenship gone awry and leadership that did not hold itself accountable. From verses 16-22, God's Word describes it this way: they hate and ignore God's Word and instruction. They allow theft and adultery to go unpunished, even taking part in it. Their mouths are full of evil and deceit. They sit and speak against other citizens, even slandering each other. Then, God warns them that He sees and hears their deeds, and they will not go unpunished.

Good citizenship means we, too, address such issues because the leadership we put in place reflects who we are as a people. What a sad state of affairs when we devalue our citizenship by not participating in voting and maintaining the laws of our land. But I'm not trying to make a political statement. I'm trying to call us to individual accountability, for that is what will make the difference.

God closes this psalm with exactly the same call for accountability when He says, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God."

We are to order our conversation. It isn't simply our words, but every area of our lives. We are to live by order - the order of God's Word. And to do so "aright" means we hold ourselves accountable for our words and actions. We aren't two-faced or hypocritical. We don't speak evil or slander others. We don't have secret sins. We don't ignore God's Word, but rather, we use it to judge ourselves and keep our lives clean and acceptable before God and man.

When every citizen does his or her part in living aright, things around us will shape up. We may hold different political views, but we can all live under God's law - "for against such there is no law." And what does God's law require of a citizen? Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are a few things. (Galatians 5:22-23) And Micah 6:8 gives this instruction, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

These are some of the qualities of good citizenship, and they are things to which we must hold ourselves accountable. Let's rise to the challenge!

Week Twenty-Three - The Reflective Pool

I've been marveling at the recent renovations in Washington, D.C. I didn't even know some of these monuments existed because I've only been there a couple of times in my life. It is so refreshing to see them renovated and brought back to life.

I was reading about the Reflection Pool, which is nearly completed. The workers were explaining that the darker the base, the more reflection it will cast and the more defined the image will be. We should be able to see not only the two monuments at each end, but also the clouds and birds in the sky above. It all makes me want to visit D.C. again and just do a monument tour.

Psalm 19 reminds us that creation reflects God's strength and proves His presence. There is no where it cannot be seen, and His law is perfect through and through, providing reward and benefit for all who will hear and apply what they read. These truths brought David to self-reflection and earnest prayer.

The truth of God's greatness and presence, and the infallibility of His precious Word, ought to cause us reflection as well. We stand before a perfect and awesome God whose truth is deeply based in His rich and penetrating character. We, however, are far from perfection and awesomeness. 

David's take, and ours, needs to be one of humility and submission. We ought to make the same plea, "Lord, cleanse me, free me, and 'let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight.'"

How precious it would be to stand at that Reflection Pool in Washington and think about how God has guided our country in the past? To pray over our country's future? And take time for personal reflection as well? Are the words of our mouth acceptable in God's sight? Are the thoughts and meditations of our hearts reflective of His character?

As we move toward the celebration of our country's 250th anniversary, let's reflect on who we are individually and let the beauty of God's creation and character be seen through our words and lives.

Week Twenty Two - Fly, Dream, and Live

Recently, three of our grandchildren graduated from High School, and one from College. That means all but four of our 16 grandchildren have now graduated and entered young adulthood, entering a different phase and seeking to discover their life's path.

I remember my children being at this age. Not one of them wound up on the path they initially thought life would take them, but God has guided them all the way. He is a great parent, you know. He takes better care of my children than I could have ever done.

Still, when I am with them for an extended time, I find myself falling into whatever is happening in their lives. Not that any of them lead chaotic lives, but each one has their own set of challenges and consequences based on their life choices, which is true for all of us, isn't it?

We make choices, life happens, and we wind up with situations and circumstances that naturally arise from those choices. Nothing can change that; it is just the law of sowing and reaping.

Anyway, because I avoid and dislike conflict, chaos, and imperfection, difficult life situations unnerve me.

I was deep into thought about this when the Lord spoke up, saying, "Their problems and challenges are not your problems and challenges. They are only prayer points for you, nothing more. I oversee their lives. Leave the adult parenting to me.

When I stick my nose in where I am not invited, point out things I see, or try to fix them, I am not trusting the Lord. I'm making things harder for them. I am upsetting myself to the point that I might impulsively say or do something that could hurt them.

Trusting the Lord means I bring those concerns to Him alone while I portray love, assurance, and faith. Shining a light is better than provoking them to wrath. When I cast doubt or worry, I only make their way darker and more difficult. I don't want to do that.

They are succeeding in their lives. Am I succeeding in mine? That is the better question. Judge myself first - right?

When I was their age, I faced challenges and choices, too. This is the part of the adult process that fosters faith and wisdom. So, let them grow. Let them face consequences and work through life's challenges with the Lord. He will direct them because their heavenly Father is that sort of faithful parent. I can hold them up in prayer and watch Him work.

With these thoughts in mind, and the voice of the Lord in my head, we arrived home after a long drive from Atlanta to Missouri.

The Lord has provided us with a lovely lodge out on the family farm for us to use while we are stateside. It belongs to my cousin and was just completed last year. He and his wife come through doing a bit more with each visit. This time, while we were away, they hung some pictures in the living area.

Well, as the Lord would have it, one was a quote from Mother Teresa that amplified the discussion I had been having with the Lord.  She said,

You will teach them to fly, but they will not fly your flight.

You will teach them to dream, but they will not dream your dreams.

You will teach them to live, but they will not live your life.

Nevertheless, in every flight, in ever live, in every dream,
the print of the way you taught them will remain.

How true! My life is not their life. My children and grandchildren are only a portion of my life, a place where I invest all I can to give them the ability and freedom to fly, dream, and live. My prayers for them will last through generations, and my prayers and influence are an indelible part of their lives.

This truth brought calmness, confidence, and joy to my heart. With all the challenges my children have faced and are facing, they are flying, dreaming, and living their lives. I see God's hand in each of them. What more could I ask?

And He will do the same for my grandchildren as they learn to fly, dream, and live because He is the faithful parent. He remains beside them. He will answer this grandmother's prayers.

Week Twenty-One - Wrong Way

Tom and I have been traveling a lot lately and have been reminded to use caution when we drive because we are no longer on the English proper side of the road; we are on the American right side!

That makes turning corners challenging, and I have noticed the Wrong Way sign on the interstate many times. Thankfully, we haven't turned down that way!

Psalm 36 was my reading today, and it came with a huge Wrong Way sign. Verse four reads, "He setteth himself in a way that is not good."

David has been describing the man who chooses to go his own way. This man (or woman) ignores God. They flatter themselves, thinking they know best, and hate begins filling their hearts. Then, what is in the heart comes out of the mouth, and all wisdom fails. They find themselves thinking about how they can get even, how they can give someone a piece of their mind, or make a point, not for good or to resolve a problem, but to hurt the other person as they have been hurt. They grow full of pride and attack anyone who tries to point them back to the way of God. They have set themselves on a way that is not good. 

And there they sit, stewing in their hate and regret, but too proud to kneel and ask forgiveness of God, seek resolution, or admit their own sin and wrongdoing.

Until they turn around, they are driving their lives the wrong way, and a collision is bound to happen.

The right way is also described in the psalm. It is full of God's great mercy, abundant provision, light, and lovingkindness.

Here is the interesting thing. We all travel the path of life together, and we see how each of us manages our lives. The choices we make determine the outcome. God says there are two paths to follow: the broad way or the narrow way. The paths are also described as light and darkness, as evil or good, and as truth or deceit. One leads to joy and life, the other to hatred and death. We know which path we are on by the fruit of our lives.

Sadly, those going the wrong way hate those going the right way. Maybe they are envious or confused about how to direct their lives. Maybe their hurts and life choices keep them prideful and unable to change their path. Or maybe no one has shared the light of the gospel with them.

Oh, let that not ever be said. When you meet someone whose life is set in a way that is not good, take time to lovingly speak truth to them. Don't let them ever say no one cared enough to speak up. 

David's closing prayer was, "Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me” (vs 11). Stay on the right path! Yet, reach out in love and concern for those going the wrong way.

Week Twenty - Chariot Prayers

Psalm 20 is a song that takes the form of a prayer for God to answer and deliver in times of trouble. Filled with hope and assurance, in full reliance on God, the psalmist uses positive words like send, remember, accept, grant, and fulfill as he prays to God. Notice that the prayer has not yet been answered. There appears to still be a problem, but the emphasis of the prayer is on anticipating the answer.

Verse 2, send help and give strength.
Verse 3, remember and accept my worship.
Verse 4, grant and fulfill my requests.

These three verses give us a basic outline. Tell God what you need, keep praising and worshiping, and leave the answer to Him.

Words like rejoice, save, rise, and stand reveal the psalmist's heart. Though his prayer remains unanswered, his chosen outlook is one of rejoicing, faith, and anticipated victory.

Verse 5, we will rejoice, fly our banner, and watch God fulfill our petitions.
Verse 6, the Lord saves by His saving strength alone.
Verse 8, we are risen, and stand upright.

All these words show his expectation because he has remembered the name of the Lord and placed his petitions before Him.

These are prayers of faith.

Chariot prayers are different. 

Chariot prayers seek solutions rather than looking to God and give God instructions instead of seeking His hand. They are not requests but demands coming from a heart desiring control or perceived power. Sometimes we are guilty of praying as if everything is hopeless, like God doesn't hear or see, much less remember, grant, or fulfill. We get bogged down in the problem and forget the strength of God's hand.

When we pray like that, we are placing our trust in chariots of our own figuring or in the expectation that our problems will be solved by ourselves or by man, that if we pray hard enough or long enough, we will find a way through.

Chariot prayers are bound to fail, but when we remember God, He will fulfill all our petitions (verse 5), and we will rise and stand (verse 8), for only God can save. These are prayers of faith.

So, consider, are your prayers hitched to a chariot or to the name of the Lord our God? (verse 7)

Week Nineteen - Hold Your Tongue

Psalm 17:3 holds this phrase, "I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." This is a goal David set for himself. Recognizing that God is busy proving him, visiting him in the night, and trying him, he knows what is in his heart will pour out of his mouth, so he sets a guard, a purpose that no sinful word will escape.

To not allow sinful things to rise in our language, we must be purposeful in keeping our hearts clean by allowing the Lord to do with us just as He did with David, to prove, visit, and try us. This is not a process we relish.

To prove us, God places us in situations where our integrity is challenged and our weaknesses exposed. Oh, how uncomfortable this feels. We are faced with a choice: tell the truth or lie, cheat or be honest, give or withhold. All of these little challenges add up and affect our hearts. When we fail, we feel the Holy Spirit's conviction. Often, we choke back His conviction and move on, but what we fail to recognize is that this indiscretion has planted a seed in our hearts. It has proven our lack of integrity.

For God to visit us in the night is to hear His still, small voice calling us to prayer, speaking words of wisdom to our confused hearts, pointing us in His direction in decisions, and calling us to trust Him more fully. When God visits us in the night, there are few distractions. We hear His voice more clearly, and sometimes we may even argue with Him. The better question is, are we listening? Do we notice Him visiting us in the night? Are we practicing what He is teaching?

And when God tries us, He places difficulties before us that challenge and increase our faith. Each trial contains a lesson that reveals more of His character and deepens our relationship if we pay attention and yield by faith.

With all this activity, God is working on our hearts, cleansing, strengthening, and preparing them for our future.

David's words teach us one more truth: we must live with purpose. Our hearts are fickle and tainted, often damaged by what we experience, the thoughts we entertain, and what we hear and see, so we must purposefully choose to control what goes in and what comes out.

"I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."

How could my mouth transgress?

I can speak too quickly about things that ignite an emotional response.
I can speak too much about things I don't know enough about.
I can speak with pride about what I do understand.
I can speak harshly when my patience runs thin.
I can speak from a heart of jealousy and envy.
I can speak from anger.
I can judge and slay others with hurtful words.

Our mouth is a powerful weapon, injurious, and deceitful, and it reveals what is in our hearts.
How much better for us to purposely hold our tongue than to loose it like an unruly sword.

Week Eighteen - Weights, Wants, and Woes

This past week, we were in a Mission Conference in northern Illinois. The gracious lady we stayed with invited us to join her for morning devotions.

As she read the devotional, three words popped out at me - weights, wants, and woes. The writer, Tim Green, was focusing on Colossians 3:10 and the benefits of the new man, saying, "Spiritually, when an individual new-born Christian is directed or informed that they have become a new creature in Christ Jesus and the weights, wants, and woes of the past have or are dissipating and disappearing, one recognizes the 'new man' they have become."

How many of us fail to understand the change and power available to us as new creatures in Christ? No longer can the weights, wants, and woes of this life have dominion over us unless we allow them. I found myself meditating on this fact for the rest of the day. 

And even singing, "Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be weary and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

Then, as the Lord often does, He brought me face-to-face with Scripture, deepening my thoughts and understanding.

I was reading Psalm 13. This short chapter is full of woe for the first four verses, then full of renewed hope for the final two. Where the Psalmist initially cries out, posing questions and calling out to God in despair, his resolve returns to truth in the considered actions of 'I will' and 'I shall'.

Psalm 13:5-6a reads, "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord."

How important it is for us to recognize that though the weights, wants, and woes of life try to trample us down, we can return in full faith to a God who sees and hears; a God who lifts us up.

How can we stay down, when He is so near?

Trust, rejoicing, and singing are David's remedies for his woeful questions. And, he closes with a beautiful answer of why, "because He hath dealt bountifully with me" ( vs 6).

So today, if life feels heavy, if the weights, wants, and woes of this world have you bogged down, grab hold of the I will and I shall and choose to trust, rejoice, and sing. Count those blessings and you will no doubt find that God has also dealt bountifully with you, and no weight, want, or woe can outstrip His grace and love.