Week Twenty-Six - Overwhelmed

Sometimes life seems like too much, doesn't it? If you are a young mother, you know the constant demands of parenting that drive you to exhaustion. If you are experiencing health issues, you know fear and doubt as you go from appointment to appointment and prognosis to prognosis with no end in sight. If you are facing financial strain, you know how it feels to receive yet another bill or unexpected expense that threatens to drive you to bankruptcy. There are so many things in life that overwhelm us.

In Psalm 61, David writes about his heart being overwhelmed. I think we'd all probably feel the same if we had spent years running and hiding from an enemy trying to kill us, trusted friends turning against us, and our children betraying us. His feeling of overwhelm was justified, but he didn't stay there. He says, "When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

He knew he had another resource - the same resource available to us, the rock, shelter, and strong tower that takes our overwhelm and replaces it with quietness and rest.

David's reaction bears notice. When he is overwhelmed, he looks for help outside himself, help that is higher. He doesn't go into recluse mode, anger, fear, or a deep depression. He looks up for spiritual strength that only comes by a closer walk with God - the Rock.

We see David making three more choices. He says, "I will abide, I will trust, and I will sing praise" (vv. 4, 8). He makes a conscious choice not to dwell long on the overwhelming situation but to shift his thoughts and responses toward God's ability, adjusting his own reaction. This positions him for hope.

He chooses:

To abide - he focuses his thoughts and judges his steps, making sure he is obedient to God’s Word.
To trust -  he looks beyond the circumstance to a God who is fully able to conquer every circumstance.
To sing - he allows his heart and soul to sing and worship the Rock that is higher, to lift his voice up to God.

And then he says, "that I may daily perform my vows" (v. 8). He makes a conscious decision to continue his daily tasks and remain faithful to his life's calling. He isn't pulling himself up by his bootstraps but choosing to move forward; all the while trusting, abiding, and singing praise as he leans on the higher Rock. His circumstances may not have changed, but his attitude and focus have. His overwhelm subsides as he places his thoughts and understanding on higher things. 

So today, if overwhelm nips at your heels or even if you are deep in its throes, look up. God is above all these things. He sees you. Put your thoughts and "I wills" solely upon Him and let your heart sing. Then, pick up your task and keep going. God hears you and sees your need. His strength is available - tap into it.

Week Twenty-Five - No, Not One

 

"No, not one," God's Word says. Not one does good. Not one accepts the fact that God is always watching, so they act in evil and corrupt ways. Not one seeks Him or even considers Him in decisions or actions. Therefore, God is against them. That is the bleak message of Psalm 53.

As I joined the Lord for my devotions, I wasn't expecting such a harsh psalm. I was looking for comfort after receiving troubling news the previous evening. The enemy is attacking my grandchildren, tempting them to follow the world and accept ungodly ways. I watch my children trying to wisely navigate parenting in a world that screams against God and lives like Psalm 53. 

All around us, and ever more evident every day, are people whose eyes are blinded, and hearts are hardened to truth and the ways of God. They cannot see Him, so they live without Him and mock those who stand for righteousness. The book of Romans reveals that the knowledge of impending judgment is in their heart, but they ignore it and "not only do the same (live and act in evil) but have pleasure in them that do them." They love to sin and drag others along. God's Word tells us they are under condemnation and that not one will escape God.

Such is the world in which we live. So, what are we to do? What should be our response? As I prayed for my grandchildren's protection and for truth to reign in their hearts, God gave me three things to do.

1) Do not join in their ways. As children of God, we are to live differently - not oddly, but with a purity and consideration that honors God as we walk in light and exhibit His love to those who ignore Him. Their ways should not be our ways.

2) Pray for the light of God's Word to open their eyes and soften their hearts. Who else will pray for them unless God's children do? Jesus had compassion on them; how could we do less? 

3) Stand as a beacon and ambassador ready to rescue those who come to Him. Jude 23 says, "others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." How can they be saved unless we are willing to put forth a hand to receive them? These are those for whom Christ died; it is our job to be His witness and point them to Him. We can't do that if our light is hidden, our hearts are cold against them, and the door is closed.

So as I pray for God's protection and direction over my grandchildren, I will also pray that those living around them see Christ and come to Him.

He is "not willing that any (no, not one) should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). 

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.