Hard Choices?

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5–11)

Since we moved (about 1 1/2 years ago) few days have been ‘normal’ in the sense that my to-do list was simple, no surprises, and early to bed. Today is no different except that the interruption to my plans happened before spending time with the Lord and being prepared for ‘whatever happens’ since it always does.

Reading the above verses describes a bit of how I feel, as if oppressed by the unexpected, but this psalm also gives the solution to this sense of being abandoned. This is a test of faith. Will I trust Him with this too, and give up my priorities even as I feel neglected and trade those important things for what seems like trivia?

Last night I dreamed being called out of a worship service to speak to an elderly man in distress. He seemed to be dying so I asked him if he was ready for that. He said no, so I quickly told him about Jesus, then walked away, as if that was enough. When awake, I could see the selfishness of my attitude in that dream.

Then when awake, someone asked me to do something and that same selfishness popped up. I felt cast down at needing to do an unimportant thing (to me) for the sake of someone else.

The solution: Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Sometimes hope is a choice. Praise is an obedience, and salvation seems a disconnect. Yet this is the Word of God for today. I must obey it even without seeing any reason or feeling any hope about the value of obeying.

Jesus, I need the hope You give. I have none of my own. You promise to use all things for my good. May this also be good for the person who asked me to give up my plans and do something so unimportant to me.

The Creator had a plan . . .

 

READ Psalm 113–118

Attention-deficit people are easily distracted, yet whatever distracted them can hold their attention like an obsession. This is hard to live with. This morning, I opened my computer and a search engine with a plan to start devotions. However, I was distracted by a wearable art photo. That led to watching a few videos that make tame the costumes on “The Masked Singer.” Then a clipping on my desk for a local quilting group caught my attention. Searching for it took me to their website with its creative display, then to another one of a person who creates quilts for those who order them . . . with a price list, a rare find, and they were also beautiful. All this delay took me off an already slow start to the day. Finally, the devotional reading . . .

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! . . . . Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? (Psalm 113:2–3; 5–6)

Actually, my detour into the wonders of wearable art showed me something. We are made in the image of our Creator, meaning we are creative. God’s creation is utterly amazing. While non-believing people try to figure out how this world happened, I see the glory of God in all of it, just as He intended.

For what can be known about God is plain . . .  because God has shown it . . . his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made . . . . Yet although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)

This negative reality is obvious in the wearable art creations. Although we are made in God’s image, when humans create anything apart from knowing Him, those creations are not like His. God’s work is not only beautiful but functional. Even the tiniest creature fits in the plan of God. None of those ‘costumes’ were functional, and many were grotesque rather than lovely. I’m aware that God can use human creativity to reflect His glory, but without Him, our work falls short.

The psalmist rightly says, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1) In the world of art and creativity, the things made often are given more reverence than is due them, not necessarily religiously intended, yet idols, nonetheless. But . . .

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. (115:4–8)

Again, the work of my hands is nothing like the work of God. Artistic efforts may have function and even beauty — to a degree, but all fall short compared to the work of our Creator. This includes redemption. Our efforts cannot come close to what He has done:

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (116:5–9)

Salvation’s lovely reality puts me in awe. I cannot come close to duplicating it. My part . . .

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. (116:17)

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it . . . .  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (118:21–24; 29)

All this might make one assume that God easily distracted too, because when He saw our sin and helplessness, He did not focus there but turned from His wrath and sent Jesus to pay our penalty instead of giving us what our sin deserved. However, His Word is clear: a grand display of grace and mercy was His plan all along.

 

Defeating my worst enemy . . .

 

 

READ Psalm 141–145

Much of today’s reading involves the psalmist asking God to deliver him from those who are persecuting him. I live in a country where laws against such harassment keep most of it from happening so I have to ask: who are my enemies? What forces try to keep me from living in the will of God?

The common answer is ‘the world, the flesh, and the devil’ which fits both the psalm writer and my life, but for him, the world is literal people. For me, the world is more about “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life” (1 John 2:16) for when I am focused on these, I’m not doing the will of God. While these ideas can come from external sources with the devil as their delivery media, they can also rise up in my old nature — making me my own worst enemy!

The psalmist prays for help against his physical enemies; however his prayers include instruction for my prayers against the ungodliness I fight that often pops up from within and pulls me away from the Lord.

O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! (Psalm 141:1–4)

Keep praying. Ask God to control my speech and my heart and keep me from being lured by evil ideas.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah . . . . Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul . . . . Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! (Psalm 143:5–6; 8; 10)

Think of what God has done. Hunger for Him and His Word. Seek His way and His will.

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:1–21)

Praise Him. Talk about Him to others. Tell the next generation about the things He is doing. List and repeat His glory. Think eternal rather than temporal. See how He takes care of His people and all things. Play “I spy God.” Sometimes attitude follows action so be disciplined. Do what the psalmist did and bless Him forever and ever. It may start in awkwardness but it will grow in glory!