Deserving Deliverance

Psalm 79: ⁹ Help us, God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.

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Sitting in my final, I asked GOD to help me recall some of the information I crammed into my head the night before. I didn’t understand the concepts and the professor told me a week before that unless I wrote an outstanding final, I would fail. After my prayer I took the final and got a C on the test and a failing grade overall.

Praying that GOD undo damage I have caused is rather futile, especially if it’s for my personal gain. I expected that GOD clean up the damage while I skip merrily through the situation. It did not happen. GOD allowed me to face the consequences of my decision and quite honestly it was the best thing that happened to me. My study habits got infinitely better afterwards.

• GOD delivers me not because of me, but in spite of me.
• GOD delivers me in the middle of my sins, not after I clean myself up.
• GOD delivers me because of HIS name and HIS sake, not because I demand it or deserve it.

When I look at my life I see points where GOD intervened in the middle of my sins. HE showed tremendous restraint and did not pour out wrath rather HE dished out a heaping helping of HIS grace. I can also see times where HE allowed the consequences of my sins to hit me in the face.

This prayer is appropriate. Israel was in captivity for turning away from GOD for the thousandth time. The writer knew there was nothing that could be said to deserve deliverance. All they could write was “Forgive our sins for YOUR name’s sake.” GOD’s name is pure and so is HIS love for me. I praise HIM because I do not deserve the blessings HE has bestowed on me.

• Do you feel you deserve deliverance?
• Are you busy telling GOD how good you have been?
• Can you stop trying to steer GOD and praise HIM?
• Will you ask HIM to deliver you on HIS terms?

Ingredients for Deliverance

Psalm 78: ¹¹ They forgot what he had done,
    the wonders he had shown them.
¹² He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors
    in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
¹³ He divided the sea and led them through;
    he made the water stand up like a wall.
¹⁴ He guided them with the cloud by day
    and with light from the fire all night.
¹⁵ He split the rocks in the wilderness
    and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
¹⁶ he brought streams out of a rocky crag
    and made water flow down like rivers.

¹⁷ But they continued to sin against him,
    rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
¹⁸ They willfully put God to the test
    by demanding the food they craved.
¹⁹ They spoke against God;
    they said, “Can God really
    spread a table in the wilderness?
²⁰ True, he struck the rock,
    and water gushed out,
    streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
    Can he supply meat for his people?”
²¹ When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
    his fire broke out against Jacob,
    and his wrath rose against Israel,
²² for they did not believe in God
    or trust in his deliverance.

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As I pondered “GOD’s deliverance” I noticed that when I get nervous or think GOD isn’t moving fast enough, I start telling HIM what to do. I mean I tell HIM how much, when and sometimes why. BUT GOD wants me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to understand the trial so I can go in a different direction.
• GOD wants me to hold onto HIS ways so I can follow HIS lead.
• GOD wants me to remember HIS deliverance from the past and trust in HIS deliverance now.

“Grow up” is GOD’s calling to me. HE wants me to stop remaining feeble and hold on to GOD, who has all the power!. Instead of fretting through a trial, HE simply wants me to remember.

• Have you lost your trust in GOD?
• Do you tell HIM what you need and when you need it constantly?
• Can you ask HIM for forgiveness and look back to remember HIS deliverance?
• Will you add trust to your day and let GOD bless you?

A Cure for Waiting

Psalm: ⁷ “Will the Lord reject forever?
    Will he never show his favor again?
⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
    Has his promise failed for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

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Bible babble was the last thing I wanted to talk about. It seemed like the people in my immediate circle knew so much more than me and when I opened my mouth, there was always a correction or added information.

The Bible was “their” Bible and knowing it was “their” thing. One day I read it and it peaked my curiosity. But as soon as I got to know the people in the Bible, my faith waned. I mean it was “their” experiences, what does this have to do with me?

• Looking at church goers can sometimes cause me to compare my life to theirs.
• Reading the Bible can sometimes cause me to compare my life to the experiences of others.
• Living around other people can sometimes cause me to compare my stuff to my neighbors.

I soon found that I didn’t measure up to the standards of the churchy people who could quote scripture and argue their knowledge. I stopped going to church and GOD brought me back. HE opened my eyes and took me though some amazing times. I now had my own experiences from which I could draw from. Now when I read the Bible I can see a different set of words that were always there. I can see GOD talking to “me” rather than spouting out rules.

• When I am anxious GOD wants me to remember what HE brought me through in the past.
• When I am scared GOD wants me to remember how HE delivered me from many near death situations.
• When I am confused and feel like giving up GOD wants me to remember the times that HE rescued me from extreme circumstances.

GOD is my all and all. HE has delivered me from so many dangers, toils and snares. HE has protected me, led me and loved me over and over and over again. HE has NEVER let me stay down and has ALWAYS stayed with me, feeling worse for me than I feel for myself. GOD wants me to remember HIS might, remember HIS deeds and remember HIS miracles.

When I consider all of GOD’s works it helps me wait because I know HIS plan is greater than anything I could ever think of.

• Are you in a waiting period?
• Do you want to be finished with “this” trial?
• Instead of waiting, can you take a moment and meditate on what GOD has done in your life?

Time Machines Do Not Exist

Psalm 76: ⁷ It is you alone who are to be feared.
    Who can stand before you when you are angry?
⁸ From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared and was quiet—
⁹ when you, God, rose up to judge,
    to save all the afflicted of the land.
¹⁰ Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

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“You know what’s really disappointing, I trusted you” were the words that turned me around. After losing the trust of my supervisor I felt miserable. Now I was being watched carefully on a job that I hated anyway. What hurt the most is I had trust placed in me, lost it and could never gain it back.

• Sometimes I blow it with people and I cannot gain their trust back.
• Sometimes I make permanent mistakes with people and I cannot win them over.
• Sometimes I burn bridges with people and they cannot be rebuilt.

It seemed like GOD was angry at my slothful ways. I was definitely on the wrong path and this incident with my supervisor proved it. I had to wake up and place my fear back in GOD rather than fearing a shrinking bank account. I had to get restraint.

• GOD allows me to be as wild as I want to be, but HE would rather have me fear HIS ways.
• GOD allows me to not follow HIM, but HE would rather that I fear HIS wrath.
• GOD allows me to get angry at HIM, shake my fist at HIM and threaten to move away from HIM, but HE would rather have a peaceful loving relationship with me that has power.

I do not have a time machine to go back and fix all the ills I have created in life. GOD allowed me to feel HIS wrath in a very small way many times. BUT GOD is the ultimate forgiver. HE chastens me rather than destroying me. HE adds restraint to my ways that tend to run away from HIM and HE holds on tight. I can now praise HIM for holding onto me instead of letting me run further away from HIM.

• Are you looking back at past mistakes?
• Do you think reviewing the past will help you right now?
• Can you let go of the past and hold onto GOD?
• Will you stop looking into the future and look at the here and now?
• Will you fear and praise GOD today?

Reset Expectations

Psalm 75: ⁷ It is God who judges:
    He brings one down, he exalts another.
⁸ In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.

⁹ As for me, I will declare this forever;
    I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
¹⁰ who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

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“Look at ‘those’ people” is what I thought to myself. I mean “they” are blatantly sinning by doing , not admitting any of my own. Maybe if “they” would just stop sinning then “their” problems would go away was my thought.

• When I think other people are sinning I don’t look at my own sins.
• When I look at what someone else is doing I ignore my own sins.
• When I talk about someone else I overlook my own sins.

Comparing myself to a class of sinner is real easy and quite honestly it feels good. I mean “they” are doing so much wrong and “I” am over here doing right! GOD should be patting me on the back and raising me up to be… well, the highest HE has raised me! Wrong!

• It is GOD who judges and what I sometimes overlook is I am in the mud.
• It is GOD who brings one down and exalts another and what I sometimes overlook is I do not deserve to be raised up.
• It is GOD who chooses and what I sometimes overlook is HE chose me in the middle of my sins.

GOD is the ultimate forgiver! HIS grace and mercy are unmatched. But my sinful mind sometimes expects HIM to raise me up to a certain level. Faith “is” the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen and I must put my faith in GOD. HE chooses how high I should be at a certain time to reach HIS people.

My expectations should not be on “how high” HE raises me, but “who” should I be talking to now that I am where I am. I will declare GOD’s righteousness forever, I will sing praises to the GOD of Jacob.

• Are you comparing yourself to others?
• Do you think you should be “higher” than you are?
• Can you stop trying to get raised up and seek the purpose of why GOD has you where you are?
• Will you become content and accept GOD’s calling on your life to reach the people HE is bringing to you at this level?
• Will you praise HIM for where HE has you and that HE has a special purpose for you?

The Long Journey

Psalm 74: ¹² But God is my King from long ago;
    he brings salvation on the earth.

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“Stop” has popped up in my mind many times as I was driving along distracted by life’s events. Each time I obeyed and each time I avoided a catastrophe. What was this voice? Why did I get saved each time?

• Looking back I see that GOD was there watching over me.
• Looking back I see that only GOD could have saved me from the things HE saved me from.
• Looking back I see that GOD was there the entire time protecting me and watching over me.

It’s not just avoided accidents or evaded pitfalls that GOD has guided me through. HE has blessed me beyond my imagination and taken me places I would never have dreamed. So why do I doubt?

• I doubt when I forget what GOD has done.
• I doubt when I think I know the answer and GOD has another path.
• I doubt when I lose my faith by placing faith in something else.

GOD want me to remember all the great things HE has done for me and to think on these things. HE wants me to retract the wonderful salvation HE has done and place HIS power to the forefront of my mind. GOD wants me to remember HIS greatness and continue to look forward to HIS everlasting love.

• Are you in a place of doubt?
• Do you think GOD has left you?
• Can you look back at the times GOD has miraculously saved you?
• Will you let GOD deliver you HIS way in HIS time?
• Will you continue to move forward without doubt like you used to?

Understanding Jealousy

Psalm 73: ²¹ When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.

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This weekend I was reminded of the many junk cars I drove. It seemed like I was on the side of the road more than moving forward. Once as my car showed the usual signs of failure I pulled over, got out and watched all of the people in fancy cars whiz by. This time I was a bit bitter as I looked at the face of a driver of an expensive car and watched him turn his head as he drove past. “Why do they seem to have no problems and all I have is problems?” I thought jealously.

• Jealousy enters my heart when I compare myself to others.
• Jealousy enters my heart when I am not satisfied or content.
• Jealousy enters my heart when I look at others, wanting what they have.

The real question I’m asking is “Why am I not the wealthy person driving past the poor sole on the side of the road?” I mean would I stop? Would I help if I were rich? No! How do I know… because I have been there too. Being rich brings on challenges that cause me to ignore the poor and protect my wealth at all costs. BUT GOD has shown me something different.

• GOD says to me “Do not love money because it will generate all kinds of evil you do not even know.”
• GOD says to me “Hearts are deceptive and wicked, only I can know it.”
• GOD says to me “Seek MY kingdom first”
• GOD says to me “I will guide you with MY counsel.”

Instead of seeking what someone else has, I should quiet down and ask, “What do you want me to do right now?” GOD has me here for a wonderful reason, one that I cannot ignore. HE opens my eyes to HIM when jealousy tries to blind me. HE shows me that being connected to HIM and going through a difficult situation is far better than being without HIM and thinking my wealth will save me.

GOD does not like when I am arrogantly wealthy nor does HE like a pouting jealous poor rant from me. HE does however appreciate when I acknowledge HIS supremacy, HIS love and HIS mercy for me.

• Are you jealous of something or someone?
• Do you envy certain groups of people and wish for their demise?
• Can you stop wasting your time looking at others and look to GOD who has called you into this situation?
• Will you truly praise GOD for where HE has you and get started on the mission HE has for you?