A Strong Place

Psalm 87: ⁵ Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.”
⁶ The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

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Blankets were my outer walls and pillows acted as the inner to my “strong” fortress.  It was exciting to build my fort on the bunk bed I lived in. I felt secure as I grabbed my homemade stuffed animal. As one could tell, the only thing my fort would keep out was my imagination.

• Sometimes I build things on earth to feel secure.
• Sometimes I build things on earth to feel like I am in control.
• Sometimes I build things on earth to feel safe, comfortable, and peaceful.

Retreating to places became my thing. I mean after a long day at school, I wanted to retreat to my home. After a long day at work I wanted to retreat to my apartment then, later in life, my home. These places felt safe but every once in a while a tornado, flood or some other form of nature would blow against my retreat and threaten my security. GOD wanted more.

• GOD wants me to look at HIM as my retreat.
• GOD wants me to see HIM as the answer, not the problem.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM for comfort, safety and peace.

With GOD as my refuge, there is total peace. HE gives security far greater than the fortress David captured in Zion. GOD’s throne alone is lifted high up and HE says to me “take your eyes off of earthly fortresses and look towards MY strong place. “I will never leave you or forsake you” are HIS words of comfort to me. HE wrote my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and I am eternally grateful!

• Where do you find solace?
• Do you seek vacations as your way to retreat?
• Can you retreat with GOD on a daily basis no matter what you are going through?
• Will you let the HOLY SPIRIT comfort you?

Tools for Faith

Psalm 86: ¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.

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“Pray” someone said. “Go to church” another person said. “Repent” was another piece of advice. “Give” was yet another answer to the troubles I was going through. All of the prescriptions came from avid church goers who seem to mean well. I have even used these terms thinking I could somehow change GOD’s mind or that HIS mind needed to be changed.

• There are times when I prescribe answers thinking it’s the right thing to say
• There are times when I prescribe answers thinking the person isn’t executing their faith well enough.
• There are times when I prescribe answers thinking “this” is what “I” want for the person.

Looking back I don’t think I have ever said, “Hold on, let me check with GOD and I’ll get back to you” when someone brings me a problem. I may jump right in and prescribe “take two prayers and a song and call me in the morning.” BUT GOD wants me to do something different.

• GOD wants me to ask HIM to teach me HIS ways so I can rely on HIS faithfulness.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIS faith rather than thinking I or the person I am helping has any sort of faith.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM to give me an undivided heart to fear HIM constantly so I can follow HIM without inhibitions.

There are simply some situations where I cannot use a prescription. The tools for faith come from the builder alone. GOD understands what it takes to build my faith and I have to ask HIM to take me through things in order to understand how to rely on HIS faithfulness. HE wants me to have an undivided heart and only HE can heal my heart to do so. I will rely on HIS faithfulness, fear HIS name, praise HIM with all my heart and glorify HIS name forever.

GOD’s love is great towards me and HE has already delivered me from the depths and realm of the dead.

• Are you trying to gain faith on your own?
• Do you think you have any tools to grow your faith?
• Can you stop trying to change GOD and allow HIM to change your heart?
• Will you seek GOD, asking HIM to teach you HIS way so your eyes can be opened to HIS faithfulness?

Admiration Focused in the Right Direction

Psalm 85: ¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

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It probably started at a very young age. People seemed to gravitate towards a crowd and I was on the sidelines wanting to be included. I saw the group of notables in high school and thought how cool it would be to fit into the crowd. It didn’t happen. In college I wanted to fit in and this time I got a little closer but then I graduated. In business the “in crowd” required that I admire some people who wore their lusts on their sleeve. What would it hurt to pursue just a little sin?

• Sometimes I’m blinded by the crowd rather than seeing where I am.
• Sometimes I want to go on the wide road where everyone else “seems” to be having fun.
• Sometimes I desire to be like the “in crowd” no matter what they are doing or saying.

Separation from sinners is not what I’m saying because I would have to separate from myself. What I am saying is, it is already tough enough to battle my own sins let alone following someone into theirs. Being blinded by the in crowd can make me desire to be like them, no matter what the cost. BUT GOD wants my admiration.

• GOD wants me to notice HIS unending love for me rather than looking at what others have.
• GOD wants me to see HIS never ending faithfulness HE has towards me rather than thinking HE isn’t blessing me.
• GOD wants me to observe HIS righteousness so I can never become haughty and think I can ever be righteous enough to judge someone.

Love, faithfulness and righteousness are qualities to admire in GOD. When I complain about what HE is doing or not doing I cannot see these wonderful attributes HE wants to show me on a daily basis. HE pours out HIS love on me daily. HE is faithful and just to cleanse me of my unrighteousness because HIS steps are prepared in righteousness.

• Are you envious of someone?
• Do you think you would like to fit in with the crowd who could care less about GOD?
• Will you focus your attention on the wonderful attributes of GOD instead of complaining?
• Will you tell people of HIS greatness today?

Arguing for GOD is not my job

Psalm 83: ¹⁸ Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
    that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

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Sitting at the lunch table I engaged in the debate of GOD’s existence and why JESUS is of utmost importance. I wasn’t very equipped but tried to answer their hidden agenda questions. I fumbled through my answers. Another time a very known religious group rang my doorbell and challenged my knowledge of the Bible. I fumbled through my answers. “I know… I’ll go to Bible school so I can argue with these people” I said to myself, tired of getting beat up in these debates.

• At one time I used to think GOD needed me to prove HIS existence.
• At one time I used to think GOD needed me to argue what’s right and what’s wrong.
• At one time I used to think GOD needed me to debate with people with other “religious” views.

This chapter was extremely harsh in that the writer was asking for calamity of his enemies who laugh at GOD and mock HIM. It reminded me of the times I faced people who refused to turn their face to GOD and I felt I had to say something in HIS defense. Looking back I see it was my faith that was in question not theirs.

• GOD wants me to have enough faith in HIM to deliver a message of love rather than proving someone to be “wrong.”
• GOD wants me to have enough faith in HIM to plant seeds of love in people rather than arguing and proving them “wrong.”
• GOD wants me to have enough faith in HIM to allow people to be who they are and to open my mouth and say “I believe” and let that be enough.

GOD does not need me to prove HIS existence, nor does HE need me to prove JESUS, who is GOD, died for me. GOD wants my faith to rely in HIM and HE wants me to prove HIS existence through showing “love” for my neighbor. Once I stopped arguing I noticed a strange thing, people started asking questions about my relationship with GOD. HE delivered people to me to love and they now follow HIM because GOD draws people to HIMSELF.

• Do you feel you need to argue GOD’s existence?
• Do you need to debate the existence of demons and angels?
• Can you ask GOD if HE wants you to do that?
• Will you have the faith to open your mouth and simply say “I believe in GOD” rather than fighting?

Choosing a Legacy

Psalm 82: ¹ God presides in the great assembly;
    he renders judgment among the “gods”:

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⁵ “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
    They walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

⁶ “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
⁷ But you will die like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

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Surprised and elated were the feelings that arose as I received my first award in my career. I had been working for years and I was being recognized for the long hours I had put in. The next year I received another and the following years too. I had a little more prance in my strut as one of the most decorated workers in the building. I was “proud” of myself.

• When I receive too many accolades I can get proud.
• When I receive too many pats on the back I can get a big head.
• When I receive too many cheers I can become arrogant.

Prideful leaders build kingdoms and I was no exception. I could not be told that my kingdom was only temporary because I had several backers who were firmly wedged into the company so I felt secure. BUT GOD says different.

• GOD says to me “Do not think more highly of yourself” to keep me from getting arrogant.
• GOD says to me “Do not place any god above ME” especially myself.
• GOD says to me “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” so I should never elevate myself higher than GOD, even when thinking my sin is greater than HIS grace.

“MY thoughts are not your thoughts, MY ways are not your ways” GOD says. HE has a sinless view of me and I have a sinful view of HIM. I try to build and rebuild kingdoms, meanwhile GOD laughs and says, “Unless you give it all to ME, your efforts are futile.” GOD made me in HIS likeness which gives me tremendous power. HE made Satan with tremendous power too and Satan chose pride over grace.

GOD wants me to be creative, expressive and flourishing just like HE is. HE does not want me to think that any creativity, any blessing or any security comes from me or my efforts. In all ways GOD wants me to acknowledge HIM. My legacy should point to HIM.

• Do you think you are “self-made?”
• Do you believe you are the one who is creative or talented?
• Can you acknowledge that GOD made you the way you are?
• Will you acknowledge GOD and allow HIM to take you where HE is taking you?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have all enemies subdued?

Psalm 81: ¹³ “If my people would only listen to me,
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
¹⁴ how quickly I would subdue their enemies
    and turn my hand against their foes!
¹⁵ Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
¹⁶ But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

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Wouldn’t it be great to be free from fear, pain, doubt, lust, deception, misunderstanding, pride, covetousness and more? When I look at the list it actually grows longer the more I read. If I could just be sinless then GOD would subdue my enemies, right? Well, sort of…

• I have heard from many people that life can be lived sinless..
• I have heard from many people that they believe they have dropped all of their sins.
• I have heard from many people who feel they are righteous because they have minimal problems so those who have many problems must be sinners.

What a burden! I mean seeking a god who is ready to drop me at a moment’s notice once I sin! This is very bad news because my thoughts are sinful and I complain to GOD about HIS ways. “I’m really in trouble” I thought to myself. BUT GOD said something very different.

• GOD said to me “MY thoughts are not your thoughts. MY ways are not your ways.”
• GOD said to me “MY grace IS sufficient.”
• GOD said to me “There no one who is righteous, no not one.”
• GOD said to me “Confess your sins to ME and I will be faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you of ALL unrighteousness.”

If I say I am not a sinner I am a liar to myself and to GOD. HE wants me to realize I need HIM daily and there is no humanly escape for sin because I was born a sinner. No matter how righteous I pretend to be, I will never be righteous enough to “please GOD.” What can I do?

GOD wants me to trust HIS plan for me. HE decided to become a human and be blamed for my sins. HE was falsely accused of what I did and sentenced to death. Then, I turned to HIM and blamed HIM for my situation, casting more sins at HIM. HE said “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” and HE was right.

GOD wants me to believe HE has the best in mind for me. HE wants me to trust HIS plan and understand the HE was VICTORIOUSLY raised to life and put above everything! HE wants me to believe and trust!

• Do you think you can persuade GOD with your righteousness?
• Can you stop trying so hard to please GOD and simply follow HIS ways because you love HIM?
• Will you drop the pretense of being righteous and tell people about your sin so they will turn to GOD?

Ask for Restoration

Psalm 80: ³ Restore us, O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

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“My ideas are better than his” I thought to myself smugly. I locked my desk and firmly grasped my planner (yes people used pen and paper once upon a time). As I polled the department, I could see that I was a shoe in for the next spot. My rival didn’t have a chance so I threw my feet on the boss’s desk, figuratively of course, and acted like I had the job. He gave the job to my rival and I had to “eat crow” for a long, long time.

• It’s not easy to ask for forgiveness especially when I think “I am right.”
• It’s not easy to ask for restoration especially when I have acted in an arrogant fashion.
• It’s not easy to ask for mercy when I clearly do not deserve mercy.

Swallowing pride is a very difficult thing to do for me, but I find it necessary in order to move ahead. I think the reason it is so difficult to swallow pride is because it puts me in a very humble position. BUT GOD wants me to be in that position.

• GOD says to me “Do not think more highly of yourself” so I can remain humble and even keel.
• GOD says to me “Ask and you shall receive” so asking for restoration will be given to me in abundance.
• GOD says to me “Acknowledge GOD” and “Believe in THE SON” and “Confess my wrongs” so I can see and respect HIS authority to say “yes” or “no” to my request for mercy.

I have heard people tell me to “Go to GOD and tell HIM what you want.” That sounds fine, but I believe HE wants me to humble myself and ask HIM for mercy that I should not expect. Mercy is not mercy if I can demand it. GOD wants me to ask for restoration without expecting it. HE is not punishing me rather opening my eyes to HIS wonderful plan.

HIS own Son asked “FATHER, if I don’t have to drink this cup (meaning being blamed for every human’s sin) then let it be so, but not MY will but YOURS.” The plan for JESUS was ultra-difficult, one that no father would want to see for their child. BUT GOD went ahead with the plan and what a victorious plan it was! My request for restoration may not happen in my way nor in my time, BUT GOD has a wonderful plan for me!

• Are you demanding restoration?
• Do you think you deserve to be restored?
• Can you humble yourself and ask GOD for restoration and not expect it?
• Will you follow GOD if HE does not restore you to the place you expect?