Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
I Will Yet Praise Him
When everything is going my way, it is easy for me to praise God. But when everything is not well, when I'm in pain (which is pretty frequently) or when my dreams and visions for my life don't come quickly enough, it is very difficult to come out of my self-pity bubble to praise God.
I once had a dream where I had been arrested, presumably for being a Christian, and was on my way to the prison. I was actually excited about going to prison, because once I got there I would be able to talk to Jesus all day every day without any other obligations. I've often wondered, if I were someday imprisoned in my body, unable to move, if I would be joyful because I could spend more time with God, or if I would be too self-absorbed in my hardship to even acknowledge God's existence. If it happened right this minute, I'm afraid the latter would be true. I believe, however, that with God's help, I can work towards praising Him even on the most painful of days.
King David found himself challenged in the same way, and tells us about it in Psalm 42. This passage just might become one of the ones I cling to most! Listen to his words:
"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
'Where is your God?'
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love,
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 must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?'
My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
'Where is your God?'
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God."
It is so encouraging to me that I am not alone in this. That one of the most well known kings in all of history found himself in the same predicament. And it was his victory in this challenge that made him so great. Why should my soul be downcast? I serve a loving, merciful, holy, all-powerful, and righteous God, the only true God. For that reason I will yet praise Him.
Have you been faced by the same challenge? What has helped you?
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Got Joy? Got Strength.
The past couple of days, I've realized just how selfish of a person I really am. I'm ashamed to say that it is very difficult for me to put the needs and wants of others above my own needs and wants. The realization brought me to a place of hopelessness, wanting to change but not knowing how to make such a big change. Honestly, it's put me in a bit of a grumpy, non-joyful mood.
This morning, during my devotions, however, God highlighted Nehemiah 8:10: "The joy of the Lord is your strength." I looked it up to read the chapter in context, and was amazed by what I read. Before Nehemiah spoke this to the people, Ezra had read the Book of the Law to them. As they listened, they wept, presumably because they realized they had not been obeying the Book of the Law. Then Nehemiah tells them, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." (v. 9) Next he tells them, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (v. 10)
They, like me, had come to a realization of their sinful nature, and rather than allowing them to mourn and weep and repent of their depravity, they are told to rejoice and celebrate. Why? Because our God is a forgiving and merciful God. Later, He would sent His only son to die on the cross for not only their sins, but also for the sins of everyone who ever was or would be. And because of that, we also have reason to rejoice.
When I realize something I need to do differently, I frequently ask for strength to obey. However, this morning, God told me to ask for joy rather than strength, for His joy IS our strength.
Have you ever come to a place where you've felt hopeless, unable to be the person God created you to be? Take heart, for it is in that very place of humility that God can begin to mold us and form us. Receive His joy, for it will energize and motivate you and give you hope.
This morning, during my devotions, however, God highlighted Nehemiah 8:10: "The joy of the Lord is your strength." I looked it up to read the chapter in context, and was amazed by what I read. Before Nehemiah spoke this to the people, Ezra had read the Book of the Law to them. As they listened, they wept, presumably because they realized they had not been obeying the Book of the Law. Then Nehemiah tells them, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." (v. 9) Next he tells them, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (v. 10)
They, like me, had come to a realization of their sinful nature, and rather than allowing them to mourn and weep and repent of their depravity, they are told to rejoice and celebrate. Why? Because our God is a forgiving and merciful God. Later, He would sent His only son to die on the cross for not only their sins, but also for the sins of everyone who ever was or would be. And because of that, we also have reason to rejoice.
When I realize something I need to do differently, I frequently ask for strength to obey. However, this morning, God told me to ask for joy rather than strength, for His joy IS our strength.
Have you ever come to a place where you've felt hopeless, unable to be the person God created you to be? Take heart, for it is in that very place of humility that God can begin to mold us and form us. Receive His joy, for it will energize and motivate you and give you hope.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Doorway to Joy
At one time in my life, years ago, I know I truly experienced the joy of the Lord. So much so, that others started noticing. Even on the days when I felt sick and tired, others would comment: "You look so happy!" And today I have been reminded of the source of that joy.
In Psalms 37:1, David advises us:
"Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away."
If the wicked are the ones who are going to wither, to soon die away, then why do we act as though we are the ones who are lifeless, without hope? Most of the time, it is as though we are barely alive, struggling just to survive this journey we call life. The truth is, though, God has not called us to a life of mere survival. He has given us much much more.
Sometimes we miss the significance of what Jesus did on the cross. Before the cross, ALL were just as the evil people David talks about. But Jesus took all that sin, all that blame, even though he had never once disobeyed God, his closest friend. And when he took our sin, and our shame, God had to turn his back on him. Imagine those on death row. Many are guilty of hideous crimes. Yet Jesus took even the most hideous of crimes upon himself, and in doing so wiped them clean, declared them innocent, if only they would accept that sacrifice.
WHY? Why did he make such huge sacrifice, made that decision which caused his FATHER, who he shared such a deep, intimate relationship with, to turn his back on him, and, in a way, to disown him?
So that we will no longer be like the grass or green plants that will soon die away. Instead we get to live for ETERNITY with GOD! And what will eternity be like? John shared what he saw in Revelations 22:
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (v. 1-5)
In short, heaven is not a place where we bounce around on the clouds in a state of dreaminess. No, it is a real place, as real as where you are standing today. There are trees, and rivers, and streets. We will walk, run, eat. We will serve God. What's more, we will explore the depths of who God is and what he has done. We will have eternity to talk to other people, hear their stories. We will have eternity to explore the earth and the universe and discover its secrets. We will have eternity to compose music, create beautiful artwork, cook incredible food, and invent amazing machines. And we won't ever get tired. We won't need darkness to sleep, because we will be so full of energy and joy and life that we won't need to sleep.
In that time of my life where I felt the joy of the Lord so strongly, these are the sorts of things I meditated on. I made mental to-do lists of what I would do when this life was over and we finally cross over into eternity. I'm going to climb mountains, run marathons, explore space even. I want to have a pet lion, and ride it around town (like Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia).
Do you have dreams of what you want to do in eternity? If not, maybe you should. Look towards Jesus, his life. He is the doorway to the joy we so need, and desire. If you do have dreams, share them with me! I might want to join you in your adventures when we reach that wonderful time and place!
In Psalms 37:1, David advises us:
"Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away."
If the wicked are the ones who are going to wither, to soon die away, then why do we act as though we are the ones who are lifeless, without hope? Most of the time, it is as though we are barely alive, struggling just to survive this journey we call life. The truth is, though, God has not called us to a life of mere survival. He has given us much much more.
Sometimes we miss the significance of what Jesus did on the cross. Before the cross, ALL were just as the evil people David talks about. But Jesus took all that sin, all that blame, even though he had never once disobeyed God, his closest friend. And when he took our sin, and our shame, God had to turn his back on him. Imagine those on death row. Many are guilty of hideous crimes. Yet Jesus took even the most hideous of crimes upon himself, and in doing so wiped them clean, declared them innocent, if only they would accept that sacrifice.
WHY? Why did he make such huge sacrifice, made that decision which caused his FATHER, who he shared such a deep, intimate relationship with, to turn his back on him, and, in a way, to disown him?
So that we will no longer be like the grass or green plants that will soon die away. Instead we get to live for ETERNITY with GOD! And what will eternity be like? John shared what he saw in Revelations 22:
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (v. 1-5)
In short, heaven is not a place where we bounce around on the clouds in a state of dreaminess. No, it is a real place, as real as where you are standing today. There are trees, and rivers, and streets. We will walk, run, eat. We will serve God. What's more, we will explore the depths of who God is and what he has done. We will have eternity to talk to other people, hear their stories. We will have eternity to explore the earth and the universe and discover its secrets. We will have eternity to compose music, create beautiful artwork, cook incredible food, and invent amazing machines. And we won't ever get tired. We won't need darkness to sleep, because we will be so full of energy and joy and life that we won't need to sleep.
In that time of my life where I felt the joy of the Lord so strongly, these are the sorts of things I meditated on. I made mental to-do lists of what I would do when this life was over and we finally cross over into eternity. I'm going to climb mountains, run marathons, explore space even. I want to have a pet lion, and ride it around town (like Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia).
Do you have dreams of what you want to do in eternity? If not, maybe you should. Look towards Jesus, his life. He is the doorway to the joy we so need, and desire. If you do have dreams, share them with me! I might want to join you in your adventures when we reach that wonderful time and place!
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