Tag: Psalms

Reset

I have been reading Levi Lusko’s book I Declare War, and one of the insightful points that he makes is that it is never the wrong time to reset. 

How many times have you set a goal, gotten off track, and thought you had to wait until the next day, the next week, or even the next month to get back on track? Lusko says, no way. Each moment that we are given is a gift from God and the perfect time to go to Him, ask for help, and begin again. In fact, we can reset multiple times a day if we need to. You will never meet your quota for going to God and asking for help.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

I don’t know how your word of the year is going. Mine is not going that well. I have been busy this semester and haven’t devoted the time that I should have to staying focused on growing in this particular area the last couple of months. Which is one of the reasons why I am so excited about this month’s reflection. 

I love the Psalms! I don’t think I have ever encountered a situation in my life where I couldn’t find a Psalm that inspired me or brought me comfort. That is where we are going to start – find a Psalm that relates to the word that you have chosen for the year. Write it down. I would even challenge you to begin memorizing it so that in the moment, when you need inspiration or comfort, it is right there, in your heart, ready to provide exactly what you need.

Then (and I really hope that you will do this part) you will write your own Psalm to God. Think about the format of the Psalms. First, the psalmist typically laments a difficulty that he is having. He asks questions, like “Why don’t you hear me?” or “Why have you forgotten me?” After he pours out his pain to God, there is some type of transition – usually a recognition or acknowledgement of who God is and His sovereignty. Then, the psalmist wraps it up by praising God or thanking Him for all that He has done. There isn’t even a rhyme requirement. Just a heart poured out to God, longing to live a life that honors and glorifies Him. 

So, if you have gotten off track with your word of the year and thought you would have to wait until next year and begin again, I say, “no way!” You can start right now! We still have eight months of growth opportunities! Eight months of leaning in to God and striving to live like Christ. Let’s reset right now and get started!

Download the May reflection here.

Questioning God

Questions – we all have them – starting at the age of two with everyone’s favorite question, “why?”  But asking questions isn’t a skill unique to toddlers. It almost seems inherent in us as humans. The same questions get asked so often that we have an acronym for it – FAQ.  We question our children’s behavior, our husband’s decisions, and our employer’s policies. We question the ability of the drivers in the vehicles around us. If we are honest with ourselves, don’t we also question God? We beg Him for answers about why some people seem to have such easy lives while we struggle with finances, jobs or relationships. We want to know why He has allowed tragedies in our lives or the lives of those we love. I don’t think God is surprised by our questions. After all, not only did He create our inmost being (Psalm 139:13), He also knows the secrets of our hearts (Psalm 44:21). 

Although it doesn’t come as a surprise to God when we question Him, I can’t help but wonder how it makes Him feel, The sadness that comes from those you love so deeply not trusting you. 

Have you ever noticed that satan asked the first question in the Bible? He was speaking to Eve when he asked, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) It was not an innocent question. He was intentionally questioning God’s word in order to cast doubt about the authority of God in the mind of Eve. It worked, Eve was deceived and a chain of events was set in motion that separated us from our Creator. 

We are blessed to serve a God who is patient with those He created and who has offered us a way back to Him. He says in Psalm 81:13-14, “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.”  The Psalms are full of beautiful verses about who God is and all of the magnificent things He has done for those He created; and it is full of questions. It is comforting to me that many of the writers inspired by God to pen His word were also inquisitive. There are more than 100 questions posed directly to God throughout Psalms and not once do we ever read of God ridiculing any of them. What I find most impressive about Psalms is that the writers didn’t just ask the questions, they also sought out the answers while continuing to put their trust in God.

Psalm 13 is just one example. David begins by calling out to God, asking if God has forgotten him? His pain is deep. He ends with a proclamation of trust and praise to God.

Are we doing the same? Are we doing more than just asking the questions? Are we continuing to praise and trust God as we seek answers?

Scripture tells us that if seek Him, we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29) My prayer is that just “as the deer pants for streams of water” (Psalm 42:1), we will also pant for God’s truths and fill our hearts with them giving us insight not only into who God is, but also the reasons we should trust Him, serve Him, and live for Him. Perhaps, like David, the next time we question God, we will also trust in Him, in the One who created us and loves us so much that He longs to spend all of eternity with us.