Focus on Eternity!

In James 1:9-11, we see two very different life situations. One person is dirt poor and the other is very rich. And yet, both are commanded to look past their present circumstances and rejoice in what Christ has done for them. Because present things fade, you must focus on eternity. We all come to Christ in the same, humble way. We all can rejoice in His exaltation!

Wisdom: Free for the Asking

We don’t like asking for help. We want to be self-reliant. While this is natural, it leads to unbiblical tendencies. We serve an all-powerful God who has told us to ask Him for help. James 1:5 states…

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Because God gives wisdom freely, you must confidently ask Him for wisdom!

How to Respond to Hardship

We avoid hardship. This is a normal response to hardship but it is not a spiritual response to hardship. James 1:2 states…

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.

The word “temptations” here in James is referring to spiritual trials. James has a different response to hardship! I want to challenge you with this truth: because trials are beneficial for your faith, you must rejoice in trials. This is not the way that we normally think about hardship. And yet, joy is the biblical response to trials.

You need organization. Consider using tools!

Organization is always important and this is especially true in church work (1 Corinthians 14:40). If you are like me, you need help organizing. My thoughts are usually scattered. My brain skips five steps to arrive at logical but seemingly unrelated conclusions. Logical progression gives you the breadcrumbs to help other people arrive at your conclusion.

I love tools that help me achieve logical progression! Let me introduce you  to Mindnode. It is beautiful software that works like my brain. I use Mindnode for two main purposes: for organizing ideas before writing papers and for sermon notes. I especially like that collapsible branches let me quickly go from details to big picture or vise versa.  If you have a scatterbrain, this software may be of help.

I outlined a men’s campout devotional in mindnode with this result.

I found Mindnode extremely helpful when studying out the role of pastor for my recent article. If you are interested in Mindnode and in studying out what you believe on the role of pastor, here is a link to get you started.

The Psalmist’s Despair (and how he finds joy)

Discouragement and sorrow are very real and unavoidable feelings. The writer of Psalm 42-43 asks a very blatant and honest question of himself: “why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?”

It would seem that the psalmist knows why he is discouraged. He mourns due to oppression (42:10) that feels like a sword in his bones (42:11). Desiring fellowship with God, he feels spiritual distance. He even asks God “why hast thou forgotten me?” (42:9) and “why dost thou cast me off?” (43:2). He poetically feeds himself with tears (42:3).

The psalmist truly does have reason to sorrow!

He objectively looks at himself and observes that he is discouraged. Then, he prescribes an incredible remedy for his own discouragement. Rather than organize a pity party, he objectively chooses to praise God!

Furthermore, the psalmist directly ties praising God with the emotion of joy (43:4)! He converts his discouragement into joy through the act of praise.

Are you discouraged today? Praise is not a feeling but rather it is a choice. You must choose to praise God despite your feelings. Only then will you begin to experience joy.

Personally, I have a playlist that I listen to when discouraged. Eileen Berry and Molly IJames well express the distress of Psalm 42-43 before turning to God in praise. Their song, “In Your Silence,” has been at the start of my playlist since I first heard it. May it be a blessing to you as it has been to me!

In Your word I find the echoes of the questions in my mind;
Have I fallen from Your favor, is Your ear to me inclined?
When Your silence is unbroken, though my prayer ascends each day,
Father, keep my faith from failing in the face of long delay.

While You wait in gracious wisdom and my doubts begin to rise,
I recall Your loving kindness, and lift my hopeful eyes.
While Your hand withholds the answer, I will not withhold my heart.
I will love you in Your silence, I will trust You in the dark.

When the troubled thoughts within me hold me wakeful in the night,
And the shadows that surround me seem to hide me from Your sight.
Father, bring to my remembrance mercies shown in days gone by.
Help me rest upon Your promise: You will not neglect my cry!

While You wait in gracious wisdom and my doubts begin to rise,
I recall Your loving kindness, and lift my hopeful eyes.
While Your hand withholds the answer, I will not withhold my heart.
I will love you in Your silence, I will trust You in the dark.

 

Psalm 4:8 – Peace

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
-Psalm 4:8

There’s no need to stay up worrying over the what-ifs. God offers peace. The Hebrew word shalom (translated “peace”) includes the concepts of contentment, wellness, and safety. Does this attitude seem impossible? In David’s life, this attitude is the result of rehearsing and meditating on the truths in verses 1-7. It is the Lord alone who provides safety and security, the same Lord who always hears the cry of His children. The same Lord who has over and again granted relief in a tight place. The same Lord who is the source of all that is truly good. It is His presence that gives joy and His presence alone that gives this unexplainable peace–allowing His child to lie down and sleep after committing everything to Him.

Children of the Heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Every foeman must surrender.

Psalm 4:6-7 – The Greater Joy

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?”*
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
-Psalm 4:6-7

The scenery has not changed much. There are still many who are looking for some good to finally come. The good they seek is implied in verse 7–the abundance of grain and wine, or material prosperity. Perhaps these verses reveal the motive of the men mistreating David (v.2): they have misused and slandered David for their own advantage. David, not without hardship in his life, seeks good from a different source–the favor of the Lord. What about you? Are you seeking good today from the world or from the Lord? I am ashamed to admit that I often seek the good that I can see rather than the goodness of the Lord. May the Lord refocus our distracted hearts. The sweetness of fellowship with Him is worth far more than the earthly comforts and conveniences we so often crave. May our time, our spending, and our prayers show that we value the favor of the Lord. And may our joy and contentment show that we have found it.

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

*ESV, quoted above, places the closing quotation mark at the end of verse 6 (after “Lord”). ESV being the only English translation I see that makes this choice, I have chosen to defer to the majority of translations and end the quote after “good” (as NKJV, NIV, NASB, NET, HCSB; KJV does not include quotation marks).

Psalm 4:4-5 – The Path of Change

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
Psalm 4:4-5

David continues to speak to the wicked. The realization that they are opposing the LORD should cause them to tremble* and cease from sin. David calls them to spend time alone in quiet reflection. There are two avenues of application here. First, you may be in David’s shoes, facing ungodly opposition. Here is a righteous response–not a seeking of revenge, but a confidence in the Lord, and an appeal to repent. Second, in honest heart searching, you may find that in some way you have put yourself opposite the Lord’s purposes. Here is the answer for you: (v.4) fear the Lord, turn from sin, consider your ways, and (v.5) make right your relationship with the Lord. Throw yourself upon Him and His forgiveness, which is through the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.

*The Hebrew word here translated “Be angry” literally means “tremble.” Translations are divided on whether the trembling is in reference to anger or fear. I am inclined to understand it as fear, as this meaning seems to fit better with the message of the psalm.

His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul and you will see
‘Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

 

Psalm 4:2-3 – The Disadvantage of the Ungodly

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah.
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself.
The LORD hears when I call to Him.
-Psalm 4:2-3

You may face, as David did, the opposition of those who are not following the Lord, but who are destroying your reputation and hindering the Lord’s purpose. David asks them, “How long?” In other words, “Have you not yet realized the foolishness and futility of your pursuits?” The comfort to God’s people is that the destructive works and words of men will not continue forever. So David appeals to these men to change their ways now. And yet even while they continue, he reminds them that they cannot prevail against God’s purpose for His own. Believer, God has set you apart for holiness, for His pleasure, for His special care. Let this assurance give you courage when life would dishearten you. Though ungodly men seem to succeed in their plans, we who follow the Lord have a precious gift that they do not enjoy—the delight and comfort of God’s presence, and the assurance that He hears our prayer.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.