Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Priest

The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. - Psalm 110:4

In the Old Testament times, the priests acted as mediators between God and man.  Chosen and assigned by God, their duties were to pray for the people, offer sacrifices for the sin of the people and ultimately represent the people before holy God.  It was an important job with strict regulations and was never to be taken lightly.  The purpose of this arrangement was to act as a portrait of a time to come when God Himself would act as priest and mediator.  Earthly sacrifices didn't pay for or cleanse anyone of sin.  It was merely a covering in accordance with God's law--a picture of a higher and final sacrifice to come.

When Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the ultimate duty of a priest.  As our go-between, He bridged the gap between our wickedness and God's holiness and made a way for us to enter into God's presence.  Because of Jesus' great sacrifice, it is no longer necessary for us to use an earthly mediator to speak to God.  We can go to God ourselves.  We can go boldly into His presence because Christ paid for the right for us to do so.  He is our High Priest, offering a one-time sacrifice unlike any other.  With His precious blood, He paid for all the sins of the entire earth and set things right between God and man.  But don't take my word for it.  Look what the Bible has to say:

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. - Hebrews 7:22-28 & Hebrews 8:1-6

A more excellent ministry.  The mediator of a better covenant.  Our High Priest.  Yep, that's my God!

Who Do You Think I Am? - The God Who Forgives

Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. - Psalm 99:8 

The Hebrew phrase used in Psalm 99:8 is El Nasa, and the very basis of our salvation hangs in the balance of this sweet name which, in its most basic definition, is interpreted "God who forgives" or "forgiving God." Interestingly enough, there are different forms of the word "nasa," each carrying with it its own meaning. Some of the most common interpretations of the word are to lift up, to carry, to bear, to forgive, honored, and traveled. I don't know about you, but I can see where each of those definitions fits into the theme of forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all guilty of sin. We are sinners by nature and sinners by choice. Because of that sin, we are not fit for Heaven, a place of perfection and complete holiness. But God didn't want us to miss out on the joys of Heaven, so He made a way for us to be cleansed of our sins and made righteous in His sight. He sent His only begotten Son to be born, to live a sinless life and then to die in our stead. On that dreadful day of crucifixion, Jesus lifted up and carried, not only the weight of the cross, but also the weight of our sins as He traveled up the hill to Calvary. He bore our sin and our shame. He pleaded with the Father to forgive the very ones who were persecuting Him, and that includes us, for it was our sin that put Him on the cross. With the cry of "It is finished," He honored us with a gift that no one else could ever offer: everlasting life.

Because of that great sacrifice, Christ now acts as a mediator between us and God the Father. When Satan stands before the throne and accuses us of sins (of which we are guilty), Christ reminds the Father that our sins have been covered and paid for. On our end, to maintain sweet fellowship with the Lord, we need to ask forgiveness for the wrongs we've done. First John 1:9 tells us, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Other passages in the Bible comfort us with the knowledge that, not only does God forgive our sins, but He also forgets them. He casts them into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be brought up again.

No matter what we've done or how bad we've been, God is a God who forgives. He loves us and wants us to be right with Him. He welcomes us to His throne and listens with a loving heart as we pour out our faults before Him. As soon as they're confessed, He tosses them away and welcomes us back into loving fellowship with Him, just as if we had never sinned. He doesn't love us any less or treat us any differently. It's truly as if we never messed up to begin with. No guilt trips. No grudges. Just open, loving, genuine forgiveness.

I have heard with my own ears someone say, "Well, God can forgive a lot, but He can't forgive this." Yes, He can. No sin is too great (except the rejection of Christ's gift of salvation). He is a big God, an awesome God and a forgiving God. If we'll do our part (confess the sin), He will do His part (forgive). That's just the way He is. He's the God who forgives.

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Maker

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. - Psalm 95:6

When I think of the Lord as our maker, I meditate on creation.  To make a man from the dust of the ground is indeed a miraculous thing, and to make a woman from the rib bone of that man is extraordinary.  I'm reminded of an old joke where a couple of scientists held a meeting with God to inform Him they had reached His level of intelligence and power.  According to them, they had perfected the process of creation.  Just as God did thousands of years ago, they could create a human being from dirt.  God simply smiled and asked for a demonstration.  As the scientists began scraping dust from the ground, God shook His head and stated, "No, no.  Use your own dirt."  Sorry, but I think that's hilarious (which gives you insight to my warped sense of humor).  But, I digress.

The truth is, the Lord as our maker goes so far beyond creating us (as if that weren't fantastic enough).  God could have formed our bodies, filled us with breath, then said, "Okay, now you're on your own."  But He didn't.  He's with us always.  He's constantly working on us.  As the old children's song says, "He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be."  God is still making us.  He is making us stronger in His strength, wiser in His wisdom and more courageous through our faith in Him.  He is making us more like Jesus every passing day.  And He makes a way when it seems there is no hope.

Not only is He making us in the sense of creation and construction, but He's also making us in the sense of the word which means "to cause to act in a certain way."  In this instance, I think of Psalm 23:2 which says, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."  He makes me.  Why?  Well, let's face it, it's not really in our nature to be still and rest, is it?  We're busy.  Always on the go.  So much to do, so little time.  But for our own good, God makes us rest, just as a good parent makes their child go to bed even when the little one is declaring, "But I'm not sleepy!"

Interestingly enough, if you read through the rest of Psalm 95, the psalmist tells how God is our shepherd and discusses entering into His rest.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. - Psalm 95:7-11

Back in the book of Exodus, God made the children of Israel a promise that if they followed and obeyed Him, He would deliver them into the Promised Land.  He made a way of escape out of Egypt and a path through the Red Sea.  The Lord made food rain down from Heaven every day for forty years so they would never go hungry.  He made provision for their worship and sacrifices.  But despite His goodness, the people refused to follow Him, so He made them wander in the wilderness for forty years until all the unbelievers died off.  Then, and only then, was He able to make good on His promise.

Through this psalm, God is urging us not to make the same mistake.  We haven't arrived.  God is still working on us, but He's made us some promises, and God never lies.  However, we need to keep in mind that some of those promises are conditional promises ("if you..., then I'll...), and are dependent on our keeping up our end of the bargain.  Fortunately, God makes it easy for us to obey Him and follow Him.  He leads and guides with patience and understanding.  He gives us strength and provides us with what we need for the journey.  And through it all, He continues to work in and through us, making us what we ought to be.  Praise God for being our faithful maker!

Missing Out on the Power of Prayer

I recently began watching the new Netflix series, Anne With an E, which is based on the best-selling novel, Anne of Green Gables.  Since I enjoyed the book immensely, I had high hopes for the series, and thus far, I'm not disappointed.

There was, however, a particular part of the first episode that rubbed me the wrong way.  Anne, being an orphan the majority of her life, confessed to Marilla Cuthbert (her soon-to-be guardian) that she never said her prayers because she didn't know how.  When the young girl asked Marilla to teach her to pray, the middle-aged woman's instructions were short, sweet and somewhat lacking.  "First, you must kneel down," she said.  "Now thank the Lord for all your blessings, then tell Him what you want."  That was it!  That was her definition of prayer.  Give thanks and ask for your desires.

Sadly, I fear many of us are guilty of short-changing prayer in the same way.  Yes, it is good to thank the Lord for His many blessings, and we should do that regularly.  And yes, it's okay to ask God for our needs and even our wants.  However, prayer goes far beyond gratitude and a wish list.  Prayer is a chance to commune with a holy God.  It is the opportunity to sit and chat with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  It gives strength for the day and peace for the heart.  It provides fertile ground for growth in our spiritual walk and enlightens us by revealing more of God Himself.

Prayer is a war room experience where some of the fiercest battles of our lives take place.  It gives us the opportunity to tap into a power source far beyond our own.  And beyond what we gain from it, prayer also provides us with the chance to give.  We can offer ourselves to God.  We give our time and attention to what He has to say to us.  We show Him that He is preeminent in our lives by setting aside all else to spend time with Him.  We prove our trust and faith in Him by being still and resting in His presence.  Believe it or not, God enjoys the benefits of our time together as much as we do.

The Lord has been dealing with me about my prayer life a lot lately.  The topic seems to be popping up everywhere, even in my television shows.  From that, I glean that my prayer life is not what it should be, and after hearing what Marilla Cuthbert had to say about prayer, I realized I'm guilty of the same.  While I know that prayer is more than gratitude and a glorified wish list, my actions are not portraying that knowledge.  I don't know about you, but I think it's time we stop missing out on the power of prayer by reducing it down to a mere trickle of what it really is.  How much better would life be if we prayed fervently with the proper motives and attitude?  How would our lives change, or better yet, how much could we impact the lives of others?

Friends, there is power in prayer, but whether or not we tap into that power is our choice.  God is waiting to hear from us and speak to us.  Will we join Him?

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. - Luke 11:1

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Dwelling Place

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. - Psalm 90:1 

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. - Psalm 91:9-10

Today's post is going to be a little out of the ordinary.  When I was searching for the next title of God in the book of Psalms, I came to Psalm 90:1 which refers to the Lord as our dwelling place.  Feeling that the term was too similar to refuge, shelter and habitation (all of which we've already covered), I was going to skip it.  However, in the very next chapter, I came across the reference to God as our habitation and felt that perhaps the Lord wanted me to cover this topic again.

As I thought about what the Lord would have me to say about "dwelling place" that would be different than what I've already said, a song came to mind.  I haven't heard the song in many years, so some of the words refused to come to memory, but those that I did remember were perfect for today's message.  So, instead of a devotion today, I give you a song that describes what it means to have God as our dwelling place.  I pray you enjoy it!

Feeling at Home 
by Bill and Gloria Gaither

Feeling at home in the presence of Jesus 

Hearing Him call me His own 

Feeling at home, Feeling at home 

Putting my feet right under His table 

Knowing I won't be alone 

Just feeling at home, Feeling at home 

You couldn't have told me I'd find what I found 

Contentment and peace from above 

Feeling at home in the presence of Jesus 

Laying way back in His love 

Warming myself by the fires of His spirit 

Standing right next to the throne 

Just feeling at home, Feeling at home 

Feeling at home in the presence of Jesus 

Feeling happy and free 

Feeling at home, Feeling at home 

Feeling accepted. loved and forgiven 

A part of His great family 

Just feeling at home, Just feeling at home 

You couldn't have told me I'd find what I found 

Contentment and peace from above 

Feeling at home in the presence of Jesus 

Laying way back in His love 

Warming myself by the fires of His spirit 

Standing right next to the throne 

Just feeling at home, Feeling at home

Settling for Mediocre - A Repost

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. - Exodus 14:11-12

How often in our lives do we settle for mediocre simply because we're too afraid to take a risk on something better?  Here in Exodus, God is leading His people to the land of Canaan, a ripe, fertile land flowing with milk and honey.  In this paradise, the people would finally be free from their bondage to the Egyptians.  No more slavery.  No more mistreatment.  No more demeaning labor.  Freedom was within reach.  A new life, and a much better life was waiting at the end of the path of God's leading.  All they had to do was follow.  But no, even that was too difficult.

"Didn't we tell you to leave us alone, Moses?  We were fine in Egypt.  Yes, we were slaves and mistreated, but at least we were alive.  You've brought us here to die.  It would be much better if we were back in Egypt!"

The ingratitude is overwhelming, but more than that, the shortsightedness is astounding.  According to the Israelites, they only had two options:  die in the wilderness or be slaves in Egypt.  So what happened to God's plan--to journey to Canaan?  Why didn't God's plan figure into this equation?

I guess we could ask ourselves the same question, couldn't we?  After all, we know that God never intended for us to settle for mediocre lives.  He tells us so in John 10:10 when He says, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  Life is good.  Abundant life is better.  Existing in Egypt is one thing.  Living in paradise is quite another.  Yet, so often, we sell ourselves short because, like the Israelites, we're unwilling to face the journey.  

It's too hard.  

The road is too long.  

The way is too rough.  

Sacrifices will have to be made along the way, and this whole journey will require me to get out of my comfort zone.  I don't know if I'm really up to that.  I mean, yes, I'm currently a slave to my circumstances or my health or my finances (or fill in the blank), but I'm used to that.  I don't like it here, but at least everything is familiar.

The uncertainty of the trip is too overwhelming.

And all the while Canaan is in sight, if only we would take that step of faith and begin the journey.  Let's not miss out on the best that God has for us.  He has gone through great pains to make this journey possible, and He promises to lead us every step of the way.  All we have to do is follow.  

Don't look back.  Leave Egypt behind, and take that first step on the journey to God's best for your life.  My first step may seem different than yours, but that's okay.  You know what God wants you to do.  Follow His leading, and enjoy the journey of a lifetime!  It's time to stop settling for mediocre.

Who Do You Think I Am? - God Alone

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. - Psalm 86:10

God alone.  There is no other like Him.  No one else can do what He can do.  No one else can be all that He is.  If I counted correctly, we've already covered thirty-seven titles of God in the book of Psalms.  Thirty-seven words or phrases that describe Who God is and what He's capable of.  Who else could even come close?  Who else could be a King, a refuge, our strength, our hope, our buckler, our shield, our sun, our joy and so much more all at the same time?  Is there anyone else who could fill such a role?  Absolutely not!  Only God.

Only God loves with unconditional love.

Only God rules right and just without being swayed by wayward emotions.

Only God sees all, hears all, knows all.

Only God loves us enough to send His Son to die for our sins.

Only God can be everything we need every time we need Him.

Only God can hear and answer every prayer.

Only God can create something from nothing.

Only God controls all things.

Only God has enough compassion to forgive us time and time again.

I could keep this up all day, but I think you get the point.  Satan may try to imitate God, but he can't.  There is only one God, and that one God is my God!  He is truly indescribable, but that's not going to keep me from trying.

No other can take His place.  No other can meet our needs, answer our prayers or comfort our hearts.  We need God and God alone!

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Sun

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. - Psalm 84:11

As we drove to church Wednesday evening, we stared into the sun for much of the trip.  At first, I put my sunglasses on, and while it helped, the rays were still too intense for my sensitive eyes.  I pulled the visor down, and the visual assault was slightly diminished, but still, I was amazed at how bright the light of the sun was despite my attempts to block it out.

I'm reminded of the interaction between Moses and God in Exodus 33.  Moses asked if He could see God's face, but God replied that no one could see His face and live.  Instead, God placed Moses in the cleft of a rock and allowed him to view His hinder parts.  After this occurrence, Moses came down from the mountain to see the children of Israel, but they couldn't look at him because his face shone with the glory of God.  He had a severe case of spiritual sunburn!  All of that from merely viewing the hinder parts of God.  No wonder he couldn't see His face!

That brings me back to this study.  As much as we dig into these titles and characteristics of God, we're still only getting a glimpse of Who He is and what He has to offer.  Even if God revealed everything about Himself to us, I don't think we could process it.  It's too much for our finite minds to comprehend. He's too powerful.  Too awesome.  Too unexplainable. That being said, I still want to glean everything I can from these passages, so let's discuss how God is a sun.

1) The sun provides light. - As we've already discussed, God not only provides light; He is light.  By Him, we can see all things through eyes of faith.  We need not live in darkness.  We don't have to fear the shadows.  God is our sun.

2) The sun offers warmth. - When I think of warmth, my mind drifts back to my morning devotion time today.  My morning ritual is to stretch out on the chaise in the living room with my cozy blanket, a cup of hot tea, my Bible, devotional book, and journal.  I love my quiet morning time.  This morning, however, there was an addition to my routine—a 67-lb puppy stretch out in my lap, snoring contentedly.  Barnabas settled in, savoring the warmth and the companionship.  He found comfort and peace, and that's what I envision when I think of warmth.  Coziness.  Contentment.  Companionship.  And even compassion.

3) The sun gives life. - The earth would not exist without the sun.  We need it.  It nourishes the plants and animals.  It provides energy to all living things.  That big ball of burning gas offers something we cannot live without.  Similarly, God gives life.  Sure, there are some who deny Him and go it on their own, but are they really living?  Life without God is no life at all, for He provides something we cannot live without.

4) The sun promotes growth. - Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm the worst "plant person" in the world.  Somehow I even manage to kill artificial flowers.  I'm horrible with plants!  I love them, but evidently, they don't feel the same about me.  Despite my shortcomings, I know enough about them to realize they essentially need three things to survive:  soil, water, and sunlight.  Two of the three won't cut it.  They need them all, and when they receive these things, they not only blossom forth, but they grow into what they're intended to be (that is, of course, if I had nothing to do with their planting or care).  God promotes growth in our lives by exposing us to His Word, His promises and Himself.  The more we draw near to Him, the more like Him we will become.

For the sake of time, I'll stop at that, but I want you to take a moment and imagine life without the sun.  Supposing we could survive (which we couldn't), what would life be like?  How would it feel to live in total darkness?  Would we ever adjust to the cold?  Could we experience life, beauty or comfort?  Now, as horrible as that seems, let's take it one step farther.  Imagine life without God.  What would life be like?  How would you feel knowing you had to face all of life's situations on your own?  Could we experience life to the full?  I don't know about you, but I don't even want to think about it, and fortunately, I don't have to because there is a God.  And He is my God, my shield, and my sun.  Yes, He is the light of my life!

Who Do You Think I Am? - The God Who Does Wonders

Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. - Psalm 77:14

I love Psalm 77.  It is an honest look at a bad day (or stretch of days) for the Christian.  But more than that, it is a beautiful picture of what this entire study on the titles of God is all about.  It is about choosing to focus on God instead of the problem.  In it, we see the psalmist drastically shift his perspective.

In verses one through nine, Asaph pours out his heartache.  He whines.  He complains.  He even confesses that he's complaining.  He holds nothing back.  The pity party has officially begun.  But look at what happens in verses ten through twelve:  And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

It's as if Asaph flipped some mental switch, and suddenly he said, "This is my problem, but rather than focusing on it, I will remember Who God is and what He's done.  I will meditate on Him and His wondrous works."  That's exactly why I wanted to do this study!  When difficult situations arise, I want to do just as Asaph did.  I long to say, "Yes, things look dim, but I know God is my refuge, my strength, my fortress, my hope and on and on."  I want to focus on God instead of the problem.

In the remainder of the chapter, the psalmist spells out some of the wonders God had performed.  In essence, he was taking himself through a mental checklist of what God was capable of doing.  He was reminding himself of God's power and faithfulness, and we can do the same.  When we're staring down a boulder-sized problem, we can remember that God moves mountains.  When facing a sea of doubt or indecision, we can hold fast to the truth that God parts waters, calms waters and even walks on water.  Whatever the situation, there's a miracle in the Bible that displays God's power to overcome it.  Sickness?  No big deal.  Heartache?  He's got this.  Hunger?  He's the Bread of Life.  Death?  Yep, He has even defeated that foe.  There is nothing He cannot do.  No mountain is too big; no problem is too small.  He is the God that does wonders.

Notice the present tense in that verse.  The psalmist didn't say, "You are the God who did wonders" or "You are the God who used to do wonders."  No, he boldly declared, "You are the God who does wonders."  Miracles are not a thing of the past.  They were not reserved for those who lived in Biblical times.  Miracles occur every day.  Often, we're simply too focused on our problems to notice them.  But make no mistake, God is still working miracles.  He did back then. He does today.  And He will continue to perform mighty works in the future.  Cling to that truth when your situation seems impossible, for God specializes in impossible things.

For an in-depth look at some of the miracles of the New Testament, 

I encourage you to check out my book, He's Still Working Miracles.

Who Do You Think I Am? - The Strength of Our Heart

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. - Psalm 73:26

I realize we've already discussed God as our strength and our portion, but I want to cover the phrase "the strength of my heart," because while it is similar to strength as a whole, it is also very different.  To fully understand the concept, we must focus on the first part of the verse:  My flesh and my heart faileth.

Let's put that in today's terms.  I'm weary and tired.  I'm weak and frail.  I'm ready to give up, and my body is spent.  I'm sick in both spirit and body.  Can you relate?  Have you ever been to the place where you felt too tired and discouraged to keep going?  You knew you shouldn't quit, but to continue would take more strength and energy than you had.  That's where the psalmist finds himself.  Too weak to go on.  Too frustrated to keep trying.  Too helpless to do much of anything.

Fortunately, the psalmist had a hope to which he could cling.  He knew God and understood that when he was weak, that's when God was at His strongest.  Yes, the psalmist realized that God lay at the end of his strength and failures.  When he felt he didn't have what it took to carry on, He tapped into strength from another source.  But not just any strength.  Strength of the heart.

As I mentioned earlier, we've already discussed God as our strength in the sense that He gives us courage and makes us physically and spiritually strong.  But now, we see that God also makes us mentally and emotionally strong.  He not only provides us with the strength to fight the battles, but He also gives us the desire and motivation to do so.  God strengthens our hearts.  He gives us the will to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep on keeping on.  Without Him, we're doomed to fail.

Perhaps you're in a place right now where you feel you can't take another step.  Your body is tired and weary.  Your heart aches.  Your emotions are frayed.  Your eyes burn from the constant tears.  Your mind feels like some amusement park ride that spins you around and around.  You know you need to keep going.  You know it's never right to quit.  But you also know you have nothing left to give.  Your tank is empty.

If that's you, take comfort from the psalmist's reminder.  Even when your flesh and heart fail, you can depend on God to get you through.  It may not be quick or easy, but He will bring you to the other side of your suffering.  He will be the strength of your heart that provides what you need to keep pushing through.  Pushing through the pain.  Pushing through the doubt.  Pushing through the confusion and frustration.  No, there's no need to despair.  You can keep on keeping on.  You merely need to tap into the strength of your heart.  He's waiting.  All you need to do is ask.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - II Corinthians 12:9

Falling Apart or Falling into Place?

I'm taking another short break in our series in Psalms to share with you a lesson I learned this weekend.  As you know, Barnabas (our new dog) suffers from severe anxiety issues.  As he's gotten to know and trust us, he's gotten much better, but he still has a difficult time with separation anxiety. . .especially where Jason is concerned.  Yes, we realized that he reacts much better to my absence than he does to Jason's (talk about feeling loved!).

Anyway, in route to our hiking destination this past weekend, we needed to make a quick stop on the way.  Jason typically goes into the store, leaving me to sit with the dog in the car, but with Barnabas' issue, we've been swapping roles.  However, as we discussed this, we realized he would never learn if we didn't put him in the position to learn.  Here's the gist of what I said, "I know he gets upset and freaks out, but he will never figure out how to deal with these issues unless we make him face them.  I hate to do it to him because I know how anxious he gets, but I hope that, over time, he'll experience this type of situation enough to realize that everything is under control, and it's no big deal."

There's that heavenly thump in the back of my head.  The words came out of my mouth, but I heard them in a different voice altogether.  Instead of me talking to Jason about Barnabas, it was as if God was speaking to Jesus about me.  "Yes, I know she gets upset and freaks out, but she will never figure out how to deal with these issues unless we make her face them.  I hate to do it to her because I know how anxious she gets, but I hope that, over time, she'll experience this type of situation enough to realize that everything is under control, and it's no big deal."

I learned that exposure to stressful situations is not some cruel, cosmic joke or some form of punishment for the wrong I've done but rather a teaching experience.  Through this experience with Barnabas, I feel I better understand what it means to go through tough times and what God expects from us.  He hopes we will learn, grow, and increase our faith.  He doesn't long to see us tired, weary and anxious, but He knows it's the only way we'll learn to trust Him fully.  Sometimes, the only way to overcome a problem is to face it head-on time and again until we are victorious.

Barnabas is figuring this out as well.  Jason went in the store, and while our poor pup pitched a bit of a fit, it was a smaller tantrum than it had been in times past.  We also made another stop on the way home.  This one was longer, but Barnabas did reasonably well.  He's learning.  He's understanding that he doesn't have to freak out every time he's unsure of what's taking place.  He's beginning to comprehend we love him and have his best interest at heart.  It may take several more tries before the fits stop altogether, but progress is progress, so I'm happy.

I wonder, though, can God say the same about me?  Am I learning?  Am I understanding?  I believe I am.  No, I haven't arrived, but progress is progress, and God is still working on me.  He's still working on you too, so don't despair when you find yourself in difficult straits.  Know that He loves you enough to do what's necessary to help you grow.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: - Philippians 1:6

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Hope

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. - Psalm 71:5

What is hope?  In the days in which we live, the word "hope" seems to have a limited meaning compared with its usage several years ago.  For many, the word "hope" is synonymous with the word "wish." I hope it doesn't rain.  I hope I get the job.  I hope the deposit goes through before the bills come out.  I hope.  I wish.  I desire. I want these things to happen, but in truth, it's only wishful thinking.

But if you look up the word "hope," you'll discover that it means "to cherish a desire with anticipation, to desire with expectation of obtainment, or to expect with confidence." It goes far beyond wanting to the realm of expecting. And it is this genuine hope that is one of the greatest gifts God bestows upon us.

When viewing God as our hope, however, we must be careful that we accept Him as our expectation and not merely consider our expectations of Him.  In other words, we must beware against expecting God to be at our beck and call, treating Him as some genie in a magical lamp.  We must also guard against expecting Him to do for us things He never promised He would do.  These types of expectations only lead to doubt, discouragement, and disappointment.  We cannot expect God to be what we want Him to be.  On the other hand, there are many things we can expect from God—all of which have Scriptural backing.

With God as our hope, we can expect the following:

God will always be God. - Psalm 48:14

God is good. - Psalm 145:9

God is just. - Deuteronomy 32:4

God is holy. - Revelation 4:8

God will fulfill all His promises. - II Peter 3:9

God will never leave us or forsake us. - Hebrews 13:5

God will always love us. - Romans 8:38-39

God will come again and take those of us who are saved to Heaven to live with Him eternally. - John 14:2-3

God can be trusted. - Psalm 22:4-5

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

God is not a respecter of persons. - Romans 2:11

God is in control. - Job 12:10

Yes, in these truths (and many more), we can have confidence.  We can expect God to be true to His nature, and in that, He is our hope, and He gives us hope.  Hope for a brighter tomorrow.  Hope for a beautiful future.  Hope for answered prayers and wiped away tears.  Hope to live and breathe day after day.  Hope to be all He wants us to be.

My mind drifted away for a moment to a line from my favorite television show.  In the midst of a dark situation, one of the leading characters asks the wise physician, "Is there no hope?  No hope at all?"  The physician answered, "My lady, there is always hope."  Amen to that!  God is eternal.  He has no beginning or end.  And if God is hope (which according to today's verse, He is), then hope is also eternal, with no beginning or end.  Yes, as long as there is God, there is hope!

Activate Your Faith

Activate your faith.  What a simple, yet profound statement.  I heard it proclaimed yesterday at a ladies' meeting.  The speaker spoke of how the phrase changed her life, and in the moments after she said it, I realized it was going to change mine as well.

I had always compared my faith to an automatic function like that of the adrenal gland.  The adrenal gland is the part of the body that senses danger or excitement and automatically activates to send the body into "fight or flight" mode.  You know--adrenaline rush.  This process is not something we have to think about.  When being confronted by a frightening situation, we don't have to tell our hearts to beat faster.  It just happens.  It's a reaction.  It works the way God intended for it to work.   It's our bodies' automatic response.

Faith is not like that at all, and until yesterday, I hadn't really thought about it.  To be honest, I've often felt that I must be the lousiest believer on the planet because every time stormy circumstances come my way, I find myself running for cover instead of braving the winds.  Faith?  What faith?  Why can't I be like Paul who boldly said, "Infirmities.  Persecutions.  Trials.  Bring it on.  It's no big deal"?  What? Are you insane?  Of course it's a big deal.

But now I understand the difference between Paul and myself.  Paul activated his faith; I've merely been waiting for mine to automatically kick in.  It just doesn't work that way.  Activating our faith takes time, effort and a willingness to be uncomfortable for a little while.  Activating our faith requires us to study, memorize and claim God's promises.  It requires us to be on guard against the deadly darts of the devil such as destructive thoughts and attitudes, "little sins," and feelings of envy or bitterness.  It requires a conscious decision of "No, I will not give in.  No, I'm not running this time."  And it requires us to give up the reins.  We must stop trying to live our lives by our plans and agendas, and must instead completely surrender to God.  (I never said this would be easy!)

Activate your faith.  It doesn't work on auto-pilot.  And the process will not be an easy one.  But I guarantee you this:  it will be rewarding!

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. - Hebrews 11:6


*Excerpt from Rise Up and Build Devotional:  52 Inspirational Thoughts for Dealing with Anxiety and Depression

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Habitation

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. - Psalm 71:3

While we haven't yet discussed the term "habitation," we have looked at its meaning through several of the other terms we've studied thus far.  The word "habitation" refers to a dwelling place, a refuge, a safe place, or a place in which we can abide.  God is that place.  In Him, we are protected from harm, but more than that, we can be ourselves and be at rest.  In Him, we are free to be comfortable and at peace.  In fact, He longs for us to feel at home in His presence.

As if all of that weren't awesome enough, look at the descriptive phrase that follows the word "habitation" in the verse above—whereunto I may continually resort.  The word "resort" means "to enter into," and I think we all know what "continually" means.  God is not just a place we can sometimes go.  He's not just a refuge in the storm or a habitation during the good times.  He is always available to us.  We may enter into His presence continually.  As often as we'd like.  As many times as we need.  He will never turn us away.  Never will He give us a dismissive wave of His hand.  On the contrary, every time we are welcomed with open arms and a loving smile.  He never grows weary of our company or wishes we would go away.

As I think on this, I'm reminded of the events that took place moments after my return from my prayer walk this morning.  I slipped out while Barnabas was eating his breakfast, so the leaving was fairly simple.  However, I didn't make it back until after Jason had left for work, which meant poor Barnabas had been alone for about thirty minutes.  He doesn't like to be alone.

Anyway, I opened the door and found an empty house.  Within seconds, fifty-five pounds of black dog came tearing through the doggie door and hurried to my side.  I led him to the couch and sat down.  Suddenly, all I could see was dog.  Evidently, he missed me enough that sitting next to me was not sufficient.  He had to sit in my lap.  For the next several minutes, we sat on the couch together—his massive body curled up in my lap, eating up whatever attention I gave him.  And while I felt my legs might break under the weight, I felt happy and loved and appreciated.  Whether I'm gone five minutes or five hours, the welcome is generally the same.

I imagine that's how it is with God.  Whether we last spoke to Him an hour ago or a week ago, He can't wait to hear from us again.  No matter the last time we were in His presence, He longs to see us again.  And every time we go to Him, He welcomes us with that love and affection that makes us feel happy, loved and appreciated, even though we're not worthy of any of that.

What a privilege to know God is always available to us, and we can abide in His presence continually.  We never have to leave, and if we do, it's our choice.  But know this, we are always allowed to return.  God is our habitation, and He wants all of His children to come home.

Who Do You Think I Am? - The Almighty

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. - Psalm 68:14

I realize that the verse itself seems odd, especially out of context, but we're going through the titles of God in the book of Psalms, and it wouldn't be right to skip "Almighty," which is derived from the Hebrew word "Shadday" or "Shaddai."  El Shaddai--the Almighty God.

The name "El Shaddai" is first used in Genesis 17:1-2, when God promises to make of Abraham a great nation.  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

Notice God proclaims Himself mighty and then makes a claim only One of unlimited power could bring about.  God is speaking to Abram at the age of 99.  His wife, Sarai, is 90, and they have no children.  Yet God is promising to make an entire nation from the seed of Abram.  What seed?  Sarai was barren, and it was certainly too late for them to start a family.  Wasn't it?  Not for the Almighty, the One who can provide, sustain, bless, nourish, supply and satisfy.  There is nothing beyond His power.  There is no task too difficult, no circumstance too overwhelming.  No, there is nothing He can't do.

The name El Shaddai is used many more times throughout the Bible (mostly in the Old Testament) and is usually found within a passage where God is making grand claims or promises.  For the Almighty God, no claim is too wild, no promise too vast.  And fortunately, God is also One to be trusted, for each of His promises have come to pass.  Each claim has been verified save for the ones dealing with His imminent return, the tribulation, and millennial kingdom, but we can be assured by His track record, that those claims will be proven true as well (and probably sooner than we imagine).

In this world of trouble and sorrow, isn't it good to know our God is all-powerful and all-sufficient?  Don't you find comfort in knowing there is no problem too big for Him?  What a blessing to know this Almighty God is also gentle enough to care for us with tender nourishment and provision.  Through El Shaddai, we can be blessed and satisfied.  We can put our trust in the One who will never let us down, the One who can give us above and beyond all we can ask or think.  The trick to putting our trust in the Almighty God, however, is that we must first recognize our own insufficiency.  We must realize and accept that we do not have the strength or power to provide for and nourish ourselves as God can.  There comes a point when we've done all we can do.  Beyond that, there is El Shaddai.

He wants to help us.  He wants to provide for us.  He wants us to find satisfaction in the presence of His power and might.  Call on Him.  Lean on Him.  Get reacquainted with this God above all gods.  Who knows?  You may discover more about Him than you ever dreamed possible.

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Confidence

By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: - Psalm 65:5

God is our confidence.  In Him, we can be assured.  Why?  The rest of the chapter sheds some light on that.  If we read on, we'll see how God cares for His creation.  He sends rain (which we are experiencing this week in my neck of the woods) to water the earth and aid the plants in their growth.  He calms the winds and waves.  He cares for the crops and provides food for His children and the animals.  He rules the day and night with rejoicing.  Yes, the heavens declare the glory of God.

So, what does that have to do with us?  How does that portray God as our confidence?  It's quite simple.  If God can do all that (and He can), don't you think He can take care of your problem no matter how big it is?  He made all things and controls all things.  There is nothing so small that it escapes His notice and nothing so great that it surpasses His power.  He is God!  He spoke, and the world came into being.  He spoke to the winds and waves, and they calmed.  Surely, we can be confident that His words can calm our troubled souls and create a solution to our problem.  He has proven Himself faithful time and again; therefore, we can place our confidence in Him.

But more than that, we have access to Him as our confidence, meaning when we face our trials, we don't cower or tremble in fear.  Instead, we stand fast.  We look that giant right in the eye and boldly say, "I'm not afraid of you.  With God on my side, I can't lose!"  God Himself becomes the confidence we need to face any situation.  Because we trust Him, we do not need to fear.  God's got this—no matter what "this" is.  The rest of creation has no trouble having confidence in God.  Why should we be any different?

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?...Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. - Psalm 27:1,3

Who Do You Think I Am? - The God of Our Mercy

The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. - Psalm 59:10

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. - Psalm 59:17

Not once, but twice in the span of a few verses, David declared God as the God of his mercy.  Notice the wording there.  It's easy to read right through that and see "God of mercy," which God certainly is, but that's not what it says.  It says "the God of my mercy."  To understand the meaning, we need to comprehend the storyline in which this psalm takes place.

At this point, King Saul has just tried to kill David because of his jealousy over the people's loyalty to David.  Even though Saul didn't know about David's secret anointing as the next king, he felt threatened by David's abilities and growing popularity.  So, he sought to kill him, and David had to sneak out of his own house to save his life.  It is in the midst of this turmoil and chaos that David wrote Psalm 59.

If anyone had cause to get even, it was David.  If anyone felt the need to strike back against those who had wronged him, it was the psalmist.  But instead, we find him thanking God for not only giving him mercy but also for instilling mercy in him to show unto others.  We know from later events that David was not above premeditated murder.  The people were for him long before he was king.  He had already been promised the kingdom.  All he had to do was get rid of Saul—the man who had just tried to kill him.  He could have staged a palace coup.  He could have taken matters into his own hands and sought retaliation beyond self-preservation.  But instead, he showed mercy.  And in the myriad of emotions that consumed David during this time, the psalmist felt led to note that the desire to show mercy had to come from God because it certainly didn't stem from the flesh.

Matthew Henry put it this way:  "It is very comfortable to us, in prayer, to eye God, not only as the God of mercy but as the God of our mercy, the author of all good in us and the giver of all good to us."  We are nothing in and of ourselves, and nothing good resides within us save the Holy Spirit (for those who are saved, of course).  Any good that we do comes directly from Him.  He is the source of the compassion we show to the needy, the love we portray to the unlovable and the mercy we pour out upon the undeserving.  That is, after all, what mercy is.  It is the act of giving goodness and forgiveness to those who don't deserve it.  Just as God pours out His mercy upon us day after day, so does He expect us to do the same for others.  As we are forgiven, so should we forgive.

One last thing I want to point out is this:  in verse 10 of chapter 59, the psalmist says,  The God of my mercy shall prevent me.  The word "prevent" here means "to go before," which leads us to conclude that the God of our mercy will go before us.  That alone is worthy of praise, but if we'll look at the familiar passage of Psalm 23, verse 6 tells us, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  Now mercy is following us.  Mercy ahead.  Mercy behind.   God's mercy and the God of mercy Himself have us surrounded.  There is no escape, not that we would want to.  But it's also imperative to remember that mercy is within us if we have the Spirit of God; therefore, we should be givers of that great mercy and not receivers only.

While David was far from perfect, in this, he did well.  Until his dying day, he loved and respected Saul.  Despite Saul's many attempts on David's life, the psalmist allowed mercy to flow.  Will we do the same?

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Defense

Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. - Psalm 59:9

Sometimes, life is just not fair.  People let us down.  Circumstances arise that are unfair and unjust.  Enemies come against us. During these times, it's a comfort to know that we don't have to take matters into our own hands.  We can leave it up to God.  He is our defense.  He will avenge our wrongs.  He'll take care of things in His way and in His time, and I can guarantee you He'll do a much better job than we ever could.  Besides, who are we to act as judge and jury?  If you recall from yesterday's lesson, that's not our place.  It's God's.  The Bible tells us as much: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)

In essence, God is saying, "You let me handle the bad guys.  As for you, kill them with kindness."  Those are our orders.  Are we going to follow them?  We might as well.  We'd certainly be better off.  After all, God's got our backs.  He is our defense.  Let's turn the problem over to Him and leave it there!

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Judge

And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah. - Psalm 50:6

Picture with me, if you will, a courtroom.  On one side, the plaintiff sits behind a large wooden desk, a sneer on his face.  The plaintiff is none other than Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).  He has an extensive list of accusations to present to the high and holy Judge, God Himself.  On the opposite side of the courtroom, you—the defendant—wiggle in your chair.  You have no case, and you know it.  You're guilty.  You committed those sins, told those lies, omitted that prayer time.  As the Judge enters the courtroom, you sink lower in your chair, dreading those imminent words, "Guilty as charged" and the sentence surely to follow.

Before the proceedings begin, another form enters the courtroom and makes His way to your side.  Smiling at you, He places a reassuring hand on your shoulder and whispers, "Don't fear, child.  I'll take care of this.  I'm here to represent you."  Once your Attorney is seated, the Judge calls for the court to proceed.

Satan gives his opening statement, and then, in a flurry of activity, presents a list of faults.  His witnesses agree with his accusations, and why wouldn't they?  They're true.  By the time he's finished, you're shaking and feel ready to faint.  Turning back toward his seat, he sneers at you once again and mutters to your Attorney, "You're up."

Unruffled by the plaintiff's taunts, Jesus stands and directs His words to the Judge and Him alone.  "If I may, Your Honor, I have something to show the court that will prove this child's innocence and right to be free."

The Judge nods.

You move to the edge of your seat, confused yet curious.  What could this man possibly have that would prove your innocence?  You're not innocent.  Never have been, never will be.  Without a word, Jesus turns to the courtroom and holds out His nail-pierced Hands.  He stands quietly as gasps are heard throughout the room at the sight of the gruesome wounds. Then, with a clear, soft voice, your Attorney turns back to the Judge.  "While my client is not innocent of wrongdoing, I submit to the court that his sentence has already been served.  I paid his debt when I died on the cross for his sins and the sins of all others.  I urge the court to recognize this payment for sins committed and declare my client free."

The courtroom is silent as Jesus returns to His seat.  Satan is now the one wiggling around in his chair.  For the first time since the proceedings began, he looks unsure and unconfident.  The Judge looks down at you and smiles.  "Based on the evidence, I declare you 'Not Guilty.' You are free to go."

"But that's not fair," Satan cries.  The Judge turns to him with eyes of fire, and the plaintiff takes two steps back and lowers his gaze.  "One day," the Judge declares, "I will bear your accusations no more.  Do not forget Who's in charge around here."  And with that, Satan slinks out of the courtroom, leaving you alone to thank your Attorney and the Judge who allowed justice to be done.

What an awesome scene, huh?  While the elements may be fictitious, there is much truth in this story.  Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and He loves nothing better than to point out our faults both to God and to us.  Likewise, Jesus is our Representative.  No matter what we have done or will do, He only has to show that He has already paid the debt for our sins, and God, the Great Judge, has no choice but to proclaim us "Not Guilty."

So, you see, not only is God our Judge, but He is also our defense attorney, and that's still not all.  Isaiah 33:22 tells us, For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.  Not only is God the One who enforces the laws, but He's the one who creates them in the first place.  Who better to be the Judge than the one Who made the rules?  This ensures real justice.  There are no loopholes.  We cannot accuse the Judge of misinterpreting the law or misjudging the situation.  How fitting that the One who knows all, sees all and hears all is also the One Who judges all.  And He does judge all.  I know it often seems like many people are getting away with things, but I promise you, there will be a payday.  God is the Judge, and justice will be served!

Who Do You Think I Am? - Our Guide

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. - Psalm 48:14

Imagine, for a moment, that you are being led by a guide down a dark path.  Not only is the path itself dark, but everything around you remains unseen.  There is no light, no hint about what's surrounding you except for what the guide tells you.  Led by the guide's unseen hand, you stumble along, hoping that he won't let you fall.  At one point, the guide stops and whispers to you, "You are now surrounded by ultimate beauty.  I know you can't see it, but I assure you, it's absolutely amazing."  You search the darkness for any sign, any indication that your guide is being truthful, but all you see is darkness.  So, you have a choice to make.  You can carry on blinded by the dark, or you can take the guide at his word and envision yourself in a place that is beautiful beyond description.  What do you do?  What have you already chosen?

You see, this is not a fairy tale; it's life!  Many times the path before us is dark and unfamiliar, and we are forced to carry on with nothing but the direction of our Guide.  Led by His unseen hand, He assures us we are safe and that, even in the darkest of valleys, we're surrounded by beauty.  The beauty of grace.  The beauty of mercy.  The beauty of a God at work.  But we can't see it.  We only see the darkness.  And we must decide how to carry on.  We can continue stumbling in the dark, believing that this is all there is, or we can choose to take our Guide at His word and trust that there is beauty beyond what these earthly eyes can see.  Either choice will keep us moving forward, but only one of them will lighten our hearts and put a spring in our step.  The choice is up to us.

Are you trusting in the unseen hand of your Guide?

Who Do You Think I Am? - The Health of Our Countenance

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. - Psalm 43:5

They say the key to a healthy smile is proper dental habits such as brushing, flossing, regular exams and the like.  But according to Psalm 43:5, a healthy smile involves much more than oral care.  It requires spirit care.

In Psalm 42 and 43, we find David talking to himself (glad I'm not the only one who does that).  He's downcast and upset, frustrated and discouraged.  Or, the way I like to put it, he was in a funk.  Ever been there?  You can't place your finger on the cause of your mood, but whatever reason, you just feel down.  You want to cry but don't have the energy.  You long to feel better but don't know how.  And, if you're like the psalmist and me, you question yourself.  "What is wrong with me?  Why do I feel this way?  Why is my soul disquieted?  Why don't I feel peace?"

Without an answer to our myriad of questions, we typically end the conversation and go about our mopey way, but David doesn't.  He stops the questioning and begins a pep rally.  "Don't be sad, soul.  Hope in God.  Think about all He's done.  Remember Who He is.  Focus on Him not the problem because, as He has promised, this too will pass, and then I'll be praising Him for bringing the smile back to my face."

The health of our countenance.  The reason for our smile.  Let's face it, there are many things in life to cause a frown, a tear and even a sob.  Sickness, disease, job loss, financial struggles, marriage issues and on and on.  But what the psalmist is reminding us is no matter what life throws our way, we always have a reason to smile.  We can always hope in God because He has proven Himself worthy time and again.  Remember, He isn't affected by our trials like we are.  At no point during our predicament does God feel unable, unconfident or lacking.  He's God.  The Almighty.  The Everlasting.  The all-powerful One.  He's got this, no matter what "this" is.  And with our thoughts on Him rather than on our problems, we can smile.

In the Bible, the word "countenance" typically refers to the face, often in connection with the expression on the face.  Our countenance says a lot about us.  In fact, it says more about us than words do.  A troubled expression on the face of a Christian tells others we don't believe what we say we believe.  A constant frown indicates mistrust and disbelief in God and His promises.  A smile, on the other hand, conveys that, even when circumstances are not ideal, we will hope in God because He can be trusted.

So, you see, a healthy smile doesn't begin with a toothbrush (though I encourage you to use one daily); it starts with the eyes.  Where are we looking?  Are we focused on the problem or the Problem Solver?  One results in a downcast soul and weary heart.  The other brings about a smile that reflects the genuine peace within.

The purse I'm currently using has a picture of Eeyore, the gloomy donkey from Winnie the Pooh.  In big letters, it reads, "This is my happy face."  Of course, being Eeyore, the countenance looks anything but happy, hence the humor of the saying.  However, it's not as cute in real life.  So, I ask you, are you wearing your happy face, and if so, can others tell it's your happy face?

What's at the Root of Your Anxiety Issues?

The Lord has a sense of humor.  As most of you know, I am not the calmest or most logically thinking individual.  Perhaps that's why the Lord inspired me to write a book for those like me who often find themselves anxious or depressed.  Perhaps that's also the reason God entrusted to me a new loveable mutt who has anxiety issues.  Yes, our new family member, Barnabas, is just like me.  When faced with the unknown or unfamiliar, he resorts to either pitching a fit or crying like a baby.  Yep!  Just.  Like.  Me.

As I prayed for wisdom and peace to train Barnabas so he'll realize he's safe and loved, I had to laugh.  It's all too much like the blind leading the blind.  Yes, I've come a long way with my anxiety issues, but seeing Barnabas' behavior over the past several days has made me realize I still have a long way to go.  His anxiety is making me anxious.  Please don't misunderstand.  He's a wonderful, loving dog who wants to please, but like most animals from the shelter, he has a few trust and anxiety issues.  Or perhaps it would be better to say he has anxiety issues that stem from a lack of trust.  He hasn't been with us long enough to understand that we'll take good care of him.  He doesn't know yet that we have his best interest at heart when we correct him or try to train him in the way he needs to behave.  He doesn't understand yet that our love for him doesn't depend on his behavior.  And so, he's skittish.  Leery.  Suspicious.  Yet hopeful.

As I examine his behavior and the reasons behind it, I can only nod in understanding.  Been there, done that.  Just like Barnabas, my anxiety issues stem from a lack of trust.  It's taken me a while to understand that my Master will take good care of me.  It's sometimes difficult for me to remember that He has my best interest at heart, even when He has to correct me or train me in the way I should go.  Sometimes I forget my Master's love for me isn't dependent on my behavior.  And so, I'm anxious.  Too afraid to trust in what I should already know.

Fortunately, my Master is patient and kind, and He will never give up on me.  No matter how trying it may be.  No matter how much time it takes.  His love for me is so great that He will continue to work with me and on me until I know and understand, without a doubt, how much He loves me.  Likewise, I will do the same with Barnabas.  It may cost some time, lack of sleep, and a few tears (both his and mine), but I know we'll get through this because our love holds true.  And when we're done, that sweet mutt of mine will know, without a doubt, how much we love him!

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: - Philippians 1:6

Need help with your anxiety?  Rise Up and Build can help!