Yearning for God in the Midst of Distress

Psalm 43:5 - Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 42:5,11 - Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Three times the writer called out to the LORD. That truly is yearning for God. While it is not absolutely known who wrote these two psalms, it is supposed to be more of David's. The title in my Bible for Psalm 43 is Yearning for God in the Midst of Distress. 

I've noticed lately my blogs have taken on a heavier note. I had mentioned this to someone I hardly even knew the other day. Being a fellow believer she confirmed my innermost thought that, despite distress, we have this hope referred to in these three scriptures. 

I go through times of distress like anyone else and I believe I just came out of one of those times. It was a type of oppression in my spirit which I wonder manifested itself in physical ailments. It's at times like this that we are to look to God and rely on Him to get us through. He is so there for us. He stands constantly at the door of our hearts, knocking, wanting us to open the door for Him. I finally called out to Him and I believe He heard. All that is gone. 

I've mentioned this previously: There is an old picture of Jesus standing at a door and knocking. If you Google that description you will see images of Him standing at a door...without a door knob on His side! (I have seen some with knobs. I wonder if the artist might have missed the spiritual significance of the scripture.) He will not enter in unless we invite Him. But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:8-9)

The word is near us...the Word who is Jesus is near us always, waiting for the next person to call on His name for deliverance. I'm so glad I responded to His call. I rejected Him big time long ago. It's hard to believe I have changed my stance and how grateful I am. 

There are distressing days occurring. Many don't understand what's happening but they sense it. I'm believing it's during these times some will seek God. There will always be those who will not because they think what we see is just another hiccup in life. Time will tell.

King David knew of distress. He had sinned against God yet God still looked at him as a man after His own heart. If He will do that for him, He will do that for anyone else. When we call on the name of the Lord, He saves us. In the King James Version of these psalms it reads: ...for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Health is defined as: salvation, deliverance, victory.

We have victory in Jesus, as the old hymn goes. He can be our salvation forever. He has gone through the agony of seeking and buying us through His blood shed on the cross, all which He did voluntarily, without complaint, because he loves us with an everlasting love. He is our Deliverer. So I will praise His name forever. My hope is in Him.

If anyone's heart is distressed, for any reason, He is a better choice than alcohol, drugs, psychiatrists, even taking one's own life, to ease the pain. If a person's heart is truly desiring a change, Jesus is the answer.

Psalm 18:2, 19:14 - The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Victory

1Corinthians 15:56-58 - The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

We have seen victory in our political arena. Conservatives over liberals; Republicans over Democrats. And I am even prouder to be from a state where our second term governor, Scott Walker's, opening remarks from his acceptance speech were: First off I want to thank God. I want to thank God for His abundant grace and mercy. Win or lose, it is more sufficient for each and every one of us.

This is what I'd like to hear more out of the mouths of political candidates. While I'm glad of the outcome of these elections across the nation and in Washington, it doesn't necessarily mean a nation intending to bring God back into the center of things.

I still do not fully trust a man in leadership in government. I still trust in God first and foremost. This is where true victory is. This is where absolute truth is. This is Who knows exactly what each of us really needs. This is Who holds our eternal future in His hands.
Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. (‭Psalms‬ ‭146‬:‭3,5-7‬)  He who has the truth, who will execute judgment on the last day, who gives us the bread of life and freedom from sin and death.

Yes, we live in this world and it is important that we have a world that holds to right standards. Neither Republicans nor Democrats is 100% correct, or honest for that matter. But it helps to lean a little more to the "right" side of things. However, we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as true Lord and Savior, God of all, know we are not to keep our focus on the things of the world but the things of heaven...and that can be evidenced in our voting. We are to keep focused on Jesus Christ and what He has done for us, how through Him we have victory over sin and death. Praise the Father, Praise the Son!

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (‭1John‬ ‭5‬:‭1,4-5‬)

Government can't save us. But Jesus Christ can. It's that simple. I'm thankful for those politicians who have some understanding of this. I'm thankful for those who thank God not just because they believe some will like hearing it but truly mean it, who live godly lives apart from their political ones. Too few and far between.

We can have true victory...through Jesus Christ. This is true victory:

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice.  Selah [think on this]
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the 
LORD fulfill all your petitions.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call. (‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭1-9‬)

Two Steps Forward

Psalm 16:11 - You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

I have been silent for awhile. I have had to make two very big decisions and isn't it odd they would come at the same time! Two steps forward, even though they might for a time seem like steps you wouldn't want to take at all. You wish they just didn't have to be. While I'm not exactly ready to reveal them, I think I can at least express my feelings about them. Perhaps you have decisions to make and wonder what might happen if you do.

Those who know Jesus knows He opens doors and closes them as well as gives and takes. Most people don't even realize when doors are being opened and closed. They just figure it's part of life. Others don't realize that God is the One who gives and takes away. But when you know Jesus, you can also know that He is right there beside you.

When you know the One who orders our steps, although there can be a bit of trepidation, you can also trust the Person guiding those steps. We who trust in the Lord know that even though the steps we must continue to take in life are sometimes hard, there is always something good on the other side.

God never wants us to just remain content where we are. He is always urging us to move forward, to press on in Him for the prize. He always wants us to grow in Him. Of course there are things in life that are not always God-centered, but also a part of what He has given to us. He gives…and He can take away.

I just know that going through the difficult times is part of the journey. Sometimes we go through to come out in victory. Sometimes we are removed immediately from something and are victorious. Sometimes we are victorious even if we are not taken out of the circumstance. With God we are victorious. Period.

With God, the grass is always greener on the other side of "whatever" because we can trust Him to guide, protect and comfort. Psalm 23 has several comforting verses: He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...(verses 2,3,6). In Him these things hold true.

We are called by faith to follow Him and trust Him with whatever we are going through or wherever He wants us to go. If we knew everything that was laid out before us, where would the trust in Him be? He builds us up in our faith and trust when we don't see what's on the other side. If we take the first step to do this He will guide, restore, give goodness and mercy, and give us green pastures in which to rest.

Sometimes issues of life will draw us closer to Him, too. It's like resting in that green pasture. Praise our God that He longs for us all to do this!

If there is something of which you are in the midst, trust Him for the outcome. If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, it's easier to trust. If you don't know Jesus, now is the time to take the opportunity to do so. It's as easy as calling on Him to make Himself known to you. If you are sincere in your request this is what you will realize: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) His desire is for you to know Him, know His love, know His mercy, know His faithfulness in all your circumstances and know that in Him you will have victory.

1Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Another Reminder!

Exodus 11:6-7 - Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

Once again I pondered things in my heart. One day last week I wondered how, in the real day of trouble, God would protect His children. How would I know if I have enough knowledge and strength? Would I be found doubting?

As usual, I know the Lord was hearing my thoughts. He led me to think on some promises: He will never leave us or forsake us; He protects those who call Him their God; He is our provider. Oh, I know those promises...but HOW would I know when or how He would provide?

So the question came to mind, why do we doubt? The answer: because we are human. Another possible answer for some: because some of us have never undergone some of the difficulties others have. 

In the above scripture you can substitute Egypt with the world and Israel with God’s children. These events in Exodus were experienced and expressed that we might have an example of God’s faithfulness.

Well, since the time of my wondering, I have received three teachings to confirm that God will protect His children, those who call Him their LORD. Not that I didn't already know some of this! 

The first one came the morning after my questions. I was reading in Exodus (Chapters 11-15) about the departure of Israel out of Egypt, all done by the mighty hand of God. I won’t go into detail about the symbolism of how they escaped God’s wrath on Egypt. Read those  chapters if you want specifics. Just know this: It was by God’s command, and His Word, and the shed blood of an unblemished lamb that Israel, His people, His children, escaped the burden of slavery in Egypt and went on their way to their Promised Land, the land promised to His people by God. 

Jesus is our Word, the Word of God, He was the spotless Lamb of God who shed His blood that we would be taken out of the world and satan’s slavery, into our Promised Land in Heaven. The land promised to us if we choose to follow the Way that God has provided through Jesus Christ.

All that to say that God protected them. They saw miracle after miracle by His hand against Pharaoh and Egypt, but they were not affected by any of them! And amazingly, three days later they forgot and complained about not having water! What’s that all about?? They actually saw His miracles and were saved from their enemy’s hands! How could they? But this is where my doubts come in. I, we, have not experienced in our lives times, such things as recession, depression, hunger or need. We, for the most part, have had anything we ever wanted.

I’ve said this before and I’ll continue to say it...we are living in troubling times. Some may believe that we will bounce back from any calamity, but I believe we are experiencing what the Bible tells us is the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). We are seeing natural disasters more frequently, governments and nations teetering, morality at it’s low point only to get worse, if that’s possible. God is unhappy...

But God...has promised that He will watch over those He calls His children. We may not ever have an answer to the how He will provide, but we can know He will. This is where faith and trust come in. I believe we have not yet seen disaster like Israel experienced in Egypt. We’ve had our freedom in this nation. If that’s taken away...disaster might arise. 

Then in Sunday school we talked about being victorious in this world if we proclaim the name of Jesus, are sealed by His blood, know His Word and know what His promises are for us. As we were in prayer the words came to me: remember, your name means victorious! Yes, my name--Laurie--a derivative of laurel, means victory. And He first chose us to be victorious. We need to remember He first chooses us; what a privilege. God tells us we are victorious, triumphant, if we have chosen Christ, and become overcomers because of Him.

Then our sermon! More on provision and protection. God’s plans are to prosper us, take care of us even though the winds of change blow into our lives, Pastor Rory Grooters told us. Sometimes we don’t make the right choice and we walk out of the provision and protection, but sometimes it’s because someone else chooses to make the wrong choice and we are affected by it. But God...still provides in spite of anything that may happen in our lives to bring upset...if we call ourselves children of God.

God is always in control. If we truly believe that and we truly know that we are called His children, that is His promise to us. We need not be afraid, nor do we need doubt. If Jesus could walk on water, He can calm the storm in our lives--till the end of the age. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. There are reminders all throughout the Bible of His provision.

Pastor Rory also told us, in addition to God being in control, that we need to see things from a different perspective (God’s). He might be making the winds to blow in our lives to bring about a necessary change in order to bless someone else or to become blessed. And we should work and be busy despite what winds are blowing; use what we’ve got. These blowing winds should not be thought of as an obstacle but a detour before our destination. We should let God lift us up over the storms of life, let us soar on eagles’  wings (Exodus 19:4, Isaiah 40:31).

The Lord has shown me in no uncertain terms, a gentle reminder, that He is in control and because I am His child He will provide, protect and prosper me. It may not always be in ways I would like or even fully understand, but He will be there for me. 

Should the days ahead become ominous, I hope you take this to heart, perhaps remember it. He will protect if you first choose the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and determine to trust in Him, let Him be your strength. He will deliver us. 

Psalm 37:3-4, 39-40 - Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. ...He is [your] strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help [us] and deliver [us]; He shall deliver [us] from the wicked, and save [us], because [we] trust in Him.

His Truth Is Marching On

Psalm 119:89, 142, 152 -  Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

We've all heard the Battle Hymn of the Republic. It was introduced to us during the time of the Civil War, around 1862. Julia Ward Howe was asked to write words that could be used by infantrymen as they marched.

There are originally six stanzas and not very strangely at all, five can be referenced to certain scriptures in the Bible. There truly was a time when God was reverenced.

As we sang this song last Sunday (it is really an old church hymn) the words His truth is marching on stood out as it was repeatedly sung. Look at these stanzas carefully:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on.

There will be a day when Jesus returns to fight one last battle against the enemy of the world. We will know that He is here. And He will fight the battle as spoken of in His Word...His terrible swift sword.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;

His day is marching on.

Those who know this God and stand by His Word have built their altar to the One they worship...even on the physical battlefield. We may fight against man, but in the spiritual, we fight another kind of enemy. Thankfully, we have His Word to show us how the final battle will come out. It will be marvelous.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;

“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,

Since God is marching on.

We are promised that God will deal with those who condemn Him. He also has promised that His grace will cover those who call Him LORD. The Hero born of woman is, of course, Jesus, and He will in time crush the enemy. The enemy is His footstool (Psalm 110:1).

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;

Our God is marching on.

We are going through a time of sifting today, during these days of battle against God and His Word in this world. There will be judgment against those who persist in ignoring the call of God. Be swift to answer Him. 

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;

While God is marching on.

We as believers have received this holiness and we are free through the saving grace of Jesus. We must continue to uphold His Word and stand by it in this world where some think God is not a necessary lifestyle. This country was born across the sea...that we would have freedom...we need to continue to fight for it. We need to have Him as our foundation.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,

He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;

So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,

Our God is marching on.

What more can I say to this? Christ will return and justice will be met. 

Oh, believe me, our God is marching on. There is no beginning nor end to our God. The truth of who He is and the truth of His Word will never fade. It will continue as long as there is life on this earth! People can try to squelch it, ban it, reject it, argue about it, attempt to discredit or say it contradicts itself. In the final end truth will come out and the Word of God will be realized for what it is: the truth. 

Our God will march on until the end of life on this earth. Those who stand on His Word will glory in what He has promised us. Reread the third stanza. Those who stand on His Word will be victorious in the battle with our enemy. God will defend His followers, His inheritance and children.

This is not just a song to boost the strength of conviction to continue in physical battle or a patriotic song we sing on certain holidays. It is a word to us about how we can receive the power and strength of our God who marches on before us if we choose to believe that He is. 

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.