The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Sunday
July 20, 2008
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.
I said to the
Lord, "You are my Master!
All the good things I have are from you."
The
godly people in the land are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
Those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow.
I will not
take part in their sacrifices
or even speak the names of their gods.
Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all
that is mine.
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a
wonderful inheritance!
I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at
night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
I will
not be shaken,
for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is filled
with joy,
and my mouth shouts his praises!
My body rests in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your godly one to
rot in the grave.
You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy
of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm
16
Many of us do not recognize the fact that our brain is working 24/7. Something is constantly being processed by this magnificent creation of God in us. Therefore, it is vitally important what information we place into it.
David had a knack of writing down his thoughts. Except for a season or two in his life, David's thoughts were constantly turned toward God. From the time he spent alone with the sheep of his earthly father's pasture, David wanted to be God's man. As a result, God gave David wisdom and insight.
Do you know in your heart that God is your refuge? Do you know that God's thoughts toward you are good? Well, it's time to assimilate that knowledge into your mind and let it filter into your heart. Turning away from God's truth starts with one simple thought, so change it now.
So many people I talk with have believed the lie – God doesn't care about them. For most people, this is the way they were raised – apart from God or in a religion that taught works. As a result, when bad things happen in their lives they immediately believe that God has turned His back on them. Is that how you believe?
Well, it is time to start believing what God wants you to know, "The Lord is always with you." David believed this and his heart was filled with joy. It's a good thing too, because there would come a day when all that he believed about God would be tested. Maybe that's where you are and you don't even realize it. Maybe God is testing you to see if you will praise Him through the pain of your circumstances. That is where Roger and I have been recently.
While he was suffering in the hospital – I was suffering – at home with back pain and dealing with two kiddos! I wanted to get to the hospital to be with him, but it was impossible. I worried what people thought, and then the Lord showed me that I was doing what I needed to do – that He was in control and He would take care of Roger…there were things Roger needed to learn as well!
Whether you are being tested or not, God deserves praise. Why not choose today to praise Him simply because He is God and then ask Him to bless your praise? He is your Father and He wants you to trust Him. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What will you decide to do with it?
Father, sometimes we feel that life has given us a bad hand. We don't realize when we think those thoughts that we doubt you. Please forgive us. We will decide this day to praise You in the midst of our pain and trust You to bring us through the storm. Have Your way! We submit to Your will. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
