Psalms 42 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. This song of the Sons of Korah is replete with suffering and lamenting coupled with a deep yearning for God’s rescue. I appreciate how the subject of this song is recognizing his downcast and disturbed emotional state and is questioning why he feels that way and then reminds himself to put his hope in God and then makes a conscious choice to still praise Him in spite of how he feels.
In verse 6, the Psalmist decides to manage these downcast feelings by remembering better times. In verse 8, it seems to me that this person uses daily prayer to try to stay close to God:
“By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.” (NIV)
In spite of these efforts, doubts start to creep in during verse 9. The person feels forgotten by God, taunted by their foes who ask “Where is your God?” As they notice their faith wavering, we see them circling back in verse 11 to the same questioning we saw in verse 5 about why they feel so downcast and disturbed. This questioning is then once again quickly followed by a reminder that they will put their hope in God and still choose to praise Him. It’s a resounding chorus that comes around at just the right time.
This roller coaster of feelings is so relatable to me. We can get so bogged down in our trials that God can start to feel so very far away, but that’s when we need to take a cue from the Psalmist here and remember to put our hope in God and make a choice to praise Him. We need a resounding chorus at the ready that reminds us that we can trust God to care for us in our time of need. What would your resounding chorus sound like?
Reflection Questions
What do you generally do when your soul is in despair? Do any of those things put your soul in deeper despair?
What does it look like and sound like to put your hope in God?
When does God deserve our praise? When was your hardest time to praise God, but you did it anyway?
Prayer
Dear God, You are a great God! My desire is to put my hope in You, fully and completely, even and especially on the days my soul is in despair. I want to praise you well all of my days. You are worthy and deserving, my Savior and my God, the giver of all good gifts, including Your Son and salvation. Help me see, feel and remember with deep gratitude. I love you, LORD.
“Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, ‘You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.” (Judges 15:18-19, NIV)
This passage demonstrates to me how very temperamental our faith can be at times. Samson honestly seems dramatic and ridiculous. He trusted God to give him victory, yet didn’t trust Him to meet his basic needs. I think we can all be this way. We easily lose sight of the character of God and his son Jesus.
An image comes to mind of Peter boldly stepping out of the boat in faith, quickly followed by Peter’s sheer panic as his faith wavers and he starts to sink. Peter is known as being the impulsive disciple, but I love that he doesn’t get in his head at first in this situation and steps out in faith. He first checks that it’s Jesus who is walking on water in Matthew 14:28: “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water” (NIV). Jesus simply replies with “come” and that was enough for Peter to step out in faith because Peter remembered who Jesus was. Verse 30 paints the very human side of Peter we can all relate to when the cares of the world creep in, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (NIV).
When we lose sight of the character of God and Jesus, that is when our faith wavers. Samson’s faith clearly wavers as noted in the above passage. He gives credit to God for his victory, yet doesn’t trust Him with a tiny thing like helping him find water to drink. It brings to mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:31-32: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (NIV) If we find ourselves worrying about our basic needs, it might be time to remind ourselves that we are promised that God knows what we need.
Another thing that stood out to me about the above passage is Samson’s lack of gratitude. He glossed over this monumental thing God did for him and complained he didn’t have any water to drink. As a parent, I have been exasperated by my children when they behaved this way. You work your fingers to the bone to pull off a great event for them and then they manage to complain about a tiny detail. I have been guilty of doing that myself a time or two as well (wink wink). Instead of complaining about a circumstance, maybe we can look for ways to be grateful. No matter the circumstance, you can ALWAYS find something to thank God for. Remember when the apostle Paul was nearly stoned to death in Monday’s reading yet he and Barnabas got up the next day and continued their mission, encouraged others and praised God. We are challenged in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to maintain a posture of gratitude in any circumstance we encounter, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV). Will we choose to rise to this challenge?
REflection Questions
What do you think of the statement: “When we lose sight of the character of God and Jesus, that is when our faith wavers”?
How does complaining or worry affect your faithfulness?
Do you trust God for the Big Things in your life, but neglect to trust Him with the small things?
Think of one of the hardest times in your life. What did you still have to be grateful for during that time? What are the benefits (to yourself, to those around you, and in your relationship with God) when you are grateful? What can you be grateful for today? Remind yourself throughout the day.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for all You are and all You do, including giving the gift of Your Son. I want to know You both more and more. Forgive me for my worry and complaining when I am not properly focused on You, who You are, Your Son Jesus, what he taught, what he did for me, and the Coming Kingdom You are preparing. Help me see what You want me to see and be grateful. Help my faith to grow.
Two years ago, I wrote a devotion for Seek Grow Love on one of my favorite Psalms, Psalms 37. I’m going to re-post the devotion today, but this time share some context about what was going on in my life the night I wrote it.
I was supposed to have dinner with my brother and his wife, who happens to be one of my best friends. She was in the early stages of her first pregnancy after a long fertility struggle. That morning I received a text from my brother saying dinner was going to be pushed until later in the evening. In the afternoon, he sent a text cancelling dinner. When I asked if everything was alright, I didn’t get a response….and I knew. I knew they had lost the baby. I buried myself under 20 pounds of weighted blanket and slept for two hours. It was one of the top five worst nights of my life. I knew they were hurting. I kept flashing back to this memory of when my brother and I were really little, playing dress up, and he got his foot cut from one of the cheap plastic high heels. I remember seeing him bleeding, running over to him and calling out for a parent to come help. I wanted to run to him now, but I couldn’t. I knew they needed space.
After my nap, I called my dad to see if he’d heard anything from them. He thought I was being overdramatic and convinced me to get something to eat. About an hour later he called, saying he got a text from my brother about them having a miscarriage.
By this time, I still had a devotion to write. On that sad, desperate night, this is what came out of my heart:
Almost the entirety of Act 7 is Stephen’s response to the charges brought against him from our previous reading. Stephen gives a beautiful sermon, outlining the history of the Israelite people. His sermon shows how time after time, the Israelites were unfaithful and persecuted the prophets. He asks the leaders of the high council when they will stop resisting the truth. Stephen forms a sound argument with the tools of a great orator utilizing ethos, logos and pathos. However, I want to just focus on one small line today.
Stephen retells the story of when Moses went to Mount Sinai and the Israelites rebelled. He says the Israelites, “made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed and celebrated over this thing they had made.” (Acts 7:41 NLT). Celebrated this thing they had made. That caught my attention.
How often do we get carried away with our own success? How often do we put value in material things? How often do we forget Christ’s words to seek first the Kingdom of God? (Matt 6:33). We live in an age where knowledge, entertainment, and relationships are literally at our fingertips. Not to sound like a broken record, but it is so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives, the things we can make, things we can buy. God needs to be made a priority in our lives. He is someone we need to communicate with daily, thank and praise. Otherwise, we run the risk of celebrating over the things we have made and turning those things into idols.
These things may not be physical. They also may not always be bad or wrong. Sometimes the thing we are trying to make is a dream or notion of something. Maybe a job promotion, an engagement, a family. It’s when these desires become our only focus a problem occurs. The Greek term used in Stephen’s statement is the word euphrainó which literally means to “cheer, make merry.” Our happiness should not be placed solely in these things.
The Israelites made the golden calf when Moses went to talk to God at Mount Sinai. Moses was their leader and connection to God. Suddenly, to the Israelites, God felt distant. It is then they began to see what joy they could offer themselves and celebrate with their own idols. Sometimes, God may feel distant. At times we may face periods of loneliness, sadness, even anger. When this happens, we MUST heed the words in Psalms 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD.”
The rest of that verse in Psalms offers us a promise: “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” I am not saying God always answers prayers for those who put their true delight in following Him. He does not. I know many godly people who have given their lives in faithfulness to Him and still face difficulty and unanswered prayers. However, I do sincerely believe when we start to delight in the LORD, when we celebrate Him, something in our hearts begins to change. We still have dreams and goals, but our heart’s desire becomes wanting a true connection with God, a deep relationship with our creator, the one who gave us those very dreams we have.
Several times in my life I have felt defeated, lost, and alone. I have had to grieve lost dreams, goals, relationships. I’ve had to mourn a life I imagined for myself. The lyrics to Phil Stacey’s song “You’re Not Shaken” describes this feeling of helplessness perfectly: “When every little thing that I have dreamed would be/ Just slips away like water through my hand.” That’s what brokenness can feel like at times. Like reaching out your hand and trying to cling to something that isn’t there. In these moments it’s imperative we take our delight in the LORD. Slowly, He will fix our gaze on something better than what we had lost. Even when that thing we lost was good.
One year, three months, and twenty-four days later I sent the following text message to my dad after meeting my brother’s newborn daughter for the first time.
“She is so cute and soooo snuggly. I heard you might be going over later tonight. Ben and Becca are amazing parents. Ben gave me his phone and I took pictures of all three of them together. Watching them read to her, I had to hold back tears. It was truly a moment that shows joy comes in the morning.”
Reflection Questions:
What is something in your life that could easily become a distraction from taking delight in the LORD?
How can you ensure your heart is in the right place even when dealing with grief and sadness?
Is there a time in your life you experienced loss, took refuge and delight in the LORD and experienced joy in the morning? If so, I encourage you to share with someone this week. God’s good deeds deserve to be praised and told over and over again!
Prayer:
Dear God,
You are so so good. Thank You for stories like Ben and Becca’s. Thank You for the life of this promised little baby. Thank You for this reminder of Your faithfulness. May I take refuge and delight in You, and may You guide and guard my path.
As we start off in Acts 4 today, the priests, the captain of the guard, and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John “greatly agitated” because they were teaching and proclaiming in Jesus (Yeshua) the resurrection from the dead. If you recall the breakdown of the “4 Philosophies” at that time, the Sadducees were “A priestly and aristocratic group who accepted only the written Torah (Pentateuch) as authoritative, rejected the oral law, and did not believe in resurrection or an afterlife.” So of course they were greatly agitated, because as a group they did not believe in resurrection…”So they were sad, you see?” (that bad joke was stolen from Sean Finnegan’s wonderful and highly recommended podcast on Restitutio.org, which you really should give a listen to, seriously).
The chapter goes on to tell that the religious authorities of the day grabbed them, detained them and questioned them fiercely, then released them but not before threatening them to stop talking about such things. Their response is telling: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19, LSB). Bear in mind, these were not just some guys, these were the religious leaders of the day, the authorities, the high priest (and his descendants, Acts 4:6) and represented the final say in spiritual matters at the time. It’s no wonder that they were marvelling at their confidence (Acts 4:13), this sort of behavior was unheard of amongst the Jews, you just didn’t defy the priests typically.
After they are released, they went to their own people and offered praise to God. Please pay special attention to their wording, because it clearly defines the doctrine of the earliest church here in Acts 4: 24-31. Without belaboring this beyond the last 2 days devotionals, please note that there is a clear delineation here, and a tiered level of authority that is clearly demonstrated with God (YHVH, the Creator, the Most High God) in authority over His servant Yeshua, Ha’Mashiach (Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One) who is in turn in authority over his servants, us (the ecclesia, or church). We serve God through Yeshua, His servant and our King, whom God has anointed and established over humanity. This is repeated throughout scripture and succinctly restated in 1 Cor 11:3. It is highly problematic to insist on any other doctrinal statement, at least if you don’t want to stand in opposition to scripture. Peter and John confidently stood firmly against the religious giants of their day, the religious authorities who had gotten off course, and continued to speak the word of God. We face our own giants today, don’t we?
Here’s an interesting thing. Even if you have a map, even if you plan your route well, even if you have a compass; if you get even just a tiny bit off course you don’t end up where you wanted. A matter of just 1 degree off, and you could end up hundreds of miles away from where you wanted to be. The farther you go, the greater the error becomes. In my youth, I had gotten off course (see the Feb 5th devotional for some of the sordid details). I was in genuine fear for my life, because I was facing giants, and I knew that I could not win. I had resigned in my mind that the best I could hope for was to inflict maximum damage in return on my way into death and was quite prepared to do so. Psalms 35 really reminds me of that time, and of the mercy of God, who saved me. I won’t go into detail here, but know that this Psalm is an intensely personal one for me because it accurately sums up a time when I faced giants, and lived. Not by my actions, but by the grace of God alone and because God intervened in ways I could not have predicted or understood to remove the threat from my path (literally and physically, in some instances). Then, in an overwhelming display of unwarranted love, he corrected my path. I don’t even have the words to express my appreciation. Praise God!
As we dip into our Joshua reading today, we’re going to focus on a couple things that a lot of folks just skim over. Remember the old song, “12 men went to Canaan land (10 were bad and 2 were good!)”? That story is detailed in Numbers 13 and 14, and gives us a bit more understanding. In Num 13:33 it says “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (LSB). There’s a very simple and straightforward reason for this, and it’s because those guys were giants! So who were the Nephilim? Great question! Flip back over to Genesis 6:4 where it says: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them…” (LSB)**. So the Nephilim were the offspring of “the sons of God” (ie, angels or some other form of heavenly being which God created) and humans, according to scripture. **For an extremely interesting apocryphal account of this, read the book of Enoch (it’s quoted in the book of Jude, but didn’t make it into the cut for “canonical”).
So, when the Israelites encounter ACTUAL GIANTS on the way in to the promised land, they got scared, rebelled, and as a result ended up wandering in the wilderness for another 40 years until the voices of dissension had (quite literally) died out (see Num 13&14 for the full story). In Joshua 12, we’ve returned after 40 years to “try again”. Now, when the Israelites are doing as God commanded and taking the promised land, it states: “Then Joshua…cut off the Anakim…(and) devoted them to destruction. There were no Anakim left…only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained” (Joshua 12:21-22, LSB). In Josh 12:4, “Og king of Bashan” seems to be another one, “one of the remnant of the Rephaim”. Remember where Goliath was from, by the way? See there (I slipped in another cross reference)? Do you think he was larger or smaller than the others of his kind like him? Trivia aside though, the point is: this time they obeyed God, and they succeeded.
My point in bringing up these things is this: in our lives, sometimes we are given tasks that seem daunting. Sometimes, we are called upon to fight giants. Giants are, by their very nature, big and scary. Many times they will stand and taunt us. I’d point out in counterpoint that we’ve got a great big God; much bigger than any giant, and He fights for us, when we are doing His will. It doesn’t matter how big your particular giant is, God is bigger. As I write this devotion, it is the Sabbath before Easter Sunday. When I consider the overwhelming love and power of our God, and the generous offer of salvation to us gentiles, I am truly humbled. When I think about what His Anointed One suffered on my account, I am overwhelmed. When God raised up His servant Jesus again, it let me know that there is no giant that can overwhelm me. I may go down into the dirt, but I will stand again. God has this.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Did you ever realize, or even think about, where the actual biblical “giants” came from?
Each of us have our own metaphorical “giants”. What are yours?
How many times has God conquered a giant for you; a problem you just couldn’t see a way around, a danger that you couldn’t escape, an intimidating moral dilemma? Reflect on them all for a moment, and consider the goodness of God.
Why is it that when we see a “giant” we forget how big God is sometimes?
PRAYER
Father God, Creator and Sustainer of all life, thank you. Please help me to remember that I am not my own and that you bought me, and that the price paid for me was far too high. Please forgive me when I am scared, and give me the strength to do your will, even if it’s to conquer giants. Thank you for sending Yeshua, my King. Thank you for life, breath, and all things. In Jesus name, Amen.
As a new parent, there is little you are truly prepared for. You are not prepared for the noise—the deafening cry of a child who is wet, hungry, or simply needs to be held in the middle of the night. In those moments, exhaustion sets in, emotions wear thin, and clear thinking feels out of reach. No one expects a sleep-deprived, emotionally fatigued parent to make calm, selfless decisions; yet, this is exactly where trust is formed. In the noise, in the uncertainty, in moments where no clear solution seems apparent, you respond in faith, in commitment to your child.
“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy, but have set my feet in a spacious place.” Psalm 31:5-8
“I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect. and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:3-5
In Mark 15, the noise reaches a deafening level. Jesus stands before Pilate as accusations are hurled and expectations rise. The crowd grows louder, more insistent, crying out for crucifixion. The pressure is relentless. There is no reasonable path forward that leads to life. Yet in the pulling undertow, as the hope of exoneration moves further and further away from the shore, Jesus trusts his Heavenly Father to deliver him. In the piercing, the crushing, the beating, the bruising, and the relentless barrage of physical and emotional punishment, Jesus still quenches the requirement of His offering, trusting God will not only deliver Him, but is acting divinely, doing no wrong, and showing an infinite love.
Reflecting on this model of Jesus, when tensions are high or we watch life unravel around us, are we ready to stand firm, trusting our Heavenly Father’s nature?
This is the God who rescued mankind on the darkest day of human history. The day that each of us condemned Christ, the only innocent life to walk on earth, is the day we call Good.
Reflect on this: God can redeem ANY day and call it good.
The loud, life-altering noise can be victory if we are obedient.
What I realized in our second go around with an infant is that the cry that was disconcerting and dissonant can also confirm that a child is alive and well. Often we pray that God will take away the noise so we have a moment to catch our breath, to think, to sleep, to figure out a plan. The Creator of the universe needs no assurances from us other than assured obedience: to act in love for those who despise us and to feed his sheep. Who we are as parents or followers of Christ is defined in the presence of pressure, not in the absence
Jesus trusted his Father even when none of what was happening made sense, or the outrage and consequences felt unmerited and unjust. That same faithfulness is cutting through the noise and calling us today.
Reflection Questions
What noise, pressure, fear, or frustration tempts your faithfulness?
What is the Good of Good Friday? How can God redeem ANY day and call it good? What good have you seen come from noise, pressure, fear or frustration in the life of others? What about in your own life?
Aaron wrote Jesus is “trusting God will not only deliver Him, but is acting divinely, doing no wrong, and showing an infinite love.” What do you trust about God and His character, even on the noisiest, hardest day?
Prayer
In the noise of life—when everything feels loud, overwhelming, and uncertain—teach me to trust You. When exhaustion sets in and my thoughts are unclear, help me respond not out of fear or frustration, but out of faith and commitment. Thank You for Jesus, who stood in the noise of accusation and suffering and chose to trust You. When the pressure was relentless and the path forward made no sense, He remained faithful.
Help me to see that even the noise has purpose. Just as a child’s cry is a sign of life, remind me that You are still working in the tension, still present in the uncertainty, still faithful in every moment. Teach me to follow Jesus—to trust You when I do not understand, to stand firm when life feels overwhelming, and to believe that You are redeeming even what feels broken.
In The name of Your Son who poured out Himself as a sacrifice, Amen.
Waiting is hard. We all know this. We have all had things we’ve prayed for, waited on receiving. Patience truly is a virtue.
Waiting is scary. It’s hard to be still. We feel we should be doing something. Sadly we don’t recognize waiting on God as something worth doing. We become anxious in those still moments God is building character. We begin to question, to doubt.
The end of Psalms 27 describes waiting as brave and courageous (v. 14 NLT). Sometimes being still is the bravest thing a person can do. It takes courage to put your trust in something other than what you yourself can produce.
Throughout various points in my life, God has called me to seasons of waiting. It’s hard. I never really thought of it as courageous or brave, just something I sadly had to experience. Had someone plainly told me back then, my decision to wait on God’s revelation was an act of bravery and not defeated surrender, I might have responded to those situations with more joy and hope.
And so, I’m keeping it short and simple, today. For those of you that find themselves in a season of waiting, take heart and hope from the words of David. Your decision to wait on God and trust in His timing is brave. You are not doing nothing. You are taking a courageous step of faith. Do not let the barren wasteland of waiting rob you of the hope and joy we have in our Awesome God.
Reflection Questions:
Think back to a season of your life where you were waiting. What difference would your response have been to that time if you had been told your waiting was an act of bravery and courage? Is there someone in your life today that needs to be told this?
Are you in a season of waiting? How is waiting brave? How is it courageous?
Check out the song “Take Courage” by Kristine DiMarco. I prefer the radio version found here: https://youtu.be/Ehw0FWFGl_A How does this song relate to our topic of waiting, today?
Prayer:
Dear LORD,
It is in You that I put my hope, my trust. Let me stand firm in the security of Your word, even during the uncertain waiting periods of my life. You are the one who delivers me. You will rescue me from my deep waters. Let me be still enough to hear You. Let me be brave enough to wait for You.
In the name of the one who delivers, Your son, Jesus Christ,
As an educator of a dozen years, I find that I have a handful of what I call “pocket TED talks” that I return to time and time again as a way of conveying convincing life lessons to students. These are well-practiced insights that I return to most upon hearing a common signal word or phrase. For example, one cue is the word “just,” which minimizes any role or behavior, demonstrating our belief in its importance. The second, and more relevant to today’s topic, is “what if…” I have heard this opening phrase almost every single day as a history teacher and a principal. “What if World War 3 started today?” “What if there was a real fire in the building?” While I might provide a framing or a forecast, I say you cannot predict the future, but you can look to the past as a tell of what is most likely to happen.
At the opening of Deuteronomy, we find Israel still moving, but now at the edge of the Promised Land. From both a literal and figurative mountaintop, Moses pauses to look backward. He recounts their journey; the victories, the failings, the wandering, and the waiting are all part of his retelling. It is the spiritual season recap for God’s people, who have the tendency to forget.
“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” — Deuteronomy 2:7
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” — Psalm 24:3–6
Below is a list of some of these important reminders we find in today’s reading. Reflect on the history that is presented to us and consider your own. As we stand at the edge of the coming Kingdom of God, take a moment to survey from the mountaintop.
– God gave manna when there was no food in the desert. Jesus duplicates this in the feeding of thousands while the crowd waited for spiritual sustenance. Reflect on your own blessings of daily bread and how God has given you what you need to live today.
– God directs Israel’s path, guiding them as a cloud by day, fire by night, and through his direction to Moses. Jesus duplicates this when he asks each of us to bear our cross and follow him, showing us the way to live. Reflect on your own walk with God and the path He has you on, and the people he has brought alongside you for the journey.
– God remained faithful to the people of Israel even when they worshiped other gods and disobeyed direct instructions. Jesus remains faithful to his disciples even when they gripe about not having bread shortly after watching the very same miracle performed. Reflect on the faithfulness of God to you. Remember how God has shown up in the most difficult seasons.
– God was on the side of his people in battle, bringing them victory. The death of Jesus, as God’s design, is a battle that Jesus came to fight on our behalf once and for all. While it might be easy to reflect on your current battle, reflect instead on God’s gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice oflove, restoring us to Him.
If you are “just” waiting for an answer in the present, or you are reeling in “what ifs” about the future, pause to remember the Lord. The wandering has not been wasted. He has made a path with a purpose. No doubt, we are not out of the wilderness, but we are also at the edge of promise.
Reflection Questions
See bold faced reflection above
Prayer
Dear God Almighty – I praise You for Your faithfulness and mercy. Over and over again You provide for me and You show me which way to go. I thank You for being such a GOOD GOD to me, every day in my past, all day today, and every day in the future. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son and the Kingdom You are preparing for those who accept and follow Jesus. Everyday, it is getting closer. Everyday, help me move closer to You, too.
Mark 6:45-52 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. 47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
Mark! What’s the deal with saying our hearts were too hard??? Why would God have you write that in your gospel??
The official line about the gospel of Mark is that Peter and other original apostles are the source of the material he writes from. They tell him what happened and then he writes it down. We need to ask ourselves so many times when reading these records about what was Jesus trying to teach his apostles and disciples? Then what is the lesson for us in the recalling of them?
The trip on the sea of Galilee that includes another walk on the water by Jesus comes after feeding 5000 men plus women and children (maybe 15-20K people). He uses such the small amount of food to start with. So many questions come to my feeble mind. How did Jesus ever break up that much bread or fish? How did God multiply the food to fill baskets full? Where did the baskets come from? Who ate the leftovers and for how long? So many questions on these records.
What was the apostle’s reactions to helping to break and hand out the food to that many people? Jesus says “you feed them” to the apostles. Which is exactly what they proceed to do. What should they and we learn from the experience besides astonishment at the event?
I believe that the lesson for us and those disciples there is that God is the source of all blessing and sufficiency. God alone is the giver of all that is good and fruitful, the only source of true food and health for all the people of the world. Our very food we eat is only because of the grace and mercy of God to give it to us. Jesus looks to God and then blesses this small amount of food, making it sufficient to do the humanly impossible. What great power of God is at work in Jesus’ life and is still available to us today.
Christians must bring their lives to God in an attitude of obedience and sacrifice. When we do this, we need to expect God to do far beyond what can be imagined. We should trust that God not only wants to meet our needs, but that He wants to give to us with overflowing spiritual blessings.
Are our hearts too hard to believe our God’s promises? “Hardened” here is to be “petrified” or maybe should mean “calloused”. Our habits of life that don’t believe the promises of God cause our hearts by repetition to become calloused to the truth. We develop a lifetime set of beliefs that doesn’t believe that God can do anything very miraculous. We start to believe miracles and all that Jesus stuff died out with the apostles and isn’t that important today.
We say we have faith but prove that we don’t by our actions and speech. “You feed them” is what Jesus tells us to do, but we say, “OK we will, but here’s our few loaves and fishes. Don’t blame me when it really doesn’t work out. I’ll do it but I don’t really believe that it will work with my resources.” When we pray for someone to be delivered or healed are we really standing in our confidence of God’s help or do we just go through the motions?
I know that one of my lazy habits is to excuse my prayers by telling God that I will pray for people, but because I really don’t know what to pray for, I will just put them up before God and then go on with my life. Ever been confronted with a specific situation that is right there in front of you with no apparent answers to it? How did you react? Our first habit needs to become the truth of God’s Word for us, not the calloused habit of our hearts to give Him our excuses.
So, I thought we were going to look at the walking on the water event. More questions come to mind. Why does Jesus send them off across the lake without him and just go pray by himself? What happens that changes their hearts so much from this experience of the waves and wind? Here they are again in a situation that faces them head on and close in. No amount of rowing or sail handling will get them out of it. Remember that they were experienced fisherman with a great deal of boat handling and weather experience. “Jesus don’t worry about us we have it handled, have some confidence we are the experts”. But once again we and they don’t really have it. For the apostles it is that if God can feed the five thousand then He does have the answers for every situation.
What is the lesson of the waves? Once again that God has our care in place, and we need to put our trust in His promises. Jesus says he will ever be with us to the end of the earth. This is his church and he is building it and taking care of it. We are not really in charge of what we think we are. We are confident every minute until the wind and waves are overwhelming. How many times God saves us from disaster and even death.
Ephesians 3:20(NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Psalms 22:22-24(NLT) I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
Questions:
See bold questions above
Prayer:
Father God, come to us with your promises and give us the heart that hears them and will believe You. Thank you for the records of Your Word to give us confidence to do Your will. Help us to see the Christ-in -us that will give us strength to act and speak. Thank you that Your will is still to feed and save people from destruction. Be with us this day as we hear you with our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray.
There is so much uncertainty in life. So many things to handle. It can make your heart race. That’s why we need to find our refuge in God. In Psalm 17, David begins by asking God to hear his cries. He has also confirmed that what he is asking for is right. He says, “Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry” (Psalm 17:1). This teaches us to move towards God’s presence and guidance in confidence. He is our ultimate protector and source of peace. How can we know that what we are asking for is right, and that He will listen? I think David answers these questions all through Psalm 17. Let’s take some time in the next couple days to see what David says to do to find refuge in God.
1.Have Faith that God Knows What He is Doing
David recognizes God’s justice, trusting that God will judge rightly. “Let my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right”-Psalm 17:2. This verse encourages us to trust in God’s righteous judgment instead of seeking revenge or justice on our own. God sees all and will act justly in His time.
2. Show Your Heart to God
Sometimes we hide from God. Nothing is secret from Him. David speaks of his commitment to living a life of integrity, saying, “You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night”-Psalm 17:3. This is a call for us to pursue a blameless life, striving to align our actions with God’s will. When we do this, we are an open book to what God wants to do in our life.
3. Watch and Listen to What You Say
David highlights the importance of guarding our speech: “I have resolved that my mouth will not sin”-Psalm 17:3. This lesson is a reminder to be mindful of our words, ensuring they are edifying and truthful in all areas of our lives. Sometimes we are so hard on others. Sometimes we are mean to ourselves. Our speech should reflect the love and truth of Christ, building others and ourselves up rather than tearing down.
4. Guard Your Paths
Have you expressed your commitment to following God’s ways: “My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped”-Psalm 17:5. This encourages us to walk confidently in God’s paths. Always relying on His Word and Spirit as our guide. By doing so, we can navigate life’s challenges with confidence and assurance.
5. Confidently Ask
David’s relationship with God is marked by confidence in prayer: “I call on You, O God, for You will answer me”-Psalm 17:6. This verse shows us how to approach God with boldness, knowing that He hears and answers our prayers. Our confidence in prayer is rooted in our faith in His promises and His unfailing love. Do you have confidence in God? Do you come to Him in right standing? In humble obedience?
Tomorrow we will continue in Psalms 17
Reflection Questions
Is God your refuge? If so, what do you already do to find refuge in God? If not, do you want Him to be your refuge?
Which of these steps speaks loudest to you as something you need to do more and more?
Do you have confidence in God? Do you come to Him in right standing? In humble obedience?
Prayer
This morning let’s pray that you can RELAX, knowing that God wants you to succeed. That He loves you. Father, please give us a quiet confidence to be able to rest in the knowledge that you are a good God. My prayer is that our hearts are open to you. That you see us and we see you. Amen
I love the Psalms, especially those by David. David didn’t shy away from sharing his conflicting emotions with the Creator. Psalms 13, while short, is an excellent example. He begins the Psalms questioning God, feeling abandoned by Him. David pleads with the LORD for deliverance. Yet, David ends with a submission of praise. Personally, I don’t think anything happened to change David’s circumstances in between verses 4 and 5. Rather, I think David resolved himself to continue to trust in God’s unfailing word, even when he could not see its immediate fulfillment. The sort of dedication David has towards the LORD at the end of this Psalm very much reminds me of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
Jesus, like David, knows what it feels like to be alone. We see this in our reading from Matthew 26. Jesus understands how it feels to feel forsaken or forgotten by God. Jesus knows anguish, a sorrow that rests heavy in one’s heart. The words of David in Psalms 13 echo the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus’ accusers had the upper hand as they beat him, gloating and rejoicing in his suffering. Knowing all he was about to endure, Jesus still submitted to God’s plan. He went away with his accusers willingly. His submission was an act of praise and worship, just as David’s words are in the conclusion of Psalms 13.
We will face struggles in our life as well. Though many of us will not be facing death by crucifixion or a life on the run from an angry king, we will face trials that leave us feeling desolate and hopeless. It is then we can take refuge in knowing our Savior, our High Priest, has felt the same.
There is strength in numbers. Even the most introverted value and thrive upon community. It’s how our Creator designed us. When our soul feels crushed, we can run to the Savior who understands us. May we not forget that we have a powerful best friend in our corner. Jesus knows pain. Jesus knows loss. We are not alone.
Reflection Questions:
Why do you think there is so much detail about Christ’s suffering? Is it simply for the fulfillment of scripture or do you think there could be another purpose for the narrative?
What does the knowledge of having a savior who can personally relate to your pain mean for you? If you are currently going through a trial, how does the knowledge your Savior can relate affect you?
How can you rededicate yourself to God during your own trials?
PRAYER:
Dear LORD,
Thank you for your Word. Thank you for reminding us that we are not alone. Thank you for giving us a Jesus who knows what it is to cry tears of anguish late into the night. Even when things feel hopeless, may I turn to You. Strengthen my resolve to do Your will. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Seek Grow Love 