Psalm 56: Fruit of Trust

It seems somewhat impossible that we could actually defeat fear entirely. By the tone of David’s Psalms and through the repetition of his requests, it communicates one of two things: either (1) that he’s reminding himself that he should not fear or (2) he’s actually experienced a complete departure from fear. Either way, it is accompanied by complete trust and the natural response of worship…

“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” – Psalm 56:4

…and the fruit of trust? The elimination of fear.

“In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 56:11

I guess the reason this section stands out to me is because of the glaring areas in my life that I still fear. While I still worship, I wonder today how much this fear inhibits a complete abandonment in my expression of thanks. I wonder where else fear is holding me back.

Father, your Word says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear”. Help me to let go of pride and selfishness and teach me to trust you in all areas of my life, that I might not get in the way of your work. Amen.

Psalm 55 – Argument & Anguish

It’s Holy Week. Some call it Passion Week. Today (Tuesday) is known as the “Day of Argument”. It was the day when Jesus’ authority was challenged in the temple. It was the day he confronted the Jewish leaders, the day of the Olivet Discourse (The Great Eschatological Discourse), and the day Judas agreed to betray Jesus.

I can’t help but think about these confrontations as I read David’s words about the “stares of the wicked” and those who revile him in their anger:

At the voice of the enemy,
at the stares of the wicked; 

for they bring down suffering upon me 

and revile me in their anger.

My heart is in anguish within me; 

the terrors of death assail me.

Fear and trembling have beset me; 

horror has overwhelmed me.

I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! 

I would fly away and be at rest.

Psalm 55:1-6

For David, there was much anguish and terror in this season. For Jesus, we know there was much anguish as he considered the gravity of his journey later in the garden. And just as there was a moment of surrender for Jesus when He submitted to God’s will, we see David’s surrender to the reality of resting in God’s rescue and peace (vs.6)

Then in verse 22, David reminds us again of God’s “upholding” and sustaining power:

Cast your cares on the LORD 

and he will sustain you; 

he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

On the cross, what might have seemed to an observer, to be the greatest fall… of the one we know to be the most righteous… to those who believe, became the greatest victory.

David knew this truth. Not yet framed with the exact path in which Christ would give up his life, but certainly with the surrender and trust that it represents. The full absorbing of the reality that even in death, we find victory.

David understood the paradox in our journey. The one that we so easily forget… that in our worst moment, thru our greatest trial, at the time of our most horrifying fear, we can find peace. Most of what we know, feel, and see is temporal. God is sovereign, His love is eternal, and His grace is enough.

Psalm 46 - Opinions

What’s your opinion of yourself? Seriously.

Like when our mom or dad used to say when we got a little out of line, “Who do you think you are?”, maybe we should take a moment to think that through. We all think something of ourselves. Maybe we view ourselves too lowly. Maybe it’s pretty squared with who we really are (probably not). Or maybe we think too much of ourselves, especially in comparison to other people.

The reality is, how we think about our selves impacts how we respond to and feel about others. It may determine whom we listen to, what opinions we’ll adopt, what our priorities are, how secure or defensive we are, and how much we may need their validation. While who we think we are may determine how we respond to others, who others think we are will determine how they respond to us. And we’re not always starting from the same point.

So let's make the jump, what does our lives (how we respond) tell us about our opinion of God? Seriously. How do we feel and what do we believe about Him?

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. (Selah)”

-Psalm 46:1-3

"Therefore" is a really big word.

God is our refuge and strength… Therefore… we will not fear. Therefore we can trust that His ways are higher than our ways. Therefore we can lean on His ways and His understanding. Since, what we think about and how we feel about God directly impacts how we respond to God, is God our refuge and strength? Do we really see Him as that?

Honestly, many times we tolerate God. While we may fool ourselves into thinking He’s okay with that, or even fool ourselves into thinking we’re not doing that, “that” is not good. We “allow” Him to exist on the margins of our lives, and as long as He doesn’t get too involved, we’re okay. But then something goes wrong, a trial of life hits, or things spin out of our control. Then what do we do?

While God will not simply be “tolerated” (that's another study), He is still full of amazing Grace. Baffles me really. Why does He put up with us? I’m not going to answer that. Instead, today, I’m going to rest in Him. He is my refuge and my strength. Selah.

Father, it’s simply unreal how we treat you at times. Forgive us for our lack of perspective, faith, perseverance, discipline, effort, and love. Because of Christ, I don’t get what I really deserve. Thank you for your grace. Amen.

Psalm 25 – Fear of Failure

There is a big difference between fear of failure and fear of the Lord. The problem is, most of us don’t see the difference in ourselves. Especially when we’re pursuing success. Yet, it simply changes everything.

“Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.” – Psalm 25:12

The significance of this statement is the promise of instruction for those who fear God, not who fear failure (or even the lack of success) itself. Instead, it’s a promise for those who know and trust the power and ways of God, who fear being out of His will, who fear losing His favor or leading. These come with two different starting points. It comes with two different motives and two different trajectories that will lead us in two different directions. These differences determine our journey.

The problem might be in how we evaluate success in the first place. Our nature is to allow the ends to determine our means. Do we really measure success the way God measures success? That’s a deep rooted and loaded question. There are many layers that have to be peeled away in order to find the truth. And probably only God knows where we stand.

I was having this exact discussion this week with a friend when he said “I’d rather fail than succeed if it meant I had to do it with my own strength rather than God’s leading.”

Sadly enough, I used to perceive a statement like that to be lazy or an obvious excuse for a recent or impending failure. And it may be for some. But for others, it’s really a powerful statement of faith. And I’ve found that when they mean it, they really mean it. (They also seem to be the guys who have peace in their lives…hmmmmmm) According to Psalm 25, if we believe and live by this fear of God, “like an archer shoots an arrow”, He truly will instruct us on our journey.

And any success will be His success. Anything else, will not be credited as success (nor righteousness). Do we believe that? I wonder how offensive it is to God when we claim to be men and women of faith yet fail to live and lead anything close to this way.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24

Nehemiah 6 – Inevitable

Last night I watched an interesting documentary about Air Force One. What an amazing display of technology. What struck me as amazing was the fact that I was awed with just the things that they were willing to show on television. I could only imagine the capabilities they did not reveal. The bottom line is that the aircraft is designed with every threat in mind. When they learn of a new threat, or a possible weakness, they simply eliminate it with an immediate upgrade. They are constantly looking because there is constant opposition.

In light of the recent election and presidential inauguration I couldn’t help but think about the opposition that comes with such a heavy task. For every President winning an election, nearly half of all Americans did not vote for him and disagree with the majority of his ideals. No matter his successes, he can expect a season of opposition and criticism. Opposition is inherent such a position.

“Then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” – Nehemiah 6:2-3

The rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem was an amazing feat. It was accomplished through the leading and provision of God. And it came with much opposition. Direct, indirect, and covert. God was at work. So was the enemy. There will always be great opposition when great things are happening.

The key is to be ready and expecting it without allowing it to derail or distract us. This is hard for most of us. Although we know opposition is possible, we forget that it’s inevitable. Just another great reason to lean on His strength and understanding, another great reason to focus on His work and not our work, another great reason to make sure we are in His wake. Hopefully, then, we can be like Nehemiah and see the attack for what it is: A distraction from the great work God is doing.

So let’s take a moment to think about the tasks we have. The enemy plans against us in our attempt to love God and others. He plots against us as husbands, as fathers, as friends, and as neighbors. He encourages the ways of neglect, complacency, selfishness, and pride. He stands in opposition directly, indirectly, and covertly. He attacks our insecurity, our history, and he knows how to make it personal.

Be prayerful. Be expectant. Be ready.

Psalm 7 - Motive

The best leadership book I’ve read in five years is “Leadership and Self Deception” by The Arbinger Institute. While it’s title is very revealing, hidden inside are self exploring scenarios that ring amazingly true and give surprising insight to areas we are often blind too. It’s amazing how much we fail to look inward for hidden deficiencies when evaluating leadership, whether it’s in our church or secular organization.

Why is that? Is it fear or pride? Are we really that ignorant or in denial? Or is it that we really just don’t want to know or deal with our private issues that spawn from personal insecurities, perspectives, wounds, inabilities and/or nurture? In leadership, there’s a huge difference between those who want to know and those who don’t. One thing worse than being ignorant, is to be ignorant of our ignorance. It’s revealed in whether or not we lead (or even live) in honesty and confidence, or insecurity and fear. It’s no different in our faith journey.

A scripture that is often misused is found in Proverbs 16. Verse 3 says, “commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” This verse is commonly used in a “name it and claim it” kind of a way. If we don’t really know what to do, then just ask God to bless it and He will (or at least we hope that He will).

This is not the point of this scripture. Instead, this scripture is a great measuring stick of motive. If we cannot truly commit or dedicate a decision in full disclosure to our God, then it’s a great indicator that something is wrong. Vs. 2 says that, “All man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” And vs. 4 closes the thought by stating, “The Lord works out everything for his own ends…”

David is using this same logic in measuring motive in Psalm 7.

“O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands - if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe - then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.” - Psalm 7:3-5

David is being heart level honest before God. Are we? Not that often. When was the last time we said, “God if my motive is not completely pure here… then just burn me up right now, let me get what I deserve.”

It’s critical that in order to be honest with God, we must search our own hearts and be honest with ourselves. Who are we really fooling? It’s not God. It’s only our selves and others around us.

When we live and lead in ignorance, we hurt those around us, in leadership we hurt our staff and those involved with our organization. In faith, the circle of hurt is closer and bigger than we know. We hurt our spouses, our children, our friends, our coworkers… and ourselves.

Father, I can’t pray like David. Instead, I have to ask today that I don’t get what I deserve. I do pray that you search my heart and show me the ways that I choose self over you, but I ask for your continued Grace and Mercy. Thank you for your plan of redemption. Thank you for reconciling us through Your Son. Thank you for your patience. Amen.

Foolish Acts

As a church planter, I think I have a new and fresh understanding of what it means to live in the “fear of the Lord”. I really don't mean that in an arrogant "knowledge" kind of way... it's really a type of confession. It’s a constant and crazy mix of confidence and intentionality wrapped up in a little bit of insecurity and wonder. And God’s hand or presence being removed is my greatest fear. I guess that’s why my study today in 1 Samuel 13 struck such a chord with me. Two verses stood out like they were written in a different font:

"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." 1 Samuel 13:13-14

What more can you say? There is a ton of power in these two verses. In these words are both found (1) hope and (2) consequence. The hope is that God is not passive... He is not detained... He will not only SEEK out a man after his own heart, but He will find one in David. He'll find it in the least expected: a young shepherd boy. The consequence is that since Saul did not seek God out prior to going to battle or prior to selecting his men, it would not be him labeled as one who sought after God's own heart. He tried... after the fact. He tried to commit to the Lord something he had already done. But it was too late.
So as church leaders our promise of hope and our warning of consequence is this: May we always be those who seek after God's own heart. And may we never venture forward prior to God's leading or void of His way.