June 3, 2013

Acts 11:1 In the Lord I will put my trust; how can you say to my soul, "flee as a bird to your mountain"?
:2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
:3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
:4 The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
:5 The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
:6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.
:7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

How do you react in a crisis? Do you panic? Do you run? Do you grit your teeth and stand firm? It isn't clear exactly what type of crisis David was facing. It could have been real arrows or it could have been threats and accusations.

However, he was given bad advice when he was told to flee. I am sure, especially if it were real arrows he thought it sounded good at first. Until he looked up. Once he saw the Lord seated on the throne, everything from his point of view changed. God wasn't in a panic. God wasn't confused. He knew exactly what was happening to David and God wasn't running or telling David to run. The Lord was his only refuge. David couldn'/t outrun his problems and neither can we. We have to stop looking at our circumstances and look at our God. When life falls apart all around you, the only safe place to be is in the arms of God.

Phil 2:8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Pride can't live beneath the cross.

Ps 149:3 Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

Don't be afraid to praise God with everything you have in you.

Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Faith is made up of two kinds: nominal and real.  Nominal accepts what it's told and can quote text after text to prove it. But there is another kind of faith that depends on the character of God. It doesn't say Abraham believed the text, it says he believed God. It's not what he believed, it's who he believed that mattered.

Is 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the lord has annointed Me, to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 Sam 22:29 For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Pr 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

When you are going through a tough time, it is easy to think it will always be that way. The longer you struggle through that trial the harder it is to believe things will ever be different. It is easy to give in and let misery have its way with you. That is when we need to remember Jesus is our constant companion. He can turn our darkness into light.

Turn to Jesus. Look through the eyes of faith. Cling to Him. Don't focus on the circumstances. Praise Jesus for bringing you through them.

2 Thess 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

When you focus fully on Jesus, His peace replaces fears and worries. That doesn't mean they won't come knocking on your door. But you don't have to answer.

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, "all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ps 143:8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindess in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.

Sometimes we confuse loving others with rescuing them. It's not our job to fix people. That is Jesus' role. He brings about change in us and others as He chooses. Sometimes we are part of the process. Sometimes we get in the way. God can rescue or control people at will. Yet He created us with free will to choose good or evil. He wanted us to be free to love Him, or not. Love that has no choice is not real. Pray for your loved ones, listen to them. But leave the changes to God.