March 31, 2013
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 27
OBSERVATIONS
David is struggling with something, or someone. He is being attacked, accused, pursued, pressured. His burdens and struggles are piling up, and he is feeling the pressure.
Deep inside of him, he senses his heart reaching for God, hanging on to God, hoping in God. He tells himself that God is his hope, even if he is attached by armies of enemies, God will still help him. God is more reliable than even his family.
His heart is prompting him to seek God, he wants to see God, to experience God’s deliverance; He will wait for Him to show up, he strengthens his resolve to wait for God.
He anticipates the day when he will sing and rejoice because the Lord has helped him.
We should not think that David has no fear, or that he is not struggling; I believe that he is facing his fears with the truth, speaking to himself and saying ‘I will not fear!’
That he pleads with God not to desert him shows that he is struggling with God’s delay in answering; that he determines to wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord shows the same.
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
Is this how I deal with struggles, do I speak to myself reminding myself that God will help me, that I will get through this, that I will one day praise God for His deliverance?
What do I seek, what do I pursue when I am under attack? Unlike David, I often direct my mind to my enemies, I think through all the worst case scenarios, I feed all my fears.
My heart is prompting me (with David’s encouragement) to seek God, to spend time in His presence reflecting on His greatness. This will help a lot more than reflecting on the greatness of my problems or enemies.
Practically speaking, I hear God inviting me (through David) to seek Him, to spend time praying when I struggle, to introduce my great fears (or struggles) to my greater God!
I also need to make a decision: I will not give in to fear, I will give in to God. I will trust in God, I will wait for Him to step in, I will anticipate His help. And one day, I will praise Him because of this!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I need to shift my focus. Like You, I need to keep my eyes on my God, not on my problems. You are not only bigger, You are the biggest, the greatest. I will wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord.