Seeing God in Everything

Some of the greatest and most poignant passages of scripture were written in fields as a man was tending sheep. While watching after his flock, David penned psalms of praise to the Lord. Looking after his lambs, David found ways that his relationship with his herd mirrored his relationship with the Lord. In the midst of his regular routine, David was able to find God.

Today, I want to encourage you to find God in your regular routine. Think about your activities and how they mirror your Christian walk. As you take care of different tasks throughout the day, find moments to lift up praise and worship to your heavenly Father. As you interact with others, choose to remember the love of Christ and allow that to influence your behavior.

Maybe you'd like to go a step further. Take a short break and pen a poem or paragraph to the Lord. Express to Him what's on your heart. Pour out to Him whatever you are feeling. What I love about David was that nothing was off limits. He was totally transparent before God. Whether he was afraid, angry, restless, joyful, or somber, David expressed it to God and was able to still honor the Lord in the midst of any situation. You, too, can do the same.

Let today be a day of wonder, reflection, and praise to the Lord. Honor the Lord in your work, study, play, and fellowship. Recognize God in the world around you. Spend time worshipping Him in all that you do.

Verse of the Day:  I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3

Accentuate the Positive

It's easy to dwell on the negative. Rehearsing hurt, disappointment, and defeat comes naturally to our minds. Yet finding the good in a hurtful situation.... Forgiving someone while we still feel the sting... Letting go of our pain and handing it fully over to Jesus... These things take practice and work.

But the benefits are so much sweeter!

One of my favorite life examples from the Bible is David. He went through just about everything that you can think of: He was overlooked by his family, and hated without cause. David had to live for years in hiding. His best friend was killed. David's sins were publically exposed for his whole kingdom to see. There was unrest in his family, and his own son tried to kill David to take over the throne.

In Psalms, however, we see the reflections of David's heart. In the midst of David's anger, frustration, and pain, the love that he has for God is overwhelmingly present. In the same chapters where he calls out for the destruction of his tormentors, he also reassures himself in the greatness of his God. As he remembers his foolish behavior, David recalls the forgiving nature of the Lord.

David didn't let the situations he faced block out his view of God. He remembered the sovereignty of the Father at all times, and kept God's promises and words close to his heart. Rather than hold on to bitterness, anger, heartache, and shame,  David sang songs of praise and worship. He was a man after God's heart.

I am constantly reading the book of Psalms for this very reason. Yes, I may face hardships in my life. I may mess up and disappoint God and myself. No matter how I feel, though, I must always remember that the God I serve is great! The God I serve is also forgiving and has a love for me beyond measure.

There's no reason for me to dwell on the negative. With God in my corner, I can always accentuate the positive!

Verse of the Day: The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.  He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:18-21

Am I In Love?

Today my morning devotion had me in Psalm 119. Although what I was reading was emphasizing another point, the ending of verse 163 stood out to me: ...but thy law do I love.


I wondered to myself if I loved God's law. I know that I love God. I cherish the Word of God, and it's important to my daily life. Yet, did I love His commands and instruction?
 
When you love something, you have affection for it, you're enthusiastic about it, and you take delight in it. You take the time to get to know every inch of it. You get excited when you learn something new, and you can't wait to use or interact with whatever it is that has captured your heart.
 
Do I love God's commands according to the definition?
 
I certainly try my best to follow God's word. I do find joy in carrying out some of His instructions (Give and it shall be given..., Study to show yourself approved...). However, I know there are other parts of God's word that I do struggle to embrace wholeheartedly (Forgive and you shall be forgiven..., Pray for those who mistreat and abuse you...). Loving God's commands would mean that I would take delight in all of it, not just certain parts.
 
When you follow the instruction and principles that God's Word lays out, you cannot help but live a free and blessed life. His wisdom is beyond what we could fathom, and the results are certainly supernatural. What human would have ever come to the conclusion that giving to someone else would cause the giver to experience a greater blessing than the recipient?! Who could have figured that loving an enemy would bring peace to the abused?!
 
I love how God's ways take us to places of greatness. Yes, the journey may be difficult for our fleshly bodies to conform to, but the resulting benefits far outweigh the struggle.
 
So, does my loving the result mean that I inherently love the means? I have to think more on that. But I do admire David who was so enraptured with his God that he loved God's very instruction - and David lived before the grace and redemption of Christ!
 
What is your relationship with God's law? Do you love His commands? Or, do you just obey because that is what you know you have to do as a Christian?
 
Think about it as you go about your day today. Either way, make sure you thank God for His commandments and principles. If it wasn't for His instruction and wisdom, where would we all be?!
 
Verse of the Day: Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

Choose To Worship God In Spite Of It All

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is David. When you really take a look at his life, he went through some drama. Being overlooked by his own father, chased by the King of Israel, living in caves with a bunch of rejects, committing adultery and murder and being punished with the death of the resulting child, watching his children commit heinous acts towards each other... The man had a lot going on.

Yet he was still a man who chased after God's heart. He was still a worshipper in God's presence. His love for God was so deep that God promised that the Messiah would come from David's line.

The book of Psalms stands as a testament for the drama and emotions that David went through. Yet with every Psalm and every song of despair, the common thread of God's greatness, majesty and love shone through. No matter what David was facing, he never lost sight of the greatness of his God.

We too should take a page from David and continue to remember God's greatness and love. No matter what drama is swirling on around you, continue to chase after God's heart. Keep pressing into God's presence remembering the awesomeness of His love.

There is nothing you can do that will keep you from God's love. All it takes from you is a contrite spirit and God will wipe your slate clean and welcome you back into His arms. Don't let the drama keep you from the greatness of God's love. Use every situation as an opportunity to lift up the mighty God that you serve.

Today take a moment and read a Psalm. Remember, it's not about what's going on around you, it's about the One who's living in you.

Have a great day!

Verse of the Day: Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:4, 5