Ps 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me." NIV
The simple message of this passage from Psalm 57 is clear; “God has a purpose for you!”
So many people live their entire lives either willfully or ignorantly separated from the God ordained purpose that was intended for their lives. God is a builder! Jesus said in Mt. 16:18, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Jesus is at work with both a clear mission and a clear passion. He is at work in the earth to build His church as the agent that will overthrow all of the power of the kingdom of darkness so that all those who would be saved can be saved! He is building with purpose and His building material is you!
In 1 Peter 2:4-5 the apostle Peter writes, “As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Every believer has a destiny. It is to be a part of the church that God is building. Each one of us was created to make a contribution to the building of Christ’s church through stirring up the gifts and talents that God has invested in each one of us. The means Christ has chosen to build this triumphant church in the earth is to captivate, motivate and activate each one of His children to discover and fulfill the purpose He has created them for. His desire is to captivate us with a burning love for the living God, motivate us with a vision of His purposes in the earth and our place in them and then activate us through developing a deep sense of burden and responsibility within each of us so that we will take action and fulfill this purpose.
As each one of us begins to identify the reality that there is a God given purpose awaiting us this simple little verse that we have begun with carries two additional thoughts within it that are important to us as we progress in life. The first implication is the essential understanding that ultimately it is God’s purpose for you and He will fulfill it through us. He will orchestrate circumstances, open doors and provide the resources to complete every purpose He has ordained. Striving and human effort are not sufficient to fulfill God’s agenda. Resting in obedient trust, doing each particular task that God asks of us is the path to completion of our God given purpose. We must recognize that God has a part and we have a part in this divine purpose. God orchestrates, we pray and obey. That is the other implication of the verse that we began this devotional with. David understood the paradox of God’s purpose: God fulfills his purpose for me as I cry out to him in prayer and offer him a willing and prepared life that He can activate and direct for His purposes. God has a plan! He is committed to that plan and He is looking to you to place your heart in agreement with that plan and prepare your life to accomplish that God ordained purpose. Paul demonstrates two facets of this principle in his mentoring relationship with his spiritual son Timothy. In 2 Ti. 2:15 Paul instructs Timothy, “study to show yourself approved…” , and in 1 Ti. 1:18 he encourages Timothy to take a hold of the prophetic words that he has received and use them to fight in prayer for the fulfillment of his purpose in God. These verses are a great example to us of both God’s desire to define and fulfill his purpose for us and our responsibility to partner with Him through this lifestyle of prayerful obedient preparation. Don’t miss the opportunity today to take another step towards walking in the fullness of what you were created for.
Saturday
Wednesday
Psalm 57:1 - June 17, 2009
Ps 57:1 For the director of music. [To the tune of] "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."
Jesus is a hiding place for your soul! When the pressures of life are rising all around us one of the most vulnerable areas of our lives for being overcome by these pressures is the realm of our souls. The circumstances of life may press us financially, relationally, in our health, and many other areas but the primary area of our lives to be disrupted by each of these is the spiritual composure of our soul. The soul, which is essentially the mind, will and emotions, is where anger, depression, fear, sorrow and many other emotions and feelings find their expression. As our lives are confronted by difficulties and trials our temptations that afflict us appeal to the soulish nature either to find comfort in unhealthy and sinful bodily habits or through yielding to a mental focus that is centered on the problem rather than confidently resting in the assurance of the stated promises that scripture provides as God’s response to our needs.
Many times when the fires of life begin to burn we go through a cycle of inner conflicts. The heat of these fires provokes us to anger, and blame-shifting. We search for someone or something to become the focus of our anger so that we can unload the built up emotional pressure upon them. Most of us look for somewhere to vent! One of the primary problems with that is that instead of truly providing relief we only intensify the negativity of our feelings and our circumstances as well as compounding the problem by wounding those we vent towards! David had every conceivable reason to be angry or depressed when we consider the context of his life circumstances at the time that he wrote this psalm. He has lost everything materially, his reputation has been smeared by the false accusations of a psychologically broken king and he is running for his life as that same king has assigned an army of men to kill him. (And you think you have problems!) All of this is swirling around David and yet he does not complain to man nor make excuses for sinful behavior towards those around him. Instead David fixes his eyes on the Lord and affirms his position in God: “in you my soul takes refuge.”
We too must learn the secret of living with a focused soul. It is vital that we embrace the reality of our human tendency and wrestle for dominion over our fleshly responses by living in the spirit instead of from this soulish part of our being. Today and each day as the pressures of life arise to touch you make a conscious choice to fix your eyes in worship upon the Lord and live from your spirit. Live in the knowledge that God is both with you and in you and lean upon his peace as you pour out your inner needs in his presence. Let his peace become the stabilizing force that helps you not to yield to the temptation to ungodly responses in your times of need.
Jesus is a hiding place for your soul! When the pressures of life are rising all around us one of the most vulnerable areas of our lives for being overcome by these pressures is the realm of our souls. The circumstances of life may press us financially, relationally, in our health, and many other areas but the primary area of our lives to be disrupted by each of these is the spiritual composure of our soul. The soul, which is essentially the mind, will and emotions, is where anger, depression, fear, sorrow and many other emotions and feelings find their expression. As our lives are confronted by difficulties and trials our temptations that afflict us appeal to the soulish nature either to find comfort in unhealthy and sinful bodily habits or through yielding to a mental focus that is centered on the problem rather than confidently resting in the assurance of the stated promises that scripture provides as God’s response to our needs.
Many times when the fires of life begin to burn we go through a cycle of inner conflicts. The heat of these fires provokes us to anger, and blame-shifting. We search for someone or something to become the focus of our anger so that we can unload the built up emotional pressure upon them. Most of us look for somewhere to vent! One of the primary problems with that is that instead of truly providing relief we only intensify the negativity of our feelings and our circumstances as well as compounding the problem by wounding those we vent towards! David had every conceivable reason to be angry or depressed when we consider the context of his life circumstances at the time that he wrote this psalm. He has lost everything materially, his reputation has been smeared by the false accusations of a psychologically broken king and he is running for his life as that same king has assigned an army of men to kill him. (And you think you have problems!) All of this is swirling around David and yet he does not complain to man nor make excuses for sinful behavior towards those around him. Instead David fixes his eyes on the Lord and affirms his position in God: “in you my soul takes refuge.”
We too must learn the secret of living with a focused soul. It is vital that we embrace the reality of our human tendency and wrestle for dominion over our fleshly responses by living in the spirit instead of from this soulish part of our being. Today and each day as the pressures of life arise to touch you make a conscious choice to fix your eyes in worship upon the Lord and live from your spirit. Live in the knowledge that God is both with you and in you and lean upon his peace as you pour out your inner needs in his presence. Let his peace become the stabilizing force that helps you not to yield to the temptation to ungodly responses in your times of need.
Tuesday
Psalm 55:20-22 - June 16, 2009
Ps 55:20-22 "My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21 His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. 22Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." NIV
This passage and the preceding verses awaken us to the reality that we should live with a sober caution, being careful to balance trust towards those we walk with and work alongside of with the conscious knowledge of the human capacity to betray one another. This is not to say that we live in fear of someone’s potential to wound us with actions of betrayal but rather that we live wisely aware that not all men are as they seem publicly. Verses 20-21 sadly identify the human potential to speak with flattery and deceptive speech, affirming us in one breathe and turning against us in the next.
Jesus was very aware of human tendency in regard to his dealings with those around him. It was said of the Lord in John 2:24-25 “Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men… he knew what was in a man.” He knew that Judas was a betrayer before he ever betrayed him and yet he still accepted him with loving kindness. He was willing to entrust himself to the Lord in the midst of the knowledge of what this man do even after having loved him and invested in him as an equal amongst the other disciples. Jesus was not blind to man’s potential. Instead he lived in the knowledge that He lived for a different world. They could take His life, but they couldn’t take His identity or His true source of wealth.
There is a great peace that comes when our hearts are at rest. Jesus could have been drawn into great anxiety because of His knowledge of the human potential but He didn’t live with His eyes on this earth. Jesus lived before His father and so His expectation in life came only from His life there. When His persecutors surrounded Him, He was confident that He could only be harmed if it was the Lord’s will and time. As He stood before Pilot He declared His assurance that Pilot had no power over Him except that which His heavenly father permitted. Jesus was not moved to stress by circumstance, nor the actions of people because He was “not of this world.” He knew that His life was an expression of God’s purpose in the earth and that His times were in God’s hands. This is the power of a surrendered life.
In Psalm 55:22 the psalmist encourages us to cast our cares upon the Lord. This passage of assurance is written within the context of these verses regarding the betrayal of men and the potential for a wounded spirit that comes from these encounters. Knowing the pain of this rejection and the potential for a permanent scar upon the heart of those who have been so betrayed we are called by David to look to the Lord. In the same way as Christ David has learned to entrust his life and destiny to the Lord even in the midst of great betrayal. The key to peace is true surrender! David took a hold of the promises he had received from the Lord and he placed his eyes on the revealed purpose of God for his life! He did not allow himself to be swallowed up by the pain of his betrayal. He did not allow his heart to become embittered towards God or man. Instead, he cast his cares upon the Lord and found strength in the sustaining power of God’s comforting presence. As you live before men do not be ignorant of their potential for wounding you even as you allow yourself to walk with them in purposeful relationships and find your comfort, strength and source of identity in the eternal purpose and love of the great God whom we serve!
This passage and the preceding verses awaken us to the reality that we should live with a sober caution, being careful to balance trust towards those we walk with and work alongside of with the conscious knowledge of the human capacity to betray one another. This is not to say that we live in fear of someone’s potential to wound us with actions of betrayal but rather that we live wisely aware that not all men are as they seem publicly. Verses 20-21 sadly identify the human potential to speak with flattery and deceptive speech, affirming us in one breathe and turning against us in the next.
Jesus was very aware of human tendency in regard to his dealings with those around him. It was said of the Lord in John 2:24-25 “Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men… he knew what was in a man.” He knew that Judas was a betrayer before he ever betrayed him and yet he still accepted him with loving kindness. He was willing to entrust himself to the Lord in the midst of the knowledge of what this man do even after having loved him and invested in him as an equal amongst the other disciples. Jesus was not blind to man’s potential. Instead he lived in the knowledge that He lived for a different world. They could take His life, but they couldn’t take His identity or His true source of wealth.
There is a great peace that comes when our hearts are at rest. Jesus could have been drawn into great anxiety because of His knowledge of the human potential but He didn’t live with His eyes on this earth. Jesus lived before His father and so His expectation in life came only from His life there. When His persecutors surrounded Him, He was confident that He could only be harmed if it was the Lord’s will and time. As He stood before Pilot He declared His assurance that Pilot had no power over Him except that which His heavenly father permitted. Jesus was not moved to stress by circumstance, nor the actions of people because He was “not of this world.” He knew that His life was an expression of God’s purpose in the earth and that His times were in God’s hands. This is the power of a surrendered life.
In Psalm 55:22 the psalmist encourages us to cast our cares upon the Lord. This passage of assurance is written within the context of these verses regarding the betrayal of men and the potential for a wounded spirit that comes from these encounters. Knowing the pain of this rejection and the potential for a permanent scar upon the heart of those who have been so betrayed we are called by David to look to the Lord. In the same way as Christ David has learned to entrust his life and destiny to the Lord even in the midst of great betrayal. The key to peace is true surrender! David took a hold of the promises he had received from the Lord and he placed his eyes on the revealed purpose of God for his life! He did not allow himself to be swallowed up by the pain of his betrayal. He did not allow his heart to become embittered towards God or man. Instead, he cast his cares upon the Lord and found strength in the sustaining power of God’s comforting presence. As you live before men do not be ignorant of their potential for wounding you even as you allow yourself to walk with them in purposeful relationships and find your comfort, strength and source of identity in the eternal purpose and love of the great God whom we serve!
Monday
Psalm 55:12-14 - June 15,2009
Ps 55:12-14 "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God." NIV
There is no feeling in the world like the feeling that comes when someone you had trusted or someone whom you worked together closely with or walked together with in your pursuit of the Lord takes upon themselves the role of betrayer or adversary. Throughout the pages of scripture one of the more common means by which God prepared His servants was through the betrayal or mistreatment of others. David served Saul only to have him fall to a spirit of jealousy and become his adversary. Men who used to stand with him in the leadership of the nation during his rule as king abandoned him when his own son rose up to betray and usurp his throne. Jacob was abused in his service of his father-in-law repeatedly. Moses led the people diligently towards the living God only to have Korah rise up against him with a rebellious spirit. Paul was abandoned by almost everyone near the end of his ministry.
The psalmist reflects on the reality that if his persecutor were only an enemy then he would be able to hide himself from the attack. How mysterious the ways of God that in the lives of those who serve him He allows opposition to arise from sources that we cannot escape from. It seems that God has determined that such opposition is a necessary training ground for godly character, and development of faith and trust. Again and again throughout the word trusted associate becomes the source of aggressive opposition and the heart is tried by the pain of not only broken relationship but violated trust.
God allows the pain to strike close to the heart so that the heart will mature. He knows the brokenness and sin that lies within the heart of every man and He leads us in pathways of pain that sift out our motives. “Will we serve Him even when our hearts have been wounded?” It is only when we have tasted this kind of pain that we can identify with the sufferings of the Lord. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they rejected their hour of visitation. He carried the pain of knowing that the very ones He would soon suffer and die for would betray Him and choose a thief instead. Yet in all of this Christ called out from the cross “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” His pain only drove his compassion deeper. The more clearly He experienced the darkness in the hearts of men, the more completely he was captured by the burden to be the source of their deliverance. Even so God allows our lives to be touched by pain. He chooses not to shield us knowing that if we will reach to him in our anguish that the lesson that we will learn will be one of identification. Paul greatly desired to learn the way of Christ’s suffering, understanding the work that it would do in his heart. Instead of shrinking back from his own personal pain he declared in Phil 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.” His thoughts were echoed by Peter as well in 1 Peter 4:13-14 as he encourages the church, “rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” When we rightly respond to suffering we are blessed. When we embrace the pain of how people treat us by identifying with Christ’s suffering on the cross Peter says, “the Spirit of glory and of God rests” on us! Don’t shrink back from the pain in your life! Let God introduce you to an even deeper revelation of the glorious man Christ Jesus as you share in his compassion for a broken world!
There is no feeling in the world like the feeling that comes when someone you had trusted or someone whom you worked together closely with or walked together with in your pursuit of the Lord takes upon themselves the role of betrayer or adversary. Throughout the pages of scripture one of the more common means by which God prepared His servants was through the betrayal or mistreatment of others. David served Saul only to have him fall to a spirit of jealousy and become his adversary. Men who used to stand with him in the leadership of the nation during his rule as king abandoned him when his own son rose up to betray and usurp his throne. Jacob was abused in his service of his father-in-law repeatedly. Moses led the people diligently towards the living God only to have Korah rise up against him with a rebellious spirit. Paul was abandoned by almost everyone near the end of his ministry.
The psalmist reflects on the reality that if his persecutor were only an enemy then he would be able to hide himself from the attack. How mysterious the ways of God that in the lives of those who serve him He allows opposition to arise from sources that we cannot escape from. It seems that God has determined that such opposition is a necessary training ground for godly character, and development of faith and trust. Again and again throughout the word trusted associate becomes the source of aggressive opposition and the heart is tried by the pain of not only broken relationship but violated trust.
God allows the pain to strike close to the heart so that the heart will mature. He knows the brokenness and sin that lies within the heart of every man and He leads us in pathways of pain that sift out our motives. “Will we serve Him even when our hearts have been wounded?” It is only when we have tasted this kind of pain that we can identify with the sufferings of the Lord. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they rejected their hour of visitation. He carried the pain of knowing that the very ones He would soon suffer and die for would betray Him and choose a thief instead. Yet in all of this Christ called out from the cross “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” His pain only drove his compassion deeper. The more clearly He experienced the darkness in the hearts of men, the more completely he was captured by the burden to be the source of their deliverance. Even so God allows our lives to be touched by pain. He chooses not to shield us knowing that if we will reach to him in our anguish that the lesson that we will learn will be one of identification. Paul greatly desired to learn the way of Christ’s suffering, understanding the work that it would do in his heart. Instead of shrinking back from his own personal pain he declared in Phil 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.” His thoughts were echoed by Peter as well in 1 Peter 4:13-14 as he encourages the church, “rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” When we rightly respond to suffering we are blessed. When we embrace the pain of how people treat us by identifying with Christ’s suffering on the cross Peter says, “the Spirit of glory and of God rests” on us! Don’t shrink back from the pain in your life! Let God introduce you to an even deeper revelation of the glorious man Christ Jesus as you share in his compassion for a broken world!
Sunday
Psalm 52:8 - June 14, 2009
Ps 52:8 "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever." NIV
Psalm 52:8 is such a glaring contrast with the preceding verses 5-7. While verses 5-7 focus on the impending judgment that awaits the wicked and the reality that their seeming prosperity will be cut off in God’s time verse 8 assures the righteous man that it is God’s intention that we flourish! Imagine a well tended, properly watered and adequately lighted plant growing in the shelter of God’s presence. This is the life that God intends for those who follow Him.
The words of Jesus confirm this passage and its comforting image of healthy growth. Jesus declares the goal of his coming into the world as he spoke to the Pharisees contrasting his mission with that of Satan. In John 10:10 Jesus declares “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” As the second half of Psalm 52:8 encourages us by the psalmist’s example our part is to trust in God’s love. The power of Jesus’ words in John 10:10 is to help us rightly identify the source of those things that touch our lives and bring harm. Too often it is the tendency even of Christians to ascribe the evil deeds and difficult circumstances that touch our lives to the works of the Lord. But Jesus clearly distinguishes His agenda from that of the thief, Satan. When dark times touch us our hearts are tempted to blame God but Christ clearly identifies that it is the thief who comes “to steal, and to kill and to destroy.” Jesus continues on to correct our thinking even further by declaring his purpose concerning us, “abundant life!” This is God’s heart for you!
When evil comes we must resist the temptation to point to God with an accusing heart. The psalmist presents a different response for those who know the Lord, “I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.” When those times of trial come do not yield to the voice that would accuse God! Stand firmly in the knowledge that you are loved and that God’s intention for you is that you have abundant life, a life full of the joy and peace that only the Spirit of God dwelling inside of you can provide. God is not the author of the evil that may come your way. His plan is abundance and his response to those destructive things that have come against you is always redemptive in nature. Those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes may rest assured that as Paul says in Rom 8:28-29 “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The knowledge of God’s loving commitment to you is your greatest source of comfort. Lean on Him today knowing that his intention is that you flourish in life like that green olive tree and that if Satan or circumstances rise up against you there is a peace and safety available in God that can not only give you power to endure but turn evil into blessing and life changing wisdom from above if you will turn your heart fully in trusting surrender into the hands of the living God!
Psalm 52:8 is such a glaring contrast with the preceding verses 5-7. While verses 5-7 focus on the impending judgment that awaits the wicked and the reality that their seeming prosperity will be cut off in God’s time verse 8 assures the righteous man that it is God’s intention that we flourish! Imagine a well tended, properly watered and adequately lighted plant growing in the shelter of God’s presence. This is the life that God intends for those who follow Him.
The words of Jesus confirm this passage and its comforting image of healthy growth. Jesus declares the goal of his coming into the world as he spoke to the Pharisees contrasting his mission with that of Satan. In John 10:10 Jesus declares “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” As the second half of Psalm 52:8 encourages us by the psalmist’s example our part is to trust in God’s love. The power of Jesus’ words in John 10:10 is to help us rightly identify the source of those things that touch our lives and bring harm. Too often it is the tendency even of Christians to ascribe the evil deeds and difficult circumstances that touch our lives to the works of the Lord. But Jesus clearly distinguishes His agenda from that of the thief, Satan. When dark times touch us our hearts are tempted to blame God but Christ clearly identifies that it is the thief who comes “to steal, and to kill and to destroy.” Jesus continues on to correct our thinking even further by declaring his purpose concerning us, “abundant life!” This is God’s heart for you!
When evil comes we must resist the temptation to point to God with an accusing heart. The psalmist presents a different response for those who know the Lord, “I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.” When those times of trial come do not yield to the voice that would accuse God! Stand firmly in the knowledge that you are loved and that God’s intention for you is that you have abundant life, a life full of the joy and peace that only the Spirit of God dwelling inside of you can provide. God is not the author of the evil that may come your way. His plan is abundance and his response to those destructive things that have come against you is always redemptive in nature. Those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes may rest assured that as Paul says in Rom 8:28-29 “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The knowledge of God’s loving commitment to you is your greatest source of comfort. Lean on Him today knowing that his intention is that you flourish in life like that green olive tree and that if Satan or circumstances rise up against you there is a peace and safety available in God that can not only give you power to endure but turn evil into blessing and life changing wisdom from above if you will turn your heart fully in trusting surrender into the hands of the living God!
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