Lent Day 27 Don’t Give Up

Our scripture today is Psalm 31

Messsage Bible   https://www.bible.com/bible/97/psa.31.msg https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.31.niv

Have you ever been on the largest roller coaster in the amusement park? Can you remember the wait in line for the chance to be whipped up, down, all around? Life can be like a roller coaster. We go through periods of waiting not sure what is coming next. The exciting thing about roller coasters is their unpredictability. The speed and the twists and turns excite, delight, and cause fright. I can remember the times climbing slowly up, up, up, until all I could see was the sky. My heart beat faster, i wondered why I chose to do this? I wished I could get off. Unfortunately, once the ride begins there is no getting off. You can scream, holler, wiggle, You can’t get off. So it is with this life and our walk with GOD. There are some things that will happen that we have no control over. We will get excited, our hearts may pound, we may scream, but we won’t be able to change the situation. In times like these we do have a choice. We can choose to go through or grow through. We can learn to trust GOD or thrust ourselves into a panic. How will you deal with this roller coaster?

In our text Psalm 31 we see the wide range of emotions the Psalmist goes through. In just twenty four verses, the Psalm takes us on a whirlwind of emotions. From running to GOD for dear life (MSG) in verse 1 to feeling worn out, like My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs. My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder. (MSG) in verses 6-13. From these dips into depths of desperation the Psalm takes us to the pinnacle of praise, “What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. (MSG). On any given day we may find ourselves somewhere on this roller coaster until we find ourselves safe in the arms of GOD. The Psalmist reminds us that life is fluid. Daily we are presented choices and chances to quit working, to get out of line and not even take part in the experience of life. We may attempt to play it “safe”, only to find out those who fail to pursue their dreams and passions soon become the “walking dead”. When we check out and don’t engage in life with GOD we effectively start dying one doubt at a time.

As we continue on the arduous 40 Day Lenten journey, I encourage you to stay in line. Stay on the roller coaster. There will be rapid turns and blind curves taken at high speeds, but there is a Divine Spirit that will keep you on the track. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have been on the ride and made it through. The Psalmist concludes this Psalm saying, “Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.

Lent Day 26 On The Other Side of Through

Our scripture today is Psalm 30

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.30.niv

Floating on a sea of trouble

Sorrow falling like rain from the sky

Trodding through life’s murky waters

Trials form the tears in your eye

Don’t stop, keep going through

There’s a blessing on the other side of through

Think about the times you have had a breakthrough. Reflect on the experience that let you know it was going to be all right. On this journey called life there are some truly dark nights. Some nights when it feels like all is lost and there is no control. You feel like you are aimlessly floating on a sea of trouble. Then suddenly a brief glimmer of light appears. It may not last for a long time, but it catches your attention. An unexpected kind word is spoken. A pain subsides for a second when you lay a certain way. A moment of relief that excites your soul and enables you to endure a little longer because you know that GOD has not totally forsaken you. When I penned the words that introduced this post I had yet to fully experience the depths of my night experiences, I wrote from a limited amount of experiences but now, after the last few years of my journey, having witnessed moments of despair even, I can say, there is a blessing on the other side of whatever I have been going through. What GOD has prepared for you is better that what you’re going through so run this race with determination, GOD has prepared your destination.

The Psalmist in our text is sharing from the breakthrough experience. After a long dark night of praying and crying out to GOD, suddenly the Psalmist gets a breakthrough. The moment of clarity that can excite you. When we go through trials and temptations and get to a clearing it’s time to celebrate. Verse 1-3 says: “I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my GOD, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. What a glorious feeling.The Psalmist is saying I was down and almost out, but before my enemies and adversities totally got the best of me, GOD heard me and healed me. There is a certain brokenness that we experience in the dark nights of our life. Tough times can make many people bitter, yet the option is to be made better. Some of us have been beaten and broken and need a healing. This healing can be mental, physical, and spiritual for they are all linked. When we go through we can despair, and when we despair our bodies begin to break down from the stress. Finally our spirits can start to despair and we feel GOD has forsaken us. We need a healing and the Psalmist acknowledges that coming out of the trial brought a healing. The challenge we have is how we come out of our crisis. The residue of our rough times must be left in order to fully embrace our deliverance.

The 40 Days of Lent gives us many opportunities to experience the cycles of night and day. Each day we can identify closer with the sacrifice of our Savior. We can feel the moments we don’t think we can make it. The temptation to turn the brick into bread. We can identify with feeling alone in a wilderness with no one fully understanding why we aren’t eating meat, or drinking only water. We know the anguish of almost forgetting our commitment and slipping up. Still we press on. The Psalmist gives us a very poetic and powerful perspective of what it feels like on the other side. When we feel heard by GOD. Verses 11-12 says, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Put on your dancing shoes, there is a blessing on the other side of through.

 

Lent Day 25 Call and Response

Our scripture today is Psalm 28

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.28.niv

 

Last night on an evening run/walk my six year who has recently learned to ride without training wheels decided to ride ahead of me. At first it was not a problem as long as I could see her. Usually she will turn around if i am not keeping up. This time however she kept on riding. I kept my pace expecting her to return shortly but she didn’t. I called out, no response. I called again louder, NO response. I picked up my pace, called again and no response. Finally at the end of the trail, i found her sitting on the bench waiting for me to catch up. Relieved I admonished her and praised the LORD at the same time. Calling out and getting no response is a helpless feeling. Having expectations that you are being heard only to find out that you were not is quite disturbing. Finally when the situation resolves itself relief comes.

Have you ever felt like you were in hell and could not get out? Have you ever felt trapped in a situation, expecting help that never came? Have you ever cried out to GOD, bearing your soul only to wonder, did GOD even hear me? Why does GOD remain silent? If I knew for sure I would tell you, however my experience is that GOD is not silent, GOD is really choosing another less familiar way to communicate. The external silence of GOD does not negate the voice of GOD. What happens in the silence can stress us or bless us. Either GOD is saying, trust me when you can not see me, or we believe GOD may have left us alone. There is an island in the center of our soul, reserved for the season of silence. We may feel alone on that island, but GOD is there. Be still and know GOD in the silence.

The Psalmist in our text is calling out to GOD and getting no response. Verse 1 says: “To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. I can say along with the Psalmist, “been there done that”. Crying out for the rock and not even finding a pebble. The Psalmist asks for GOD not to remain silent. This gives me the impression, its been a while. Going on the writer says, if you remain silent I will be like those who go down into the pit. Feeling disconnected from GOD is hell. I remember the senior saints in my home church singing, “Father I stretch my hand to thee, no other help I know, If thou withdraw thyself from me, oh wither shall I go?” Like the Psalmist and senior saints most of us can connect. Living in tough economic times many are working jobs to make ends that do not satisfy their training or their passion. They cry, How long LORD? Will I ever get back what it feels like I have lost? Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. I surrender. I lift my hands and surrender.

Soon after the surrender, comes the response. Its funny how that works. Often as long as we hold on to a desired outcome, we miss the move of GOD into another level. Too often we grasp and claw for where we expect GOD to be and respond and miss the new movement. It is when we let go of past expectations we experience new revelations.

As we continue this 40 day journey, there may be some missed calls and missed responses. Remain faithful to experiencing GOD in the silence. The Presence of GOD can be experienced in the silence of GOD. It may feel like hell to call and get no response, but remember, even if you make your bed in hell GOD is there. Live In Victory Everyday Believing In GOD. #LIVEBIG

Lent Day 24 Waiting

Our scripture today is Psalm 27

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.27.niv

Think about your most recent experience with waiting. Can you feel you muscles tense just a bit? Can you feel your heart beat just a bit faster? Speaking  for myself and I dare say most people I know, anything seems better than waiting. It is so unnerving to be in a place with little control over when something happens. This occurs whether we are waiting for the bus to come, the plane to land, or the bank teller to help us deposit the unexpected check we received. Waiting as an whole is an undesirable experience. This is especially excruciating when we are waiting for the full manifestation of dreams and life work to be fulfilled. Waiting on GOD to deliver us forces us to truly examine what we do in the mean time. How do we handle uncertainty, even when we know its coming? When I was a child, I knew Christmas was coming, but waiting for it was hard. Wrapped presents that I could not open. Waiting, even on GOD is frustrating.

In our text the Psalmist begins with a strong declaration many of us can connect with. Verse one states, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Have you ever had to encourage yourself with words you were working to believe. How we speak to ourselves has a major impact on how we handle the in between time. When we are in between blessings, or in between a rock and a hard place. I admit I usually read this Psalm with the voice of confidence in my head, but today as I reflect I experience from the view of the waiting room. I hear it as a reminder to the Psalmist how things can be and will be, but are not quite yet. In verse 2-3 the Psalmist says, “When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” When I hear this I hear a pregame motivation speech. Like get ready, get ready, tough times may be on the way, but you will prevail. Don’t let fear paralyze you. Be fully present, be confident, in the end GOD will win. The Psalmist is in the mean time. The use of the future tense like “when the wicked”, or “in the day of trouble”, indicate there is an expectation of things to come and like we said earlier, nobody like to wait.

Our 40 day journey of Lent is one filled with waiting. Even though we know its 40 days, some of those days seem longer than others. Some of us may already be saying wow, only sixteen more days and I can take back what i gave up. I encourage you, to become fully present and not yield to the temptation of dwelling in the not yet. When we see the present moment as the only moment, we realize that no other moment can be different. It will always be the present moment and GOD is always in the present moment. The Psalm concludes as I conclude today,

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Lent Day 23 Clear My Name

Our scripture today is Psalm 26.

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.26.niv

 

Have you ever done something with the best of intentions that went terribly wrong? Have you ever been let go from a job or a relationship that you thought was going to last forever, or at least until you let it go? It is a sad feeling to be unappreciated. It can infuriate us when our efforts are met with indifference or even worse, disdain. Most people like to be liked. We enjoy it when people see us and say you look good, or you are doing a great job. We seem to thrive when we are in situations where we are celebrated, and shrink in situations where we are tolerated. Its amazing how words of encouragement add a little pep into our step. What is also amazing is how we often want from others the affirmation that we don’t as readily give. On top of that we allow what we desire from others to affect how we relate to GOD.

In our text the Psalmist asks GOD in verse 1 to “vindicate me LORD”. In other words clear my name GOD. The only way you need vindication is when you feel attacked or falsely accused. When we are under fire and going through challenges we often respond by thinking how undeserved this is. We reason that we shouldn’t have to go through this. After all we done and how long we have prayed and served they ought to recognize our value. The Psalmist asks for vindication and then states the reason why, “for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.” To be clear here, if the Psalmist is David, we know his life has not been blameless, just ask Uriah or Bathsheba. Yet he is confident to ask GOD to put him to the test. When I read this it came to me that we often see ourselves through lenses that block out all the negative things we do. We tend to miss the things we have done to hurt others or at the very least not to help others. We only want GOD to recognize the good we do and forgive all the other stuff. The Psalmist may be seeing only one situation where the accusation is false, yet GOD looks over the whole of our lives. We will not reap good or bad fruit in the same season we plant. Still the willingness of the Psalmist for GOD to examine his life indicates a willingness to grow and adapt to be better.

As we continue our 40 day Lenten journey, let us be open to the examination of GOD. Let us dwell on the learning opportunities that can come from the criticism and indifference of others. Today, the challenge is to reach out and encourage others around you. Find someone who may often fly under the radar of most and say a kind word. Speak to the janitor and call your waitress by name. Know that the opportunity that GOD may take you from is leading you to the place you need to be. #LIVEBIG

Lent Day 22 Help My Unbelief

Our scripture today is Psalm 25

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.25.niv

Have you ever experienced a feeling of unworthiness while praying? Have you ever become aware that you have messed up and gone astray so often that you doubt GOD would hear your prayer. Sin has a way of building a barrier between us and GOD. The barrier isn’t always a physical one but often a mental, emotional, and spiritual one. We know that we have messed up and we reason that whatever may happen we will get what we deserve. This awareness leads to feelings of unworthiness and even despair at times. From here our spiritual awareness becomes compromised with doubts and fears. All in all, like dominoes all in a row, we fall down and are tempted to stay down. We challenge ourselves to pray but we lose all expectations that they are going any further than our lips. Today I encourage you to be honest with yourself and GOD in your quiet time. Honestly confess that you believe GOD loves and forgives, yet you feel unlovable. You believe GOD is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask for, yet you feel you may have run out of second chances. As we draw closer to the light of GOD we can see more of the blemishes in ourselves.

In our text the Psalmist begins with a declaration, “In you LORD my GOD I put my trust“. On the surface this seems like a bold declaration yet in the next verse we see the doubts beginning to manifest themselves. The Psalm goes on to say in vs 2 “I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. How quickly the tone has changed. If you truly trust why would it even enter your mind that you would be put to shame? When we truly trust there are no doubts. The reality is we often say things and pray things in an effort to convince ourselves that they are true and possible. We are in many ways like the wizard in the Wizard of OZ. We put on a front and hid our fears behind our bravado. Paul Laurence Dunbar writes:

We Wear the Mask

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

       We wear the mask!

How true this is. Yet not only do we wear the mask in public, far too often we wear the mask in the presence of GOD. The Psalmist continues to write and ask for guidance. Then we get a glimpse into a deeper part of the Psalmist psyche. Vs 7.reveals the residue of sin that stains our minds long after the events have transpired. “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” Psalm 25:8. 

While we continue our 40 day journey, let us become intentional about dropping our masks. Today take a long look in the mirror. Appreciate each feature you love and each feature you often ignore. While doing this thank GOD the our spiritual access has NOT been denied. You are loved and forgiven, not get on to righteous living. #livebig

Lent Day 21 Lead Me

 

Our scripture today is Psalm 23.

https://www.bible.com/bible/1/psa.23.kjv

 

Oops I did it again. I wish I hadn’t but it did. Somehow, someway, when I try to live this life on my own, I go astray. Often this departure is not an intentional act but one that occurs gradually over time. Small acts of forgetfulness and grand rationalizations. Like a rock being gradually worn away by moving water, I don’t know the exact moment I started to stray but Suddenly I look up and can’t figure out how I got here. Yup, Oops I did it again. Many of us have a tendency to get lackadaisical in our spiritual disciplines and like sheep grazing in the field we lose perspective of where we are. We can’t pinpoint when we turned because we were so focused on what we were doing. We can get locked into routines that after time lose their value. Even our spiritual disciplines can lose their meaning when we just do them on auto-pilot. An example of this can be when we ask GOD to bless our food. When was the last time you really thought about the food you were asking GOD to bless. Did you think about the producers and growers and truck drivers? Did you think about how much sun and water went into the process?  Were you able to appreciate eating fruit from trees you did not plant? Or were you able to think about those who may not have enough food to eat? Living with food insecurities? Even the act of eating should not be taken for granted.

In our very familiar text the Psalmist says, “The LORD is my shepherd”. Another way to say this would be I am like a sheep. As a sheep without guidance I will make a mess of my life. Like a sheep I am not able to focus on much beyond my immediate needs. I don’t plan ahead and I would drown chasing after water from fast moving streams. The Psalmist recognizes that unless we are lead by GOD we will follow the wide, well worn road to destruction. This path of least resistance leads to fear and destruction. On the other when the LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. I can rest and refresh with green pastures and still waters. This rest and refreshment restores my soul. With GOD as my shepherd even when i go through the alleys and the valleys of the shadow of death, I don’t have to fear what happens. I am able to focus on how BIG my Shepherd is and not how big my problem may be. With GOD as my shepherd when I stray there is a rod and staff of love to redirect me. Not only will I have enough, my cup will run over. As long as I follow GOD will lead us into eternity.

The Lenten season gives us an opportunity to bring meaning to our routines. We are able to see where we may have been going through the motions assuming we were going in the right direction without checking in with the Divine Navigator. Today I encourage you to bring added attention to the routine things you do. Chew your food more slowly, tasting and appreciating each bite. Look your loved ones in the eye a second longer and listen. Seek to understand before you seek to be understood. By doing this you can yield the control of your life to the only one truly able to provide goodness and mercy all the days of your life. #livebig

Lent Day 20 Presents in GODS Presence

Our scripture today is Psalm 21.

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.21.niv

GOD is good all the time and all the time GOD is good. Many times while on this journey called life we forget to count our blessings. We can always seem to remember whats going wrong or where we would like to be other than where we are.  We often forget to appreciate just how good GOD is. We tend to count our stressings more than our blessings. We calculate what we have lost in this life more than we celebrate what we have left. Today is a day of gratitude. In the midst of this devotion, take a moment and thank GOD for the often overlooked blessings, like blinking, thinking, and being.

In our text the Psalmist begins counting the many ways he has been blessed. The Psalm begins with the writer, “rejoicing in the strength of GOD”. As we are blessed and are able to withstand the tests and trials of life we acknowledge it is by the power and strength of GOD that we live and move and have our being. Alone we can do No-Thing. So the Psalmist begins counting his blessings. Among those blessings is the joy of GODS presence. When I read this I almost shouted, YES. I am grateful for the presence of GOD. Yes I love the presents that GOD is able to provide, but even when silver and gold escape me, and even if evil people pursue me, and even if obstacles try to overtake me, Even then GOD is able to give joy in the midst of it all. Just knowing I have a GOD who walks with me and doesn’t ignore me gives joy. Joy, not happiness. Happiness is often based on a situation, but joy is based on a destination. Where we are going to with GOD, empowers us to go through with GOD. We are never alone.

As we experience GOD during this 40 days of Lent, let us celebrate the blessing of knowing we are never alone. As a spiritual practice today, look for reasons to express gratitude to GOD and to others. Speak life and encourage other with your smile and positive attitude. Be a light that shines in darkness. #livebig

Lent Day 20 Presents In the Presence Of GOD

Our scripture today is Psalm 21.

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.21.niv

GOD is good all the time and all the time GOD is good. Many times while on this journey called life we forget to count our blessings. We can always seem to remember whats going wrong or where we would like to be other than where we are.  We often forget to appreciate just how good GOD is. We tend to count our stressings more than our blessings. We calculate what we have lost in this life more than we celebrate what we have left. Today is a day of gratitude. In the midst of this devotion, take a moment and thank GOD for the often overlooked blessings, like blinking, thinking, and being.

In our text the Psalmist begins counting the many ways he has been blessed. The Psalm begins with the writer, “rejoicing in the strength of GOD”. As we are blessed and are able to withstand the tests and trials of life we acknowledge it is by the power and strength of GOD that we live and move and have our being. Alone we can do No-Thing. So the Psalmist begins counting his blessings. Among those blessings is the joy of GODS presence. When I read this I almost shouted, YES. I am grateful for the presence of GOD. Yes I love the presents that GOD is able to provide, but even when silver and gold escape me, and even if evil people pursue me, and even if obstacles try to overtake me, Even then GOD is able to give joy in the midst of it all. Just knowing I have a GOD who walks with me and doesn’t ignore me gives joy. Joy, not happiness. Happiness is often based on a situation, but joy is based on a destination. Where we are going to with GOD, empowers us to go through with GOD. We are never alone.

As we experience GOD during this 40 days of Lent, let us celebrate the blessing of knowing we are never alone. As a spiritual practice today, look for reasons to express gratitude to GOD and to others. Speak life and encourage other with your smile and positive attitude. Be a light that shines in darkness. #livebig

Lent Day 19 Can You Hear Me Now?

Our scripture today is Psalm 17

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.17.niv

Has GOD ever felt far away? Have you ever wondered if all the prayers you have prayed and continue to pray are just piling up in the “in box” of GOD’S filing system? Does it ever feel like you are praying out of habit, but there is no real expectation that anything will be different? In short have you ever just wanted to scream, “GOD, can you hear me now? Am I close enough Now?” I encourage you today to know, delayed responses to prayer are not denied answers to prayers. Very often GOD operates as an air traffic controller. GOD knows now is not a good time to land. If you got the answer now you would create more havoc and not be able to sustain it. Our desires don’t always match our discipline and maturity. GOD is growing us in the valley so we have enough strength to climb the mountain. When the trials of life start piling up, and the going gets tough, instead of asking where GOD is, reflect on where we are.

In our text the Psalmist begins with a desire to be heard by GOD. By saying hear me GOD, there is a recognition that GOD is under no obligation to do anything for us. The sense is the Psalmist has gone through a period of reflection and has done some spiritual house cleaning. In Vs. 1 we find the words, “Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.” In order for the writer to say my plea is just there is a recognition that we must be clear when we come to GOD that our motives are right. This does not guarantee a favorable response, but it clearly does not hinder one. When there is deceit and duplicity in our motives we can be sure that GOD is going to have trouble granting our request. For this reason we must be intentional about out walk with GOD.

As children coming before a loving parent, we know our Divine Parent knows us. The Psalmist goes on to say you can examine and test me at night. We can truly tell who a person is when we see them at night. Its easy to walk right when we know everybody is watching. The real challenge is how we walk when we know we won’t be caught. Do we walk upright when getting caught doing wrong is unlikely? Do we stop at every stop sign at 2 AM and no one is around?

Our Lenten journey provides an opportunity for us to repent of all our sins. Lent gives us a chance to examine ourselves free of our ego and bravado. Free of the lies we tell ourselves to keep us going. When we have done this introspective look, and become clear about our intentions, when can ask GOD, “Can you hear me now?” Today lift another as you climb. Live In Victory Everyday Believing In GOD. #LIVEBIG