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Posts Tagged ‘faith’

Thankful to Trust Even When You Delay, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on December 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, December 5, 2024

Lord, all he could do was trust you. The psalmist recorded his testimony of the dark time his soul dwelt into depression and despair. His world came crashing down around him. He prayed and waited for you to deliver him, but for some higher reason, you delayed his rescue.

Did he understand your delay? Probably not. He could only hold to your promise: You would rescue him from what he called a pit of mirey clay, a place so slippery no one escapes on their own. In his humanity, the psalmist must have questioned, “When, Lord? When are you coming to rescue me? I need help—now—not next week.” Hmmm. Lord, how many times have I pleaded with you to rescue me?

The psalmist’s plight caught the attention of the people in his sphere of influence. Will the psalmist abandon his faith or remain faithful? Why is God punishing him? Did people speculate he had a secret sinful life. Despite the backlash, the psalmist expressed his only hope: “He turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:3)

As the apostle Paul would scribe centuries later to the Galatian believers, “But at the right time, God sent Jesus” to meet the needs of those who call upon his name (Galatians 4:4).Faithful to your promise, Lord, you came to the psalmist’s rescue. You not only rescued his physical being, but you also rescued his spiritual being. “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:2). People were speechless. They could only give credit to you, Lord, for the psalmist’s transformed life.

May the same be said of us when we fully commit ourselves to you, Lord God. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful You Teach Us How to Love

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on December 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Monday, December 2, 2024

Lord, you know me. Most of the time, it’s you and me, Jesus, living fully in your blessings. I’m joyful and pleasant, sharing your love and kindness with everyone. However, at times, the “other” me shows up, the irritable, grouchy me who everyone wants to avoid. As a Christ follower, this wishy-washy version of me should never be allowed out of its cage. No, you haven’t abandoned me when I act contrary to your Word, but my actions and words do make you look bad, and for that shame, I’m deeply sorrowful. I repent and ask your forgiveness.

As Christ followers, we’re commanded to love one another. For most believers, this is a challenge. We don’t know how. Jesus. teach us how to love as you love.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. Your love for one another will prove to the world you are my disciples” (John 13:34).

Without doubt, if we could consistently see others as you see them, our love attitudes would change. You know their struggles with sinful issues that keep them batted down from being all you created them to be. You know their fears, anxieties. Our judgmental attitude prevents us from seeing their issues.

Help us remember when you went to the cross, you redeemed everyone, even those we find obnoxious and want to smack upside their head. Lord, open our eyes to see they may be praying the same prayer regarding us when we are hard to love.

Help us love one another so others will know we are Christ followers. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful I’m Not Riding a Spiritual High Horse

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Lord, are you sure you didn’t overlook me on this one? Why didn’t you give me the gift of discerning the true condition of someone heart? You can trust me to put those whose hearts are not fully devoted to you in their place. I’ll point out their errors while I punch their ticket for the guilt trip train. And how did you overlook the psalmist when distributing this gift? Like me, he would have been excellent at pointing out others’ faults.

Lord, forgive my sarcasm. I’m being foolish, mocking those religious critics who take it upon themselves to hold others to an unattainable higher faith. Only you attained that perfection while you walked among us.

Self-righteous people can be annoying. Their holier-than-thou attitudes belittle the grace you freely give. Fortunately, you have spiritual chainsaws that cut off the legs of their spiritual high-horses. Judgmentalism blinds us from seeing others as you see us. The psalmist viewed these misguided believers and took action to avoid joining that fraternity.

“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge …” (Psalm 73:28 NLT).

Remembering the pain from his wandering, the psalmist vowed never to return to that spiritual wilderness. Keeping his mind continually on you guaranteed staying close to you. Fleeing to you for refuge, he found the peace he needed and the stability his erratic soul sought. Living in rebellion against you is no way to live.

For over 3500 years, this truth hasn’t changed. Lord, we pray those who call you Lord will find that same peace and stability for our souls, that we may be near you. Riding our judgmental high horse is such a bumpy ride.

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful You Control our Destiny, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Lord, did the psalmist have a vision of society 3000 years in the future, or was he writing about the society he lived in? Psalm Chapter 11 describes the dangers when power falls into the hands of the ungodly. Having some degree of power challenged the psalmist convictions.

Would he remain true to his convictions, or would he compromise under persecution? Would he govern with a velvet glove or an iron fist? The psalmist made his convictions clear: “I trust in the Lord for protections. Why do you say to me, ‘Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety’” (Psalm 11:2). In other words, I stand by my convictions and I’m not going anywhere.

Lord, the psalmist knew who opposed his every move to remain faithful to you. The anti-God enemies, controlled by the prince of darkness, threatened to destroy not only the psalmist but anyone who believes in you. The devil has not ceased his plan to destroy the righteous. What the psalmist wrote could be today’s headline: “The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

“What can the righteous do?” the psalmist asked. He had only one response. “[But] the Lord is in his holy Temple, the Lord still rules from Heaven (verse 11:4). Now, we echo the psalmist’s response. You, Lord, are in control of our destiny.

We witness society falling apart around us. Unchecked power has corrupted every level of government. Amid continual lying, how can we trust anything our leaders say. People foolishly believe they will get away with their corruption. “He [the Lord God] watches everyone closely, examining every person on Earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked,” (verse 11:5).

Lord, we might not understand all that is happening. Nonetheless, we trust you are in control and things are unfolding according to your plan. Therefore, we confidently stand with the psalmist: “I trust in the Lord for protection.”

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful Lord You Keep Your Promise

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, October 17, 2024

Lord, the more I read about the psalmist and his struggles with life issues, I see a common trait. I’ll never be a shepherd, nor a warrior, and certainly never a king, but the psalmist had the same human nature as I have. He might have faced temptations I may never face. He might have met challenges I will never meet, dealt with a caliper of people I’ll never associate with, however, we have this in common: We broke our promise. I doubt I’m alone in this comparison with the psalmist.

I know he promised you he would forsake his wandering ways and remain loyal to you. But life has its ups and downs. There were periods he rode high with you, sharing your message of hope, making a difference in his world. Nonetheless, occasionally, he made foolish choices that landed him in trouble. Driven by his passion to serve you, he must have kicked himself repeatedly for acting so foolishly. Hoping to escape the embarrassment and shame, he made the same promise again, possibly for the umpteenth time.

“I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O Lord. Restore my life again as you promised” (Psalm 119:106, 107).

By your grace, Lord, the psalmist ceased his wandering ways.

Sadly, I must confess the psalmist’s story sounds much like me. You have been with me while I’m doing life and the dumb choices I made, but by your grace, you have kept me on the right path. You will help me keep my promise to you. And you will do the same for all who call upon you, for you are a forgiving and merciful God.

Amen.

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Thankful to Be Good as You are Good, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Lord, there hasn’t been a time when I wasn’t good. Growing up, I was good at lying to my parents, lying to my teachers. I worked at being good telling whoppers, making me appear as someone I was not. I was a good cheater. I’d do anything good or bad to win. I was good at manipulating the naive to get what I wanted. Yes, I was good alright—good at being bad.

Reading the psalmist’s story, he could have been the poster child of being good at being bad. As king, he had the power to do as he pleased, and for a period, he did. But as the psalmist found, as well as those who forsake goodness to embrace the bad have found too, that wandering path leads to heartaches, disappointments, and not to mention, opposition from you. What a sad way to live. You opened his spiritual eyes.

The psalmist repented, corrected the wrongs he could, and made amends to those he harmed. His famous Psalm 101 details his determination to live a changed life. Later, while reflecting on his faith journey, he recorded his breakthrough.

“You are good, and you do what is good. Teach me your demands” (Psalm 119:68).

The psalmist stated without doubt you are good. There is no darkness, no evil, no “badness” in you, nor ever will be. Lord, you heard his humble prayer and honored his plea: “Lord, teach me to be good as you are good.” I desire to be good at being good.

Might my prayer be the same as the psalmist. Teach me how to be “good as you are good.” Help me show your love and kindness and be your Light in this dark world. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful to Know You, Jesus

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Lord, in the beginning when you created the heavens and the earth, you created man in your image (Genesis 1–3). Because you created us in your image, you placed deep inside each person a desire to know you.

While the psalmist meditated upon your glory, your Spirit inspired him to write “You made me and created me [in your image]. Give me understanding so I can learn your commands” (Psalm 119:73)

Lord, after creating us, you didn’t leave us alone to figure out this life thing. The psalmist’s understood how living by the Golden Rule—do unto others as we would have them do unto you—was essential to knowing you. That rule is self-explanatory. Of course, despots, tyrannical rulers, and corrupt folks throughout time have ignored the Golden Rule, but for the most part, people have abided peacefully with one another by this concept.

Your sovereign Word outlines how to live. If we want a peaceful and meaningful life, to persevere in pain, remain joyful amid suffering, comforted in despair—live according to your Word (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Show us how we can know you and have a personal relationship with you. Give us understanding of who you are. What does your Word mean? How does your Word change us? You created us to know you. Teach us, Lord, to understand you are who you claim you are, and will do what you claim you will do. We might know about you, Lord, but we want to know you personally, just as you created us to desire you.

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful When We Wander You Make Us Ponder

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, October 14, 2024

Lord, those close to the psalmist kept after him. “Man, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” His friends tried to reason with him. “Abandoning God’s ways isn’t working out for you, is it?” they warned. Those who loved him prayed he would come back to sanity and abandon his stubbornness. He was headed toward a cliff.

Like many believers, we go through a period of questioning our beliefs. Does God really care about me? Am I on the right track? Are my convictions really true? What am I missing out on by committing to follow you, Jesus?

Examining the psalmist up and down spiritual walk with you, we see how much we are like him. After all, like us, he was a believer. Maybe he took for granted that you would bless his actions whether they were in your plans or not. Often, Lord, you and the psalmist were not on the same page, or should I say, on the same scroll. That scenario so resembles me.

Scripture tells of the psalmist’s plight when he wandered from you. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Lord, you loved him too much to allow him to continue down that destructive path. In mercy, You opened his spiritual eyes and he acknowledged his folly:

I pondered the direction of my life and turned to follow Your laws. Psalm 119:59

Lord, may I learn from the psalmist’s experience. When I ponder my life’s direction, forgive my wandering. Help me keep my mind steadied on you and your precepts. As the psalmist discovered, so have I. True happiness and contentment is found by living for you, Jesus.

Amen.

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Thankful to Love You More

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Lord, the psalmist had a love problem. Who did he love more? Did he love you more or himself? He had to choose.

His writings suggest that during a period in his life, all attention focused on him. After all, he was king and being king had its perks. True to your character, you loved the psalmist enough not to allow him to stray too far. Being publicly humbled has a way of bringing us back down to earth—and to you—where we belong. He wrote about his redemption journey.

“Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!” (Psalm 119:36).

When the psalmist wrote about your “laws,” he implied that following your laws, or “commands,” or “precepts” was a believer’s formula for a life of peace, joy, and contentment. The psalmist found the hard way that ignoring your laws, and living for himself, left his soul empty. Money left him empty. More money left him even more empty. Seeking sensual pleasures and chasing worldly things led to gaining more of the same emptiness.

Reality brought the psalmist to his senses. Self-centeredness wasn’t working. He moved his affections from himself and turned to you. The more he sought you, the more you revealed your character. You filled his soul with grace and love, the things he sought, but his money could never buy.

Lord, you refuse to remove this desire to know you from our hearts. Thank you. The world offers substitutes that try to satisfy this desire, but man has found money, pleasures, fame, or power can become monsters that consume our souls. In his rebellion, man looks at every passing fancy, except looking to you, to try and satisfy his soul.

Only you can give us life, and life to its fullest (John 10:10). Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful You are Lord for All Ages

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Lord, surely you weren’t restricting this Scripture to young people only.

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your Word” (Psalm 119:9)

Couldn’t this apply to folks of all ages, those “fresh from the womb” to those “close to the tomb.” You require those claiming to be your follower to obey your Word—the sacred Scriptures. The psalmist may have been remembering his youth, when in the confusions of youth, he searched for meaning and purpose. Like all youths before him, including me, he asked all the “why” and “how” questions of life. These questions are not limited to youths. All ages seek answers only you provide.

Genesis details how you created us in your image. You even trusted us with the gift of free will, allowing us to make our own decisions. Sadly, that apple in the Garden that looked so luscious and juicy turned out to be rotten and full of worms. The sin of disobedience caused a separation between you and us. If there is a positive side of man’s downfall it must be this: you never allowed our desire to know you to be lost. We still desire to know you. True to your character, you revealed to the young psalmist your glory.

The psalmist wrote: “I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands” (Psalm 119:10).

Imagine the exuberance of the psalmist. He’d finally found what he had been looking for. Those lingering questions were finally answered. Following your commands, he found the joy and contentment he sought. His life had meaning.

How wonderful, Lord. You have this for all who follow you. Amen, Jesus.

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