"This week in my Bible study something really hit me: prayer.
In Matthew 20:21 Jesus asks "What is it you want?" (in response to James and John and their mother coming to him for favors). Again in Matthew 20:32 Jesus asks "What do you want me to do for you?" (in response to the blind man coming to him). So often when I pray I'm not specific enough of what I want (sometimes I just don't know!)--I tend to leave it more in the realm of "In Your Will" (which is important also). But I was reminded that Jesus wants us to be specific in coming to Him.
In our lecture we were told that..."The more specific you are in telling Jesus your needs and asking for His help, the more you will realize His compassion and provision." Pretty awesome! I'm going to make more of an effort to think about what I want before I ask!
The interesting thing is I was disappointed when I learned we were going to be studying Matthew, thinking, nothing new there! Boy was I wrong. I guess there's always something to be gleaned when we look to God's Word!"
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
David, the Cave Dweller
"So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam..."
I Samuel 22:1
Excerpt of "David: A Man of Passion & Destiny," by Charles Swindoll
David had bottomed out. In a downward swirl of events, he lost his job, his wife, his home, his counselor, his closest friend, and finally his self-respect. This was the lowest point of David's life to date, and if you want to know how he really felt, just read the song he composed about it, Psalm 142.
David was brought to the place where God could truly begin to shape him and use him. When the sovereign God brings us to nothing, it is to reroute our lives, not to end them. Human perspective says, "Aha, you've lost this, you've lost that. You've caused this, you've caused that. You've ruined this, you've ruined that. End you life!" But God says, "No. No. You're in a cave. But that doesn't mean it's over. That means it's time to reroute your lfie. Now's the time to start anew!"
David probably didn't want anyone around at this point. He just wanted to be alone. But, look what God did...at the lowest point in his life.
"When his brothers and all his father's household heard of it, they went down there to him." I Samuel 22:1
His family weren't the only ones that came. Look at I Samuel 22:2. Those in distress, those in debt, and those discontented came. What a group!
God is at work here rerouting David's life. David is in a cave, he feels worthless, useless, mistreated, misunderstoood. But, here comes his family and all these strangers begin dropping in. I don't know how word traveled, but before long there were 400 fellow cave dwellers looking at David as their leader.
The cave was no longer David's escape hatch. If you can believe it, the smelly, dank cave became a place of training for those who were the beginning of the army that would be called "David's mighty men of valor." That's right--this motley crew would become his might men in battle, and later they would become his cabinet when he took office.
David was beaten all the way down, until there was no way to look but up. And when he looked up, God was there, bringing this bunch of unknowns to him little by little until finally they proved themselves to be the mightiest men of Israel!
What a turning point in David's life, when he made the crucial decision not to walk away. He would accept his situation and make the best of it. If it was a cave, so be it. If those around him needed leadership, he'd provide it. Who would have guessed that the next king of Israel was training his troops in a dark cave where nobody saw and nobody cared. How unusual of God...yet how carefully He planned it!
Look again at Psalm 142. Also look at Psalms 57 and 34. We don't know in what order he wrote these, but looking at his life, they seem to fit in this backward order--142 when David was at his lowest moment on his face. Psalm 57 when he's on his knees, and finally Psalm 34 when he's on his feet looking at God instead of himself.
Why did such a major change take place in David's life and attitude?
First, because David hurt enough to admit his need. When you are hurting, you need to declare it to someone, and especially to the Lord.
Second, David was honest enough to cry for help. We have lived under such a veneer for so long in our generation that we hardly know how to cry for help. But God honors such vulnerability. He did then...and He does now.
Some of us are living in an emotional cave, where it is dark and dismal, damp and disillusioning. Perhaps the hardest part of all is that we cannot declare the truth to anybody else because it is so desperate....so lonely...so shameful.
I weary of the philosophy that the Christian life is just one silver-lined cloud after another. It is not! Sometimes the Christian life includes a deep, dark cave.
Remember the conversion of a soul is the miracle of the moment, but the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime. And God isn't about to give up.
Sometimes life feels like a dry, barren wind off a lonely desert. And something inside us begins to wilt. At other times it feels more like chilling mist. Seeping through our pores, it numbs our spirit and fogs the path before us. What is it about discouragement that strips our lives of joy and leaves us feeling vulnerable and exposed?
There are many reasons perhaps, but one is that we don't have a refuge. You don't have a shelter. A listener. Someone who understands. You need a cave to duck into.
Turn to God. Allow your family to crawl into the cave with you. Allow your close friend(s) to crawl into the cave with you.
We need a refuge because we are in distress and sorrow accompanies us.
We need a refuge because we are sinful and guilt accuses us.
We need a refuge because we are surrounded by adversaries and misunderstanding assaults us.
Discouraged people don't need critics. They hurt enough already. They need encouragement... they need a refuge. A place to hide and heal...a willing, caring, available someone. A confidant. A comrade at arms.
Be that to someone today.
And, if you are the one in the cave...seek Jesus' face...invite Him into the cave with you. Allow your family, a friend to also enter in.
I Samuel 22:1
Excerpt of "David: A Man of Passion & Destiny," by Charles Swindoll
David had bottomed out. In a downward swirl of events, he lost his job, his wife, his home, his counselor, his closest friend, and finally his self-respect. This was the lowest point of David's life to date, and if you want to know how he really felt, just read the song he composed about it, Psalm 142.
David was brought to the place where God could truly begin to shape him and use him. When the sovereign God brings us to nothing, it is to reroute our lives, not to end them. Human perspective says, "Aha, you've lost this, you've lost that. You've caused this, you've caused that. You've ruined this, you've ruined that. End you life!" But God says, "No. No. You're in a cave. But that doesn't mean it's over. That means it's time to reroute your lfie. Now's the time to start anew!"
David probably didn't want anyone around at this point. He just wanted to be alone. But, look what God did...at the lowest point in his life.
"When his brothers and all his father's household heard of it, they went down there to him." I Samuel 22:1
His family weren't the only ones that came. Look at I Samuel 22:2. Those in distress, those in debt, and those discontented came. What a group!
God is at work here rerouting David's life. David is in a cave, he feels worthless, useless, mistreated, misunderstoood. But, here comes his family and all these strangers begin dropping in. I don't know how word traveled, but before long there were 400 fellow cave dwellers looking at David as their leader.
The cave was no longer David's escape hatch. If you can believe it, the smelly, dank cave became a place of training for those who were the beginning of the army that would be called "David's mighty men of valor." That's right--this motley crew would become his might men in battle, and later they would become his cabinet when he took office.
David was beaten all the way down, until there was no way to look but up. And when he looked up, God was there, bringing this bunch of unknowns to him little by little until finally they proved themselves to be the mightiest men of Israel!
What a turning point in David's life, when he made the crucial decision not to walk away. He would accept his situation and make the best of it. If it was a cave, so be it. If those around him needed leadership, he'd provide it. Who would have guessed that the next king of Israel was training his troops in a dark cave where nobody saw and nobody cared. How unusual of God...yet how carefully He planned it!
Look again at Psalm 142. Also look at Psalms 57 and 34. We don't know in what order he wrote these, but looking at his life, they seem to fit in this backward order--142 when David was at his lowest moment on his face. Psalm 57 when he's on his knees, and finally Psalm 34 when he's on his feet looking at God instead of himself.
Why did such a major change take place in David's life and attitude?
First, because David hurt enough to admit his need. When you are hurting, you need to declare it to someone, and especially to the Lord.
Second, David was honest enough to cry for help. We have lived under such a veneer for so long in our generation that we hardly know how to cry for help. But God honors such vulnerability. He did then...and He does now.
Some of us are living in an emotional cave, where it is dark and dismal, damp and disillusioning. Perhaps the hardest part of all is that we cannot declare the truth to anybody else because it is so desperate....so lonely...so shameful.
I weary of the philosophy that the Christian life is just one silver-lined cloud after another. It is not! Sometimes the Christian life includes a deep, dark cave.
Remember the conversion of a soul is the miracle of the moment, but the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime. And God isn't about to give up.
Sometimes life feels like a dry, barren wind off a lonely desert. And something inside us begins to wilt. At other times it feels more like chilling mist. Seeping through our pores, it numbs our spirit and fogs the path before us. What is it about discouragement that strips our lives of joy and leaves us feeling vulnerable and exposed?
There are many reasons perhaps, but one is that we don't have a refuge. You don't have a shelter. A listener. Someone who understands. You need a cave to duck into.
Turn to God. Allow your family to crawl into the cave with you. Allow your close friend(s) to crawl into the cave with you.
We need a refuge because we are in distress and sorrow accompanies us.
We need a refuge because we are sinful and guilt accuses us.
We need a refuge because we are surrounded by adversaries and misunderstanding assaults us.
Discouraged people don't need critics. They hurt enough already. They need encouragement... they need a refuge. A place to hide and heal...a willing, caring, available someone. A confidant. A comrade at arms.
Be that to someone today.
And, if you are the one in the cave...seek Jesus' face...invite Him into the cave with you. Allow your family, a friend to also enter in.
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