God Are You There? (Ps 62:1-8)

Read through the Psalms and you can't help but see that David had his share of detractors that gave him plenty of grief. Surrounding nations, people in his own administration, and even his family made his life miserable and at times tried to kill him or dethrone him. Whoever said it's lonely at the top must have experienced the life of David. David constantly is talking about those who are out to get him in one way or another.

Maybe growing up the youngest of several brothers caused him to be a little paranoid. I mean, after all, you have to think that he got picked on. Typical sibling rivalry would tell you that. What his older brothers thought of him was very evident when he came to delivery supplies to them the time he eventually fought and defeated Goliath. Maybe that's why David developed his scrappy personality.

There is no doubt in my mind that David felt many times that it was him against the world. The only one David had learn to count on was God. Ps 62 is a reflection of David's heart and emotion. He talks about the fact that God is the only one in whom he can find rest, refuge, solace. God was the source of David's strength. He was his salvation.

For David, I think salvation was more than eternal life. Salvation was immediate. He had his enemies. People had and were trying to kill him throughout his life. People, including his own sons, were trying to dethrone him. He even had some very difficult moments with at least one of his wives. Salvation to David extended to his life, his position, his kingdom, his family and his sanity. God even saved David from himself.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I have and do feel abandoned by God. He seems so far distant as things are falling apart all around us. Where is His voice? Where is His direction? Why doesn't He do something? Is He even there? Does He even care? I want to run into His gates, His tower, but the door seems locked.

My guess is that David had those same emotions. Things didn't always go smooth for him. He didn't get everything he wanted. There was apparently a lot of tension in his own family. Yet, somehow he hung onto the fact that God had come through for him in the past and would do so in the future. When you can't trust your co-workers or peers or even family, who do you trust? David found that God was reliable and always aware of his predicaments and needs.

That's why he kept pursuing God. David's own wealth, power, accomplishments, wisdom, reputation, good looks, talents, brashness, boldness, will power, charm wasn't enough to deal with everything he faced. He had to trust God. That's a hard place to come to for some of us. And sometimes God knows that we have to be stripped bare before we turn to Him and recognize that He alone is the only one that we can trust for our salvation, and I don't mean just eternal life.

God, when you're quiet it's hard to trust you. I want immediate action. I want immediate clarification. I want immediate relief and resolution. Waiting on you is really tough. I don't understand why you don't just do something. Sounds a little childish, I know. I really want to trust you. I really want to believe that you will act. I guess it's the silence that's so disturbing. I don't really have any place else to turn but you. I need your salvation. I'm crying out to you. I pouring out my heart to you, because I know that you alone are my only true refuge.

Daily Reflections on Ps. 62:1-12 (Why Do I Get So Stress Out?)

Why do I get so stressed out when I know that God is in control? Is it lack of faith? Is it my desire to be in control? Is it downright ignorance? Is it I think that God is not really interested in my problems, situations or circumstances? Is it my stupidity? Or is it a lack of awareness of God's presence in my life?

At the National New Church Conference in Orlando, aka Exponential 09, this spring, I sat in on a workshop led by John Burke from Austin, TX. The workshop had to do with helping messy people become holy people. Mr. Burke shared an idea God had pressed on his heart for his congregation, that I've been seriously thinking about employing at my church. For 60 days he had his congregates set an alarm on their watch, cell phone or computer to go off every 60 minutes. When the alarm went off he told them to say a short prayer acknowledging the presence of God and asking Him what He wanted them to do at that moment.

It worked and a soul revolution was begun in his church. People became more aware of God's daily presence and found themselves more actively living their life to Him.

In this 60-60 experiment the people of Gateway Church discovered what David discovered in Psalm 62. David says, "my soul finds rest in God alone." In verse 8 he writes, "Trust in Him at all times, o people; pour out your heart to Him for God is our refuge." Recognizing and living in the daily presence of God has to change me. It changes my perspective. It changes my attitude. It changes my work ethic. It changes my thought process. It keeps me balanced. It makes me a better time manager. It improves my relationships. It keeps me focused on what really is important. It relieves my stress.

Sounds like the way to live. Without God, I think I'm one of those messy people. If I'm not focused on Him, I get so wrapped up in things of little to no consequences and those are often the things that mess with my mind. It's not unmanly to depend on God. It's wise to seek His advice, His direction, His strength, His insights. It's not weakness to depend on God. It's about productivity. And not only am I being more productive in business life, I'm being more productive in my personal life.

God, I don't know why I get so freaked out sometimes over things that I don't have any control over. I know to look to you and to depend on you. But for whatever reason, I seem to lose track of your presence and involvement in my life. I need your wisdom, strength, protection, direction, etc. I'm trusting you. I'm pouring my heart out to you.

Daily Reflections on Ps 90 and 91 (Is Anything Secure Anymore?)

Not doubt these are troubling times. Wars continue to plague us. Economic disaster appears imminent. Jobs are insecure. The housing market is tanking. Credit is hard to come by. The uncertainty of a presidential election. Medicare is in trouble. Social Security is headed for bankruptcy. The stock market is on life support. Banks are failing. Foreclosures are at an all time high. Global warming is threating our environment. Natural disasters are wreaking havoc everywhere. There's general unrest throughout the world. Terrorism remains a real threat.

It's no wonder many have a sense of anxiety. We are crying out for peace and security and things to be calm again in our lives. The basis of our anxiety is our perception of the circumstances which surround us. Things appear out of control which creates the feelings of insecurity and uncertainty.

When we base our feelings on the circumstances around us, we place ourselves in risky hands. As long as things go smooth, we're fine. But when things get a little out of kilter, the nervousness and anxiety begins to creep in and ultimately takes over.

The psalmist suggests that if we want to feel secure no matter the circumstances that arise around us, we should put our trust in God. The Bible uses terms like "refuge" and "fortress" to describe God's protection and solace. It's turning complete control over to Him of all aspects of our lives. Since we live in a society that promotes individualism and personal achievement, surrendering that complete control is a huge challenge for most of us. We're are good at saying it, just not good at doing it.

Dwelling in the shelter of the Most High sounds really cool, actually doing it is another story. We are so used to trusting in ourselves or the government or our employer or our wealth that it's hard to let go. Unfortunately all those things falter and eventually pass. Our skill and ability and health fades. Governments eventually fall. Wealth slips away. Employers shut their doors. But God remains steadfast.

Read these psalms again. Capture the essence of God's secure eternal nature and His readiness to cover us with His protective presence. Reflect on His power and awesome love. Choose then where you want to dwell, in the turmoil and pressure of the world or in the shelter of His presence.

God, I live most of my life wrestling with things over which I have no power. I often find myself in internal tension and worrying about things I can't change or impact. I struggle needlessly with the world and the things of this world resting in my own ability, ingenuity or strength. I'm worn out. My blood pressure is too high. It's sometimes hard to sleep. Cover me with your wings. I want to dwell in you. Teach me to number my days aright.

Daily Reflections on Ps. 35:17-28 (They're Out to Get Me)

She's out to get me! He's after my job! She's staring at me. Now what's he up to? My guess is that most of us have had those thoughts or even said those words to someone close to us. Is it paranoia, suspicion or reality? Could be a little of all three. Sometimes it's hard to determine the thoughts, motives and actions of others, especially if we have been burnt before. No matter the real intent, it causes us to feel insecure at best.

You would think that the greatest king of Israel would never have experienced such insecurity. But as you read through many of his psalms, you'll note that David experienced a great deal of mental anguish. His perception of potential or real enemies apparently caused him tremendous distress.

As you think of King David, it's hard to picture someone not liking him. A shepherd boy who plays the harp, slays giants and anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king. The young victorious warrior who defeats the enemy nations. The guy crowds hailed when he came to town, "Saul has slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands." How could anyone have it in for David.

Let me point out a few things. Although the youngest of several brothers, David is the one picked to be king by Samuel. Not something his brothers took to kindly to. King Saul grew jealous of him over his popularity and tried to kill him several times. As he's running from Saul, David also has to watch out for the enemy nations, like the Philistines, who would like to see him dead. The first seven years of his reign, the northern 10 tribes out of 12 refused to acknowledge him has king over all Israel. His own wife ridiculed him over dancing before the Lord in nothing but an ephod when the ark of the covenant was brought back to Jerusalem. His kids were constantly fighting. His son, Absalom usurped his father's throne and causing David to flee. All this on top of the other nations constantly threatening his kingdom.

Did David has cause to be paranoid or at least suspicious? David hardly had a time when he wasn't dodging someone's attacks. No wonder he writes so many Psalms about being in duress. As you read those Psalms, a picture of David's heart and mind becomes clear. As successful as David was, not only did he have his detractors, he was at times overwhelmed in despair.

What David learned through all the eternal pressure and distress, was that the only one he could count on for strength, wisdom, protection, guidance, support, love was God. He realized his own weakness and inadequacy and rested in the only one who could sustain him, God.

God, I confess, I feel like David a lot. It seems like I'm facing some sort of attack every time I turn around. Just when things are looking positive, I get hit with something else. I need you, Lord, to be my strength, my refuge, my victory, my protector, my redeemer, my Savior and friend.