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Psalm 27:7-14 – Part I

A magnetic field is a force that either attracts or repels objects. The threat of harm and suffering is similar to a magnet because distress can attract negative emotional, psychological, and spiritual responses. 

At times suffering can attract feelings of abandonment, fear, anxiety, and doubt while  repelling trust in God. Sometimes circumstances of desolation and despair cause us to draw close to  God whose immense love and immeasurable grace is like a magnet to the human soul. 

During times of suffering and great troubles, reflect upon the emotions and ideas that are attaching themselves to our hearts and minds.             

The psalmist reflected on God’s faithfulness during a time when his soul was weary due to the advances of his enemies. He compared the attacks of his enemies to ravenous wild beasts seeking to devour a vulnerable prey. 

Has difficulty and distress ever left us feeling vulnerable and insecure like a small child separated from a parent or guardian in a grocery store? Subsequently, the fear stricken child desperately seeks the presence of the parent and cries out.

The psalmist felt detached from the salvation of his life and bellowed in agony “Hear my voice when I call, O Lord.” His desperate prayer of deliverance momentarily repelled the onslaught of doubt and fear that besieged him.

When we are faced with turmoil and besieged with trials, a commitment to prayer is an indication that the presence of God is more attractive than the enticement of anxiety.  

Prayer acts as an anchor to the distressed soul. When our lives are overthrown with turmoil, prayer attaches our soul (mind/emotions/affections) to God who is the anchor of our wavering faith. Take some time to pray to God today and be attracted to God’s peace.

          

Psalm 100 is a call to praise God as a response to God’s covenantal faithfulness. The call to praise is a recognition of God’s steadfast character and an acknowledgement of God’s loyal love. 

Psalm 100 is also an exhortation to God’s people to express gratitude to God. Each one of us can be thankful about something today. We can be thankful to be alive. We can be thankful for food or shelter. We can be thankful to see, hear, or talk. We can be thankful for our friends and family. 

Let us take time to be thankful today. Let us consider the magnitude of God’s love for us. Let us remember the joy of our salvation. Let’s make a joyful shout to the Lord today. Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and into God’s courts with praise.

Prayer can be described as the human soul longing to be in communion with God. It has been depicted as the pouring out of our soul to God. Prayer is analogous to a spark that ignites the fires of spiritual fervency.  It is a spiritual discipline which humbly reminds us of our dependency on God. 

Prayer is not theoretical. It is an active expression that reflects our attitude about God. Thus, our constancy of prayer or lack of communication with God merely mirrors the condition our hearts. Do we truly yearn, long, passionately desire, and hunger to approach God? One writer’s described prayer as having “an audience with the Father.” Accordingly, prayer is a privileged opportunity for a child of God to communicate with God who answers our prayers according to God’s will. One writer penned answered prayer is “God bending down to kiss His children.”

It is in prayer that we may become aware of God’s presence, understand God’s direction, reaffirm God’s love, and realize God’s abounding grace. Do our hearts burn for God’s presence? Do our minds yearn for God’s guidance? Do our hearts truly desire God’s peace?  Does our tired existence long for more than going through the motions? Do we desire God’s dynamic strength in our times of weakness? It is in prayer that we get strength when we are weary. Let us take time to pray to God today and find rest for our weary souls.

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

When walking in Midtown Manhattan, sometimes I marvel at the impressive architectural design, the grandeur of towering skyscrapers, and dazzling displays of opulence. These material things are a testament to human creativity. Yet, as I peer beyond these towers of human potential and superstructures of self-glory, I stand dumbfounded by objects more impressive than the magnificent lights and breathtaking buildings. I suddenly notice material things that humanity did not create. I see the luminous sun glowing beyond the heights of the towers and feel the radiant heat from an object millions of miles away. This awe-inspiring moment causes me to ponder and acknowledge that the spectacular lights of Times Square pale in comparison to the light of an average sized star that lights up our galaxy. Like the psalmist, I pause and marvel that the sun and galaxy is part of God’s manifold works displayed in God’s creation.

The sight of spectacular stars above the city’s skyline and the Hudson River that flows into the great and wide Atlantic Ocean points to the transcendent other. Furthermore, the rising and setting of the sun as well as the rising and falling of the sea is a signifier to humanity that there are some things outside of our control. Creation is a signpost situated on the crossroads of unbelief that points beyond human ingenuity toward the direction of God’s existence. The psalmist praised the Creator and expressed admiration to God because of God’s creation which includes “living things both small and great.”

As I continue to walk down the maze of Mid-town blocks and labyrinth of city streets toward Columbus Circle, I venture into the paradise of Central Park—Manhattan’s Garden of Eden. I notice squirrels eating nuts from oak trees and pigeons eating bread left on the walkway by a tourist. This moment causes me to ruminate on the psalmist words “that you give them their food in due season”. My mind quickly ventures beyond the ascent of my circumstances and fears to the peak of trusting in God. We should begin to look beyond life’s burdens toward the bell tower of God’s providential care. The psalmist points out that God cares for living things both small and great. Paying attention to squirrels and pigeons in a park is a reminder of God’s providential care for us.  It is a good practice to remember instances when God gave us daily bread. Yes, wisdom exhorts us to act responsibility by planning, praying, and working hard. Psalm 104 subtly refers to this as the act of gathering in. Yet, we must always acknowledge that God is our source of daily provision.

Sometimes God’s provision can even come from unexpected sources like pigeons eating bread in the park that falls from the hand of strangers. There might even be times when it seems like God opens God’s hand and provision drops right in front of us. I remember walking in a crowd after a youth football game on a dirt path in New Jersey. Having lived in Brooklyn, I had grown accustomed to looking on the sidewalk as I walked. That day I looked on the dirt path and in front of me I saw a $20 bill. This money that was left on the dirt walkway was my daily bread for that day. What God gave me, I gathered in. I turned my gaze from looking down and looked up to praise God for God’s providential care. What some people would deem as a coincidence was an answer to prayer earlier in the day. God cared enough to provide money for me to purchase food after a youth football game for my family. God cares enough for you to provide what you need today.

The psalmist penned, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.” Today take the opportunity to sing praise to God while you have your being. We should thankful for daily bread and marvel at the majesty of God’s creation. Yet, we should steer away from the path of becoming infatuated with material things, idolizing aesthetics, or immortalizing human progress. Let our “mediation be sweet to Him; we will be glad in the Lord.”

A Thankful Person

An early twentieth century preacher put forth, “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” People have the capacity to become so engrossed in our pursuits, dreams and responsibilities that we can overlook the importance of expressing gratitude to God daily.

Gratitude is a potent prescription to the affliction of discontentment and dissatisfaction which can seep into our lives like water seeps in the cracks of a wall. Discontentment is problematic in the lives of people similar to a dangerous polluted cloud in the forest.  The contaminated fog of dissatisfaction—-financial dissatisfaction, relational dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction on the job—- slowly enters into our emotions and psyche. 

As a result, discontentment impairs our reasoning and causes us to devalue ourselves because we disqualify ourselves of worth often due to a craving or restless desire for something we do not have. If we are not careful, discontentment will lead us down the debilitating and destructive path of envy with regard to other people’s possessions or success.

However, thanksgiving is a remedy for this illness of the soul because we find solace in expressing gratitude to God in the present. Discontentment is rooted in regret and dreads the future but thanksgiving motivates us to appreciate God’s faithfulness each day. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 records, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

Thanksgiving is a characteristic of believers and a reflection of our faith in God. Thus, thanksgiving is not only essential but it is possible for believers to express gratitude to God in all circumstances. A little thanksgiving to God each day takes the discontentment away.

Brothers and Sisters, take the time today to be thankful to God. Tell God thanks for protecting us, providing for us and saving us. Situations can change but God is faithful and deserving of our thanksgiving.

Pastoral Prayer for Today: God we are thankful to you and today we give thanks for all you have done. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.