A Little Effort

Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. 

You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!  I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.  Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?  Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? 

 And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”  But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

 O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! 

Psalm 77:1b-14a NLT

As we go through life, we can certainly get caught up in what's NOT going well around us just as Asaph did in this psalm. It seems easier to see the bad in things rather than the good. That's our human nature "Oh, woe is me!"  However, with a little effort, we can look beyond our circumstances and see God's hand in all of it. Let's intentionally look for God in our days. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Please forgive us for looking at You through eyes of discontent. Remove the scales from our eyes so we can see Your hand of goodness in all You do. Remove the chains of doubt from our minds. Fill our hearts to overflowing with Your love and peace. Let us look always to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Way In

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100 NKJV

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to slip into discontent? It takes little to no effort to be grumpy. Sometimes, all it takes is the alarm going off in the morning...  even though it's set because we are gainfully employed and not unemployed, existing from hand to mouth. It's a ploy of the enemy of our souls to get our focus on what we don't have rather than to give thanks for all that we do have. 

So, how do we combat that? 1st Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I've made the distinction before (I may be splitting hairs), I'm not thankful FOR all things, but I can be thankful IN them, knowing that God has a purpose and a plan for everything that touches my life. Often, it is in the worst of times that we come to know God more intimately.     

In Psalm 16:11b, David tells us [speaking to the Lord], In Your presence is fullness of joy... We must come into His presence. The instruction in Psalm 100 is very clear. 

     Come before His presence with singing... 

     Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. 

     Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.    

A grateful heart is the way in to His presence. Choose to be thankful. Make the effort. It is worth it.

Prayer:

Father,

          In this sometimes dark and weary world, You light shines even brighter. Thank You because it helps us to keep our eyes on You. Help us to stay focused on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, that's what we want to dwell on so we can enter into Your presence where there is Your promised fullness of joy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen