Psalm 90, "Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God."
This morning I got my cup of coffee and headed straight for my front porch. I sat for some time just soaking in the sounds of the world waking around me. My blanket covered me and the warmth of the cup in my hands kept me from the cold of the crisp mountain air. The longer I sat the more I noticed about the sweet aroma and the sounds of the mountains. Have you ever sat long enough that you can start hearing the different calls of the birds so that they all of a sudden become individuals, instead of a sound of just mixed noises. Oh, how I love my mornings with my Lord. It is in these most precious times that I am awakened to His mighty power and love.
I was lead to Psalm 90 this morning. It starts with the awesomeness of God and His mighty creation. He was here before this mighty creation was formed. He is the everlasting... I woke this morning first becoming aware of Him and His creation. But then the Psalm takes a turn I did not want to see this morning...
"You turn people back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, you mortals!' For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all. We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan. Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve."
It starts with the awesomeness of Him and His creation, then it brings us to His wrath. I hate to think about the time of wandering that I have done and still do. I don't like to think of the pain and dryness of this world. Those times when God has allowed me to turn my back upon Him. Those secret sins. "You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all." Nothing is hidden. My heart is always exposed before Him, even when I cannot see the truth in myself- He does. Oh, but when the truth is revealed the joy that He truly desires for me is right there in the morning.
"Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!"
Through realizing the truth about how I act and spend my time, through seeing the truth, I will gain wisdom and with wisdom I can enjoy my life. We are a foolish people for we often turn our backs upon God, but He always takes pity on us and satisfies us in the morning, for each new dawn brings new life. He will give us a gladness that is in proportion to our former misery! If we will allow Him to have our past, He will give us a new day today that far out weighs our sorrow from yesterday. I want to hear my God speaking truth about my life to me. Sometimes that truth does not bring me an instant feeling of contentment, but of rejection. It is when I allow Him to continue to speak to me in the morning that I can make good what He has taught me and my song of joys begin. It is in looking at the ugly truth, that the true beauty is revealed in me, for my body is the Temple of the Most High God. It is in looking to truth that wisdom is born and my children will see His glory. Through His glory I will sing, instead of groan. Through wisdom, this day has a new dawn. Can you sing a new song this day? Can you see the blessings that lay before you? This day He want to give you gladness in proportion to our former misery! This day He can replace the evil years with good.
Oswald Chambers, "If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but it difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome. Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory?... Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10), and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence."
How I love my new song! How I love the truth that He reveals...
No comments:
Post a Comment