Connecting Points

Monday, November 19, 2012

Today’s Topic: Be Thankful For It                                                      

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:67-68 (ESV) ⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. ⁶⁸ You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

We arrived at the hospital yesterday at 1:45 PM and were met in the hallway as we got off the elevator by Tim’s sister and her husband and son. After hugs and greetings, they showed us to the waiting room where the rest of the family was gathered. There were many tears as we greeted each member of our family and then were introduced to the members of Barb’s family.

Barb is my cousin Tim’s wife who had undergone heart valve replacement surgery just four days earlier. She wasn’t going to survive, and the family had come together to say goodbye to this 59-year old servant of Jesus Christ. The reports from the doctors were that she had less than a few hours to live. She was being kept alive by a heart/lung machine and respirator.

For the next ninety minutes additional family members arrived and we listened and shared as we all tried to comfort one another. Then, following a time of devotions and prayer in the waiting room, the nurse came in and said they were ready in the Cardiac Critical Care room where Barb was. The family filed down the hallway and into the room, circling the bed. I asked the nurse for time for the family to say goodbye. After some powerful prayers of thanksgiving – that’s right, thanksgiving – for the grace of God, the faithfulness of Barb’s life, and the certain hope of glory for all who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, we sang a song…

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns

Then it was time. One by one all of the medications were shut off, followed by the heart/lung machine, and finally the respirator. Eight minutes later the heart monitor read zero, and Barb was in the presence of her Savior Jesus Christ. No more suffering, no more pain, and never any experience on her part of death, for Christ has conquered death for all who believe and it had no power over her.

The afflictions of this life are God’s powerful invitation into deeper intimacy with Himself. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.  This one thing I know now more than ever – I can count it all joy when I meet trials of various kinds,  for I know that the testing of my faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:2-3)

God is good, and always does good, so I can truly thank Him in all things at all times.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Friday, November 16, 2012

Today’s Topic: Walking the Walk                                                      

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:66 (ESV) Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

Just moments ago Pastor Dennis Pond passed this bit of wisdom on to me. It may surprise you, as it did me, where it came from. I’ll tell you after you read it.

It’s impossible to bring about the kind of effectual change you want to see around you without truly living out your values in a personal way.

So, now comes the question: What kind of effectual change do you want to inspire around you?

[We are to have an] ever-present sense that we are not here to simply survive life.  We’re here to preserve and protect it; and we’re here to teach others to do the same so that they might live full and satisfied lives.

If you haven’t begun to apply your values and beliefs into action, I want to challenge you to begin today.  And just to be clear: Standing and living for what you believe in doesn’t mean becoming a fanatical zealot.  It starts with simply preparing and protecting yourself and those around you.  From there, you share your experiences and knowledge with those who will listen.  Once the process begins, you’ll see a remarkable thing begin to happen:  Your beliefs and passion will become a natural part of your life and community.   You will begin to see yourself “become the change you want to see…”

This short challenge to live out one’s beliefs came from Tim Schmidt, the publisher of the Concealed Carry Report and founder of the United States Concealed Carry Association.

The spiritual application is obvious. We must “become the change we want to see” in our culture. But unlike the patriotic pursuit of our right to bear arms including concealed weapons, it is time for Christians to stop concealing the spiritual truth we carry. It is time for us to walk the walk and talk the talk, and to do so publicly. Unless we understand that in Christ we are here not simply to survive this life, but to preserve and protect people’s lives from the coming destruction of sin, there is no real hope of change.

Thanks Pastor Dennis for this great reminder, and thanks be to God who teaches us good judgment and knowledge through our belief in His commandments. May we inspire change around us by how we live.

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Today’s Topic: God’s Integrity                                                           

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:65 (ESV) You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.

Two little girls were counting their pennies.

One said, “I have five pennies.” The other said, “I have ten.”

“No,” said the first little girl, “You have just five cents, the same as I.”

“But,” the second child quickly replied, “my father said when he comes home tonight he would give me five cents, and so I have ten cents.”

Trustfully, she counted what her father had promised.

What a Father we have in heaven, who always, without fail, deals with us according to His Word! Imagine what it would be like if He didn’t. Well, he would be like us then, wouldn’t he? We are those who make promises and then do not follow through. We use words to pad the pleasures of the present with no promise intended. We make statements of intention designed to validate our external image in the eyes of others, but quickly destroy all such validation when we do not do what we said we would do. Imagine if God did that.

Author Peter Eldersveld tells of a rich Christian who had a large company of employees, and many of them owed him money. He was constantly trying to teach them something about Christianity, and one day he hit upon a plan. He posted a notice for his employees to see that said,

“All those who will come to my office between eleven and twelve o’clock on Thursday morning to present an honest statement of their debts will have them canceled at once.”

The debtors read the notice with a great deal of skepticism, and on Thursday morning, although they gathered in the street in front of his office, not one of them went to the door. Instead they gossiped and complained about their employer, and ridiculed the notice he had posted. They said it didn’t make sense.

But finally, at 11:45, one man jumped forward, dashed up the steps into the office, and presented his statement.

“Why are you here?” the rich man asked him.

“Because you promised to cancel the debts of all those who would come as you instructed,” the employee replied.

“And do you believe the promise?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why do you believe it?” persisted the employer.

“Because, although it was too much for me to understand, I know that you are a good man who would not deceive anyone.”

The rich man took the bill and marked it “Paid in full,” at which time the poor man, overcome, cried out, “I knew it! I told them so! They said it couldn’t be true, and now I’m going out to show them.”

“Wait,” said his benefactor, “it’s not quite twelve o’clock. The others are not entitled to any special proof of my sincerity.”

When the clock struck twelve, the forgiven debtor ran out waving his receipt in the face of his fellows. With a mad rush they made for the door, but it was too late. The door was locked.

God deals with us according to His word – forgiveness for those who ask, and judgment for those who don’t. His Word is never not fulfilled. There is perfection in every action of the Father. He never has to overlook one word to accomplish another word. He never compromises His Word for anyone.

And for me, that is praiseworthy, for the Father is dealing well with me!

 Pastor John

Additional Scripture References:

Ps 119:17 — Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

Ps 13:6 — I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Ps 16:5 — The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

Ps 16:6 — The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Ps 18:35 — You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

Ps 23:5 — You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Ps 23:6 — Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Ps 30:11 — You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

Ps 116:7 — Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Connecting Points

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Today’s Topic: Self Examination                                                       

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:59 (ESV)  When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;

In 1968 one of the famous members of the Rat Pack decided to call it quits. At a dinner in Florida with several Mob guys and another musician named Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra declared, “I’m quitting the business. I’m sick of it, I’m getting…out.”

After returning to New York, Paul Anka decided to write a song that reflect Sinatra’s perspective on his own life. In a 2007 interview about the song he wrote, Anka stated, “I sat down at an old IBM electric typewriter and said, ‘If Frank were writing this, what would he say?’ And I started, metaphorically, ‘And now the end is near.’ I read a lot of periodicals, and I noticed everything was ‘my this’ and ‘my that’. We were in the ‘me generation’ and Frank became the guy for me to use to say that. I used words I would never use: ‘I ate it up and spit it out.’ But that’s the way he talked.”

In four hours he had written the lyrics to a song that became immediately identified with Frank Sinatra. It was first recorded at the end of 1968, and has been re-recorded by people like Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Andy Williams, and even a penguin in the movie Happy Feet. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, the title of the song is My Way, and it goes like this:

And now, the end is here, And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and ev’ry highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I’ve had a few, But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew, When I bit off  more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

 I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried, I’ve had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing, To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way, “Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way”

For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

 Now, if you read the lyrics with any sort of spiritual sensitivity you will be quickly moved to brokenness, or at least you should be. The life described here is absolutely contradictory to the life of a follower of Jesus Christ, and yet the lyrics are too true of too many who call themselves Christians.

In contrast to the man described in the song, there is a man described in another song, a Psalm. He is a man who is also examining his ways, and as he does he realizes the futility of them and turns immediately away from his way and follows God’s way. Charles Spurgeon describes such a man this way:

While studying the word he was led to study his own life, and this caused a mighty revolution. He came to the word, and then he came to himself, and this made him arise and go to his Father. Consideration is the commencement of conversion: first we think and then we turn. When the mind repents of ill ways the feet are soon led into good ways; but there will be no repenting until there is deep, earnest thought…Action without thought is folly, and thought without action is sloth: to think carefully and then to act promptly is a happy combination…If we are in the dark, and mourn an absent God, our wisest method will be not so much to think upon our sorrows as upon our ways: though we cannot turn the course of providence, we can turn the way of our walking, and this will soon mend matters. If we can get our feet right as to holy walking, we shall soon get our hearts right as to happy living. God will turn to his saints when they turn to him; yea, he has already favoured them with the light of his face when they begin to think and turn.

— Quoted from Charles Spurgeon in The Treasury of David

I love this line – If we can get our feet right as to holy walking, we shall soon get our hearts right as to happy living. Fulfillment in life is not about doing it my way, but about turning from my way and following God’s way.

So if someone heard that you were near the end of your life, and wanted to write a song to memorialize you, what would the lyrics say?

Pastor John

Additional References:

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!  (Lamentations 3:40)

Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:28)
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Connecting Points

Monday, November 12, 2012

Today’s Topic:  “No Nuts In It”                                                                               

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:57 (ESV)  The LORD is my portion…

My youngest grandson has a severe peanut allergy. It’s literally off the charts according to the doctor, over five times the average peanut allergy ratings. So, at two-years old, he’s already learning to ask an important question about every food he is offered. As he extends his hand he says, “No nuts in it?”

Yesterday as we watched football together, he stood in front of me as I munched from a bag of cheddar popcorn. He stood in front of me, leaning on my knee, and asked, “No nuts in it?” I said, “No nuts in it!” and gave him one kernel of cheesy popcorn to eat. He loved it, and stood in front of me asking for one piece after another, and each time he asked “No nuts in it?” After several minutes his question turned into a statement. No longer was he wondering if the popcorn was safe, but he was declaring that it was safe. He would proclaim, “No nuts in it!!!” followed by chewing and continued hand extending for more, repeated countless times for as long as it was available.

I couldn’t help but think of that event this morning when I rose for devotions and read the next section of the 119^th Psalm. I didn’t get beyond the first phrase – The LORD is my portion. I thought about the spiritual implications of my interaction with Crosby.

First, he knew what was good and bad for him. Even though he may not understand it completely, he is accepting the reality that there are some things that are very bad for him and other things that are acceptable. He doesn’t argue about the things that are bad, because he’s already experienced the consequences of eating them. He doesn’t let the desire for immediate gratification overwhelm the wisdom of seeing the long-term outcome. (I know, he’s only two, but come on, he’s my grandson. Of course he thinks this way.)  Even if he doesn’t understand what I just said, as a child he is teaching me to become more like a child with simple faith. Life can be boiled down to simple choices between black and white. It is only in our corrupted adult human nature that we have invented the varying shades of gray that we use to justify the desires of the flesh.

Second, he trusted the Provider to give him only what was good. WOW! His hand is extended before he asks the question about nuts. He trusts the one giving him the food today because his providers know what is good or bad. They are teaching him to ask the question for the times when someone else – like me – become his provider. The LORD is my provider. He knows what is good and bad. I can trust completely what He is giving me. I have learned to ask about its goodness so that I develop the discipline of seeking only good in all aspects of my life. But God is my Ever-Present Provider even when other options become available. He alone knows what is good and gives what is good. He alone is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17).

Finally, at least for this devotional, my grandson trusted the portion that I would give him. One kernel at a time, and only long enough to satisfy but not make sick. When I closed the bag and said, “All done. That’s enough for now,” he didn’t argue, fight, complain, or cry. He accepted the portion as sufficient for the moment. The LORD is my portion. He is all I need for every moment. He gives me sufficient grace for each day. Not extra grace for tomorrow, but only what is needed for today. And what He gives me is all I need at that moment. Crosby didn’t ask for chips to go with the popcorn, he simply stood in front of me and enjoyed the popcorn that was being delivered. He enjoyed the goodness of what he had, rather than wishing there was something more.

Oh LORD Jesus, give me that kind of faith and contentment. You alone are my portion. I trust you, and am satisfied by you!

Pastor John

I thought this article was so timely. It is written by Bob Lepine, a lay pastor and the Vice President and Chief Content Officer, as well as co-host, of the radio program Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey, and the host of Today in the Word, a syndicated Moody program that features great messages from their archives.

“My Candidate & My King”

Dear Friends,

I have watched all the debates.  I have listened as political reporters and commentators have discussed the good, the bad, and the ugly about each of the candidates.  I’ve read up on a few of the third party candidates.

And I’m ready to vote.  I’ve made my choice.

The candidate I’m supporting this year is…

…a flawed, sinful person.

He has said and done stupid things in the past.

As I’ve listened to his stump speeches and his debate rhetoric, I’m afraid he has vastly overstated what he can accomplish over the next four years if indeed he is elected.  He may or may not be able to get our economy headed in the right direction again.  He may or may not be able to enact policies that will stimulate the creation of new jobs.  Try as he might, there is no way this man can ensure our safety.  There are people in our world who are committed to acts of violence against others.  He can’t stop that from happening.

He will not fix the centuries-old divisions in the Middle East.

He will not be able to persuade the leadership of other nations to respect the human rights of their people.

Greed and corruption will continue to flourish around the world.

If my guy wins, we may be in a slightly better place as a nation four years from now.

Or slightly worse.

Maybe a lot worse.

Probably not a lot better.

If I sound cynical, I’m not.

If I sound pessimistic about where we are headed as a country, I’m not.

Honestly, I’m hopeful.

Not hopeful that “our way of life” will be preserved or that my candidate will make it possible for me to keep more of my paycheck.

Not hopeful that the threat of terrorism and genocide around the world will ebb.

Not hopeful that as a result of having the right man in the White House, our nation will once again embrace our Judeo-Christian heritage.

Here’s why I’m hopeful.

I had a long talk today with the King.

The King promised me that He will be watching things carefully over the next four years.  He didn’t say whether we will be facing hard times as a nation or whether we’ll see things getting better.  But He did say that He has a plan and He will be working everything together for good for those who love Him.  Whatever happens with our country and in our world, the King said, His Kingdom will not fail.

It turns out that whoever wins the race for the White House ultimately reports to Him anyway.

And the King is a very effective manager of people.

He also reminded me that sometimes, what is best for the Kingdom is for a nation – for His people – to go through some very hard times.  That’s often when the King’s men and women do their best work.

So, I will vote.  And I will pray for whoever wins.  And I will do what I can do to see that justice and righteousness will prevail in our country and around the world.

But my hope for the next four years is not built on who wins 270 electoral votes on November 6.

My hope is in the King.  And in His Kingdom.

All other ground is sinking sand.

Copyright © 2012 Bob Lepine. All rights reserved.

Connecting Points

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Today’s Topic: Whom Do You Trust                                                 

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:41-42 (ESV)
⁴¹ Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
⁴² then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

Two brothers are playing down by the river. Their father has instructed them to not use the tire swing that hangs from a large branch extending beyond the river’s bank. A neighbor boy arrives in his swim trunks and carrying a towel. He heads straight for the swing. He begins to verbalize his intentions of standing on the tire and swinging it far out over the river and jumping into the water below.

As he climbs onto the swing for the first time, he taunts the two brothers who are staying a safe distance away from the water’s edge. He calls their courage into question using words like sissy and scaredy-cat. He accuses them of weakness and physical disability by claiming they aren’t strong enough to hang on to the rope. He challenges their ability to swim. He mocks their manhood even though they are just boys and declares them to be wimps.

As the taunter returns from his first dive into the river, his verbal bashing begins again. One brother begins to make his way towards the swing to prove himself. His brother runs after him and grabs his arm, reminding him of what their dad had said about staying off the swing. The neighbor boy makes another antagonistic comment about boys who can’t make decisions for themselves, and climbs onto the swing for another attempt at an even higher dive off the tire.

The brothers begin to explain to the boy why their dad had told them to stay off the swing. But the swing-happy boy would not listen. As the brother’s eyes followed the swing as it reached an ever-increasing altitude, they noticed the frayed rope their dad had warned them about at the point where it was tied to the tree branch. It was unraveling right before their eyes, and before they could yell out to stop the boy on the swing, the rope let loose. The swing was on a return path towards the tree and the free-falling tire propelled itself and the rider into the rocky river bank. The rider was seriously injured.

After watching the ambulance take their neighbor away, they hugged their dad. He thanked the boys for obeying. They thanked him for warning them about the swing. They began to understand their father’s love that established rules for their own good. They saw that the words of their father could be trusted. They understood that no amount of taunting and ridicule from others should ever convince them to reject their father’s will just to try to protect their own image.

Connecting Points

Monday, October 29, 2012

Today’s Topic: Satisfied!                                                                   

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:33-40 (ESV)
³³ Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
³⁶ Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

Monday mornings are hard for me, because I typically don’t sleep all that well on Sunday night. This morning is especially difficult because in addition to the normal reason for not sleeping well, I have this nasty cough that won’t go away and keeps me awake at night. I have been voluntarily sleeping in the grandkid’s Cat in the Hat bedroom so that Denise can sleep while I toss and turn and cough and hack.

The normal reason I don’t sleep well on Sunday nights is because I’m typically reviewing my sermon in my head and wondering why I said some things and why I didn’t say others. Last night I had a huge concern that the main point of the sermon didn’t get across sufficiently. Just about the time I would find peace by surrendering it all to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the hearer, I would cough, thus starting the thinking process all over again.

Then the Lord met me this morning with this next section of the one-hundred-nineteenth Psalm. It is the exact re-focusing of my mind and heart that I needed this morning. Here in a nutshell is what the Lord is showing me:

Surrender – It is the Lord’s way that I need, not more of my own way (vs. 33). It is His understanding of His eternal law that I long for, not more of my own laws based on my own limited understanding of life (vs. 34). It is His direction that I need and that will bring me delight, not affirmation of my own choices and decisions (vs. 35). It is for His glory that I speak forth His testimonies from a heart that is inclined towards them, rather than speaking only those things that benefit me (vs. 36). I confess that all the things of this life are worthless compared to the life you can and will give me, so I surrender them all to you (vs.37)

Supplication – With a surrendered heart, I seek my life from you and you alone. I come before you with a humble heart that recognizes my need and your provision. I specifically ask you for the following things so that my life will be pleasing to you. Teach me the way of life governed by your statutes and I will live in it(vs. 33). Give me understanding so that your law makes sense to me and I will choose it over all other options (vs. 34). Lead me and direct my life in the path you have prepared, for I will find delight in it (vs. 35). Change me by changing the inclinations of my heart so they only and always lean towards you not towards self (vs. 36). Turn me away from the worthless things of the world and show me the value of your ways (vs. 37). Confirm your promises to me, whether they be for blessing or cursing, so that in my heart I have a healthy fear of you that produces obedience to your Word (vs. 38). Give me courage to stand for you no matter what reproach it brings me from the people I live with every day, because ultimately I believe that your rules are good (vs. 39).

Satisfaction – In surrendering my way to yours, and in seeking your supply of all things necessary for life, I find complete satisfaction. I delight in the path you have chosen for me, knowing that behind all the pain of the current circumstances you are there directing every detail to bring glory to your Name and good to my life (vs. 35, 39). You are fulfilling your promise to give me life – real life – abundant life – so I long to know more and more of your precepts (vs. 40).

Suddenly being tired doesn’t matter anymore. I wonder what blessing God has planned for today that will confirm His promises to me and completely satisfy the longings of my heart? I am praying diligently for the same for you!

Pastor John

Connecting Points

Friday, October 26, 2012

Today’s Topic:  Clinging to Dust                                                                              

Today’s Text:  Psalm 119:25-26 (ESV)  My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!

When God created man He did it from the dust of the earth. We must not think of dust the way our mothers did. Dust in God’s creation refers to the basic chemical elements from which all things are made. According to Isaiah 40:12, God calculated the dust of the earth and measured it precisely.  In that verse, God is declared to be the Designer of everything that exists, and has carefully and with perfect precision measured the exact amounts of water necessary for the sustaining of life on the earth, and has put in place the natural laws of the universe that control every detail of His geophysical creation, right down to the specific weight of mountains and hills so the world is perfectly balanced.

It is from this dust – the chemical elements of this world – that God creates man in His own image. After the exact composition of the chemical elements is formed, God breathes into Him the breath of life, and he became a living being. Eventually he would sin and rebel against His Creator, causing all of human life to be plunged into the darkness of separation for God, with only the dust – the basic chemical composition of life – to cling to. What a hopeless state.

That is the place the Psalmist has referred to today. He recognizes the times in his own life when it seems like all he has to cling to is what little wisdom and strength that the physical life provides. So many of us have glorified man’s wisdom, abilities, strength, thinking that they are all we need to flourish. What a rude awakening it is when life crashes down so hard that we realize that all we cling to is dust.

But it is in those times of brokenness that the Lord brings His life to us. It is when we are clinging to nothing but the little strength our physical bodies have left that we can confess our ways that have failed to the Lord and He will teach us His ways that bring life.

Notice that the recognition of weakness is not sufficient for solution to the problem. It was not enough that the Psalmist reached the end of his own strength and resources, but he went on to the point of confession to the Lord of all the ways he had gotten there. We see in this the activity of repentance. He was taking responsibility for his ways that got him into this condition. It is then and only then that the Lord meets us with forgiveness, life, teaching, and renewed purpose.

Believe me, I know what it is to reach the point of clinging only to dust. The past two months of my life have been the constant reality of this truth. But in it all, I have discovered the splendor of God’s grace and the life that comes from the Word of the Lord. You can too. If you are at the point of clinging to dust and wonder where you will ever get the strength to move ahead, then fall on your knees before God and confess to him all of the ways of dust you chose that got you to this place. Repent of them, and inhale again the breath of life from God Himself. He will teach you, and you will live.

Now, read the rest of the verses in this section, and see the hope God brings. ²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. ²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! ²⁹ Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! ³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. ³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! ³² I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

Cling to His testimonies, and run in the way of His commandments (notice, you are running again), for the Lord will enlarge your heart.

Pastor John