A "Yet" Praise

When David’s heart was heavy, when he was being attacked and oppressed, when his soul was an utterly broken ruin of despair, he remembered the goodness of God. David remembered the times God revealed His heart and His hand toward him. David looked back over his experiences with God and decided to praise God, yet, again! (Psalm 42:4, 6, Psalm 103:2-5)

David decided to forget not all of God’s benefits. David remembered the lion. He remembered his battle with Goliath. He remembered hiding in caves when fleeing Saul. What battles has God already brought you through? What ways has He already made? Look around you. You are living right now in the midst of answered prayers.


As we live in the middle of the "right now" and the "not yet", and as we look perhaps at what is facing us today, let us remember that God Almighty decrees that He encamps around us (Psalm 34:7, Psalm 125:2). God covers us from all sides. The circle of encampment is special because the number of points that go around a circle are uncountable and infinite. Yet, the center of the circle is equal distance from each point on the circle. This means that we, in the center of our circumstances, are covered from every conceivable point by a Sovereign God who is in the absolute same proximity to us from every point. No matter where life shifts us, God is no further away and can be no closer to us at any time, in any place, or in any circumstance. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38, Ephesians 2:6-7). In fact, we can look back over trials of the past and see the gracious faithfulness of God with us. We can count God's blessings in our lives and be reminded of His goodness.


Nothing is bigger than God. No situation. No issue. No sickness. No need. God is a Mighty Refuge. God still reigns. We're still seated with Him in victory. So, let's give him a YET praise. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What's in Your Hand?

2 Corinthians 9:8-10 reminds us that God gives seed to the sower. This scripture is speaking about giving money to support the kingdom's work on earth. However, we can apply this Godly principle to other areas of life. God supplies the seed and increases. God gives us what He expects us to sow.  The gift, the talent, the idea, the act of service all come from God to be poured out for His glory. In the pouring out, He multiplies. He gives the supply and causes it to multiply.  He requires us to offer it up before Him, to pour it out. He requires us to obey Him. Not to bury the talent, the gift, the act of service or love.  God never asks us to give what He hasn’t already given to us. We see this in several passages: Abraham with Issac (Genesis 22) Moses with the staff (Exodus 4) Elijah under juniper tree (1 Kings 19) Shunammite woman with oil and empty vessels (2 Kings 4:8-37) David defeats Goliath (1 Samuel 17) Disciples with the nets, fish, and loaves of bread (Luke 5: 4...
Read more

Friends or Enemies of God?

Friends share common interests. My mother used to say that birds of a feather flock together.  We are known by the company we keep. Our character, beliefs, and the position of our hearts are revealed by our behaviors and habits. To be a friend of God, we must represent Him, be like Him, die to our unregenerate ways, be transformed, and renewed to be like His nature.  Let us reflect on these truths: Jesus said we’re friends of God if we obey His Word. (John 15:14) James 4:4 reminds us that we cannot be a friend God while also being a friend to sin.  The Word of God prunes us so that we might bear more fruit to God, if we allow Him to do so. We can’t bear fruit apart from being united with Jesus Christ.  The fruit we bear is to love one another. No greater love has one shown that to lay down His life for a friend. (Mark 12:31) Let us lay down our lives to live for God. (John 15: 13) Or, we can choose to turn away from the Truth. (John 8:42-47)
Read more

How can dry bones hear?

The Lord God carried Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones in the spirit. The Lord God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, to speak to them. Yet, this begs the question: How can dry bones hear? Ezekiel 37: 1-14 This scripture represents the revival of the whole house of Israel, the spiritual revival of the nation. It points to the resurrection and reunification of Israel and their covenant with Jesus Christ.  However, there are spiritual implications to the text for Gentiles, like us, too.  The physical is subject to the spiritual. No moment, no event, no person, no object is devoid of spiritual influence.  The atoms, particles, substances that constitute what we physically experience with our senses (see, smell, taste, touch, hear) have to respond to the Creator because there are Word particles in them. They were created by the Word and respond to the Word. God said “Let there be…” and there was. From nothingness came creation.  Everything that is, was crea...
Read more