Psalm 27. One of my favourite psalms

Psalm 27. I love it. This psalm. What with my propensity to fall into anxiety and depression, it gives me a lot of strength. 

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" verse 1.

Fear. It comes unbidden. It may come softly, or it may come as a roar. But however it comes, the word of God is my light and my salvation. Indeed, it is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

"Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah" (Psa 46:2-3).

Yea, I will not fear. I will not be afraid. Has he not told me so? Has he not told you so? "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isa 41:10). 

"When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell." verse 2. Our chief enemy is the devil. But David here is speaking of a real physical enemy. His chief enemy was King Saul. We too have physical enemies. God knows them. Our other enemies are unseen, like fear. We fight, but the battle is the Lord's. "But I encouraged myself in the LORD" says David in the book of Samuel. We encourage ourselves every time we read his word or pray.

"Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Ps 27:3. That's my God. That's my confidence. Who is your confidence in times of trouble? In God is my victory. "Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies" (Psa 60:12).  

David's chief desire was for his God always. May God be my chief desire too! "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock" (Psa 27:4-5).  

Therefore will my life be filled with joy. I choose it. I command it. "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD (Psa 27:6). Making joy is a sacrifice. It doesn't come easy. 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom 12:1-2). 

    I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD! 

            Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psa 100:1-3 

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD (Psa 27:13-14).

Yea, it comes to that, it may come to that, wanting to faint, wanting to give up. But sing! Make praise! Nothing lifts the heart like praise. I forget me. I forget everything and life becomes only about God. Hasn't he said he will never leave me nor forsake me? His promises! His promises! Yea. God means every word. I believe that. Do you? 

I shall triumph in his joy always!

Meditations on Contentment

Reaching contentment is a journey. It's a work of grace. Ultimately it's a journey of believing God.

Is God good at all times? Is there anything that can separate me from his love? Ah, nothing. And if there's then I am still in unbelief.

Every day I strive to be better. Every day I fight unbelief. Every day I grow in faith. That God is good.

That he means better. This is a lifetime battle until the end. Nothing is impossible before God. Including contentment.

Nearer my God to thee. Every day let me draw near my God. Every day let me keep my eyes on you God, and not at the waves. Not at present pleasure. Not at the conversations hurling in the world.

Let me see only you father. I've wandered far. Let me now return home. There's an end. Keep eyes on that end. I am not alone. He's with me up to the end. I know the enemy. I know whom I have believed.

Can't love God and love the world at same time. You will be discontent. Choose one. Can't be content? Trouble is what you love. Trouble is in the heart.

           The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer 17:9 

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mar 4:18-19 

Sloth or Complacency?

Contentment is not complacency or sloth. If it's not girded in godliness, then the devil can step in. He couches his lies perfectly, but a good knowledge of his word will shield one from his arrows.  

Rejoice evermore. 1Th 5:16  

Pray without ceasing. 1Th 5:17  

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Th 5:18  

Quench not the Spirit. 1Th 5:19  

Despise not prophesyings. 1Th 5:20  

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1Th 5:21  

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1Th 5:22  

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Th 5:23 

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1Th 5:24

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Php 1:6  

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php 4:7   

To Fight or to Resign?  

In the world you will be ripped off, lied, conned. Misunderstood. How to cope. How do you finish your day after work? With gladness or cursing? At the end is God still good?  I remember Spafford. It's well with my soul. Paul. Would you still trust God?

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2Co 1:5  

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. 2Co 1:8-9 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:10-13   

Not My Will but Your Will be Done

When I say the will of God be done, I am content with his leading. Give me this day my daily bread. Will I still be content when it doesn't come? At the heart of contentment is a surrendered will. It means I will praise God whether it's day or night. Whether he answers my prayers or not. The life I live is no longer mine. Only then can the joy of the Lord be my strength. Only can contentment flood the heart. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Nothing can separate me from his love. This I believe, therefore have I spoken.  

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1Co 16:13  

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:35  

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa 16:11  

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Rom 15:13