Can’t Meet the Criteria (Psalm 51:1)

Forgiveness from a human perspective, it is usually based on the person meeting some type of behavior or expectation. Forgiveness might be based on the person being sorry, expressing sorrow or performing some act of penance.

However with God, it is a different story. God‘s forgiveness hinges on two aspects of his character: lovingkindness and tender mercy.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)

Both of these traits stem from the love of God. The former relates to his actions toward men and the latter-meaning womb-reflects his emotional bond with us.

The remainder of Psalm 51 conveys attitudes and promises to declared by David, but without loving kindness and tender mercy, forgiveness would not even be considered.

Therefore, when you find yourself needing forgiveness don’t try to follow a pathway of penance or self restoration to a God of lovingkindness and tender mercy, but instead run to the throne of grace whereupon your loving and merciful God sits. From there, he will forgive and lead you to a place of restoration.

Brace Yourself!

Brace yourself! This is the phrase that we use to prepare ourselves for some impending negative event. It may be physically holding on to something in preparation for jolting or even a collision. It could even relate to preparing yourself for news that may move you emotionally.

As bracing yourself may seem to work in the physical world, it does not work in the spiritual. However, what will work is if the Lord braces you.

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;  (Psalm 20:1-2)

In this time of distress for David, he is looking for the Lord to send him help and strength. The strength he is seeking is comfort and to be held up. Another meaning for the word strength would be to brace. David is not bracing himself for the trial that he faces, but he is asking the Lord to brace him.

When I think of the Lord bracing us for trials, I picture a parent with a child. Imagine a small child in the arms of a father as they face a frightening experience like a thunderstorm. With each flash and bang of the storm, the child buries their head in the father’s chest as the father tightly braces the child. The father’s embrace may not be able to stop the storm, but it does bring security and strength to the child.

As we face the storms of life, God wants to brace us for them. He may not choose to remove the storm, but with his tender embrace, he will provide us the comfort and strength that we need.

Thankfully his loving embrace in these times is based on his mercy and grace. Because of this, we can always count on the father to be there for us. As you face storms in life, bury your head into the chest of your heavenly father and experience his strong loving embrace.

Did God Forget Me? (Psalm 9:12)

When people forget about you and your needs, it is a hurtful experience. It conveys the absence of love and concern. There are times in our lives when we face trials and difficulties and it appears as if God has forgotten us. We pray and ask for deliverance, but nothing happens. Has God forgotten us?

...he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. (Psalm 9:12)

God has not forgotten you. His love and concern has not been set aside and your life and its concerns have not been mislaid or lost. God has heard your cry, he knows the problems that you face and the heaviness in your heart that you carry because of it.

So, why doesn’t he answer? Why doesn’t he deliver? But he has and he will. God has heard your prayers and is providing the grace that you need. Many of learn the grace and truth go hand-in-hand. It seems that you cannot have the one without the other. God I want you exposed to truth concerning him and buy the truth he will be able to exercise grace in your life. Paul experienced this and wrote about it. God’s grace was sufficient for him because of his reliance on the truth of the power of Christ.

Until your actual deliverance comes, expose yourself to the word of God: read it, listen to the testimony of others, attend church services and listen to the preaching of God‘s word and God will begin working his grace in your life.

How long must you rely on this grace until the deliverance comes cannot be known. Remember as God works in the details of your life, he is also working in the lives of others. He wants to use grace in your life to shine as a light to the lost. He also may be working in the lives of others to bring them to repentance before he moves his hand in judgment or chastening. Until then, you must wait on him. Thankfully because of his grace, you will be able to endure.

...he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Religion Still Doesn't Work

Since nearly the beginning, sin has separated man from God and with it has brought sorrow, sickness, and emptiness in the heart of man. Throughout time, man has sought to overcome these troubles in his life and to accomplish it created religious acts or rituals, which were intended to appease God of his wrath or at the least turn away the consequences of sin that he faced.

These acts involved offering to God everything from crops to human sacrifices, the punishment of sinners or the punishment of themselves.  Always, the results were unsuccessful.  David described it best when he spoke to the Lord concerning his own condition.

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (Psalms 38:4)

The load of sin that looms over the head of every man is so great that  no religious act could ever remove the effect or its debt.

Several decades ago, a teenaged girl attended a local carnival. When she failed to return home, a search was made and eventually her lifeless body was found. For more than 30 years, law-enforcement searched for the suspected killer: who was eventually found. Should he be held for trial? Of course he should! Regardless of how long ago the event occurred, he should still be held accountable.

But what if he was found living a respectable life? What if he, for the last 20 years, had been doing a great humanitarian work? Should he still be held for trial? Should he still be charged even if he has been so sorry for his crime? The answer is a resounding, Yes! He committed a crime and the penalty for that crime must be paid.

For the last 6,000 years, man has been trying to avoid paying the penalty for his sin. But regardless of what he does, the holy righteous God still requires complete payment for sins committed. The only hope for all men would be for God to determine a way for someone else to pay the debt that man owed.  God did and that person was himself.  He came to earth as human.  Born of a virgin, he live a lonely life and yet did not sin. Throughout his entire life he did not commit one sin. For the remaining three years of his life, he taught and performed miracles to declare who it was and the purpose for his coming to earth. Then as foretold by God, he was rejected by his people, judged by the government and punished on the cross.

However God's purpose for allowing all this to occur was so that he could place all the sin of humanity upon himself as he hung on the cross. The beatings and torture done to Jesus were extremely grave, but nothing in comparison to the punishment that God, while still yet also in heaven, punished himself as he lived as a human hanging on the cross.

Only until Jesus cried, "It is finished!"  was mankind given any hope.  When Jesus finished, he was finished paying the wages for our sins – yours and mine.

For those, who continue striving to pay for their own sins or are relying on religious acts to appease God's wrath for sin will continue to fall short and carry the burden of their sin debt. Those who call upon Christ to bear there sin, will find the relief that they need.  No longer is the burden of sin going over their head or too much to bear, the burden has been removed and the payment has been made. None of their sins committed have gone unpunished. Instead of them paying the debt, someone  else paid the debt for them.

In America, we have discovered that countless people have been falsely charged, found guilty and sentenced for crimes that they had never committed. Society, unknowing of their wrong, was still satisfied because the penalty of the crime was being paid.  

In your case, Jesus willingly took the charge, allowed himself to be found guilty and then paid your complete payment for sin.  So that your salvation could take place when you call out to Jesus and trust that he will save you.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

As We Hope in Thee (Psalm 33:22)

My son, Anthony, was the first grandchild on both sides of the family.  Needless to say being spoiled was a regular occurrence.  As that special one, he learned ways to get people to do for him what he wanted.  I remember when he was around 12 years old he asked my sister, Lori, for something.  It kind of went like this.  In the little boy voice he spoke growing up he said, "Aunt 'Ore..."  Regardless of what followed, he already had her reeled in.  He just had a way with my sister that regularly resulted in benefits to him.  We too can have a way with God.

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. (Psalms 33:22)

Trying to change or become a better Christian isn't going to be enough to get God to work.  Granted, sin can hinder our prayers from being answered, but striving to be a better christian will not be enough because even when you believe you are at your best, you are still a sinner and have sin.  But when we hope in the Lord, which occurs when we look to him, it is then that he responds to us in mercy.

When we look to God and rely completely on him, he moves in mercy.  Not because we reached a plateau of holiness or because we have risen above the masses of sinners, but because of his mercy he works.  When we recognize our condition of falling short and being needy and look to God as our only source of help, God reaches down and works in mercy and love on our behalf.

Ceasing From Fear (Psalm 46:2)

We do not cease from fear as we would from food or drink.  We do not control fear as we would our actions.  We cease from fear when we recognize our safety in the Lord our refuge.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (Psalms 46:2)

Think about it for a moment.  You do not fear the weather's storms as they pound upon the earth, because you are safe within the shelter of your home.  You do not fear the gravest of beasts as you walk the corridors of the zoo, because you are safe on your side of the bars.  You don't will to cease from fear, you simply rest in safety.

The storms of life are great and many shall we face in this life, but we can live free from fear.  Seek his refuge and he will shelter you with his presence.  The storms may rage outside, but within will exist a calm peace.  Rest in God! 

Seeing the Land (Psalm 27:13)

I remember as a kid, there was this street in the neighborhood that had a steep hill on it.  My goal was to ride my bike to the top of the hill without stopping to push it up the rest of the way.  On many occasions, I failed to accomplish the task.  However, there was one time that after I peddled vigorously, it seemed as if I could not go any farther.  It was then that I lifted my eyes to see that I was nearly at the top of the hill.  Suddenly I found resources of strength that I did not know I had.  As I focused on my destination, the peddling became easier and I eventually made it to the top.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalms 27:13)

There are many times in our lives when we will strive to overcome obstacles and feel as if we cannot go any further.  What we need to is see the finish line.  The finish line is the place that God has prepared for us.  I am not necessarily speaking of Heaven, but the promised land, which is the land of victory.  We must continue on and not faint.  Sometimes, the only thing that can keep you from fainting is your faith in the Lord. Your perspective of what you see he can do will become a strength to you.

As you go through trials, spend time with the Lord.  Submit to his will and allow him to reveal to you his plan and purpose.  With this vision, you will overcome.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: (Proverbs 29:18)

Moved to Compassion (Luke 7:13)

One of the attributes of God is that he is omniscient, which means that he is all knowing.  He knows all that has occurred in the past, he knows what is in the heart of man and what is taking place currently, and he knows what will happen in the future.

When God became man, he cloaked his diety: that is to say that as God, Jesus functioned as a man and only accessed his divine powers and abilities as directed by the father.

In this passage when Jesus came face to face with the widow, he, as God, saw her and her condition for the first time.  What occurred revealed the nature of God towards man.  The scriptures state that when he saw her, he had compassion on her.  From this, we can know that as God looks upon us, he will be moved with compassion towards us.  Although his plan may require that we endure particular hardships in life, but nonetheless his heart is moved with compassion.

We too should have compassion on others.  What is needed for this to occur is to see individuals in their state.  This may come from visual sight or Holy Spirit illumination.  It is difficult to have compassion on someone if you cannot see them.  So in order for us to have compassion, we must see them.

Hold It Together (Psalm 27:14)

I remember when quite a few years ago, I was sitting in the heart station at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  My daughter was sitting on my wife's lap as they were completing the last preliminaries before her open heart surgery the next morning.  Each of us were on edge and doing our best to deal with the situation.  It was then that my daughter said her first word.  She turned her head, looked across the room at me and said, "Daddy."  Needless to said, I nearly fell apart.

The two options that we have when we face trouble are holding it together or falling apart.  Faith is what enables us to hold our hearts together.  When we lose faith or fail to exercise faith, our heart no longer binds itself together for The Lord and then we essentially cave in or fall under the circumstances of your trial.  However, our path to victory begins with just one step.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalms 27:14)

Waiting on The Lord and being of good courage are attributes of the heart.  We see this from the context of the verse and can understand that they essentially mean to bind the heart together and be emotionally strong.  When we have faith in The Lord to provide what we need and take that stand, God will strengthen our hearts.  We then have greater faith to take that same stand and God again strengthens our hearts.  The process repeats itself and this is what enables believers to overcome all obstacles and yet at the same time rejoice in The Lord.

You too can experience this victory.  It begins with one step:  hold your heart together by trusting in the goodness of The Lord.  After that, he will do the rest.

I Can't Hold It Together (Psalm 130:5)

When I was a kid, my mother said that life was tough.  I believed her, but I didn't know it was going to be as tough as it is.  Have you ever had days where everything just seemed to be going wrong?  Every time you turn around there is yet another problem.  During days like that, I can't wait to get the day over so I can start a new day and as is usually the case, the next day is much better.

However there are times in our lives when one bad day leads into another and yet another.  Our emotions are on edge and we feel like we just can't take another step.  At any moment, we feel like we just cannot hold it together any longer and are ready to fall apart and sometimes we do.  It is those times that we call dark trials.  What is the answer?

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. (Psalms 130:5)

What does it mean to wait for The Lord?  When we wait for The Lord, we are holding it together until he provides relief.  The Hebrew word for "wait" carries the idea of binding together, to collect, or to tarry.  The Psalmist shares his testimony in that his soul is able to hold it together until The Lord provides.  He accomplishes this by focusing on God's word and expecting that God will supply as promised.  

You too can obtain like victory.  In order to do so, you will need to prayerfully expose yourself to God's word.  God cannot strengthen your soul for holding it together if you are unaware or unfamiliar with pertinent passages from his word.  Once you recognize a promise from God's word, you must resist all thoughts and accusations against God and his word. (See previous post: What Is A trial). As you accomplish these two steps, God will provide patience to your soul.

When Faith Is Not Enough (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

Have you been in a trial and found it difficult to remain faithful to God and keep moving on?  Have you been to the point where you cannot take another step and want to just crumble in your path?  Many have been there and yet still moved on.  How did they do it?  What was their secret?

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

Works start out motivated by faith.  The worker many be doing the work because God has led them or he has pointed out a need that he wants him to fulfill and the believer responds by faith and does the work.  A person can continue in the work motivated by faith, but the work needs more than what the faith worker can provide.  Mere obedience to do a work will not bring about the purpose that God has.

While in the work, The Lord does a work also in the believer's heart.  This work occurs when love develops in the heart of the laborer.  His work is no longer motivated by the obedience of faith, but by love for those for which he works.  Love will take you further than faith.  If asked, faith will sacrifice.  However, love will sacrifice on its own.  Faith obeys, but love sees the need and willfully volunteers for the task. It also sees the need and will carry the burden of the work and accomplish it.  Faith only obeys and endures.

Faith and love are essential ingredients for living a life for God, but another motivation is still needed.  Faith obeys, love sees the need and is motivated, but hope sees the potential that can occur.  Hope has spiritual eyes that see the situation from God's perspective.  Reaching the mark envisioned by hope isn't easy.  There are still obstacles to overcome, but hope gives vision to the laborer's work and at the same time gives patience to the laborer.  Patience is the believer's ability to stay under the load of the work and at the same time be cheerful.  Personal strength may keep people under the load of a work, but it cannot bring cheerfulness.  Talents and abilities may make a work somewhat easier to bear, but they will not bring cheerfulness.  Love in itself will struggle in the face of adversity and endure, but be lacking in cheerfulness.  

However, it is love for God that brings the spiritual perspective of hope.  It is this love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love for a person can wax thin, but love for God will cause the believer to continue to press on.  It wasn't Paul's love for the church that moved him on through suffering and persecution.  It was his love for God.  It wasn't love for the ministry that strengthened the Apostles to face being martyred.  It was hope that came from their love for God.

Where are you?  What motivates you in your service for God?  What motivates you as a parent, spouse, or employee?  Hopefully it is something greater than just your faith.

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Exalted In Due Time (1 Peter 5:6)

Life is filled with ups and downs.  Sometimes the causes are understandable, but at other times it seems that everything is against you, nothing makes sense and all hope for recovery is nowhere in sight.  What should a person do?  Should they fight? Give up? Run away?  All of these plausible solutions are representative of our efforts to deliver ourselves, but God's solution is different.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1 Peter 5:6)

Instead of fighting, try humbling yourself before God.  Kneel before, yield your will, desires and goals.  As you place them before God, you allow him complete liberty with your life.  You know that God is omnipotent: meaning that he can do anything, but there are some things that he will not do.  He will not rob you of your will.  He will speak to you, move your heart and even chasten you, but he will not make you do anything.  When you are humble before God, you give him liberty to do his perfect work in your life.  Many believe yielding to God will limit the joy that can be had in life, but in reality, by yielding to God, you open up to yourself doors of joyful opportunity that you in no other way could possibly experience.

When you do humble yourself before God, he will lift you up.  He is not saying that he will promote you to a higher position among men--although he may do that--but he will lift you above your circumstances in life.

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A Sorrowful Heart (Proverbs 14:13)

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. (Proverbs 14:13)

Trials and troubles bring sorrow or emotional pain in the heart.  Hopes of bringing cheer to those struggling with this pain are futile (Proverbs 14:10) and in the end would create a greater level of sorrow. When a sorrowful heart experiences laughter, it creates a greater longing for the joy that it is lacking.  If you have ever been on a diet and then tasted one of the "forbidden" foods, you know how much you long for them even more.  In the same manner, the heart that experiences laughter even more so longs for happiness.

The cure for a sorrowful or a heavy heart cannot be found in events such as shopping, partying, sports, movies, vacations, drugs or alcohol.  The cure is hope.  Hope brings strength to the heart and when hope is removed, the heart becomes sick (Proverbs 13:12).  If you are struggling with sorrow of heart, seek Jesus so that you may discover how he is your hope.  If you desire to help sorrowful people, convey that you are bearing their burden with them (Galatians 6:2) and share with them how Jesus has helped you through similar struggles.  Your testimony can be used by the Holy Spirit to cause people to cry out to Jesus.

Sorrows in life will come.  Although events may bring temporal relief, they cannot deliver your heart from the sorrow that it experiences.  Jesus is your true help as you face these difficult times.  Seek him and he will be found (Matthew 7:7-8).

Pride Versus Hope (Psalm 131)

The enemy of hope is pride.  It is a proud heart that raises itself up in trying to deal with matters too lofty for itself.  It is a proud heart that refuses to adjust its behavior to what The Lord wants.  As a dependent child submits himself to his nurturing mother, a prideful heart will not stand in awe before God and submit itself to him and his plan.  A prideful heart cannot and will not wait on The Lord.

Trouble waiting on the Lord reveals a prideful heart that wants to take over.  As anxiety builds, so is pride.  A person resists submitting to God because they have already submitted to their own pride.

Pride still comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18).  Pride is not confined to the act of looking down at others.  It is the attitude that people have after their hearts have been deceived into thinking that they can handle matters greater than their ability.  Whether it be sin, raising children, managing finances, work, or any other area of life makes no difference.  Pride moves man into the driver's seat of his life and as long as he remains there, he will not experience hope.

Man does not need to do anything to get hope.  He simply needs to remove himself and his prideful heart from the plan.  When he does, The Lord takes over and with him comes hope.