I don't know if I've ever been discouraged that way that David is discouraged in Psalm 3. It seems like he has all these people who want to beat down his faith and I don't think I've ever experienced this kind of persecution. At least not explicitly.
There may be a lot of people out there who claim that God doesn't exist or that God cannot save us from the dangers that surround us. Now that I think about it, this passage does bring up memories. But the persecutor wasn't someone else, it was myself. There are some things that I have struggled with for a few years now that I haven't overcome. What's strange is that no one has ever told me that God cannot save me from these sins that I keep committing, but through my actions I have shown that I don't believe that He can or He will save me from them.
What I want, and I think this is what a lot of people want, is for God to come down and force me to stop. Force me to give up on something that I know is not right. But that is not how God works. He may shield us from the consequences (sometimes) but He will not force us to obey his word. Instead, we must be like David, who when he was faced with doubt in a tough situation, he clung even closer to God. He pleaded for God's help and security.
When we are like David, when we finally cry out for God's help, He will comfort us. He will take away the guilt and the pain and will sustain our needs. In order for us to see how God can sustain us and bless us, we have to go to Him and ask him, just like David.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
My First Journal Entry... Aaaaaaahhhh!
Hey Everyone!
Well, I guess the first thing to explain is why I decided to start a blog. To tell you the truth... I have no idea. I was sitting in my room, on my bed, trying to do homework and listen to gospel music. I began thinking about how I needed to get back on the right track and read my Bible again. How many times have I had this thought? Oh, hundreds of times I'm sure, but this time I want it to make a difference. Of course it has made a difference before, but I've never kept it up. This time I want it to stick and what better way to keep myself accountable than to get other people involved?
I'm not sure how much involvement I will get, but whatever the case, I just pray that this blog helps someone else as much as I expect it to help me. So, here it goes...
I decided to start my project with the book of Psalm. I was thinking that this could be a discussion, if it comes to that. Really, I would just like to share my thoughts. I welcome any thoughts that anyone else has, as long as they are respectful of course :) Since I've previously read the first chapter of Psalms, I think I will start with chapter 2... Yay :)
To tell you the truth... I am kind of intimidated by this text. I even had to read it again before I even began to understand it. I think this passage is telling me that without God, my success is in vain. So many people take credit for their accomplishments, but in a moment, God can take all that we have, everything that we have accomplished and throw it away.
This chapter makes me think of the professors at my university who constantly boast about their awards and their accomplishments and in the same breath talk about how God doesn't exist. It's kind of sad when you realize that all of their self worth is tied into what they have accomplished instead of how God thinks of them and the salvation that He gives us.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with success. God promises us success if we ask (Psalm 2:8,9), but with this request comes responsibility. We have to have a relationship with the Lord. We have to realize that what we have comes from Him and we must give God the glory. Without Him, we would be nothing and we have to realize this before it is too late.
Until tomorrow!
Erinn
Well, I guess the first thing to explain is why I decided to start a blog. To tell you the truth... I have no idea. I was sitting in my room, on my bed, trying to do homework and listen to gospel music. I began thinking about how I needed to get back on the right track and read my Bible again. How many times have I had this thought? Oh, hundreds of times I'm sure, but this time I want it to make a difference. Of course it has made a difference before, but I've never kept it up. This time I want it to stick and what better way to keep myself accountable than to get other people involved?
I'm not sure how much involvement I will get, but whatever the case, I just pray that this blog helps someone else as much as I expect it to help me. So, here it goes...
I decided to start my project with the book of Psalm. I was thinking that this could be a discussion, if it comes to that. Really, I would just like to share my thoughts. I welcome any thoughts that anyone else has, as long as they are respectful of course :) Since I've previously read the first chapter of Psalms, I think I will start with chapter 2... Yay :)
To tell you the truth... I am kind of intimidated by this text. I even had to read it again before I even began to understand it. I think this passage is telling me that without God, my success is in vain. So many people take credit for their accomplishments, but in a moment, God can take all that we have, everything that we have accomplished and throw it away.
This chapter makes me think of the professors at my university who constantly boast about their awards and their accomplishments and in the same breath talk about how God doesn't exist. It's kind of sad when you realize that all of their self worth is tied into what they have accomplished instead of how God thinks of them and the salvation that He gives us.
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with success. God promises us success if we ask (Psalm 2:8,9), but with this request comes responsibility. We have to have a relationship with the Lord. We have to realize that what we have comes from Him and we must give God the glory. Without Him, we would be nothing and we have to realize this before it is too late.
Until tomorrow!
Erinn
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