TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• For months, I have really struggled to keep my mouth shut. From the government responses to COVID-19 to the vandalism and looting in the name of protest… to the controversy of masks… my frustration that churches aren’t reopening yet… I’m really trying to keep my opinions to myself. I’m trying to stay focused on eternal issues and not weigh in too much about what I think because I don’t want to debate with people. But of course, I have an opinion. And when I woke up this morning to a news headline that says, “Minneapolis council members calling to defund police spend $63G on private security details after receiving death threats…” Well, my opinion is, “What a group of idiots.”
Stay with me here. Whether you agree or disagree with defunding police, the fact that $63,000 has been spent for protection by the people who are calling to remove funding for public protection is crazy. I’m reminded of a scene from the movie, “Major Leagues.” The Cleveland Indians are on this rinky-dink propeller plane in the middle of a fierce storm when one of the players, who normally practices Voodoo and worships an idol, is caught praying with a Rosary. One of the other players looks at him, points up, and says, “Oh, so now you come around. He’s not fooled.”
So is it with God. We can’t claim to be independent and self-sufficient and ignore God until we have a moment of panic. Then frantically pray to Him and expect Him to fix everything. He might. He might use a desperate prayer to change a life… but is He obligated to answer a prayer of someone who otherwise ignores Him?
He’s not obligated to do anything, but thankfully, God is far more merciful and patient than I am. But how do you suppose it makes Him feel when He’s made it abundantly clear in Scripture that He wants a relationship with us, and yet, so often, we leave Him out. He sacrificed His Son! How much more does He need to prove that He loves us and wants us to communicate with Him about everything?!
Let’s turn the tables a bit. Let’s say you were sitting on a million dollars and the only time your child ever called on you was when he/she needed money. How would you feel? Used? Hurt? Angry? Rightly so! And since we are made in God’s image, is it a stretch to think He doesn’t feel the same? I don’t think so.
The Psalmist of Psalm 91 records God’s longing for a relationship with us, “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16).
I think the key phrase here is “Because he holds fast to me in love…” This person is clinging to God not out of desperation in the moment but because of their love for Him! It’s an example for us to emulate.
Today, as you pray, thank God for His personal interest in our lives. Thank Him for hearing our prayers. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you seek God in all things. And pray for our country and leaders. Pray for God to move through our world and give us the revival we need… the revival that will bring peace when others recognize God’s immeasurable love and their need for His salvation.
SHARING ••• Please share with others! Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
2 Responses
Great post! Before I retired I worked on computer systems. I have a few “friends” who only call me when they need help with their computer. I am glad to help them but think about how God feels when we only run to Him with our problems.
I so agree! I have the same thing — and then I catch myself doing the same thing to God. I am trying to remember to take things to Him before I take them anywhere else. 🙂