Realizing that I needed to “grow up” in certain areas of my life, I’ve been doing quite a bit of soul searching and talking to God about the state of my soul and spirit. One of the things He’s shown me is that I have a lot…a lot of stinking thinking that impacts and affects the way I do life. So, not only is it time to “grow up” in certain areas, it’s also time to mature in the things of God.
I don’t want to ever be guilty of settling for good or better when best is on the horizon.
So, the journey has begun and I’m fearfully excited as I anticipate what the Lord may require of me. As part of the process toward growth and change, I’ve amped up my reading so that my mind may be renewed, which led me to something that I share with you today. It’s part of a newsletter written by Leslie Vernick. Read on, dear ones, and hear what the Spirit would say to you:
The Good That is Never Good Enough¹
“Have you ever seen a verse in the Bible for the first time – one that you were sure you never noticed before, even though it is underlined in your Bible?
That’s what happened to me recently, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Paul prays for the Philippians. He said ..that your love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be able to be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness, that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory of God (Philippians 1:9-11).
I usually have no problem figuring out the difference between good things and bad things, but Paul prays for something greater. He prays that we would learn to discern between the better things and the best things. That is a whole lot trickier. There have been times in my life where the good things have distracted me from pursuing the best things. Other times I was so busy enjoying the good things, I got lulled into a false belief that they were the best things.
Mary of Bethany is a woman who learned to discern the best thing. She chose to spend her time loving Jesus; her sister Martha chose serving Jesus. I used to think of the Mary and Martha story as an illustration of personality differences. Martha was a worker, Mary a listener, but I’m more convinced than ever that it wasn’t a matter of personality but of discernment. Mary’s love for Jesus taught her how to see what the best things were at the moment. Whether sitting at his feet in rapt attention or spilling her treasured perfume over her Savior’s tired and callused feet, Jesus said Mary made the right choice.
To be honest, in the busyness of ministry, sometimes I fail to take that quiet time to sit at Jesus’ feet. I struggle to be still, simply love Him, learn from Him and allow Him to fill me with His love. I’m so busy doing things for Jesus, I am not taking the time to be with Jesus.
As a Christian counselor I know I’m not alone. I work with many women who feel too busy to take time to be alone with Jesus. Multiple priorities, ministry responsibilities, a hectic home life and people constantly tugging for something, keep them lost in the good that is not good enough.
Oswald Chambers writes, “The great struggle in the life of faith is not sin but the good that is not good enough.”
I don’t want to settle for the good and forsake the best God has for me. I hope you don’t either.”
Sisters, I hope this spoke to your heart as it did mine. If so, consider pausing right now and make any necessary confessions to the Lord. Ask for increased discernment so that, like Mary, we can know when to choose the best thing over the better. And may the result be that we make time to sit at the feet of Jesus!!
Stephanie Paul
Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Director.
Have you ever been praying and been unable to focus your mind or thoughts on prayer? It seems like for one reason or another everything that could pop into your mind and distract you, every little chore you forgot to remember to do, now you suddenly remember, and what was supposed to be your “quiet time” turned into “disquieted time.” I heard a good tip I’ll pass along: keep a note pad near by and jot down those silly things you think are so important to do later and get back to praying. Today I was interrupted not by my thoughts but by my clock…
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, How am I supposed to pray with that clock ticking incessantly! All I need is a bird to fly out and scream KOO KOO! I know, I’ll take the batteries out. Ah…silence, praise the Lord! Now where was I?
It’s a shame I can’t keep that clock working; it just makes too much noise. But it’s so pretty; I think I’ll keep it out as a decoration anyway. Two dear friends gave it to me and it reminds me of them. Maybe that’s who I’ll pray for while I listen to the silence of the clock.
Two other dear friends have a clock they’ve been keeping for someone. Recently, they repainted and decided not to hang it back on the wall. It, too, reminds them of the friend they received it from but it brings about sadness for the state they are living in right now. Like the clock, they aren’t working very well.
BUT God is working. He’s still working very well, good reason to hope, and our hope is found in Him. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking, so to speak, whether we hear it or not. Maybe it’s time to pay attention to the ticking.
“So teach us to number our days: That we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12 (NKJV).
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken (Psalm 62:1-2 ESV).
This Psalm was written during Absalom’s Rebellion which is found in 2 Samuel 15-18; it lasted for about 4 years and was a time of great distress and uncertainly for David. David also wrote psalms 39, 41, 55, 61 and 63 during this time. Absalom, his son, was self-centered and independent and wanted to steal the hearts of the people away from David. Through lies and deceit, he turned the people against David and proceeded to crowned himself king.
David had no choice but to flee… Why?
1. Rebellion was widespread – it would not have been easily suppressed
2. David really didn’t want to hurt his son
3. David did not want Jerusalem destroyed
How do events in your life make you feel like running away like David? Where would you run to? Where do you attempt to find relief other than God? In verse 9 and 10, David warns us that relief is not found in our position, acceptance, money, or people. I love this thought, “people are but a breath” – i.e…. they have no weight… People are not important.
In this Psalm David instead arms himself with facts to deal with his pain and fears…
vs. 1: God alone brings salvation.
vs. 2: Only by finding refuge in Him we will not be moved.
vs. 5: We have our expectation and hope in God alone.
vs. 6: God is our fortress – He is the only safe place to wait and rest.
vs. 7: In God only is salvation and our glory (our honor)
vs. 8: God can be TRUSTED
vs 11: God alone has power, not us or our enemies.
vs 12: God’s love is steadfast – without end.
How did all those words comfort David? How can they serve as a comfort to us?
What might be your metaphor? God is my _____________________.
In Psalm 62: 1, we read that David’s soul “waits” on God, which in translations means he was silent, calm, content, and submissive in the Lord. What does God tell us to do while we are waiting? In vs. 8, David reminds us that we can trust God and pour out our heart to Him. Why can we do that? Because only in Him do we have meaning and honor, salvation and strength (vs. 7). We can do that because in the end God will “render to a man according to his work” (vs. 12b).
Let me sum all this up with a key idea of Psalm 62 – I can rest in the midst of struggles because ONLY GOD HELPS… even when I feel like I am a bowing wall or a tottering fence. I may be shaken, but I will not fall. Shaking is linked to confusion, anxiety and the unrest of the human heart. Nowhere does God promise we won’t be pushed around some, but He does promise that He will KEEP us SOLID and we shall not fall. . If we are truly God’s – we will automatically be in battles with the world… not only might we feel physical forces, but also emotional forces… vs. 4 (lies told and planted in our minds).
David tells us in vs. 11 and 12 why He can make such claims. He says, “Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that the power belongs to God.” A good way to translate this idea into our language is – through experience I have learned over and over again – God has the real power and love. He is steadfast love – He is FAITHFUL.
THEREFORE… TRUST IN GOD… HIS MERCY and HIS CHARACTER and ATTRIBUTES… no matter what you are going through.
We have focused on the bummer lamb the past two days. Today let’s look more closely at the Shepherd.
Our Shepherd has gathered us, held us and has made us His own. He has done so gently and tenderly.
Isaiah is again referenced with a quote from Chapter 42:3. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”
Lately, I have felt bruised and wounded. We live in tough days and we face hard situations within our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces and even our churches. It doesn’t seem to get easier does it? But I am encouraged that my Shepherd will not break me or snuff me out. “Your Shepherd Promises He will not snuff you out. His caring hands will gently attend to your injuries and keep your flame alive, weak as it may be”. *
I keep looking for a verse that says, “I promise you a rose garden.” I have yet to find it. In reality the opposite is true. Jesus promised we would have trials and tribulations. He told us people won’t love us because they didn’t love Him either. He warned us of dark days and long nights. Yet even in knowing that, our Shepherd gently reminds us that He brings healing, comfort and peace to our wounds.
Sometimes we can misunderstand His intentions, too. My heart aches and I feel like the pain intensifies instead of lessens. Then I read this, “When the Lord told us that he sent Jesus ‘to bind up the brokenhearted’ (Isaiah 61:1), He used the Hebrew word chavash, which means ‘to bind on, wrap around; bind up as a wound, bandage, cover, envelope, enclose.’ A broken heart bleeds, and the only way to stop the bleeding is to compress the wound. God applies pressure exactly at the injured spot – not to make it hurt but to stop the flow of blood”. Then this quote from Beth Moore follows, “What a wonderful picture of Christ! A crushing hurt comes, and the sympathizing, scarred hand of Christ presses the wound; and for just a moment, the pain seems to intensify….but finally the bleeding stops.”
How often we fight off the help of the scarred hand because at first it hurts even more. Like the bummer lambs that we are, we fear pain, rejection, abandonment. At first the pressing feels like additional pain, not the very help we need. The Shepherd knows what to do. He knows how to care for us. He knows our pain but He also knows the treatment that will stop the bleeding.
Today may you and I allow the Shepherd to tend to our wounds and our hurts. We can kick and scream and hold onto our pain or we can allow Him to tend to our injuries even if it hurts a bit more so the bleeding can stop.
*God Loves Broken People (And Those Who Pretend They’re Not) by Shelia Walsh, page 17
Blessings,
Kathy Withers
Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 26 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.
We are all bummer lambs. Each of us has experienced rejection, brokenness and has our share of wounds. Wounds that are still bleeding, wounds now scabbed over or scars from the passage of time. No matter what you and I have been through, are in the middle of or can expect to come our way, we have a Shepherd who will care for and comfort us. “He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those who are nursing.” Isaiah 40:11
“If you feel like a bummer lamb, understand that when Isaiah says the Lord ‘gathers’ you in His arms, he uses a Hebrew term that most often refers to assembling people into one place. It speaks of a sovereign, intentional act. He looked for you, and when He found you, he scooped you up into His arms and placed you safely and securely among His own flock. You weren’t an afterthought. You weren’t simply in the right place at the right time to catch His eye. No, in His love and in His majesty He searched for you, picked you out, picked you up, and held you firmly in His arms”. *
There’s more!
“Note that Isaiah says He carries you ‘close to his heart.” Edward Young, an Isaiah scholar, wrote about this verse, ‘In verse 10 (Isaiah 40) there had already been mention of His arm as ruling for Him. This arm is the symbol of His might and power and is sufficiently strong to gather up the sheep for protection and care. When they are in the Shepherd’s arm, nothing can harm or come near to separate them from Him. Those whom He gathers are described as lambs, i.e. the young lambs recently born. They are the weakest members of the flock and cannot possibly defend themselves against attack, and are in need of the Shepherd’s constant protection. By means of His arm He will gather them up, and in His bosom He will carry them so that they will recline in His arm against His bosom. Thus they will not have to walk themselves nor stumble nor go astray”. *
Before I bring to a conclusion what I have learned about bummer lambs; rest. You are close to His heart. Draw near to Him and find comfort in the fold of His garments. Allow Him to carry you today.
Blessings,
Kathy Withers
Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 26 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.
*God Loves Broken People (And Those Who Pretend They’re Not) by Shelia Walsh, pages 16,17
Years ago I was so blessed by Stephanie Paul’s devotional about Musk Oxen. A very abbreviated explanation of her devotional and a musk oxen is that when the baby musk oxen are in danger the momma’s gather around and face outward towards their enemy while surrounding the babies. As a mother, I along with some friends formed a small prayer group for our adult children so we could surround them with prayers against the enemy that seeks them.
I recently read about another animal that I had never heard of before. I learned about a bummer lamb. In Scripture we know of the Good Shepherd and His care over His flock of sheep but I had never heard of a bummer lamb. The story is told of a ewe that gave birth to triplets but only accepted two of the lambs. The third lamb would approach its momma only to be butted out of the way while the other two fed. No matter what was done the ewe would not accept her third baby. What had happened was that the mother ewe was so overwhelmed that she chose to ignore her baby rather than care for it. These abandoned, rejected lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Shelia Walsh, in her book, God Loves Broken People (And Those Who Pretend They’re Not) describes the bummer lamb:
“All too often, these needy, vulnerable, precious lambs simply die. Their little spirits break, and they give up the will to live. The only ones who do survive – the ones who find the strength to overcome their mother’s rejection – are the ones who get taken in and cared for by the shepherd. Bummer lambs are, in fact, the most blessed of all the sheep in the pasture because they are the most personally and intimately cared for by the shepherd. They develop the kind of relationship with the shepherd that other sheep can’t dream of. They experience a love that surpasses anything the pasture and sometimes fickle ewe have to offer. When the shepherd calls to the flock, guess who run to him first? The bummer lambs! Why? Because they know his voice best, and they have been held close to his heart. It’s not that he loves them more; it’s just that they’ve been broken enough to let that love in….down deep.”
Today if you feel like a bummer lamb, draw close to the shepherd, hear His voice and know you are loved.
Blessings,
Kathy Withers
Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 26 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.
I want to share this article by Dr. Charles Stanley with you because it spoke to my heart and answered a concern I have had for some time.
Many people object to the idea of accountability because they don’t see how other people’s actions are any of their business. But the Bible insists that we in the body of Christ all have a responsibility to one another.
Paul taught that if a believer is caught in sin, the strong members of the church are to help shoulder the responsibility of that person’s sin. They are to work with the sinner to help him get back on track (see Gal. 6:;1-3). This implies that our sin is other people’s business; and conversely, their sin becomes part of our responsibility. Nowhere in Scripture are we told that our sin is something just between us and God.
A woman in our church in Miami was married for only a short time when her husband revealed his homosexuality. Soon afterwards he left her to be with his lover. She told me something I shall never forget. “After I was divorced,” she said, “several of my friends came to me and said they knew he was gay before we married. When I asked them why they didn’t say anything, they replied, ‘We didn’t think it was any of our business.'”
After hearing her story, I made up my mind never to stand by quietly and watch a friend make what I felt sure was a mistake. This resolution occasionally makes me very unpopular. People have left the church over things I have confronted them about. But when I start thinking that maybe I should keep my mouth shut, I always remember Solomon’s words, “He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue” (Prov. 28:23).
It amazes me how often people come back to me or write letters to apologize for their reaction to my warnings. More often than not, they admit that they should have listened.
Remember this, in an accountability relationship you are not responsible for how the other person responds to you. But you are responsible to tell the truth and then continue to love that person through the process.(1)
Are we willing to speak up when we see another Christian living on the brink of falling or do we use the excuse “I don’t want to upset that person” or “I’m not sure it is any of my business”?
Of course we must do all things in love, but just think of how much pain we could help our brother or sister avoid if we were willing to speak up. Besides their pain, just think how much pain we could help them avoid if we knew we could stand before the Father and say, “I listened and I was obedient.”
“Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth” (Romans 14:22, KJV).
Marilyn Willett Heavilin
Marilyn Heavilin is a wife and mother; author & international conference speaker; author of Roses In December, December’s Song, Becoming A Woman of Honor, Profound Common Sense, When Your Dreams Die, Grief Is A Family Affair, I’m Listening, Lord.
1 The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible,(c)2007, page1170.
And it came about that while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)
When I was in elementary school I had to memorize a few prayers as part of the school’s requirement. At the time, I really didn’t understand the prayers as I memorized them and stated them repetitiously. As I got older, I didn’t say them as much or at all until I needed God to help me. I knew it was a way to communicate with the Father, and God would be the only One to help me. When I accepted Christ as my Savior and began my relationship to be intimate with Him, I was grateful to have memorized the Lord’s Prayer. Then I realized how insightful the prayer was to me. The prayer acknowledges God’s sovereignty and holiness, anticipating His kingdom and will while I’m living on earth. He provides the word of life to live well. I am taught to forgive the same as I need to be forgiven. So that I may be guided out of temptation and kept safe from the evil one. Our Lord covers every part of our daily needs and His glory is forever.
The Lord’s Prayer has so much significance for my life as I learn to know more of Christ. God’s teachings are amazing. I am blessed as I walk by faith in God’s Word.
Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
Glory to God
Sandra Valdes
Staff Member – WOC Graduate
Let’s do a quick review. According to Psalm 71, Growing Old God’s Way consists of:
1. Developing a deep knowledge of God
2. Developing the godly habits of trust, praise and hope.
We left off at the habit of trust, let’s finish now with praise and hope and then wrap up this Psalm with David’s final lesson.
The habit of praise (71:6)
Praise is not a natural habit; But God wants us to be people of praise. Even when difficult times come, God wants us to learn to praise Him. Just as trust stems from knowing God, so praise stems from trusting God. This is true on the human level as well as on the divine. You can’t praise a person you don’t trust. If you feel that there is something about a person that you can’t trust, you won’t sing his praises to others. It’s the same way with God. If deep-down inside you doubt God’s goodness or faithfulness for allowing some trial to come your way, then you don’t trust Him. And in not trusting Him, you cannot honestly praise Him.
If you are a complainer and have trouble developing a habit of praise, I would suggest the same two steps I mentioned under trust: First, concentrate on getting to know God and His ways. Second, review what God has already done for you. “Count your many blessings, name them one by one.”
The habit of hope (71:14)
According to King David, God is the source of a believer’s hope. Hope is God’s gracious gift to all His people. Hope brings light in the darkness. Hope brings a strong hand, reaching down to lift us up – out of our troubles – out of our sins, and into God’s presence. According to King David, God is a believer’s Rock and Fortress. In Him, His people find a safe and secure place of refuge. In Him, they find shelter from the storm. Believers, we need to be people who have built a habit of hope by trusting in the very promises of God.
Therefore, David was in a good place in his old age because he had developed a deep knowledge of God and he had developed the godly habits of trust, praise, and hope. Finally, he sums it all up by proclaiming his motivation to keep on living.
3. He had developed a lifestyle of ministry for God.
Although the psalmist was old (71:9, 18) and could have kicked back and said, “I deserve some rest,” he did not. He still had a concern for ministry, for testifying to others of God’s faithfulness and power (71:8, 15-18, 24). As long as he had breath, he wanted to keep telling people about God’s greatness and glory.
Where in the Bible do we find the magic number 65? (For some it’s getting later and later.) If you’re freed up from your job at 65 and you’re healthy, why not view it as an opportunity to serve the Lord full-time? I know that is a convicting issue for me. I seem to have many plans of how I am going to spend my retirement, but I have to admit – serving God is not at the top of the list.
The point is – the psalmist didn’t want to be delivered from his problems so that he could read and go to the beach every day. He wanted to be delivered so that he could proclaim God’s power to the next generation (71:18). He saw a longer life as an opportunity for extended ministry. And his ministry was built on his knowledge of God and his habits of trust, praise, and hope, so he had something worth handing off!
How about you? Are you developing a lifestyle of ministry now, built on your personal walk with God?
Conclusion: God’s way for us to grow old is for us to develop a walk with Him now–a walk that involves a deep personal, experiential knowledge of God, a walk that includes the habits of trust, praise, and hope, and a walk that involves a lifestyle of ministry for God. Then, as long as we have life and breath, we can show and tell and sing of the greatness of our God to the next generation.
Lynne Jahns
Resources
“Growing Old God’s Way” Steven J. Cole, 1993.
“A Life Well Lived” Terry DeFoe, 2010.
“The Old Man’s Sermon” C.H. Spurgeon, 1875.
Yesterday we saw that David showed us how He was a man of spiritual depth and knowledge regarding His God. Today we continue with the second characteristic of a life lived God’s way.
2. We need to develop the godly habits of trust, praise, and hope.
A habit is developed by frequent repetition over a period of time. Once it’s in place, a habit becomes almost involuntary. Our attitudes, how we respond mentally and emotionally to life’s problems, tend to become habitual responses. Some people become habitual worriers, some become habitual complainers, some become habitually negative, pessimistic, and angry, while others become habitually cheerful and positive.
The habits we develop in our younger years tend to take us further in that direction as we grow older.
A little Hebrew word repeated in verses 3, 6, and 14, translated “continually” (“always,” NASB; “ever,” NIV) tips us off to the habits the psalmist had developed. They are not habits we pick up naturally. They must be deliberately developed. And each habit stems from his knowledge of God. They are the habits of trust (71:3), praise (71:6), and hope (71:14).
The habit of trust (71:3).
The whole psalm is an affirmation of the psalmist’s trust in the Lord. Spurgeon calls it “the utterance of struggling, but un-staggering, faith” (Treasury of David, 3:294). He was struggling because he was in difficult circumstances, with many seeking his life; but he was un-staggering in his faith because he knew whom he believed.
Because the psalmist knew God, he had learned to trust God through some other tough times (71:20), and he knew therefore that God would see him through this time. So in this instance when he needed to trust in God, it was not a matter of, God, if you exist, if you’re out there I need your help! He didn’t need to take a blind leap of faith because he knew his God in a personal, practical, proven way.
Are you developing a habit of trusting God in the difficult times of your life? Or are you frequently filled with worry and doubt and fear?
If you have trouble trusting, concentrate on getting to know God. Also, review what God has already done for you. There is a tremendous emphasis in the psalm on what God has done and that strengthened David’s faith! Has God ever preserved your life? Has He saved you from your sins? Has He sustained you this far? Then you, like David, can trust Him for your present problems and for any which come in the future.
Lynne Jahns
Resources:
“Growing Old God’s Way” Steven J. Cole, 1993.
“A Life Well Lived” Terry DeFoe, 2010.
“The Old Man’s Sermon” C.H. Spurgeon, 1875.
“Treasury of David” C.H. Spurgeon, 1885
Victory Call 