Rejoice and be glad!

“May those who seek you, rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for saving help always say, ‘The Lord is great!’”  Psalm 70:4.

I’ve been sliding along in a bit of a rut the last couple of days.

That seems to happen when things don’t go the way I want them to.

This verse is an “awakener” for me.

If I am not rejoicing and glad, then something is amiss in my life.

I am told to weep with those who weep.  Otherwise, I have no reason to be glum.  And that’s what I’ve been lately.

I have God in my life.  I belong to Him, yet I’m glum.  How can those two things possibly go together?  They can’t!

If I have God in charge, then I know that ALL things work together for good.  Not some.

I was thinking about the common phrase; God has never failed me yet.  Of course He has!  Say what?  When I set up standards FOR God, I will be disappointed.  What I want, and what He knows is best, can easily be two different things.

I want Photoshop Elements 13 to work perfectly.  It hasn’t been.  That bothers me, and I reflect that discontent in other ways.  Wait a minute.  If I’m letting God run my life and something doesn’t work, I must not surrender the rejoicing and being glad part of my life.  I still have Him.  I can call on Him and rejoice and be glad knowing He is with me.

How can God get my attention?  Do I need lightning!  If something doesn’t work, there is much to rejoice and be glad in.  Huh?  Maybe God wants to move me away from what I was spending so much time doing.  Maybe He wants me to practice patience.  Maybe He wants me to appreciate His Presence in all seasons.  Maybe He wants me to seek help.

However, when I started out reacting poorly, the other possibilities were lost……….until I “ran” across Psalm 70:4.  “May all who seek You (that’s me) rejoice and be glad (no matter what the circumstances) in You.”

God is in charge.  Will I behave accordingly in all seasons?  That is a good question for me.

Conclusion: I must live as if God is in charge…..because He is.  Rejoicing (in Him) and being glad (because of Him) must impact all my behavior.

How do you see yourself?

“But as for me, I am poor and needy;” Psalm 70:5.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: Ezekiel 15-16, Psalm 70, and Revelation 6.

How do we see ourselves?

At times, we see ourselves as really having it together.

Other times we are at wit’s end.

In God’s sight, I will always be poor and needy.  The sooner I realize that status the more likely I will turn to Him.

What do I have that God didn’t give me?  I started with nothing.  Everything I have is a gift from Him.

I will always be needy.  I wouldn’t last a second if His grace didn’t allow me to exist.  When I stop needing God, I must have created counterfeit gods to replace Him.

My strength comes from Him.  That thought is so often repeated in the Psalms…….and I need to repeat it as well.  My day must start with the realization that I am totally dependent on Him.  The day must continue with frequent admissions by me that dependence on Him is the only way I can live.

Jesus’s harshest words were for those dependent on themselves.

Jesus’s appeals were most often received by the needy.  Those folks realized their actual condition (poor and needy) and acted accordingly by turning to Jesus.

“Lord, I need You every second.  I can function without You but NEVER want to.  Your Ways are the best ways.  I love You, Lord.  I want You in control of every part of my life.  Take me over, I beg.”

We are poor and needy whether we realize it or not.

Rejoice in Him

“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, ‘Let God be exalted!’ “  Psalm 70:4

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 15-16 & Psalm 70 & Revelation 6)

There is excitement in being a believer.

God has provided a way for me to spend my after-life with Him.

The ailments of this world will vanish when God creates heaven on earth.

I must be vocal about what He has done for me.  I must never be ashamed of Him.

I have so much to be thankful for.  I must open my eyes and ears to the blessing basics: I have food, a place to stay, transportation, etc..

I have so much to learn about Him.  The more I study, the more I realize how little I actually know.  I need to have a thirst to chase down meaning in Scripture……what is He trying to tell me?

“Lord, I thank You for all You’ve done for me.  I exalt You above any other.  I cling to You as a needy person.  You have the answers.  Thank You for caring about me.”

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