Date: Thursday, June 19, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 60-66
Message Title: Stop And Think About It

Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do as a Christian is to take God's advice about something that we know in our heart has to be right. The truth is, if we actually look beyond our heart and mind we will come to the conclusion that God was right all along, and we would save ourselves a lot of heartache. While we may never understand why God puts things in our path to begin with, we can understand that He knows the best way to handle them. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

The word Selah means to pause, to stop and think about it, ponder something that has been said. Have you ever said something that you had to stop and think about for a while? David often pondered the things he said about God. David always seemed to be at war, as he is in the midst of another battle, he ponders God's displeasure with them. “O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” - Psalm 60:1-4,12.

If you stop and think about it, the hardships of life are what make or break us, for the most part, they straighten us out, teach us, and grow us into the God fearing people God has intended for us to be. Over the years I have noticed that the majority of the time, those who allow their hardships to break them do so because they never stop to think about the consequences of their actions to begin with. Once they come, they do not know how to deal with them so they run instead of facing them. No one wants to go through hardships, but no one escapes them, and if we just mask them all we do is make them bigger. God will help us through our hardships, but we must be willing to come to Him, as much as He loves us, He is not going to help us unless tell Him that we need Him. “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.” - Psalm 61:1-5.

After all the David went through, you could imagine that he would have gotten discouraged sometimes, in fact, it was quite often. David ponders waiting on God, and encourages himself to keep waiting, even though things looked hopeless. “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” - Psalm 62:1-5,8.

If you stop and think about it, it is the devil that puts all those lies in our head that God will not get us through our hardships. It is quite normal to want to handle things the best we can, but there does come a time when we simply cannot do it on our own and need God's help. We must trust Him and His decisions, as much as we may never understand His concept in handling things a certain way, He knows what is best, if we just wait a little longer we will be blessed through our hardships. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28.

While David spends time in the wilderness, trying to keep his son from bloodshed in Judah, he ponders how God helps him day and night. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.” - Psalm 63:1-7.

I have this huge sign on my desk that says, “Ask God!!!!”. Sadly, I have to admit that I do not ask God's advice as much as I need to be. I too know that I wouldn't go through so much heartache if I just listened to God in the first place. My best days are when I get so overwhelmed with things that I begin griping to God, it is then that He reminds me that I have not, because I ask not the right things. If we truly want God's blessings, we must seek God first, and ask according to His Word. If the things we seek go against Scripture, we can be sure that it is not God telling us that it is okay, it's the devil, he wants to get us away from trusting God's advice. It's never too late, God is right there, we just need to humble ourselves before Him and listen.

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:2-4,7-10.

Today's Prayer: God, I know that I have been struggling with hearing You through my hardship, my heart wants to go one way and You want me to go another. I have finally discovered that You will mend a broken heart in time, and that You are mending mine. Thank You for loving me and not giving up on me, and giving me a new heart. You know what is best, and I have to accept that Your ways are best for me. Lord, I do want to live by Your Word and please You, give me Your power, wisdom, and guidance to resist the temptation to do things my way, and help me to endure my hardships by seeking You morning, noon, and night. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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