A Life Worthy

Tag: Psalm 71

  • One-a-Day Thursday, 9/18/14

    number 1Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things.  Who, O God, is like you?  (Psalm 71:19).

    My name is Michael, in case you didn’t know.

    The name Michael means, “Who is like God?”

    I gotta admit, when I was a kid I thought the name was a statement, “One who is like God.”  It did wonders for my ego.  When I found out it was actually a question, it took me down a peg or five.

    But really—how cool is that? Every day, all the time, my own name reminds me that there is no one greater, no one stronger, no one with more authority over this universe than the One who loves me.

    The One, by the way, who loves you.

    Remember that as you head into your Thursday.

    Walk in confidence, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Wednesday, 9/17/14

    number 1Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.  Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come (Psalm 71:17-18).

    A life spent with him.

    Do you remember when you first came to Christ?  I was nineteen years old, and for the first time everything made sense.  I read my Bible cover to cover within the first month of being saved. I felt a freedom and a strength I had never known.  I was off on an adventure, and I was coming home—all at the same time.

    Twenty-many years later, I see the power of his love working in and through me.  I’m not yet the man I want to be, but I have learned the wisdom of Popeye—I yam what I yam, and his grace has not been without effect.

    The day is coming when the salt will outweigh the pepper.  My body will be old, though I will probably still act like a ten-year-old and make my daughter roll her eyes.  I trust that God will hold me tight even then.  I will get to look back on a life lived with him, and I will pass the torch to my children and theirs knowing that the One who has been faithful to me will continue to work long after he has taken me home.

    Kinda cool, when you think about it.  Sorta gives perspective.

    It’s Wednesday, Beloved.

    Enjoy the journey.

  • One-a-Day Tuesday, 9/16/14

    number 1My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.  I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. (Psalm 71:15-16).

    Do you talk about him?

    I know that you love him, you trust him, you worship him.

    But do you talk about him?

    Considering all that he has done for me—you know, forming me in the womb, providing my every breath, saving my soul—it would make sense that I talk about him every day, all the time, to everyone I meet.

    But I don’t.

    Oh, I talk about him to other Christians, telling them, “How God is working in my life,” because that is safe and expected and makes me look good.  But the nonbeliever, the one who desperately needs to know that there is a God who is real and true and faithful and at work in everyday schmoes like me?

    I am often remarkably silent.

    Why?  No good reason.

    Partly I don’t want to make them uncomfortable, which is silly.  After all, if they don’t know Christ, they need to be uncomfortable.

    Partly I don’t want them to think I’m a fool, which is just too pathetic to talk about on a Tuesday morning.

    Partly—and this scares me the most—sometimes God simply does not come to mind.  I am so wrapped up in my daily world that…

    Yeah.

    I really hope I’m alone in this.  I hope you have no idea what I’m talking about, because you’re out there proclaiming Christ every day, all the time.  I hope you never let your foolish flesh get in the way of God’s work through you.

    That is my hope for you today, Beloved.

    And my prayer.

  • One-a-Day Monday, 9/15/14

    number 1

     

    But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more (Psalm 71:14).

    I bought a car yesterday.

    No, not because I wanted to.  I bought it—or rather, I began the multi-year process of buying it—because Coco Puff, our faithful minivan of many years and many miles, finally vroomed her last vroom.

    Those of you paying attention to such things will note that this is the second car that has died on me in the last three months.  Add to that the dishwasher and the stove, and a picture emerges.

    This guy’s infrastructure is falling apart.

    Now, this is the part where I tell you that I’m not stressed by any of this, because God is my hope and I trust him completely and so should you.  This is the part where you look at your own circumstances, which may well be more difficult than mine, and take encouragement and strength from my bold proclamation of faith.

    Except I am stressed.  Sorry about that.

    Don’t get me wrong.  My faith isn’t crumbling over some financial difficulties.  I trust him; I know he has me in the palm of his hand, and not because he is in the process of crushing me.

    Still, some days that, “I will praise you more and more” part is a real act of will, you know what I mean?

    Yeah, I’m thinking you do.

    So, today I will exercise my flabby will.  I will choose to rejoice in him.  I will choose to remember the many ways he has shown his faithfulness in the past.  I will choose to trust him today.  I will lift tired hands and heavy heart and praise him, because he is worth it.

    Because…he is worth it.

    Care to join me, Beloved?

  • One-a-Day Friday, 9/12/14

    number 1For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth (Psalm 71:5).

    Think about it.

    It doesn’t say, “You have given me hope.”

    Or “You give me reason to hope.”

    It says, “You have been my hope.”

    God himself is our hope.  He is our confidence.

    I gotta tell you…I’m not even sure what that means, but this passage seems to be not about what God does, but about who he is.

    I’ve been walking, stumbling, slipping, and striding with Christ for twenty-seven years now.  I can’t count the number of times he has been hope and confidence and joy and strength and peace for me, when there was no earthly reason I should have any of those things.

    I can’t count the number of times…but it’s fun to try.

    As you head into your weekend, consider the times that God has supported you, not just with his gifts, but by his very nature.  And praise him, not just for what he does, but for who he is.

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Thursday, 9/11/14

    number 1Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men (Psalm 71:4).

    Thirteen years.

    Thirteen years since “Nine-One-One” became “Nine-Eleven.”

    Thirteen years since we awakened to fire and smoke and terror and grief.

    Thirteen years since the hand of the wicked reached out to strike at our nation.

    It was a horrific reminder that there is evil in this world.  Evil will always attack the innocent.  Evil will always set itself against the people of God.

    And yet, you didn’t really need the reminder, did you?  You’ve known the attack of evil—maybe not on so grand a scale, but you’ve known it.

    And you will again.

    It comes with the territory.  It’s part of the package of being His, of living for Christ in this world.

    And so is deliverance.

    As surely as the sun rose this morning.

    As surely as the Son rose long ago.

    God will not let evil win.  Not in this world.  Not in your life.

    So as you remember 911 today, as you see the proud flags and hear the lofty speeches, remember your own personal 911’s, and how God has brought you through them.

    And trust that he will again.

    Walk in remembrance today, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Wednesday, 9/10/14

    number 1Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress (Psalm 71:3).

    My hope is built on nothing less

    Than Jesus’ love and righteousness.

    I dare not trust the sweetest frame 

    But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

    On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.

    All other ground is sinking sand.

    All other ground is sinking sand.

    Yep.  Stole that one.  But hey, why reinvent the wheel?

    Or the Rock?

    It’s Wednesday, Beloved.  Hold on tight.

  • One-a-Day Tuesday, 9/9/14

    number 1In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1).

    Some days he calls me to stand firm, armor gleaming and sword sharp, and do battle in his name.

    Some days he calls me to hide myself in him, to pull his protection over me like a child hiding under the blankets, and let him do all the fighting.

    Why the difference?  I don’t know for sure.

    I do know that if I stood tall all the time, I would probably start thinking that I was doing it on my own.

    I’m foolish that way.

    So, today I am reminded that there are things out there, both physical and spiritual, that are too big, too strong, too much for me.

    But not for the One who loves me.  Not for the One who rescues me.

    Beloved, you can’t be strong every day.

    And that’s OK.  He doesn’t call you to be strong every day.

    He just calls you to be his every day.

    Happy Tuesday, Beloved.