2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT) So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

I am struck by this verse this morning for some reason. Paul simply asks that God would give us the power to accomplish what our faith is prompting us to do.  As I’m writing this I’m thinking about of all the things that I have been prompted to do “by faith” over my years.  I’m thinking about the wonderful blessings and successes of the Lord. But I’m also thinking of some of the failures and disappointments.  Was I not moving in God’s will?  Did I not have enough faith?  Should I have “pushed” a little harder or perhaps a little longer?  I have also been talking to myself about the future and what horizons that God still wants me to attain.  I sincerely don’t want to fall short of what God wants me to accomplish.  I guess it simply comes back to what Paul is praying in this verse – that “he (God) would give me the power to accomplish all the good things that your (my) faith prompts you (me) to do.”  I need his power for without Him I can do nothing.

Psalms 30:11-12 (NCV) ^30:11 You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness. ¹² I will sing to you and not be silent. LORD, my God, I will praise you forever.

There is a song that we sing a lot called “I Am So Amazed By You.”  Every time I sing it I get kind of choked up because that is truly how I feel.  I am so amazed of what God has done in my life.  He turned my life of sadness and sorrow and turned it into joy.  I am a joyful person because of God’s grace and mercy.  I will forever continue to praise Him for all that He has done and continues to do.  I saw something that caught my eye.  It said, “Work as if you don’t need the money.  Love as if you’ve never been hurt.  Dance as if no one is watching.”  So if you see me dancing today – don’t shake your heads in disgust but just smile with me that I’m basking in the love of my Savior and remembering all that He has done for me.

Psalms 55:6-7 (NLT) ^55:6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! ⁷ I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

Not all went in a good way for King David.  It seemed that he was also dealing with people who didn’t like him on every front.  By his own admission – it wasn’t the outside enemies that bothered him but those who we’re close to him that turned from him.  At times, he just wanted to have wings like a dove to fly away and rest.  He wanted to run to the quiet of the wilderness and not have deal with it anymore.  It’s interesting to read the Psalms because you see how David’s mind worked.  On one hand – you will see the situation and David’s frustration.  On the other hand, he declares his trust in God almighty.  He vacillated between the two but ultimately reminding himself that God would take him completely through and would travail.  There is the tendency for all of us to want to run away from things but when our senses kick in – we know that we have to face the giants before us and that we need to depend upon God to be with us.  It’s alright to feel like David – wanting to run and hide but it’s important most of all to trust fully in God and His grace to take you through whatever is before you.  God’s promises are true and you can trust that He is not going to leave or forsake you.

Psalms 56:3-4 (NLT) ^56:3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. ⁴ I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

There are times when all of us deal with fear in some form or another.  For some, it is much deeper and stronger then for others.  Either way, it hinders and hampers our lives.  Instead of living boldly, we live cautiously, timidly, and with lots of restraints.  It holds us back from really doing what God wants us to do.  David felt fear often as he was being hunted down by ruthless men who wanted him dead.  He acknowledges this issue of fear by admitting it and showing his need to “just trust God.”  We all have to remember that God is with us.  He is greater then any person or situation that would come our way.  He is able to dispel all fears and He is fully able to take of whatever is before us.  We need to trust in God and His promises and realize that there is no person alive that can thwart the promises of God in our lives.

2 Samuel 11:27 (NLT) … But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.

It is easy to get caught up in all the platitudes and accomplishments of David’s life.  We would all like to do half of what he did during his lifetime.  His writings of the Psalms have impacted multitudes of people over the centuries.  But there is this one mark of sin that has forever tarnished the journals of his life.  It is his adulterous sin with Bathsheba and his corresponding sin of murder with her husband Uriah.  The scriptures are clear that God is not pleased with David’s choices by saying that the LORD was displeased with what David had done.  It is sad that David’s repentance didn’t come until he was confronted by the prophet Nathan in regards to his sin.  Psalm 51 records David’s plea for repentance by recording in v.4 … Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. In v.10 David prays for God’s cleansing upon his life.  We know God forgave him (Praise God for that) but this will forever be a mark upon David’s life.  I know that I’ve failed often and I know immediately when I’ve displeased the Lord.  It weighs heavy on my heart.  When sin happens in my life (and it will) I need to immediately deal with it and repent so that I can be in right relationship with my heavenly Father.  Thank God for His mercy and grace in my life.

Psalms 20:1-5 (NLT) ^20:1 In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. ² May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. ³ May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude ⁴ May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. ⁵ May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.

Every one experiences times of trouble in their lives.  At those time – it is sometimes hard to know how to pray and how to react.  David wrote this Psalm during a difficult season in his life.  Notice his plea:

In Times Of Trouble…

1-    May the Lord answer your cry

2-    May God’s name keep you safe

3-    May God send you help

4-    May God strengthen you

5-    May God give you the needed gifts

6-    May God look favorably on you

7-    May God grant your hearts desires

8-    May God make you successful

9-    May others shout for joy when they hear of your victory

10-  May God answer ALL your prayers

Perhaps it would be important for us to meditate on this today – knowing that God so wants to help us in our times of trouble and He so wants us to walk in the totality of His blessings.

Psalms 31:19-20 (NLT) ^31:19 How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. ²⁰ You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Every one needs a safe place – away from all the troubles life brings us.  It’s one thing to say that we trust God.  It’s another to believe that He is actually going to do what He says.  Our eyes see the bad in situations and in people.  We don’t see God’s provision and blessing that God promises to His children.  The world can be very harsh at times.  It can drain you of your physical and spiritual energy.  We need to realize that God wants to “hide” us in His presence – away from those who would try to harm and accuse you.  Our hearts should be like David – “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.”

1 Samuel 17:45-51 (NLT) ^17:45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” ⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. ⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. ⁵¹ Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. Israel Routs the Philistines When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.

Goliath had been taunting the Israeli army for a long time.  No one seemed confident enough to take him on in battle.  David didn’t see it that way.  He knew his God and he knew what his God had done for him in the past.  Brazenly he took Goliath on knowing that it wasn’t with his strength that he battled him but with the strength of the Lord.  David relied on that and God gave him a great victory over Goliath.  I wonder how often we try to fight our battles on our own strength and how often we move into enemy territory without the strength or hand of the Lord.  Every battle that we face, whether big or small, needs to rely on the strength of the Lord.  It is only then that our battle will be complete and victorious.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

I have to admit that I’m guilty in regards to this.  I have often judged people before getting to know them.  I think that over the years I’ve gotten better at not doing this but I still slip every once in a while.  It’s disgusting.  It’s shameful.  I don’t want people doing that to me and I don’t want to do it to others.  I’m so glad that God sees beyond that and sees us through His eyes and not my own.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who love me just for who I am and I want to do the same for others.  There are so many awesome people that have such good and huge hearts.  It’s not about the appearance – contrary to worldly standards.  It’s about the heart that is right with God and loving toward others.  I want that heart in my life and I want to develop that heart toward others.

2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NLT) ^13:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet each other with Christian love. ¹³ All of God’s people here send you their greetings. ¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

What would you say to someone knowing that it would be your last words to them?  We might say, “Hang in there” or “Good Luck” or “I’m praying for you,” etc.  Those are all good but notice what Paul tells the Corinthians:1- Choose Joy 2- Keep growing 3- Be an encourager 4- Live in peace.  In doing these things he gives a promise that the God of love and peace would be with them.  We all make choices in our lives whether good or bad.  It’s interesting though that Paul tells us that Joy is a choice that we make for ourselves. Life might be hard or perhaps life has thrown you a lot of curves.  Choose joy.  Decide to keep growing in the Lord.  Keep giving of yourself to others.  Make it your highest priority to live in peace.  Finally – Paul says… “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”