October 31 - Dwelling with the Lord

One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

An unlikely pair, Jimmy from the more affluent side of town and Johnny from the poorer neighborhood, yet they became best friends in first grade.  Pals to the end, they liked to spend lots of time together during recess. Jimmy did go to Johnny’s house to play once.   Rundown, in need of some maintenance and very tight on space, it was different from Jimmy’s well-kept, sprawling house.  Jimmy’s house was a fun place with a loving mom and dad.  Johnny only had his mom and she often seemed so overwhelmed by taking care of Johnny and his siblings that there was not a lot of joy.

On one of his visits to Jimmy’s house, Johnny told Jimmy’s mom that he wanted to live with them.  She asked him if it was because of the nice house, the large yard, the pool and the seemingly endless supply of toys. Johnny shook his head, saying, “no, I just like to be with your family and enjoy watching you all be together.”
 

When you think about dwelling in the house of the Lord, do you consider only your comfort, what can be gained from being in His house all the days of your life?  We get caught up in thinking only of what God can do for us, of the comfort that can be gained by living daily in His presence.  Yet, all He desires is for us to enjoy His presence, take in His beauty and seek His face.  Is your motivation for seeking the Lord tied to your desire for comfort or are you willing to give up all that you know to dwell with the Lord in order to enjoy His presence?  My prayer is that it is the latter, that you may enjoy the beauty of the One who created you as you daily seek Him.

October 30 - Confidence

When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

Psalm 27: 2-3

Thought for Today: There is a story about a business executive who was about to lose his business due to debt.  One day, he met an old man who asked him what was troubling him.  He told the old man his woes and the old man offered to help by writing him a check, telling him to meet him back there in one year to repay him. After the old man left, the executive looked at the check for $500,000 signed by John D. Rockefeller.  Rather than use the money to pay his bills, the executive placed the uncashed check in a safe.  Over the course of the year, he was able to make many business deals knowing that he had the check sitting in the safe to back him up.  Consequently, he turned his business around.  The day came to meet the old man.  As he was about to tell him about how he had turned his business around, a nurse came up to the old man saying, "oh, there you are. I'm glad I found you."  Turning to the executive, she said, "he likes to go around telling people that he is John D. Rockefeller."  The executive was stunned.  A worthless, uncashed check from a madman had changed his entire life.

We have an uncashed check sitting in a safe, not worthless and not from a madman but from our God Himself.  By accepting our Lord's free gift of salvation, we have no need to fear, no need to doubt. We can rest peacefully in His truth and His promises to us. As David wrote in the snippet of Psalm 27 above, we can be confident in the truth that the Lord is our light and salvation.  As you go about your day today, will you be confident in yourself, your friends and family, your wealth?  Or, will your confidence be in the unseen God who will sustain and provide, regardless of the circumstances?

October 28 - Fear

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: For 28 years, Shohoiya Yokowai lived in a prison, not one of bars, locks and guards.  His was a prison of fear, for he was a Japanese soldier on the island of Guam during World War II, afraid of being captured by the American forces who had invaded the island.  When he had learned of the invasion, he fled to the jungle, living in a cave and only coming out at night to forage for food.  He finally was convinced that the war was over by some natives and came out of hiding.

How sad, to waste 28 years of a life hiding in fear from an enemy who had long departed.  Yet, so many of us live in fear, whether it be fear of failure, fear of rejection or a multitude of other fears.  Many of these fears are caused by things that happened so long ago and have departed from us.  My question to you today is what frightens you?  Can you take the Lord at face value today, trusting that what He says in His word is true?  If so, then will you trust Him today to be the strength of your life and cast all of your fears upon Him?  Trust Him today, for He is the only strength that you ever need.

October 27 - Doing the Right Thing

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

Psalm 25: 21 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: A chief executive was soon to retire.  He wanted to pick a successor, so he gave each of his junior executives a seed, telling them to plant it and bring back the plant in one year. He would then pick his successor.  Everyone talked over the ensuing weeks about the plants that they were growing; all but one man, who watered his plant dutifully but did not see anything grow.  The day arrived when the new chief executive would be picked.  Everyone brought in beautiful plants, except for this one man.  The chief executive looked around the room and marveled at the plants.  Then, his eyes fell upon the pot of soil with no plant and the nervous man next to it.  The chief executive announced to everyone that he would be the next CEO.  He then told the group that he had given all of them boiled seeds that could not possibly grow into a plant.  All, seeing that nothing was growing, had substituted another seed for the original one, except for the one who persevered in spite of not seeing results.

So often we are tempted to not do the right thing, to take shortcuts, to cheat.  We think that no one will notice, it really does not matter, everyone else does it.  Our seemingly innocuous indiscretions do impact us, even if we don't get caught and face earthly consequences.  Think of all the young executives in the story above who staked everything in something that was a lie.  Conversely, think of the one young executive who did the right thing. His integrity won out. 

When I meet Jesus face to face someday, I want Him to know me by my integrity, that He would have preserved me, that I would have held on to His truth and been upright in a deceitful age.  What about you?  Are you living a life in hopeful wait for our Savior, with integrity as your hallmark?   Or, are you placing all of your hope on the things of this world, regardless of what it takes to attain them?  I pray that it is the former, that you may know the joy of choosing to be His servant.

October 26 - Unashamed

Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

Psalm 25:20 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves a tale in The Scarlet Letter of Hester Prynne and all that unfolds as the result of her adulterous relationship. At one point in the story, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet 'A' and is marched through town, to be shamed in front of the entire community.

We all wear a scarlet letter of some kind, whether we care to admit it or not.  All of us have sinned and fall short of God's glory.  Yet, by trusting wholly in Jesus, we can be delivered, unashamedly living free.   What things in your life cause you shame?   He who is willing to deliver you will keep your soul if you are willing to just trust Him.  Will you give your guilt and shame over to the Lord today in complete surrender?

October 25 - Victory

Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
 Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.

Psalm 25:18-19 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: The  Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 was nearly lost due to the late arrival of one ship.  Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry was able to turn the battle around once the second ship arrived.  Upon winning the battle, he sent word ashore to General William Henry Harrison reporting, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."

We face many enemies on this journey of life.  Sometimes, these enemies are external.  The more devastating are the internal ones: doubt, fear, addiction and pain.  Yet, we have assurance that through Jesus all of our enemies can be ours, we can have the victory.  What enemies do you face today?  Don't wait until it is almost too late for help to arrive, for He is only one prayer away.

October 24 - Mercy to Pull You from the Pit

Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!

Psalm 25: 16,17 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: One of the roots of the word distress is the Latin word districtus, which is the past participle of distringere, to draw apart, hinder.   When we are distressed, we are often divided, drawn apart.  Have you ever been in a situation where things just seem to be getting worse in spite of your best efforts?  This happens to me with plumbing projects, although I have now given these up under the advice of my wife, after causing a minor flood in our kitchen.

In this portion of Psalm 25, we see David crying out to God in affliction, feeling desolate.  Perhaps today you feel drawn apart, not knowing which way to go, feeling like you are falling down a deeper and deeper pit.  This hole could be of your own volition or through no fault of your own.  Remember, it is not the depth of the pit that you are in that matters.  Rather, it is the length of the arms of mercy that can pull you out, if you just ask Him.  Won't you cry out to the Lord today?   He will hear and reach down into the depth of your despair to bring you out into the light of His love.   

October 23 - God, our rescuer

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalm 25:15 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: One night, my youngest daughter, who was about one at the time, was crying quite a bit in her crib.  When I went to check what was wrong, I quickly noticed that her leg was caught underneath a railing in the crib.  The look on her face was one of fear and of trust; fear of what was happening and the pain, utter trust in me that I would be able to free her.  Yet, until I could calm her and stop her from trying to free herself, I could not free her leg.

In the same way, we often are fearfully thrashing about trying to solve our own problems, seeking relief from our pain, perhaps trying to reverse mistakes that we have made. If we can just stop thrashing and look toward the Lord, He will indeed deliver.  What do you need deliverance from today?  Look to Him today and always, for our God is our provider and deliverer.

October 22 - Forgiven and Free!

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Psalm 25: 10-11 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: We see a stark contrast in these verses; on the one hand, all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, on the other, David is asking for pardon.  Perhaps there is an indication of regret here for past iniquities.  

We often regret mistakes of the past, fearing that in some way we will pay for these mistakes.  God cannot look on our iniquities, because He is perfect.  Yet, He found the perfect way to forgive us, through the gift of His Son Jesus.  Father God can only see the perfection of Jesus when He looks on us, because of His great mercy towards us.

Do you have some things in your past that you regret?  Have you received God's free gift of salvation and forgiveness through belief in Jesus?  If you have, then those regrets have been forgiven, forgotten and cast as far as the east is from the west.  Rest in that assurance today, you are forgiven and you are free in Jesus.

October 21 - Humility

Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

Psalm 25:8-9 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: What does it mean to be humble?  Perhaps images come to mind of one who puts others before himself.  Maybe a particular individual comes to mind.  In this psalm, David makes a correlation between learning the Lord's ways and humility.  The humble He teaches His way.  So, then, perhaps being humble means getting outside of ourselves enough to realize that we are nothing except for who we are in Jesus.  True humility is utter abandon to God.
Do you want to know the ways of the Lord?  Ask Him today to help you to be humble before Him, that you may know Him in a deeper way.

October 20 - Merciful God

Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses,
For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

Psalm 25:6-7 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: Have you ever been deeply hurt by someone and chosen to walk away from the relationship?  In our humanness, we don't want to leave ourselves open for further hurt and we forsake the relationship.   God does no such thing.  When we are at our lowest, He reaches out to us in love.  In this portion of Psalm 25, we read of David's plea to the Lord to not remember his past transgressions, but to show him mercy.

Are there things in your past that you feel would cause the Lord to not love you? Know that, if you have received Him as your Lord and Savior, you have been forgiven and are forever in a right relationship with the Heavenly Father.  The choice is yours today: accept His mercy and forgiveness or dwell on the not so nice things in your life that you feel are outside of His mercy.  Which will you choose?

October 19 - On Waiting

Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5

Thought for today: We live in a society where waiting does not seem to be an option.  Everything is instant from gratification to groceries.  I teach at a college and find that students want to learn things instantly. Yet, in this psalm we see David indicating that He waits on the Lord all day long. This waiting is tied to being shown by God His ways. Perhaps, the more we wait on the Lord, seeking His face in prayer, the more we shall become like Him.  This day, may we all endeavor to slow down, waiting on the Lord and seeking to learn all of His ways.

October 18 - Lift Up Your Soul

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 25:1-2 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: David indicates in the opening verses of this psalm that there is a direct connection between lifting one's soul to the Lord and having victory over one's enemies.  What does it mean to lift one's soul to the Lord?  It seems that all we have to lift to Him on the level of the soul is prayer.  When we pray, we experience victory.  When we pray, our difficult circumstances, what we might call our enemies, cannot overcome us.  Are you facing something in your life that you are afraid will triumph over you? The only answer is to lift up your soul to God in prayer.  In Him will be the victory.

October 17 - Dry Places

The poor and needy seek water, but there is none,
Their tongues fail for thirst.
I, the Lord, will hear them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open rivers in desolate heights,
And fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water.
Isaiah 41:17,18 (NKJV)

Thought for today: A while ago I was hospitalized for a week, unable to take anything by mouth.  How the days and nights of thirst seemed to drag on forever until that magical day when I could have my first sip of water.  Nothing seemed to have ever tasted so good!

Perhaps you are going through a dry spell in your life.  Days and nights of despair seem to drag on without an end in sight.  Yet, the same God who promised deliverance for His people long ago also promises the same to us today.  We have to trust that He will indeed turn the dry places of our lives into wonderful pools of water, from which will flow praises to Him.  Can you give that dry place to Him today, trusting that He will indeed turn your circumstances into something beautiful?

October 16 - Do not be dismayed

But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 41: 8-10 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: Do you feel dismayed by your circumstances?  The word dismay can be traced to the common Latin word exmagare, which means divest of power or ability.  So often, we can feel powerless in our circumstances, unable to fix things.  We can only come to a true place of strength and of peace when we realize that our job is not to fix the things in our lives that are not right.  Our job is to trust the One who calls us to be His, relying fully upon Him to sustain us.  He knows your circumstances, He knows your pain.  Will you give those to Him today in complete surrender, trusting in Him alone?

October 15 - The beginning and the end

Who has performed and done it,
Calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am the first;
And with the last I am He.
Isaiah 41:4 (NKJV)

Thought for today: It is amazing to me that the one who is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, cares for me.  Since He who is the beginning and the end knows my beginning and my end, the span of my days, how could I possibly worry about where life will lead?  Isaiah 46:10 tells us that God knew the end from the beginning. He has ordained all things in your life.  Can you trust Him today and let Him lead you on an incredible journey fully relying upon Him for all that you ever need?

October 14 - Waiting

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV)

Thought for today: Do you feel today that you have no strength?  Perhaps you are dealing with some difficult circumstances in your life, perhaps you just are overextended and feel worn out.  Waiting seems to contradict my idea of fixing a lack of strength.  When I feel weak, I often try to gain strength back by just pushing on harder.  Yet, perhaps the secret is to slow down and wait on the Lord.  If we can look at things from His perspective, we will indeed soon see strength in our weakness.  This day, let's choose to wait in anticipation of all that God can do in the midst of the most disquieting circumstances. He cares so much for each one of us that He will indeed give us all the strength that we need each day.