Delight ourselves in the Lord

In Psalm 37,  David describes the man that puts his full trust in God. Psalm 37:3-7, gives us a depiction of this kind of person.   This type of person exemplifies a life of faithfulness.  Also,  they  commit their way to God and he gives them the desires of their heart.   Another important aspect of this type of person is that a by product of their trust in God is fruitful righteousness in God.    Lastly,  this specific type of person is one that constantly waits on God for his leading in their life. 
Psalm 37:11 describes verse three in more detail describing those that are humble will inherit the land.    David says in verse 11, "But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity."  This verse gives us some context in relating back to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:5.    This Beatitude says "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."  Matthew 5:5 describes those that are like this are blessed. 
In the middle of this Psalm, David relates relates back to his earlier message of delighting yourself in the Lord in when he describes our steps being established by God being a by product of this process.  This verse makes it clear that when we are resting in who God is then he is leading us where he wants us to go.    The proceeding verse in verse 34 makes it clear that when we are resting in God, that he will sustain us in any situation.    David reminds us in verse 34, "When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the one who holds his hand."  God's omnipresence is with us leading and guiding us in all circumstances in life. 
Lastly,  David uses verse 34 as a reflection on verse seven in describing the process on waiting on God.    The first part of verse 34 says "Wait for the Lord and keep his way," while verse seven says "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him."  Both of these verses are passive when they describe us to rest and wait patiently.    This waiting for the Lord that David describes is a daily process in our lives.   When we consistently waiting on God and his leading, he will provide for us. 
Are you trusting in God and delighting in in him today?
How can you consistently waiting on God and his leading?
What will he give us when we do wait on him?

Problems in our society

The main problems in our society stem from the fact that we do not fear God and we need true revival in our country.  We as believers need to revere God and his glory. Proverbs 1:7 says, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction."   When we get away from fearing God and his glory, it leads to sins such as racism, abortion, etc.    Turning our minds and hearts away from God, leads to self gratification and sin.
Also it's important we as believers truly repent of our sins and unite together for true revival.   God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if my  people, who are called by my name,  will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land."   Revival is described as awakening of something or coming back to life.  Our country will be  truly revived when we seek God's face.  All the great movements of God happen when we pray and seek God's face. 

Trust God with the present and the past

In the past three to four days God has been revealing to me another important concept.  This concept came up through reading a book,  confessing a struggle to someone, and thinking about one of my passions.    It is the practice of trusting God with certain things in your life.  The way this is formed is by trusting God with our past so we can trust him with the future.   David put this concept into practice before he fought Goliath.    Before the battle, Saul doubted David could face such a big specimen as Goliath. 
In 1 Samuel 16:34-37, David remembered how God had delivered him in the past when he fought lions and bears while tending his father's sheep. In verses 35, he trusted that God would protect him against Goliath like he protected him against the lion and bear.  While in verse 36, he remembered how God used him to kill the lions and bears, therefore he had ultimate trust he could defeat Goliath.   Also, in verse 37  David knew that God was sovereign and in control of this situation.   Lastly, in verse 37 recognized that God would ultimately get the glory in this battle.
Another area of trusting God can be seen through Proverbs 3:5-6.  In these verses the Solomon, David's son writes, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." During this section,  Solomon gives us a picture that trusting God starts with depending on God.  Also, it involves remembering that God is working in this process.  When we acknowledge God is working in this process, then we will lead and guide us where he wants us to go. 
This reminds me that I need to constantly trust God with specific struggles in life.  God has revealed to me that since he has delivered me from my driving problems in the past that I can trust him in the future.  Also,  God has delivered me from specific job struggles and he will lead me in the future.  God is constantly growing our ability to trust him.  It grows from a small thimble when we first become believers to a cup as we grow and mature.     So, in essence what can you trust God with today? 

The specific concepts God revealed to me this week

In this post I will do a quick discussion of what God reminded me of this week through church and studying the Bible.  These are important concepts to remember in our walk with God.   The first concept God revealed to me was how much it is important to depend on him in the battles we face in our life.  David was being hunted down by Saul and he relied on God's provision when we was being attacked.  Also,  he consistently asked God whether he should go in battle against certain foes he was facing.   The second important concept God revealed to me was how it's important we repent of our sins.  Wet need make this process one that we consistently do so that we die to our sinful desires and take our cross and follow Jesus. 

God's provision out of quarantine time

This week God showed me his provision out quarantine time.  God provided me this new position at Home Depot this past week.  I had been praying for another job since my YMCA position furloughed me when the lock-down restrictions started.     I had the interview on Tuesday morning and was offered the position shortly after.    God showed me that he is faithful, he is our Jehovah Jireh, and he will provide.
I am working in the MET department changing prices and doing general maintenance.  In changing prices of a product, we have to make sure the sticker is on straight and it looks good.  General maintenance requires we use this phone device and review products/displays to make sure they look good for the customers.   There's also this specific area that shows you the time it takes you to review each bay.  I get along well with the people I work with.
God showed me that when we seek him and his kingdom he provides for us. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:32-33, Jesus reminds us how we do need to worry about food, what to eat or wear, because God will provide for us.   Jesus says in verses 33-34, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself."   When we are depending on God, seeking his kingdom, and his Holy Spirit's leading in our life he will provide for us. 

Things we can glean from the movie 1917

There are some important concepts that we can glean from the movie 1917.  It made me think of certain aspects in the Christian life that are important.  The movie brought to light certain themes that we can apply to our life.  It also made me think of those themes in terms of the war.   The movie helped me see why these themes are so important.
The first theme that was important was importance of sharing the gospel.  This theme occurred throughout the movie when the two soldiers were walking across enemy lines to deliver the message of an impending attack. This helps us see the importance of spreading the message of the gospel every day.  The gospel means "good news."  Jesus tells disciples in Matthew 28:16-20, to "go into the world and tell others about him and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them all that I have commanded you."
The second theme I saw in the movie was edification.  The two soldiers encouraged each other on their journey.  When one of the soldiers died, the soldier took the others belongings and vowed to tell the other soldiers brother about him.  At the very end of the movie, Colonel William told Officer Blake's brother about his death.  He gave him his brother's possessions about told Blake's brother about how we fought valiantly before he died.
Movies can help us see certain themes in our life or in a theological sense.  This is why I love to watch movies.  They bring out certain important principles in life.  I hope we can see themes even in simple movies as well.  Lastly, movies give us a sense of how to apply certain principles shown in our life.

Time of Lockdown

During this time of lock down,  God revealed to me certain sin my life that I needed to get rid of and cut down.  God showed me that I needed to destroy the harmful affects that porn/lust has on my life.  A friend has come alongside of me and encouraged me in these struggles.  He showed me that I need to give these struggles to God.  I recently signed up for a service called Covenant Eyes that watches the lustful types of things I look at on my phone or computer.
God revealed to me how much we need to desire a life of holiness.  Jesus died on the cross for sins and we are not to live a life bondage to our sins anymore.  The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18, "you are bought with a price therefore flee from sexual immorality."  God desires us to flee from the things that cause use to sin because of what he has done for us.  We are to keep our minds away from these lustful desires that pull us in.
The Holy Spirit has convicted me of these sinful desires.  He has helped me see my need to give these struggles to Jesus.  In John 16:8, Jesus says the Holy Spirit will convict you of "sin, righteousness, and judgement."  Also, in John 16:13, "when the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth."  These two verses show that God has used his Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin and reveal to me how I need to surrender these sins to God.
As I close this post today I have two questions for you, how is God molding you into his image during the quarantine?  What sins do you need to surrender to God?