tablets of human hearts

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
(Psalm 42:1, NLT)

I asked myself, how does a deer long for a drink of water?  And what would make her do so?  

A hot day.  The scorching sun.  Possibly running from danger.  After all, a deer is at the mercy of the elements.  And has little in the way of defence and must flee from threats.  

She is left dry, thirsty and tired.

Can’t we relate? We often feel at the mercy of the cirmcumstances around us.  So much is beyond our control.  The culture heats up over different issues.  We find ourselves surrounded by fears, negativity and questionable responses. And we hear our enemy prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8, CEB).  We fear it might be us.

We are left dry, thirsty and tired.

What would the deer do in her situation?  Lament over her thirst?  Feel sorry for herself?  Demand somene to give her water?

No, I imagine she looks for water to quench her thirst and when she finds it, she drinks.

So where do we find our water?  The Psalmist say, like the deer longs for water, he longs for God.

We, too, can look for God like the deer looks for water.

Jesus tells us ask and we will get, seek and we will find.  (Matthew 11:9, MSG)

Jesus also tells us we should ask him for a drink and he will give us fresh, living water and we will never thirst again.  (John 4:10, 13, MSG)

Let us ask for what he has to give us.  Then we will be filled, quenched and refreshed.  

Prayer
Heavvenly Father, when I am deeply discouraged, I will remember You. You are the source of my strength and each day you pour out your unfailing love upon me.

Grace & Peace

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
(Psalm 40:1, NLT)

Patiently?  How many of us can admit we wait patiently for the Lord?  Definitely not me.  

Usually I am quite impatient.  If the Lord doesn’t seem to be moving quickly enough for me,  instead of waiting, I start thinking up ways I can take care of the situation myself.  

I take matters into my own hands.  At least, I try to.  Often, however, I find this choice typically doesn’t work out well for me.

Or I might give up.  Depending on what the situation is and how important it is for me.  

Evenually, however, I find myself returning to the Lord, and waiting.

Waiting can be discouraging.  And tiring.  

Isn’t it wonderful the Lord does not leave us waiting on our own?  He gives us a promise.

“But they that wait upon 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 40:31, TLB)

When we get tired of waiting, when we feel as if we can wait no more, he will provide the strength to go on.

Patience is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not our own fruit grown from our best efforts.  

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against these things!”  (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) 

Isn’t it reassuring to know we’re not expected to wait patiently on our own accord?

Patiently waiting is also a process.  In one translation, Peter calls it endurance.  

“Supplememnt your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self control, and self control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”  (2 Peter 1:5-7, NLT)

As we choose to live well and grow in our knowledge of the Lord, putting what we learn into practice, self control and patience follow.  

The Lord uses our times of waiting to grow us and mature us in Christ.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they  help us develop (patient) endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character stengthens our confident hope of salvation.”  (Romans 5:3-4, NLT)

As much as we don’t like waiting, the Lord knows it is for our good.  He doesn’t make us wait in our own strength or in our own abilities.  And he uses the time of waiting as a process to grow a Christ-like character in us.

Which is why I find myself returning to the Lord, and waiting.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your good and precious promises. I know you see from the beginning to the end and your timing is perfect. I will continue to learn to wait on you and trust in you, knowing that even in the waiting, you are doing a good work in me..  

Grace & Peace

I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”
(Psalm 39:1, NLT)

Do you struggle with an untamed tongue?  Do you ever say things and instantly regret them?  Does your tongue sometimes run wild and you really wish you could stick your foot in your mouth, then at least your tongue stops wagging?

Don’t feel alone.

James tells us in his letter, “Men have trained, or can train, every kind of animal or bird that lives and every kind of reptile and fish, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is always ready to pour out its deadly poison. (James 3:7-8, TLB)

Harsh words, but sometimes, even harsher are the words that come out of our mouths.  Think about the last time you said something thoughtlessly or carelessly.  What did it result in? Hurt?  Anger?  Frustration?

The Bible tells us it definitely could.

Proverbs 10:14  “A wise man holds his tongue. Only a fool blurts out everything he knows; that only leads to sorrow and trouble.”

Proverbs 11:12 “To quarrel with a neighbor is foolish; a man with good sense holds his tongue.”

Proverbs 13:3 “Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.”

Although I don’t classify myself as a “talker” and I often do a lot more listening and observing than speaking, I still find myself struggling with the things I manage to say. I’m in the middle of a conversation, and suddenly I realize what I’m saying about someone is gossip.  Or instead of edifying the person I’m talking to, I’m actually tearing her down.   Or the words I’m saying are negative, rather than filled with praise and thanksgiving.

It’s like my tongue takes over and my brain is too slow to shut it down.

I guess that’s why James also tells us to remember to “be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19, GNT)

So, what can we do instead?  As we watch our tongue, as we think about what we say, what should those things be? What should we talk about?

Paul tells us in one of his letters to “Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts.” (Ephesians 5:19, GNT)

And in another letter, he repeats a similar message, to “Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:16-17, GNT)

If I use these verses as a filter before I speak, maybe I’ll regret less what I say and maybe I will no longer feel the need to stick my foot in my mouth.

Prayer
Father, many things are impossible for man, like taming my tongue, but You tell me with You, everything is possible.  Help me to guard my tongue, to be slow to speak, to think about the words I say, and may everything I speak bring grace to those who hear.

Grace & Peace

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
(Psalm 38:1, NLT)

I’m one of those people who have a sensitive heart.  So, I usually try to learn things quickly in life because I don’t like being in trouble, even when its an honest mistake.  I work hard at doing the right thing.  I try to obey all traffic laws, heed signs that are posted, and do things that are asked of me.  I aim to please.

I tend to have the same approach in my relationship with the Lord.  I try to learn what He is teaching me quickly, because I don’t like being in trouble with Him.  I work hard at doing the right thing.  I try to keep His word, do what He tells me to do, and do the things expected of me as a believer.  I aim to please.

So I can totally identify with the Psalmist’s cry.

Don’t be angry at me, Lord.  Don’t be furious.

But as I grow in my faith and as the Lord trusts me with things outside my comfort zone, I discover a spark of fear, a hint of rebellion, and even the tenacity to say, “no.”

And as I grow in my faith, the Lord digs a bit deeper into the recesses of my heart.  As He pulls out ugly things, things hidden for a long time, I scramble to rebury them, hasten to make excuses, and even stubbornly say, “not mine.”

In those moments, I cringe.  Don’t be angry at me Lord.  Don’t be furious.

Because it seems that way.  And I don’t like being in trouble.

But in truth, He is acting out of love.

I appreciate how the Message puts it in Hebrews 12:6-7

“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children.”

And its all for His good purpose.

“We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, GNT)

Where is the Lord causing discomfort in your life? Where do you feel He is angry with you? Instead of crying out in dismay, know He is doing it out of love and ask Him what He is teaching you.

Prayer
Father, instead of crying out in dismay over your correction, comfort me with the knowledge of your outpouring of love over me. Your love flows from the plans you have for me, good plans, not meant to harm me, but to direct me into the future and the hope you have for me.”

Grace & Peace