Psalm 74:1-23
I read Psalm 74 a number of times as I prepared to write for today. Each time, I was drawn to Asaph's pointing out of how their enemies were insulting and dishonoring to God. But here's the thing, I kept saying to myself but wasn't Israel guilty of doing essentially the same thing? And then I started thinking about us and how easily we can fall into that camp as well.
So how do we guard against letting our hearts and attitudes become distant from, dishonoring and even insulting to God? Tami W.
Guarding our hearts from becoming distant, dishonoring and even insulting to God is difficult. Our brokeness is so profound that we will do these things and not even be aware that we are doing them. Our sin is so ingrained that even in our attempts to repent and change we will falter and fail.
I think this is why God initiates covenants with humanity. I love how he says "Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land" in Psalm 74:20. Throughout this Psalm Asaph shows a keen awareness of the covenant God made with his people Israel and what it meant to him personally,
So, I think that the beginning point is to start with the covenant God has made with us since Jesus came. Remembering the covenant Jesus made with his blood for the remission of our sins is the beginning place of protecting ourselves from slipping into a lifestyle that is insulting to God.
Remembering the covenant recognizes that God is the one who is in charge, he is the one who is in power, and we are mere beneficiaries. This is exactly what Asaph does as he recalls the awesome power of God (Ps 74:12-17).
Asaph also seems to genuinely love and care about God. He highlights several things that show he is giving regard to the things that matter to God. He points out things like oppression, the need for deliverance, poverty, etc.
A protective stance against the our general tendency to become distant from God is to restore our heart to the things that God is about in this world.
I think the most amazing thing about God is that despite our failing He forgives. Dispite our distance, dishonouring, and insulting behaviour He is close and will never leave us.
HI TAMI A GOD BLESSED DAY TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
WE CANNOT FIGHT AGAINST THE WILES OF THE ENEMY ON OUR OWN. GOD KNOWS THIS AND TELLS US ALSO. WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FACT AND SEEK GOD'S HELP AND GUIDANCE BY UTILIZING ALL HIS AVAILABLE RESOURCES GIVEN THROUGH THE REGULAR READING OF THE BIBLE, PROGRAMS SUCH AS BACK TO THE BIBLE AND POWERED BY 4 WHICH HAS BEEN SUCH A GOD SEND IN MY LIFE.
REGARDS IN CHRIST
CECIL
When we leave ALL that concerns us to the Lord to have and to hold, to control and maneuver as He wishes, remembering He said His plans for us are good and will take us to an expected end. We should ask for the grace to trust God to make all things perfect and for Him to take all the glory. This way, we will not act against Him or walk in unrighteousness which will bring us problems we cannot handle. Have a blessed week Tami!
Dear Tami, your question on how to guard against letting our hearts and attitudes become distant from, dishonoring and even insulting to God; the only thing that comes to my mind is to obey God's laws. He carefully prepared them for us and if we believe, truly believe then this is what we should do. Read and live the Word. Trust God and no matter how we may feel self sufficient we cannot do without His help, so ask Him to show us His ways, teach us His path, lead us in His truth and teach us for He is the God of our salvation. On Him we wait and in Him we trust.
Ian,
Well said. I never even thought of the covenant like that before when reading passages like this. Thanks for sharing.
We can guard our hearts and attitude from distanting, dishonouring and insulting God by reading His word constantly, obeying what He has commanded us to do and be a doer of the word and not an hearer only.lastly, we must be in constant prayer/dialogueing asking God for new directions, His word declare that the The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23)therefore, if we should guard our heart we should constantly engaging in communication with the almighty God.
I am new with Powered by 4 and I had just text my brother that I was studying how God wants us to live our life when I opened todays study and yes I struggle in falling into gossip and know that is dishonoring God so that is why I am with you tonite and want to continue to honor our Heavenly Father. Have a restful night.
Delia
We've heard many times "Life is a journey". In Proverbs 22:6 we hear; "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." It starts when we're young, We need preparation. But too many times children have slipped through the cracks. But God is faithful. We are HIS choice. He choose us from the beggining. At any age we need to prepare. When we train as an athelete and when we have a strategy to live out this journey the Spiritual blessings will overflow! We will reach our destination through Jesus' Supernatural Victory. I want to have that victory. With the help of faithful ministries like BTTB I am refreshed and renewed in heart mind and spirit, to grow up in the Lord!
Thanks Carol. This blog is new to me and so far I'm really enjoying the emails and the dialogue online. Thanks for your encouragement!