21 Days of Prayer

As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.
Where can I find him to come and stand before him? (Psalm 42:1-2)

I want you to understand something this morning. God has a desire for you. God desires to have a close, personal relationship with you. God wants to be the driving force in your life. God wants to be the Lord of your life. Listen to me carefully. God wants to be more than just involved in your Sunday life. God wants to be involved in your everyday life. That’s God’s desire for each of us.

However, here’s the question for us. Are we going to let God be in control of our lives? Let me ask that question in a little different way: when you think about control in your life, what controlled your life last week? Was it your schedule that controlled you? Was it your job that controlled you? What about your family? What about your free time? What controlled you? What was the driving force behind what you did last week?

When we look at Psalm 42, we quickly see an individual who had one driving force in his life— He had one focus—he had one desire—worshiping God. Everything in his life seemed to revolve around his desire to worship God. For that writer, the greatest priority in his life was worshiping God. Period. That’s it.

Is your greatest priority in life to worship God in spirit and in truth? If so, let’s praise our way through our circumstances today. Our praise brings God glory.

“It’s easy: You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and
your allegiance. At the end of that trail, you’ll find a throne; and whatever, or whoever, is on that
throne is what’s of highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship.” (Louie Giglio)

Pray for opportunities to praise and worship God all day today.

As the deer desires rivers of water, so my soul desires You, O God. My soul is thirsty for God, for the living God. When will I come and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

But notice what the writer tells us. He was so far away from the Temple or from any house of worship that he did not see how he could worship God. Because he could not worship God and without genuine worship in his life, he was afraid, he was alone, he did not see how he could keep going. He wanted to worship, but he didn’t know how to do it. But notice what the writer tells us. He was so far away from the Temple or from any house of worship that he did not see how he could worship God. Because he could not worship God and without genuine worship in his life, he was afraid, he was alone, and he did not see how he could keep going. He wanted to worship, but he didn’t know how to do it.

Psalm 42 was not situated in the Temple. The writer was nowhere near a worship place. He was not in a place where life was easy. In reality, the writer was far away from Jerusalem. The writer was so far away from the Temple that he could only look back to the good old days of worship. Happiness and joy from worship were in the past. All he knew in his present was tears and sorrow. Because he could not worship, he was in despair, in hopelessness, and in grief. Notice how the writer responded to being unable to go to the sanctuary and worship God for so long. The writer was panting. He was dry. He was parched. He had a deep, painful hunger to worship God. Now, the psalmist was not panting for air, thirsting for water, hungering for food, or crying from pain. The psalmist was not desperate for those things. His one desire, his one focus, was on God and on worshiping God.

Listen. That is what genuine worship is. Worship takes place when we focus on one need—our need for God. Worship takes place when we refuse to be content until we meet God in a real and personal way. Worship takes place when we admit that life is out of control until a relationship with God is restored. Could it be that you have the same need today, a need to meet God? Is that what brought you to church this morning? Are you searching for an honest, strong relationship with God? Are you looking for God today? If you are, you have started in the right direction—by worshiping God. Stay on the path of seeking after the presence of God. It’s going to be a great day!

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night, I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours? (Psalm 42:1-3)

What does it mean to be poor? Let me go a step further: what does it mean to be poor in spirit? Someone has said, “In short, poverty of spirit is an emptying of self so that God can fill us with life and love. Our prayer helps us grow in spiritual poverty and freedom. Christ is the model of spiritual poverty. Christ also lived in actual or material poverty, with a lack of material goods. The Bible says, “That He had nowhere to lay his head.” He lived as a foreigner in His own creation, but they did not recognize Him. Jesus lived a life of obscurity. He did not present the way of salvation in His Sermon on the Mount, but described the required conduct of a person who is in a right relationship with God. The very heart of the nation needed to change its perspective, from being selfishly self-focused to becoming graciously God-focused. How is that going for you this morning? Are you more self-focused on your own circumstances or God focused on His faithfulness in your life? This is the challenge for our 21 days of prayer: to be emptied of ourselves so that God can fill us with His life and love. Listen, the Pharisees taught a self-righteousness that depended on external factors, where strict adherence to rules and regulations determined a false righteousness based on human standards, which was and always will be, unacceptable to God. But Christ taught of a godly righteousness that depended on an inner purity of heart and humility of spirit; a heart that is in a right relationship with God.

But godly righteousness requires a correct and honest attitude towards oneself that we are sinners in need of a Savior, that we are incapable of pleasing God through our own attempts but need to be empowered by Him to live a life that is pleasing to the Father. What pleases God, an empty heart waiting to be filled with His presence. What pleases God, a humble heart waiting to be filled with His faithfulness. What pleases God, a broken heart waiting to be filled with His love. Pray for God to fill your empty heart all day today with His love and mercy. There can never be filling without an emptying. Lean on Jesus today.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:1-3)

Pappy was a pleasant fellow. His face was quite drawn from age, but when he smiled, even his wrinkles seemed to smile with him. Pappy owned a pawnshop. Everyone who knew him respected and adored him. There was a room in the back of his shop where he spent time tinkering with his own precious items. He referred to the back room as “Memory Hall.” In it were pocket watches, clocks, and electric trains. Pappy enjoyed spending time in Memory Hall. Sometimes, he would close his eyes to relive a sweet, simple childhood memory. One day, Pappy was reassembling an old railroad lantern. As he polished his lantern, he heard the bell on the shop door. The bell had been in Pappy’s family for over a hundred years. He cherished it dearly. Pappy left Memory Hall to greet his customer. At first, he didn’t see anyone. His customer was shorter than the counter. Pappy said, “How can I help you?” The little girl looked at Pappy with her big brown eyes, then slowly scanned the room in search of something special. She said, “I’d like to buy a present for my grandpa. But I don’t know what to get.” Pappy began to make suggestions. “How about a pocket watch? It’s in good condition. I fixed it myself,” he said. The little girl didn’t answer. Finally, she walked to the door. She wiggled the door gently to ring the bell. The little girl smiled with excitement. “This is just right,” the little girl bubbled. “Momma says grandpa loves music.” Just then, Pappy knew what she wanted: his bell. He didn’t want to break the little girl’s heart. “I’m sorry, but that’s not for sale. Maybe your grandpa would like a radio.” The little girl looked at the radio and sighed, “No, I don’t think so.” In an effort to help her understand, Pappy told her the story of how the bell had been in his family for many years, and that was why he didn’t want to sell it. The little girl said, “I guess I understand. Thank you, anyway.” Suddenly, Pappy thought of how the rest of the family was gone—that was, except for his estranged daughter, whom he had not seen in a decade. Pappy thought, Why not pass the bell on to someone who would share it with a loved one. He said, “I’ve decided to sell the bell.” The little girl said, “Oh, thank you. Grandpa will be so happy.” Pappy felt good about helping the child, even though he knew he would miss the bell. Later that evening, Pappy prepared to close up shop. He found himself thinking about the bell. He thought about the child and wondered if her grandpa liked the gift. He knew that any grandfather would cherish anything from such a precious grandchild. Just then, as he turned off the lights in Memory Hall, Pappy thought he heard his bell. But he knew that was ridiculous; he had sold his bell. In a minute, he heard the bell again. He turned toward the door, and there stood the little girl. She was ringing the bell and smiling. Pappy was puzzled, “What’s this? Have you changed your mind?” “No,” she grinned. “Momma says it’s for you.” Before Pappy had time to say another word, the child’s mother stepped into the doorway. Choking back her tears, she said, “Hello, Dad.”   Listen. God is waiting for you to come home to Him. He has done everything possible to let you know of His love for you. He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins.

Now, He waits for you. Now, He waits for you to worship Him, to put Him first in your life, in every decision, in every avenue of your life. How about it? Will you do that today? Will you come home to God right now?

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?” I cannot eat. I weep day and night. All day long, they say to me, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:1-3)

How many of you are joggers? How about marathoners? How about walkers?

In a marathon, there are those stations along the route where the runner can grab a refreshing drink as they make their way along. There are certain times in life when it would be great to run into a spiritual water station. I believe that there are. The book of Psalms gives us some practical advice for getting “Times of Refreshing” for our souls. Maybe things are going great, but deep in your heart, you’re thinking, “There’s got to be more to life than this.” You feel empty inside. You feel like things will never improve, and tomorrow will be no better than today. Like your best days are behind you, and there’s no sign of a better future. You have a sense of being lonely, even when you’re around people. Relationships aren’t doing it for you. It doesn’t seem like you can trust anyone anymore. Your confidence is shot.

Comedian Eddie Murphy told People magazine, “I feel something’s missing…I don’t think there’s anyone who feels like something isn’t missing in their life. No matter how much money you make, or how many cars or houses you have, or how many people you make happy  life isn’t perfect for anybody.”

The New Testament records the story of a woman who tried to fill the longing in her heart with relationships with men. In fact, she had a steady stream of broken relationships (she went through 5 husbands). She was living an empty life of shame. One day, she went to a well to draw water at a time when no one else would be around. She ran into Jesus. Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

Are you looking for a water station? Jesus is waiting for you at the well that will never run dry!

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, “Where Is your God?” (Psalm 42:2-3)

My guess is that you also experience some daily discouragement. Most of us go through some dry times and low seasons of life. Many years ago, a young midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends kept all sharp objects out of his reach. He questioned his life’s calling and just wanted to give up. This is what he wrote in his journal: “I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell…to remain as I am is impossible.” Do you know who wrote those words? Abraham Lincoln. He struggled with bouts of depression and discouragement. He wasn’t alone in his discouragement.

Charles Spurgeon, one of my favorite preachers from a previous century, shocked his listeners when he said this in a sermon: “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.” Spurgeon would experience such bouts of depression that they led to sleepless nights and days of mental anguish.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression strikes about 17 million adults in the U.S. each year – more than cancer, AIDS, or heart disease. Half of all Americans say they, or one of their family members, have suffered from depression. The Journal of the American Medical Association has stated, “More suffering has resulted from depression than from any other single disease affecting mankind.” I don’t know much about clinical depression, though I may have tasted it personally a few times in my life. I do know that depression is a very complex condition that can be rooted in spiritual, emotional, mental, biological, or physiological causes, or a combination thereof.

If you struggle with depression this morning, I hope you are seeking professional medical help. There is no shame in admitting that you need some assistance. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding to guard your heart and mind all day today. Pray for the presence of Yahweh Shalom to fill our anxious hearts this morning. God’s got you in the palm of His hand.

For the director of music. A mask of the Sons of Korah.As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

Tradition regards this as a psalm written by David for the sons of Korah, who set it to music. The context in which David wrote this is when he was forced to flee into the wilderness because his son Absalom was leading a rebellion against him in 2 Samuel 15-16. David was removed from the throne, his life was threatened, his friends had bailed on him, he was ridiculed and mocked, and he was miles away from the temple where he loved to worship. David was piled with problems. He was on the run. He was alone and discouraged. This was his personal “ground zero.” He’s been where some of you are today. Let’s listen in as he longs for the Lord in the midst of his troubles. He’s asking, “God, you’ve done so much, and you are so big. Why would something so small as a man – me – even draw any consideration or one thought from your mind? Why would we be important enough to you for you to care about us?” It’s a valid question. Think about how God’s Word describes our awesome God. He is omnipresent. That means that He is present everywhere, even in the place you are reading this devotional. God sees and God cares. He is all-powerful. He has the power to accomplish anything He wants. He is all-knowing. He knows what you are thinking right now. He knows what you will do tomorrow. He knows what you did yesterday. He knows that secret that you will not share with anyone. He is eternal – no beginning and no end. He is holy – totally without sin or wrongdoing. He is wise, merciful, good, and just. He is loving. It is this last characteristic that causes Him to enter into our world, our concerns, and our hurts and actually care about insignificant creatures like us. He cares so much, in fact, that God came to earth in the form of a man to die for us. Jesus endured the cross for you and for me to prove once and for all how much God cares for us. He entered our world. He entered into our pain. He even entered into our questions. Friend, you may feel alone, but you are not alone. God sees, and God cares. Put your faith in the living God today. God sees your brokenness. God cares for you. He promises to draw near to those who draw near to Him. In fact, He rewards those who seek Him with His presence. Pray for faith to seek Him this morning. It will make a difference in your life.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day: “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:1-3)

We have deer all around this area. I’ve seen deer in my backyard and crossing the street near my house. They are amazing to watch. There’s something about them that makes us stop what we’re doing and look at them. I’m told that when a deer is thirsty, it will run full speed until it finds some water. When he finally finds it, he will stick his face into the cool stream, forgetting everything else around him. This is unusual for deer because they are usually very alert and cautious. But when they’re panting, they’ll do almost anything to quench their thirst. Whenever a deer senses danger, it will run to a stream. Most hunters think the deer is trying to avoid leaving a scent. The deer, however, seeks water for a different reason. When a deer is retreating from an enemy, it develops a tremendous thirst. Fear and the physical strain of running create a strong desire for water. David is picturing himself like a deer that is on the run in desperate search of refreshment.

Verse 2 tells us that just as a deer can’t wait to quench its thirst, his soul is thirsting “for the living God.” He wants to know God. He’s seeking Him with everything he has. Thirst is powerful. It must be satisfied or we’ll die. But some things we use to quench our thirst do not work. I don’t know about you, but I can drink a can of pop and be just as thirsty afterwards as I was before I started – and so it is in life. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water”(Jeremiah 2:13). God has built into us a thirst for Him, so when you are feeling low, begin with this premise to find relief.

Jesus put it this way: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” ( John 7:37).

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, “Where Is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. (Psalm 42:3-4)

When David fled Jerusalem in the midst of the rebellion led by his own son Absalom, there were many who stood against David, and some who stood with him. As he traveled down the road away from the city, one man even threw rocks at him and mocked him, but in the midst of this chaos, David remembered the crowds he used to worship with. “How I used to go with the crowds…” David is alone and probably afraid. As he thinks back to the times of sweet fellowship he had with other believers, a smile begins to form on his face. He can’t wait to reconnect with God’s people again.

Friend, one of the best things you can do when you’re down is to be with the people of God. I know this is difficult because when we feel low, we often want to be alone. But God has put within each of us the need and desire for community. We’re not meant to function alone. We need one another. If you’ve been disengaging from people, if you’ve been pulling back, then determine to get back in touch with people.

Do you really want to defeat depression? You and I need to minister to each other. This is about a lot more than simply self-help. This is about the church being the church. Pray for each other. Listen to each other. Challenge one another. Care about each other. The writer of Hebrews states, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Do you know what kept the nine miners in Pennsylvania who were trapped underground for three days going? They tied themselves together so they would “live or die as a group.” They huddled closely so they could stay warm, and they also worked at keeping each other encouraged. In an interview this week, one of the miners said this: “Everybody had strong moments. At any certain time, maybe one guy got down, and then the rest pulled together, and then that guy would get back up, and maybe somebody else would feel a little weaker. But it was a team effort. That’s the only way it could have been done” (Daily Leader, 7/29/02).

Listen carefully. The only way to live the Christian life is to do so in community with others. We’re a team. NewLife Gathering will need each other. Pray for each other today. Encourage one another today.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, my God.” (Psalm 42:1)

I recently took my grands on a trip. They were fairly entertained with snacks, a water bottle, a tablet, and some headphones. However, one of the tablets we’d failed to charge correctly, so it quickly died. So we began pulling out of our memories all of the games we’d played before there were tablets or TVs available for long car rides. We played “I spy with my little eye”, the category game, the car color challenge, the license plate game, and I even wriggled around and tried a few games of rock, paper, scissors. But our sweet Olivia was not in the mood to be entertained with car games and began pretty early in the trip with the question of “Are we there yet?” And “how long till we get there?”. It was brutal because she couldn’t understand why it was taking soooooo long. She had a longing to be at KK and Papa’s house, and she just wanted this trip to be over.

Longings are more than wishes. Longings imply strong emotion. Dictionaries use words like yearning, anguishing, eager, and pining when they define the word “longing”. The writer of this Psalm has a longing. His longing is to be in the presence of the Lord. There are passages in the Bible that tell us that in his presence there is peace, comfort, and fullness of joy. Inside of each of us, God has planted an insatiable desire to be with him. Like a good piece of chocolate, once you’ve been in the presence of the Lord, you’ll want it again and again. You NEED it again and again. What are you longing for this morning? Are you longing for peace and quiet in a noisy house? Maybe you’re living in a house where there’s too much peace and quiet, and you’re longing for a bit of noise? Colossians 3:2 tells us to “set our affections on things above, not on things on earth”. Determining to direct and set your affections on time with the Lord will help reset your longings on him. Just the fact that you are choosing to read this and not scroll through some media feeds is an act of direction. Choosing to quiet your surroundings and your attentions tells the Lord you want a rest from your longings. I am praying this morning for you and for myself. I am praying the Lord will direct our longings towards Him.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul pants for God, the living God. “ (Psalm 42:1-2)

When we were first married, we had a golden retriever named Barnabas. Now Barnabas was a beautiful dog and very smart. He was quick to train (we taught him a bunch of dumb things like …we could pretend to shoot him with our fingers and he’d fall over and play dead!). He was quick to lean up against you for a good pat, quick to shed, and quick to drool. He’d come in from a good run, drooling and panting in search of one thing…water. Dogs pant, cats pant, deer pant, other mammals, and even some birds pant in an attempt to cool down their body, and if they’re panting, they’re looking for water. In fact, a lot of mammals have few to no sweat glands, so panting is their primary attempt to cool down their body. If they’re panting, they’re thirsty!

We know a good deal more about the dangers and signs of dehydration than we did years ago. Sometimes the core of a headache, physical weakness, or even hunger is actually dehydration. You can pop a pill for a headache, or eat a box of crackers, but if indeed you’re really dehydrated, you’re not really attending to the core issue. You may have addressed the symptoms of dehydration, but what you really need is water! Isn’t it funny that an animal in search of water seldom runs to the food bowl, or the treat jar when they’re thirsty?! They run towards the water. God has given them an innate sense to recognize thirst.

The writers of this Psalm know precisely what they needed, and recognized that as a deer pants for water, their souls knew a desperation that made them pant after God. Whether you realize it or not, God has given you an innate sense of desire or longing for HIM. The dictionary defines the word longing as a “strong, persistent desire or craving”. What is it you think you are craving or panting for?…. Are you panting after or have an intense, persistent desire for something other than God?… Maybe your thoughts center more around what you do, what you have, or what other people think about you? What is at the heart of what you crave? …fear, guilt, pride, shame… In the end, those longings are insatiable and only lead to bondage. Jesus came to free you from living a life shackled to things that aren’t the truth! He tells us HE is the source of living water! The kind that causes you never to thirst again!! Are you ready to live in the freedom and recognition of the truth that you are fully known and fully loved by God?! Is your heart really thirsting after Him?

I’m praying that your soul pants only for the source that can truthfully satisfy what you’re longing for! I’m praying that your thirst for HIM grows in these next 21 days. I’m praying that He satisfies the thirsting of your souls during these 21 days!! Lord, we long for YOU and YOU alone!

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshippers. Leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks, it was the sound of a great celebration. (Psalm 42:4)

Maybe you’re like me, I’m just not “feeling it” today. Perhaps you are discouraged today. You know what the book of Proverbs says? “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”(Proverbs 13:12). Sometimes it feels like God has extended a hand to you to walk with you and lead you…and he has led you straight into a wilderness. When you’re looking from the outside of the swamp or forest, you can see and admire the beauty, but inside it… not so easy. There’s darkness.

There are briars and twisted paths that scrape and scar your skin, and muddy goo you have got to tread through. You can’t see the forest for the trees, twisting and covering your ability to see. When there is nothing but darkness in front of you, you can become pretty desperate to see light. The writer of this Psalm is writing from the vantage point of being in the middle of the dark wilderness, and not from the light found outside of it. And so how does the writer of this Psalm, living in the middle of the wilderness, respond? First, he remembers… he remembers what he heard, felt, and understood from being in the place of light. We can see when there’s light. We have the perspective of what’s really there when we are standing in the light. This place of light he is referring to is worship. That’s the second thing the writer does; he doesn’t just remember worship, he worships right there and then. Right in the middle of the wilderness. We need the truths, the feelings, and the assurances we found in the light to walk us through the places of darkness.

Worship transforms us. Worship shapes us. We experience the assuring, loving, truth-telling presence of the Lord in worship. There’s corporate worship where our hearts are recalibrated to the heart and truths of God’s heart. And there’s individual worship where we are transported toward experiencing his truth, his heart, and his presence in our everyday.

My sweet friend, let’s not doubt what God told us in the light when we are walking through the dark. Tell the darkness whose nail-scarred hand you are holding. Tell the darkness you WILL put your hope in God! Tell the darkness you Will Praise Him again, your Savior and your God! Hit the pause button on your life and trust he will allow you to accomplish more today because you invited him into, and surrendered to him, your day. Worship this morning! Build an altar in the middle of the wilderness and Worship right now! Turn on the music that speaks and transports you to His presence. Read and pray through this Psalm as an act of worship. Remember and celebrate that even though you might be in this wilderness, you know his nail-scarred hand holds yours tightly and that He will lead you…..THROUGH!

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul that is within me.  (Psalm 42:4)

The Bible contains a story about an incredible act of worship set before Jesus in the flesh. He’s sitting at a table, and a woman (Mary of Bethany) recklessly breaks an alabaster jar and pours out the contents on the feet of Jesus. In total abandon to this act, she pours out about a year’s worth of income at the feet of Jesus and anoints his feet with this treasure in perfume. Can you imagine the scent? It had to have filled the small room. She didn’t just sprinkle a little perfume and put the lid back on. She BROKE the jar open and POURED OUT the contents at the feet of Jesus. This morning, you can do some pouring out yourself. Tell Jesus. Tell Jesus where you’re afraid. Tell Jesus about the thin places where it’s hard to trust him. Tell him about the goodness you feel, or the pain that you feel. Tell him you trust him. Tell him you need him to help you trust him. Whatever it is you’re carrying this morning, joy or sorrow, tell him.

You know what’s a fact about Mary’s pouring out in this story? Jesus was getting ready to do some pouring out himself. And the pouring out was going to BE Himself! This may be hard for you to believe or accept, but Jesus is pouring out on you this very minute! He’s pouring out grace and mercy! He’s pouring out peace and joy. He’s pouring out forgiveness and a new beginning. He’s pouring out provision and his power. He’s pouring out his presence right now, right where you are! Mary had worshipped Jesus, and for a while, she and Jesus wore the same essence. How long did the essence remain? The timeline of this act of worship places it right before Jesus walks through the week leading to the cross. Talk about a timely act of worship! Did he hang on the cross still bearing a little of this essence? Like the writer of Psalms, sweet friend, pour out to him and linger in this quiet place for a while. He wants to pour out on you!

My soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember you, from the land of Jordan, from the heights of Herman, from the Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfall. All your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day, the Lord directs his love over me. (Psalm 42:6-8a)

This is a hard devotional I wrote today. My mom left us on Tuesday and walked into the arms of Jesus. I held her hands, stroked her face, and watched her breathe her last breath. As much as there was no doubt that the Lord was in our midst, and in love and mercy took her home, my heart aches profoundly deep. No matter how old you are, or how old your mother is, I keep asking the question, “How do you stop needing your mom?” We stood around her, read scripture, played worship songs from our phones, told stories, and sang songs. We washed love over her, and we were washed in her love for us. Perhaps you weren’t blessed the way I was with a mom who loved you the way my mom loved, but we share an ache, whether fulfilled or unfulfilled, for that kind of love. I’ve cried a lot this week, and not soft, lovely whimpers, but deep, consuming moments of grief. I recently read that grief doesn’t ask to be healed, it asks to be carried. Isaiah 53:4 says, “he bears our griefs and carries our sorrows”. About two weeks before the events of this long week, the Lord had given me a word for this devotional. And the word he’d given was the word, Lament. To lament is to grieve deeply and passionately.

This Psalm, along with 69 others, is considered a “Psalm of Lament”. Jennifer Rothschild, losing her sight from a degenerative eye disease at the age of 15, says, “Lament is a place to process your pain in the presence of the Lord”. That’s what this Psalm writer is doing. He’s processing his pain in the presence of the Lord. When we lament, we aren’t just skirting across the top of the water like those water skeeter bugs. The psalmist says, “deep calls unto deep”. My own grief is so deep and so intense because I was loved so strongly and so deeply. The deep, deep love of the Lord reaches out in mercy to the deep, deep cries of our souls. This psalm tells us that he “directs” his love. He directs his love to “wash over” our deep places. In the sweetest of mercies, I watched him direct his love to wash over the body my mom was bound in, and bring her home to himself. In the\ sweetest of mercies, I watched him direct his love to wash over the grief, pain, deep cries, and laments of those who loved her so much. In the sweetest of mercies, he washed his deep, deep love over us. In the sweetest of mercies….deep unto deep he directs his love to wash over you.

What are you lamenting?…grief over things done, grief over things undone, a broken relationship, abandonment, a prodigal child, a prodigal parent, something said, something unsaid. In the word God gave us, he tells us over and over that it is he who directs his love to wash over it all. Determine right now to still your activity, still your mind, still your doubts, still your pain, still your lamenting, still your too-busy business, still your shame, still the regret over what was done, or what was undone. Still your heart, and let him direct his love, deep into deep to wash over you right now.

Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God! For I will yet praise Hum, my savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

I feel like my mind works like a pinball machine sometimes. Within a few short moments, my mind can whirl between my to-do list at home, my to-do list at work, my family, my grocery list, What’s for dinner, what I’ve got to do today, what I’ve got to do next Tuesday, am I missing a birthday or anniversary, my aging parents, a dripping faucet, a fence that needs to be repaired, pressure washing my driveway, who I need to call, who I forgot to call, dinner for that family with the new baby, the thank you note I need to write, and I may even throw in a prayer for one of you! We have private conversations with ourselves all day long. I’m hoping the conversation you’re having in your mind is a little less scattered than mine.

In Psalm 42, we are invited into a private conversation the writer is having with himself. In this conversation, the writer is writing words of self-confrontation. “Why are you cast down, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” It’s as if the writer is saying to himself, “What’s the matter with you? Why are you so discouraged? Why aren’t you hoping in God?”. No one talks to you as much as you, and the things you say about yourself, about God, and about life, shape the way you live. What we can learn from this Psalm is that in the act of confronting himself, the writer does. Paul Tripp says “(Self) Confrontation looks like this. Be willing to admit and confess your sin, weakness, and failure. Quit building up hope in you and begin to have hope in God.” We build up this hope when we dig into God’s words to us and find out what He says to us about Himself, ourselves, our world, and how He’s at work in it.

Remember his Unshakable goodness towards you. Remember to resist the doubt that leads you inward and not upward! Hope in Him and Him alone! Remind yourself that He is your salvation and your God! If you’re feeling like your mind is tossing and turning like a boat on really stormy water, I’m praying you let the Lord stand up and speak to the winds and the waves in your mind and say once again, “Peace, be still.”

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

We don’t usually put the words blessed and persecuted in the same sentence, at least not in the West. The word persecuted means pain. We don’t like pain, especially from people who don’t like us and we don’t like them. This pain comes as a result of righteousness. In other words, this pain comes as a result of following the Righteous One. Jesus warned His believers, ” ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Christians around the world are experiencing severe persecution. The consequences for professing faith in Jesus Christ range from stereotyping and marginalization in the West to enslavement and martyrdom in parts of the East. As unwelcome as it may be, persecution is never surprising for a Christ follower. In fact, it is to be worn as a badge of honor. Listen to Jesus’ words, “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness”. The apostle Paul, a persecuted believer in ancient Rome wrote, ”We are hard–pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:8–10).

Anonymous church leader from Central China, in response to escalating government persecution, writes, “We are constantly on edge, but our faith has grown and we are more determined than ever to see Christians in the area stand strong and not compromise their faith in Jesus.” The purpose of the persecution is the deepening of our faith in Christ. The blessing of being persecuted because of righteousness is standing strong in spite of the consequences. I don’t pray for persecution, but a faith to stay the course for the righteousness of Christ. Pray for your brothers and sisters around the world that are facing persecution today.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day: “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:1-3)

Paul David Tripp says, “If you’re God’s child, the gospel isn’t just an aspect of your life, it IS your life; that is, it is the window through which you look at everything.” The gospel redefines how we look at our whole story, how we think about the meaning of life, how we understand the human struggle, where we get our identity, where we look for peace and security, what we consider in life to be dangerous, and what we see as successful living.” As a believer nothing in our lives is unchanged by the gospel. However, sometimes we celebrate the salvation that comes from the good news of the gospel, but when it comes to help with relationships, marriage, money, addictions, and how we see our problems and our world; we have “spiritual amnesia”. We run to Google or Amazon for the latest self help article or book for information, and forget that because of Jesus, “we have everything we need for life and Godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). You think that there is something you need that you have not yet found, when in fact you have already been given everything you need to be what you’re supposed to be and do what you’re supposed to do in the place where the sovereign King of the universe has placed you! John Piper states, “Christianity stands at odds with the world’s mindset. Where the world looks for purpose, security, meaning and identity is in direct contrast to what the gospel says.” The Gatestone Institute calls it “The never ending pandemic”. Today, over 360 million believers are suffering high levels of violence and persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ. In a report quoted by the World Watch List, on average around the world every 1 in 7 Christians (that’s 14%) suffer persecution. They are the worthy recipients of the kingdom of heaven. Oh sweet NewLife family, the greatest persecution I might face today for living out the gospel is “sticking out” a little bit among my coworkers and friends. In second Timothy, Paul says, “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.” There is a tension between the message and the way of life for believers and followers of Jesus, and the nature and ways of the world that denies Christ as Lord. So today I’m asking myself a few questions… have I allowed the truth of the gospel (the good news that by the blood of Jesus and by His grace I have been redeemed and restored into a right relationship with the Lord) to permeate into every area of my heart and life? Do I desire righteousness enough to risk being persecuted? Does my life show that I desire righteousness? Does my life demonstrate that it’s at odds with the mindset of the world? I’m praying for the persecuted church worldwide. Along with you, I’m praying that I’ll become bolder with my faith and that the truth of the gospel will wash through our hearts all day today.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

We all want to go to heaven. We all want the crown of heaven. We all want the security of the kingdom. We just don’t want the pain of persecution to be the ticket into the kingdom of heaven. In other words, this isn’t what I signed up for as a Christian. I want to avoid the pain at all costs. The fact of the matter, the message of the Gospel stands in opposition of the world’s mindset. It’s not if persecution comes, but when it comes don’t be surprised. Paul wrote, “In deed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). There is no godly life in Christ without the pain of persecution. It’s the persecution that leads to the kingdom of heaven. So if the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, why doesn’t everybody do everything they can to be a part of it? I think it’s because value is often in the eye of the beholder. What has value and what doesn’t is really up to personal interpretation. What some people think is valuable has no value at all to others. D.A. Carson writes, “The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the cost of discipleship, and those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it.” John Piper writes, “If you’re not in the kingdom of God, that doesn’t mean you’re free, you’re just in the kingdom of darkness and you’re under another sovereign, and that sovereign is Satan and you’re a slave to sin. Everybody lives in a kingdom. You just live in the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light, the kingdom of Satan, or the kingdom of the Savior. You live in a kingdom. You are subject to the authority and the power of the enemy of your soul, or you are subject to the authority and power of the Savior of your soul. You are either in the kingdom that ends up in hell, or the kingdom that ends up in heaven. You’re either a slave to sin, or a servant of righteousness”. Listen, the kingdom of heaven is not for the well-meaning but rather for the desperate. Pray for God to give you a desperate heart for His righteousness. Pray for the righteousness of Christ to secure your place in the kingdom of heaven, it’s worth it!

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)

You know I have heard a dozen sermons on this passage and read it a good many times, but I’ve never noticed one thing about it…see if you find it too…

Salt was an extremely important commodity during the time this sermon was preached from the hillside. Salt was so valuable during Jesus’ time that Roman soldiers were frequently paid their wages in salt. In fact, from the beginning of civilization until about 100 years ago, salt was one of the most sought after commodities in human history. Salt serves two main purposes. It seasons and it preserves. Salt is valuable and useful, even today. But what was true 2,000 plus years ago is true today. There might be a salt shaker on your table at home, but salt is never the meal. It’s there to flavor the meal. It doesn’t exist for itself. Now salt is made up of a number of chemical compounds, but what it is mostly, what makes it salty, what makes it useful, is sodium chloride, which is very stable and will keep its usefulness for years. But if salt is contaminated, watered down, or dissolved; the sodium chloride is dissolved and removed. It loses it’s “saltiness”.

You know the thing I’ve never noticed in this verse? It is the two words…”You Are”. Prior to this in the sermon on the mount, Jesus says “Blessed are you When…”. But he tells us here…we already Are. There are no “three steps to being salt”. There’s no formula to me being salt. There’s no me putting pressure on myself to be salt. I am already salt. Jesus tells us so, right here, in this sermon. So when I walk into a room, because I am an image bearer of the one who redeemed me, I am the salt of the earth!
So how do we lose our saltiness? In Psalm 101 David challenges himself and determines, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes”. That’s how we lose it. We forget to determine. We fail to decide. We allow contamination or things that water down our faith into our salt shakers. Jesus must increase. I must decrease. I am the salt, but I am not the food. Jesus is the food. We’re just salt shakers walking into places that need seasoning and preserving.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine. Let it shine all the time let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m gonna’ let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m gonna’ let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? NO! I’m gonna’ let it shine. Let it shine all the time let it shine. Won’t let Satan, Whoof it out! I’m gonna’ let it shine. No, Won’t let Satan, Whoof it out! I’m gonna’ let it shine. Won’t let Satan, Whoof it out! I’m gonna’ let it shine. Let it shine all the time let it shine” (un known).

Sometimes the simplest of ideas can be the most profound. This is the case with this simple little children’s song written from the teachings of Christ. As Christians we are to be lights in the world. But, what exactly does that mean? First, did you know that light chases away the darkness? Jesus calls you the light of the world. In a dark room, a flicker of light will always
chase the darkness. However big or small, light is a great chaser of darkness. Secondly, the disciples dispelled the darkness of the world. Jesus said, let your shine light before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is heaven”. The command is simple. Let your light shine. Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works. The disciples were poking holes in the darkness for all the world to see. God is good. God works in the hearts of His disciples to do good works for His glory. Finally, the gathering cannot be hid when it is fulfilling the the great commission. It’s hard to hide the light. In fact, Jesus told His disciples, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house”. The mission of the light is to illuminate. Darkness is unable to illuminate the light. You need light. We need to be children of the light. We need homes of light. We need communities of light. We need cities of light. Pray for wisdom to discern the light from the darkness in these next several days. Please God, allow NewLife to become a beacon of light so that they may see your good works and give glory to you and to you alone! Go give them Heaven!