December 23, 2012
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 13
OBSERVATIONS
David feels abandoned, ignored, alone.
Wrestling with doubts and fears, heart filled with sorrow, beaten by his opponents.
He is pleading for help, he feels that he is almost about to die.
BUT…
What is on the other side of his but (not butt)?
Trust, hope, rejoicing, singing, reminding himself of the love, salvation and goodness of God.
He starts with the bad, but finishes with the good, he ends on on high.
He is not living in denial, pretending that everything is fine; he is very vocal about his fears, doubts, struggles, and even accuses God of abandoning him.
BUT…
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
What is on the other side of my but?
Do I end most of my sentences in the negative, does my mind focus on the bad, and get stuck there?
‘Yes, I know God is good, BUT…’
We do not create the positive by being positive; we position ourselves in what is really positive.
God IS good, loving and faithful, whether we feel it or not.
If I constantly dwell on the negative, my life will be overwhelmed by the negative.
If I live on the wrong side of my ‘but’, I will fall on my butt.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, with David I echo my hope in Your love, salvation and goodness. I admit that there is stuff that is not good, but I refuse to get stuck there, to dwell in it. Help me to live on the right side of my ‘but!’