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Demanding Treats Now! Psalm 27:14

Oct14

Yesterday in the USA Americans celebrated our Thanksgiving holiday when we focus on our blessings and, hopefully, also express gratitude to our Creator “Who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17)”.

Buddy nearly drove me crazy last night as he apparently believes that I’ll forget he’s standing near my feet unless he whines consistently to remind me to give him some meat.

There’s no way that I’d ever forget to share with my pal. I’m well aware where he is.

I bought a pocket-sized book of the Psalms. I’m trying to read several every morning before starting my day.

What really strikes me, as I read the Psalms, is how frequently the writers are in deep distress and need to reassure themselves that God will eventually rescue them. They trust by faith in God’s promises and love for them, reassuring themselves that He’ll eventually answer.

It’s just a fact of our spiritual life that God cannot show Himself strong on our behalf if we weren’t in a situation needing rescue.

Psalm 3: The number of enemies against David are overwhelming.

Psalms 4 & 5: David is the victim of slander.

Psalm 6: David is wearing out himself weeping because of his troubles.

Psalm 9: David is oppressed by his enemies.

And so it goes.

David is so distressed, that he laments:

“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”—Psalm 13:1-2

How long? How long? How long will You make me wait, Lord? I’m suffering!

David’s distress caused him to feel as if God didn’t care and had abandoned him.

It’s easy to keep faith when God answers instantly to rescue us. But much more difficult when the problems last for days, weeks or even years.

I wonder how I must look to God sometimes. Am I whining constantly like Buddy, believing God has forgotten that I need something from Him? Just like Buddy cannot open the refrigerator and grab himself a piece of turkey, there are times that I am totally dependent on God to come through for me. He needs to open that door of blessing that remains shut in my face.

It seems to be a fine line between trusting on God’s love for me and His promises in Scripture…

And barking for treats.

I have to remind myself that my prayers are requests. The same Lord Who fashioned the heavens and the earth and all its inhabitants graciously meets my requests because He loves me.

But I am not God’s boss.

He’s my Lord and King.

I don’t get to order Him around.

When I’m demanding that He rescue me immediately, I’m barking demands at Him, rather than trusting that He knows what He’s doing and what’s best for me.

Poor Job; he suffered severely and unjustly in a cosmic game of chess. Yet God reprimands him for questioning His goodness and fairness, basically reminding Job that He’s not the Creator.

So when in great distress, I need to remind myself not to demand immediate rescue.

Not to bark at God.

Not whine continuously till I’m irritating.

I need to learn to wait—to trust that He hears me.

Delays encourage faith in His love and goodness.

As David reminded himself in his distress:

“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”—Psalm 27:14

And he would see “the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”—Psalm 27:13

Ask Him to strengthen your heart as you wait.

God bless you.

Much love from Dawn and Buddy

***

Any situation we find ourselves in this life is fleeting in comparison with eternity.

God’s greatest desire is to rescue us from our sinful lifestyle and bring us into fellowship with Him.

We cannot earn our way into heaven please by doing more good deeds than bad deeds.

Jesus declared that God’s entrance standard was perfection (Matthew 5:48). One nasty word or wicked thought and we fall short of the mark.

We sin because we have sinful hearts that need to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only through Jesus can we receive eternal life.

The leaders and gods of other religions cannot give you the Holy Spirit.

Only Jesus can.

Do you sense that your life and heart needs transformation? Do you realize that your life would improve if you weren’t your own worst enemy?

Why not call on Jesus? He lived a perfect life because we cannot. As a result, he could die in our place to take the punishment our sins deserve. He rose bodily from the dead on the Third Day, proving that He was “God in the flesh (Matthew 1:23)”.

If you’re ready, please say the following, out loud if possible:

Dear Heavenly Father, I’m sorry for my sin. Please forgive me. I call on Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, and best friend. Please transform my heart and life by the power of the Holy Spirit. I give my life to You. Teach me how much You love me. Thank You for hearing my prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

If you prayed sincerely, congratulations, you’re born again. Please start reading the Bible daily as it’s your soul food. Just as your body needs daily nourishment to be healthy, so does your soul. It’s also the main way that God communicates with us.

Also, please start attending a Bible believing church or Bible study. And get baptized. If that’s not possible right now, I recommend these two ministries, which also have apps, if that’s your preference: http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way) and http://www.AndrewFarley.org (The Grace Message). There are other godly ministries, but it’s easy to be misled by bad teaching or legalism till you know the Bible fairly well.

God bless. May Buddy and I meet you in heaven one day.