Like water evaporating in the Summer heat

" My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." - Psalm 32:4

This image that David paints for us is one that I can clearly picture. South African summers can be extremely hot, and water easily evaporates in the intense heat. The warm days also drain our energy and make us feel lethargic. 

The reason for David's strength 'evaporating' had a lot to do with his own decisions and unwillingness to turn back to God. However, when he eventually confessed his sins and experienced the mercy of God, it was like his strength was renewed and restored.

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

You are my hiding place

I have found such comfort in these words over the past few days. 

"For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. 

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you." - Psalm 32:7-8

In my mind I see two big ideas that are conveyed to us through the words of this Psalm.

1. We can find shelter, protection and care, in the presence of Jesus.

2. The Lord guides us into paths that are best for us.

Thought: 

Which one of these speaks to your situation at the moment?

There is a beautiful song that put these words into music and verse. If you have time, you can listen to it on this platform. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Hiding Place

Chuck Swindoll wrote: “In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All he asks is that we come to him...that we spend a while thinking about him, meditating on him, talking to him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with him - totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of his presence."

Which part of these words from Chuck Swindoll ring true for you today? Perhaps the Psalmist would argue that the idea of God's presence being a hiding place would be his thought for the day.

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." - Psalm 32:7

Living in Grace

D3LM3

32 - Evaporating

We had a few millimetres of rain the other day and it was such a wonderful relief to see the ground soak up the beautiful gift. When the rain had passed I noticed that the bird bath had filled up with sparkling water. However, within a few days the water had evaporated  and the bath was bone dry again. It reminded me of these words from Psalm 32.

"My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." - Psalm 32:4

When we get caught up in busyness of life, ministry and other things, our strength evaporates very quickly. We need to be conscious of this and work out how we can restore the balance and 'fill the tank' with the water of God's grace. So, how are you going to do this today?

Prayer: Lord, when I feel that my strength has gone, please fill my heart with grace so that I can carry on. Amen.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

There is still time

Listening to the radio the other day I heard the DJ say something similar to this: "The year is almost over. If you haven't done what you had planned to do in 2017, then just forget about it. The year is done." My gut response was, "No way! That is not true!"
Of course, I recognise that we are already halfway through November, but 2017 is far from over. There is still time to do the things that we had planned to do. In fact, here are some stats for us to think about:

There are still 7 weeks left in 2017.
That means there are 48 days left this year.
That makes it 1152 hours.
Or 69120 minutes.
That is plenty of time to do the things we have committed to do. 

Psalm 32:6 - "Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time..."

Just to prove to us that 48 days is plenty of time to accomplish significant things, have a look at these 3 famous books that we written in record time. (I wish I could write books this fast :)

  
1. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas: Irish novelist John Boyne said he was so wrapped up in this engrossing tale of a boy living through the Holocaust that he wrote the entire thing in two and a half days, barely stopping to eat or sleep throughout the ordeal.

2. A Study In Scarlet: The novel that introduced the famed detective work of Sherlock Holmes to the masses took Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle three weeks to write in 1886. This story was also notable for being the first Sherlock Holmes story to be adapted to the silver screen.


3. The Gambler: Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote this tale in 26 days while also writing Crime and Punishment. He was heavily in debt and addicted to gambling and saw the semi-autobiographical novella as a good way to help him pay off his debts.

So, if you are feeling defeated by the events of this year, then I encourage you to ask God to show you what can still be done! There is STILL TIME. 

2 Corinthians 6:2 -For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The best pathway

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit or bridle to keep it under control." - Psalm 32:8-9

God wants to guide us along the BEST pathway for our lives, but we are sometimes obstinate and 'senseless' like a mule. It is always a challenge to listen out for God's instructions and his commands, but if we realise that God wants the best for us, then perhaps we may be more eager to listen.

When you read Psalm 32, how does it make you feel?
What pathway are you walking on at the moment?
Is is the Best path for you?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Where is God hiding?

"I am beginning now to see how radically the character of my spiritual journey will change when I no longer think of God as hiding out and making difficult as possible for me to find him, but, instead, as the one who is looking for me while I am doing the hiding." - Henri Nouwen

If I was asking Henri Nouwen the question - "where is God hiding?" his answer (above) would show me that I am actually the one who does the hiding. It is my skewed understanding that God is trying to avoid me that makes me believe God is hiding from me.

Have you ever felt that God is hiding from you? If yes, then perhaps read the quote again and reflect on this verse for a while.

Psalm 32:7 - You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 

Living in Grace
D3LM3