Author: Amy

David calls out to God in Psalm 3, saying, “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!” The Hebrew word translated arise can mean “to accomplish or succeed.” It’s as if David is asking the Lord to take action. It’s not a command he gives to God, for who could command Him a thing? But when he prays like this, it’s a plea from his heart asking God to intervene on his behalf.

David uses the same language in Psalm 68. He references the war cry of the ages, dating back to Moses in Numbers chapter 10: “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.”

We may not have armies chasing us down, but we certainly have an enemy. Peter tells us, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Our hearts can take courage as we cry out, “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! Do not let me be devoured!”

We train our hearts to believe in who God really is by how we pray to Him. Praying the Word edifies our lives. We can call on our Heavenly Father in this way because we believe He acts according to His will and His character.

The psalmist continually models this type of prayer for us as he stirs the Lord to action. This is not because God needs to be reminded of anything, but this type of prayer builds and grows our faith in His ability to act.

I want to be bolder in my prayer life. I desire to pray according to who I know my King to be: All-powerful, Sovereign, Wise, and Loving. “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! Do not let me be devoured!”

I am fascinated with all that David experienced in his lifetime. He makes my life look so boring! Through our experiences, God grows us as His children. I’m thankful that David was chosen to live such a remarkable life for us to witness. His triumphant victories and horrific failures were public, observed not only by his kingdom, but by all of God’s people for all of time!

We witness his extreme failures, including adultery and murder and the repentance that follows. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice (Psalm 51:7-8).

We know about his extreme losses, the betrayals and the deaths. O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God (Psalm 3:1-2).

We see David’s extreme faith in God and the refuge he finds in Him in the darkest of hours. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6).

He found his strength in His God. He trusted Him, regardless of his circumstance. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4).

David is responsible for a vast amount of worship music, for creating musical instruments, and for establishing the worship services of God.

The sweet psalmist of Israel, the man after God’s own heart, inspires me. Not only because he was such a prolific writer or lived such an “extreme” life, but because God anointed Him to accomplish these things. David foreshadowed our Savior. God equips His people to face their battles because His Son has already fought them. This is how we survive our “extremes.” It’s because of Jesus that we are more than conquerors.

In difficult times, God’s words, through David, have comforted me. This is the man who faced lions and tigers and giants . . . oh my! His songs are God’s songs. David’s anointed prophetic powerful poetry sings to my heart, and I am brought into the fuller knowledge of my Jesus, the Son of David.

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek (Psalm 27:8).

In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul asks the readers of his letter to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.  Rule (brabeuo) is an athletic term that means to be an umpire. The peace of Christ is an umpire for my heart. I love that. I need it to rule.

My flesh, in its weakness, chooses worry, strife, and fear as constant companions when, in contrast, Christ offers peace and freedom in the knowledge of His sovereign control. I can rest in His decisions because He sees the big picture. Like an umpire, His perspective is clearer than mine. He understands every thing about me. He created me. He also knows what will best glorify His name through my life.

When Jonah was traveling by boat in the opposite direction of where God had instructed him to go, he did so with “peace.” He was asleep in the storm! How often do I create a counterfeit peace for the sake of my own desires? Submitting to the Father by seeking His will brings true and lasting peace. I’ve learned some steps to take to make sure my peace comes from Him and not from my own selfish heart.

1) Analyze the situation from every angle
2) Weigh my desires against the Word
3) Seek godly counsel
4) Pray, pray, pray
5) Move forward with open hands

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3).

The waves of life will crash against my boat. But with my mind stayed on the Captain, I can rest securely in His peace. Umpire me, Lord!

There is a popular saying in Christian parenting circles: “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” I have found myself saying this quite a lot lately as my daughters have needed constant reminding of what it means to obey without objection or delay. It is our natural tendency to say “why” or “no” or “but” when we are given a command rather than laying down our own agendas and respond in obedience.

I know as I watch my children struggle with this that I am seeing a picture of myself with my heavenly Father. So often I have pursued my own agenda rather than what He has in store for me. So many times I have jetted out in front of His will with my self-sufficiency and pride. I cannot count the moments where I have pursued selfish gain rather than humble submission to Him.

Christ is the ultimate example for us to follow. He stood before His accusers in complete humility. His will was totally surrendered to His Father’s. He said not a word. He did not need to be heard. He did not need to be understood. He did not need to be vindicated. He submitted to His Father and the faithful plan placed before Him.

Can I follow His example? Can I choose instant and humble obedience to my Father? Only through Him and His power within me will it be possible. I desire to do this. I want to see my children doing it as they follow my example.

O Lord, please line up my wanter with my doer!

From before sunrise to beyond sunset, God’s Law dominated the psalmist’s life. In the incredible acrostic poem, Psalm 119 we see when the Word was important to him throughout his day.

Before dawn:
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words (147).

Daily:
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day (94).
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules (167).

Nightly:
I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law (55).
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise (148).

And at midnight:
At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules (62).

Why did the psalmist put such effort into studying Scripture? Why was it so important to him? Why do we need to study it and why is it so important to us? God’s Word is His trustworthy instruction manual, His marvelous salvation story, and His beautiful praise hymnal. In His Word, we learn how to offer our praise to Him, our Creator. John MacArthur says the primary purpose of the Psalms is to “engender proper praise and worship of God.”

Scripture is so very important to the believer, for not only does it instruct us in how to worship our God, but it also trains our hearts to look to Christ rather than to vain things. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways (Psalm 119:37).

We cannot speak truth to our own hearts. God’s Word is the refining fire that will do that for us. I heard an international super star express to her audience that you cannot go wrong if you simply follow your own heart. The psalmist understood that his heart was wayward and not naturally inclined to truth. He pled with God to teach his heart to align with the holy Word. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain (Psalm 119:36).

The result of this aligning is resistance to a selfish existence. The psalmist asks God to help him turn his heart away from sinful things, including self-focus. He is confessing a divided mind. He desires to pursue the things of God but his heart naturally pulls him elsewhere.

I, too, know my mind is divided. So many things vie for my affection and attention. I must pursue a deep and disciplined daily study of the Word, asking the Lord to open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (Psalm 119:18) so that I can exclaim with the psalmist, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

When I was walking around the outskirts of our neighborhood, the sidewalk led me behind a house with a fenceless backyard containing a large black dog. He ran quickly to the edge of what I assume was an invisible fence. He continued to find me intriguing as I journeyed by, acting like I was a threat to his existence or, at the very least, something fun to chew on! I have been attacked by dogs before. In fact, once a dog in my neighborhood (whom I nicknamed Cujo) charged me and drew blood on my shin. When I went to tell his owner, he charged me again, and the scene ended with my falling to the ground, then running with him chasing at my heels! Beware of Yorkies!

However, when I’m around dogs, I usually find myself cautious without being too fearful. Today was no different, even though that animal could have easily made a meal out of me. I looked straight ahead and stayed on my path and, thankfully, he stayed behind his magical line.

As I continued walking, I realized the spiritual application to this scene. Scripture uses language that warns us to pursue a path of righteousness and obedience to the Lord. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil (Proverbs 4:27). There is a path to tread that God has illumined for His children.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). The Word teaches us how to honor Him with our lives. Scripture may not instruct us whom to marry or what color to paint the living room, but it states thoroughly how to walk in faith and how to live in pursuit of Christ.

That dog was probably thirty feet from me. The enemy seems much closer. I have this path laid out before me, and if I stray from it, he is ready to pounce and chew me up. The Christian life really is this simple. There is rich blessing for God’s children when we choose obedience. Keeping our eyes on Him and our feet aimed at His truth keeps us in a close relationship with our heavenly Father. Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:1).

There is continual love and mercy available to those belonging to Christ Jesus. The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him . . . (Psalm 103:17).

Do I fear Him with reverence? Do I long for Him more than temptations to the right or the left? Am I cautious to stay on the path, moving forward without fear because I trust the hand that guides me?

There are scars on my earthly body from the times I have fallen into the thistles alongside the path. I’d even say the enemy has tasted my shin and drawn my blood. But praise be to my God, Who has saved me through the loving sacrificial act of His Son! I choose Him above all else. I choose the path of safety.

Children love to say the rhyme, “eenie meenie miny mo” when determining who is It. Wouldn’t it be great if life were that simple? Can’t decide something important? Just say a rhyme and wherever you land, you’re good to go!

Scripture doesn’t answer certain questions for us. Whom should I marry? What should I study in school? Where should I work? To which church should we belong? How many kids should we have?

I’ve often wanted the Lord to be really specific and just spell out what I should do. Sometimes He does this by offering a resounding “Yes” or “No!” Other times He doesn’t, and I have to proceed as wisely as possible based on the facts of the situation and any godly counsel I’ve received. What I have learned in either circumstance is that regardless of whether I get it right or wrong, He uses my choices. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is in vain. Everything is used to grow me.

There are times when I have fallen flat on my face because of the rotten choices I’ve made. Certainly these experiences have taught me more than when I have scored an A+ in decision-making. When I fall repeatedly in the same direction, having not learned from previous bruises, He still picks me up and tends to my scraped knees. I am in awe of His continuous compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. He knew those moments would come for me. His love is unwavering.

The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (Exodus 34:6).

Both of my knees are pretty ugly now. But these are scars I am trying not to regret because I know they serve a purpose in my life. He makes all things new. The wisdom I have gleaned will be put to good use in my life and hopefully in the lives of others as well. None of it is for naught. He will enable me to avoid falling if I keep my eyes on Him. Eenie meenie miny mo, Christ is It!!

I’ve decided the next song I write will have this lyric in it:
“The next time I fall, may it be into Your arms.”

Sometimes when less-than-perfect results are achieved we say we would like a “do-over.” A chance to get it right or to erase regret is so appealing when we know we could’ve and should’ve done something better. There have been so many moments in my life where I wish I had been given a “do over.” But I look back on all of these events, big and small, and I recognize that the Lord is using each and every mistake. My failures, my losses, my weaknesses, and my sins are all tools in His hands. My Heavenly Father is molding me into the likeness of His Son through my own personal muck and mire! This is unbelievably encouraging to my frail and feeble heart.

In fact, a do-over suddenly seems unnecessary. He has defeated my sin. He has covered my shame. He has redeemed my life out of the pit of death and darkness and damnation. So with each earthly misstep until that final fall to my knees at His throne, I have hope that He will use my blunders to grow me. He will heal my wounds with His very own. I entrust myself to Him who judges justly that I may learn to die to sin and live to righteousness. This is possible because of who Christ is and what He has done.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:22-25).

1. It’s not my responsibility to save others, make them happy, or fix situations beyond my control.
2. It’s not my responsibility to hold all things together.
3. It’s not my responsibility to shine or make sure I am loved.
4. It’s not my responsibility to please people or make sure I am understood.
5. It is my responsibility to seek Christ’s glory.
6. It is my responsibility to know Him more.
7. It is my responsibility to trust His sovereign plan.
8. It is my responsibility to put others ahead of myself.
9. It is my responsibility to work on my craft.
10. It is my responsibility to get out of His way.

Who is this child born in such a place?
A shelter that holds no earthly grandeur

Who is this One who comes from on high?
Heaven touching the earth feeling the soil that His very hands created

Who is He who fulfills hundreds of prophecies of long ago?
The very Word of God wearing a covering of human skin

Who is this baby crying in the night?
Breaking the silence between Immortal and mortal

God truly with us
God here among us
God in our hands
God in our view
God in our very ordinary lives

Who is this Child?
The Promised One
The Messiah
The Beginning
The End
The First
The Last
The Son of Man
The Prince of Peace
The Prince of Princes
The King of Kings
The Messenger of the Covenant
The Root of Jesse
The Shepherd
The Branch
The True Vine
The Way
The Truth
The Life
A Strength to the Poor
A Refuge in the Storm
A Horn of Salvation
The Redeemer
A Precious Stone
The Chief Corner-stone
The Image of God
The Power of God
The Wisdom of God
The Angel of God
The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world

Who is this Child?
He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Lord and our Savior
He is the very song of our heart