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Do you ever find yourself zoning out while driving? Not being distracted by devices or music or anything, just reflexively cruising down the road on a drive you’ve made countless times, almost on autopilot, as your mind wanders. Suddenly, you snap back to awareness & realize you’ve gone 20 miles without truly paying attention to the road – if you’re lucky. This mind-wandering behind the wheel is a somewhat common phenomenon, especially in occupations working long hours centered around transit, but as all distracted driving, can easily become deadly in the wrong situation. 

The writer of Psalm 50 describes how God is the judge of righteousness, and how the wicked will be accordingly dealt with – but also, warns readers to consider the reason for sacrifice. In verses 12-13, the obvious is stated about God: “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?” In the days of animal sacrifice, it wasn’t the food & sustenance God needed – the whole world and everything within is His already. It is the giving of thanks symbolized that pleases God; the trust that in giving what you have, God will provide what you need. The glorification and gratitude of the giving to God is what pleases Him, not the things you give that come from Him in the first place. 

Does a sacrificial life ever become something you zone out on? Do you ever find yourself giving your time and donating what you have to help others simply because it’s just a thing you do, rather than because your heart seeks to glorify & thank God for providing & giving you the opportunity to share what you have? It can be easy to fall into a routine and grow used to making a weekly donation or volunteering every so often just to make ourselves feel good or simply out of habit – such is the pride of human nature. But this scripture warns us that it’s not the sacrifice God intends for us – it’s the complete, fully intentional, joyful heart that does so that He wants from us. As verse 22 exclaims, “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Hebrews 13:15 reminds us “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” Psalm 50 reminds us our true sacrifice is the praise and thankfulness we demonstrate to God in our acknowledgement of His good, rather than a simple act which can be done by just anyone. Yes, the giving itself is good and pleasing and necessary, but it is in the joyous hearts and lips that praise Him that please Him. I pray for self-awareness and strength of mind today, that His goodness and righteousness would always be on my heart and aware in my mind – not to simply coast on habit of giving, but to actively seek & thank Him for what gifts I have to give. I pray this joy would be what motivates me to give joyfully what I have for Him, and to praise His name at all times on the forefront of my mind & in my life.

During the year of 2021, I had the opportunity to be still. A Lot. In the beginning of the year I broke my hand. Many things were put on hold as I was unable to use my dominant hand for 4 months. After my hand healed I endured a few months of an infected tooth and lots of lying around as I felt horrible.  And finally, when I felt like I might be crawling out of my cocoon, I fell and broke my ankle. This led to 6 weeks of sitting around. A Lot.

Being still was hard. I felt very unproductive and lazy. But, over the course of the year I learned some invaluable lessons about what God thought of me. If I had not been forced through injury and sickness to be still, I would have missed learning what God had for me during that time.

Today, as we read Psalms 46, we read this very well known verse,

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalms 46:10 (American Standard Version)

To be still, does not just mean to sit in a chair and stair out the window. Although, I did lots of that when I could not put any weight on my foot for 2 weeks. The Hebrew word for “still” used in the verse above is raphah, meaning to sink down, relax, and let go, cease striving, or withdraw. In the Christian Standard Version of this same verse, it begins with, “Stop fighting, and know that I am God.” There is a sense that this chapter of Psalms was written during a time of conflict of war. So, God is calling them to stop fighting. He wants them to stop the frantic activity, to let go and put down their weapons of war.

God commands them to do this because He wants them to stop, to take the time to realize that He is in control. When we are frantically running around and trying to find answers or solutions to our problems we loose sight of God. We forget about the power that God has.

We can see how powerful God is when we look at earlier verses in Psalms 46.

God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
Psalms 46:2-3 (CSB)

Psalms 46:10 is a deep reminder to us that “even though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake,” God is in control. We are called to be still and remember who He is. To be still does not mean to sit and do nothing, but to stop fearing, to stop fighting. We are to be still and acknowledge the greatness and power of God.

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)

Trust. Our relationships are based on it.  Our marriages thrive on it.  The love we feel for individuals depends on it.  Without trust, we can be cynical, angry, and have a negative outlook regarding the relationships we have with people in our lives.

We know from our experiences, people around us will “let us down.”  Humans by nature are sinful and they will disappoint us.  Unfortunately, the impact our human relationships have on our trust can alter the way in which we trust God. The only type of trust we know is “earthly trust” and we consistently are reminded of the disappointments and the times individuals let us down.

God reminds us time and time again to put our hope and trust in Him.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation (Psalm 13:5)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! (Psalm 40:4)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Fear.  We make decisions because we are afraid.  We don’t make decisions because we are afraid.  Fear can be a catalyst, or it can cause paralysis.   Fear can drive people to avoid failure and or drive them to seek success.

Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

…say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4)

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

“I will trust and not be afraid.”  How would our lives be different or improved if we were not afraid and we trusted God?  Might we have a better outlook in life knowing that our God will always be there for us?  Might we be happier knowing that no matter how difficult the situation, our God understands our pain and will be there to provide us peace and rest?

My prayer for you today is you trust in our Lord.  Trust that his promises are real.  I pray that you put aside your fear and know that God is always

Today’s Reading:  Revelation 4

Do you like to be on the winning team?  I never had much athletic talent, so I’ve never actually been on the team that won.  But if you know me at all, you know I love most sports.  Even if “my team” isn’t playing, I’ll pick a favorite side and have fun cheering them on to victory.  Case in point – last night we got our first look at this year’s College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings.  My team isn’t on the list (and won’t be on the list even if they win out).  But, it is still fun.  If it the top four hold, I have to decide whether I cheer for UT where my friend’s son is in school or OSU because of my Big Ten loyalties.  Either way, I want to be on the winning side.

In obedience to God’s instruction (Revelation 1:1-2), the apostle John recorded the visions God shared with him about the end times in the book of Revelation.  Like B.J mentioned yesterday, this book can be a bit scary because it serves as a warning to all about what is to come.  Revelation, however, is also mean to be a message of hope.  Hope that comes from the assurance that good ultimately triumphs over evil.  While Satan and his allies will rage battle against God, Revelation gives us a picture of Jesus as the conquering King. Team Jesus wins!

Our text for today is Revelation chapter 4.  The main point of this short 11 verse chapter comes right at the end in verse 11.  All creatures in heaven and earth will praise and honor God because he is the creator and sustainer of everything.  This is the victory cheer.  I’m so glad to be on the winning side as Jesus reigns victorious forever.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Revelation 4:11).

Today’s Reading : Micah 7:1-20

I am constantly reminded of the complexities of adults and children and how to interact with our children and our adult counterparts. A couple days ago I was having a conversation with a new friend and we started to talk about our past experiences and how that has created the people who we are today. As we were having a dialogue, this new friend gave me a profound perspective into myself. You are not your child and your child will not be you.

We were talking about how we raise our kids and compared it to how we were raised. We talked about the opportunity and the ability that we have to be with our children on a daily basis and how we give them the resources and chances to give them the best opportunity to succeed.

I was recounting to this friend how my kids have me as a resource to help them with homework and to be there on a daily basis to help shepherd them through life. The friend says the children only know that which is what I have given them. So they only know : me being there to support them and to guide them. They don’t know anything different. This is their only point of reference. This made me have the realization and a redirection of myself because I had compared who I am and how I was raised. These are two completely different mutually exclusive points of view between who I am and who my children are. My children will never know how I was raised because I am raising them in a different manner.

Micah 7:1-2

Woe is me! For I have become
    as when the summer fruit has been gathered,
    as when the grapes have been gleaned:
there is no cluster to eat,
    no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.
2 The godly has perished from the earth,
    and there is no one upright among mankind;

In Micah, Micah is telling the children of Israel a different perspective of how God is with you. Micah has had the intuition and the revelation from the Holy Spirit. Micah understands and knows the mission of God. He has no fear of what’s to come. The others don’t have that understanding. The others are trying to make it work. Micah is telling them the good news with the hope of them retaining it.

Micah 7: 7-8; 18 

But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
    I will wait for the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me.

⁸ Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
    when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me.

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”

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Imagine for an example, trick-or-treating with the kids. When you are trick-or-treating with your kids, the kids are comfortable and not afraid of the dark or the people or the situation of that night. In that particular moment, your younger kids feel comfortable with you knowing that you will protect them from anything that could possibly harm them in the darkness. They are resting in you knowing that you are stronger and have your best interest at heart. But without you the night is scary. The neighborhood that they know in the daytime is not like the neighborhood that I know at night. They can be confused and they could be guarded.

In the time that Micah is writing, the truth is that Israel is in the night time of their despair. They are afraid they are lonely, they are confused. But Micah is giving them life and the hope of what is potential for them. They don’t have to be in the darkness by themselves if they come to God.

There are many times in our life that we do not know where we are going or what’s the next plan. We do understand that in God we have that safety in the security of him being there with us. We have that assurance that his steadfast love is there for us.