Posts Tagged ‘David’

THE AUTHOR OF MY PROSPERITY

Posted: September 15, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers.”

– Psalm 1:3 NIV

Careful inspection of Psalm 1 reveals there is a lifestyle that results in productive living and the outcome of that lifestyle is prosperity. Verse 1 of Psalm 1 illustrates the depiction of a blessed man being one who is mindful about the company he keeps. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” – Psalm 1:1 NIV I don’t believe this verse is just referring to the proximity of my association with the types of people mentioned in this verse, as much as it is highlighting the necessity of not adopting such mindsets that would inhibit my ability to be a blessed man. If I’m never in the company of sinners how can I lead them to Christ?

Walk, stand, sit. What is my daily posture as it relates to God’s word and the application of its principles? A blessed man relies upon the truth of scripture as the basis, foundation and means of experiencing the type of lifestyle God has ordained for those who seek sincerely to be living sacrifices for Jesus. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2 NIV The principle of prosperity, from the perspective of the Scripture, is inclusive of an intimate personal relationship where the sincere seeker is invested in God’s word and the application of its truth. It is illustrated in Psalm 1 as a man who delights in God’s law and meditates on it (i.e, thinks about it, reflects upon it, opens his mind to understanding greater revelation and illumination of what is written, sincerely desires to understand and accept God’s word as the authoritative doctrine on living a spiritual life).

In the gospel of John, Jesus reiterates this truth revealed in Psalm 1 by explaining to His disciples the necessity of the word of God in being productive. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:7 NIV If I walk in the way God has chosen for me to take, standing firmly upon His word as the foundation for living the life He has ordained for me as His child and consistently sit at His feet as one who sincerely seeks to learn from the Master ( a posture of humility) then, as the blessed man is described as one who is like a tree planted by the rivers of water and his leaves never wither, I should encounter prosperity in every aspect of my life (spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial, relational, and professional).

May God bless you and help you to walk in His ways, stand firm in your faith and sit at His feet to grow in His grace and truth so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

ASSERTIVE FAITH

Posted: March 2, 2012 in Books, Christianity, Education, Family, History, Life, News, Parenting, Quotes, Uncategorized
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“Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.” – Psalm 6:8 NIV

Recent reflection upon the Psalms (particularly Psalms 4-6) has been a tremendous source of inspiration that has motivated me throughout this week and helped me to remain focused and positive minded in how I approached each day. The last 2 posts, including this one, was inspired from what was learned from reviewing Psalm 6. Reflecting upon David’s boldness in how he prayed and the outcome of that boldness in how he lived his life and viewed his faith relationship with God fueled me and gave me strength, comfort and encouragement. It also brought back to my remembrance a familiar passage of scripture I’ve enjoyed reflecting upon and affirms the theme of boldness and expectancy mentioned in these recent posts.

In 2 Chronicles 20 there is a great story about the value of expectancy, boldness and assertive faith that has always energized me when I relfect back on it, especially when my mind begins to wander down the road of insecurity in the direction of doubt and unbelief. King Jehoshaphat is faced with overwhelming odds and the imminent threat of calamity moves him to seek the LORD through prayer. What I enjoy about this passage in 2 Chronicles 20 is the manner in how he approached God with his concern and the specific thing he said that has always stuck with me since I first read and reflected upon this chapter.”If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.” – 2 Chronicles 20:9 NIV In essence, what I hear Jehoshaphat saying is, ‘LORD no matter what the reason is that has brought about our current state of affairs as a nation. I believe when we look to you sincerely, believing you as God for our protection and preservation, You will listen to us and help us in our time of need.’ You can’t get more bold and assertive than that!

God’s reply, “This is what the LORD says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'” – 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 NIV Boldness produces an assertive faith that fuels us with inspiration and motivation to face our challenges chin to chin believing God will determine the outcome in our favor, because that’s what He promises to those who believe. Assurance and confidence in God to defend us and deliver us will prompt us to go in the direction of adversity and calamity, as David approached Goliath, confident we will overcome because our bold, assertive faith in God says we will.

BE BOLD

Posted: March 1, 2012 in Books, Christianity, Education, Family, History, Life, News, Parenting, Quotes, Uncategorized
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“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”

– Psalm 4:1 NIV

As my mom and I reflect upon the Psalms, now up to Psalm 6, I see a pattern of boldness in David’s prayers in the way he speaks with God. That boldness suggests to me that David does not speak timidly with uncertainty, as if God does not hear him, or God is disinterested as David speaks with Him in prayer. David’s boldness tells me that he expects God to hear him and respond. David’s example reinforces what the bible teaches about coming before the throne of grace with confidence. This same boldness is then displayed in David’s life when he faces challenges like Goliath. This tells me that my boldness in prayer with God will result in a bold faith when I face life’s troubles and circumstances. So as my mind reflects upon God telling Joshua to be strong and courageous, that suggests to me God was saying, ‘Joshua be bold in your faith. Your bold faith will allow you to take possession of every place you set your foot.’

“For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” – Psalm 5:12 NIV Do I currently see God as the One who is shielding me with favor surrounding me with His love? I believe David’s boldness is connected directly to how he sees God that also plays out in his life. David sees God as one to approach with confidence believing God is accessible and responsive to his concerns. David also believes God cares about him, because David expresses specific intimate emotions that he expects God to address along with his external conflicts. When I approach God, what am I thinking about with regard to who He is and His response to my petition? This is why the book of Hebrews teaches that it is impossible to please God without faith, because the one who approaches Him in prayer must believe that He is God and He will reward the one who diligently seeks Him. God rewards boldness attributed to who He is and what He will do in accordance with His will for those who believe.

David’s pattern of prayer illustrated in the Psalms challenges me to embrace the same boldness so I can experience the same measure of intimacy and empowerment in my faith walk with God as he did. As you investigate the life of David in the scriptures you can see how boldness was a consistent part of how he lived life and the Psalms gives us an intimate look into why it was that way for David. If God challenged Joshua to be strong and courageous, which in essence was saying be bold, does God expect the same from me? If so, can I share the same consistency of boldness with life’s challenges as David did? Wisdom would reply, there is only one way to know for sure.

May God empower you to speak with boldness in prayer to encounter boldness in your faith walk to live victoriously and be successful.

CONSISTENCY OF EXPECTANCY

Posted: March 1, 2012 in Books, Christianity, Education, Family, History, Life, News, Parenting, Quotes, Uncategorized
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“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” – Psalm 5:3 NIV

Durning our evening bible study with my mom Tuesday evening, a reflection on the book of Psalms, we reviewed Psalm 6 and noticed a shift in the theme, tone and mood from Psalms 4 and 5. We both felt that the tone or mood of Psalm 6 was an expression of anxiety and distress in comparison to Psalms 4 and 5 that felt more representative of a tone or mood of joy. In all 3 Psalms we see a consistent expression of assuarnce and confidence in God from David, but the mood shifts. Just like these Psalms and David’s disposition from Psalms 4-5 to Psalm 6 our mood shifts from day to day, moment to moment and from circumstance to circumstance. What does not change is David’s boldness to make known to God what He desires and expects from God being direct and specific about his needs and who he understands God to be despite his circumstances.

Discussing Psalm 6 with my mom began to excite me the more we talked, because I began to reflect on how David’s interaction with God in prayer and conversation was motivating me to consider how I can grow in my prayer life and faith walk with God. Despite mentioning being faint, in agony, in anguish of soul, worn out, weak and sorrowful, David declares God hears him and accepts his prayer. In Psalm 6:8 David speaks to his circumstances with boldness despite expressing intense anxiety of emotions from internal and external circumstances. I see this as assertive faith. Though things may not be currently as I would prefer them to be, I will begin to declare with boldness and assertiveness my expectation for change. David does not resign to believing he is without hope. From Psalm 4-6 David’s consistent refrain is that God will hear him and answer him. I got excited, because I expressed to my mom that David was teaching me through these Psalms that even though momentarily I may have a shift in my mood, due to my circumstances, I can pray like David with an assertive faith and speak words of empowerment and encouragement to myself that will change my disposition even if my circusmtances don’t change at the moment. My external circumstances may not be changing, but the atmosphere of my soul is as I pray with boldness with an assertive faith.

At the conclusion of the bible study the thought came to me about how consistent are we in prayer with expectancy that God hears us and will answer us? I am learning my assurance in God and confidence in Him grows as I challenge myself to believe Him to act despite the condition of my current circumstances. Do my prayers sound like I have confidence in God to hear me and respond? Life has taught me I can struggle with prayer and at times feel so inhibited that I choose not to pray, but how consistent am I with expectancy God hears me and will answer my prayers? My reflection upon Psalm 6 and looking intently into David’s intimate prayer life with God encourages and challenges me to continue to seek God and grow in my prayer life expecting God to hear and respond.

May God strengthen you in your faith walk and prayer life and help you grow in assurance and confidence in Him to hear you when you pray and respond to bless you and cause you to prosper even in the face of misfortune, loss and injustice.