need

The Necessity of Neediness

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
    O LORD, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion
    who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame
    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4 May all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
    say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
    hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
    O LORD, do not delay! – Psalm 70:1-5 ESV

Who knew David could be a man of few words, but in this psalm, we see him cut to the chase and make his point to God in record time. He doesn’t beat around the bush, but instead comes out and tells God what he wants. “Please God, rescue me!” (Psalm 70:1 NLT), and he asks God to do it quickly.

Evidently, David’s need was overwhelming, and he felt the need to demand immediate action by God. In a Psalm of so few words, it is interesting to note what David took the time to say. He expressed his need for God’s salvation, his desire for justice for his enemies, and, most importantly, his awareness of his condition.

This was not the first time David felt compelled to call out to God in a moment of distress. In fact, this rather short psalm is almost a word-for-word copy of a section of another psalm he wrote.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God! – Psalm 4-:13-17 ESV

Davi can’t be accused of plagiarism because he authored both works, but he does borrow heavily from his previous psalm. In both cases, he states, “I am poor and needy.” This short phrase speaks volumes about David’s awareness of his condition. There is no hint of pride or self-sufficiency. His self-disclosing statement exhibits no sign of arrogance or hubris. Instead, it reveals a man who is painfully aware of his status and unashamed to admit it to God.

David is the king of Israel who commands a great army and lives in a beautiful palace surrounded by wealth and opulence. But inwardly, David knows he is needy, destitute, and unable to meet his needs. Whatever his circumstance, David knows he can’t save himself; he needs God. So, he begs God to hurry to his aid without delay.

O God, hurry to me.
You are my helper and my deliverer.
O Lord, do not delay.– Psalm 70:5 NLT

The first step in seeing God work in our lives is recognizing our need for His intervention. We must come to grips with our deficiency and His sufficiency. But that is harder than it sounds for most of us. We tend to want to solve our problems and meet our own needs. When faced with difficulties, our initial reaction is to rescue ourselves and, if successful, pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. It is hard to help someone who refuses to see their need for help. But David had reached the point where he would no longer let pride stand in his way. He knew that God was his helper and savior. He understood that there was nothing he could do to solve his problem. He needed God, so he called to Him.

David knew from experience that those who call on God are seldom, if ever, disappointed. He had learned that dependence upon God was a sign of strength, not weakness. Confession of his own insufficiency may be hard on the ego, but it is well worth any pain his pride may have to endure. Calling on God in his time of need had always proven to be the right response.

May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you.
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May God be praised!”– Psalm 70:4 NLT

In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul shared a personal account about his own moment of crisis and need. Paul had just disclosed that he received “visions and revelations from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 12:1 NLT). He described being “caught up to paradise” where he “heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words” (2 Corinthians 12:4 NLT). Yet, despite these potentially ego-boosting experiences, Paul states that God graciously kept his pride in check.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 NLT

Paul provides no details concerning the nature of his “thorny” problem but states that he repeatedly begged God to remove it. However, he received the same response from God all three times.

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

And Paul’s takeaway from this ongoing “need” was amazingly positive.

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT

Paul learned to see his problems as divinely ordained opportunities to witness God’s power in his life. His “weaknesses” proved to be positive and not negative. His insufficiency wasn’t a detriment but a blessing in disguise. This knowledge led him to make the seemingly contradictory statement: “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

From a human perspective, Paul’s words seem illogical and irrational. However, when viewed through Paul’s understanding of God’s power and sovereignty, they make all the sense in the world. His message of strength in weakness and joy in suffering was a regular part of his personal story and became integral to his pastoral message. He delivered a similarly nonsensical life lesson to the believers in Rome.

…we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 NLT

Paul and David shared a common dependence on God’s power and provision. Both men knew that their insufficiencies were assets and not liabilities. They viewed themselves as little more than unworthy vessels through which the power of God flowed. Paul put it this way to his audience in Corinth:

…we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NLT

It is normal and natural to despise weakness. Nobody longs to be powerless, helpless, and hopeless. David cried out, “O God, please be willing to rescue me. O Lord, hurry and help me” (Psalm 70:1 NLT) because he wanted to be delivered from his distress. Three separate times, Paul asked God to remove his thorn in the flesh. But both men knew their weakness, while unenjoyable, was the perfect opportunity to see God work.

All those who believe in an all-powerful, loving, and compassionate God must recognize the reality of their own weakness and His strength. They must come to grips with their need for Him. There is no place for self-sufficiency in the life of the believer. Self-reliance is dangerous for a God-follower because it diminishes one’s need for His help. The confession, “I am poor and needy,” must precede the statement “You are my help and my deliverer” (Psalm 70:5 ESV). Failure to recognize and confess our own insufficiency will always diminish our dependency upon God. If we are capable, God becomes dispensable. But David and Paul would warn against such a self-reliant and self-delusional outlook. They would encourage us to sing the chorus to the old hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour.”

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

Father, it seems the longer I live the more I recognize my true neediness. I guess it is that I am slowly learning the valuable lesson that I cannot save myself. I am not smart enough or powerful enough to rescue myself from the troubles of life. I need You. Thanks for the daily reminders of my own neediness. Help me to keep turning to You for help. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God’s Unfailing Love

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O Lord—how long?

4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. – Psalm 6:1-10 ESV

God rescues.
God saves.
God heals.
God shows compassion.
God hears.
God restores.
God answers.
God rebukes.
God disciplines.
God loves.

Those are just a few of the things that David knew about God. So, when things took a turn for the worse in his life, David turned to God. This Psalm of lament accompanies what appears to be a period of intense suffering. There are no details explaining the nature of his circumstance but David describes himself as having physical symptoms.

I am weak…my bones are in agony…I am sick at heart. – Psalm 6:2-3 NLT

David is enduring intense physical pain and emotional grief. He is weak, in agony, sick at heart, grief-stricken, and exhausted from mourning over his condition. To make matters worse, David is wrestling over whether his illness is a punishment from God.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord…Heal me. – Psalm 6:1-2 NLT

David had experience with God’s hand of rebuke. Earlier in his reign, he had committed a series of heinous crimes that brought down the wrath of God. This infamous event is recorded in 2 Samuel 11. While his troops were off fighting battles against the Ammonites, David remained behind in Jerusalem. As the commander in chief of the Israelite army, David should have been leading his men but, instead, he found himself facing a more formidable foe than the Ammonites.

As David lounged on the penthouse of his royal palace, he saw a woman bathing on a nearby rooftop. Overcome with lust, David inquired as to her identity. When he discovered she was the wife of one of his own soldiers, David sent for her and committed adultery with her. When the woman became pregnant from their illicit tryst, David went into damage control and attempted to cover up his sin. He sent for the woman’s husband, hoping the man’s return from the battlefront would result in a reunion with his wife that would help to explain her condition. But Uriah, the faithful husband, turned out to be an equally committed soldier. He refused to enjoy the pleasures of his wife’s company while his comrades were facing possible death against the Ammonites. David even resorted to getting Uriah drunk in the hopes of changing his mind but his plan failed. This forced David to take drastic measures. He sent Uriah back to the battlefront carrying sealed orders to the commanding general. David’s plan was to have Uriah killed on the frontlines by exposing him to the fiercest fighting.

His plan worked and Uriah was killed. After the prescribed period of mourning, David legally married Bathsheba and she gave birth to their son.

But the Lord was displeased with what David had done. – 2 Samuel 11:27 NLT

God’s displeasure would take the form of punishment. David’s indiscretion and immoral actions would require a payment, and the prophet informed David that the price would be high.

“Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord by doing this, your child will die.” – 2 Samuel 12:13-14 NLT

This pronouncement left David in distress. News of the infant’s pending death was more than he could bear.

David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. – 2 Samuel 12:16 NLT

For seven days, David implored God to spare the life of the child, but to no avail. After a week marked by tears, impassioned pleas, and fasting, David received the heart-breaking news that the child had died. But with the news, David’s countenance improved. He explained his change of attitude to his confused servants.

“I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” – 2 Samuel 12:22-23 NLT

David knew what it was like to fall under the disciplining hand of God Almighty. In the case of his sin with Bathsheba, David knew he was in the wrong and even confessed his sin before God. However, in Psalm 6, David seems unsure whether what he was experiencing was the result of something he had done. But it didn’t seem to matter. Whether his suffering was the result of his own sin or the sin of someone else, he was going to turn to God. He was going to appeal to God’s unfailing love and mercy.

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love. – Psalm 6:4 NLT

David says, “I am weak.” His appeal is not based on his worthiness, but his weakness. He knew he needed God. His strength was gone, his resources were spent, and his options were non-existent. He had come to the place where he understood his greatest argument before God was his own NEED. As long as he harbored any thoughts of self-sufficiency, he would miss out on God’s unfailing love.

No matter what was happening to David, it was not a sign that God no longer loved him. But David knew how easy it was to fail to experience the full effects of that love because of trying to meet his own needs. James 4:6 states that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” He opposes those who resist Him and refuse to humble themselves before Him. But He shows favor to those who have been humiliated by their circumstances or who simply understand their need for God.

David strongly believed in God’s ability to hear him and to act on his situation. When speaking of God’s deliverance, he uses the past tense to emphasize his certainty.

…the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer. – Psalm 6:8-9 NLT

God had already heard and would eventually answer. It was guaranteed because God is a loving and faithful God. David had confidence because he understood the character of His God. For David, it was not a matter of whether God would act, but only how long it would take until He would.

How long, O Lord, until you restore me? – Psalm 6:4 NLT

Isn’t that the question we all ask? But only God knows the answer and He is not obligated to give us the answer. Joseph spent more than three years in a prison suffering for a crime he did not commit. The Israelites spent 70 years in captivity for sins they DID commit. God will act when the time is right. He will do what is needed right when it needs to be done.

Like David, we need to look to God, but not for the solution to our problem. God may delay, but that does not mean God is not doing anything. Waiting is part of the process of trusting. It is while we wait for the answer that we learn to know the One from whom the answer will eventually come. The objective is NOT a solved problem, but a growing faith in the problem solver. We must seek to know God better even when our circumstances don’t necessarily improve.

David pleaded for God to heal his infant son but that prayer was not answered. Our sins have consequences. David had to pay for his disobedience and disregard for God’s commands, and the price was high. But while God meted out punishment, He also extended grace.

Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the Lord”), as the Lord had commanded. – 2 Samuel 12:24-25 NLT

God blessed David with a son who would eventually become his heir. Despite his sin, God was gracious and forgiving. He extended mercy and poured out His unfailing love in ways that David could never have imagined. God replaced his grief with joy. He removed David’s sense of guilt with gladness.

And as David faced yet another dark night of the soul, he knew he could turn to God. David had learned that his Heavenly Father loved him and had great things in store for him.  But sometimes, we have to wait to see God’s answer.

“Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessing, is just as necessary. Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, until the fulness of time, before He sent His Son. Our times are in His hands, He will avenge His select speedily. He will make haste for our help and not delay one hour too long.” – Andrew Murray, Waiting On God.

Father, help me to learn to wait well. And while I am waiting, let me look for You. Don’t let me obsess over the answer I think I need; instead, let me focus my attention on You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Secret of Being Content

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:10-13 ESV

At first glance, verse 10 presents what appears to be a somewhat awkward and misplaced transition. Paul seems to be jumping to a whole new topic – his recent receipt of a gift from the Philippian congregation. Yet, this rather abrupt change in direction is strategically placed; Paul seems to be bringing it up at this point because it has everything to do with what he has been discussing in this section. He is using their gift to make an important point about what it means to “think on these things.”

Paul has just stressed that they were to fix their thoughts on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, or commendable. He encouraged them to fill their minds with thoughts of those kings of actions and attitudes that reflect these godly characteristics. Then, almost out of nowhere, Paul brings up their recent gift to him. But notice that is it not the gift itself that Paul turns his attention to; it is what the gift represents to him. He tells them that he “rejoiced in the Lord greatly,” not because of the nature of what they gave, but because of the heart behind the gift – “you have revived your concern for me” (Philippians 4:10 ESV). 

The gift was a tangible expression of their love and concern for him. Paul lets them know that he always knew they cared for him, but they had been hindered in expressing their love in either word or deed because of the barrier of distance and his own unique circumstances in Rome. After all, he was hundreds of miles away, and his house arrest made personal visits difficult.

For Paul, the gift they gave him was not the point. He doesn’t even mention what the gift was. It was simply a timely reminder of their love for him and, as he thought about that, he couldn’t help but rejoice. Their thoughtfulness in sending him the gift was an example of whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, or commendable.

Too often, we allow conditions and circumstances to determine the degree of our joy. When things go well for us, we react with happiness. When they don’t, we can find ourselves struggling with disappointment and disillusionment, wondering what we did to make God angry with us. But circumstances were never meant to be the metrics for measuring our joy or contentment, and neither were material possessions. But the truth is, far too many of us place excessive importance on stuff and things, expecting them to provide a sense of worth and using them as our primary source for finding satisfaction and significance in life.

The Philippians saw Paul as someone in need. He was under house arrest in Rome, so his circumstances were less than ideal. He had no source of income, so his financial situation was challenging. They may have heard that his housing was inadequate and his food supply was insufficient. From their perspective, it must have appeared that Paul was in dire straights, as he awaited trial before Caesar, so they sent him a gift. And it was only natural that they would do so. They wanted to do something to help alleviate any suffering he may be experiencing as a result of his conditions.

But Paul, while grateful for their graciousness and love, used this as another teaching moment, letting them know that, despite what he was going through, he really had no needs. It wasn’t about the condition of his circumstances or the abundance or lack of material things. Paul makes that point quite clear in what has become one of the most well-known and oft-quoted verses from the Bible.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. – Philippians 4:11 ESV

Consider what Paul is saying. His mention of the delay in receiving their gift was not intended to convey that he had been in a state of need before its arrival. He had not been sitting around waiting for someone to do something about his circumstances. He had not been longing for a gift of some kind that would lighten his load or improve his living conditions. No, he said that he had been perfectly content; he was at peace. Their gift was deeply appreciated as an expression of their love, but the gift itself didn’t feel a gaping void in his life. Whatever it was that they sent was not going to make him any more happy or satisfied than he already was.

Over the years, Paul had learned a valuable lesson that he was not attempting to pass on to them.

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. – Philippians 4:12 NLT

Paul refers to what he has learned as a secret or mystery. The Greek word he used is myeō, and it means “to initiate into the mysteries.” He had been taught something that few people ever get to know on their own, and the lesson he learned was taught to him by Jesus Christ Himself. Remember what Paul stated earlier in this same letter: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT).  Jesus was humble, obedient, selfless, sacrificial, and obedient to God the Father, even to the point of death.

Paul must have been familiar with the story of when the disciples brought Jesus food and encouraged Him to eat, but Jesus responded, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about” (John 4:32 NLT). As they debated among themselves where this food could have come from, Jesus told them, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work” (John 4:34 NLT).

Paul was probably aware of another encounter Jesus had with a would-be disciple, to whom Jesus declared, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58 NLT).

For Paul, contentment had nothing to do with the content of a man’s life. Contentment had little to do with material possessions like clothing, food, or proper living arrangements. These things, while necessary, did not bring Paul joy or satisfaction. The size of his personal portfolio was not a determiner of Paul’s contentment. The condition of his circumstances was not how Paul measured his sense of satisfaction. The ebbs and flows of material prosperity had no little or no impact on Paul. He didn’t allow the ups and downs of life circumstances to dictate his overall sense of peace and joy. And, according to Paul, the key to this rather radical view on life was his relationship with Jesus. It was Jesus who gave him the strength to live as he did.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 NLT

Paul could survive house arrest, because of Jesus. He could put up with less-than-satisfactory living conditions, because of Jesus. He could do without comfortable clothes or good food, because of Jesus. But Jesus didn’t just give Paul the strength to survive deprivation and neglect. He could survive and thrive despite all the temptations that come with material wealth – all because of Jesus. He had remained undistracted by the allure of fame and fortune, because of Jesus. He was not prone to envy other ministers who were more popular or prosperous. For Paul, this freedom from jealousy, dissatisfaction, and discontentment was all the result of his relationship with Jesus Christ.

In his first letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul reminded them that when he had first arrived in their city, he had not been out to impress them or gain their approval.

I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 NLT

His emphasis had been on Jesus. His strength had come from Jesus. He came to them, filled with fear and trepidation, but he found the power to do what he had been called to do – in Christ. In a second letter to that same congregation, Paul emphasized that the strength he received from Christ allowed him to endure anything so that the gospel might be spread and the church of Jesus Christ might be strengthened.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NLT

For Paul, suffering and troubles came with the territory. They were part of the job description of being a follower of Christ, and he was perfectly content to endure all that came with being a faithful servant of Christ. Life isn’t about ideal circumstances or the presence of material comforts; it’s about contentment in Christ.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Out of the Depths.

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.” – Jonah 2:1-3 ESV

Jonah 2:1-9

If nothing else, this prayer of Jonah proves that you can pray from just about anywhere at any time. You don’t have to have a “prayer closet” or a special place in which you pray. Prayer is available to us 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year. We can call out to God whenever and wherever we want and the best part is, He hears us. Jonah prayed from the belly of a fish. Not exactly a worshipful environment, but it was those less-than-perfect conditions that led Jonah to pray. His circumstances provided an ideal opportunity to talk to God. Finding himself in the digestive track of a large sea creature didn’t dampen Jonah’s prayer life, it enhanced it. And if you doubt that Jonah’s story holds any credibility, you have Jesus to contend with, because He seems to have considered Jonah’s three days in the fish’s stomach as true. He used it when referring to His upcoming death. “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40 ESV).

It was in the midst of his distress that Jonah called out to God. Prior to that point in time, Jonah had been busy running from God. He had decided to disobey God’s will and follow his own. And he was going to learn that you can’t outrun God. You can’t hide from God. Not only that, you can’t find yourself in a predicament that puts you out of touch with God. David seemed to have learned that same lesson. “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me” (Psalm 139:7-10 ESV). God is always nearby. He sees. He hears. He answers. It’s interesting to note that Jonah says, “I called out.” This prayer was prayed while he was still in the belly of the fish. It was while he was right in the middle of his worst-case scenario. And yet, Jonah says, “he answered me” and “you heard my voice”. This isn’t a post-salvation prayer, but a smack-dab-right-in-the-middle-of-it prayer. But Jonah knew that God heard him and was going to answer him. He was confident that God was there and that He cared.

What a wonderful reminder for those of us who might find ourselves swallowed up by our circumstances, with the floods surrounding us, the waves and billows passing over us. We can call out to God and not only will He hear us, He will answer us. Jonah had to wait three days for his deliverance, but it came. He probably showed the wear and tear of his ordeal. He would never forget the experience. And he would never fail to remember God graciously rescuing him from the consequences of his own stubborn rebellion. Trials and troubles tend to make prayer warriors out of all of us. When we find ourselves in serious trouble, we suddenly get serious about prayer. It’s amazing how the person who claims, “I don’t know how to pray” can discover the secret to prayer when the need arises. And that seems to be the key – need. Jonah needed God. He was at a loss to do anything about his condition. He was helpless and hopeless and in desperate need of rescue, so he turned to God. Prayer is always powered by dependency, not pride. Prideful people don’t need God. The powerless are those that pray most powerfully. Desperation has a way of eliminating all pretense and pride. When we come to a place where we truly need God we seem to have no problem talking to Him. And that should be a lesson for us. Need is a primary factor for praying effectively. An awareness of our dependency on God will greatly improve our communication with God.

This reminds of the great old hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour. One of the less-known verses says, “I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.” Need is a missing ingredient in many of our prayer lives. And there is a huge difference between needs and wants. We tend to bring God all our wants and desires, but fail to recognize our need. We need HIM, not what He can give us. We need His deliverance, His presence, His power, His peace, His guidance, His joy, His forgiveness, His grace, His mercy, His love. We need Him every hour of every day. The chorus of that old hymn should be the daily prayer of every believer. “I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.”

Day 16 – Mark 1:15; Luke 4:15; John 4:43-54

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

Believe!

Mark 1:15; Luke 4:15; John 4:43-54

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced, “The kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!.” – Mark 1:15 NLT

As in the case of Jesus’ late night encounter with Nicodemus, the Pharisee, the word, “believe” plays a prominent role in today’s passages. Jesus has made His way to the region of Galilee. Luke tells us, “He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone” (Luke 4:15 NLT). Mark tells us He was picking up John’s message that the kingdom of God was near, calling people to repentance and telling them to BELIEVE the Good news. Jesus was already beginning to gain a reputation. Word of His arrival in Jerusalem had begun to spread. His cleansing of the Temple and His confrontation with the religious leadership had everyone talking. Most certainly, news about His miracle in Cana when He turned ordinary water into wine had spread like wild fire. No doubt, news about what had just happened in the Samaritan village had gotten out and was met with mixed reviews. People weren’t really sure what to make of Jesus at this point. They were intrigued and attracted. Jesus was front-page news. He was the talk of the town.

So when He made His way back to Cana where He had turned the water into wine, he was met by a government official from the nearby town of Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. When this man had heard that Jesus was in the vicinity, he had walked nearly 20 miles to meet him. His motivation? A sick child. More than likely, was employed by the government of Herod. He would not have been a popular individual with most Jews. Herod was closely linked to the Romans and was despised by the Jews as a pawn under their control. So more than likely, this man was not exactly popular among the people of Galilee. Yet, he had a need and was attracted to Jesus. He begged Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son. Interestingly, there is no indication that Jesus had healed anyone up to this point. He had performed the miracle in Cana, but that was it. Something prompted this man, perhaps his desperation over his son’s illness, but he somehow knew that Jesus could help him.

Jesus responds to the man with an interesting question. “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” (John 4:48 NLT). I truly believe this was a rhetorical question on the part of Jesus. He knew the answer and it was, “No!” The miracles and signs performed by Jesus were going to be required to dispel the disbelieve of the people. This generation, much like their forefathers, had become stubborn and unbelieving. Their faith had grown faint and their expectations of God’s activity in their lives, dulled by time and God’s silence. But this man pleaded with Jesus, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies” (John 4:49 NLT). He was desperate. He was needy. He was hurting. He had no other alternatives and had obviously exhausted all other options. When Jesus told him to go home and that his son would live, we’re told that the “man believed what Jesus said and started home” (John 4:50 NLT). All he needed was a word from Jesus and he was on his way. He believed. He took Jesus at His word. And before he could even get home, he was met on the way by his own servants who excitedly shared the news that his son’s fever had suddenly broken. A quick check of the facts revealed that his son’s sudden improvement in health came at just the time Jesus had said, “Your son will live.” When he got home and told his family and servants all that happened and explained why his son was better, John tells us “his entire household believed in Jesus” (John 4:53 NLT).

The amazing thing is that there would be those who saw Jesus perform miracle after miracle, heal person after person, even raise the dead, and still not believe in Him. This man’s belief was linked to need. He realized his desperate need for Jesus. Those who received healing from the hand of Jesus usually had no trouble believing in Jesus. They had been personally and intimately impacted by Him. They had met Him at a point of need and He had miraculously met their need, not based on their worth or merit, but purely based on the grace and mercy of Jesus. The same is true for us today. Our belief begins with the recognition of our need. We need Jesus. We are in a desperate place without Him. Our need must drive us to Him. We must give up all other options and acknowledge that only He can solve the problem we face. The woman at the well had a need. She was morally contaminated and spiritually thirsty. Jesus met her need and she believed. Thousands upon thousands of others would refuse to admit their need for Jesus and never believe in Him. Oh, they might be attracted to His miracles and intrigued by His words. But because of pride, self-righteousness, or fear of man, they would never come to the point of need that would drive them to Jesus exclaiming, “Lord, please!” What’s your greatest need today? Are you willing to bring it to Jesus and believe?

Jesus, there are so many things that keep us from You. Pride, arrogance, self-sufficiency, fear of man, and our own stubborn refusal to admit our need. We hate weakness, especially in ourselves. We refuse to confess our need for You. We want to think we can do it all ourselves. But need precedes belief. I will only believe in You as much as I recognize my need for You. Keep me needy. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

 

Psalm 70 – Day 1

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

The Necessity Of Neediness.

“But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay.” – Psalm 70:5 NLT

Who knew David could be a man of few words, but in this Psalm we see him cut to the chase and make his point to God in record time. He doesn’t beat around the bush, but instead comes right out and tells God what he wants. “Please God, rescue me!” (Psalm 70:1 NLT). And he asks God to do it quickly. Evidently, David’s need is pressing and he feels the pressure to demand immediate action by God. In a Psalm of so few words, it is interesting to note what David took the time to say. He expressed his need for God’s salvation, his desire for justice for his enemies and, lastly, but probably most importantly, his awareness of his own condition. David says,”I am poor and needy.” This short phrase speaks volumes about David’s awareness of his condition. There is no hint of pride or self-sufficiency. You see no arrogance in this statement. Instead, it reveals a man who is painfully aware of his status and unashamed to admit it to God. He is the king of Israel, the commander of a great army, living in a beautiful palace surrounded by rich treasures. But inwardly, David knows he is needy, destitute, and unable to meet his real needs. He cannot save himself. He needs God. The key for any of us seeing God work in our lives is coming to the realization that we need Him. And before that can happen, we have to come to the same place David did – where we are ready to acknowledge our need. But that is harder than it sounds for most of us. We tend to want to solve our problems and meet our own needs. We want to rescue ourselves and then pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. It is hard to help someone who refuses to see their need for help. But David had reached the point where he was no longer going to let pride stand in his way. He knew that God was his helper and savior. He knew that there was nothing he could do to solve his problem. He needed God. So he called to Him. And David knew from experience that those who call on God are seldom, if ever, disappointed. “But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, ‘God is great!'” (Psalm 70:4 NLT).

Father, it seems the longer I live the more I recognize my true neediness. I guess it is that I am slowly learning the valuable lesson that I cannot save myself. I am not smart enough or powerful enough to rescue myself from the troubles of life. I need You. Thanks for the daily reminders of my own neediness. Help me to keep turning to You for help. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org