Psalms Ch.41-60

Depression and Anxiety is our contemporary plague. If you are burdened by these overwhelming emotions; instead of turning to medications that temporarily address the symptom while leaving the cause untouched completely; a thirst for God quenching the root of all pain. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God….why so disturbed with me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”(Psalm 42: 1,2,11) An antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God’s goodness to you and his people. This will take your mind off the present situation and give hope that it will improve. To focus your thoughts on God’s ability to help you rather than on your inability to help yourself is your antidepressant; meditate on God’s reliable word. Often times offering yourself to another will relieve your own depression because you are out of your own head when you help another; our minds are dangerous playgrounds for the evil one to take his foothold on you. Have you ever made a movie in your mind of events from your perspective and when you are able to get outside yourself and peek in; that movie was not reality, but a figment of your imagination? For that matter, I would challenge you to really ask yourself; If I had 24 hours to live, would I spend time on analyzing, arguing or brooding this issue? If the answer is no, then perhaps you just haven’t realized the trap the devil leads you in to waste your time. If you didn’t play into the dramas that so many of us partake in; how much more of a threat would you be to the one who fears you? Imagine the leadership you would bring to the kingdom of God if you could bypass the “drama”, turn your back on illusion and falsehood, and be an active force in your real purpose.

We come across decisions daily ranging from insignificant no brainers to major life-changing decisions. God wants to guide us in all things big and small. We need the guidance from God and we need God to be our guide in each step. His guidance is our map with directions we can follow and He is our companion that ensures we interpret the directions and make it fulfill His will. The Bible is this “map” and the Holy Spirit is our guide and friend. The best way to plan for a trip is to use both the map and the guide; the Holy Spirit will speak to you as you study God’s word and teach you things you would have missed without his leadership. “For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”(Psalm 48:14)

There is contrast between true and false faith. Going through the motions and claiming you believe in God but live with your back turned to him is not good enough. Because you think you are a good person does not mean that you have favor with the Lord in His eyes. Going to church every Sunday or on Holidays and living by the golden rule are not enough either. God desires sincere love, trust, thanks and praise. Sincerity is key here. To have passion in your heart for God and to acknowledge God exists are two totally different things. God punishes people for treating him lightly. First, he speaks to the superficially religious people who bring their sacrifices out of obligation. God doesn’t need what the people are giving; that is not the point of sacrifice; the beneficiary is the person who sincerely sacrifices. “Hear, O my people, and I will speak…If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it…Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High…I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”(Psalm 50:7-15) He wants the superficial religious people to give genuine thanksgiving and trust. Second, He despises wicked, hardhearted people for their evil words and immoral lives. He warns the evildoers to consider their deeds and repent; for one day they will be judged. “And the heavens proclaim his righteousness; for God himself is judge…You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue in deceit. You speak continually against your brother…But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue; He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”(Psalm50:19-23) Some people put on a front to show good intention and speak of love for God; but are filled with evil and deceit. They claim his promises but refuse to obey him. This is a sin and people will be judged for it. It is hypocritical to not be as you claim to be. To allow the inconsistency to perpetuate is to show that you do not follow God. If you realize the disconnect between your words and your actions, God is lovingly waiting to forgive you.

There are many people who don’t believe in the One true God. Although they wouldn’t call themselves atheist; they might as well because their acceptance of all gods as their god is the same thing. Have you met those floater types of people; wishy washy in who God is; those that say “all religions lead to God”; or “let’s leave religion and God out of this” whether in political or business discussions? I know it breaks our Father’s heart to see his children as fallen victims to worldly traps. But gracious and merciful as He is; He waits patiently for His children to wake up. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. Will evildoers never learn; those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on God?”(Psalm 53:1,4) People may say there is no God in order to cover their sin, to have an excuse to continue to sin, and/or to ignore the Judge in order to avoid judgment. Those who think they can make any kind of decision without God are denying the fact that God invented right and wrong; in business, politics or relationships, how can you possibly weigh any decision without following right versus wrong moral code; it’s impossible. God is at the center of everything even if you don’t want Him to be; it’s inevitable.

A note on friends and family; we are to love, support and encourage one another at all times. If correction is necessary for the betterment of the other person; it should be done with love and respect. Betrayal by friends or family is far more painful than from those we have not opened our hearts to. “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God…My companion attacks his friends, he violates his covalent. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.”(Psalm 55:12-21) Real friends stick by you in times of trouble and bring healing, love, acceptance and understanding. What kind of friend are you? Be the friend you wish to have and don’t betray those you love; there is nothing good that comes of that.