Reflections on Psalm 138: Our Calls Don’t Go Unanswered
“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” Psalm 138:3
Does God really hear us when we call? If you’ve been crying out, with little to no response, it may feel like your cries are unheard.
But remember when our children were infants? We heard their cry and quickly moved to meet their needs. But sometimes that meant doing something elsewhere before we came to their side because we were preparing to meet their needs in the best possible way. Maybe we sprinted to the kitchen to grab a bottle or stopped by the laundry room to grab a fresh sleeper and blanket. Regardless, we knew there was a need and we were working to meet it. Yet to our crying baby, it seemed like their cries were unheard. They didn’t see us working.
How many times have you cried out to God and your cries are met with silence…or so you thought?
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Ps 34:17
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Prov 15:29
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. Ps 40:1
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. PS 116:1
God is faithful to hear us when we call and he’s always working according to His plan.
He’s not indifferent and He doesn’t ignore us until we cry harder, louder, or get more desperate. That’s not Who He is. That’s not how He works.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Cor 1:9
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deut 32:4
God is a good Father.
He moves to meet our needs. Sometimes that involves other people, in other places, at various times and seasons, in ways we don’t see or perceive. Yet God is always working; nothing will thwart His will. No obstacle will stand in His way. We need to trust Him- what is our alternative? To whom else can we turn? There is no other name and there is no other Power that can intervene in divine and perfect ways.
The challenge for us is the waiting. We don’t like to wait. We live in an instant society where we get immediate results. There’s no more waiting weeks for a reply by mail when we can simply text or email and get a reply within minutes..or even seconds. We get drive-through coffee, drive through lunch, and we can even get drive-through church. So, we tend to think that God works the same way because He is able, right? And why wouldn’t He want to meet a need, fix a problem or redeem a disaster as quickly as possible? Why wouldn’t He deliver immediate results, instant relief, and on-demand solutions? Yet, in the waiting, we learn more about Him. Sometimes God slows us down so we can listen and watch and in so doing, learn more about Who He is and how He works, we begin to treasure His attributes- His Sovereignty, His Immutability, His Omnipotence, His Omnipresence.
The theology of sourdough…
When we make sourdough (it’s a thing, I know… I have yet to dive into the process, but it’s fascinating), it all begins with the starter. And that starter is fed over days…weeks, until it’s ready to use. During that process we watch, we look for signs that there is fermentation and growth, we check the sources that tell us what a mature starter looks like, smells like, and what signs show that it’s ready. Then, a bit of the mature starter is mixed with the other ingredients to begin the breadmaking process. But even then, it’s still not ready. The dough that’s been mixed needs to proof and rise. But all the while, from the time we make our starter until the time we pull that first loaf, warm and golden, from the oven, we know the result will be good, delicious, homemade bread that will satisfy our hunger. We are willing to endure the process because the results will be satisfying and fulfilling. Oh, friends, do you see the spiritual correlation?
Isn’t that so much like taking things to God in prayer? We can be confident that He WILL answer and that it will be perfect, according to His will. And when we call on Him? He will make us bold and stouthearted. Note that the writer of the Psalm didn’t say God answered His prayer, no, he said that in calling on Him, God made him bold- to embolden, make sure, strengthen (1) and stouthearted-strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise):—boldness, loud, might, power, (2). God encouraged his heart because the author called on Him. God answered by strengthening His child, not by solving the problem.
Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Ps 55:17
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. Ps 6:9
Why, then, would we rush the God of the Universe and be angry toward Him for working all things according to His will and His timeline, which are perfect and sufficient? Would we have Him rush for our sake? Would we have Him speed the process and lose the depth and beauty of the result? Would we have Him skip over what might be the most meaningful lesson or impact of the situation just to deliver the solution or relief? Do we love God because He delivers or because of Who He is and who He’s made us to be- His children?
We can and should cry out for God’s help daily. We should bring our burdens to Him, fully turning them over to His care and sovereignty. What would we do with our burdens if we kept them to ourselves? We would carry the weight of them, worry over them, try and fix them, but all without success. We must unburden our hearts and minds at the feet of the Savior, first asking for forgiveness of our own sins and then asking for His answer to all that burdens us. Then, we need to trust His process. Let it rise. Let it work. Look forward to the wholesome, nourishing result that will come in God’s perfect time.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; PS 66:18
Today, take time to pray to the Lord and surrender your burdens to Him. Then, pray about your sons and daughters and the burdens they carry. But first, root out the sin in your own heart. Make sure that you are right before the Lord. Don’t look at the splinter in the eye of someone else. Deal with the lumber yard in your own heart. Give all of your cares, offenses, arguments, woes, and worries to the Lord. And then, cry out to Him and wait in expectation. He’s listening and He WILL respond. Wait with expectation and hope. He never disappoints!
Today, write out a prayer to the Lord, calling on Him with trust and expectation, reminding yourself that His solutions are always sufficient and on time.
Pray without ceasing.
H7292 - rāhaḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7292/niv/wlc/0-1/
H5797 - ʿōz - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5797/niv/wlc/0-1/
Baby Food vs. Solids
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14
Did you ever bemoan the fact that your kids were growing up way too fast? Did you tell them to slow down, stay little, be your little baby for just a bit longer? I think every parent has struggled with those feelings.
Feeding our kids was one of the most important responsibilities. We started them off on milk, because that’s all their little system could handle. But they grow and change and the next stage is somewhat bittersweet - introducing solids. It’s exciting, a whole new world of flavors, but it’s a mark of another stage of growth. The bottles are washed and put away and forks, spoons, and sippy cups make their appearance.
As a child grows, their need and desire for solids becomes greater. Their appetites change, their tastes mature, and their consumption of more complex foods increases. They don’t just want a bottle, they want what we have on our plate. They’re eager to follow in our footsteps and taste what we enjoy.
Now, think about that in a spiritual context… Do our sons and daughters crave what is on our spiritual plate? And what is it that we are consuming? Is it mature, solid spiritual food that is attractive, flavorful, and nutritious…or are we just snacking on easily-digested, processed, spiritual ‘baby food’? With what example are we leading?
Hebrews 5:14 tells us, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
That ‘solid food’ is the meat of the word, not the milk. It’s not the ‘easily digested’, pithy words of wisdom that anyone can understand. It’s the deeper precepts and themes present in Scripture. And notice how Paul, the author of Hebrews says, “by constant use” or by “practice”. That is the Greek word “hexis” and it means, “a habit, a power acquired by custom, practice, use.” 1 Constant practice and daily use will help us grow spiritually mature; it will improve our discernment and strengthen our understanding of the Word. It will help us grow and deepen our relationship with Jesus…and it will set an example to our sons and daughters of how to pursue Jesus according to His Word.
Personal checkpoint #1: Are you taking time to study Scripture daily? Not just read it, but really study it, on your own, just you and the Lord?
Spiritual maturity and discernment is dependent on our willingness and daily discipline to study God’s Word. It doesn't just ‘happen’. It’s not ‘caught’ by proximity or gained by spectatorship. That willingness and discipline is individual and personal and it translates into the ability to distinguish good from evil = spiritual discernment.
Consider this, if you learned to play the piano, you practiced daily. Just having a piano in the house didn’t guarantee you knew how to play it or would learn. Listening to piano concertos online or on the radio didn’t improve your skills. Talking about it didn’t make an impact. It was only when you sat down at the piano and began to interact with the instrument that you sharpened your skills. The more time you spent playing it, the better you understood how to play and your relationship with the piano moved from person and instrument to a beautiful collaboration that brought music and joy to the player and to those who listened. You and the piano became ‘one’ in your artistry and use.
When we read AND study scripture on our own, we are moving beyond the pre-digested information that is often available to us and far-too tempting to ‘fill’ us with spiritual ‘calories’ that are shallow or empty. Sometimes, by engaging in these things (a book, a podcast, etc), often while multitasking, we think we’re sharpening our spiritual minds. And there may be some sharpening involved, but consider this… if there were a national emergency, a natural disaster, or some event that cut us off from digital access, how would we continue our spiritual growth? Would we know how to study the Word? Could we do it without the digital world? We MUST learn to study scripture in effective ways.
Bible study CAN be exciting!
A great way to develop strong, effective Bible study is by using the inductive study method. Don’t be intimidated, don’t say you can’t do it (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil. 4:13). Just start. Choose a small passage- just a few verses and follow these steps: (You can try Psalm 23- a familiar passage with RICH truth!)
OBSERVE:
Read it, then read it again. Think about the words. Ponder the message.
Ask ‘who, what, when, where, how and why’ questions. Make a chart if you like, or just list them out.
Write down repeated words and phrases.
You can also do a word study. Choose one word, look it up in the Greek or Hebrew (use a concordance), check cross references, and take time to learn what it means and how it’s used in Scripture. Psalm 23 has several words- Shepherd, refresh/restore, shadow of death.
INTERPRET:
Is there a theme in the passage?
What does the passage mean?
Does it point to the gospel and Jesus? How?
What attributes of God do you see here? (Note, they may be obvious or they may be implied.)
APPLY:
How does this apply to me?
What is it that God wants me to learn/do?
Here’s the thing. Deep study of scripture is not quick. It’s not a drive-thru meal, it’s meant to be savored, pondered, and meditated on. You can easily study just one verse and spend an hour or more. You can camp out on the same passage for days. There is no timetable and you’re not being compared to anyone else. The goal is the learning, not the completion. Speed dating isn’t the key to lasting relationships nor is speed study the key to depth of understanding, spiritual maturity, and love for the Lord. Enjoy your time with Him! The more you do it, the more exciting it becomes!
Personal Checkpoint #2: Here’s the opportunity to do some self-evaluation. How would your sons and daughters answer these statements?
“I know my Mom/Dad studies scripture because….”
“My parents demonstrate spiritual maturity by …”
“One way my Mom/Dad demonstrates spiritual discernment is…”
“I want to study Scripture like my Mom or Dad…”
These questions are not to discourage you, but to give you a starting point. No one gets an A+ because we’re all still growing, and isn’t that encouraging? We’re still growing!! It’s never too late to start studying Scripture! Paul shares such great encouragement in Philippians 3,
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
Our sons and daughters NEED to see us studying the Word and finding joy in it. They need to see that we’re growing in our faith and see the change that it brings in our own lives. We can’t mandate that they study the Word, but we can model it well. Our walk with the Lord is a life-long process and a relationship that will only grow by spending time and investing in learning more about Him. Personal Bible study is a BIG part of that and a practice that will demonstrate to our sons and daughters what we hold most precious. Keep pressing on! Don’t look back to what you wish you had done, what you regret doing, or what you didn’t do well enough… look forward to what God is calling you to - a richer, deeper relationship with Him. Model that for your sons and daughters. Let time in the Word transform you!
Let’s pray for our own spiritual growth and example and the growth of our sons and daughters as well.
“Father God, I know that once I was alienated from You, but because I believe that Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead, conquering sin and death, I am saved. His death paid the penalty for my sin. I am reconciled through Jesus Christ to You, and I can stand before You holy and without blemish, free from accusation (Col. 3:21-22).”
“You have called me to follow Jesus. Help me to do that well, daily, with intention. I pray that You would give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness and that You would stir in me a desire to study Your Word in depth. Help me to learn more about You, about Your precepts, and about the promises You’ve given me as Your child.”
“I have a deep desire that my son/daughter would follow after You with love, with intention, with a commitment that is unwavering. I want them to know You more and to have a strong faith that is unwavering. I want them to be able to distinguish good from evil and to crave the meat of the Word, not just ‘snacks’ that are easy and pre-digested words from others. Lord, I know I need to model how to study Your Word. Help me to grow so that my life gives evidence of Jesus in me. Help me to continue in my faith, established and firm, and help me to not move away from the hope held out in the gospel in exchange for what is convenient, easy, or shallow (Col. 1:23). I want my words and my life to be in harmony with Your Word.”
“Remove any hypocrisy that might cause others to question my commitment to Jesus. I pray that my words and actions would be in love: showing patience, kindness and selflessness. Help me not to be angry or boastful. I pray that my time in Your Word would take me deeper into understanding Your heart and would give me a depth of knowledge of Your word so that I can discern good from evil.”
“Lord, all of this is motivated by a heart of love and concern for (name). I can’t force them to grow in their faith, only You can motivate that. But I can model a growing faith that is grounded in Your Word. I pray that You would help me to learn how to study Your Word effectively and regularly. I pray that (name) would see and desire the same for their life. I pray all these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord, Savior, and Friend, reach out! I would love to share with you the hope you can have in Christ! There is strength for today and a freedom from sin, oppression, addiction, and despair! There is powerful hope for eternity in God’s Presence, free from sin, pain, and sorrow. He promises an everlasting peace and joy that this world can’t offer. You can know Him today! Let Jesus change your life!
G1838 - hexis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1838/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The Importance of Godly Parents
Throughout scripture there are accounts of fathers and mothers who, despite the social and political pressures of the day, raised their sons and daughters to stand strong for the Lord. As parents, it is our highest calling and our greatest investment. Careers won’t matter. Portfolios will be worthless. Possessions will rust and fade. But our children are the godly legacy that carries on and impacts this world for Jesus.
The book of Psalms testifies, again and again, of David’s longing to be filled with the Lord, be satisfied by His words and comforted by His presence. David, a simple shepherd boy, who became King of the nation of Israel, not by his education, not by his networking with other power players, but because of his genuine heart for the Lord. God chose him. How did David develop that heart for God? He said in Psalm 86:16, “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant;save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.” And in Psalm 116:16 he said, “Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.” It’s clear that David’s mother played a strong role in how he understood and interacted with God. David had a heart of obedience to the Lord because his mother modeled it for him.
We’re all familiar with Proverbs 31 and the description of the virtuous woman. But we often skip the first nine verses of the chapter. Take a moment and read that first verse, “The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.” A godly mother bore influence on the chapter that defines godly womanhood. She had a powerful impact on her son, who in turn has influenced people for thousands of years. That’s some godly parenting!
Godly fathers, too, are vital and irreplaceable. From the time of the garden, God modeled what that relationship should look like, walking and talking with Adam in the cool of the day (Gen 3:8-9).
Abraham didn’t become a father until he was 99 years old. Yet, he was unequivocally dedicated to following the Lord, to the point he was willing to obey God and offer his son, his only son, Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. Yet, Abraham knew God’s promise- that he would be the father of many nations. He also knew that promise came through Isaac. Abraham obeyed God because he trusted that God would do a miracle. God was faithful to His promises. And Isaac, he trusted His father. He knew that Abraham walked and talked with God. He knew Abraham was a friend of God. His father’s obedience to God meant blessing for the generations to come. Isaac chose to model what his father did, he didn’t flinch, he obeyed too. At the right time, God provided a ram as the substitution for Isaac’s life. Abraham's obedience provided a picture of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement for us. God provided a lamb. (Genesis 22). Abraham’s faith was the example for not only Isaac, but for us as well.
God doesn’t just ‘hope’ that we’ll understand how to parent well, He provided specific instruction. Deuteronomy 6 gives guidelines to the Israelite men on how they should spiritually lead their homes and how they should teach their children about God and His commands and promises.
These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. (Deut. 6:1-2)
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:6-9)
Though our sons and daughters are grown, our influence as a parent is not. We can continue to impact them through all of our days, and even after we are called home. How do we live? How do we obey God? Are we modeling trust, faith, and obedience?
Consider the question, what are we impressing on our children? Political views? Social norms? Or the power of the Word of God? Are we building into them so they can be an influencer of this world or for the Kingdom of God? We have a heavy responsibility and we need to embrace it intentionally and with a sense of urgency…for such a time as this.
It may not be our words to our sons and daughters, but our words to the Father on their behalf, that moves them to a deeper relationship with Him and strengthens their resolve to follow faithfully and fearlessly.
We are called to teach, lead, guide, and protect the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters. Yes, that gets harder as they grow into adulthood because our influence diminishes. Yet the relationship remains and in that, we can point them to Christ, daily. It may not be our words to them, but our words to the Father on their behalf, that moves them to a deeper relationship with Him and strengthens their resolve to follow faithfully and fearlessly.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph 6:18
The days are dark. Time is short. How will we parent in this season of influencing adult children?
Romans 13:11-14 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Today is the day. Don’t look to the past. The enemy will dredge up every parenting regret that we hold. Rebuke him. Look at today and look ahead. How will you impress these truths on your sons and daughters for such a time as this? How will you model living a life sold out for Christ? How will you daily point them to the cross so that when they must choose, they choose Jesus, only Jesus?
“Heavenly Father, I come to You in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. This world is dark and I see the enemy working in dark ways, yet no longer hidden but boldly working with such evil and hatred that is made to look like a righteousness that the world craves. The evil that reigns is so antithetical to everything in Your Word and against Your nature, Your character, and Your will. Yet it is packaged as ‘justice’ and ‘goodness’, ‘tolerance’ and ‘love’. When I compare what I see with Your Word, I see the deception. Do my sons and daughters see it? Will they take a stand against it? I pray that You would impress righteousness on their hearts, Lord. Holy Spirit, move and work in (name)’s heart and mind so that they long to follow Christ with all they are and have. I pray that their conscience would be burdened by the evil they see- don’t let them look away or push it off for another to address. Lord, give them a hunger and thirst for Your Word (Mt 5:6) Draw them into a daily time to be still before You and know that You are God (Ps. 46:10) Lord, let them pray with strong conviction and courage, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Ps 46:1-3). I pray, Father God, that You would raise (name) up to be a strong man/woman of God, uncompromising, convicted to follow You, and heavily reliant on Your wisdom and strength, not their own. Lord, help me to model that to them. Help me to be a father/mother who is uncompromising in my commitment to You and let my life demonstrate what it means to be a man/woman of God. Make (name) strongly rooted in Christ so that the fruit they bear is a testimony to their faithful walk with You. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen,”
Prodigal Prayer
“Oh Father, (name) is choosing to not follow You. Their heart is far from You, pursuing and loving things that defy You. I know You have the power to turn their heart from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. Holy Spirit, I pray that You would convict and bring (name) to repentance. Lord, they are living in a far off land, separated from Your love and goodness, separated from Your holiness. Bring them home, Lord. Open their eyes to see the emptiness of what they’re pursuing and the rottenness of what they’re ingesting. The emptiness is there, yet it’s packaged as ‘good’, but the good of this world is rotten and the food of this world is poisonous. Pull (name) out of the mud and mire and set their feet on the Rock- Jesus! You have the power, Lord. I pray, in the Spirit, that You would surround (name) and guide them to redemption and give them a heart that would love and serve You. Raise (name) up to be a man/woman of God, one whose testimony would be a powerful story of Your redeeming love. Lord, I know You can. I pray You will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing