Psalms 121:1-8 CEV I look to the hills! Where will I find help? It will come from the Lord , who created heaven and earth. The Lord is your protector, and he won't go to sleep or let you stumble. The protector of Israel doesn't doze or ever get drowsy. The Lord is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun. You won't be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night. The Lord will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go.
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 Christians have been taught that we must be humble and that is certainly true. I even preached a sermon with a title that included "humility is the way to happiness."
James 4:6-10 ESV But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Humility doesn’t come naturally to most of us. If you think you have it, you probably don’t. D. L. Moody used to pray, “Lord, make me humble, but don’t let me know it.” No one likes being told what to do. We would rather be in charge of our own affairs, and that’s why the whole notion of surrendering our pride to the Lord sounds strange at first. But there is no other way to get better. There is no other way to be healed. There is no other way to be forgiven. There is no other way to find a new life. Humility grows best when you understand it in light of God’s grace. Don’t pray for more humility; pray for more grace. Pray that God will pour out his grace in your heart so that you will only boast in the Lord. Humility grows best when you understand it in light of God’s grace. Psalms 34:1-3 ESV will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord ; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! Pray Like a Commander, Not a Beggar Unfortunately, many Christians believe that to be humble is to be worthless, miserable, lowly, sinful scum. This kind of false humility causes us to pray like beggars. We don’t “come boldly to the throne of grace,” Hebrews 4:16 ESV Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (emphasis mine). Instead, we often slink into God’s presence on our bellies if we come to Him at all. Christians with this mindset tend to avoid coming to the Father who loves them and they consequently have difficulty receiving from Him when they do come to Him. They expect little and get exactly what they expect. A real understanding of the believer’s authority and position in Jesus will lead you to a very different mindset and a whole new level of praying! Consider how Peter dealt with the lame man by the temple gate. He understood the authority and power that was his in Jesus. Notice the words; Acts 3:6 ESV But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (emphasis mine) Peter did not beg; he spoke as someone with rightful possession of blessings and power, he had authority to deploy and give away. What Peter gave came from the Lord. The Lord clearly gave him authority and he exercised it. When you pray today do it, not like a beggar, but like a commander to whom the King has delegated supernatural authority. With that authority, you can tread on all the power of the enemy and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19-20 ESV Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” One word or caution! Remember this, the power and authority has been delegated to you it is not yours it is the delegated authority of Jesus and His name. It is not you it is Jesus!!! Prayer of Declaration Father, I come boldly to Your throne of grace to receive help to move through this day in the authority You have gifted me in Jesus. I declare that You have given me authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will injure me! As I encounter the works of the enemy, I will exercise that authority wisely and confidently to extend love and freedom to others, pushing back darkness wherever I go. What I have freely received from You, I will freely give to others. I give encouragement. I give mercy. I share with others the life and power You’ve deposited in me.  Psalms 62:1-12 NLT I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Interlude Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.
REST IN GOD It is easy to say, “I trust in God,” when things are going well. However, when a crisis hits, our trust is put to the test. We may think that we trust God to supply all our needs until we are faced with a lost job or a sudden downturn in the economy. In that moment, we may find that we have really been trusting in wealth for our security. In Psalm 62 David’s position and security have come under threat. He feels as fragile as a “leaning wall” or a “tottering fence” ready to topple at any moment. Psalms 62:3 NLT So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. His enemies are particularly insidious in that they speak well of him to his face, but curse him in their hearts and spread lies about him to others. Psalms 62:4 NLT They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Interlude This situation has caused David to reevaluate what he puts his trust in. He declares that most of the things that people look to for security are not able to provide it. Psalms 62:9 NLT Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. In other words, your social position will not bring you security. Riches are a vain hope as well. Psalms 62:10 NLT Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. True contentment and security are gifts that come from God alone. Therefore it only makes sense to “trust in him at all times. Psalms 62:8 NLT O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude David concludes the psalm by describing the two primary reasons why God is so trustworthy. He is the only source of true power and He is just. Psalms 62:11-12 NLT God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done. |
AuthorDonald Jacobs is an ordained minister with the spiritual gift of teaching. He is the Pastor of Christ Church, a non-denominational church in Los Angeles, CA. Archives
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