Author: LeahDawnRoot29

Love Costs Everything

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““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I love you.” A short sentence with three simple words that hold tremendous power. Three words often said too soon, too easily or sometimes even dishonestly. Three words that can fool or heal a broken heart depending on the speaker’s true intentions. They say the tongue is like a swift sword. If that’s true then saying “I love you” is like removing Excalibur from its stone prison.

How do you know if those words are true or false? Look at the speaker’s actions. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 specifically tells us what Love is and is not. Love is PATIENT and KIND. Love REJOICES whenever truth wins. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is ALWAYS HOPEFUL and ENDURES through every circumstance. Love is NOT jealous, boastful, proud or rude. Love does NOT demand its own way neither is it irritable nor does it keep record of wrongs. Let me add this: Love does not call names, does not threaten you, does not cheat on you or lie to you and Love will never tell you it hates you. Love chooses you above it’s own needs every single time. It doesn’t make excuses, Love doesn’t blame you and it never purposefully hurts you. Love takes ownership when it makes a mistake. Love protects, provides for, comforts and empowers you. Love commits to you every day.

Love calls you on the phone just to hear your voice. Love surprises you with a special gift or an act of service just because it treasures you. Love is content just being in your presence no matter what is going on around you. Love will share its secrets and cast its burdens upon you and carry yours when you are weary. Love will pray with you and for you. Love will fight for you when you cannot fight for yourself. Love will fight your enemies with you when you’re strong enough to handle the trenches of warfare. Love will speak the truth to you even if it risks upsetting you because its desire is for you is to walk in the Truth.

Love will however, never condemn you. Love will never make you feel less than or set standards for you that are impossible to achieve. Love will always love you for exactly who you are and where you’re at in your life’s journey. Love will also never compare you to anyone else or make you pay for someone else’s mistakes. Love always sees the unique and precious gem that you are and treats you as such no matter what.

Love comes in many packages-parent/child relationships, marriages, friendships and even through extended family relationships. The greatest love comes from God Himself. His word repeatedly tells us how much He loves us. 1 John 4:9 tells us ““God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.” God didn’t just send His son because we know that Jesus is really God Himself in human form. Thus, God actually endured condemnation, imprisonment, torture and murder for you and for me. God shows us in John 15:13 just how great of a sacrifice that is-“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” No greater love than to lay down’s one life for another. Does that mean we should all throw ourselves in front of a moving vehicle to show our love for someone? Absolutely not! Does it mean we stop striving to serve ourselves and take on a servant heart toward others? Yes. It. Does. Galatians 5:13 sums it up perfectly. “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

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God tells us to “…Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John‬ ‭13:34‬b NLT) He also tell us “…let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

‭So the next time you say “I love you” make sure your deeds back up this sentence. Before giving your heart to someone who tells you they love you, make sure they have taken the time to show you love in how they treat you. Please note, “Making love” and “falling in love” are fantasy and romantic notions that only build up false expectations and bring demise. If you can “fall in love” then you can “fall out of love.” It’s this ideology that leads to many break-ups and divorces. It’s an ideology that is based on feeling not consciously choosing. Feelings come and go and can be swayed by circumstances. Choosing love means you choose that relationship, that friendship or to raise that child no matter what circumstances lie before you. Although love keeps no record of wrongs, to protect yourself and to protect your relationships examine the ways you and those you love are showing love to one another. Actions will always speak volumes over words. 💗

Are You a Joseph or a Jonah?

/ LeahDawnRoot29 / 4 Comments

 

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:18 AMP

 Adversity is something we have all encountered at one point in our lives.  For some, depending on their circumstances, adversity can be an everyday constant.  Sadly, in war stricken and third world countries, adversity is a way of life.  It’s how we all handle adversity that determines what happens to our character.  Will we use it as an opportunity to build our character, or will we allow it to destroy what God is developing within us?

I have been dealing with an overbearing amount of adversity in 2017 both personally and professionally.  Unfortunately it seems to be continuing as 2018 begins.  Without being too detailed I will simply tell you that at first I tried focusing on just the facts, reiterating the truth and not being bothered by what was thrown at me.  However, the more it continued at both levels, the more I allowed it to rattle me and I became consumed with bitterness and unforgiveness.  I became reactive instead of responsive.  I magnified the wrongs being done and I prayed some incredibly angry and irreverent prayers that even included a few swear words from time to time.  I was so focused on my enemies’ toxic behaviors I couldn’t see that I too was becoming toxic.  In fact, at one point I almost wrote a very prideful post about how to deal with toxic people.  Although I had bible verses in mind I have to be honest, that post would have been written from an angry heart, definitely not words of wisdom from Abba.

Recently I’ve been surrendering these situations and my enemies to God.  It’s a day to day, moment by moment effort because when you magnify something it can be challenging to let it go.  Since doing that I have felt God reminding me of two men in His word who struggled with some serious adversity and how each one handled it.  One chose to trust God no matter what and make the best of his circumstances.  The other pouted, complained, hid from God and then secluded himself because God saved an entire city of toxic people.  These two men were Joseph and Jonah.

Joseph had some very jealous brothers (Genesis 37:4)   They were so jealous of his relationship with their father that they plotted to kill him.   Instead they threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery.  He was sent away to another land completely cut off from his family and all that he knew.  Those who bought Joseph then sold him to Potipher, an Egyptian officer.  There’s nothing in Genesis 37 or 39 that show Joseph’s response or reaction.  However, in chapter 39, verse 2 tells us this, “The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.”  Clearly we can be sure that throughout this confusing and most likely frightening time for Joseph, he knew God was with him and he kept his eyes focused on the Lord.

Sometimes when I read the story of Joseph I imagine him being a methodical man who simply says, “Ok this is happening now-let’s see what God does with it.”  Or perhaps his response was more like Ace Ventura’s “Alrighty then!” Who really knows. One thing is for certain, you won’t find any complaining from Joseph when you read his story.

If being sold by your brothers wasn’t bad enough, Joseph then gets put into prison because his boss’ wife accuses him of hitting on her.   Again there’s nothing in scripture that shows Joseph defended himself, fought the accusations or reacted at all.  We simply read “But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love.  And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.” (Gen 39:21 NLT) Chapter 39 closes with verse 23 which reads “The warden had no more worries because Joseph took care of everything.  The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

Joseph’s story in Genesis ends when he is able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and is released from prison.  God gifts him wisdom to not only interpret the dreams but also to develop a plan that saved all of them including his brothers and father from famine.  In chapter 42, Joseph’s life comes full circle when he encounters his brothers again as they are in his land obtaining grain for his father and their families.  That moment could have been Joseph’s perfect revenge but instead, Joseph chose grace and forgiveness. He not only fed his brothers he reunited with them and his father.  Joseph does fool his brothers as a test to see if their hearts had changed and to find out information about his father and youngest brother.  In the end however, Joseph says to them, “…I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.  But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place.  It was God who sent me hear ahead of you to preserve your lives.” (Gen 45:4-5 NLT)

After Joseph’s father died, his brothers feared that’s when Joseph would execute revenge and they begged him for forgiveness.  In chapter 50 verses 19 through 21, Joseph replies with this, “…Don’t be afraid of me.  Am I God that I can punish you?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good…don’t be afraid.  I will continue to take care of you and your children.”  In that exact moment, Joseph demonstrated the same kind of forgiveness Jesus gave whilst hanging on a cross when he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Then there’s Jonah.  Anybody who’s ever attended Sunday School has most likely heard the story of Jonah and the whale.   God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and announce His judgement on that city for all its evil acts.  However, Jonah goes the opposite direction.  If I didn’t know any better I would say perhaps Jonah was just directionally challenged but truth be told, Jonah deliberately disobeyed God’s order that landed him in the belly of a “great fish.” Jonah chapter 1 ends with telling us he was inside the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah was released once he prayed confessing his sins to God and professing God’s greatness over his situation.

Once God set Jonah free from the “whale”, He again tells Jonah to “get up and go the great city of Ninevah, and deliver the message I have given you.” (Jonah 2:2) Jonah obeys God this time and declares to Ninevah that God is going to destroy the city.  The citizens of Ninevah believe what Jonah tells them and fast in a decree to show their sorrow for their actions.  Even the king declared the fast and demanded everyone “pray earnestly to God.  They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.” (Jonah 3:8b NLT) The people of Ninevah hoped that their changes of heart would change God’s mind and it did exactly that.  God did not carry through with the destruction He had planned.

God’s changed plans and redemption for Ninevah angered Jonah.  I don’t mean it upset him I mean it enraged Jonah.  Jonah was so filled with despair that he secluded himself waiting to see what the city would do.  God provided shade, but also took the shade away by killing the plant.  Jonah suffered through immense heat to the point he wished he was dead.  God finally pointed out to Jonah that he was angry enough to die over a lost plant that had provided him temporary relief from the intense heat.  He pointed out that Jonah did nothing to put bring life to the plant and it lived and died quickly.  However, the people of Ninevah (people God created) had lived in spiritual darkness and then repented.  How could God not feel sorry and give grace once they repented?

The story of Jonah ends with that question.  I’m sure scholars could tell you what happened next but I haven’t studied outside of God’s word to be able to tell you what else happened to Jonah after that.  I do know this-both men faced adversity.  Joseph’s adversity came from nothing he did.  Jonah brought adversity on to himself.  Both had big decisions to make.  Joseph chose to trust God and keep his focus on Who was really in control no matter the circumstances.  Jonah chose to go his own way, defy God and even get angry with God.  He ended up miserable and suffering because of his own choices.  When we are faced with adversity we have choices to make also.  In the face of adversity do we choose to be like Joseph or do we handle life’s curve balls like Jonah did?  Each choice results in the consequence of God’s favor and blessing or living in the belly of a great fish (metaphorically speaking.)

The verse I opened with said, “if possible” be at peace with everyone.  Let’s be realistic.  Humanly speaking it’s simply NOT possible to live at peace with everyone, especially toxic people.  But that’s why God also says, “Human speaking, this is impossible. But with God, everything is possible.”  (Matthew 19:26 NLT) I pray those dealing with adversity that is the bi-product of a toxic enemy, keeps their focus on God and allows Him to not only protect you but to avenge you as well.  I also pray that those who are dealing with adversity because of your own disobedience that you will soften your hearts to God’s will and purpose, confess your sins and seek His way even if you don’t understand it.  Please pray for me as well that I can be a Joseph during my own season of adversity and dealing with my toxic enemies.

For My November Pearl

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“I will give thanks and praise to You, for [my daughter] is fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works and my soul knows it very well.”

Psalm 139:14 AMP

“So God created [my daughter] in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created [her]…”

Genesis 1:27 AMP

“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which he set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”

Ephesians 2:10 AMP

When I look into your youthful amber colored eyes, I see uncertainty in who you are and who you were born to be.  I see hope and fear battling for your future as you strive to feel accepted while processing the wounds you’ve already experienced in such a short life span.

When you look into my aging gray colored eyes I want you to see everything I know you are capable of being.  I want you to see the best-selling author, Grammy winning song writer and stage performing guitar player I see whenever I read one your stories, hear you sing and listen as you teach yourself how to play the guitar.   My eyes will forever see you as Bruno Mars describes when he sings, “When I see your face, there’s not a thing that I would change. ‘Cuz you’re amazing, just the way you are.”

When you look into Jesus’ eyes, I pray you see everything He made you to be and most importantly, I pray you see yourself the way He has always seen you-precious, treasured and immeasurably loved.  I pray you know how to look into the eyes of Jesus and seek to see yourself and your life the way He designed it no matter what disappointments may be waiting for you.  Life is full of disappointments.  But life is fuller of blessed joys that make your heart beam with an unexplainable joy.

I remember the night I went into labor for you.  It was one week before your due date and I could not get comfortable.  I was completely over being pregnant to say the least.  I put my hand on my incredibly oversized protruding belly and said, “Baby girl, you need to come out because momma is tired of being pregnant.”  You listen because at 12:30am my water broken.  During labor you and I had another mother/daughter talk.  After 12 hours of labor with what felt like non-stop contractions and pushing for nearly an hour and a half, with shear exhaustion I said, “Baby girl, you need to be born because momma is tired of pushing.”  And you listened-it wasn’t long after the hospital room was filled with screeches of a newborn baby girl and sobs from both your momma and meme simply in awe that you were finally here-all 9 pounds 2 ounces of baby girl perfection.

When you were little I would trace your face at bedtime.  Before I would begin, I would say, “Let me get out my magic crayon and draw a picture of perfection.”  I “drew” your eyes, your button nose, your perfect pink lips.  I would tap my fingers across both cheeks to cover every freckle that God had sprinkled on your face.  I would even draw your chin, eyebrows and hair.  In the end, I would brush my fingers across your whole face and say, “Voila, a picture of perfection.”  Do you know that’s really the way I see you-imperfectly perfect, a precious gem that is completely irreplaceable?  A treasure that is to be loved, cared for, protected and admired for the beauty that she holds within.

My heart breaks every time I watch you look at yourself in the mirror and profess that you are “ugly.”  Baby girl-God does not make ugly.  You are His creation, therefore, it’s impossible for you to be anything less than stunning.  If you would look at the sunrises and sunsets God gifts us every day, if you would take time to gaze upon the majesty of the stars spread across a multitude of galaxies and know the same God who designs these natural spectacles is the same God who designed you, I know you could believe you’re more spectacular and breath taking than any awestruck beauty of nature.  After all, God designed all of us in His image and God is definitely not ugly.

Before you were born I never knew if I would ever carry a child within me or if God would ever make me a mother.   When I was your age, I told God to not make me a mother.  I believe my exact words were, “If you’re a smart God, you won’t make me a mother.” In my defense, this was spoken out of frustration because your uncle, at that time my bratty little 2-year-old brother was exasperating me.  And at the age of 25, findings from a surgery I endured left me with only a 50% chance to even conceive.

Can I just say I am so incredibly thankful that God answered that request with a big “heck no” and blessed me with you and your brother?  You two are the best part of me and since you are my first born all of your “firsts” hold a meaning that cannot be compared to anything else because it’s the first time I have a child experience that stage of life.  Just like since your brother is the youngest, all of his “lasts” hold a different special meaning because it’s the last time I will have a child experience that.  This will make more sense to you when someday God calls you to be a mom and gifts you with your favorite person on this planet, your baby girl or boy.

When I carried you in the womb, I would read my favorite children’s stories, Charlotte’s Web and Corduroy, aloud to you every night before falling asleep.  Sometimes Cinderella too.  I know this reading impacted you even before you took your first breath because you have such a love for writing and reading books and you even wore a Cinderella dress to your most recent formal dance.  That reading time continued when you were a toddler reading Stuart Little to you to get you to fall asleep at bed time. The book had minimal pictures so momma told you to close your eyes and see the pictures in your mind.  I know this helped grow your creativity but can I tell you a secret?  It also helped you fall asleep before I was through one chapter of the book.  Which meant your tired momma could the fall asleep too.

Now that you’re older and striving to be your own person,  you call me the “safety police”.  Do you know how crazy protective I was when you were little?  Girl-I freaked out the first weird virus you had thinking it was like the bubonic plague and was really just something you most likely picked up from touching a grocery cart, similar to having a common cold.  I know you get annoyed with the boundaries I set for you, the lectures I give about drugs/alcohol usage, stranger danger, social media usage, etc.  I know you think it’s because I don’t trust you but that’s not true.  None of us were born with an innate sense of making safe choices.  Wisdom is something that is taught and learned.  My helicopter parenting is only a means to guide you into making your own wise choices with each year you grow but also a way to protect you from all the evils this world holds.  You know I’m a glass half full kind of momma which means I’ve taught you there’s more good in the world than evil but sadly we just cannot look at every person who crosses our path through rose colored lenses.

The day you were born forever changed me because I no longer could make any decision that would impact just me-everything I did and continue to do I have to think about how it will affect you and your brother.  I know I fail often kiddo-but I do strive to put you guys first and always have your best interests at heart.  If I could wish anything for your life, it would be that you would seek Christ above all the things you chase after in this world because although the things you pursue you think are saving you, Jesus is the only one who can truly save any of us.  I would wish that you would understand how loved and valuable you truly are so when rejection rears its ugly head it won’t crush you because you’ll be standing on an indestructible foundation of secure love.  Lastly I would wish for you to chase after every dream you aspire never letting fear or self-doubt keep you from at least going for it.  After all, you simply will never know what will happen if you do not try.

I thank God for you and your brother every day.  I thank God for giving me the greatest job in this lifetime which was to carry you, give birth to you, raise you and to forever be your mum. Every day since the day I found out I was going to be your mother, you and your brother have always given me a thousand and one reasons to smile.  Until Jesus calls me home that will never change.

Happy Birthday 🎂

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“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Today, Sept 29th, is my birthday. I tend to make this day all about me thinking it’s the one day a year I get to be celebrated. Most days I feel under appreciated, overlooked and insignificant to say the least. But God has been showing me that I was not created to live my life for me-I was created to live for Him and to serve others.
Thus I can’t imagine a better way to spend today than to bless others and I want to encourage anyone who reads this to do the same. Today be encouraged to be a blessing to someone in your life or even a total stranger. Buy someone coffee, pay for a person’s groceries, help someone carry something that is too heavy, call a long lost friend and reconnect, pray with someone, strike up a conversation with your cashier, call the person delivering your lunch by name, thank a veteran, hold open the door for someone and especially SMILE at others you encounter today. Our world is full of strife but small and simple acts of kindness can be the reason someone smiles today.

Please share in the comments  how you blessed others or paid it forward with a random act of kindness!  God bless! 🙏🏻💕🎂

Rotten Bananas and Caterpillar Cocoons

/ LeahDawnRoot29 / 4 Comments

I love to bake.  I’m not a great cook (I’ve even burned hard boiled eggs and that has to take a real talent to accomplish) but I love to bake.  I especially love to listen to reggae music while baking dozens of cookies at Christmas time.  I know reggae is not traditional Christmas music but listening to it in the middle of winter makes me feel like I’m on a tropical island somewhere and beaches and sunshine bring me joy and peace.

One of my favorite things to bake lately is banana bread.  I found a delightful recipe online and I enjoy adding different things from time to time to embellish it (like peanut butter chips, chocolate chips and once I drizzled it with caramel.)  Recently I added carob chips to the mix which is a great chocolate replacement.  I have to say, (and I know this sounds prideful but if you ever ate my regular cooking you would understand) adding the carob chips was hands down the best version of banana bread I have ever made.  I’m actually going to make a batch tonight for a work meeting tomorrow.

This week as I had bananas on my counter that I was awaiting to be ready to make some bread.  Anyone who has ever baked banana bread knows that bananas are “ready” for use when they’re blackened (or as I like to say, rotten.)  Banana bread is made with rotten bananas.  That doesn’t sound very appetizing and some may prefer to use the word, “ripened” but in reality, blackened bananas are rotting bananas.  Looking at those black bananas on my counter I started thinking about how something that is decaying can be transformed into something so delightfully tasty?  And the more I thought about it I thought about how God does a similar thing to all of us.  But I’ll get to that in a moment.

A few days ago I felt God speak to me about caterpillars (I actually dreamt about caterpillars transforming into butterflies.)  God spoke the words “belly crawler” to me regarding caterpillars.  In a sense, caterpillars are little belly crawlers are they not?  Most people don’t find caterpillars appealing-some are even grossed out by them.  But what happens to a caterpillar?  It forms a cocoon and eventually hatches into a delicate and spectacular butterfly. Interesting to think that God created a belly crawling creature that can morph into a majestic winged display of His beauty that soars with grace and elegance.   But you see God is a God of transformation and that’s what He put on my heart to share with you all today.

The word transformation means “a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.”  Some synonyms for transformation include; “about-face”, “changeover” “radical change”, “renewal” and “transfiguration.”  A few of these words you will find in scripture also.  The most common verse on transformation is Romans 12:2 where Paul tells us to “not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Another scripture, this time using the word “renew” comes from Psalm 51:10 where David prays asking God to “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Even Jesus Himself transfigured before the disciples, and “His face shone like the sun…His garments became as white as light.”  (Mathew 17:2.)

The Bible is full of stories of how God transformed lives also.  In the old testament Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and God transformed him into the 2nd highest leader of his country in order to save the lives of many people.  He transformed David, an underrated shepherd boy into not only the King of Judah but also a man after God’s own heart.  God transformed Job from a wealthy man to a broken man to a man who was doubly restored.  In the New Testament He transformed a tax collector into a follower of Christ (Zacchaeus-Luke chapter 19.)  Jesus also transformed Lazarus from a dead guy into a walking, talking, living, breathing miracle (John chapter 11.)  But the greatest example of transformation would be when God did an about-face in Paul, originally Saul, a man who hated Christians and was a key player in even the stoning of one of Jesus’ disciples.

Acts chapter 9 recounts the story of what happened when God moved in Saul’s life and transformed him into Paul a man who was imprisoned repeatedly for fiercely preaching God’s word.  In verse 1 Paul (actually Saul at the time) is described as “still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.”  That’s a man that could be described as one seriously rotten banana or evil belly crawler.  Yet God saw the potential for transformation.  Even though it took temporary blindness to get his attention, Saul converted and was transformed into Paul.  The books of Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians are just a few of the books that depict Paul’s ministry-his bold passion for serving God, the trials and tribulations he endured and his tenacity to press on even more to win souls to Christ.  The best part of Paul’s transformation when you read about him in later books of the NT you if you hadn’t known his history you would’ve never guessed he was actually an enemy of God before he converted.  That’s major transformation when God turns you into someone your past could never recognize isn’t it?

Do you believe God can do that you?  He most definitely can.  If God cares enough to use rotten bananas to make a deliciously sweet and fluffy bread, if He cares enough to transform a slimy belly crawling bug into something that is so beautiful that you want to chase after it, and if He can change a murdering Christian hater into one of His own Apostles, than He can most definitely, undoubtedly transform you.  Are you willing to let go and let Him transform you?  Are you ready to let go of your past and see yourself the way God sees you?  No matter what you’ve done or what consequences you’re facing, no matter the hardships you are dealing with right now if you look to Jesus, He will transform you, in His time and in His way.  And the you He made you to be will be unrecognizable to the old you.  He proves it in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when Paul writes, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  Don’t forget-Paul wrote this because he lived it and so can you!

Still need more evidence of God’s transformation?  Check out this testimony by Todd White:  https://youtu.be/IN7Xkl1JFZ4  My favorite part of Todd’s testimony is the fact that his daughter has no memory of the life he lived in addiction.  Only God has the power to do that!

Heavenly Father’s Day

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Tomorrow is the day we in America celebrate the men who are dads.  For some that is their biological dad.  For others it may be a grandfather, uncle, step-dad or honorary dad.  Still for others it stirs up feelings of disappointment, abandonment or sadness because they’re dad is either gone or not a positive part of their life.

For those who are struggling with not having a dad I want to bless you with this encouragement from our Heavenly Father in hopes that it will fill your hearts with peace, comfort and even joy.

In His word God promises to be the Father to the fatherless.  (Psalm 68:5.) He again reminds us of this in 2 Corinthians 6:18; “And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.” There are also numerous verses that describe God as our “Heavenly Father.” And more that call us His sons and daughters or refer to us as being adopted as His children.  No matter what relationship you have with your earthly father, and some may not even know who their father is-God is your Father and you can know Him in this capacity/be adopted as His son or daughter when you accept His own son, Jesus, as your personal Lord and Savior.

Some reading right now may be asking “How do I accept Jesus as my Savior?” What does that all mean?  Well some believe you have to pray something called the “Sinner’s Prayer” where you confess your sins, confess Jesus as God’s son, confess that you believe Jesus died for your sins and rose again and invited Him to live in your heart.  There’s nothing wrong with that prayer but there’s a lot of human formality to it.  The Bible tells us this is how we become children of the One True God.  “…Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].” (Acts 16:31)  In John 10:9 Jesus Himself tells us “I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever]…” And Romans 10:9 is even more direct with this; “because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” To put it simply-salvation (becoming a child of God and securing eternity with Him) means confessing and believing that Jesus is the son of God who died for our sins and conquered death for you and for me!

Salvation makes you a child of God but studying His word, talking with Him through daily prayer and building your faith by walking in obedience to Him is what grows your relationship with Him and opens your heart to knowing Him as your Heavenly Father.  When you grow this wisdom in your heart you will learn three very important things:

1) God’s love for you is unconditional and everlasting! (“…I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”‭‭ Jeremiah 31:3)

2) God will never leave you nor forsake you! (“…for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”  DEUTERONOMY‬ ‭31:6‬)

3) God is your true Protector and Provider! (“He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, And under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.” ‭‭PSALM‬ ‭91:4‬ and “…my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”‭‭. PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭4:19‬)

For the dads out there who are engulfed in their children’s lives fully dedicated and devoted to raising their children, thank you for your commitment and love to your children.  To those who weren’t gifted with this kind of dad or who’s father is no longer living, I pray this post blesses you and draws you to either pursue a relationship with God or if you’re already saved, draw you deeper into the knowledge of Him as your Heavenly Father.  Abba, which is a word used to describe God, means “Daddy.” So start by praying to Abba daily and see how your heart grows toward Him when you view God in this way.

I want to close with the lyrics of Chris Tomlin’s song, Good Good Father. This is a song I resented until last summer when I had to make the difficult decision of emotionally detaching myself from my biological father who had broken his sobriety and gone back to drinking.  It was just after Father’s Day that I mailed him a letter informing him of my decision.  A week later I found myself at a Christian festival hearing Chris Tomlin perform this song live and where I felt God release the chains that had hardened my heart toward seeing God as my Abba.  With a rush of overwhelming freedom I raised my hands up and worshipped my Father as tears streamed down my face.  It was His emotional healing at its best.  I pray these lyrics bring healing for those who need it also.  God bless.

“Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like But I’ve heard the tender whispers of love in the dead of night And you tell me that you’re pleased And that I’m never alone

You’re a Good, Good Father It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are And I’m loved by you It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide But I know we’re all searching For answers only you provide ‘Cause you know just what we need Before we say a word
You’re a Good, Good Father It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are And I’m loved by you It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

’cause you are perfect in all of your ways You are perfect in all of your ways You are perfect in all of your ways to us

You are perfect in all of your ways You are perfect in all of your ways You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Oh, it’s love so undeniable I, I can hardly speak Peace so unexplainable I, I can hardly think

As you call me deeper still..Into love, love, love

You’re a Good, Good Father It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are And I’m loved by you It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a Good, Good Father (you are perfect in all of your ways) It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are And I’m loved by you (you are perfect in all of your ways) It’s who I am, it’s who I am it’s who I am…

Pity Partier or Powerful Praiser?

/ LeahDawnRoot29 / Leave a comment

“O love the L ORD, all you His godly ones!  The L ORD preserves the faithful [those with moral and spiritual integrity] And fully repays the [self-righteousness of the] arrogant.”

PSALM 31:23

When you’re stuck in a pit and life continues to throw you lemons it’s easy to lose your faith and start doubting God.  Some people even curse or denounce God depending on the circumstances they endure.  When you’re in a crap storm of chaos it’s perfectly natural to want to just wallow in crap displaying a crap attitude and stuck in crap thinking.  (Forgive me if you find the word crap offensive-it’s simply the best word I can think of to give you the visual needed to make my point.)

It’s easy to throw your hands up in the air, make a declaration of giving up and then retreat to a pity party.  But God tells us to be thankful in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6.)  He doesn’t say “Thank Me only when you’re feeling happy.”  or “Praise me after I bless you.”  No-God actually tells us to give thanks in ALL circumstances.  Let me get real with you for one moment-in the crap storms that threaten to overtake me I tend to put God on a timeline and when He doesn’t move when I want Him to I get impatient, sometimes angry and that’s when my faith gets shaken.  I then jump in His way taking over the reins and try to calm the storm and shovel through the dung in my own strength.  I am sure you can predict what happens…I tend to make the situation worse while wearing myself completely out.  Then I’m left feeling defeated.  Because I have no energy left to fight, I’ll surrender it all to God.  Am I thankful?  No way.  Even when I surrender the circumstance to Christ, I tend to slack on the praise part.  Sometimes it’s because I’m not sure what to even thank Him for but most often it’s because I allowed my heart to harden instead of trusting that God is faithful, that He always keeps His promises and that He is on my side.

No doubt David threw some intense pity parties.  I think there were times he may have thought or prayed, “Why me Lord?  Why me?  But what David did more was praise God.  Through the first 30 Psalms I have read praise upon praise upon PRAISE.  David repeatedly stands on God’s truths and wisdom and even when he describes his misery he pulls himself out of a funk each time by praising God.  The next ten Psalms (31-40) are chock full of examples of David being a Powerful Praiser.  Here are the top ten verses that personally have spoken to me and bring great encouragement to praise Abba for who He is as well as what He’s going to do in your life and mine.

  • “I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, Because You have seen my affliction; You have taken note of my life’s distresses, And You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place.”

PSALM 31:7-8

  • “Be glad in the L ORD and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him]; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

Psalm 32:11

  • “Rejoice in the L ORD, you righteous ones; Praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart–those with moral integrity and godly character]. Give thanks to the L ORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings.”

PSALM 33:1-2

  • “I will bless the L ORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. O taste and see that the L ORD [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

PSALM 34:1,8

  • “And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness (justice), And Your praise all the day long.”

PSALM 35:28

  • “Your lovingkindness and graciousness, O L ORD, extend to the skies, Your faithfulness [reaches] to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, Your judgments are like the great deep. O L ORD, You preserve man and beast.”

PSALM 36:5-6

  • “But the salvation of the righteous is from the L ORD; He is their refuge and stronghold in the time of trouble.”

PSALM 37:39

  • “For in You, O L ORD, I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God.”

PSALM 38:15

  • “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear [with great reverence] And will trust confidently in the L ORD.”

PSALM 40:3

  • “Many, O L ORD my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of your wonders, They would be too many to count.”

PSALM 40:5

Now if you noticed a pattern in this list then you realized I picked one verse from each chapter of Psalm 31-40.  But you will also notice there isn’t one from Psalm 39.  That’s because that chapter is a prime example of David’s pity party.  Because I couldn’t find any praise in that chapter I listed two from Psalm 40. It is also one of my favorite passages.   It’s filled with praise and confidence in God’s deliverance. I encourage you to check it out and read its full context.  You will definitely be blessed by David’s writings in that chapter.

If you’re in the middle of an endless crap storm rest assured that you are not alone.   My closest friends have nicknamed me a “modern day Job” so needless to say I can relate to what you may be walking through.  The Psalms have always brought me comfort during difficult times and I believe God leads me to this book as a reminder of how I (and you) should handle dismal circumstances.  Grumbling comes naturally.  Praise does not.  But pity parties only bring misery.  Praise and worship brings comfort, peace and deliverance.  Which do you want to be-a continuing pity partier or a redeemed POWER PRAISER?!  I’m still a work in progress but am making strides in becoming the latter.  I pray you choose the same!

I Will Not Be Moved!

/ LeahDawnRoot29 / 2 Comments

“As for me…I said, “I shall never be moved.’”

Psalm 30:6 AMP

One of my favorite warfare songs is I Will Not Be Moved, by Natalie Grant.  This song epitomizes my life just in the first lyric, “I have been a wayward child, I have acted out.”  Anyone who knows the story of David knows this lyric is quite fitting for him also.   In Psalms 21-30 we see a lot of praise and lot of David claiming innocence, but in chapter 25 verse 11 David confesses this, “For Your Name’s Sake, O Lord, pardon my wickedness and guilt, for they are great.”  Later in another chapter David will speak of his integrity and character noting that he does not sit with deceitful men but here we see him admitting he too has faults.  Don’t we all?  I think it’s David’s awareness of his faults that allowed him to offer grace to his enemies (and by grace I mean he chose not to kill Saul when he had the chance but instead trusted God to deal with Saul accordingly for the one who pursued David’s life with a jealous vengeance.)

The second verse to Natalie Grant’s song is, “Bitterness has plagued my heart, many times before. My life has been like broken glass and I have kept the score. Of all my shattered dreams and though it seems, that I was far too gone.  My brokenness helped me to see, it’s grace I’m standing on.”  We see bitterness in David in Psalm 22.  David begins with, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?  O God, I call out by day, but You do not answer.  And by night, but I find no rest nor quiet.”  Psalm 21 is full of praise and worship to God but Psalm 22 throws the reader deep into a pit of bitterness.  Why?  Because even David, the man after God’s own heart, the man God anointed personally to be king, wrestled with bitterness.  It’s human nature.  The enemy’s best darts are bitterness, despair, and hopelessness.  If he can hit us with any of those darts he knows he can get a stronger foothold to drag us right down into anger, fear, depression, resentment and the biggest faith killer-doubt.  The best way to combat those darts-do like David did and turn that despair in to praise.  Toward the end of chapter 22, David writes (in verse 26), “The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; those who [diligently] seek Him and require Him [as their greatest need] will praise the Lord…”  That is the perfect example of the last line in verse 2 of Natalie Grant’s song-“My brokenness helped me to see, it’s grace I’m standing on.”  Psalm 22 starts out showing David’s brokenness.  But it ends with David praising God.  And in Psalm 26:12 David declares; “My foot stands on a level place, in the congregations I will bless the Lord.”  David stood on the Rock, claimed God as his Redeemer and never took his eyes off his Savior.  That’s a true example of being immovable.

The reprise of this Natalie Grant song goes like this, “And the chaos in my life, has been the badge I’ve worn. And though I have been torn, I will not be moved.”  David wore a badge of chaos for most of his life.  It’s evident when Saul became jealous of him and pursued his life.  He literally hid in a cave for safety.  It’s evident when he became king and fought many battles against many nations.  It’s evident when he had an affair with Bathsheba and tried to cover up her pregnancy by having her husband Uriah killed.  It’s evident by the many wives he had and the dysfunction that took place between his children.  David lived a chaotic life.  But one thing remained throughout it all and it’s most evident in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my Light and My Salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life-whom shall I dread?”  We see evidence again in Psalm 27:13 when David writes, “I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”  The one thing David did amidst all the chaos in his life was stand on God’s promises and trust in God for deliverance.

God calls us to do the same.  The scriptures are not written just for those who lived during that time.  In fact, these Psalms were written while David was in the midst of his storms.  He didn’t have the gospel to turn to for wisdom, solace or as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.  David only had his faith to rely on and God’s wisdom speaking directly to him.  His ability to hear God’s voice (along with God’s use of prophets in David’s era) and to choose to trust in God is what made David a conqueror over all his enemies.  God gives us the same ability.  In today’s age of the internet, media, cell phones and busyness it’s a greater challenge for us to hear God but He still speaks to us daily and like David tells us in Psalm 27:14, God wants us to, “Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage.  Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”

That’s easier said than done when you’re in the throws of a hurricane, right?  If that’s happening to you right now, I want to encourage you to try this (and I’m going to put it into practice too.) Meditate on Psalm 23 reminding yourself that God is our shepherd, we have nothing to want.  He leads us beside still waters, He restores us and refreshes.  Even when we walk in times of darkness and evil, we do not have to fear for He is with us.  He is our Shepherd, thus, His rod and staff bring us comfort.  Goodness and mercy are with us and we will dwell in God’s house someday.  Once you’re done with Psalm 23, meditate on this passage also from Psalm 30 verses 11 and 12; “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.”  While you’re meditating on these passages, remember this.  David didn’t thank God after God delivered him.  David thanked God while he was in the eye of the storm, while he was hiding in a cave, while he was grieving the death of a child and while he was battling some pretty severe enemies.  David didn’t wait for God to answer, he knew God would answer and that was cause enough for him to praise Abba.  Please take the time to read Psalm 21-30 and see for yourself just how David again used praise and worship to stand on God’s promises and increase his faith.

What Happens When We Praise Him in the Storm…

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“You lift me up on the wind and cause me to ride [upon it]; And You toss me about in the tempest and dissolve me in the storm.”

Job 30:22 AMP

As I was writing my previous post on praise what I had intended to say and what came out turned out to be two different things.  I had intended to simply write a post on praising God but the Holy Spirit led me to start a study on the book of Psalms focusing specifically on how David praised God during some pretty intense storms in his life.  Today let’s explore Psalms 11-20 and see again how David praised, trusted and fully relied on God in the eye of every hurricane he endured.

Psalm 11:  David starts out right away declaring that he takes refuge (and puts his trust) in the Lord (verse 1.)  He reminds himself (and the reader) that although the wicked are striking, God is on His throne-David is notably pointing out that amidst the danger he was facing, his God (and ours) is immovable!  He then admits that God tests the righteous and the wicked but God himself remains righteous and loves righteousness (vs 7.) The last sentence of this chapter is priceless-David writes, “The upright shall see His face.”  Think about when you’re in driving in a bad storm.  What’s one thing that brings the most fear or concern?  For me-it’s visibility. Not being able to see where I am going definitely heightens my anxiety and fear of getting into an accident.  But in this last sentence David is declaring we shall see God’s face.  Take that a little farther and think about this-when we focus on the face of Jesus and not the storm that’s huffing and puffing around us, we remain steadfast and at peace under His protection.  It’s when we take our eyes off Him and focus on the chaos that we allow fear, doubt, anxiety and worry to set in and feel like we are spinning out of control/heading for a ditch.

Psalm 12:  This chapter is talking about gossips-an enemy who seeks to destroy us by spreading false rumors.  Even more, it’s talking about people who can deceive us by speaking false flattery to our face all the while plotting evil in their hearts (vs 2-3.)  But David again keeps his eyes on God and declares in verse 6 that “the words and promises of the Lord are pure words…” and in verse 7 he adds, “You, o Lord, will preserve and keep them (godly people), You will protect him from this evil generation forever.”  Even though he ends this chapter with a bit of a rant about how pompous the wicked are, the important part of this chapter is how he combats his enemies lies by reminding himself that God only speaks truth (pure words.)

Psalm 13:  This is a short chapter and starting out a reader might think David has given up or lost hope.  How many of us can related to the question he asks in verse 1-“How long, O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?” Again he asks in verse 2-“…How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?”  Triumph over him?  What?  That doesn’t sound like David.  Not the David who continuously declares God’s victory over all of his circumstances.  Well it was David and clearly his faith meter was running low when he started out this chapter.  I can definitely attest to praying similar prayers and even struggling with feeling as though my prayers aren’t going any further than my living room ceiling.  There are times and circumstances where many just lose their faith and wonder if God is really taking care of us.  It’s in those times we need to do what David does at the end of this chapter when he says, “But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”  Clearly David is struggling and even feeling forgotten by God.  But he doesn’t get angry.  He doesn’t turn from God.  No he digs his heel firmly in the trench and he declares that God is dealing with him bountifully.  If that isn’t a heart that can give thanks in all circumstances, I don’t know what is.

Psalm 14:  David begins saying no one is good or faithful.  He even describes those who believe there is no god.  He again describes the wicked as those who eat up godly people like they eat bread (vs 4.)  But he refutes the plan of the wicked by reminding them they can come after the poor but God will protect the poor.  He also declares salvation, restoration and a land that will rejoice when God redeems His people from captivity.  Think about if you were held captive or taken into slavery?  Could you declare God’s redemption over such dismal and hopeless circumstances?  This passage definitely shows why David was a man after God’s own heart.  His faith was definitely bigger than his environment in this chapter.

Psalm 15-This entire chapter is filled with declaration of absolute truth describing who is permitted to dwell in the presence of God.  Because this was written before Jesus’ existed (and therefore before His crucifixion and resurrection), we have to keep in mind that people of David’s generation had to present themselves in the purest of form to be in God’s presence.  Thus, David declares those who walk with integrity, strength of character, work righteousness, speak and hold truth in their heart, refrain from speaking slander or doing evil to their neighbor and does not take up a reproach against a friend are those who may “Dwell continually on His holy hill.” (vs 1-3.)  David continues to describe godly characteristics that we all should pursue and strive to live daily.  This chapter may not directly reflect praise but in the midst of that storm in our lives, perhaps it’s a great eye opener to put ourselves in check and see if our behavior, actions, and choices did anything to start or stir up the wind that swirls around us.  Personally I can confess that I have been a contributor to many of the tornados and hurricanes life has thrown at me.  I haven’t always started them but my reactions to them have surely contributed to gale force winds and got in the way of Jesus calming the storm.

Psalm 16-Just 3 chapters ago we read David expressing feelings of being forgotten by God.  In chapter 16 we read the opposite.  Here, David overflows with praise by exalting God.  In verse 2 David says, “…You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”  Later in verses 5 and 8 David states, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot…I have set the lord continually before me, Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  He ends with verse 11 declaring God “will show me the path of life, In Your presence is fullness of joy, In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”  Reading this you might think, “I guess God delivered David by changing his circumstances and calming the storm.”  Not necessarily!  Remember that David endured many hardships and this Psalm is simply another example of David choosing to stand on God’s redeeming love as the way to withstand the evil plotted against him.

Psalm 17-Reading this passage I pictured David in two possible positions-one he’s standing or pacing, looking up in the sky waving his finger and telling God what to do.   Why do I get that from this chapter?  Because I’ve prayed similar phrases like verse 1 “…listen to my loud [piecing] cry, listen to my prayer…” in the same position and from an angry heart.  Everyone has a breaking point and when I reach mine I tend to yell at God with very angry prayers.  Not my finest of moments and I am sure the devil has his best laughing moments during these rants.  Nonetheless it is something I am guilty of and later have to humbly seek God’s forgiveness for being so belligerent to our Heavenly Father.

When I read Psalm 17 a second time though, I picture David in a different posture-I picture him kneeling, head bowed, humbling himself before the Lord, boldly praying and speaking to God directly.  David reaffirms with God that he knows God has searched his heart and found no evil, therefore David knows God will redeem him.  David also asks God to “keep him [in God’s affectionate care, protecting David] as the apple of God’s eye…” That’s exactly where God keeps us as well.  As parents we cannot always protect our children from getting hurt.  God, as our Heavenly Father, doesn’t always keep us from getting hurt either.  But He is faithful in protecting us from being destroyed and He always affectionately cares for us-even during times of discipline and when He puts us through the Refiner’s Fire.  During these heated moments in life it’s best to remember we are always the apple of Abba’s eye.

Psalm 18-This Psalm is longer than the first 17.  In fact, it’s made up of 50 verses.  Most of this chapter is praise filled.  David describes how fierce our God can be.  In fact, his description includes earthquakes (vs 7), fire (vs 8), hailstorms (vs 12), thunder (vs 13 and lightning (vs 14.)  As David details God’s wrath upon his enemy, he shows no sign of fear or anxiety.  How many of us could remain calm in the midst of this type of description, even knowing it was coming from God?  I don’t think I could.  But David doesn’t bat an eye.  He continues to describe God as a mighty warrior similar to Mel Gibson’s Braveheart character.  He also offers praise to God-not once, not twice but approximately 14 times.  He describes that not only did God fight for him, God empowered David to fight for himself.  There are storms in our lives that God will want us to be still and trust him to fight the battle.  But there are also storms in our lives that God will arm us and deliver our enemies into our own hands.  It’s through wisdom and discernment that we can know which direction God is leading us-to fight or to be still.

David also describes being blameless in chapter 18.  In verses 19-27 David reminds us that we are called to remain blameless.  David did not act as his enemies did.  He did not react to Saul’s pursuit to murder him.  In fact, he refused to kill Saul when he had the power to do so.  Instead he followed God’s leading and when Saul was killed, David grieved.  That’s the heart Jesus wants us to have for our enemies.  We cannot expect Him deliver us when we harbor hate and unforgiveness toward those who bring us harm or hurt us.  We cannot expect Him to calm the storm if our actions/behavior are fueling the fire.  It’s a tough thing to not react.  It’s one I personally struggle with.  And it’s an area God continues to humble me in.  I need to follow David’s example and choose to forgive, choose to show love (Matthew 5:44) and choose how/when to respond but never to react.  Sometimes the best thing we can do is not respond at all.  That’s the time when we need to trust that God is fighting the battle for us and calling us to just be still.

Psalm 19-David spends most of this chapter describing the awe of God.  In verse 1 he tells us, “…the expanse [of Heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.”  In verse 7 he reminds us that “The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless). Restoring and refreshing the soul…”  But then David gets more personal.  In verses 13 and 14 David asks God to reveal to him sins (hidden faults) that he’s not aware of.  He also asks God to keep him from deliberate sins.  He ends asking God to keep the words he speaks and the things his heart meditates upon pleasing to God.  These last two verses clearly show how sold out for God David truly was.  These two verses are the perfect prayer for each of us to lift up to Abba every day.  It’s certain to humble any heart and is the exact reminder needed to remain in His word and to keep our eyes, speech and heart focused on God.

Psalm 20-This chapter is written as if someone else is praying for David.  I believe David is merely referring to himself in third person.  He is asking God to rescue him in the day of trouble (vs 1) grant the desires of David’s heart (vs 4) and to fulfill all of David’s petitions (vs 5.)  In verse 7 he points out that some put their hope and trust in things (horses and chariots) but David chooses to “remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  He’s clearly seeking deliverance yet again but also choosing to focus on God’s faithfulness fully knowing he will be delivered.

David endured a lot of turmoil and this is evident in these 10 chapters.  Each one has a few common themes including; David is in trouble, he has some very hateful enemies, but he trusts God for protection and deliverance.  God calls us to do the same.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us God has plans to prosper us, not harm us.  Some people believe this verse promises only good for us and thus bad stuff cannot come from God.  That’s a false belief.  God’s plans for us include the good and the bad. When we go through storms in life we can feel as though God abandoned us (like David did in Psalm 13.)  But remember this-God uses forest fires to actually regenerate the forest.  Pine cone seeds remain dormant until a forest fire melts the protective layer around them.  It’s after this layer is melted that the cones pop open and their seeds spread.  God’s refining fire for us works the same way.  It’s in the process of burning that God can melt down the layers we have that are keeping us from being all He made us to be.

***Please note, I am not a bible scholar.  This study into Psalms is my own interpretation of what David is going through and speaking of.  If you read commentaries on the Psalms you will get way more in depth explanations of the book of Psalms.  I want to give this disclaimer as it is not my intention to mislead anyone with this study nor speak falsely.  Thus, if you find yourself reading something and feel you have a different interpretation please share it in the comments section. I welcome the conversation and differing perspectives.