David is speaking of his enemies here—the same ones who’d plotted against him. Now they were sick and hurting. He could have chortled with glee. He could have celebrated their suffering, considering it their just desserts. But notice what he did: he put on sackcloth (a symbol of mourning), fasted,…
Hm, sounds a bit like the psalmist (David) might’ve been hot under the collar. Last week I talked about grief—an emotion to which we can all relate. What about anger? Ever gotten angry? Anger is something that can get the best of…well, the best of us. Sometimes anger is appropriate—like…
Even in the midst of grieving, the psalmist came to a place of thanksgiving. In Old Testament worship, the word “thanksgiving” shows up a lot. It’s essentially a time of expressing gratitude to God for His presence, grace, and mercy. The calling upon the name of the Lord could be…
Death comes to everyone. The death of a loved one is a reason for grief. We miss them. Even grieving with hope is still grief, and it’s okay to acknowledge it. Our grief can be eased, though, when we remember that physical death is simply a delivery from the pains…
HYMN DAY! Fanny Crosby wrote some of our most commonly sung hymns. That she was completely blind when she penned the words always humbles me. She SAW so clearly her Savior’s presence. The third verse of “I Am Thine, O Lord” (sometimes called “Draw Me Nearer”) puts a lump in…
Since we know that the Lord hears and cares, we can rest in Him…even in times of deep grief and sorrow. The word “rest” has significant meaning here. This isn’t just a time of closing one’s eyes and relaxing physically; it’s a condition of being in a safe, secure place,…
We truly are emotional beings, some of us maybe more than others. Grief, anger, fear, worry, frustration…we feel’em all. Emotions in and of themselves aren’t bad. I mean, feelings are feelings, and it isn’t healthy to deny them. But when they take over and rule our lives, then they’re detrimental…
God gave Jeremiah two assurances: 1) I’ll give you what you need; and 2) I will not send you alone. It is fearful to step into the unknown, especially when you aren’t sure what kind of reception you’ll receive! But God clearly instructed Jeremiah not to be afraid, because God…
God didn’t accept Jeremiah’s excuse…and He won’t accept ours, either. Because He knows our excuses aren’t valid. Too often, they’re a means of either chickening out or choosing selfish pursuits (which will never satisfy us the way following Him can). When He gives a purpose, He also bestows what we…
HYMN DAY! The words for “Let All Things Now Living,” written by Katherine K. Davis, are put to a traditional Welsh melody that is simply delightful. You can listen to it here, if you like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpMCE1G3N7Q Verse 1 Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the…
