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The Beauty Of A Really Rotten Day

Jesus Paid It All

PREVIEW: When David cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” he was not just speaking on a personal level about having a rotten day. He was also speaking prophetically of a time when Jesus, the Son of David, would have a really rotten day hanging on a cross as God’s sacrifice for our sins. And even if David may have exaggerated his feelings a bit, our Lord’s words would be no exaggeration when he cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Jesus endured that really bad day on the cross so you wouldn’t have to. So, the next time you’re having a really awful day, take a moment to rejoice that even though your day is not so great, you will never have to know a really rotten eternity, thanks to Jesus.

“The next time you’re having a really awful day, take a moment to rejoice that even though your day is not so great, you’ll never really know a really rotten eternity, thanks to Jesus.” —Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 22:1-3,22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel…. I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

David — the shepherd boy, the captain of Saul’s army, military hero of the nation, king over all Israel — no matter what season of life he was in, had more than a few really rotten days during his journey on earth. At times, hiding from Saul in a cave, or fleeing from his own son’s murderous plot, or betrayed by people he had trusted, life was tough for David, sometimes depressingly so. What led him to compose this plaintive psalm? We don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling that the depth of despair in this psalm was a bit exaggerated. I mean, really, did he really believe that God had forsaken him?

Whether exaggerated or not, Davide felt that way at the moment of writing Psalm 22. We do that, too, sometimes. When we’re going through a painful experience, we often use hyperbolic language to describe our emotions: “I just want to die…I’ll never get over this…this pain is too great to bear…I am all alone.” It is a universally accepted practice to communicate the depth of our feelings through this sort of exaggeration.

But think about this: David was not just speaking on a personal level about having a really rotten day. He was also speaking prophetically of a time when Jesus, the Son of David, would have a really rotten day hanging on a cross as God’s sacrifice for our sins. And our Lord’s words would be no exaggeration.

Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, bearing the wrath of God on that old rugged cross. We will never in a billion years be able to understand the pain — not just the physical pain, but the spiritual pain of the sinless One taking on sin, and having the Father turn his back on the Son because his holy eyes could not gaze upon the sin his Son had become in that moment. That’s why Jesus fulfilled David’s prophetic utterance in Matthew 27:46 when he, too, cried out,

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

I am so grateful that my Lord endured that really bad day so I wouldn’t have to. So, the next time you are having a really awful day, take a moment to rejoice that even though your day is not so great, you will never really know a really rotten eternity, thanks to Jesus.

Try doing that and see if your really rotten day isn’t so bad after all.

My Offering of Worship: Take some time today to reflect on the pain and shame of the cross Jesus experienced for you, then express your gratitude for such wondrous love that led the sinless one to become your sin so you wouldn’t have to spend one rotten day in hell.

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Finding the Sweet Spot

Until You Do, Trust

PREVIEW: Much of King David’s life was categorized by going without knowing — he journeyed hundreds of dangerous and depleting episodes in his life with not much more than simple trust and gritty obedience. From this side of history, we tend to romanticize his life as one victory after another with only an occasional challenge. Not the case! David’s life was every bit as challenging as yours and mine — arguably more. But the secret of David’s amazingly blessed life was simply that he put one footstep of faith in front of the other until he hit “pay-dirt.” Through defeats, dangers, and disasters, he gritted out a long obedience in the same direction, and sooner or later, hallelujah, he hit the sweet spot. Yes, the secret to David’s experience of every desire fulfilled and every request granted was his ruthless trust in God: “For the king trusts in the Lord.” (Psalm 21:7) Make ruthless trust in God the secret of your life as well.

petros network The walk of faith requires obedience — going without knowing, yet trusting in the goodness of a God who does all things well.—Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 21:2

How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! He shouts with joy because you give him victory. For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested.

There are some days, even entire seasons of life, when we find ourselves in the sweet spot of God’s will. Everything simply falls into place. The other shoe never drops. “Stuff” never happens. Rather, blessing after blessing makes for one big fat fantastic experience.

We long for days like that, and sometimes, we get them. At other times, we must simply walk in faith and obedience — going without knowing yet trusting in the goodness of a God who “does all things well” and has promised to give us the desires of our heart.

In reality, much of David’s life was categorized by going without knowing — he journeyed hundreds of dangerous and depleting episodes in his life with not much more than simple trust and gritty obedience. From this side of history, we tend to romanticize David’s life as one victory after another with only an occasional challenge. Not the case! David’s life was every bit as challenging as yours and mine — arguably more.

But the secret of David’s amazing life was simply that he put one footstep of faith in front of the other until he hit “pay-dirt.” Through defeats, dangers, and disasters, he gritted out a long obedience in the same direction, and sooner or later, hallelujah, he hit the sweet spot. Yes, the secret to David’s experience of every desire fulfilled and every request granted was his ruthless trust in God. Psalm 21:7 says,

“For the king trusts in the Lord. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.”

Your hope and mine on this day is that it will include that sweet spot of God’s will — pay-dirt! Who knows if that will be the case? But the thing we do know is that our duty today is to take one footstep of faith at a time and leave the “when,” “where,” and “how” of the sweet spot up to God. Like David, our best option and our highest duty is to ruthlessly truth in the goodness of God.

My Offering of Worship: In your time of personalizing this psalm today, I would encourage you to prayerfully and worshipfully listen to Matt Redman’s song, Blessed Be Your Name. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpTQ4kBLxA

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In God We Trust!

Let the Broken-Down Chariots Along Life’s Highway Be a Reminder

PREVIEW: You would think by now we’d know how foolish it is to trust in anyone but the Lord for our safety and security. That is not to say that we shouldn’t lock our doors at night, put our money on deposit with the banks, expect our leaders to provide a strong national defense, think through long-term investment strategies that will help us in our retirement years, and so on. There is nothing wrong with that! In fact, the Bible calls us “prudent” when we think in those terms. But our first and fundamental trust needs to be in the Lord. He is our source. He is our provider. He is our protector. He is our future. In fact, he is our very life! And every once in a while, look at all the broken-down chariots that litter life’s highway as a reminder that trusting in the name of the Lord is better.

In God We Trust

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

You would think by now we’d know how foolish it is to trust in anyone but the Lord for our safety and security. That is not to say that we shouldn’t lock our doors at night, put our money on deposit with the banks, expect our leaders to provide a strong national defense, think through long-term investment strategies that will help us in our retirement years, and so on.

There is nothing wrong with that! In fact, the Bible calls us “prudent” when we think in those terms. But our first and fundamental trust needs to be in the Lord. He is our source. He is our provider. He is our protector. He is our future. In fact, he is our very life! Listen to how Moses says it in Deuteronomy 30:20,

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

So it should come as no surprise that when our primary trust for that which will bring us peace, joy, and comfort begins to drift from God to human beings and man-made institutions, we are on the road to disappointment, probably sooner but for sure, later. Just ask anyone who has lost a boatload of money in the sinking economy or who has lost what they believed to be a close friend over some issue how quickly their trust in an institution or a person failed.

Here’s the deal: Be wise, work hard, and do the things that will provide for both short and long-term safety and security; work hard to develop trusted and inseparable relationships, but make the Lord your God the primary and ongoing source of your wellbeing. Rather than trusting in chariots and horses, look at the coin in your pocket and do what it says: In God We Trust.

How can you do that? I think prayer is one of the best ways. Each and every single day, come before God and acknowledge your dependence on his provision. Before every meal, return thanks for his goodness. When you lay your head down on the pillow, review your day and ask yourself if you have honored God in everything you have thought, said, and done. At every decision, ask him for guidance.

Make God the critical part of your moment-by-moment life, keep him as the senior partner in every decision, and once in a while, look at all the broken-down chariots that litter life’s highway as a reminder that trusting in the name of the Lord is better.

My Offering of Worship: Read through Psalm 20 today to remind yourself that putting your trust in God rather than anything else will never disappoint.

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Nature Speaks!

Can You Ask For A Louder Voice Than That?

PREVIEW: St Augustine wrote, “Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?” If you can, take a walk sometime today, or if you get a clear sky tonight, go out and appreciate the beauty of what God has created. And tell him thanks!

“No voice speaks louder of the beauty and awe of the Creator than the beauty and awe of what he has created. For sure, nature speaks continual praise to our Creator God.”—Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 19:1-2

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

I love nature! There is nothing that speaks to my heart more clearly of the majesty of Almighty God than the beauty and wonder of creation. Whether rafting the class five rapids of a pristine Rocky Mountain River, or hiking the Pacific Coast Trail in the Cascades, or watching the sun appear over an eastern wall of an Arizona canyon, or walking through the California redwoods, or gazing up at an African sky so clear and close it seems as though you could reach out and touch a star, time and again I’ve uttered these words:

“How could anyone who sees what I see not want to bow in worship to the Mighty One who created this?”

Creation, indeed, witnesses to mankind of the loving God. St Augustine wrote,

“Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?”

Unfortunately, some people cannot see or hear God in what is plain. That’s because the god of this age has blinded their eyes. (2 Corinthians 4:4) But that shouldn’t stop you from deepening your worship of the Creator by expanding your appreciation for his creation. Take a moment to absorb what St. Basil the Great wrote,

“I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator. …One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made. … The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, even our brothers, the animals, to whom Thou gavest the earth as their home in common with us. …We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of pain. May we realize that they live, not for us alone, but for themselves and for Thee and that they love the sweetness of life.”

Now if you can, take a walk sometime today, or if you get a clear sky tonight, go out and appreciate the beauty of what God has created. And tell him thanks!

My Offering of Worship: Today, make St. Basil’s prayer your own that you lift to the Creator: “O God, enlarge within me the sense of fellowship with all living things, even my brothers and sisters, the animals, to whom you gave the earth as their home in common with us. And give me a deeper sense of awe at my home, the earth, and greater wonder at the canopy of stars and planets under which I live. And above all, thank you for the gift of nature, and make me ever aware of the beauty of what you have created.”

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The Flawless Words of God

Standing On The Promises

PREVIEW: In Psalm 18, David reflects that even though the road he has traveled to kingship has been rocky, to say the least, and at times, the success of his journey certainly hung in the balance, yet at the end of the day — at the end of each day — God had been faithful to David. God had kept him. God had delivered him. God had exalted him. And all David can do is offer this psalm of praise that recognizes the many qualities of God that have made him worthy of David’s praise. Now what was true for David is just as true for you. God is faithful, God’s Word is flawless, and God’s words to you will be fulfilled. So, are you standing on the promises of God? Are you claiming his words? Are you leaning into his Eternal Word? David would say to you, “You can depend on God’s Word—and his word. And of all people, I would know.”

The Flawless Words of God

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

As you read this fairly long psalm, your eyes will likely be drawn to verse 30. Initially, it will seem that David’s words here are an abrupt, although delightful, departure from the rest of the psalm. At first blush, it seems that David has taken a sidebar to attest to the inspiration and veracity of Scripture. Yet upon further review, this verse is in complete unity with the rest of the psalm, simply and succinctly verifying David’s testimony of God’s faithfulness to him.

The title of the song seems to suggest that David penned these words after a divinely orchestrated deliverance from King Saul’s insane jealousy and murderous rage. However, the internal evidence of the psalm indicates that this is really a retrospective on the faithfulness of God over the course of David’s life in fulfilling the promise to establish David as king over an everlasting dynasty in place of Saul. (See 2 Samuel 7:8-16)

In looking back, David reflects that even though the road he has traveled to kingship has been rocky, to say the least, and at times, the success of his journey certainly hung in the balance, yet at the end of the day, at the end of each day, God had been faithful to David. God had kept him. God had delivered him. God had exalted him. And now, David offers this wonderful song of praise that recognizes the many qualities of God that have made him worthy of David’s praise.

Then we come to verse, verse 30, where David’s worship takes on an increased volume of heartfelt praise as he sings in effect, “Yes, the promises of God have proved to be true and trustworthy. Every word he has spoken over me has been flawlessly fulfilled. I can count on his word; I can stand on his promises. With God, I am on safe and secure ground.”

Of course, what David said of the words of God (see Psalm 12:6, 30:5) is also true of the Word of God. In the next psalm, Psalm 19:7-9, David proclaims,

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

Now here’s the deal: What was true for David is true for you. The Word of God is as true today as it was in David’s day. And out of God’s Word, through your time of prayer and reflection upon it, God will speak to you as he did David (remember, it will always be in line with his written Word), and give you a word specific to the circumstances you face. And you can depend on God’s Word in those times to be flawless as well. God’s promises to you are certain.

Are you standing on the promises of God? Are you claiming his word? Are you leaning into his Eternal Word? David would say to you, “You can depend on God’s Word—and his word. And of all people, I would know.”

My Offering of Worship: Take time to read, or reread, Psalm 18, and then write out a prayer of praise to God for his faithfulness to you.

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The Apple of Your Daddy’s Eye

You Are the One God Loves

PREVIEW: Did you know that God has favorites? The Bible tells us that he held the nation of Israel as the apple of his eye. Really — Deuteronomy 32:11 tells us, “God threw his arms around Jacob, lavished attention on him, guarding him as the apple of his eye.” And Zechariah 2:8 warns, “Whoever touches Israel touches the apple of God’s eye.” The good news is that God not only played favorites with Israel, he holds you as the apple of his eye, too. How so? Through Christ’s blood! You see, when you placed saving faith in Christ, God took all the love he displayed for Israel, and for his Son, and he placed it on you. Now you are the one he loves.

The Apple of Your Daddy's Eye – Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 17:8 (ESV)

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Did you know that God has favorites? The Bible tells us that he held the nation of Israel as the apple of his eye. Really — Deuteronomy 32:11 tells us, “God threw his arms around Jacob, lavished attention on him, guarding him as the apple of his eye.” And Zechariah 2:8 warns, “Whoever touches Israel touches the apple of God’s eye.”

The good news is that God not only played favorites with Israel, he holds you as the apple of his eye, too. How so? Through Christ’s blood! You see, when you placed saving faith in Christ, God took all the love he displayed for Israel, and for his Son, and he placed it on you. Now you are the one he loves.

The late Brennan Manning tells one of my favorite stories about an Irish priest who was on a walking tour of his rural parish one day. And along the way, by the roadside, he found an old man, a peasant, kneeling in prayer. The priest was quite impressed, so he walked over and interrupted the man: “You must be very close to God.”

The peasant looked up from his prayers, thought for a moment, smiled, and said, “Yes, he’s very fond of me.”

This simple man had a simple faith that revealed a profound self-awareness of his true identity — he knew he was loved by God, and that was all that mattered! Manning developed his own personal declaration from that touching story. He would say of himself, “I am the one Jesus loves.”

It sounds a little arrogant, but he’s actually quoting Scripture. Jesus’ closest friend, John, identified himself in his Gospel as, “the one Jesus loved.” If you were to ask John, “What is your primary identity in life?” he wouldn’t reply, ‘I’m one of Jesus’ disciples — actually one of the three in his inner circle!” He wouldn’t say, “I’m one of the twelve apostles.” Nor would he identify himself as “the author of the Gospel that bears my name.” Rather, John would simply say, “I am the one Jesus loves.”

I hope that you, too, will take to saying that. More importantly, I pray that you will start believing it in your heart because if, and when you truly grasp how great the Father’s love for you really is, it will change your entire life!

Peter Kreeft insightfully wrote, “Sin comes from not realizing God’s love. Sin comes from thinking ourselves only as sinners, while overcoming sin comes from thinking ourselves as overcomers. We act our perceived identities.”

Friend, your identity is the one Jesus loves. Now start perceiving it. You are the apple of God’s eye—that is who you are. Your Father is watching over you at this moment with great delight. He will protect you, he will provide for you, and he will guide you … God’s got you covered!

Yes, you are the one Jesus loves. Now go act like it’s true, because it is!

My Offering of Worship: On a 3 x 5 card, write “I am the one Jesus loves.” Then tape it to your mirror and read it aloud each morning when you wake up and right before you go to bed at the end of the day. Try this for seven straight days and see if it makes a difference in your attitude and interactions.

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When God Is All You’ve Got

Everything Else is Icing on the Cake

PREVIEW: If you find yourself wrestling with chronic discontent, try focusing on all the blessings of just belonging to your Heavenly Father. I am quite certain that if you do that, you will come to the place where you realize that when God is all you’ve got, you’ve got it all! Even still, desiring — and asking for — God’s overflowing blessing in your life is neither selfish nor shallow — not at all. In fact, it is what God created you to desire and to experience. You see, your desiring and your asking for his abundant best is an act of faith on your part that honors him.

When God is all you’ve got, you’ve got it all! —Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 16:2

I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

When God is all you’ve got, you’ve got it all!

David’s confession that apart from God he had no good thing was not the admission of a desperate person in dire need pathetically clinging to his God. No, this was a bold and delightful recognition that being dependent on the Lord was the supreme place of:

  • Blessing — “LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup,” (v. 5)
  • Favor — “surely I have a delightful inheritance,” v. 6)
  • Wisdom — “the LORD, who counsels me; at night my heart instructs me,” (v. 7)
  • Security — “because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken,” (v. 8)
  • Emotional well-being — “therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices,” (v. 9)
  • Invincibility — “because you will not abandon me to the grave,” (v. 10)
  • Satisfaction — “you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (v. 11).

If you are in a place that provides all that — God’s blessing, divine favor, spiritual wisdom, personal security, emotional health, supernatural intervention, and soul-soothing satisfaction — what more could you possibly ask for? Anything else you have in life — financial abundance, physical health, relational well-being — is just icing on the cake.

Sometimes we get a little discontent when we focus on all the things we don’t have. And of course, it is appropriate to ask God for the things we need, even the things we desire — that is, if we ask in accordance to his will.

But if you find yourself wrestling with chronic discontent, try focusing on all the blessings of just belonging to your Heavenly Father. I am quite certain that if you do that, you will come to the place where you realize that when God is all you’ve got, you’ve got it all!

By the way, desiring — and asking for — God’s overflowing blessing in your life is not selfish at all. In fact, it is what God created you to desire and to experience. In fact, your desiring and asking for his abundant best is an act of faith on your part that honors him. I agree with how John Piper said it,

“Christian Hedonism says this: ‘God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.’ In fact, not only is there no conflict between your happiness and God’s glory, but his glory shines in your happiness, when your happiness is in him.”
So go ahead and ask bigly of God. It will glorify him, most importantly, and it will make you happy in the meantime. And that is not a bad thing.

My Offering of Worship: Divine blessing in your life is undeniable, irrefutable evidence for the existence of a good and involved God. So, make sure you align your life to the conditions of his blessings, and then ask bigly for his best blessings!