An appropriate (and Biblical) prayer it seems to me as we near the election season and encounter the “vitriolic” that is characteristic of politics… “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up things continually! They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s and under their lips is the venom of asps. Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men!” (From a prayer of David in Psalm 140)
I LIKE CHRISTIANS WHO EXHIBIT SOME “SPIRITUAL SPUNK” – SOME “GODLY GUSTO” – SOME “ANOINTED ATTITUDE”!!
Now I know there is a risk… It’s incredibly easy to slip out of the Spiritual and Godly into the self-serving and carnal. I’m a farm boy and we were around horses a lot… I’ll take a horse any day with a bit of “spirit” over one that you had to spur and give a whip to go anywhere. If you’ve got a good cutting horse there are times you really don’t know if the horse is “in charge” or the “rider” (in fact it’s a marvel and delight to watch one work in a herd of cattle).
I think young David, in the Goliath story, exhibited a bit of “Spiritual spunk” – “Godly gusto” – and “anointed attitude” … See what you think…
When David heard Goliath taunt the armies of Israel this was his response… “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine the he should defy the armies of the Living God?!”
After volunteering to fight this frightening, intimidating champion of the Philistines (and having his motives challenged and being “put down” by his brother, Eliab), he responded, “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like on of them, because he has defied the armies of the Living God! The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine!”
When Goliath ridiculed David’s audacity to challenge him, “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’”
“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” (From 1 Samuel 17 NIV)
Gotta tell you… I like that kind of spunk! I like that kind of faith! And I like the fact that David’s personal ego did not get in the way of honoring God for the victory! His overarching concern was the honor and reputation of the Lord. God give us more people with “Spiritual spunk” – “Godly gusto” and “anointed attitude”!! (I want to be that kind of person!)
You’ve encountered the conversations – both kinds! Some are just “piling up gripes” episodes (a real downer that leaves everyone is a terrible mood) – others are characterized by the words of the old gospel song, “Count your many blessing”!
Perhaps we need to do more than “count our blessings” though… (although counting them is a good start)! How about “considering” them – or even “celebrating them”!!
My Bible reading today during “coffee with the Lord” brought me to Psalm 136, categorized as a “salvation history song” (in other words it is a psalm that God’s ancient people used to recall and rehearse God provision, protection and powerful saving acts on their behalf). Many scholars believe it was sung antiphonally by two choirs (one would sing out one of the blessings and provision of the Lord, the other would respond with the repeated echo… “His steadfast love [“hesed” – Hebrew] endures forever!” (You’ll have to read the entire Psalm to capture the effect… I’ll give you a taste…
Nothing.. No one… No situation… No circumstance… can separate us from His love!!! Here it is from Psalm 136…
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
“…His steadfast love endures forever!
Get it?… 26 times in one psalm!! That’s why I’m ready to lay claim to Romans 8:37-39 as a foundational, unshakable, dependable, truth in the Bible…
“No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!”
I’ve had enough of “piling up gripe” sessions… I want to instigate some “Count… consider… celebrate your many blessings” conversations, don’t you?!
Coffee With The Lord 