Ascribe Strength to God

"Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. ³⁵ O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!"

Psalm 68:34-35

Many of our cares, worries, anxieties and fears arise out of neglect to ascribe strength, excellence and power to God.  We believe in God's omnipotence and ability to save and deliver often in a hypothetical sense because our being overwhelmed betrays us.  David bid God's people to actually credit Him for how awesome God truly is and all He has done and does as our Creator and Saviour who loves us.

If I ascribe fullness to my tank of petrol (and this agrees with reality), I can drive carefree to the coast and back home without concern for needing fuel.  Many have made the mistake of ascribing more petrol to their tank than they actually had and ended up stranded by their false confidence when they ran out.  When we pull out a debit card to make a purchase in a shop, we consider what card we ascribe sufficient funds to cover the cost.  If we are confident the card used has been loaded with money to spare we do not dread being declined and having to cancel the transaction and start over.

A person with a full tank of petrol and a broken fuel gauge may be nervous driving longer distances because they are afraid of running out.  Believers chosen and accepted by God can be like a driver who frets and worries over running out of petrol when God has all strength and power when we do not ascribe strength to Him.  The reality is God has strength that is not dependent on our faith because it is of grace, and God is faithful and merciful to give strength and power to His people.  David's heart swelled in praise to the almighty God to Whom he ascribed strength, even when God at times seemed distant as the clouds above.

The most awesome places in the world are nothing compared to the awesomeness of our God to Whom we are wise to ascribe strength.  Like God hangs the earth upon nothing, He puts clouds in the sky that carry moisture where He causes rain to fall in due season for the refreshment and benefit of the earth, man and beast.  Should we ascribe strength and power to people or ourselves we will ultimately break down in disappointment with dashed expectations, but those who ascribe strength to the LORD bless His holy name with joyful gratitude.  Are you ascribing strength and power to God today Who is generous to supply all our needs?

Rejoice and be Glad Today

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Jesus Christ

The beginning of a new year is a fitting opportunity to take stock of our priorities, to consider our perspective and look to the LORD more than the future that awaits us.  Looking at articles and posts on social media, it seems people are happy to write off one year as bad with the hope of a good year ahead.  Jesus could have said, "Sufficient for the year is its own trouble," yet He focused on the day God made.  This is a helpful and healthy perspective we can keep in mind for as long as we live on this planet.

Judith Viorst wrote a children's book years ago illustrated by Ray Cruz with this catchy title:  "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."  Alexander and I share a thing in common, that we both decided to move to Australia.  In the story Alexander knew he was going to have a "bad" day because things did not go like he wanted.  The only solace the rascal had at the end of the book was he fell asleep knowing everyone has bad days.  It would be very pleasant if the bad feelings and troubles of yesterday disappeared the following day, but this is not the case.  Painful trials can continue until our outlook of an entire year is sullied from them.

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  This passage has been written into a song we used to sing at church.  A day isn't good or bad because of what happens during it but it is a day we can rejoice and be glad because God has made it.  A day may be filled with trouble, yet we should not allow the troubles of today to cloud our great God and the future He has prepared for us.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

If you think Psalm 118:24 was written in the context of everything going well marked with prosperity, ease, blooming flowers and refreshment, think again.  Whilst it is true God has made every day we can rejoice and be glad in, the "day" referred to prophetically was the hour when Jesus Christ would be crucified on Calvary to atone for lost sinners.  The day Jesus went to the cross, from a human standpoint--which does not account for God, His grace and goodness--was a very bad day indeed.  But Jesus for the joy that was before Him endured the cross so those who trust Him could rejoice in Him every day on earth and beyond time measured in hours, months, days and years.  Because God has made today, we who know and trust God will rejoice and be glad in the day as much as we appreciate our eternal salvation.

We can say, "I will rejoice and be glad in it" and grit our teeth to try to rejoice, but the flesh cannot accomplish what God does through faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  I have seen people suffer greatly and miraculously become a comfort to others by the comfort they have received of the LORD.  Some endure terrible pains day after day, year after year by rejoicing in the LORD who is the strength of their life.  The weight of a bad year is too heavy for anyone to carry, for "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  We will have troubles and at times be troubled, yet with eyes of faith we seek the LORD and rejoice in the day He has made.  Let us be rejoice and be glad in the day He has given us today.

Seek the LORD Early

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. ² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."

Psalm 63:1-2

Growing up in the church, the sanctuary was the place in the building where there were chairs, pews and a pulpit.  It was the place where the church body gathered together to sing worship songs, hear sermons and pray.  The sanctuary was a place consecrated similarly to the tabernacle a temple, a place where God dwelt.  The ironic thing is in my youth I was not aiming to look for God's power and glory.  The sanctuary was viewed as God's house, a place where we showed respect for God by refraining from running, shouting and removed our hats.  David's longing and desire to seek the presence of God early is refreshing in comparison to the legalism of consecrated spaces.

From my own experience I can say people who enter a church are not always looking for the presence of God, to see His power and His glory.  If attendees hope to see a thick cloud enveloping the preacher or angelic messengers flitting about singing forth the praises of God, they likely will be disappointed.  Pious Jews today seek the presence of God at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, yet the power and glory of God is not found in a geographic location or consecrated hall:  God's glory is seen in the sanctified people redeemed by the blood of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of God.  It is not in the ornate statues or gilded pillars carved by skillful artisans but through the lives of Christians by grace through faith His power and glory is revealed.

This does not mean we look inside ourselves to find the power and glory of God:  we continually look to Jesus Christ, risen and glorified, the source of Living Water that springs up into eternal life.  David was parched for the presence of God like weary pilgrims who had traveled through an arid region and needed water for survival.  David's soul thirsted for God and thus he went where God dwelt, in the sanctuary, the place where God dwelt.  Paul revealed under the New Covenant of the Gospel Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, holy because His presence makes us so.  We are blessed to draw near to God by faith in Jesus Christ wherever we may be, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.  His presence abides in us His workmanship, and by faith and obedience we abide in Him.

How good and fitting an exhortation today are the words written in 1 Chronicles 16:7-11:  "On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the LORD: ⁸ Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! ⁹ Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! ¹⁰ Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! ¹¹ Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore!"  Let us seek the LORD early in our lives, early in the morning and evermore!  Seeking the LORD and proclaiming His glory go hand in hand, exponentially multiplying our reliance on Him as we rejoice in our awesome God.

The Danger of Overcorrection

A lot of driving accidents occur due to overcorrection.  When driving is monotonous and fatigue sets in, as a driver drifts off to sleep their car can also begin to drift from their lane.  Waking with a start, the driver impulsively jerks the wheel to swerve back into the lane or slams the brakes.  This rapid movement to avoid the danger of the ditch creates a new one when control is lost of the car which can fishtail, spin, hit other cars, or plunge into the ditch the driver attempted to avoid.  Gentle directional correction while controlling speed helps a driver stay safely in their own lane and reach the intended destination.

The danger of overcorrection can be seen beyond our roadways.  There are many people who make negative judgments about groups of people because of a bad experience they had.  In Christians circles this tendency is seen in legalism as fresh zeal for God lends itself to condemnation of others who have different convictions and beliefs.  Arbitrary categories for music, movies or modesty are formed as badge of genuine spirituality.  Because a person attended a church where the gifts of the Holy Spirit were used in a disorderly fashion, the suggestion particular gifts of the Holy Spirit are valid today may be dismissed with scornful disdain.  Instead of seeking the balance provided by the word of God, man can swing to extremes.  Being offended by a person who identifies as a Christian has made many people swear off the church, the existence of God and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I read a passage recently which likely provides a demonstration of overcorrection.  After the king of Judah Uzziah transgressed and was struck with leprosy when he entered the holy place and offered incense, 2 Chronicles 27:2 (KJV) says of Jotham his son who was made king:  "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly."  Jotham was wise to learn from his father's mistake and not transgress by offering incense because this was the duty of a sanctified priest.  Jotham did what was right in the sight of the LORD, howbeit he did not enter the temple of the LORD.  The way this is written suggests to me he was keen to avoid the temple and even temple courts frequented by godly kings before him as they sought the LORD in prayer like King Solomon at the altar.  It is possible Jotham avoided the temple because it was the place his father was struck with leprosy, an overcorrection to avoid God's punishment instead of being an example of righteousness and humility in public worship of God--unlike his father.  Avoiding the temple did nothing to instill a fear of God in the wayward people.

Overcorrection leads to disaster on the roadways and is a real danger in the lives of Christians who lose the proper tension between the love and fear of God.  These are not contradictory but complimentary motivations that govern our attitudes, convictions, words and deeds.  The pendulum of a clock swings from one side to another, and it is wise for us to find a balance between extreme reactions to which we are prone.  Let us be extreme in our love and fear of God and obedience to walk in righteousness, but let us be careful not to swing towards condemning what and whom God has not.  Be firm in your convictions yet not hard as stone, for God has given us hearts of flesh to care and feel for others.