A Divided Heart

Focus verses: II Chronicles 13:1-21, and I Kings 15:3-5

The story of Abijah is a sad tale. But it is our tale as well. When he is in the throes of battle, he invokes the name of the Lord. He serves God when it suits his purposes.

When he had grown in strength -- that is after God had bailed him out of his troubles -- he committed all the sins of his father. Get this: "because his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God."

You see, with God it's all or nothing! You cannot be partially devoted to the Lord and partially devoted to the things of this world.

We have a lot of Christians like Abijah. There are a lot of us who sit in church and say the proper words and do the expected things and call upon God when times are tough. But when times are better, we seem to forget our total dependence upon God.

We fall for the lie that we can do it ourselves. Hogwash! Without God we can do nothing!

There is a world of difference between the nominal Christian who thinks he loves God but doesn't rely on Him and the committed Christian who knows he is totally dependent upon God for every breath.

So which are you? Are you totally aware of your complete dependence upon God? Do you consult with Him many times a day? Are you satisfied with fifteen minutes of Bible reading each morning and grace before meals? How closely can you walk with God?

Father, God,

Help us to see that You are our all in all. Keep us close under Your guiding hand and draw us ever closer in our walk with You.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

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Ceaseless Praise

Focus verses: Psalm 34

Today's reading relates David's exploits while on the run from Saul and includes three psalms. Psalm 34 is a paean of praise. "I will extol the Lord at all times."

That's good advice for all of us. We are told that God inhabits the praises of his people. When we focus on praising God, we put all our problems and troubles into perspective. Nothing that comes against us is larger than God. Nothing can separate us from God against our will.

"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." This verse delivers rich comfort. No matter what happens, God has the situation well in hand. Events that rock us to the foundations never surprise Him. He is aware before hand and has made preparation for them all.

David sang to the Lord, frequently -- one might say endlessly. Singing to the Lord is a good habit. When we sing the old hymns, we learn the tenets of our faith, the attributes of God, and the ways of the righteous. When we sing the new praise choruses, we join in an unending stream of praise. Somewhere, someone is singing to the Lord all the time. Or if they're not, they should be.

An unending hymn of praise rising from this blue marble in the universe would go a long way toward correcting the problems we're dealing with in today's world.

Sing praise!

Father, God,

Renew the song in our hearts. Restore to us the joy of our first love of Christ. Make the waters of praise and thanksgiving effervesce within us. Let us be harbingers of joy and thanksgiving. Help us to lift the spirits of all we meet.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.