Friends, if it’s not Jesus who we look to, we carry a very heavy burden indeed. Jesus isn’t saying “you’ve had a busy week come and put your feet up for a while”.
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I interpreted the words “exalt yourself” to mean playing or singing to the full extent of my ability.
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1 John 4:18 says: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” The opposite of love is not hate. But he opposite of love is fear. And the opposite of fear is love.
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In Psalm 3, Verse 7 sounds like it’s just a vindictive, revengeful statement on the surface. But what David is saying here is that now he has found his inner peace from God, he wants justice. Justice for who? Look at verse 8 – his people. At this point, David is no longer looking inwardly, but outwardly.
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In Psalm 3, David is facing a really fearful, anxiety-causing situation. He was running for his life and his very identity as king of Israel was under threat. In Psalm 3, David is facing a really fearful, anxiety-causing situation. He was running for his life and his very identity as king of Israel was under threat.
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In Psalm 3 in the second half of verse 3, David states where he finds his glory. And it’s the second step out of anxious fear.
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Jesus was scared as he sweated blood while he prayed in the garden. But He followed His Father, knowing He would lead Him to an agonising death on the cross. However, also knowing and trusting that God would be His shield around Him as he pressed forward and through to glory.
Read Moreou wonder if you tried hard enough. You wonder how your family will feel about their investment into your education and ambitions and sense of failure. You return home to take up fishing, the business of your father and of the village. The other boys you fish with are more advanced in the trade because have been trying to learn scripture. You can't read the sea as well as others your age, and younger... And your mind is trapped in a cycle of disappointment as you reflect on what could have been....you always felt you were destined for something else.
Read Morehinking about faith leads us to think about Jesus - the one whom our faith is in. When Jesus says He is the good shepherd, His claim is based on relationship with His creation, us, His sheep! The Lord's desire for friendship is embedded in the claim "I know my own sheep". And because Jesus knows us, we know Jesus. Everything always starts with Christ and His 'knowing relationship' with us first - we are invited into this special relationship.
Read MoreIn the midst of the storms of life that you face and others face around you, remember the word of the Lord - that He leads you besides still waters, even in the midst of the storm. Remember to thank the Lord in the midst of your storm, and allow the Holy Spirit to encourage your heart with the still peace of God that passes all our understanding.
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