to daily express and know His love
David is in the desert; his heart is a desert. All seems lost. He longs to for the love of God, the love that is better than life, that is the desire of David’s heart.
I think that many of us can relate to David. I know that I have had many times where I felt as though I were an outcast for knowing what I believe as truth, was/is not the societal norm. How many times have you cried out for the loving-kindness, the comfort, that Jesus provides when in the mitts of strife? This is what David is doing, he knows that his life, his earthly living is temporary & no matter what he is dealt, God’s love will get him through it.
It is so easy to say “woo is me, I was dealt a poor lot in life.” In actuality, we are given no more than we can handle, good or bad. Who of you praise God when things are going well? Do you remember to, or do you only cry out to him in life’s valleys? Do you thank God for the “red lights?” Think about it, say you did not list to the red light, you ran it, or went through the “orange,” then two miles down the road you are involved in an accident. Have you ever passed an accident moments after it happened? Have you ever thanked God for the red light that caught you just a mile back?
I hope Herb Zabel won’t be mad at us for breaking his 4am ‘monopoly’.
I know in the past I have been guilty of crying out to the Lord only when things get tough. However as I grow in my faith and walk with Christ, I have found myself enjoying the Lords loving-kindness in all situations. David however sets the bar so high that he is a great example for all God’s children to follow. I also am blessed with an earthly father who lives in Africa; his name is Herbert. He is a man who continuously seeks the Lord. He breaks into song at all weird moments (I say weird because as a teenager, I couldn’t envision myself singing amazing grace in an elevator or in a taxi cab. What if someone heard me?) However, the bible has numerous examples of David writing a song/psalm in all occasions and locations.
I hope I can continue to find joy and praise no matter what card I am dealt. Alan always asks me, “What is the Lord teaching you in this situation?” and I have found out that the Lord has a plan for good and not evil in my life. That he knows what is best for me and as most of us have read in ‘The Shack’; The Lord loves us no matter what.
Thank you Lord for your Loving-kindness.
Thanks Peter, now my reign as first commentor is over…so sad:(
One of the things that I truly enjoy is to talk to non-christians about their faith. It intrigues me to understand their logic and reasoning of thier own faith system. If given the chance I share what I believe, and almost always, I run into the argument, “If God is love then why does…” I’m sure you have all heard this faulty arguement before. It is as if these people, and the way they understand God’s love have a negative or sour out look on life. Yet David says “BECAUSE you love is better than life”. I long to convey this message to those I talk too. I want so badly for them to see that life is not bad “because” of God’s love, life is bad and hard because of our sin. God’s love is BETTER than life, so embrace Him and see how good life can be.
However this discussion has caused me to think. When was the last time someone came to me and said, “when I look at your life I see that you have something better.” The answer is never. People have not said this to me, and the only reason I can come up with is that the way I live does not cause people to notice. I need to praise God more at the “red” lights, in the elevator. I long to have a mind that is constantly on Him, so much so that others will see that there is BETTER than this life, and that BETTER is God, and he is worthy of all praise.
(Man, Peter and Herb are the champions of insomnia.)
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6. These are a couple verses I try to quote to myself when I find I am uncorking a big bottle of whine. Along with the verses quoted from Psalm 63, there should be enough to convince me that my circumstances, regardless how extreme, don’t give me an excuse to withhold praise from my Lord. I don’t believe I can weigh outcomes in the balance and judge God worthy, like “Well it could have been worse, so I will praise and thank God.” Who am I to judge God? No, it teaches me that it’s praise when it is the worst, and it’s praise when it is the best. “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
David made a decision to praise God. “Sure I trust God, but I still worry,” I heard someone say, and that is me too. I don’t find in me the resolute confidence in my Lord that allows me to praise Him regardless. I want it badly, but I doubt so much. Can I decide to practice praise recognizing that His love is better than my life? I think I may understand it better if I praise first.
Great thoughts, Hannah. I think I’m wayyy better at crying out to God during the hard times than I am at praising Him when things are going well. That makes me wonder if I should pray for more hardship if that keeps me closer to HIm. But ultimately I think I just want to “be joyful always…pray continually…and give thanks in all circumstances.” That’s when my life starts to look different.
I was thinking about how as I have grown up and lived through more valleys how it is easier to praise and thank God for the stuff I go through thhat molds and makes who I am. I also think about how quick my kids at school (3rd graders) whine and complain about little things. The more I get to know my heavenly Father the more I can understand why valleys. My 3rd graders don’t understand and they have to be reminded to praise God when we pray. I can praise God just because I woke up to live and breath another day.
PS don’t pick on Herb for spending his first fruits on God
I agree with you Megan. I sometimes have an easier time crying out to God when the times are tough than when they are running smoothly. Right now my husband is unemployed so I find myself crying out constantly but praising too because I know that God is in control of the situation even though he is still not working. Through my crying out to God, we have a roof over our head and food on the table. I am thankful that I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
David is definitely an interesting character to study. It seems that he was either on fire for God or really screwing up royally. Unfortunately, I often find myself in the luke warm mediocrity of my faith. I read the heart felt desperation in David’s writings and it challenges me to stop playing around with my faith and to really understand what is going on here.
“Every man dies, not every man really lives” William Wallace
In every moment, good or bad, God has loved us. We don’t deserve it, haven’t earned it, and honestly deserve vacation on a pike as a precursor to a more appropriate death.
God is not a fair God. Consider that he should have destroyed us all a long time ago for our transgressions against him. He’s just, but fair? Thank heaven he isn’t.
God has loved US, through every sin, every rebellious act, every murderous or lustful thought, every abandonment of our responsibilities. Despite it all, he has continued to love us, and if we, here, have been changed from our former selves into anything better(even to just recognize that), then it has been only by God’s great love.
So what does he ask in return? Love God. Love yourself. Love others. What does love mean? I’ve defined love as: A dedication to the betterment of another with a dedication of the soul. Well, God can’t be bettered, the next best thing it to contribute to that which he loves most: humanity. Love yourself, even for all your own transgressions (you are not too good to be loved by yourself), and everyone you meet, showing love TO GOD, by loving others.
So love and express that love. Love is not free (despite the 1960s). It costs, and always will. But you can give it as God has given it to us > overflowing and in abundant measure.
Lord, you know I am guilty of crying out most when things are trying, but you also know that the desire of my heart is to live a life of worship like David did. I want to praise you in the good times and the bad. Help me to have the mind of Christ and the heart of David.
Love is the most mysterious and yet one of the most glowing attributes of God. He loves us through our good times and our bad, times when we turn from Him and times we run to Him. but why? as stated so frequently, we do not and have not deserved any of the unconditional love or grace that God gives us. our sinfulness is an ugly stain that be have carried since creation, and yet even when we chose our own desires over God’s in the garden, He still loved us. Our actions, good deeds and even living the Bible out to the “T” cannot bring us back to God. we are too tainted, too fallen. So why do we even try to make it back to Him? Its easy: Jesus Christ. His sacrifice provided us with the ONLY way to have a relationship with God again. our sinfulness is what makes salvation so sweet…so necessary. and why did it happen? because God LOVES us! it doesn’t make any sense in human thought for God to love us as much as He does, and yet even after everything that we do wrong, we can always find Him….waiting….watching…loving. Its hard to be around so much undeserved love, but its impossible to escape it, and the desires to be holy that arise from this love points us to the path of righteousness. It makes serving Him the greatest Honor, the most humbling experience that results in the highest gain of truth and love.
Thanks Hannah for being faithful for the last 20 years. You are a glory to God because of His lovinkindness toward you. He has sustained and kept you because of His lovingkindness.
Not sure if it is my stoic Scottish back ground but I find myself praising the Lord and being close to him and seeing His lovingkindness in the hard and difficult times of life . When the road is the hardest I seem to be the closest. I think it is because I believe….
“Because your love (loving-kindness) is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” I tend to wonder from His love when life id “good”.
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You I desire nothing on earth. My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” -Ps 73:25-26
“Because your love is better than life”… There are two ways I’ve used a statement like that: 1) In natural response to the Father’s amazing unconditional love, and 2) as a reminder to myself in the moments I feel farthest away from his love and most distracted with other things in life. I find that during the times my heart feels like a desert, I need to hear, “Dude! Snap out of it! His love is better than life! Glorify and praise him!” Our Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And those are always great times to be reminded of his character and praise him.
This may be a little off subject but I am hurting today.
It is easy to seek out love when we are hurt. We long to feel better when things go wrong. To borrow from a comment yesterday, I too reach up my arms to be lifted up and cared for. The rub is, do I also do it when things are great. Currently I am hurting. I am confused and dealing with financial issues. Sure it is easy for me to ask God to write me a letter and send me the answer, oh and by the way, pay a couple of bills for me too. I am learning that through problems, we are learning from God, being molded, and therefore will be better for it. If God did nto love us, he would not try to teach us. When the skies part and the sun shines again (which I know will happen), I must remember that it is God that allows both pain and joy. Praise and thankgiving in all I do. Thank God for the hot water to shower, for the ability to get gas and get to work today, for the job that I have, for my friends and family. I want to thanks God in all things big and small. I know that I will make it to the other side and I pray that I remember to praise God then as much as I am reaching now.
Your love is better than life!
I write this with an exclamation point , for today this is my declaration. I truly do long for heaven and when I set my eyes on this goal the colors of this world begin to fade in the brightness of my future,….and so do the worries. I get excited about heaven, longing for the perfection that comes from being in the presence of my Master.
Romans 8:18-27 is a great passage, speaking of our future hope. Verse 24-25 : “For in this hope (adoption into son-ship) we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
This is faith in action. I will wait patiently, although at times it is difficult, especially when the world is so in our face with worries, and stress but, today I choose (cause it is always a choice) to declare:
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE!
“Because your love is better than life”. When I read or hear that it just makes me want more of Him. He does so much for me I have to do my part and sometimes I don’t do it well. I have always praised God for my blessings, and yes, thanked Him for the red light. But I don’t do it enough. Like everyone, I often forget. But then I’m put in a situation that I know God handled “because your love is better than life” and I can’t help but praise him. I have to become better at doing it more. I wouldn’t be where I am in my life and walk with God without His love and watching over me and “this I know for sure”.
I always felt I had to praise Him for the good stuff because I knew I would be turning to Him again for the bad stuff.
Megan you are right. I find myself doing the same thing. I know God is listening at all times. But it is easier to cry out when you are in a storm. I make it habit to say Thank You Lord every morning over and over again. I thank him for the good the bad and the ugly. And when I look over it all there is more good than bad. God truly smiles upon us all even when we don’t deserve it. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Those hurting times are so contradictory to pain avoidance that can so define my life. For me to see God as REALLY better than life, it requires me to see the emptiness of life without God. But this is always hard. His really cool gifts of life can block me from Him… the Giver. So is it a cruel God who allows my life circumstances to go south, or is it an extremely loving God who always drives me to the “better?”
Isn’t David running or in hiding here (vs. 9), and yet he is still king? Maybe this was when his own son, Absalom, was attacking him and trying to steal the throne. Now that would really bite. How much would the stuff of life just not matter anymore as David dealt with this horrific circumstance involving his own flesh and blood? David was put into a forced mode of worship where God HAD to be better than life, because life just wasn’t worth it.
I’ve been there.
Isn’t this why or corporate gatherings on Sundays SHOULD be so vitally important for each of us? We need to be in the sanctuary (vs. 2) with each other… worshiping and seeing God’s glory because life is hard and He MUST be better. Sometimes I actually need you to show me this through your worship… because I am so stuck.
Isn’t it just flat out amazing when someone’s life gets really hard, and the first thing they give up or neglect is church? Whaaaa? Isn’t a corporate gathering exactly what is needed — to seek and thirst after the One who is above and better than life? Without others who are hurting too… without others who are thirsty… without others who visibly believe God is better than life — I might just start believing I’m crazy!
I have to remind myself constantly that God knows what He is doing…it may sting sometimes, but He know what He is doing…and I need to thank Him for the good and the bad…it’s not my plan, it’s His.
Good thoughts on the red light. My husband Sam and I were delayed at a furniture store about 10-15 minutes one night – we weren’t able to find each other in this huge store (we had split so he could take care of business and I could play with my toddler) and one of us didn’t have our cell phone which is very unusual. When we found each other, we were very frustrated with the situation and were in a hurry to get home. When we got on I-75, we saw signs that all lanes were blocked, there had just been a fatal accident. Immediately, we felt in our spirit that God had caused this “frustrating delay” and it was for our good. How many times do we not know what He saves us from? Our minds can be so narrow.
Often in the middle of a busy day, I get too far before I realize that I am feeling pushed, stressed and stretched. It just takes a short whisper of “Jesus” to myself to get me brought back down to a calm, collected place. It’s amazing the power of His name, even when just spoken to myself. Just a whisper of worship, “Jesus, I love you” can rescue a broken day for me. I just wish I could worship like David, I wish I could dance like David, I wish I could write as eloquently as David. But, all I can do is offer myself, my words, my every day life to Jesus as worship.
Thank you, Jesus for such an increbile feeling of knowing that you are in control, directing me, providing for me and protecting me. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me, thank you for loving me before I knew you, thank you for embracing me when I need comfort, thank you for strength when I am weak, thank you for surrounding me with a fellowship of believers who love me, thank you for allowing me a voice to call out your name in times of need and times of worship. I worship your name and give you the glory for all that my life has become.
The Holy Spirit inhabits the praises of Gods people, and I want the Holy Spirit around me at all times. I am too chicken to try making it on my own.
Why is it that praising God can be so easy to do on Sundays and so difficult to do during the week? For years, my Mom has said, “Praise God” or “Praise Jesus” to everything and anything that happens. I have to admit, sometimes it has annoyed me, but as I have matured I find myself saying the same thing, just admittedly not frequently enough. I have often thought about those red lights – those blessings in disguise. Those frustrating things that hold you back, that job that didn’t come through, the relationship that ended, etc. are often treasurable gifts from God.
Like one of the previous comments, I have rarely had someone tell me they see something “different” in me and I think one of the main reasons is because I tend to forget God is in control, and don’t praise Him and thank Him enough for my circumstances. People watch people. When they see an odd reaction they take notice. What greater witness to others than to outwardly express your confidence in God by praising Him when things aren’t going well, when things are extremely frustrating, when relationships run amuck, when a work situation goes awry.. to remain patient, confident, and peaceful at times of frustration will most certainly open up a line of conversation at some point with whoever is watching.
Lord, help me to cry out to you in the good times and the bad, and to remember You are in control of every situation and I am in awesome hands!
It has been so precious raising a child. Evening prayers you never know what will come out of their mouths. The endless list of thanks. Like thank you for the rain. It was yummy. When I stop with my business and see the world in the eyes of a child there is so much more to be thankful for.
It may be more common than we think to praise God externally on Sunday while simultaneously questioning and lamenting areas of our lives internally. The balance may be more lopsided during the week.
Some people have the ability to stay positive and praise God for everything – good or bad. I have always questioned this outlook just as I question portions of “The power of positive thinking”. Some things are not desirable and I wonder if God really has a hand in everything. We do have free will, and if one uses that free will to inflict harm, is that really the hand of God? Should we really praise God for satanic acts of individuals or groups? Should we praise God for the Holocaust?
Thank you Hannah for your words of inspiration. I too, am one of those who find it very easy to reach out to God when times are tough. And during these times that are so very difficult, I hope and pray that I will remember God’s Grace, Strength, and Support once better times come. I do not want to be one of those ‘foul weather’ Christians. Like David, I want to praise Him no matter what my circumstances may be.
NOTE FOR EVERYONE!
Hey… I just had lunch with someone who suggested that making a comment on here might be difficult for some. There might be some intimidated because they don’t feel they have it all figured out or don’t see themselves as high-church theologians.
As I see it, some of the best comments are from those who don’t have it all figured out. I like the comments that are raw, vulnerable, struggling, and wobbly.
So… don’t be afraid. Just be YOU and write a thought or two. Thanks!!!
I wouldn’t know how great it is to GO if I wasn’t occasionally stopped. I won’t fully appreciate this weeks rain if I don’t remember this summer’s drought. I’ll take the current low gas prices for granted if I forget that we had to pay $4.10 per gallon 2 months ago. This realization of the yin and yang of life is what I think Paul is using in Romans 5 when he says that “where sin increased, grace is all-the-more increased” (JFV – Jon Franz Version).
God, thanks for the contrasts. I’m not courageous enough to pray for higher high or lower lows, but I’ll do my best to accept what you send, knowing that you are good.
To M,
I also struggle with when to give God credit, because, like you said, it often seems at odds with free will. Great and/or terrible things happen to people seemingly irrespective of their faith or religious views. Becoming a Christian will not save you from disfigurement in a car wreck, for example. And praising God for getting disfigured seems masochistic to me.
That said, I can also think of two reasons to praise God even in bad times:
(1) God’s promise of eternal life gives us reason to praise God at any time — good or bad. Because of our Christian outlook, from a logical standpoint, the things that occur in our day-to-day lives are very small in comparison to eternity.
(2) Even the worst events can lead to great things over the course of eternity. It just usually is not apparent at the time what God could possibly have in store.
Okay, I promised God i’d do the 5 day challenge, it’s Wed. and I just logged on-and b/t refinancing my house, work issues, 1st week back after 3 wk. break, i’m busted. I am still at work now but took a break and found it refreshing to read all that you have said. I know that this is something I have to make a effort to do before I get caught up in the work world on a daily basis, why is this so hard to do? Thanks Hannah!
To M,
Free will topic is a difficult one. I don’t think that there is an answer that we can know in this life. That is one of the things that I would want to ask God to explain when I see him. We do have free choice. However, that in no way diminishes God’s sovereignty. God is in control of everything. Whether or not we accept that he is doesn’t change the fact that He is.
There are multiple reasons to praise God even in the good and bad times. The first of which is grace. Also the worst of times does serve a purpose and ultimately works for the good of those who love the Lord. We should praise God for the power to overcome the satanic acts of this world and that He has given us power over things of the spiritual relm. I hope this makes sense and I didn’t ramble too much.
To K,
If it were easy everyone would be doing it.
I don’t think God wants us to praise Him for bad things such as accidents or evil acts by individuals. I think because of free will and our sinfulness, He doesn’t always prevent bad things from happening. Sometimes people blame God for suffering, but we are the ones who choose to do evil.
But we can praise Him despite these things because He has and will overcome all evil ultimately. Even Jesus suffered at the cross and knows how it is to live this human condition. We can praise Him for comforting us, always being with us and never forsaking us. And also because He works for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28 – all of ch 8 is really good). It’s very easy for me to get afraid and worried in life or not understand my circumstances, but I am so grateful that God is in control and He loves us and delivers us. He is so patient with us, and His grace is sufficient! The suffering I’ve gone through has cultivated in me a deep trust in Jesus. I believe in the end that our Lord prevails and we will rejoice with Him! Persevere and keep the faith by the power of the Holy Spirit!
To M
Free will and God’s plans for us exist simultaneously, and I think the measure of each differs according to the person. I’ve heard people ask “How could God let something evil happen to someone who loves God?” Because God loves both believers and unbelievers equally, and to express that love, he must allow each to fully exercise their free will. To do otherwise devalues the whole purpose of creating a creature to love you of its own free will.
The difference is how we weather such storms. God promises to be there for us when both high and low, and we can be assured that to weather such storms without God is far worse than with. He can comfort to those who believe in him, while those without him have nothing and no one to put such evil in perspective.
And Brannon is so very, very right. We will all live eternally. Such evil has been promised to have a short shelf life, but those who trust in the Lord will forever rest in him.
I’m one of those who’ve been hesitant to write a comment….but here goes! Hopefully it makes sense
The question of free will leads me to the age old question of why do bad things happen to good people? And my human brain cannot fully understand why God allows certain things to happen in this world. It is definitely at the top of my list to ask Him when I meet Him face to face. I know personally that I do tend to reach out to him more through the tough times and I tend to do my own thing much more when things are good. So, logically I believe this is at least part of the reason He has. I’ve seen many people through the years with amazing testimonies, and most of them had some really tough stuff they had to go through. I’ve always desired a really strong faith & testimony, but lack the courage to pray for it wholeheartedly because that testimony may require a bigger struggle than I’m willing to ask for. But I pray that I will be faithful through the good times & bad since I know that He is worthy of our praise at all times.
Do I really believe that God’s love is better than life? It seems easier for me to cling to him through the mini-valleys I’ve gone through and the good times, but during those non-eventful times? Do I really seek him more than the things life brings? Do I seek him more than affirmation from my family? my peers? I wanna be like David who truly could say he loved God more than life because he realized that he was just staying in a Motel 6 now until he took up residency in God’s villa.
Thanks Hannah for challenging me to see God even in the red lights
My wife Lizzy got a new cd a few weeks back. The band is called Above the Golden State. It has been playing constantly in our house and on the way to/from work. One particular song that has been playing on repeat in my head is called “Love”. The chorus:
I pray for peace like rivers flow
I pray for joy like fountains glow
Faith that moves the mountains to seas
But most of all…
I pray for love, like Yours for me
David knew that God’s love is greater and more powerful that our lives on this earth. If we could love others with even an ounce of the love that God has for them, imagine how many people could be impacted and the difference that could be made in their lives!
Praise and Thanks. As simple as a hushed thought. Or as loud as roaring thunder. We should praise our Father in heaven at all times.
The best time for me to whisper thanks is while I am brushing my teeth, walking into work, even paying a bill. “Ha” you say. I say yes even paying those dreaded never ending bills. I am grateful for the things I desire least because I know there are many who daily desire even the smallest luxuries.
Thank you God for keeping me safe today. And I pray that I awake tomorrow to give you the Praise. Amen
I know that I tend to cry out to God when things are not going well and forget to when things are going well. I am going to try and cry out to Him all the time, in good and bad times. I know God deserves our praise all the time. After reading the above comments, I don’t feel so different. Thanks for all of your comments.
David was called a man after God’s heart. What made him different? I think it is clearly stated in this Psalm. “My lips will glorify you. I will praise your name as long as I live.” When you read the psalms David wrote you see him doing this. He cries out to the Lord and praises his name in the good times and in the bad. David was not perfect. Like me he was a sinner but he realized the importance of praising God at all times. I have seen that when God wants to make a point with me He will emphasize it by showing it to me in different ways throught different studies. This morning in my devotion time God showed me the following verses from IChronicles 10:9-12: “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.”
Hannah!! My girl.
Wow. I am glad I waited to read this until today. I am thanking God for ‘red lights’, even today. I need to constantly be reminded of all the times I have wanted to run ahead of God’s will for me and my marriage and my daughter (the one you call Best Friend *crying*) and have found to my delight that my waiting was not in vain *crying more*.
My insides are running, my heart is chasing, and God, in His perfect sovereignty, has the rein firmly in His hands…while I feel my situation tugging me both ways, I can stand and praise Him for His provision and wisdom and love for me, and know that every good and perfect gift comes from above…and the greatest gift is His very Presence. He inhabits the praises of His people.
I love you, “daughter” #3.
Mum <