Today’s scripture: Psalm 18:1-3, 17; Romans 12:1,2 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
The verses in Psalms and Romans are very different. Psalms is all about what God does for us, while Romans is all about what we do — in response to what God’s done for us. The beginning of Psalms 18, “I love you, O Lord…” is so pure! And who is our strength, if not God who gave us life in the first place?
David’s enemies were foreign armies — what are yours? As I’m writing, I’m trying to come up with a somewhat representative list of the struggles we face, but I can’t — there are too many. One person faces an excruciatingly painful and deadly disease, another betrayal, another the sudden loss of someone they love, another hunger and starvation. And that’s just a sampling.
The beauty of Psalm 18:17 is that David says his enemies were too mighty for him! When we get to the point where we admit that, then we’re able to give God the necessary room to work in our lives. It opens the door for faith: trusting that God is working even when we cannot see it. Of course, we pray and hope for deliverance to happen in this life — and often it does — but it’s important to remember that Hebrews 11 gives examples of people with great faith who didn’t see deliverance in this life. Instead, they will receive it in the next.
I love Romans 12:1-2 because it challenges me to put forth every effort to give God my body (verse 1) and my mind (verse 2). Paul respectfully appeals to his readers, based on the mercies of God, to seek a higher way. I need to love the character of God enough that I give everything I’ve got to get better, not stay the way I am.
Yes, I think the key to self-improvement is “I love you, Lord.” For example, let’s say I’m jealous of some of my friends when really good things happen to them. However, I permit God to challenge me to do better — to take the high road and be happy when they have success. I try — the old jealousy pops up every once-in-a-while — but I try. And when I start doing it, I love it! It’s so much better than the old way, and it makes me feel closer to God, and to my friends. So, the process of raising my thought-life to a godly level has begun, and I feel so much more alive!
Thought for the day: God, thank you for being our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. Yet, you don’t leave it at that! You challenge us to do better.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.