SuperChamp

When I thought how to understand this – it was too painful for me – Psalm 73:16

There are things that happen in life that are difficult and painful to understand – the foolish thing that you did that cost you’re your relationship; the aweful thing that someone did that robbed you of your innocence and changed the trajectory of your life. The more we think about these things, the angrier we get or the more confused we become. Why did this happen? Why did that happen? What does this mean? The Psalmist had the same questions. He could not reconcile his thoughts until he went into the sanctuary of God and started to look at things with the help of God. When things on earth do not make any sense, we need a spiritual, heavenly, and eternal perspective. There are just some things that we cannot understand with our finite minds. There are things that only God can help us get through. We can choose to struggle in our own thoughts or seek His strength. When we seek Him, He will answer us, and we will find the peace we have been seeking.

God understands what I do not, so I will seek Him for understanding and healing

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped – Psalm 73:2

The Psalmist considered stepping away from God when he saw how the wicked prospered while the pious lived in poverty. Just like the Psalmist, it is very tempting to shift our focus away from God and start following what others are doing when we see that it brings success. It is easy to stumble when we walk according to what we see around us that seem to be successful. Still, we must consider that there is much we don’t see. We don’t see the family problems, the darkness of the soul, the misery, the sleeplessness. We don’t see what the future holds and what the day of reckoning looks like. Consider that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Consider that the grass may only be greener on the other side because the land is filled with sewage. Put another way, the success that the world has comes with a smell that funks up different areas of our lives. There is a better way to go. We are always better off becoming successful God’s way rather than following the way of the wicked. His way is the way of pleasantness. His way is the way of everlasting life rather than a fleeting life that passes away.

I will consider my path before following the crowd

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You – Psalm 73:25

What is it that you desire – is it money? Money obtained or used outside of God becomes a master that controls and enslaves us. Is it sex? Sex outside of God becomes destructive and leads to evils and relationship issues while damaging the fabric of the society. Is it power? Power outside of God consumes us and becomes very destructive both to us and other people around. So, while there are things we can obtain in our own strength, anything obtained outside of God is a double-edged sword that brings sorrow with success. With God, we get to escape the sorrow while maintaining the success. So why would you desire anything other than God? Desire God, and the let God grant you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). The only way to have it all is to put God first. In fact, when you put God first, then you already have it all, for only God can satisfy our deepest longing in His way.

I have it all when I have God

Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart – Psalm 73:1

Here we see a separation between a nation as a collective and the individuals in the nation. Though God may be good to a nation in general does not mean every individual in that nation experiences the goodness of God.  Israel means prince with God. Spiritually speaking, those who have accepted God have become royalty and have been grafted in as princes with God. But just because we Christians are now royalty by spiritual birthright does not mean we automatically experience the tangible goodness of God in our lives. We shouldn’t just decide to accept God, we should also decide to allow God to change our heart. David cried out for God to make his heart clean (Psalm 51:10). Jesus said those who are pure in heart are blessed (Matthew 5:8). It is when we decide to purify our hearts by allowing the water of the word of God to cleanse our heart attitude and way of thinking, that we experience His goodness and can truly say that God is good.

I won’t settle for accepting Jesus alone but choose to embark on a spiritual maturity journey with Him

Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son – Psalm 72:1

The first chapter of the Book of Revelation lets us know that every believer is a king (Revelation 1:6). Apostle Peter calls us members of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, the request made by Solomon in today’s verse is not simply for potentates or a person in a recognized and formal leadership position. Solomon’s request should be our request of God for we too are kings. We need to live life according to His decisions and according to His choices. Only by having the decision-making prowess of God can we and the people we influence live the blessed life that God intended. Do not leave your judgements to your own experience lest you make decisions out of your own subconscious biases. You do not know what the future holds but He does. So, why not sit back and relax while you listen intently to what He tells you to do through His word and by His Spirit. This is better than agonizing over every decision you are unsure about

Life works best when I follow godly principles in making decisions

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again – Psalm 71:20

Consider a flooded house. It has to be gutted in order for it to be restored. Sometimes, the same is true with us. We have to be broken in order to be built back up the right way. Sometimes, God allows us to see great and severe troubles to get us to the point where we have a broken spirit and contrite heart. To be clear, God is not the author of evil but brings forth good through evil that exists. Furthermore, brokenness is not His preferred way to get our attention; He would rather that His words get our attention. But just like a child who is hard-hearted and hard-headed needs a different approach, so God uses sometimes uses trouble to get through to us. Now, the wonderful thing is that He does not leave us in a troubled state. He revives us and ensures we are better than before. He loves us too much to leave us behaving in a way that will cause irreparable damage. His hope is that our hardship leads us to Him so that He can redeem and revive us.

God will turn my troubles into triumph

I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only – Psalm 71:16

Jesus has become our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30), and the Holy Spirit is our strength. To go in God’s strength is to submit our lives to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. To make mention of God’s righteousness is to keep our heart on the Lord Jesus (for indeed out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks). Being holy (set apart) in all areas of our lives is the result of us keeping our heart on Jesus and conforming our steps to the leading of His Spirit. The result of living a lifestyle of holiness is that we live out our identity as kings and priests in Him (see Revelation 1:6). You have been identified as a royal and influential person. So why not reign in life? Why not choose to be influential in the life of others for good? Today, choose to be set apart as God is set apart by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. Choose to live by His strength and yours will be a life that wows.

I choose to live as royalty today and always

For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth – Psalm 71:5

Some people trust in their bank accounts while others trust in their own abilities. Still, others trust in rulers, leaders, and political parties to ‘make things great again’. This same situation existed in biblical times. The psalmist wrote that ‘some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God’ (Psalm 20:8). We put our trust and hope in God because we know that He never fails. Hope is defined as the expectation of a sure thing. The only sure thing in this world is what has emanated from the mouth of God because He cannot lie. This is why hope in Him does not disappoint. Friend, whatever God says is backed by His name and is a sure thing. Whereas everything and everyone else are bound to leave you disappointed and sour in due time but God is the only One you can always depend upon. This is why God should be your hope and your trust. Is God your hope and trust or have you given your hope and trust to something or someone else?

If I am going to get my hopes up, it is going to be in God alone

The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live – Psalm 69:32

Seeking God carries many benefits. One of those benefits is that our hearts come alive. We no longer live according to the dictates of our own thinking and reasoning but live to God. We no longer live by default, but we live by God’s design. We find enjoyment in everyday things and joy fills our heart. These blessings are not material and not monetary. They come from the Spirit of God who lives within us. Are you feeling empty and not enjoying everyday life? It is a sign that it is time to put down your idols and seek God. What is it that is taking the place of God in your life? What is it that is stealing your joy? Nothing can never satisfy as a life lived with God. No one can ever fill the God sized hole in your heart. Rededicate yourself to Him once more. Let Him be the center of all you do again and your heart will come alive. You will go from simply existing to truly living

Everything about my life is better with God

Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me – Psalm 69:9

You can be sure that there will be people that turn against you when you decide to follow God. If you decide to live morally, you will be judged as thinking you are better than everyone else. If you live confidently, you will be judged as arrogant. When you start enjoying the blessings from above, people get jealous, call you greedy, and start plotting your downfall. No matter what you do, there will be people who reproach you. They reproach you not because of who you are but because of who they are not. Jesus already warned us that we will face persecution. Therefore, don’t allow the persecution of others to change your course. Stay the course of righteousness and watch His manifold blessings  chase you down. Keep your zeal for God; keep your seal for righteousness; keep your zeal for His presence. When you are blessed enough, those same people who hate you at first will secretly admire you and wish they had taken the same path as you.

I will not let persecution keep me from serving the Lord