I will praise Him!
Twin blessings, day lilies — photo by David Kitz
The Favor of the Lord
29 Saturday Jul 2017
Tag Archives: satisfaction
Our God’s Counterattack
19 Monday Jun 2017
Tags
callous heart, confidence, confidence in God, counter attack, David, defense, enemies, faith, King Saul, rescue, revenge, satisfaction, sword, the LORD, vindication
Reading: Psalm 17
Verses 10-15
They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down; they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down;
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
By your hand save me from such people, LORD,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness (NIV).
Reflection
In this world there are those who have a callous heart—a heart that is indifferent to our pain, and the suffering of others. Here in Psalm 17, David finds himself surrounded by such people—people who were ready and willing to tear him down. This is a very difficult place to find yourself. This is why David cries out to the LORD for vindication. Earlier in this Psalm he pleads, “Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.”
I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness — photo by David Kitz
David’s response in this very trying situation is highly instructive. He does not try to defend himself. He does not plan a personal counterattack. He has no personal plan for revenge. What tactic does he use? He calls out to the LORD, “Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.”
David, the mighty warrior, refuses to use his own sword. Instead he calls on the LORD to draw His sword and rise to his defence. That takes a lot of faith and a lot of trust in God. When surrounded and attacked my natural response is to rise up in hostile indignation. I’m inclined to counterattack with all guns blazing. But David held his peace. He did not rely on his abilities. He fled to God. There he lay out his complaint and asked God to intervene. When King Saul maliciously attacked him, David did not seek revenge. He allowed the LORD to take up his cause and deal with Saul. See 1 Samuel 26.
David’s confidence was fully in the LORD. Finally in this psalm, he declares his confidence with these words: As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
How confident are you in God’s saving intervention on your behalf?
Response: Heavenly Father, help me to seek vindication from you. Help me put my troubles in your hands. Rise up and come to my defense. Today, I trust in you to act on my behalf. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you seek revenge when others have hurt you? Have you asked God to intervene?
Honey from the Rock
03 Saturday Jun 2017
Tags
David Kitz, enemies, foes, honey, Ottawa River, punishment, Rock, satisfaction, the LORD, wheat
I will praise Him!
Ottawa River backwaters — photo by David Kitz
“If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
(Psalm 81:13-16, NIV)
Satisfaction!
15 Thursday Sep 2016
Tags
protection, Psalms, rescue, salvation, satisfaction, sex obsessed, the LORD
Reading: Psalm 91
Verses 9-16
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation” (NIV).
Reflection
Let’s be honest. We all want it. We all want satisfaction. For our sex-obsessed society that can only mean one thing, but in reality personal satisfaction encompasses so many facets of life. I want a satisfying meal when I sit down to dinner this evening. I want satisfactory service at the restaurant, at the auto repair shop and on the plane that I’m catching tomorrow. Above all else I want a satisfying life.
Ah, a lazy late summer afternoon — Sweet Satisfaction — photo by David Kitz
This may come as a surprise to many people, but the simple truth is God wants to give you a satisfying life. Here is the long list of promises that the LORD promises to undertake on your behalf. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation”
In summary, we will be protected and rescued. Our prayers will be answered. We will know God’s presence in times of trouble. And just imagine this; the LORD will honor us. Consider for a moment the implications of that. Furthermore, we are promised eternal salvation, and in the here and now, we will have a long and satisfying life.
That sounds like an amazing offer and it truly is. But there are two conditions attached. We need say, “The LORD is my refuge.” In other word we need to confess our dependence on God, and then we must make the Most High our dwelling. We need to live in God, not our own little world, but rather His world with our minds and hearts set on Him. Are you ready for that kind of satisfaction?
Response: LORD, you are such a good God. I don’t deserve your goodness and love and yet you continually pour out your blessings. I love you, LORD. I want to dwell in you. Amen.
Your Turn: What do you think it means to dwell in God?
Sweet Satisfaction!
08 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
Tags
The poor will eat and be full, and all who worship you will be thankful and live in hope (Psalm 22:26, CEV).
Hidden Cove, Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is hunger.
We hunger to be satisfied. That’s what hunger is all about, a desire to be satisfied. A full belly and a contented heart fit together like bacon and eggs or toast and jam.
Satisfaction and contentment are at the core of today’s verse from the Psalms.
The poor will eat and be full, and all who worship you will be thankful and live in hope (Psalm 22:26, CEV).
When our needs are met, worship and gratitude become the natural outflow from a contented heart. We experience inner peace because we dwell in hope. The God who has satisfied our needs in the past will continue to do just that in the future. There is a sweet satisfaction in knowing the ongoing faithfulness of God.
Response: LORD God, I set my eyes on you. You have been more than faithful. Daily you have satisfied the desires of my heart. I give you thanks because you are good. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you content with the goodness God has shown to you?
I love the Psalms 