Spiritual Workouts

Psalm 27:1 (KJV)  - The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

In these times of economic hardship many are losing their jobs, their pensions, even their homes but I heard a report that gyms are booming.  It seems that even when times are hard this generation doesn’t want to give up their workout.  On the same note, have you ever noticed that in January, right after we have eaten our way through the holidays and made those New Year’s resolutions, the stores feature all of the exercise equipment for sale?  There is something within us that desires strength and stamina.  Deep inside our psyche we know that this will somehow make our lives better.  But how do we view our spiritual health?
    The verse for this week is thought to have been written by David when he was exiled and running for his life.  He had lost the throne, his family had turned against him, the people had rejected him and his future was not very sure.  Still David looked toward Jerusalem and poured out his soul unto the Lord.  “The Lord is my light, my salvation, my strength…of whom shall I be afraid?”  In the light of all that David had lost his desire was to seek the Lord.  The “one thing” that he desired was not his throne, his family, or his power, it was to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 27:4 (KJV)  “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”  This fallen king knew that his strength came from spending time beholding the beauty of God and seeking the Lord. 
     There is not one thing on this earth that will not fail you.  The government, your family, your health, your wealth, your best laid plans will let you down but there is one place that you can invest everything and your time and energy will be held on rock solid ground.  Doesn’t it make sense to invest in the sure thing?  When the Lord is the strength of your life there is nothing to fear.  What is your one thing?  What are you seeking, desiring, and longing for with all of your heart?  Can you say with David, "The Lord is the strength of my Life?"

Light and Salvation

Psalm 27:1 (KJV) - The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

David Patillo wrote a song that says, “Alone and in the dark, Satan’s chains on my heart, I was oh so blind. Feeling confused, my soul being abused, sin had tortured my mind. Quicksands of sin creeping up to my chin, no way to go but down. Then a voice seemed to be, saying come unto me and I’ll lead you to higher ground.” The name of that song is “No Power on Earth”. As a Christian I find that it is easy to forget the hopelessness of being lost and enveloped by the darkness of sin. Standing in the light of God’s love and grace that darkness is but a distant memory. When I stop and think about where Jesus found me and how He saved me I can’t help but lift my heart and voice to Heaven in praise. I want to worship the Lord with everything that is me because He brought me out. Jesus delivered me from the miry clay. The Psalmist sings out “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:2-3 (KJV)
In Israel the potter would go down to the clay pits and select his clay. The pit was dark and the clay was formless and lost in the mire. The potter would take the clay and “set” it on the “rock”. The rock is where the potter would establish the foot of the pottery, that place where the potter would put the clay to begin the process of shaping it. Then the potter would “establish the goings” by spinning the wheel and as the clay would rotate the potter would place his hands on the clay and begin to shape it. The clay was not able to remain on the rock by itself without the skillful hands of the potter it would become unbalanced and spin out of control. What a beautiful picture of how God has brought us out of the sin and mire of this world, placed us on the solid rock Christ Jesus where He can shape and mold us into a vessel of His anointing. The potter would allow the clay to form and at the right moment he would press his fingers into the center of the clay and begin to form the pot. The potter would call this “forming the heart”. Aren’t you glad that God has poured out His Holy Spirit into our hearts and is this very day making us, forming us, molding us, and establishing our “goings”. We have reason to rejoice! God is for us! Who can be against us?