God With Us

Jesus makes all things new as you trust Him with all your heart. He is the Savior who steps into our story and walks faithfully with you all your life.

“David left Gath and escaped…When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold…the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me…the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.” But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. Then David said to Abiathar…Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.” 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Looking back, we can see a very stark contrast between David and Saul. David lived in his true identity as Shepherd and King even when he was on the run. He did not lead fear or the trials he was facing keep him from protecting his family and shepherding people in need. Throughout it all, his focus was on finding out what God wanted for him. When he was not sure what to do, he kept on doing what he was made to do. He saved his parents and the priest. He kept trusting that God would lead him to victory. Is that your approach? When the flames of the fires of life turn do you stay true to who you are and trust in God? 

Saul did quite the opposite. He did not listen to the men of God, but filled in the gap of doubt with fear.  In his mind, everyone was conspiring against him so he had the priests killed. Imagine what he would have heard had he listened to God and done what was right. Bad things happen when we try to go our own way and lean on our own understanding. Are there any areas in your life where you are trusting in your own strength and are leaning on your own opinions rather than seeking alignment with the Almighty? 

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory” Psalms 108:1-12

It is easy to praise God when the sun is shining and you experience success at every turn. Are you the same person when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death or life seems like a never-ending uphill battle? It is important to remember the context in which David writes this psalm. He is not singing from the mountain top. He’s asking for salvation while in the valley.  He needs help. He is hurting and in harm’s way. Can you relate to David's difficulties? What are you going today? What are you seeing someone else go through where you do not know what to do? 

David’s words carry increased to value and can have a greater impact because of how he made it through the worst times. David made a choice to remain steadfast. David’s priority was to praise rather than problem solve.  He exalted God rather than exacting revenge. He trusted in God, not in his own strength. How different is that from what the world around us teaches or what you hear from the enemy of your life? How often do you fail to praise because you are giving in to fear? How often do you think about how everything could go wrong rather than declaring the authority of God over every living thing? 

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing…do not despise the Lord’s discipline…because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.“

Proverbs 3:3-34

This chapter has the power to change your life. Imagine living by the power of God leaning on the best that He can do rather than the best you can do. You best thought on your best day will never come close to the highest and best God has for you. What would happen if every day you began by praising God like David and pursued wisdom like Solomon? What would happen if you read these words every day and then asked God to reveal to you what you need to know? God wants to give you wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that you would walk in his ways and receive all the blessings He has in store for you. The door to wisdom is wide open.  It does not require dollars or degrees. The road to righteousness begins with humility, a submitted heart, and hearing God’s voice. 

Solomon said let love and faithfulness never leave you.  He is saying, let God never leave you.  God is love and God is faithfulness.  When he says pursue wisdom, He is saying pursue God. There is a tension point. We have to choose if we are in control or if God is in control. Am I the authority or does God have all authority over my life? Does your life reflect a heart devoted to God? Are you honoring him with your best first? When you honor God, He will honor you. Do you embrace discipline and desire to delight God? The Lord disciplines the one He loves. He disciplines us so we could experience the life of the divine. Discipline is for our benefit, but how often do we resist doing what we know we should do?

“Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out…Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram…If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all…Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights…the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:3-14

God is always speaking. He wants to strengthen your heart and see you come alive. Time and again, He says do not be afraid. He sees you and knows what you’re going through. He knows that you’re going face offensive people and frustrating circumstances. He says trust me. I will take care of it.  Stand for him in your faith, or you will not stand at all. This is the same call to be steadfast like David. It is a heart that says that you can put me through the fire, but I will not bow to idols, fear, or what's popular.

God wants you to see and know. He says asks Me for a sign. Ask me for the hardest, highest, most impossible sign you could imagine. Isaiah could not come up with anything so God Himself declares a sign that assures us of our salvation. Long before Jesus, God says I will send you a sign. The virgin will give birth and you will call him Immanuel which means God with us. Do you need a sign of God’s love and faithfulness? Do you need a sign of his presence and power? Ask Him but know He has already sent Jesus to answer every question and remove all doubt.  

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.” Revelation 21:1-25

You will face trials and temptations. Your faith will be tested.  Like David you might find yourself feeling like you are on the run and running out of options. Do not give into fear, but stay calm. Stand firm in your faith. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and not on your own understanding. Submit to Him and He will make your path straight. This is a promise. A promise made by the promise keeper. There are no conditional clauses that say if you are good enough or holy enough that he will make your path straight.  It simply says if you trust Him with your whole heart and submit to Him that He will be faithful. 

Jesus said it is done. The work was finished on the cross and His plan to make all things new will come to pass. Jesus invites every heart to open up to Him. Like David He draws in those who are in debt, feel despised or are in distress. We do not have to fake it or feel like we have to make it on our own. Jesus steps into our story.  He meets us where we are and He holds out a hand. He says follow me and you will find the life you always wanted.

So what will it be for you today? Will you panic and succumb to fear like Saul? Or will you raise a hallelujah through the hard times like David? Jesus wants to give you victory. He wants to give you victory over that unending addiction, that hidden sin, that relentless fear, that broken relationship, over that dream that has died and the places you find hardest to trust Him. God knows we need proof so He sent Jesus as the sign and as our personal Savior. Turn and trust in Him. He is seated on the throne and knocking on the door of your heart. He delights in you and no good thing will He withhold from those who love Him. So let Jesus make you new. Not just slightly better than what you have been. But brand new. A new creation created anew in His image. Free of fear and full of the Spirit. Listen to His voice and let Him lead you to the new life where you feel His presence with you always.