Sovereign

"But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head." - Psalm 3:3

God is sovereign... in every circumstance. I've been reading in the book "Respectable Sins", and was really impacted by the reminder that God has a plan for every circumstance we encounter. I read Psalm 2 and 3 today and noticed a thought pattern in chapter 2 that has been my thought pattern too. It seems like the people being written about in that chapter are planning something; they're getting riled up and worried. They're trying to take control of a situation, but God is looking down on them, shaking His head at their ignorance.

I have that same thought pattern. I've encountered several tremendously difficult situations lately and I have been in a panic. I've been grasping at anything but God trying to fix the problem. I can only imagine God looking down, shaking His head at me. My actions and emotions do not communicate that I trust God and believe He is doing what's best for me.

Psalm 3 seemed to be a redeeming thought of sorts after chapter 2. The people first were in a state of not trusting God demonstrated in their thoughts and actions. Now, in chapter 3, they're recognizing their dependence on God. They recognize that God has a plan; He shields them and sustains them. He gives them peace. The people seem to have come to a recognition of God's sovereignty in their situation.

I'm counting this struggle as a blessing. I was talking to a friend about how I have had a spiritually interesting week and they responded by saying that it was better than dull and stagnant. I couldn't agree more. Even though this time has been (and still is) so emotionally exhausting, I am finally starting to learn. I am starting to hear from God again... and that's the best thing I could ever ask for.

Sin

"O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed. . . . I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. My eye has wasted away with grief; it has become old because of all my adversaries." - Psalm 6:1-2, 6-7

Those verses have been my song for the past week. It has been ROUGH. I've never experienced such brokenness, depression, and sadness. It's so hidden away; only two people know about it specifically. I've been faced with the issue of sin in my life. It started with a Sunday morning sermon about sin; I was bothered by the fact I couldn't think of any "sin" in my life. I started reading a book called "Respectable Sins." This book has been an eye opener. On top of that, chapel services at my school have been addressing this idea too, challenging me to strengthen my relationship with God by saturating myself in the Word.

The chapter I read today in the book "Respectable Sins" talked about the sins of anxiety, worry, and frustration. I started out reading Psalm 1. One of the phrases says "Blessed is the man . . . who does not stand in the path of sinners." Based on my reading of this book "Respectable Sins," the path of sinners is filled with ungodliness, anxiety, worry, and frustration. And, to top it off, verse 3 says this: "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." Saturation in Scripture.

The concept this book pointed out to me is that God is sovereignly in control of all actions, and he has a good reason for allowing EVERY single thing in my life. I need to think of God and His plan rather than resorting to any of the feelings I have been (depression, sadness, frustration, and anger). The verse this book pointed was from Psalm 139:16b: "And in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." Every day of my life (and everything in it!) is planned out by God. There is a purpose and plan for every circumstance I encounter in life.

Rather than sinning by getting frustrated and anxious about every situation I encounter, the godly way to deal with this is to acknowledge God's hand in the situation. The book offers this prayer as a sample: "This circumstance is part of Your plan for my life today. Help me to respond in faith and in a God-honoring way to Your providential will. And then please give me wisdom to know how to address the situation that tends to cause the frustration."

To try and start saturating myself in Scripture, I went to Malachi--the chapter headings spoke to me about what I've been dealing with. Verses that stuck out to me talked about insincere sacrifices (1:10, 13), and callousness toward God (2:17). Malachi seems to deal with a lot of insincere and ignorant people--people who think they can get away with giving less than their best to God, or who don't spend enough time with God to know what pleases Him. Well... that's me! I'm this horrendous, sinful creature who doesn't know the first thing about what pleases God. All I know is that I've got to change my heart attitude, but that I can only do that with God's help.

If you're reading this, would you pray for me? Pray that I'd be receptive to God's ordained circumstances and that I'd be able to start living with an awareness of His plan and turn to Him instead of getting frustrated.

Life is war 'til the day we die.

I'm writing this to help me organize my thoughts. I'm not writing this to point a finger at anyone but myself. I hope that this encourages you and strengthens you in your walk with God.

In Romans 8:12-17, it talks about killing sin. It says:

"So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

That's a big chunk. Let it sink in for a minute. I'm doing it too.

...

Okay. Verse 12 says that we are not under obligation to the flesh. This means, according to John Piper, that I owe the flesh NOTHING. I have been freed from sin through the death of Christ on the cross, so I owe the flesh absolutely NOTHING! God is the One who freed me. I owe Him EVERYTHING.

How do I do this? I need to make war against my sin. This making war concept is what I am stuck on. The Christian life is not easy. Being a Christian means being in constant battle with sin. Because Jesus Christ died for me on the cross that means that my old nature--sin--is constantly fighting to try and get me back under his power. But my new nature--Christ--is fighting against that sin. My flesh will not quit in this life. It won't get easier, or lighten up. I must constantly be waging war against sin. Life is WAR 'til the day I die.

Am I a Christian? Am I committed to God and this war against sin? According to Romans 8:8, the flesh cannot please God; so, as long as I am giving into the desires of the flesh--sin--I cannot please God. I've got to commit and KILL my sin. It's not a game. This is serious and this is war. I have to KILL my sin if I want to please God. Why is this hard? Because sin is fighting for his reign over me! I can't be lazy, I can't be passive. I have to be ready, prepared with my sword to fight and KILL my sin.

HOW do I kill my sin?

John Piper gave three points in a sermon on killing sin, and I want to share them with you.

Point #1: Set your minds on the things of the Spirit. What are the things of the Spirit?
Point #2: The killing of the flesh is done by the Sword of the Spirit--the Word of God.

Point #3: What do I do to bring out the fighting power of the Spirit? Hear with faith.

Here's how he broke down point #3. This hearing with faith means to listen. It means I must grab hold of truths about God and believe them! I have to cling to the truth in God's Word--truth about God, promises He has made. He uses Galatians 3:5 as this reference. It says:

"So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"

This takes us all the way back to our salvation. When I was saved I was told to confess with my mouth that Jesus was LORD and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9) The verse right after that states that "for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness..." By simply hearing truths and believing them... THAT leads to righteousness.

He gave some examples:

- When I am afraid, I go to Isaiah 41:10: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God." It's not simply hearing the truth, it is hearing the truth and believing it.

- When I worry, I go to John 14:1: "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." Or I can go to Psalm 62:8: "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."

- When I am angry, I go to Romans 12:17: "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone." Or I go to Proverbs 15:1: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

- When I am proud, I go to Jeremiah 9:24: "But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and rightieousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD."

- When I am impatient, I go to Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD."

- When I am irritable I remember Psalm 145:8-9: "The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works." When I am irritable, I need to remember God's attribute of being slow to anger, and good to all. I need to cling to that truth and hold onto it with all of my might!

- Whem I am weary, I go to Psalm 63:8: "My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." Or I go to Psalm 34:18: "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

- When I want to give up, I go to Psalm 34:19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Or I go to Psalm 37:24: "When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand."

- When I feel overwhelmed at what seems impossible, faith says in Matthew 19:26: "And looking at them Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." THAT is letting God fight for us. It is us letting go of our control on things and giving God the control. It is giving God the glory because now we know that we can't do it, but God can.

- When I feel alone I go to Hebrews 13:5: "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." We can be content when we feel alone because this promise says that God will never leave us or forsake us. Money and possessions will leave us, but God will be with us always.

These may be redundant Bible verses that you've heard a million times, but stop hearing and listen. Grab on and believe these truths! Kill sin with the sword of the Spirit--God's Word. I need to be proactive in memorizing God's Word. It is a lot easier to fight when you can have your weapon ready at a moment's notice. I need to memorize verses that will help me combat sin. I need to pray and constantly take every thought captive. I have to set my mind on the things of the Spirit (the things above, God's Word, Philippians 4:8).

And I will end this blog with that verse to encourage us in our battle with sin.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." - Philippians 4:8

Wage war on your sin. Fight it to the end with your weapon in hand. Owe NOTHING to the flesh but owe EVERYTHING to God.