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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 9 March 2025:
Psalm 62:1 — For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
The theme of Psalm 62 is the one thing which can bring us salvation, security, strength, hope, unshakable peace, soul rest, and confidence, regardless of circumstances – God alone.
Only when we recognize God for who He is; only when we appreciate the combination of His complete sovereignty over our lives as well as His perfect love for us and perfect providence for us; and only when we desire His presence and unity with Him more than anything else, can we have any real peace and joy in life. Wherever we have placed our hope and desires in anything other than God Himself, we will have disquietedness (as opposed to silent surrender as described in today’s psalm) because all else is unreliable and ultimately perishable, as opposed to the omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence; and omnibenevolence. Only God is all-powerful, perfect, faithful, loving, and unchanging, and through Christ, He gives us Himself now and into eternity. Our calling is to “abide” or live in Him and experience the fruit of that relationship (love, joy, peace, etc.) today in the realities of this broken world, and we are progressively transformed into the image of Christ, degree by degree as we keep our focus on Him moment by moment.
The psalmist talks about surrendered silence through abuse which comes from the knowledge of God (again, knowing God for who He is and seeking circumstances through the reality of Him). When we place our trust and/or our affections in anything else, anything which isn’t God Himself, we now become driven by the inescapable reality of futility of trusting in what is untrustworthy – we can’t count on anything other than God, really. So, we are compelled to seek control over our circumstances; we seek to manipulate our environment, others, and events, all of which are never really in our control (but never outside of God’s control). We then start to take matters into our own hands (rather than waiting upon the Lord), and this becomes sin. Our inner peace and rest are replaced with fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, bitterness, shame, etc., and these emotions lead us further into sin. The Bible encourages us, “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.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:4-8)
Psalm 62:9 — “Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion.”
Personal power is a very strong delusion. “Power belongs to God.” (Psalm 62:11) Remind yourself of this daily, hourly, continually!
Psalm 62:11-12 — Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
Though God has said it clearly, the psalmist had to hear it again…. and again, and again…. Not only is God all powerful, He is all loving, and in this reality there is peace! If you don’t feel peace, regardless your circumstances, it isn’t because of the reality of your circumstances, it is because you have lost perspective on the reality of your God. Don’t just try to change your circumstances, seek to change your perspective by drawing closer to God through Bible study, prayer, reflection, and expressions of thankfulness. Next to God, the biggest problems are infinitely small. Even death itself is defeated in Christ.
- 15 Corinthians 15:54-58 — “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 9 March 2025: Today, pay attention to what disquiets your soul, and prayerfully ask God to reveal to you (since you are likely in denial) where you have placed your trust and affections in something or someone other than Him, where you have dishonored Him by making Him small (rather that glorifying and magnifying Him), and glorified (worshipped) something else by attributing undue power and influence to it. Seek with all your heart to see God for who He is and abide in that truth moment by moment.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 