psalm 103... and Easter perspective... part four...

Another day... another look at Psalm 103... from the vantage point of Easter...

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

and forget not all his benefits...

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:5

More of His benefits...

seen from this side of the cross...

He satisfies our desires with good things...

God created us to be in relationship with Him...

In the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism...

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

---Westminster General Assembly, 1647

After the Fall... man's relationship with God was severed...

That which fulfilled him... lost...

Jesus... through His sacrifice on the cross...
His death... and resurrection...
made the Way... for us to come again...
into relationship with Him...

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way

through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 10:20 NLT

Our hearts' desire can only be satisfied in Him...
and through Him... by way of the Spirit...
we can know again... the satisfaction... of His presence...
walk in the fulfillment... of what we were created for...

Not only did Jesus make the way for good things...
He also makes the way for our youth to be renewed like an eagle's...

He made the way for us to receive His power... strength... energy...

I can't tell you how many in my life... say over and over...
I'm so tired...
and these are not old people... they are youths...!

I used to be there once myself...
maybe you are now...
constantly tired... run down... no energy...

But what I've found to be true...
is over the more than two decades I've been pursuing Him...
obeying Him... allowing Him to work and heal...
the less often I feel tired...

In my 50+ years... I find myself amazed...
at the energy I do have at this point in my life...

And when I feel myself failing...
I cry out to Him... for the strength He promises...
to do all He calls me to do...

This right here... today... could not have been done...without the truth of His Word...

I am able to do all things through Him

who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 HCSB

I truly believe... have experienced...

increasing satisfaction with life...

increasing energy and strength...

by pouring out my life for Him...

I pray you will trust and experience the same...

Father God... thank You for the Way You prepared...

to restore relationship... to fulfill... and energize... Your people...

Amen... 

thankful... for His working...

After a full day of working... weariness begins to set in...

Approaching Him for the evening offering... I appreciate that He is my rest... calls me to rest... in Him...

But as grateful as I am for His rest... I am thankful... for His working...

"My Father is working until now, and I am working." ---Jesus

John 5:17 ESV

Knowing He never tires... 

He does not faint or grow weary...

Isaiah 40:28 ESV

fills me with praise... for His working...

Especially for His work in me... working He will not leave left undone... as I did today...

And I am sure of this, 

that he who began a good work in you 

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

My own weariness... and need for rest... increase my wonder of His constant working...

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 ESV

Finding rest in Him... because He is working...

war weary...

The past two days... whew...
the unseen battle... it rages...

In me...
in others...
against me...
against others...

Feeling at a loss...
raging back seems easier...

Fighting just to listen...
hear His commands...
HARD...

The desire to see the battle won...
GREAT...
but it seems so far from over...

Anger rises way too easily...
tears flow... unbidden...

Feeling... war weary...

But He says... Wait... Trust...

I say... I can't... but You can...

Trusting Him... for strength...
perseverance...
wisdom...
guidance...

The Everlasting God, the Lord, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth

does not become weary and tired. 

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary, 

and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Isaiah 40:28-29 NASB

hope... for those who are tired...

From those living in my house... I hear...

I'm so tired...
I'm just tired...
Why am I so tired...?

I feel surrounded by a weary lot...

Now these weary ones... get more sleep than I... and are much younger... they should not be weary... so today... when I heard...

...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

...it caught my attention...

Those who hope in the Lord... 

will... not... grow... weary... 

Could weariness... be a sign for Believers... that they have misplaced their hope...? ...trusted in the wrong thing...?

Biblical hope... qavah in Hebrew... is also translated... wait... in many versions of Scripture...

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...

KJV

(emphasis added)

Wait... may seem like a sedentary word... but really... it is quite active... both mentally... and physically... just think about the last time you were waited on... by a waiter... at a restaurant...

A good waiter... is focused on you and your needs... watches... and arrives with the pitcher of water... before your glass is empty... they expect you to need them to serve... they constantly return... Can I get you anything...? Do you need something...? Can I serve you...?

In the same way... we are to... wait... on... God... this is a picture of placing hope in Him... a state of expectant waiting...

Looking to Him... attentive to His call to serve... perhaps intermittent prayers... How can I serve You today...? How can I serve You here... in this place... at this time...? What can I do for You...?

I look up at the blue sky... white wispy clouds crossing... imagine... the throne room floor... the earth His footstool... and me... waiting upon... Him who sits...

A feeling of anticipation... expectation... wells up... What can I do for You...? How can I serve You...?

Who could be tired... when focused on serving the King...?

A self-serving focus... makes one tired... but to hope... expected... to be called on by the King... that is something... to be prepared for...

Do you find yourself tired... today...? Unable to find the energy to do...? 

Perhaps you need to check... where you have placed your hope... who or what... are you waiting on...?

Try waiting... on... Him... see if energy... rises...

He promises... it... will...

Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage;

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 NKJV