Tag: jesus

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Presence takes on many different forms. Many times people don’t realize how important someone’s presence is. When going through pain or suffering, the words of individuals may not be the best option. It is when someone sits with you in total silence that can become the greatest healing balm that ever existed.

Presence can also be a very interesting platform for individuals. When I think about the 23rd Psalm, I wonder to myself why David would exalt a moment of God preparing a table in the presence of unwanted guests. For some reason, it feels strange to create a glorious event in front of those who hate and despise you.

However, I realize now the importance of your enemies being present when God is at work in your life. Spiteful people can control a narrative based on the lies and hatred they desire to project. They are able to do so when they are not privy to the works of God in your life. Yet, a moment comes when God must silence your critics and demonstrate that your elevation is always greater than the works of your enemies.

When God is present, the works of God‘s hands will always control the proper narrative on your life. Even when times seem to be so difficult, God‘s presence will always shift the true story of your journey.

Genesis 32:24-30

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

When people talk about wrestling, it is usually addressing something negative that they are trying to overcome. We wrestle with decisions, hoping to come to a solid outcome. We wrestle with ideas with the desire to have clear vision on the next move. We wrestle with evil to be able to say that we overcome the tricks of the enemy.

How many of us want to wrestle with God? I think most of us would suggest that wrestling with God is a futile pursuit. Most of us would suggest that there’s no way that we would step in the ring to face a losing battle. Yet, Jacob found himself wrestling all night with someone who represented God.

Jacob fought as hard as he could until his hip was put in peril. Most people would look at the scripture and suggest that he was wrestling with his conscience or he was wrestling with an angel. No matter the opponent, God use the moment for Jacob to come to clarity about who he was meant to be.

Jacob was not meant to be a hustler. Jacob was not meant to be anything negative that he lived into for years. God was willing to break the hustler in order to lift the prince within him. Our wrestling in life may cause injury to areas that we thought were strong. Sometimes we believe the injury is holding us back. Reevaluate how you came out of that wrestling match. It might be That God gave you a new reality that you must live into.

Lamentations 3:19-24

Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

It is very difficult to look beyond struggle and challenge then see the light. Dark thoughts and cold realities can challenge the very notion of God‘s presence in our lives. We can begin to think that every choice that we’ve made has let us to a season of disillusionment and disappointment. Yet we must realize that the arrival to the season does not mean that there’s not an opportunity to make it through.

Our rocky seasons, whether self-imposed or environmentally influenced, are not the end of our story. We are given the opportunity to lament, feel, struggle, and question. However, we are also given an opportunity to choose which way we will go beyond this moment. That is the reality of having free will.

Our relationship with God is always challenged and difficult moments. We might feel as if God is elbow dropping us Because of our choices. Sometimes, we are just paying a price for the consequences of our actions, not a sentence from heaven. Regardless, we must make a choice for what the next season will bring. If you know, God like you say you do, you know that God is waiting to shift everything. God is faithful to restore, strengthen, and heal us from all strife.

Great is God‘s faithfulness towards us. God‘s grace is new every day. God‘s mercy forever flows. I know which way I’m going to go. Will you do the same?