Hello dear friends, today we are going to compare two very familiar, but contrasting realities that everyone of us face: frustration and success. In a very paradoxical way, both of these are joined to the hip and are experienced by every disciple of Jesus. The on-going lesson we must learn is how to properly relate to each one. The Psalmist gives us his perspective on what he did when life became difficult. He prayed.
Learning with you, praying for you today,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship: July 16, 2011—Principle #27 (Prayer)
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 I said, "I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence." 2 I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, And my sorrow grew worse. 3 My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue: 4 "LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Psalm 39:1-4
Core Value: Prayer
Been frustrated . . . lately . . . with your circumstances . . . with other people . . . with yourself . . . with God? Frustration. We prefer that things go our way, always. We somehow believe that anything or anyone who frustrates us is not God’s best for us. Given the choice, we will say goodbye to frustration and say hello to success. Sometimes we can become spoiled with “success.” It is a season where it seems everything is going right: every decision we make is spot on, every relationship we are in is thriving, everything we do seems to have success written all over it. Success; we get used to it; we require it like a drug; and when “the other shoe drops,” when it appears that everything we touch no longer turns to gold but to dust, each one of us must come face to face with these probing questions: what will I think and what will I do when I become frustrated? Will I lash out in a desperate way to vindicate myself or will I turn to the Lord and seek His help and allow Him to defend me?
This is the common challenge of every disciple of Jesus: to work out our frustrations our way or to yield our way and submit to His. In a mysterious way, the Lord uses our frustrations to draw us closer to Him, which is a success. It is through prayer where we present our frustrations to God and He presents His grace to us.
Principle #27 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is guarded and has learned the art of directing one’s frustrations away from those who cannot help to the only One who can help.
• When we are guarded we choose to be very selective with whom we share our concerns: We are to guard our ways and we are to guard our mouth.
• When we are guarded we choose to find the correct way to “vent” our frustrations: We come to a point when it is unhealthy to just sit in and suffer spiritual heartburn with our feelings. Our frustrations will consume us and sicken us unless we redirect them to the Lord in prayer.
• When we are guarded, we can become completely honest to God by sharing with Him the deepest concerns of our heart: “Lord, make me to know my end.” Or as The Living Bible says,
Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more. Psalm 39:4 (TLB)
In other words, Lord, grant to me Your perspective as I sort out the life challenges before me.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Have I ever shared my complaint of a circumstance with another person in a way that can be considered spiritual gossip?
When I become frustrated with a circumstance that I do not like, am I more prone to take my complaint to other people or to the Lord? Why is this? What can I do in order to gain a better perspective?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may Your grace help me to make the healthy choice when I am facing a frustration. I am often tempted to entrust spiritual matters (that can only be solved by You) into the hands of people who have no power to fix my problems. In fact, the problem becomes even more challenging when I bypass You in prayer and entrust spiritual gossip with them. May I learn how to be guarded with my mouth and learn the art of directing my frustrations away from those who cannot help to the only One who can help me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
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