I Want This Life

Psalm 112:1-8

"Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God, Who cherish and relish his commandments, Their children robust on the earth, And the homes of the upright—how blessed! Their houses brim with wealth And a generosity that never runs dry. Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people— God's grace and mercy and justice! The good person is generous and lends lavishly; No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. Unfazed by rumor and gossip, Heart ready, trusting in God, Spirit firm, unperturbed, Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies, They lavish gifts on the poor— A generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life! "

IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Look at the blessings that come upon the man that trusts in God. The man that lives by God's word. God desires and seeks such a man so much that he pours out all He has on him. It not only extends to material blessings and prosperity, but to personal protection for his well being and integrity/reputation. He brings peace to this man's mind. There is no strife in any area of his life.

AS FOR ME
I WANT THIS LIFE!!! After working so hard on my own, it is almost unimaginable, to-good-to-be-true if you will, to think that God simply wants me to rest in Him...to allow Him to bless me. And all I have to do for that type of life is to establish His word in my life. To walk according to His will. Seek His guidance and then follow His direction. This only comes by continual study and fellowship with Him. I've slacked up a bit the last couple of days and I can tell you that I noticed it. I noticed my lacking attitude in prayer and study time. I felt the old man attempting to creep back in. I got so over loaded with the world and it's pressures again, that I just put off that important and life-sustaining commitment. I'm back on track though...I WANT THIS LIFE!!

Committed

Psalm 37:5,6

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Commitment and trust go hand-in-hand. The word "commit" here means to make a decision that is from the heart and one in which there is an establishment of trust - trust that God can and will care for me more than and better than I can do for myself.

The second half is a promise that He will protect and provide for me - on time and faithfully. The dawn comes everyday, regardless of the circumstances or feelings I'm facing. The noonday sun shines down and creates growth and burns away the fog that works to conceal and confuse.

AS FOR ME
Commitment is two sided. The Father is not going to require me to act in faith without rewarding me. He understands my struggles and weaknesses. Funny, my love language is appreciation. God demonstrates that with every step I take (no matter how large or small). I just have to recognize it!!

God's Power vs. The World's Power

Daniel 3:1-30 (Msg translation)

"King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. He then ordered all the important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue. They all came for the dedication, all the important people, and took their places before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.

A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: "Attention, everyone! Every race, color, and creed, listen! When you hear the band strike up—all the trumpets and trombones, the tubas and baritones, the drums and cymbals—fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace."

The band started to play, a huge band equipped with all the musical instruments of Babylon, and everyone—every race, color, and creed—fell to their knees and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Just then, some Babylonian fortunetellers stepped up and accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "Long live the king! You gave strict orders, O king, that when the big band started playing, everyone had to fall to their knees and worship the gold statue, and whoever did not go to their knees and worship it had to be pitched into a roaring furnace. Well, there are some Jews here—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have placed in high positions in the province of Babylon. These men are ignoring you, O king. They don't respect your gods and they won't worship the gold statue you set up.

Furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. When the men were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar asked, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? I'm giving you a second chance—but from now on, when the big band strikes up you must go to your knees and worship the statue I have made. If you don't worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?"

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

Nebuchadnezzar, his face purple with anger, cut off Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace fired up seven times hotter than usual. He ordered some strong men from the army to tie them up, hands and feet, and throw them into the roaring furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, bound hand and foot, fully dressed from head to toe, were pitched into the roaring fire. Because the king was in such a hurry and the furnace was so hot, flames from the furnace killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it, while the fire raged around Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, "Didn't we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?"
"That's right, O king," they said.

"But look!" he said. "I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!"

Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the roaring furnace and called in, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the High God, come out here!"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of the fire.

All the important people, the government leaders and king's counselors, gathered around to examine them and discovered that the fire hadn't so much as touched the three men—not a hair singed, not a scorch mark on their clothes, not even the smell of fire on them!

Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They ignored the king's orders and laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own.

"Therefore I issue this decree: Anyone anywhere, of any race, color, or creed, who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and their houses torn down. There has never been a god who can pull off a rescue like this."

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. "

IN PLAIN ENGLISH
King Nebuchadnezzar showed how the world reacts to Christians that stand up to the traditions of the world. The king makes a statement in V.15, "who can rescue you from my power?" In studying obedience, trust, and power, I have to recognize that the world does have power. Through laws and policies, and just plain traditions, there will be repercussions for my actions. However, God's power SUPERSEDES the world's power and deliverance is possible!

There is no contest between the world's power and God's. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego proved that. When they placed total trust in God, defied the world's power over them, and was thrown into the fire, God's power superseded the king.

AS FOR ME
If God is for me, who can be against me? I have to follow the laws of the world, but God is able to move on my behalf if those powers place me in harm or against God's will for my life. He is even merciful enough to help me out of messes I get myself in. My deliverance may not come in the form of AVOIDING the fire or flood, but it will certainly keep me safe through them so that He gets glory from it.

In the area of finances (where my MAJOR disobedience lies), I have to pay my bills, but God can move supernaturally to provide a way to make the payments and pay them off ahead of schedule. I do have to be aware of when God moves on my behalf and be ready to step in line with Him. Once that is done, I have to be a good steward and not get back in that place again.

It will start wit my choosing to be obedient - to the point of commitment (stubbornness) and to stick with my choice. Thereby walking into the fullness that God has for me.