Blessings
I pray you are well. Here’s today’s Holy Nougat
“This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” Psalms 118:23 NLT
There are moments when I cannot say those words. When I fail to be full of joyful wonder at what is happening within or even in the wider world. For, in the face of ‘stuff’; one core challenge to our faith comes in the way of God’s identity. (God’s ‘God-ness’ if you will).
As always, perspective is crucial to our ‘take’ on a scripture. One rule of thumb is that we read the surrounding chapters to follow the writer’s train of thought. But with the psalms, which are attributed to several authors; that doesn’t always help. A quick glance above (the rejected stone) and below (the day God made) this verse confirms that this is a Victory Dance or a pep talk. And it’s done before the enemy Doubts and Fears.
The entire Psalm invites praise before a mighty and awesome God Who delivers us from the hands of the enemy. Sometimes physical human enemies, and sometimes the ones on the inside – Any stone ignored by builders is likely to encounter rejection within. Unless, one shifts perspective and recognizes that the builders carry less sway than the Owner. To move then, past that moment to the place where God desires to move us (me).
How do we move from the ‘crushing-ness’ of rejections and pain to the ‘elevation’ of praise for what is the Lord’s doing?
– By being honest about our feelings, so that we can move forward with integrity.
– By fixing our focus without (still working through that); which is practice in prayer and praise within to the Lord within and without).
– By overcoming the desire to retaliate (not so easy for some of us)
– By maintaining relationships with others who are able to lift us up to God when we’re challenged to do so ourselves.
– By asking God to gift us with the ability to rejoice today and not get consumed by the cross.
I pray us the ability to see ourselves as the chief cornerstone in the Owner’s building and in turn, to appreciate God’s doing when stuff seems to get us.
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
