Up a creek - where's that paddle?

If we had to choose one word that would best describe our society today, perhaps the one that we'd hear the most would be "stress." If we were walking about in a coffee shop or sliding between tables to get to our lunch appointment, probably we'd hear that one word repeatedly. 

Stress.

Pressure.

And why not?

This is an era that is marked by stress in almost every facet of our lives. When we are little, we are thrust into kindergarten and we must perform and compete for grades from then until we graduate college or go to a technical school or apprenticeship. On athletic teams, there is pressure to win, win, win!  After elementary school, we face high school and an emphasis on getting good grades to get into the college we want, and once there, we're under stress to do well and get a good job after we graduate.

After that, there's the stress of finding the right marriage partner and building a trustful marriage in a culture where divorce is a foregone conclusion for many. Once we have children, there's pressure to try to raise them to be godly and faithful people of integrity in a world full of sin. Around our dinner table or around the water cooler at work, we talk about world problems, economic issues, personal crises, and the problems of our friends.

In the midst of so much stress, what can keep us grounded? What is the one thing that will keep us from being swept away in the rapids of life? What is it that will keep us from being overwhelmed by all of these problems and pressures?

Our priorities. Everyone, whether they've given it much thought or not, has a set of priorities. If we say something is a priority, it's something that we feel is very important and must be dealt with before other things are addressed.

So, if we have a clear set of priorities, we can respond to stress by making choices that are in line with those priorities. That gives our lives direction. That's the "paddle" we need to navigate the rapids. That means that having the right priorities is absolutely essential! They will determine how we spend our time. And who we spend that time with. And how we will make decisions about the stressful issues in our lives.  Our "paddle" of priorities will help us steer our course to the proper destination.

But what does that have to do with Psalm 63? 

As the king of the nation of Israel, David knew what it meant to live with stress. He knew by personal experience that the higher the position of leadership, the greater are the pressures. He had a son named Absalom who led some of the people in a rebellion against David. David was forced to flee for his life; in the wilderness of Judah, feeling humiliated and betrayed, he wrote Psalm 63.

It's become one of the best-loved psalms.

And it shows us the priorities of David under stress. I'll just bet that if you or I were under the kind of stress that David was, we'd be doing something else besides writing songs. I guess if we did, though, the songs would probably be pretty repetitive: lots of urgent requests, pleas for help, etc. (Grin)  But Psalm 63 doesn't include any of those. David does express a longing for God's presence, and he talks about joy in fellowship with God. He also says he has confidence in God's salvation. 

This psalm shows us that David's priority during this incredible time of stress was to seek the Lord.

That's where we will focus in the days to come.

Friday slowdown

 

We've covered a lot of ground in the past two weeks as we have studied Psalm 62. I hope that something in our studies has been a blessing to each of us and will help us in the days ahead.

Remember, the main reason we should pray and work toward having God's peace in dangerous times is not only so that we will be at peace -- in addition it's because God will be glorified and others will be drawn to Him. 

God's peace is ours in the dangerous times when He alone is our salvation and our refuge.

This is a familiar song which may have its meaning refreshed after our studies.

In God alone - we find power and love

In the verses today, David will show us a contrast. On the one hand, some people will trust in earthly things, and on the other hand, we will trust in God.

Like the two sides of the balance up there.

People of low standing are only breath, and people of rank are a lie;
In the balances they go up.
Together they are lighter than breath.
 Do not trust in oppression,
And do not vainly rely on robbery;
If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.

 God has spoken once;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;
 And faithfulness is Yours, Lord,
For You reward a person according to his work. (vs 9-12)

In the first part of the song, David was looking at his enemies in relation to himself; they looked plenty scary! Now he looks at them in relation to the powerful, loving God Who is our stronghold. They don't look so dangerous now, in fact, they look lighter than breath!

Let's dig in!

David tells us first that we should not trust in men, in crime, or in money.

Men of low degree? Perhaps he was thinking of thugs who might be persuaded to "knock off" his enemies for a small fee. 

Men of rank? Perhaps people who have great influence or power. 

He says don't put your hope in either one - you'd be hoping in thin air!

Most of us are probably not tempted as in verse ten, to use oppression or robbery to get out of our trials, but we might be tempted to try to use money. That's not a good option, either:

Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath,

But righteousness rescues from death. (Proverbs 11:4) 

Here is the contrast: Trust in the God of power and love; He will dispense justice to all.

The words "once" and "twice" in the psalm is a common poetic device of the ancient Hebrew writers. The scholars think that perhaps God repeated an answer, or maybe just impressed it upon David's mind to make certain that he got the message! 
Let's make sure we get the message from God on how to deal with threatening problems: first, we love and serve a powerful God. Secondly, He is loving. He will protect us, save us, and justly judge all of our enemies. Anyone who opposes God's power and resists His love will know that justice.

Satan will use these, by the way. So be careful. He will tempt us with the thought that, if God is all-powerful, why didn't He prevent this crisis? So, Satan says, are you sure that God loves you?

This is where we must grab hold of God's hand and by faith echo the words of Joseph in Genesis 50:

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)

By faith, we can trust in our Father, the God of power and love, knowing that He alone will save us and render justice to all.

Amen! 

God, our only help

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine . . ."

Many of us sang that song as children. It's perfect for our post today. We are focusing on verse eight of our psalm:

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

David just couldn't hold in the joy he felt. He knew that God was his salvation. What a wonderful verse! David was using the joy he felt, and the peace he possessed in the midst of trials, to encourage others!

He said, "Trust in Him at all times!"

Like in the words of the children's song, David is encouraging us to be a light, a witness to others. Sure, we all have trouble staying in that place of peace, but when we are there, and we are calm, we are a light for others. We can show other believers and unbelievers, as well, that God only is our refuge.

Do we worry sometimes, about telling hurting people to trust in God? Do we worry that it sounds too "pat," or casual? Oh, dear reader, these are not pat answers. These are tried and true words . . . these are uttered by the voice of experience, as they say. David isn't giving out casual advice here. He's telling us how he endured this terrible attack. How he survived the schemes and fierce attacks from cunning enemies. 

He trust in God only.

He poured out his heart to God.

He took refuge in God alone.

He's telling us to do the same! What God was to David in his extreme trials, He can be to us in our times of crisis. And don't we all have stories to tell, just as David did? We all have had times when we knew our only hope was our Lord, and He was faithful to save us! Those are stories that can be shared, and they are stories that can encourage others.

But wait just a minute, here. How does "pour out your hearts" (in verse eight) jive with "waiting silently" in verse one and five? Well, they are NOT contradictions! Waiting silently for God is to make sure that our hearts are in submission to Him. It's remembering His sovereign love in the face of our trials. It's reminding ourselves of His purpose and His love, even when our human natures say "this is all wrong!" "This can't be!" 

Pouring out our hearts is when we unburden ourselves in prayer. We can lay all of our anxieties, our confusion, and our pain at the foot of the cross. 

having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. (I Peter 5:7)

Ohhhh, how we humans stumble around. We keep our troubles bottled up inside. We try with all our might to escape our troubles with our own ingenuity. What's the real answer? To pour out our hearts before Him. To lay those troubles down at the cross. 

And then, don't pick 'em right back up again!

David has shown us now that we can be calm, cool, and collected if God alone is our salvation. We can have peace in trials, and we can be a witness; we can encourage others to trust in Him as their refuge. Of course, it's a battle to get to this place of peace - and to stay there!

David's going to change gears just a bit tomorrow. . . . 

Prayer requests - chronic illness

This is another post about practical ways that we can support others in prayer.  I felt the Spirit was guiding us to pray for other people, both Christians and unbelievers, in very practical and helpful ways.

Folks with chronic illness (and some with terminal conditions) suffer more than people may see on the surface. Many times it is a struggle to go on with daily living; they may even "lose the faith" at times.

When people are constantly dealing with pain, it can affect every single thing in their lives. Prayer can make dealing with the disappointments and depression easier to bear. And the prayers of others can be lifelines. If we partner with someone who is chronically ill, or dealing with chronic pain, we may not know what to ask God for. 

Instead of just murmuring some "please help them" prayers, let's try to cover our friends or family members with prayers in two areas: family and feelings.

I know a person who suffers greatly with rheumatoid arthritis. Her husband knows when she needs comfort, and when she needs rest - and he also knows that sometimes she just needs to soldier on. He guides and prays for her to have discernment on which opportunities she should accept - so that she doesn't take on too much and become overwhelmed. Her children are loving and pick up the chores that their mom can't handle. What a blessing to have family like that!

But not everyone has a support system like that. Their families may not fully understand and may expect more than the patient can do. The patient himself or herself may feel guilty because of their inability to do needed tasks. Or they may feel guilt because of the financial burden that often accompanies chronic illness.

Other family issues can be that spouses and children feel helpless; they are frustrated because they can't "fix" the problem for the person they love. Or they might give in to feelings of neglect because they don't get the attention they want. 

For all of these issues, we can intercede on the behalf of the person who is ill, and on behalf of the families . . . . we can ask God to guard their hearts and give them special grace.  We don't know what happens behind the doors of their home; the best thing we can do is pray both for the patient and the family. They may not express it openly, but they need compassion, love, support, and kindness as they face the days ahead.

Let's pray.

Calm, cool, and collected

I'm not sure who it was that put those three words together, but it's become a familiar phrase, no?

"Calm, cool, and collected."

Previous generations might have used the word "serene." 

Or "composed."

That's a word that came to mind when reading these focus verses for this post:

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from him.

6Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV)

When God is our only source of salvation, we can rest, composed, in Him. These are very much like the first couple of verses of this psalm . . . why is David repeating it?  In verses three and four, he was thinking about the extreme threats that he faced from his enemies. Perhaps this is his way of "grounding" himself and also reminding his listeners -- God is our refuge. We may never reach the point where we are invulnerable to being "shaken" or worried. That place of perfect composure, where severe trials don't affect us at all, is a place we might not reach. While we may not be greatly shaken, as in verse six, we may still have to work to regain our peace in God.

How?

This may sound a little strange, but David found it helpful to talk to himself.

It might help us, too!

The first real action that David takes in this song is to talk to himself. His soul. I've heard people say that talking to yourself is a sign of old age, but I think you only have a problem if you answer....if you really carry on a conversation! 

Actually, the Bible tells us to do this very thing! If we go back to Psalms 42 and 43, we see these words repeated (three different places):

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God. (Psalm 43:5)

In many different eras, God has inspired men and women to write and speak in ways that have stayed with us, whether in books or in recorded media. Martyn Lloyd Jones was born in Wales and his influence for God spread globally due to his preaching and his writings. One of his books explored and offered helps for depression (Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure). In the very first chapter, he draws on Psalm 42 and he instructs us, his readers, to be careful - we need to realize that much of our unhappiness is because we are listening to ourselves, instead of talking to ourselves. 

Yes, it's true!

We have all kinds of thoughts come to us in the morning when we wake. The problems and crises of the day before rush into our minds. All of the obstacles and the feelings of helplessness or fear. Instead of just going along with those thoughts, we need to give ourselves a figurative shake, then talk to our now-alert self: just like the psalmist, we need to ask ourselves WHY are we cast down . . .  and then remind ourselves of God. Of Who He is, and what He has done, and what He has promised to do.

We can repeat those truths as often as we waver because we are under attack. That's what David did!  He listed description after description of Who God is. And we can see he is gaining confidence as he does: he moves from "I shall not be shaken" to "I shall not be moved"!!

My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. (vs.5-6, NKJV)

David is fighting to keep these truths "front and center" in his mind. You know, I think that even though he was a man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14), David shared a problem with us: I think he was trying to avoid sliding into the same habit that many of us have. We will pray and acknowledge that God is our only help, and we will supposedly lay our cares upon Him, but as soon as we get up from our knees, we get busy trying to solve the problems ourselves!

Now, it's not wrong to think about how to get out of a difficult trial. More often than not, God will guide our thoughts as we depend upon Him.  It's really wrong, though, to give God a nod of trust and then set Him aside while we actually trust in our schemes and plans. Instead, just like David, we must depend on God alone. We must tell ourselves (multiple times, if necessary!) that God is our only source of deliverance.

6 

He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. (Psalm 62:6)

If we trust in plans of our own making, we will fail. But if God only is our rock, we will stand firm.

Friday slowdown

In God alone, I trust. He is faithful. He is my salvation.

Trust in God alone

We're studying Psalm 62 now, and when we re-read it, we notice that there are three natural divisions: each time the word "Selah" is used. You could say that there are three verses, to make it seem more like our hymns and songs of today. And at the end of verses one and two, the word "selah," which the scholars do not all agree upon! 

(One possibility is that it is related to another Hebrew word which means "measure" or weigh in the balance, to consider carefully. It's also thought by some to be a word which means "pause," and others feel it means "lift up praise." Perhaps the meaning is a combination of all of these: to pause and consider, and to praise God for His mercy, power, and grace.)

Anyway (dusting off the rabbit trail dust), the first "verse" of our song is verses one through four; the second verse is verses five through eight, and the final stanza is verses nine through twelve. 

Let's dig in!

Here are verses one through four again:

My soul waits in silence for God alone;

From Him comes my salvation.

2He alone is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken.

3How long will you attack a man,

That you may murder him, all of you,

Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

4They have planned only to thrust him down from his high position;

They delight in falsehood;

They bless with their mouth,

But inwardly they curse.  Selah

I can see David sitting calmly, speaking these words, can't you? He's calm. Composed. Serene. That's in verses one and two. In verse three, he seems to indicate that the attacks he is enduring have been many and prolonged. He says "How long?"  Perhaps this was during the time of Absalom's rebellion or perhaps some other time when he faced adversity. Many of the commentaries say that David's enemies were conspiring together how to topple him from his role as king -- to assassinate him. They apparently were quite two-faced; they spread falsehoods while they flattered him and told him what a great ruler he was - all the while cursing him behind his back.

Spoiler alert: We will face times when we are under attack. Seriously. Might even already be happening, and if we are engaged in God's work it probably already is ongoing. As believers who desire to stand up for God and do His kingdom work, we will be criticized and slandered. We will even be persecuted. Quite frankly, I can tell you that I and my family have come under attack in the past, and again more recently. It's because we have been vocal about our stand for God's Word, His blessings, and the responsibilities of "we the people," who have been the undeserved recipients of those blessings. 

The Bible NEVER promises exemptions from such attacks. There are no waivers. Nope. But the Bible DOES show us what to do when we are under attack. It shows us that in threatening times, we can be at peace if God is our salvation and our refuge. God alone.

Glance back at verse one -- David starts out saying he waits in silence. What does he mean? He means in peaceful submission. How do we do that? By calling to mind all the times that God has been faithful, and agree with God that He has promised to be our refuge. And suppress the human urge to whine. (Grin)

When difficult things happen to us, we have a choice: we can either angrily complain to God, or we can submit to Him, agreeing with His many promises and bowing to His sovereign will. Remember Job? When his possessions, his family, and his health were gone, Job humbly said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Now, granted, the rest of the book details how he wrestled and struggled. He worked his way through his pain and complaints against God; but by the end of the book, we find Job in a posture of reverence. He worships as he submits to God, and then receives God's blessings. Humbling ourselves is a key element in living at peace while we are under attack.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, (I Peter 5:6, NASB)

David also says "He only is my rock and my salvation..."  Salvation here can mean God's deliverance from David's enemies, from those who were plotting and conspiring against him. And yet it can also mean our salvation from sin and judgment. 
Many of us can't relate (yet) to this psalm because we have not (yet) been in the desperate situation that David was in. (Frankly, I believe that the time is coming quickly that we will be facing just such plots and danger. I believe that our freedoms are being torn from us, and that those in power may soon try to tear our faith from us, as well.) But I digress. We were all in danger of eternal separation from God if we died in our sins. God alone is our salvation from eternal death:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Since it is God Who raised us from death to life, and gave us faith to believe in Jesus our Savior, then we can take refuge in Him from dangerous trials, too. Paul tells us, "If God is for us, who is against us?" (Romans 8:31) 

If we know Jesus as our only salvation from sin, then we can be at peace when trials come. When perilous times are at hand, we can trust in Him alone as our salvation and our refuge.

We're not done yet! There's more to come, so please join us next time as we continue in Psalm 62. 

Psalm 62 - God alone

I hope that we have all taken a few minutes in our prayer and study times to re-read Psalm 62. 

In our "library" here at home, we have some older books that I enjoy reading when I have time. I like to read works by Pope, by Keats, and by Samuel Johnson. I once saw a quote by Johnson that came to mind as I studied David's psalm. In the late 1700's, a clergyman was condemned to be hanged for a crime, and wrote one last sermon while in prison. It was thought to be far better than any of his other sermons, and Dr. Johnson commented on why: "Depend upon it, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully." 

Not to be macabre, but I think David is facing death in Psalm 62, and it does "concentrate his mind" so that he offers this psalm with a theme that will help us in our perilous days.

Now, there is a difficulty in applying this psalm. Quite frankly, very few of us has yet been in the dire straits that David was in. Those days may be ahead of us, it's true, but most of us have not yet experienced them. It's hard to relate to evil men threatening to not only take David's throne, but to kill him, as well.

Yes, they were planning to murder David. They said things like," He's like a leaning wall or tottering fence. Just a push. Just sneeze hard. He'll go down!"  So, David's mind was "wonderfully concentrated" to write this psalm. And the theme is this: in the most threatening times, we can still be at peace if God alone is our salvation and refuge.

The main idea of the psalm is that there are right and wrong things to put our faith in. If we are trusting in God, we are secure. If we are trusting in men, or in things, we are depending on things that are lighter than "breath" or "vain" to hope in:

Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them. (vs 9-10)

It's interesting that this psalm is different from some we have studied, in that there is no prayer in it. But it reveals such an undisturbed peace! It shows a confidence in God that is unshaken, and an assurance in His care that is absolute!  But I believe it's BECAUSE of prayer that David had this peace, this confidence, and this assurance in his Lord. The clue to this is in verse eight:

Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge. (v. 8)

We all want to have the peace that David had in his time of crisis. And as we studied last week, there ARE dangerous times ahead for believers. The key to peace is trust in God alone.

Trust in God only.

A tiny Hebrew word that is repeated throughout the psalm for emphasis. David hammers home the truth that we will enjoy God's peace in the middle of life's most dangerous, most threatening moments when God only -- God alone -- is our refuge. We all struggle to get to that place; it's easier said than done! David himself struggled to remain in that special place. In this two-week study, let's try to focus on how to get to (and stay in) that place of complete trust in God alone.

Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

Prayer requests

As I prepared this post today, I was thinking about what an honor it is for us to pray for others. How it helps us to think of others and place more importance on their wellbeing and comfort, above our own. And how sweet it is to talk with Jesus on their behalf, and then sit quietly and allow Him to minister to our hearts.

As I thought specifically about intercessory prayer (lifting others up for needs in their lives), I recalled the passage in the gospel of Mark where friends brought someone to Jesus. Remember that? (Mark 2:1-12) 

These were pretty audacious people! They had picked up his "bed" (really his pallet of cloth or blankets), and walked to the place where they knew Jesus was teaching. But when they arrived, there were SO many people in the house and around it, that they knew they'd never get their paralyzed friend face-to-face with Jesus. I can imagine them standing on tiptoe, peering around for some way to slide amongst the people and get inside . . . but how could they do that, when they each were holding a corner of their friend's pallet? 

Suddenly one of them must have had the epiphany to carefully carry their friend up the stairs to the roof. Remember, "up on the roof" was much more than just a song to people of this era. The roof was a common place to be; it was cooler, quieter, and refreshing in the evenings after the workday was done. So, step-by-step, they tried not to jostle their buddy as they carried him up the stairs. Then, they set him down gently and began to pull aside the reeds and thatch of the area directly over the spot where Jesus was teaching.

Imagine the amazement of the crowd around our Savior, as they looked up. Bits of thatch may have drifted down upon them as they gazed up and saw the paralyzed man being lowered by his friends into the presence of the Teacher. The rest of the story is probably very familiar to us. What peace must have filled the man's heart as he looked into Jesus' face! And Jesus told him that his sins were forgiven, and then told him to roll up his mat and walk! 

AND HE DID!!

One of the hardest things we may do as believers is to pray for and/or with those who are critically ill. Or terminally ill. We hardly know what to say. What to ask for. 

This came to mind, because we often "pray the scriptures" to our Father. . .

Lord, those friends who brought their paralyzed companion to you were such good friends. They carefully and tenderly brought their friend to you, showing both their love for him and their faith in You. In the same way, Lord, those of us who love and care for _________ bring him/her into the warmth and strength of your presence because we know that You love this person, too. We read in John 15 that You call us by name and we know that Your love never fails. We are joining You in loving this person and we ask for You to transform this life either by healing or by granting the opportunity to bring You glory. In Christ's name, Amen.

I hope this example may help as we try to pray with and minister to folks who are facing severe illness and even death. 

Let's pray.

Psalm 62

We're headed back to the Psalms after our break to examine II Timothy 3; I think that as we read this psalm we will see the similarities between the dangerous times that Paul described, and the dangerous situation that David found himself in here.

The psalm is only twelve verses, so I'm posting it here in its entirety. Also, I studied carefully and I feel like the NASB translation captures David's thoughts so perfectly: 

My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him comes my salvation.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken.

 How long will you attack a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
 They have planned only to thrust him down from his high position;
They delight in falsehood;
They bless with their mouth,
But inwardly they curse. Selah

 My soul, wait in silence for God alone,
For my hope is from Him.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My refuge; I will not be shaken.
 My salvation and my glory rest on God;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

 People of low standing are only breath, and people of rank are a lie;
In the balances they go up.
Together they are lighter than breath.
 Do not trust in oppression,
And do not vainly rely on robbery;
If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.

 God has spoken once;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;
 And faithfulness is Yours, Lord,
For You reward a person according to his work. (Psalm 62, NASB)

Please re-read this as part of your quiet times this week, and we'll start our studies next time.

Friday slowdown

 What a wonderful day, when Jesus my Savior I met!

Conclusion, II Timothy 3

If we take Paul's words in II Timothy 3 seriously, then it appears the great need of Christians everywhere is to become biblical in our thinking.

Our greatest need is not to have marvelous music in our services. Although that can lead to a truly worshipful service.

Our greatest need is not to meet in beautiful, comfortable church buildings. Although we can experience truly reverent worship there.

Our greatest need is not to have an exorbitantly-paid leader for our church. Although the knowledge and experience that leader may bring can be truly helpful to the believers in the church.

Nope.

Our greatest need as believers is to immerse ourselves in God's Word. We must continue to grow in the Word day by day, year by year. 

Our Savior said:

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4)

Do we want to have good hearts and attitudes? We need to spend time in the Word. 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Do we want to make sure we are following the path Christ has for us?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word. (Psalm 119:9)

Do we yearn for wisdom? Discernment?

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)

The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130)

Do we want to show the world we love our Savior?

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32)

Are we eager to honor and glorify God, and witness to others?

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (I Peter 3:15)

As believers, we know that the Bible is the Word of God and we are going to stand upon it. We will stake our lives upon that fact. It's the foundation of everything else we believe -- if the foundation is strong, we can build a house that will stand during the storm. It will stand in the coming dangerous days, when other houses are blown away by the savage winds of unbelief.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

We can be prepared for what is coming. 
Amen.

Prepared for perilous times

Our final "prepper" strategy is found in verses 16 through 17 of our chapter:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

The verses just before these spoke of how the Word of God contained everything we needed. These verses tell us why. They speak of the authority of God's Word. 

Why do we say that the Bible is all that we really need to read in order to go to heaven?

Paul tells us that all Scripture (he means both the Old and the New Testaments, because people were passing around and receiving instruction and inspiration from all of the epistles we find in our New Testament) is "God-breathed." Those two words sum up a literal translation of the Greek word "theopneustos." It means that God breathed out the words and Moses wrote them down. God breathed out words and David wrote them down. And Daniel, and Matthew, and others. I realize that there are many people who may disagree with me, and there are many who will argue the translators and their possible errors, etc., etc. But I believe in this view of the holy Scriptures. I believe this about the Bible I read. Moses wasn't inspired in the same way as William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was inspired to write wonderful plays. Moses wrote down the very words of God. It's totally different.

Paul tells us that because the Bible comes from God, it equips us to do every good work. The word carries with it the meaning of "completeness." The Word of God equips us and makes us complete. 

Our Bible is an extremely practical book and it can have a huge impact on our lives. Paul says the Bible is good for:

•  teaching - telling us what is right
•  rebuking - telling us when we are wrong
•  correcting - telling us how to "get right" in our relationship with God
•  training - telling us how to "stay right" and righteous

The result is that we are thoroughly equipped to do whatever God wants us to do. Just as a soldier needs the right equipment, and then he needs to know how to use it, we need to read and study and know the Bible. It will tell us everything we need to know.

Some people may scoff at our reliance upon the Word of God. They will tell us it's antiquated; they point to what they think are contradictions; they say it's hopelessly out of date and unnecessary. But we know better. We know that if we make God's Word the foundation of our lives, we will be able to believe and obey it, and even teach it to others. It will make us strong and give us confidence when trouble comes our way. Knowing the Bible now may save our lives later. We have all heard the stories of prisoners who remembered verses and passages of the Bible and were able to gain strength to survive. Some would find scraps of paper and painstakingly write their verses with blood on the scraps, to re-read them and to secretly share with other prisoners. 

We will never outgrow the Word of God.

It will make us complete, so that we can do what God has planned for us.

The world is going to get worse - so don't be surprised. Be prepared.

Tough times are coming - don't be frightened. Be prepared.

If we build our lives on God's Word, we may be persecuted but we will never be defeated.