"From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."
Psalm 61:2-3
Inspiring about The Book of Psalms is how real things get. There's no candy coating, or walking on egg shells, or fearing what God might do. The Psalms are honest prayers, pleas, and praises about the realities of life. And anytime I read a psalm, I'm reminded that I, too, can be that honest with God...
...and that's exactly what He wants from us.
God wants an honest relationship with you. He already knows who you are inside and out, and although this world teaches you to "save face" and put up facades, God isn't interested in those illusions. With God, you always fit in and are accepted with open arms, so you don't need to worry about creating a false self to impress Him or to be accepted and loved by Him.
God wants to meet you in a place of honesty.
Honesty about who you are, what you're thinking and feeling, your hopes and desires, your struggles and hardships. God draws us into the most genuine, loving relationship. If you aren't quite sure what that looks like, open your Bible and read the Psalms.
I am humbled at how honest the Psalmist can be and how relevant the words written so very long ago are to my own life in the 21st century--and probably to the majority of us who struggle and walk through the pains of life. Despair. Anger. Sadness. Anxiety. Fear. Hopelessness. Helplessness. You see them all come alive in the psalms. The feelings and thoughts that weigh us down and keep us up at night--the Psalms teach us that it's OK to feel these, and they're not an indication of lack of faith or that you're somehow disappointing God. It's OK to feel hopeful, free, and at peace, too. And it's OK to bring this all to God. Whatever it is that you think and feel, God can handle it. He wants your honesty, and He isn't going to shame you for what you bring to Him. He isn't going to turn you down, let you go, or be done with you because of what's going on in your heart and mind, or even over what you've done in your past, or your mess ups from earlier today.
Recall when Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4). He wanted her to confess who she was--her sins and all. She could be honest with Jesus and He didn't turn her away. Rather He invited her into His kingdom and to be part of His flock. Her community and peers judged her and made her an outcast, but Jesus invited her to His table. This is the same invitation He has for each of us. It is when we are honest with God that we can respond to His ongoing invitation for a relationship, and He can begin to set us free from our struggles--internal and external.
Consider... How honest are you with God? Are you afraid you're one mistake away from being banished by Him? Do you worry that He knows who you really are? God loves you, the honest you, nothing less and nothing more. He not only loves you, He wants you at His table for who you are. And more importantly, His presence in your life will give you great abundance and the realest love you will ever know.
This Week’s Reading Plan
As you read the following passages this week, ask yourself these questions:
1) What verse comforts me that I can commit to memory?
2) What word or phrase stands out?
3) What am I learning about God from this?
4) How can I apply this to my life today?
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Author: Pamela Palmer
8/19/19
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