Never Be Moved

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

1        I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up

    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

2        O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,

    and you have healed me.

3        O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4        Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,

    and give thanks to his holy name.

5        For his anger is but for a moment,

    and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

    but joy comes with the morning.

6        As for me, I said in my prosperity,

    “I shall never be moved.”

7        By your favor, O LORD,

    you made my mountain stand strong;

you hid your face;

    I was dismayed.

8        To you, O LORD, I cry,

    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9        “What profit is there in my death,

    if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

    Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10      Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!

    O LORD, be my helper!”

11      You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

    you have loosed my sackcloth

    and clothed me with gladness,

12      that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

    O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (Psalm 30, ESV)

REFLECTIONS:

Two little words are repeated five times in Psalm 30—“You have.” Throughout this psalm, David is praising God for what he has done for him. It's almost as if he is making a mental list of all the ways God has shown him favor and kindness and grace. So I pause to ask myself: When was the last time I spontaneously praised God for what he's done for me? When was the last time I lifted up a song of praise to him while driving down the road? When was the last time I whispered a prayer of praise for some gift of kindness God showed to me?

What about you? Do you ever break into spontaneous praise, joyfully giving thanks to God for all he's done for you? Are you doing that today? Perhaps you’ve seen the plaque that says, “Prayer changes things,” and that’s true. I’ve also seen a plaque that says, “Praise changes things,” and that also is true. It’s amazing how our whole attitude—our entire outlook on life—can be transformed by simply praising God.

In verse 6 David gives a testimony: “I said in my prosperity, ‘I shall never be moved.’” When we have prosperity without humility, it leads to adversity. Why? Because we lose our sense of balance—we start to be more concerned with things than we are with God. David said in his prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” But then he found out that he could be moved. He found out that his prosperity did not guarantee security. So instead of saying “I shall” or “I shall not,” he began saying “You have.” He submitted his will to God’s will. “You have” defeated the enemy. “For you have drawn me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me” (verse 1). “You have” given me victory. “You have” answered prayer. “You have” brought healing into my life (verse 2). “You have brought up my soul from the Sheol; you restored me to life” (verse 3).

God did some marvelous things for David. He defeated his enemy, answered his prayer, saved his life, and established him (verse 7). He rescued David and brought healing and stability to his life. And then he gave him joy. “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (verse 11). Do you want your life to be transformed today? Move from “I shall” to “you have,” and in humility praise God for what he has done.

Life is often hard. We are surrounded by so many “foes” that it's often difficult to remember the good that God has done. We strain and labor, we become so burdened by the demands of life that we tend to forget the many kindnesses that God has poured into our lives. At various points along the way, we feel overwhelmed by the many burdens we heap up on ourselves. But I offer my life as a testimony and I declare with first-hand experience that when we turn our focus from “I shall” to “you have” we experience true prosperity and abundant joy. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (verse 5).

Submitting to God is an exercise in humility. Until you and I humble ourselves before God and concern ourselves first and foremost with the things of God, we will not become established. As Jesus declared in his Sermon on the Mount: “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well” (Matthew 6:33). For God to work in and through our lives, our will must be aligned with his. So, ask yourself: Are you submitted to him? If not, humble yourself before him today and allow him to transform your life.

PRAYER:

Forgive us, O Lord, for our foolhardiness and pride. We are so prone to forget your goodness and to think that we are responsible for all our success. In your kindness, please help us to remember all that you have done. Enlighten our eyes and enable us to see the many blessings you have lavished upon us. And stir our hearts to praise your name, for you are worthy! To you, O Lord our God, we will give thanks forevermore.

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and I hate being sick. :(