In a previous episode, we focused on an extremely important concept -- we are remarkably and wonderfully made by God, and He delights in us. In fact, in Psalms 139:14 we read that King David said, "my soul knows this [concept] very well." That is our goal also -- that our souls would grasp this concept very well.
In today's devotional, we will build upon this concept with what I think is an equally important concept. One of the key ways that David got to this wonderful state of his soul was by speaking truth to his soul when in the midst of struggles and challenges. Note in the following verses the MANY times David spoke encouraging truths to his soul. I have grouped them into 3 categories:
1) David exhorted his soul to hope in God (by remembering and reciting aloud the help of God’s presence):
Psalms 42:5 NASB Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence [and His saving intervention] (Note that this exact verse is repeated in Psalms 42:11 and 43:5.)
The Hebrew word for “hope” in this verse refers to a patient, expectant hope, not merely a wish. For example, it is not what we mean when we say, “I hope the traffic is not bad on my trip.” It is more like saying, “I am expecting God to be with me on my trip and to go before me.”
2) David exhorted his soul to bless (adore, praise) the Lord (by remembering and reciting aloud God’s many wonderful attributes):
Psalms 103:22 NASB Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalms 104:1 NASB Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
Psalms 146:1 NASB Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
Blessing, adoring, and praising the Lord is what is meant when the Scriptures encourage us to “magnify” and “exalt” the Lord.
3) David exhorted his soul to bless (adore, praise) the Lord (by remembering and reciting aloud his blessings):
Psalms 103:1-5 NASB Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits: (3) Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; (4) Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; (5) Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
I believe that speaking truth to my soul when in the midst of struggles and challenges is a powerful application of an important biblical principle stated in this verse:
2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV [As believers, we are to cast] down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Did you catch this principle? Believers have both the ability and the responsibility to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This simply means that we are to choose what we allow to take root in our mind.
Tempting thoughts (to be anxious, to lust, to covet, to be selfish, etc.) will enter our mind. Experiencing temptations is a normal part of living in this fallen world. But if we allow those tempting thoughts to take root and grow, they progress from thoughts to attitudes and then to actions. The key is to do what Barney Fife often said: “Nip it in the bud!” This verse is telling us to immediately compare every single thought with what we know to be true and ask ourselves if it’s “against the knowledge of God.” We do that by knowing the ways and nature of God as revealed in the Scriptures. Any time we detect that a thought is not consistent with the nature of God, we are to immediately take authority over it and reject it. Then we are to put a godly thought in its place.
For example, if I have a condescending thought toward a person, I should immediately reject that thought, confess it as wrong, and then remind myself that that person is made in the image of God and is loved and valued by God. I could then even offer a quick, silent prayer for God to bless them. I could ask God to show me if I should invest in them (with my time, money, etc.), because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
If I have an anxious thought, I should do as King David did, in the verses we have reviewed today. David rejected his anxious thoughts, and replaced them with hopeful and expectant thoughts (based on remembering and reciting aloud all of the blessings he had received from God, and remembering and reciting aloud God’s many wonderful attributes).
When I am in the midst of struggles, challenges, or anxious moments, I am purposing to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and to speak truth to my soul in that moment. Will you join me in doing so? When we do that, we experience the help of His presence and His saving intervention (Psalms 42:5)
Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”