Perhaps we are looking in the wrong pile.

 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways.

Psalm 119:33-37 (ESV)
 
Those who are successful in this life desire to be taught by God with the idea of obeying Him. With this obedience comes understanding. With the understanding comes the valuable guidance that we all want.
 
The obstacle to this is selfishness, and fuel for self is the consumption of insignificant things. We have a culture that indulges in the worthless, hoping to find worth. We look for treasure where there is only waste, and then wonder why we are never satisfied.
 
Perhaps we are looking in the wrong pile. Maybe we need to absorb things of value, God's Word, meditate on them, and see where that takes us.

Saying it Aloud.

 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:17-24 (ESV)

When was the last time you longed for God's Word? I often hear the anticipation of going on a vacation, to a nice restaurant, or the excitement of the latest movie release. However, I seldom hear someone talk excitedly about spending time in God's Word.

Perhaps we have become so warped that a fine vacation, food, or movie is more satisfying to us than God and His Word. Of course, we would not say this aloud, but by our actions, we have said that aloud.

Purity happens by choice.

 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:9-16 (ESV)

Purity happens by choice, not by chance. We guard our ways by allowing God's Word to guide us. Those who let God's Word guide them have God's Word guard them.

We live in a time where there is plenty of fodder for evil. Godless attempts to organize life will end like the tower of Babel ended, in confusion and division.

Without God, only evil exists, just as without light, only darkness exists.

Tomorrow never seems to come.

 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Psalm 119:1-5 (ESV)

Those who walk according to the truth are blameless. They are listening to God. Therefore, God is to blame for all they do.

In order to walk in the law of the Lord, one needs to know the law of the Lord. Knowing God does not happen by accident, but through intentionality. Intentionality is always a part of healthy relationships.

Those waiting for the time to be right to start doing right will wait forever, because Satan is good at getting us in a position that makes it look like getting our lives together tomorrow will work better than today.

Yet, for many, tomorrow never seems to come. The pressures of this day keep us from what we could be, and the hope that we will change seems to be our only hope.

The Only Place Of Peace

 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:8-9 (ESV)

This statement connotes that there will be times when we must choose between taking refuge in the Lord or trusting ourselves, our plans, or our people. It suggests that there are times when we are tempted to trust in our national leaders rather than God, or perhaps our armies or strategic alliances.

Obeying God and trusting Him is the only place of peace and stability. Our many ways of developing things other than God to trust will prove futile.

There are many who have gone before us to give us an example in this life. Some have done it right, and some have been excellent examples of what fools look like. Those who have done it right have one thing in common. They loved and listened to God. Those who love and listen to God will participate with Him in the ultimate victories in life. Those who do not love and listen to God will be used of God to no benefit of their own.

Life Needs Context

 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 (ESV)
This is a wonderful and encouraging passage, except for the Godless nations. God is the only constant in the universe. He is the only one who can put our lives into the context of the universe. Life and death matter in God's context; they are confusing without Him.

When people enjoy God, they enjoy life and are not devastated by death.

Those who want to exclude God from their lives do so at their peril—removing God from life places all the meaning, context, and purpose for life on our shoulders. It makes us the center of the universe, and that causes tremendous confusion.

Instead of seeking the truth, we often seek to substantiate what we believe about the lies we have told ourselves. The more we try to make the lie a truth, the more "Satanic" we become, for his specialty is turning lies into "new truth" that is more believable and understandable.

However…

 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Psalm 116:15 (ESV)

We do all we can to avoid death, something that is precious to God when it happens to one of His saints. To God, the death of a saint is a good thing, and He knows about what He speaks.
Death to us is separation. It seems more like an ending point than a beginning, a loss rather than a gain, a tragedy more than a triumph. Yet, for those who love God, it is a moment of joy, freedom, and the realization of all that could, on this earth, only be imagined.

Psalms 72:14 says this: "From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight." [1] Our removal from a Godless world is not considered a tragedy in God's sight.

Certainly, death is hard to deal with because it represents a temporary separation from those we love. However, for those who are in God's family, in a twinkling of an eye, we, too, will be transported to see our Savior and those who also loved Him who went before us.

Godlessness is costly, devastating, and easily corrected.

 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Psalm 112:1-2 (ESV)
Once again, we are told that the blessed man is the man who fears the Lord. Therefore, as discussed in the previous thought, one who does not fear the Lord (the atheist) cannot be blessed.

This does not mean they cannot be rich, famous, or influential, but it does mean that their riches will not satisfy them, and will one day rot, their fame will be fleeting, and their influence self-serving and manipulative, for the only God they know is themselves.

One who does not fear the Lord cannot delight in His commands, which breathe life into our lives. Those without God are deprived, and their depravity will affect the next generation and the generation after that.

Godlessness is costly, devastating, and easily corrected.

The future generations will curse the Godless, not bless them. For now, the choice is ours.

How many leaders in our nation lead without wisdom?

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111:10 (ESV)
The beginning of wisdom is a reverence for God. Those who do not acknowledge God cannot be wise. Atheists can never be wise.

There is no way to be wise without putting life, death, and all of nature into their proper context, and without God, there is no context.

Therefore, a Godless nation is a foolish nation. A Godless family is a foolish family. A Godless person is a fool.

This would be debatable if it were just me saying it, but God tells us that the fear of Him is the beginning, not the end, but the beginning of wisdom.

How many leaders in our nation lead without wisdom? How many churches are being directed with no understanding? Is it any wonder that many give up and cannot endure in this life?
Those who fear the Lord are positioned correctly, can lead with wisdom and authority, and will be proven wise one day.

Uncomfortable At Times

 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

Psalm 109:26-29 (ESV)

When you aim to show the world who God is, all circumstances that are not sinful are good. God's hand can be seen in the "good" of life, but it is often unmistakable during the rough times. David facing Goliath, Elijah on Mt. Carmel, and Daniel and the boys were all put in uncomfortable situations. Yet, they found themselves in the privileged position of showing the world who God was.

There is no greater honor in the universe than to be a vessel to show who God is and how He works. Those who complain about such opportunities, or pray that they would end, may have lost focus, and will lose hope.
 

Victory In This Life?

 

With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. Psalm 108:13 (ESV) This is a simple statement and applicable to all. Those who are with God shall do valiantly. No enemy can stand toe-to-toe with God. Nothing or no one can challenge God's authority and win. Victory in this life comes to those who walk with God, love God, and obey Him. Those who feel defeated today have their eyes fixed on the wrong solution, for God can't be defeated, and those who submit to Him cannot be defeated. Therefore, defeat is an idea whose time will never come to the submissive child. " I like even the talk of the old Gascon who said, when they asked him, "Can you and your troops get into that fortress? It is impregnable." "Can the sun enter in?" said he. "Yes." "Well, where the sun can go we will enter." Whatever is possible, or whatever is impossible, Christians can do at God's command, for God is with us." (C. H. Spurgeon)

Who Is Wise?

 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 107:43 (ESV)

We are told here to observe. We can do that. However, observation takes effort. Observation is not something that usually happens by accident.

Keeping oneself too busy and too scheduled does not allow one to spend time observing or meditating. Meditation is not the emptying of the mind, but the filling of the mind with thoughts of God, His love, His mercy, His power, His grace, and more.

The wise spend time observing God, meditating on God, and enjoying God. The foolish are consumed with their agendas, plans, purposes, and timelines.

If we feel distant from God, we have not considered or observed Him. If we think we know God and have followed Him, yet feel abandoned, perhaps we have not known Him, and have been observing someone or something else who is not God.

The word "fool" only applies to man, is well-deserved, and is easily changed by those considering God. For now, the choice is yours.

They forgot God!

 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.

Psalm 106:19-24 (ESV)

Exchanging the glory of God for anything is not a good idea. The picture painted here is rather humorous. Not only are we told that man exchanged the glory of God for an ox, but that the ox eats grass. Man could do no better than to make a statue of a grass-eating animal to worship.
The key statement is this: "They forgot God, their Savior…." When we forget God, we create new gods or purposes, life loses its meaning, and we look foolish.
 

Consider God

 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

Psalm 106:7-13 (ESV)

Those who do not take time to consider God's masterful work lose the joy of life and live in discord.

Considering God or thinking of Him and His work, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, and more allows me to have hope in my frailty. What I think about is my choice.

The standard is set!

 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!

Psalm 106:1-3 (ESV)

"Those who do righteousness at all times!" That is a very exclusive group. Can anybody really do that?

The standard is set relatively high, and since it is set high, we need to aim high. We often make excuses about being unable to be perfect, so we cease trying. People are not perfect, and those who love and walk with God continually work on who they could be, rather than who they are.
We need to make the conscious choice to aim at being righteous all the time to be on the right side of history. God understands us and works with us. He knows our hearts, and my heart needs to desire Him and His ways. The rest of life's details will work out as I do that.

God is always at work.

 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

Psalm 105:1-6 (ESV)

Healthy people thank God and make His name known to those with whom they come in contact. When was the last time you were awed by the works of God? If you need to think about it, you have not been paying attention.

God is always at work. Whether you see it or not, it does not and will not affect Him. When you do not see the works of God, you miss out on one of the greatest privileges afforded to mankind.
God does not need us, but He wants us to be included.

God is the creator and sustainer of all!

 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Psalm 104:5-15 (ESV)

God is the creator and sustainer of all. It is a gift to those he created and loves. We would be wise to acknowledge this often.

Flowers

 

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:15-19 (ESV) Flowers are beautiful, a wonder of God's creation. In almost all plants, the flower has a specific function, and when that function is complete, it fades quickly and falls off to provide nutrients for the plants to come. Flowers are vital to the pollination process. They are colorful, fragrant, and attractive to attract someone or something to come and aid in that process. If seeds are not produced and placed in fertile soil, all the sunlight, nutrients, and carbon dioxide a plant absorbs are wasted. Likewise, my life is compared to a flower. I need to absorb that which will give me the ability to produce fruit and be attractive in many ways to reproduce spiritually. I need to think of ways that those who come behind me can have the best opportunity to absorb what is right so they, too, can reproduce spiritually.

Learn

God Is Not Like Us

 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:10-14 (ESV)

There is a great distance between the east and the west. God is not like us, and when He forgives something, it is forgiven and forgotten, and it seems to be like it never happened. God is not a tyrannical God waiting for someone to step out of line so that He can zap them back into place. Rather, He is a loving God who knows us well, understands our frailty, and desires to help us, not harm us.

Those who see God as an angry God waiting to pounce on evil do not know God.
 

Don't forget to remember.

 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

Sometimes, I forget from where all the good in my life comes. I tend to ignore the source when all is well, and blame God when all goes south. Sitting and pondering the many benefits of walking intimately with God is a good thing.

The Scriptures seem to remind us that we often need to be reminded of the most important things in life. We are to pray without ceasing, reminding us that we are always dependent upon God. We are to rejoice in the Lord, always, reminding us that circumstances are a part of life, but they do not control life. Baptism, communion, and the gathering of believers are all important reminders. Don't forget to remember.

Wearing it out is a sign that it was enjoyed.

 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

Psalm 102:25-28 (ESV)
God alone does not change. All other created things, which is all other things, will. The earth, as mentioned here, will wear out like a garment.

Those who want to worship the earth rather than care for it are silly. When I was a boy, I remember going into some homes where they had bought nice furniture. They wanted it to be cared for so much that they did not allow anyone to use it, they covered it with sealed plastic, and they put it in a room with curtains to block direct sunlight. I thought purchasing furniture you would not use was useless.

There have been times at camp when we purchased a new van to transport campers from place to place. After many years, the van wore out. I was thankful for the many years and the memories the van gave us, and realized that its being worn out was a sign of its value.
We are to use what God gave us, and it will wear out. Wearing it out is a sign that it was enjoyed.

We Pray

 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

Psalm 102:1-2 (ESV)
Those who love God will face physical, social, and mental struggles, and right now, God is very busy. Those in His presence are shouting praises at Him, those around the world who are His are crying out to Him, and many are seeking Him. Undoubtedly, He is the most sought-after, wanted, needed, and desired in the universe.
Yet, we, His children, pray, and He hears us. It seems as if this direct and private access pathway to our Heavenly Father allows us immediate and direct access, regardless of the noise that abounds.
Since I cannot handle two people talking to me about different subjects simultaneously, I cannot imagine what it would be like to have millions doing so, and then understand and respond to each one correctly. This idea helps define "Awesome," which only applies to God.
 

Joyful Noises

 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100 (ESV)

Sometimes, I think we try to make the joyful noise to the Lord too professional sounding. The joyful noise line precedes the line about singing. We often laugh at the many sounds young boys make while playing. We affectionately call them "boy noises." It does our heart good to see a young boy play with all his heart, including the noises accompanying the play.
It would be sad to have to organize, refine, and adjust those noises and mix them just right to be acceptable to the public. After hearing him at play, a boy may never be asked to sing in an opera, but he will bring a smile to a parent's heart.