What is your first response?
O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, – Psalms 7:1
In the world we live in, there are opportunities everyday to panic, judge and stress in the conditions surrounding us. We have the choice daily and even hourly of how to response to the circumstances and people around us. Often times when faced with unexpected problems and struggles, fear and panic is the first reaction. Trying to find a way out or a defensive position of protection is the natural response, especially when someone you love is being threatened. People over all assume the responsible posture is to take matters into their own hands and figure out a way to vindicate and even justify keeping from being overtaken.
King David was a man well acquainted with people and situations coming against him. He spent the first half of his time as king running from those who were seeking to take his life. He was forced to go on the run and hide out for many years to preserve his life until the kingdom was turned over to him.
In today’s reading, David writes about being chased by his enemies that want to tear him to shreds. He confesses that if he has done something deserving of this pursuit then he is willing to take the punishment. But if not, he calls on God to rise up and take his judgement on the situation. David knew that he was following the direction of God for his life and trusted Him to get him through the obstacles of enemy oppression and negative circumstances.
This chapter starts with David calling out to God first thing. He didn’t start with calculating the troubles surrounding him, his first response in the situation was to bring God on the scene. This was always David first response and even when he was confronted with his own sin, he was quick to repent and fall on his face before God’s presence. This is why he was said to be a man after God’s heart. It was what he pursued in every area of life. No matter what he came up against, his first questions was always: “What is in God’s heart about this set of circumstances?”
Hopefully this is your first response too. When things don’t seem to be going right in the world around you, is your first response to go to prayer or to go into panic mode. Do you feel pressure to make something happen, to avenge yourself or someone you love or do we let God be the judge? Are you looking for the “God” solution in every situation or the world’s way of dealing with things? I hope and pray today that you will begin to seek first God’s way and answer to every problem you come up against in life.
Today I want to encourage you to trust God first with every area of your life’s circumstances. Follow Kind David’s example and chase after the heart of God for everything that comes up in life. Don’t try to figure out your own way of handling things, get the plan. God has designed a path and solution to every struggle you face in life and it is the perfect response. Go ahead and take the time to let Him lay it out for you no matter how great or small your dilemma. Trust Him first today and you will always be assured victory in your life.
Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 7
1 O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me,
2 Lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands,
4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, or have plundered my enemy without cause,
5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. Selah
6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!
7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me.
9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
10 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.
13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
15 He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made.
16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
The Daily Dose 