Tag Archives: Psalm 119:105

Broken but not bitter

 

Funny man, Stephen Colbert, makes his living making jokes. But as is true with most of us, there’s more than meets the eye. Colbert suffered the tragic loss of his father and two brothers in a plane crash when he was ten years old. He could have become bitter. But Colbert credits his mother and his faith for not letting bitterness take root in his life. In his own words, “I am here to know God, love God, serve God, that we might be happy with each other in this world and with Him in the next. That makes a lot of sense to me.” He says that by his mom’s example he’s not bitter; broken, yes, but not bitter.  If Colbert says that faith kept him from becoming bitter, I’m taking him at his word.

 

How does faith keep us from letting bitterness erode our life? There probably isn’t any one size fits all answer. Bitterness tries to maintain control over a situation and over others. Sometimes bitterness refuses to forgive. Other times, bitterness says, “I’ll forgive (with clenched teeth and fists), but by golly I’m not ever gonna forget!” (Which doesn’t seem much like forgiveness, does it?) In contrast to bitterness, faith learns to “let go and let God;” Faith makes us better.

 

Bitterness holds onto a grudge against past wrongs and angst. Faith holds onto the promise of future justice and peace. Bitterness poisons our soul, continually scratching at the open wound. Faith is a healing balm; restoring and building us up. Bitterness denies. Faith believes. Bitterness focuses on the pain, sorrow, and despair. Faith lives in the midst of pain and sorrow but focuses on hope.

 

Dr. Adrian Rogers said, “Bitterness blows out the candle of joy and leaves the soul in darkness.” Faith reminds us that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light to guide our path (Psalm 119:105). Billy Graham said “Every destructive emotion bears it own fruit, but the anger fruit is the bitterest of them all. Uncontrolled resentment and anger is a devastating sin and no one is exempt from its havoc. It shatters relationships and destroys marriages.” Faith bears its own fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness… and more. Which fruit do you want to eat every day?  We’re repeatedly warned to get rid of bitterness, slander, wrath, and malice. It only destroys. But how do we give it up?

 

Giving up bitterness starts by deciding you want to be better, not bitter.

 

Being better moves us to forgiveness, knowing that we ourselves are forgiven only to the extent we forgive others. Forgiveness is as much for you as it is the other person. Getting rid of bitterness requires a conscious decision to live in harmony with others, in so far as it’s possible. A heart that is free of bitterness learns to listen more. It seeks more to understand than to be understood. It finds pleasure in building others up, not tearing them down. Bitterness makes us harsh; giving it up makes us more gentle and peaceful. Finally, bitterness is smothered by thankfulness. The more we find reason to give thanks, day by day and moment by moment, the less bitterness has room to grow.

 

I really don’t know if you can give up bitterness on your own. I couldn’t. I had to give it up to God and ask him to forgive my bitter heart. I needed him to give me a heart transplant; to give me a new heart that is so filled with his love, there just isn’t room for bitterness too.

 

You may feel broken. But you don’t have to be bitter. Be better instead. Let God change your heart.

 

 

Thy Word is a Light – for today

 

 


Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  Psalm 119:105

 

I remember hiking with Marcia in the Franklin Mountains outside of El Paso. Even with the light of the sun we sometimes lost track of the trail ahead of us. What was a well-worn path turned into what appeared to be dozens of paths. Which one should we take? They all headed in the same general direction, but we couldn’t easily determine which was the safest and most trustworthy.

 

Life is sometimes like that. Maybe you are in a place where several alternative paths appear before you and all looking like they will take you where you want to go. Or perhaps you are in a place where you are paralyzed by not seeing the path before you. You long for a ‘crystal ball’ that will reveal your future.

 

The psalmist reminds us that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is our guide for living well and keeping from peril.  Sometimes we don’t realize how much we need guidance until we’ve gone too far down a dark path we shouldn’t have traveled. There are times when the road ahead is foggy. Our vision is clouded by our present circumstances or emotional being. God’s Word is designed for exactly such a purpose.

 

This isn’t just the path to finding Jesus once, but to finding Him every single day as we encounter others around us. It shows us the right way to live today. In darkness, we are tempted to say something untrue or unkind, a word to put someone down, or something sarcastic to illuminate our wit. In light we choose words to build each other up, because that is the path we are meant to walk. In darkness, we tuck away our savings to buy the things that bring us temporary pleasure. In light we see others in need and the joy of bringing the encouraging light of Jesus to their world.

 

The bible says the world lives in darkness and loves the darkness.  Jesus said, “YOU are the light of the world.”  But the lamp that reveals God’s will is not our own. It is fueled by the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit.  It isn’t simply some random act of kindness of do-goodies. The true light in you intentionally shines in the darkness to guide you and to show God’s goodness to others.

 

Today we get to choose which path to follow, the one advancing our own personal agenda or the one that leads us – and others – closer to God.  Where will His light – in you – shine today?

 

 

A lamp to your feet and light to your path

I’ve been meditating on Ps 119:105. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” It seems that sometimes God only gives us a lamp for the step we are currently on right now. He wants our footing to be secure so we can stand firm (Eph 6:10) and not stumble. Sometimes our current standing seems more like sitting on a bench. What he has spoken to us in this ‘bench’ season is that we should sit on the bench in obedience and not strive to get back in the game until he calls us. But it is more than that. Because, at least in our case, we are confident that God is actively at work preparing our next steps, he also desires to use this time to prepare our hearts as he draws us closer to him. Like the 14 years between David’s anointing and his crowning and the same period of time between Paul’s conversion and his first missionary journey, it is not a time of twiddling thumbs, but of actively seeking God, enjoying him fully, growing in him, and serving him where we are.

Do you trust that God will also reveal his light upon your path, that you may more clearly see not just your current step but also the near path before you? Be faithful in listening for his voice so, like Samuel, you can quickly respond, “Here I am Lord. Speak for your servant is listening.”

Find blessings as you continue to draw near to such a loving God whose mercies never fail, whose compassions are new every morning. Draw close so he can guide and direct you.

Growing in truth

Yesterday, we considered the faithfulness of God and of His Word which is always trustworthy and applicable in whatever situation we face. While I knew this to be true before I was diagnosed with leukemia, I have come to a deeper experiential understanding of this during this unexpected journey. For sure, I have lots yet to learn and even more to apply. And I am quite imperfect in acting this out in my moment by moment challenges. For example, the mental impairment that comes with this disease is a daily challenge and I too often allow myself to get carried away by fits of frustration with it before I surrender the situation to God.

I know that one of the reasons Marcia and I have come to this deeper understanding of practical truth is because of the truth of Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” The time to ‘hide’ or protect his Word in our heart is not when trouble comes, but to establish it there well before the time of trial. I mean, what farmer goes out in the storm to plant his seeds? Surely, they would all wash away! Better they have opportunity to grow roots before the storm comes. When we grow in the truth we put down roots that sustain us in times of adversity.

If you are not accustomed to reading the bible, or to pursuing it for deeper understanding, try reading one book of the bible. Maybe the book of John near the beginning of the New Testament or the book of 1 John near the end of the bible. Before you read, ask God to reveal more of himself to you if you really want to get to know him more.

Ephesians 4:14 talks about the truth that sustains life and holds it together, the truth that keeps us from being carried away by every popular view and cunning persuasion. Reading God’s Word helps you put down roots and grow in the truth by understanding what you believe and why you believe it. It shows you what you can lean on with absolute trust. It gives you the direction and light you need to navigate a dark world. It will help you to grow in truth…and grace.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105