Scripture
Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. Psalm 138:7
Observation
“His creating hands formed our souls at the beginning; his nail-pierced hands redeemed them on Calvary; his glorified hands will hold our souls fast and not let them go for ever.” (Burgon). Creation, Salvation, Resurrection. His hands can handle anything we hand to Him so why do we work so hard to handle it on our own? David is putting his current troubles, his very present enemies, and his entire future in God’s hands. You can almost picture him singing this just before he passes out from sheer exhaustion for the next verse declares that God’s hands never stop working on our behalf. “The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” (Ps. 138:8). Where there’s destruction of He invites the hands that formed creation. Where there’s a total decimation of his own plans, David let’s go in favor of God’s plans of salvation for his life. Where David can’t see past the depression of his current situation he trusts the hands that will bring him through all of this to his eternal home.
Application
We’ve all heard the saying, “many hands make light work.” These scriptures remind us that God’s hands bring light to the work. What's heavy to us is easy for Him. When we can't see our way to a solution He is our solution. David talks about the humility required to partner with the plans of God. We don’t want to let go of our plans because it will require a complete dependency upon Him. The grip of pride on our well made plans keeps us from stepping into the freedom of His plans for us. This past week I was in 4 states in 4 days. The first half was helping my mother-in-law Pat Klose let go of her plans to stay in Washington to move permanently to San Diego. She had such a wonderful community up there, but she knew God was asking her to let go. She had such a peace when she did put her plans in God's hands. We drove her moving truck through Washington, Oregon, and arrived in San Diego, California. She’s all moved in and ready for the faithful love of the Lord to take her hand in His and walk her into this new season. She had a place to move into because her son David had built her a house by faith believing she would one day move in. It’s such a beautiful picture of how God’s hands are working on our behalf preparing the way before we even know the way we are going. Then, I flew to Las Vegas to minister with my friends Kent & Lisa Miyoshi who pastor New Hope Las Vegas. 19 years ago they surrendered their plans and their jobs and left the paradise of Hawaii to move to the desert of Las Vegas. Lisa shared with me how God provided for them in so many miraculous ways confirming that this was His plan all along. Now, they have a growing, vibrant, Spirit-filled church in the heart of sin city and God continues to have His hand upon them. Why? They came in humility. They down their plans and put their lives in His hands. So many lives have been changed for eternity because they trusted that the reach of God’s hand was not short and the power of His hand would save them and others if they just trusted Him. I witnessed first-hand this past Sunday how God is using this church to reach so many who are lost in darkness in "Sin City".
Prayer
Thank You Jesus for these examples of faith and trusting Your hand in my life. I kneeled on the carpet during worship at New Hope Las Vegas and put it all back in Your hands. The things I understand and the many things I don’t. I know this though. This is where You want me to be. Forgive me for my pride that has me hide my plans from Your hands. I surrender them to You.
1We can make our own plans,
but the LORD gives the right answer.
2People may be pure in their own eyes,
but the LORD examines their motives.
3Commit your actions to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed.
4The LORD has made everything for his own purposes,
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5The LORD detests the proud;
they will surely be punished.
Proverbs 16:1-5
Commentaires