Do you ever feel like God doesn’t care about you? You are trying hard to do the right thing and keep yourself on the right path, but things just are not working out for you?

David describes this situation in Psalm 22. He starts out with “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.” He continues for 18 verses talking about all his problems, his enemies after him, and how weak he is, and doesn’t know how he can go on.

However beginning in verse 19 and through the end of the chapter, David writes praises to God, verse 22, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.” and verse 28, “For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.”

I think there is a message for us here, that when we are down and feel things are going against us, rather than complain and feel sorry for ourselves, we should show God our praise. Showing that we know we are just being tested and we will remain faithful and maintain a good attitude through the trial.

I think it is not a coincidence that the following Chapter, Psalm 23 is that well known statement of faith that begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” and ends with, “Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Dear Lord, we know that you are all powerful and can resolve any situation we encounter if and when you choose. Help us remember to stay strong and faithful in our challenges, trusting in your great love for us. In Jesus’ name we pray.

One of the many ways the devil works to separate us from God is by using good things that God has provided, against us. An example of this is ambition and determination. When we place too much emphasis on achieving what are good desires like, academic or athletic achievement, business success, and even success at our churches, they can become more important to us than they should, displacing God as our priority.

James writes in James 4:13-15, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

As James writes if we start our plans with, “If the Lord wills, I plan to…” it will help us keep our priorities in order.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the desires and ambitions that you place in our hearts. Help us keep our priorities straight to avoid these desires from becoming our idols. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In yesterday’s note I wrote about the story that is written in three of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke about Jesus telling us that we must have faith like a child.

In Matthew 18:4-6 Jesus says, “So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

In Matthew’s account of the story there is one interesting addition. In verse 10 where Jesus says, “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”

“Their angels” it says. As one of the bible verses supporting the belief that people have guardian angels, this verse gives an awesome and comforting vision that there are angels standing in God’s presence responsible for helping individual believers.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance provided in this passage that you care for us, and assign your angels to look out for us. Help this give us the confidence to act boldly for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is an age, maybe 4 or 5 years old, where children seem to be just amazed about everything. When someone captures their attention, they will listen intently, with respect, to learn all they can. They believe what they are being taught and ask questions out of curiosity not suspicion. It is truly amazing to watch.

In Mark 10:14,15, Jesus tells the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

We need to approach our Christian faith in this way. With humble curiosity, and a desire to learn and accept.

Dear Lord, help us let our guard down, and come to you with the faith of a child. Help us believe your teaching and promises with curiosity not suspicion. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We all occasionally get angry about something. I have found that we are much more likely to become angry, lose our control, and say or do something we shouldn’t when we are either tired or hungry.

Psalm 4:4 gives us good advice in this regard, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.”

It is unrealistic to think we can avoid ever becoming angry, but we can avoid letting that anger control us. You have probably heard it said, “things look better in them morning.” We need to take the psalmist’s comments to heart, and hold our comments when we are angry. In the morning we can re-evaluate the situation, and typically it will look much better.

Dear Lord, We thank you that you give us the will to control ourselves and not just follow each emotional whim. Help us hold our comments when we are angry until we can address those items productively and intelligently. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.