Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Psalm 1:2-3, “But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like the trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

God’s Word gives us the wisdom and instruction to successfully endure the hard seasons we go through during our lifetime by following God and relying on His promises. But it is necessary to take the time to think and meditate on what He is saying to us in whatever verses and chapters we are reading. That is how we realize we are in God’s presence and can see His goodness through the complex and good times.

Our days are filled with so many various responsibilities that drain us of our energy and cause our bodies stress. We get pulled in many different directions. That is why it is essential to start meditating on God’s Word daily, which will fill our hearts and minds with what God wants to teach us and instruct us in applying His Word for what will transpire. Spurgeon had said, “Mediation chews the cud, and gets the sweetness and nutritive virtue of the Word into the heart and life: this is the way the godly bring forth much fruit.” We must take the time to digest it; much like a peach tree or myer lemon tree soaks up water and bears rich and juicy tasting fruit, we must soak up God’s Word, which will produce actions and attitudes that glorify Him from living by the Holy Spirit’s power. As Galatians 5:22-23 states, “ But the Holy Spirit produces the kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Jesus spoke of bearing fruit in John 15:5, when He said, “Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” All fruit-bearing trees, such as peaches and Meyer lemon trees, have a season when the fruit is just right for picking. Meyer lemon trees usually can bear fruit in one to two years but need to be fed with fertilizer during the growing season. The skin changes from green to dark yellow when ready to be picked—peach season in California runs from May to September. However, if the leaves turn brown and wither in any fruit tree, that is a sign that the tree is in distress and not having enough water. “The righteous man does not have these signs of death and dryness; his “leaves” are green and alive.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary. The more we delight in “the law of the LORD” the more fruitful we will become.

So the next time you are having a bad day, feel frustrated, and maybe insecure, read out loud to yourself Psalm 1:2-3. “We must also remember that fruit isn’t the same as “results,” because fruit has in it the seed for more fruit. Fruit comes from life, the life of God flowing in and through us.” Be Worshipful. Warren W. Wiersbe. Psalms 1-89, page 22.

It took seasons of time for the fruit to be ready to pick such as that juicy peach and/or Meyer lemon. Those that trust in the LORD will flourish as it says in Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” God will be your strength in times of crisis. Ask Him to help you bear fruit. You will then be like a strong tree and your leaf will not wither due to your soul being deepened into the rich soil of God’s Word, much like a juicy peach and/or luscious Myer lemon.

Listen to Michael W. Smith – King of Glory ft. CeCe Winans.

Psalm 96:2-3, “Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.”

I remember growing up, we had an annual Thanksgiving get-together on my mother’s side at my aunt and uncle’s house, Alice and Pete. After the noon meal, each child was required to state what they were thankful for during the past year. So, my brother and I, while riding in the car to this family event, would always nervously ask each other what we would say that we were thankful for. I needed not to say the same thing that my brother, Jim, was grateful for and vice versa. Reading the Psalms helps us verbalize what we are thankful for and gives us words of comfort. Psalm 96 is one of the psalms that brings us into the presence of God in weathering the storms of life. This psalm resembles David’s song of praise found in 1 Chronicles 16:21-27. Praise to God lifts us above our troubles and focuses on the power and majesty of our great God’s power, mercy, and love that we are thankful for.

In Psalm 96, the author talks about how we can praise God. We can do so by singing about God and telling others about His goodness and faithfulness. Then living out integrity by putting Christ-like character and reliability in our testimony before others. It requires living a holy life with humility. I like how the author of Psalm 71:15 states, “I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.”  “Not skilled with words” is how I often feel in my inadequacies in what I should say in opening up conversations about the Lord’s saving power, yet when I have had any answer to a prayer on my heart, that is what I need to share with others. That takes away the pressure of finding the right words.

Praising God should be done around the Thanksgiving holiday, but also daily in our gratitude and a continual and daily appreciation for God’s presence and power. Psalm 42:5 is a good reminder of our great hope, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him for the help of his presence.”

The more difficult the problems we experience and see in our world, the more we, as believers, are thankful in looking forward to Christ’s return. So, you feel you are not skilled with words? Same with me, but we can verbally praise the LORD for the blessings He has given us, unexpected provisions, and the good news of the gospel available to all who believe, confess their sins, and call upon His name to save them. Pray Psalm 40:5 when you feel you are not skilled in words in your prayer to the LORD: “O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans are too numerous to list. You have no equal.” Remember His glorious deeds enthusiastically and be ready for His soon return, which will take place when we least expect it (Luke 12:40).

Listen to Shore Lane – I Wait and I’ll Wait (Psalm 13) (Official Lyric Video).

Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” ESV

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” NLT.

Think about how you treat a special guest that comes to your home. You prepare for it by tidying up your home, maybe buying something new in décor or kitchen items. You want everything to be just right so your guest feels welcome, enjoy the conversation and food, and feel you are sincerely interested in their well-being. Now transport this to the LORD, preparing our eternal home with Him. He will welcome each Christian as His special guest forever. According to Psalm 23 and Romans 8:28, everything for your good is being directed by God shall follow you, the ESV says, absolutely, [surely] “all the days of my life.” The NLT says, without a doubt, God’s goodness and unfailing love will “pursue” you, all the days of your life.

Our final day on this earth is known only by God. Psalm 96:2-3 NLT declares: “Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.” Note that is present tense, not past tense, the word “does.” Think about the good things God has done for you recently. Write them down. I just looked at my prayer notebook. There was a date of April 3, 2024, I had written down two entries. It was the day before my husband Steve had his heart surgery and that was an important prayer request, and another item I had written that had to do with a serious conflict-relationship I had with someone. It has been now seven months since Steve’s heart surgery, which takes that long for the heart to heal. It was successful based on the recent tests done by the cardiologist surgeon, which he saw in his final test results for Steve, this past month. That burden of the relationship conflict situation has just been improved and has turned out in God’s direction for my good as Romans 8:28 promises. Then, I have a date of May 11, 2024, regarding a physical condition that has caused intense pain, with lack of mobility. I am just now seeing relief and healing during these past two weeks, going in a better direction (still in process) due to steady endurance with the right physical therapy and confirmed by my doctor of pain management, and prayers going up for me during this time. I praise the LORD and see His goodness, mercy, and unfailing love pursuing me during these challenging days in every prayer request, such as these and others I had recorded. I sometimes had little hope, yet I trusted in God’s power to answer each one, and He has and is still pursuing [my] our goodness all the days of our life. He is not done with us yet. Friend, He is not done with you yet either.

I encourage you to keep a journal of prayer requests and answers to prayers. I have gone a step further and have some of them written on 3X5 inch cards, when an answer is provided by the LORD, in a gift box on our mantel. I occasionally read each one of them to remind myself of God’s power in being my good Shepherd and Overseer of my soul (1 Peter 2:25) to protect me and guide me in this life. It will increase your faith in God’s goodness and love for you as it has done for me.

Revelation 7:17 states, “For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” NLT. You have a brighter future in store just for you of complete protection, relief, peace and joy. Tribulations and sorrows will be over. There will be no sin, and all suffering will be over finally with God in heaven. God, our great Shepherd promises to guide and protect you when going through dark valleys. Hold on. He will guide you along the right path for His glory.

Listen to Leanna Crawford, Ben Fuller, David Leonard – Still Waters (Psalm 23) [Accoustic] (Official Audio Video).

Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” NLT

When insulted or treated unjustly, how do you react? It is tempting, and I have done this, to share with a trusted friend and say, “Can you believe what they said to me? Or “Can you believe what they did to me?” Those situations stir up anger, resentment, insecurity, frustration, and feelings of defensiveness. Seeking affirmation is what you are asking for, right? Yet Romans 12:19 declares, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.” NLT. We are always to seek God’s glory in any adversity we are going through. But I must admit, that is not always my first inclination, and for me to remember how much God has forgiven me which is the transforming truth of the Gospel.

“God will not extract you from a broken world. Rather, He sets a table for two in the presence of your enemies. You have been invited to dine with the King in the middle of the battlefield.” “Don’t Give The Enemy A Seat At Your Table. It’s Time To Win the Battle Of Your Mind . . . “ By Louie Giglio. A text message back and Psalm 23:5 changed his whole life. Louie texted an Elder about receiving finally justice against someone who had been against him and received this response, “Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table.” That text message set him on studying this verse at a deeper level and changed his outlook and was why he wrote this book and has You Tube sermons on this very subject. So, when seeking revenge, remember your great Shepherd is there, has foresight and care, and has the power to protect you. The enemy wants you to give into sins of doubt, fear, distrust, and anger. Instead, think about the invitation to a table with the King right on the battlefield. Picture a great feast with all your favorite foods; your enemy is not invited to this table with you and God, but they are watching and are present.

Jesus entrusted God to do justice when He was falsely accused. During these times, I must ask myself if God has a right to be angry with me. Does God treat me as my sin deserves? No, He has forgiven me and shows me grace and mercy in my time of need.

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” Psalm 23:5 ESV. “Beloved, I will ask you now a question. How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? How much would you have had in your cup?” Charles Spurgeon.

Here are some tactics that are lies that we must fight against from the tempter:

• Things would be better if I were in a different situation.
• I am not going to make it.
• I am not good enough.
• Everyone is against me.

1 Peter 5:8-9a warns us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” Thank God for His presence in your life. Look beyond what the person has done against you. Give it to God.

 Remember these verses:

• Proverbs 12:15, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”
• Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
• Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
• James 1:20, “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

So, the next time you have an “Can you believe it?” instance, fight back with keeping every thought captive to Christ and the transforming Gospel. Reboot your mind with the above verses and have them take root in your mind and heart and grow to produce love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). God will lead you through green pastures, besides still waters, restoring your soul, guiding you through the shadow of death, comforting you, protecting you even when enemies come your way. By faith, let Him handle it. Sit back and watch for the results which will glorify God, working out for your good, from our great Shepherd.

Listen to Phill Wickham – The Jesus Way – Lyric Video

Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.”

We all walk through several valleys throughout our lifetime. If you could attach a name to the valley you are in right now, what would you name it? Would it be the Hope Deferred Valley? Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Keep on keeping on giving your needs and desires to God. You are in His presence. He hears and loves you. Faith, endurance, and perseverance are on this path.

Or are you in the Valley of Weeping? Some say Psalm 84 is called the Valley of Baca, a Hebrew word meaning weep, wail, grieve, and mourn with tears. “When we walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. the autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.” Psalm 84:6 NLT. As we travel through the Valley of Weeping (Baca) there are hard and treacherous times that bring tears to our eyes from our emotions out of the pain and suffering. Yet those are the times when we long deeply for God, our Great Shepherd, to give us strength, comfort, mercy, grace, and extend blessings to us. Psalm 84:11 declares, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Helplessness and greater empathy are found on this path, along with humility. Here is when we have an opportunity to experience even more deeply God’s faithfulness.

David found himself in the “valley of the shadow of death.” This is the central verse of Psalm 23. David is speaking to God -to the shepherd, not about the shepherd, in verse four. Before, he wrote about green pastures and still waters. Yet we, as David did, may walk through this valley, which is not on a mountaintop but being hedged in this fearful, dark, uneasy, not clearly lit valley he called the shadow of death. Yet this was not David’s final destination, and it is not ours. We have the reassurance that, “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3.

Dear friend, even though you may be going through the valley of hope deferred, or the valley of weeping, or the valley of the shadow of death, there is hope because our good shepherd, our God, walks through this valley with us. We have the promise of Psalm 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the almighty. I will say to the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” This path is the path of God strengthening you, protecting you, loving you, and molding you into His purpose and glory of God. We need to abide in Him and not in our problematic valley. So, we can sing loudly, even though this is hard right now, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” NLT.

Listen to Rebecca St. James – “Dawn” featuring Luke Smallbone [Official Studio Session].

Psalm 23:3, “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” ESV

“My soul he refresheth, He Leadeth me in paths of righteousness, For His name’s sake.” YLT

“He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” NIV

We all are either going through a trial, coming out of a trial, or about to enter into a new trial in life. There is discouraging news all around us and there are those times when the problem keeps going longer than anticipated, and you become exhausted and weary. When you feel lost and unsure what direction to take in a trying circumstance, think about how God, as our good Shepherd in Psalm 23, “restores,” therefore giving the idea of rescuing a lost one. He guides us through His Word, leading us to purity, developing greater righteousness, and following His holiness. As we seek Him, He directs us in the plain and straight paths of His love and protection in the green pastures instead of the crooked paths we tend to bend towards due to various temptations to sin in wrong responses found in our hearts during those trying circumstances. I know what that is like. How about you?

As the LORD is our Shepherd, He will renew and sustain one’s life, as Psalm 19:7 declares, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Then Psalm 17:5 states, “My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.” As we further need instruction, Proverbs 4:11 teaches us that God instructs us as it says, “I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” NIV

When exhausted and weary in life, ask the LORD for His wisdom as He is our Sovereign LORD, and for Him to restore your soul as you trust in Him to lead you through His straight paths during the stormy waters, into gentle waters of calmness and peace, for His glory and grace. Matthew 11:28 is an invitation given by Jesus to find relief and comfort from life’s burdens: “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

May I, may you, be able to say, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” NLT. When you are exhausted and weary in life, trust God in your adverse circumstances. Keep on keeping on and trust and pray Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” He is with you always (Matt. 28). Say as David did, “For you are my rock and fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me.” Psalm 31:3. That is our great and good Shepherd restoring your soul when you are exhausted and weary.

Listen to Phi Wickham – Psalm 23 (Official Music Video) ft. Tiffany Hudson.

Psalm 23:1-2 ESV, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Psalm 23:1 NIV, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

Psalm 23:1 NASB, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

Psalm 23:1 YLT98, “JEHOVAH [is] my shepherd, I do not lack.”

I grew up in Northwest Iowa, known for its rich farmland. My dad taught vocational agriculture in our high school, and most of my relatives were farmers, so I knew that a pasture has green grass and farm animals, such as sheep, that graze there throughout the daytime, eating the grass that is healthy, fertile, and nutritious and the animals help control weeds as they graze in a pasture setting. It is a common sight while driving through the country roads.

David wrote Psalm 23. His first job was that of a shepherd of sheep, so he wrote out of his own experience in describing the LORD as a shepherd. It has been known that sheep lie down in green pastures because it is a place of safety, rest, and abundant food. They prefer drinking out of still waters. If they see the stream of water moving, they become afraid because their wool coat would soak up the water like a sponge, and they could drown. Sheep easily get lost. Therefore, they rely on their shepherd to guide, protect, and provide for their needs. Our great shepherd does that for us in ways we don’t always see, understand, or realize. John 10:11 calls Jesus the good Shepherd. Hebrews 13:20 calls Him the great Shepherd, and 1 Peter 5:4, as the Chief Shepherd.

“While people of all ages love and quote this psalm, its message is for mature Christians who have fought battles and carried burdens.” Warren Wiersbe, “Be Worshipful. Glorifying God For Who He Is. OT Commentary. Page 94. It is a journey in life to learn that God wants us to rely solei on Him alone. Frustration, disillusionment, loneliness, despair, fears, and doubts are tools of Satan to distract us from following our great and good Shepherd. Our job, education, our house or home, will not give us long lasting contentment. Only the LORD will who is our good, great, and Chief Shepherd, beccause He knows you, John 10:14.

“Paul experienced a thorn in the flesh. Moses saw his efforts to do something for God utterly frustrated and turned into disaster. Each of these men of God experienced an adversity that caused him to realize his own weakness and his dependence on God. Each adversity was different, but each had a common goal of bringing these men to a place of greater dependence on God. If God is going to use you and me, He will bring adversity into our lives so that we, too, may learn experientially our dependence on Him.” Jerry Bridges, “Trusting God,” page 185.

David wrote Psalm 23 late in his life. Some think it was during the rebellion of his son Absalom, who tried to kill him. Yet David worships the LORD, in this psalm. We have a God-given promise that He will meet our need no matter what circumstances we are encountering.

• Jehovah Jireh – The LORD will provide – “I shall not want. I have all that I need.” Genesis 22:14.
• Jehovah-Shalom – The LORD our peace. Judges 6:24.
• Jehovah-Raphe – “Restoreth my soul” – The LORD who heals. Exodus 15:26.

Since Psalm 84:11 states “No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him” could it be that the very thing I feel I am lacking in, would not be good for me at this point, otherwise my great Good Shepherd would give it to me? Remember throughout the day that the LORD is your dependable protector and guide, and say to yourself, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1.

Listen to Charity Gayle – I Believe (Live) Official Lyric Video

Lamentations 3:19-23, NIV “I remember my afflictions and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I will remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

When you have a pressing burden, you don’t forget it, but as a Christian, you commit it to God and pray for His wisdom and healing or solving the situation. For me, these past number of months, I have had this intense pain going on with the source stemming from my back. It is with me intermittently throughout the day and while I try to sleep at night. I have found that being carefree during times of suffering has not been attainable. Yes, you go about your day as best you can in fulfilling your daily tasks, but this predicament is still there behind what I say and do. It makes me wonder how many other people are in similar situations. Yet I have hope due to the LORD’s love, compassion, goodness, and faithfulness to see me through. That is why the prophet Jeremiah, still had hope amid his afflictions in Lamentations 3 and experienced God’s faithfulfulness. It is true that keeping our mind and thoughts fixed on Jesus and what He has done for us is the solution for not being consumed by our afflictions. Holding onto the promise of Romans 8:28 gives one hope.

Jeremiah was not prescribing positive thinking. He said he remembered his afflictions and didn’t pretend or ignore them. He felt hopeless and confused. Sometimes, all we can do is sit in our painful circumstances and rely on God’s Word to give us the strength to endure. It is a time of rebuilding and strengthening our relationship with the Lord. When Jeremiah humbled himself, he revived with hope in the LORD’s faithfulness, goodness, and mercy. Think of it as building upon your credentials through God, giving you brand new compassions you have not experienced before in your walk with Him. Jeremiah stated in verse 32, “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. Jeremiah battled discouragement and had the blues despite being a spiritual pillar. Hopelessness always leads to depression.

There is hope despite our afflictions. The vital word in today’s scripture is “great love,” – mercies of God. “See where Jeremiah gets his comfort; he seems to say, ‘Bad as my case is, it might have been worse, for I might have been consumed, and I should have been consumed if the Lord’s compassions had failed.” (Spurgeon).

I love Jon Courson’s Application Commentary’s comment on Jeremiah, page 596: “If you never deal with discouragement it is either because you are very dumb or very dead because the more you know about life, the more vulnerable you are to becoming discouraged with life. Observing situations geopolitically or the situations in one’s own life personally can lead to depression and discouragement quite easily. Jeremiah was one who knew about this.” Yes, politics and the ongoing and upcoming election fits right in here as it did in Jeremiah’s time. But Jeremiah uncovers how he got out of depression:

1. He reflects on God’s mercy. Lamentations 3:22,23.
2. He reflects on the fulfillment and joy he finds in God. Lamentations 3:24, “The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
3. He reflects on the goodness of God. Lamentations 3:25, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”

God is in control of your life. He is adding value to your life’s credentials of achievement, personal quality, and qualifications through your time of affliction. Don’t be consumed with the problem, whatever it may be, for God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is God’s faithfulness. You woke up this morning. I woke up this morning. That is proof of God’s love, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness He is giving these to us [me] fresh, for today, to fight the blues. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:24 ESV.

Listen to Katie Williams – Waiting [Official Lyric Video].

Philippians 1:12-14, “Now I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”

We all will face discouragement throughout our lifetime with secret distress and agony. It could be financial burdens, family conflict, physical ailments, marriage issues, parental-children’s issues, lack of trust in someone you thought was a friend, someone breaking a promise to you, or someone you looked up to let you down. Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel. He was not in a happy place. Yet he used the time in this prison to strengthen his faith. His perspective was that God had placed him there as an appointment to be used by God to the Roman soldiers and encourage other Christians. Paul used this time to write letters that would one day end up in the New Testament. Who would have known? Paul also used this time to spread the gospel despite his dire situation. He also ended up being in prison again two or three years later. Yet Paul remained steadfast in his endurance and faith in Christ. Paul continued to serve God joyfully despite where he happened to be imprisoned. Paul viewed his time in prison as time not wasted. Would I?

So, my question is that I have been pondering, is when is it self-pity, and when is it not when reacting to bad situations in life? When one is squeezed, what spills out? I have learned it starts with asking if resentment has taken residence. That is a fair and honest question when responding to bad situations and conditions. Then, check feelings of bitterness. What about the misfortune of being misunderstood? They all lead to pride issues. God is the God of counsel.

Look at Isaiah 28:28-29 which states, “Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh it forever, when he drives his cart wheel over it with his horses, he does not crush it. This also comes from the LORD of hosts, he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.” “A farmer uses different tools at different times and works them all together to produce crops. In the same way, God knows what instruments to use in our lives and when to use them. We don’t have to doubt or despair at what God is doing in our lives, because He is an expert farmer, working on us with all His wisdom.” 2021 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik.

God has perfect timing in His work in our lives. Seek His counsel when reacting to bad conditions. Yes, it takes strength, courage, and determination to offer “at his tabernacle a sacrifice of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.” Psalm 27:6b. Next commit what you are doing to the LORD. Trust Him because He will help you (Psalm 37:5). Then, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.” Psalm 37:7a NLT. Finally, do as David did, “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 ESV. That is how we [I] must react to bad situations, leaving behind the companions of resentment, bitterness, self-pity, and pride seizing hold of us in our fears of the unknown, pulling us into discouragement. Sit in God’s presence and wait for Him to act. He is putting on the final touches of your inner person through your suffering and difficulty. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Listen to for KING + COUNTRY & Michael W. Smith – Place In This World (Recorded Live in Nashville)