Processing Your Life
Jesus said to his disciples in John 16:33b (NKJV), “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Now just how are we supposed to implement this passage into our lives? After all there is so much bad news spewing forth from TV, radio, the Internet, etcetera, that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. What is needed is a way of thinking and dealing with all the things we see and hear. A way of staying focused on God. A means is needed to keep our spirit in control of our soul and body. I believe that a good template for this is presented in Psalm 3.
In Psalm 3 David shares his personal thanksgiving to God who answered the prayer of his afflicted soul. David has been chased by his ungracious son Absalom who wants to kill him and take his crown, deserted by his subjects, and derided by Shimei. What does David to in this situation? He chooses to focus on God, not his circumstances. Psalm 3 sets forth a process to shift our gaze from our problems to God. By looking to God our spirits are lifted and impediments to the workings of the Holy Spirit removed. The more we focus on God the smaller the problem becomes. Be warned though – it takes discipline to implement this process…
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Sight
David begins by stating what he knows. He has worked to clearly see his circumstances and to assess his emotions. Let us be realistic about our troubles and problems, too. It’s natural to be shaken and apprehensive when coming to terms with those who mean us harm and/or destructive circumstances. But, let this be just the ‘fact finding’ phase of our process.
Belief
In verse 3 David shifts his gaze from the problem to his solution: his relationship with God. His confidence is that God is his protector, notwithstanding his circumstances and problems. David sees with spiritual eyes God’s protection, even as Elisha did (2 Kings 6:15-17)? Belief is being able to see through your circumstances to a deeper reality. With belief the burden of our problems begins to lift and our posture changes. Keep in mind, when the Lord is the lifter of your head, you can face anything.
Remembrance
Next David remembers the times God has helped him in the past. How God was his shield and he was able to sleep because of God’s protection. David knows that God never changes and that God can be relied upon to help with his current problems. Have we endured seasons of troubles in the past only to see God’s pattern of protection and grace in retrospect? Then let’s take heart and put our confidence in the Lord!
Resolve
David considers the evidence of his circumstances and the evidence of his God and he makes a decision to not be afraid. His resolve is based on his faith in the Lord’s protection and he is at peace. In the problems we face have we resolved to place our faith in God’s protection?
Prayer
Now David makes his prayerful requests of God: “Arise…” and “Save me.” David’s requests are straight forward and bold. This is childlike faith in action. Let’s recall that through Jesus we have direct access to the Father. Jesus appreciated childlike faith – so does our Father in heaven.
Praise
David ends his prayer with praise and assurance. David proclaims that salvation (victory/deliverance) belongs to God and that blessing is sure to come from God. “Salvation belongs to the LORD” is both praise to God and assurance to David. David leaves his problems with God.
So, that’s our template: Sight->Belief->Remembrance->Resolve->Prayer->Praise.
This is the process that brings our focus back to God. It also opens us to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we progress towards Christlikeness! Amen.
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The Psalm 3 Approach to Life, by Jason Hardin, Imagine Man As God Envisioned, http://www.ingodsimage.com/?p=4314
Note: This post and Jason Hardin’s message are based on: Psalm 3: Learning How to Process & Approach Life, by Justin Buzzard, The Buzzard Blog,
http://www.buzzardblog.com/2010/03/01/psalm-3-learning-how-to-process-approach-life/
