Having doubts?

Doubts. To me, it means a series of thoughts which contradict and cause me to disbelieve my current beliefs or principles. I have my own share of doubts about many things-including God and my salvation. One day I came to read Psalm 77. The description in this pslam describes how I feel when I have doubts. I sometimes have thoughts like this "I have doubted...what can i do? can i still go to God...? will he entertain my foolish thoughts?"

I was pondering all these one day and I happened to read Psalm 77 and I got my answer.

Psalm 77
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah

4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah

10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah

16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.


When i read this psalm, i realised that my feelings were exactly what was described in verse 7 to verse 9.

7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
here, the psalmist was having doubtful thoughts just like mine. God impressed on my heart, "See. you are not the only one. Someone else experianced it also."

The psalmist also proveides a sort of 'cure' to overcome doubts. The following verses after that was about what the psalmist did when facing his doubts. He turned his focus to God and remembering God's faithfulness in the past. He recalls the time when God used Moses to lead the Isrealites out of Egypt.

Likewise, I learned that to help counter doubts, I have to refocus my thoughts to God and reject lies that are put into my mind by the evil one or dounts birthed out of my heart. I can recall the past and remember and recall the many ways God has been faithful. Since he is an unchanging God, why should his 'unfailing love vanish forever' ? I also realised that it is ok to be direct with God about by doubts. The psalmist was very direct as you can read. He just named his doubts, one after another. Likewise, I learned to just voice everything to Him with confidence He will hear. Praise the Lord!!!


Solis Deo Gloria!!

Ian

p.s. feel free to comment yah. :P

Armour Up!!!

hehe.. first time publishing a post with an image. hehe. some of you should know about the image i put up and may not agree of where i got it but in my opinion, can be used to help us imagine how the armour of God works.

The armour of God...written in Ephesians 6, describes different parts of a Roman soldiers armour. The Roman legions at that time were skilled warriors. Using a sword for offense and a long shield to protect them, they were quite formidable...we can see how large the Roman Empire grew. The image is not of a Roman legionairre but i think can help us imagine more or less how the armour functions.

The image is that of a versatile foot soldier or footman. its from a computer game...warcraft 3. Some additional info...the footman is quite agile and has a 'Defend' ability which can block arrows of the enemy thus minimising damage (Epehesians 6:16). The footman's only offensive is his sword.

Ephesians 6: 10-20
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Any comments or anything, feel free to tell me yah. absolutely anything...serious..i would like to hear it...i m learning too. :P

Solis Deo Gloria!!!

Ian

A Covenent Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition (UMH 607)

I found this prayer in the United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) and it is very meaningful. So I thought of sharing it out here. It talks of our dedication for Christ and allowing God to use us for whatever plans He has for us.


"I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."


from: The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House

Soli Deo Gloria!!!!