David

July 5, 2020 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Thirsting for God

Thirsting for God

“I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” (Psalm 63:1 NIV)

Knowing Jesus isn’t an activity. It is a state of being. In this Psalm, David’s physical setting reminds him of his spiritual setting. He’s in the desert of Judah, “a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (v. 1b)

He looks around him. Desolation. He looks inside. Desolation. In his thirstful desperation, he says that his whole being longs for God.

Have you ever gone so long without water that your mind and body dissipated? Maybe just the other day in the heat of summer. The further you drift into that state, the more helpless you feel. And when you realize you don’t have a water source nearby, panic starts to set in.

I used to live in Colorado Springs, well over a mile-high elevation. The altitude and dryness sucked the water right out of my body. Pouring bottles of water down my throat was necessary for survival.

If I went without my H2O, it would take just minutes for the effects to set in. First, my mental sharpness and concentration would begin to fail. Then I’d feel achy. Before I knew it, I was becoming dehydrated. My attitude would change, too. I’d be cranky. All because I wasn’t hydrated.

Finally, when I’d remembered to grab a drink of water, I’d guzzle down two or three glasses out of the tap (the water in Colorado is delicious). Slowly, my senses would return. My mind and body would return to normal.

God gave us physical thirst to remind us how much we need him.

Just like we can’t take a sip of water here and there in the desert, we can’t take a sip of Jesus on occasion. We need to be all in and satisfy our thirst for Jesus always.

We must constantly come to the well. Come to Jesus, your Living Water.

The more you do, the more you will know him.

You thirst. You thirst for God. You thirst for God with a longing soul. Those are facts. Wonderful facts. Recognize why you’re thirsting and dive into a precious, loving encounter with Jesus. Today. Tomorrow. The next day.

Read Psalm 63:1-8. Think about each verse. Picture David speaking to God. Imagine him being in the desert of Judah as a visual reminder of his thirsty soul. Put yourself in his sandals. And cry out to God with your longing, thirsty soul.

February 16, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Facing Your Giant

Facing Your Giant

Is there a giant in your life that has you paralyzed? The Israelites faced a real giant that immobilized them. His name was Goliath and he stood seven feet tall. David took care of him with one smooth stone to the forehead.  

Your giant may not be a person, but it has you paralyzed by fear or another crippling emotion. What comes to mind when you think of your giant?

While David’s conquering story is remarkable, there’s someone else in the Bible who faced an even bigger giant. That person was Jesus and his giant was the cross.

Jesus agonized over facing his giant. This was not a challenge he wanted to meet. He did it out of obedience, but he almost backed out.

Let’s visit that pivotal hour in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus experienced a dark, pounding heaviness. Jesus’ words to the disciples capture his emotions clearly, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Matthew 26:38 NIV)

Jesus was so overcome that “he fell on his face and prayed.” (Matthew 26:39 ESV). I can picture his legs giving out as he dropped to the ground. He was not on his knees, but on his face, a picture of desperation. This was a deep, agonizing, all-out prayer to his Father.

Jesus knew what lay ahead. The cross, where he would bear the weight and pain of the sin of all mankind. It was a giant he couldn’t face alone and one he so dearly wanted to walk away from.

Then came one of the most quoted lines in all of Scripture, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39 NIV) He prayed this once, then came back to God a second time with the same excruciating prayer. And even a third time as the Bible describes drops of sweat like blood falling from his forehead. That’s how big a giant the cross was for Jesus. 

Can you imagine the groaning, crying and soul-wrenching that happened in that garden in his prayers? Jesus poured his soul out to his Father. It took this pouring out for him to arise and face the giant of the cross just hours away.

We can learn from Jesus as we face the giants in our life. Or, as you ponder, THE giant you’re facing right now. What is it?

You cannot gut it out. You cannot employ positive thinking. You cannot ignore the giant and move on. You must face it with soul-wrenching prayer like Jesus.

Where is your garden? Where can you go to empty yourself to God in prayer? You might engage God in a terribly painful conversation, as we saw in Jesus’ giant-facing hour.

Overpowering emotions could be crushing you as you consider the giant that has paralyzed you with fear, grief, hatred, weakness, hopelessness or anger. Fall on your face before the Father, as Jesus did. Be honest with him. Transparent. Empty your emotions to him.

Just as he did for Jesus, God will give you the power to face your giant. It won’t be easy, but you’ll be going in the power of his Holy Spirit.

(From my new devotional Your life With God: 30 Days of Incredible Prayer. Avialable in March in Kindle and Paperback formats from Amazon).

January 1, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and God’s Love

Faith and God’s Love

God commands me to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and strength. You know what? He has given his heart, soul and strength for me.

That’s a powerful thought as we start the new year. It’s a powerful reality.

Picture Jesus on the cross. He’s giving his heart and soul for us. He’s giving all his strength for us. He’s giving himself 100% for us. That’s a picture of what He is continually doing today. I doubt I’ll be asked to love God to the extent that He loved me on the cross . . . and unconditionally loves me today with all his heart, soul and strength. 

That’s a God I can put my faith in. I can fully trust this God with my life. I should have no fear. No anxiety. No worry. No uncertainty. I should be able to rest in knowing that I’m safe in the hands of this God of love. There is no safer place. It’s a fact whether I believe it or not.  He demonstrated his great, full-heart love and I can go back and read about it day after day. 

This love is my refuge, as David proclaimed. He knew God’s Love. Look at all the Psalms that state it over and over again. Study them and know the love of God as David did. Immerse yourself in the love of God, the same love that was so fully expressed on the cross.

David did not know the cross but he knew the love of God. This came by spending time with the Lord and turning his heart over to him. He poured out his heart and soul to God. He knew the command to love the Lord with all his heart, soul and strength. He had a reciprocal relationship with God who expressed his love to David.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He chose to be and to live that way.

Where does that leave you?  You know a God who has given himself 100% for you and you’re called to give yourself 100% to him. To fully trust him, believe him, walk with him, step out for him, serve him.

This is what is means to have complete faith in your loving God. Jesus sacrificed himself and loved you on the cross with all his heart, soul and strength.  He has done for you what he asks you to do for him. He has left you with a clear picture of his love. And that love continues today.

(From my new devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith).

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