Dave’s Monday Blast – July 1, 2019
Happy 4th of July! May God continue to Bless America. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Have you ever heard of “Therapeutic Reframing”? Defined: “Looking at a situation, thought, or feeling from another angle.” In other words, a crisis can be redefined as an opportunity. For example, Goliath threatened Israel’s army but helped launch David’s leadership. Stephen’s martyrdom was witnessed by the man who went on to write half of the New Testament (Acts 7:58). John was exiled on Patmos, where he received the Revelation.
Concerning the greatest reframing of all, Pastor Jim Denison comments, “Jesus’ death on the cross became our path to eternal life. For us to experience God’s redemptive reframing, however, we must settle for nothing less than His best.”
David wrote Psalm 142 “when he was in the cave,” hiding from Saul (1 Samuel 24). Rather than focus on the king who sought his life, he turned to the King he trusted with his life: “With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.” (Psalm 142:1)
Rather than accept his situation, David prayed for deliverance: “Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.” (v. 6). He asked God to “Bring me out of prison” for this purpose: “that I may give thanks to your name!” (v. 7a). With this result: “The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” (v. 7b)
David asked God to redemptively reframe his crisis as an opportunity for praise, and the Lord answered his prayer by making him the greatest king Israel has ever known.
I guess the question is, my brothers, where do you need God to do the same? Denison weighs in, “be honest with your challenges and specific in trusting them to God. Settle for nothing less than His best for your life and need. Seek to be Christlike in all you do (Romans 8:29). Give Him your need and He’ll give you His strength (Philippians 4:13 & 19).”
A quest for God’s best is obviously vital to the abundant life Jesus intends for us (John 10:10). But it is crucial to our witness. If secular people don’t see something better about Christianity, why would they want what we have? Men of INTENTION know this: God’s plans are better than anything you could ask or think.
