Summer in the Psalms - Psalm 2

When I Have a Decision to Make

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We don't have to be around a child or children for very long to see their expressions, attitudes, and longing for independence is serving as a mirror to that of our own.

My friend, Anita McVey, is sharing of a time her grand-daughter unknowingly held up this mirror for her and the surrender and promise which came as she reflected on this experience in the light of Psalm 2.

Anita Hinkeldey McVey is a midwest farmer’s daughter who grew up in northwest Iowa on a steady diet of faith, family, and food. Her passion for cooking and gardening inspired her to create a blog, Picnic Life Foodie, where she shares her favorite recipes and the fond memories they bring to mind. With their two sons now “out of the nest,” Anita and her husband, Marty, live on an acreage in central Iowa with a large garden, a fishing pond, and an energetic hunting dog named Stark.

Like many little children, my granddaughter was taught the sign language gesture for “all done” to communicate to her parents that she was finished eating. At 18 months of age, she apparently decided that the ever-so-sweet motion of her hands was not emphatic enough. She figured out that she could stand straight up in her high chair and quickly get her parents’ attention. Her message was clear without a single word spoken: I am done. 

As kids grow and those "terrible two’s” arrive, the defiant and dreaded word “No!” becomes a regular part of their vocabulary. Defiance rears it’s ugly head and that “No!” becomes “I don’t want to!” or “You can’t make me!” As parents (and grandparents), we struggle with how to respond. They are too young to understand how our instruction and guidance is meant to help them and protect them. We can’t sit them down and give them a 20 minute motivational speech on how our experience, research, and education have equipped us to know better than they do. The phrase “Because I said so” is met with major eye rolls and does not instill confidence.

If only they would just trust us!

And yet, we do the exact same thing.

Psalm 2 begins with these verses:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

How often do we fail to do what we know God wants us to do? Or give reasons why we should be excused from some form of service? I find myself planning out my days in such detail that I leave no room to ask God, “what do YOU have planned for me today?”

The words “conspire” and “plot” seem harsh and when I read them, I am tempted to think they don’t apply to me. After all, I love God. I would never conspire or plot against Him. 

Or would I?

If I am not seeking His guidance before I make plans … if I am not prioritizing time with Him and His Word … if I present myself one way on Sunday that is unrecognizable the rest of the week … is it reasonable for me to think that God is willing to look the other way?

No, it isn’t.

I am plotting in vain … much like my granddaughter. Standing up in her high chair and feeling very confident, she doesn’t realize the danger she’s in. She sees her parents reaction and wants to stand her ground (no pun intended). Instead, what will most likely happen is that she will hit the ground … and hit it hard!

We don’t like to be told what to do or how to live. Unfortunately, we put God’s Word on the same level as human instruction. But we have got to remember one very important thing: no one on earth has led a perfect life. They make mistakes. They are often wrong or misled. Even the most trusted people in our lives have let us down in some way.

But not God.

He is perfect, all-knowing, eternal, wise, and has proven himself over and over and over again to keep his promises. He warns us over and over and over again about what will happen when Christ … His Anointed … our Savior … comes again and He offers us opportunity after opportunity to trust Him, serve Him, and submit to Him.

When we fail and hit the ground hard, we can run to Him. The last verse of Psalm 2 says,

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

He will heal our bruises, forgive us our defiance, and keep us in His care forever.

Now, It's Your Turn!

I challenge you to take a moment to pray, then read or listen to Psalm 2 today. Think about what stands out to you. Consider writing down a statement of faith. It may help to think of this as an I-statement. Maybe yours is similar to Anita's:

I am blessed when I take refuge in my heavenly Father.

Then, jot down a question to think about today. Maybe yours is similar to Anita's:

Am I doing what is right in my own eyes or am I prayerfully seeking God's guidance before I make plans?

May this reflection lead our hearts to gratitude and praise today and may we stand in victory against the tactics and schemes of the enemy.

And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.

Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.

I love hearing from you, so go ahead. Leave a comment. Be brave. Maybe your comment will speak life into someone else!

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