The online home for Dr. Dave Tilma--pastor, author, dad, and ministry leader.
“You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.”
What an interesting truth that is revealed here. God’s gentleness made David great. The New Testament also speaks about God’s gentleness and patience, which leads to repentance. His gentleness is an expression of his grace for us. To believe in God is to believe in his grace and gentleness.
“For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 18:29-30 ESV
We often focus on God’s love for us, but why not take a minute to express your love for God? King David does exactly that in Psalm 18:1—the entire Psalm is launched by this dramatic first phrase. Meditate on it this morning and let it be something radiating from your soul today.
“I love you, O LORD, my strength”
“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
I’ve always been one to explore. Sometimes when I’m driving down the highway, I have an urge to just pull over and hike some hillside. Something about it seems inviting, or intriguing. Sometimes, I just want to see what’s there. This summer, Becky and I spend a week in St. Louis. Most of our time was spent exploring Forest Park and we loved it. There were so many times that I wanted to explore an area, and the day allowed it. How often do we get stuck the routine and find ourselves unable to make time to explore nature? The answer is just to set some time aside and pick somewhere to explore. Every season has a beauty, and you probably have the clothes needed to explore for an hour or so. So why not make it happen. Nature is a healer and “green bathing” is a thing.
Explore Something
Just make time to walk the path you see. God invites to explore his creation and discover his beauty in it.
Make it a Priority
When we make God’s Word a priority, it allows His voice to speak above the chaos.
It is easy to get lost in a christian bubble. If you are attending church every Sunday, reading the Bible on a regular basis, and part of a small group, you might take this for granted. But in times of doubt, adversity, confusion, challenge, or questioning—just ask God. I truly believe that God desires to meet with us personally as we read his Word. It is not just an academic exercise—it is a real conversation. When you think through the christian life, that’s why we do all those things. At church the Word of God is proclaimed and illuminated. During a small group we study specific passages together and seek to apply the truths and insights to our daily lives. And when we spend time personally with God in his Word we allow it to shape and mold our hearts. We can’t stop making the Word a priority in each of those situations.
So if you’re not seeking out God in his Word, today is an excellent day to start.
When I was a kid, back to school was a drag. My kids agree. They’re somewhat sad, stressed, and bummed that summer is over. They’ll love school about four days in, but right now—not so much. The funny thing is that as a parent I love back to school. It represents a return to normal schedules and rhythms. It means I get to see soccer and volleyball games. It means my children are growing academically and spiritually (they attend a christian school). And it means fall is here, and I love fall. Funny how sometimes what we dread is what we need, and sometimes the best for us. Maturity helps us understand that. Hope your “back-to-school” season is fantastic!
““Maturity helps us understand. . . . ”