My 7-year-old son, Wyatt, loves chess. I first taught him to play on the chessboard in our local coffee shop, and last Christmas he asked for his own set to enjoy at home. Recently, we were playing after dinner, and Wyatt became infatuated with the knight—the piece that moves two squares, then one more square (like an “L”). His strategy was fixated on his desire to get the knight to move all over the board. So, with his focus fixed on the knight, I methodically moved one pawn (the piece that can move only one square at a time) across the entire board, taking out his pieces along the way.
We’re tempted to fixate on all kinds of things: our image, another person’s opinion of us, our success or our failures. When things go poorly for us (bad health news or relational disappointments or financial woes), we search everywhere and look to anyone in a flailing attempt to figure out how to change our situation. We try very hard to save ourselves.
The psalmist knew serious trouble. He spoke of violent men who were hunting him down, “snarling like vicious dogs” (Psalm 59:6). Their assaults were not merely physical: “Their words cut like swords,” he wrote (Psalm 59:7). Do you feel as if someone is after you or as if some circumstance has consumed you? Are you experiencing a relationship that’s painful, that cuts to your soul?
Rather than working frantically to find your own remedy (which never ultimately works), Scripture invites you to turn to God, knowing that He’s the only One who can rescue you. The psalmist encourages us to quiet our heart, turn fully to God, and proclaim, “I watch for You” (Psalm 59:9 NIV). We don’t watch for ourselves or our friend or our spouse. Our true help doesn’t come from these sources. We watch for God.
More:
I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me (Micah 7:7).
Next:
Who or what do you watch for when you need help? What happens when we’re slow to watch for God?
lindagma on December 24, 2010 at 8:07 am
What is so sad, and I include myself in this, is the torment we put ourselves through trying to find our own answers… when Jesus has laid it out for us and made it so simple. We are frustrating beings… I don’t know why God doesn’t throw up His hands and give up on us… I’m SO glad He is God and not like us.
conmeo on December 24, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Thank you for this post and all the wonderful and Godly gifts that are posted here on a daily basis. Those of you who know me know my struggles,divorce after 35 years,my daughter has not spoken to me in 2 years,lost home lost job car shunned by friends and church family. I know the Lord carries me now. The pain is terrible. Thanks for the daily reminders. I was once a pillar of my Church, community and family. Now that’s gone but the Lord is with me. I ask tjhat you pray the Holy Spirit lifts me on this lonely night that should be so joyous. I am sorry to be so down but am thankful for these daily devotionals. Praise God for all of you
little light on December 24, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Conmeo,
Psalm 66:12
12… we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Are you in a situation where people are stepping all over you and they seem to have the upper hand? You feel as if the challenge you are facing is so big that you are going through fire. And you are so overwhelmed by everything that is happening around you that you feel as if you are drowning.
My friend, I want you to know that your heavenly Father hears your cry for help and He will rescue you. The psalmist says that “we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment”. If you have been through the fire and water, then your next stop is a place of rich fulfillment or abundance!,
So cheer up, there is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God, who always lifts the broken hearted and those who are truly sorry for their mistakes, His plans , eye hath not seen, nor ear heard. His ways are higher than yours, He is a covenant keeping, prayer answering God, the One in whom you can trust at all times, so in times when you feel lonely, place a chair next to you for Jesus and just talk…. He is Jehovah Shammah!