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What can I do when I face injustice?

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

In the summer of 1994, my family was locked in a legal battle in a Houston courtroom with a powerful car manufacturer. Images of David and Goliath sprung to my mind, but our lawyer had no smooth stones or slingshot. His arguments were not enough to cause a jury to vote in our favor. Four long years after my sister was killed, no justice was served.

Once the shock wore off, sadness settled in, and we all went back to the business of grieving her death all over again and caring for her young children.

When faced with injustice, what does God call me to do?

We are called to praise God 

1 We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.
(Psalm 75:1 NIV)

Psalm 75 begins with thanksgiving and praise for God’s sovereign rule.

This is counterintuitive to society’s expectations. Many of us have been influenced to believe that we don’t praise until we gain a victory.

Sharing testimonies of God’s wonderful deeds encourages other believers, and in a sense, sharing stories of God’s faithfulness reveals his work. God is always right there beside me, but I often need reminders of his presence. I become distracted by my daily stresses and lose sight of his work in my life. We need to remind one another of God’s continuous gracious interventions, especially when facing injustice.

Praising God does not deny the current circumstance, but it does remind my heart of God’s faithfulness to me and those I love.

We are called to be watching for God’s justice

2 You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity.
3 When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’”
(Psalm 75:2-5 NIV)

Every single day, I confront the brokenness of this world. I see those who believe they don’t have to follow the laws of the land. Some of society’s most vulnerable members become victims and cry out for justice.

Are you seeking justice for yourself or a loved one?

We are made in the image of a just God, so we each long for justice to be done here on earth. It is imprinted on our very souls.

In verses 4 and 5, God reassures his people that he not only chooses the perfect time to judge but will do so with balance, insight, and fairness.

Earthly judges may be corrupted or prevented from bringing justice to this world, but God will prevail. That may be now or years from now.

God reminds his people that he holds the foundations of the earth firm even when all is quaking. Notice that the scripture does not say if the earth and people shake. It says when. Sooner or later, we will all experience seasons of uncertainty and lack. But God will hold us close in the middle of the darkest seasons of our lives if we will only look to him.

God identifies the arrogant people, those who defy him, and he commands their obedience sooner or later. There is no escape for them.

We are called to wait on God’s placement


6 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.
(Psalm 75:6-8 NIV)

How far is the East from the West? This area covers the entire Earth; therefore, no one can exalt him or herself —only God can do that for a person.

While our society celebrates those who “take what they want” and make “power grabs” for fame and fortune, this is not God’s way. If the manner in which I succeed is questionable, God will not bless my efforts.

Therefore, I shouldn’t try to gain an elevated position because if I do, I won’t be able to stay there. But no force on Earth can remove me if God puts me there.

God knows our hearts, minds, and motivations. He will force the wicked to drink down the full measure of his judgment, and they will have no escape. Can I wait on God’s plan for judgment and justice? Not without his help, every single day.

We are called to persist in praise

9 As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”
(Psalm 75:9-10 NIV)


When I come face to face with the goodness of God, I can’t help but praise Him.

Our praise will go on forever because God will go on forever. This is a glimpse of the now and not yet.

Someday, we will have endless days and nights to praise God in Heaven. We will never get weary but be filled with awe and wonder in his presence.

Psalm 75 begins and ends with praise because God wants to remind us of how he works. Jesus’ death and resurrection brought the ultimate reconciliation between God and man. This will someday pass away, all will be put to right, and real and restorative justice will prevail in all situations. We will live in the new heaven and earth, praise the Lord all day and night, and never grow weary.

All those years ago, my family did not receive a favorable verdict. It seemed that all was lost. Sadly, I don’t have a report of how eventually we prevailed or received what was owed. I have had to choose to release this situation to the Lord. Despite it all, I can praise God, watch for his justice, and await God’s placement.

All was not actually lost that day because despite massive damage to my sister’s car, her two children, aged just four months and not quite two, survived with barely a scratch. I learned during the trial that emergency responders had to use the “jaws of life” to cut my sister’s infant daughter out of her car seat, sitting inches from the full impact of a ¾ ton pickup truck. God miraculously shielded two tiny children that day, and I will be forever grateful to know and love them.

Prayer

We praise you, God, for your Name is near; let us be known as a people who tell of your wonderful deeds and encourage one another. Help us to be those who bear the light of your presence in a dark world where justice can be hard to find and painful to wait for. Help us to wait on you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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How do I trust God in the Middle of a Season of Loss? Psalm 74

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

Have you ever seen a church building repurposed as a new business, restaurant, or bar? I have seen this many times while visiting family and traveling in Europe. One church I remember had gorgeous stained-glass windows but was converted into an Indian restaurant. I found it strangely unsettling, and loss is firmly attached to it in my mind.

There is a special rite or service within Anglicanism known as The De-Consecration of a Sacred Space. The liturgy is designed to make room for lament for those who experienced some of the most joyful moments in their lives inside the walls of that church. A wedding day, a child’s baptism, or a loved one’s memorial service becomes tied to those sacred spaces in our hearts and minds. Recently, a pastor told me of an unfortunate situation in the Austin area. When a nearby church’s attendance dwindled, the denomination closed the church building. Next, families who had placed their loved ones in the church’s columbarium were contacted. The families were asked to come and pick up their loved one’s cremated remains. His church was in a growth cycle and recently built a new columbarium. They began receiving regular requests to purchase niches for these homeless remains.

In Psalm 74, the worship leader cries out to God on behalf of an entire congregation in lament over the destruction of their sanctuary. While most church-going Americans have never experienced the tragedy of having a foreign power destroy their church, some know a fair bit about church splits and church attendance decline. While I realize some churches might be building bigger buildings and moving to new spaces, that is not always the case. Like divorce, church splits and dwindling attendance create financial havoc and loss.

A Cry for Help

1 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!
(Psalm 74:1-3 ESV)
  • Does God need me to remind Him?
  • Does God need me to direct Him?
  • Does God need to hear my status update?

No

When faced with loss, I feel compelled to line it out for God as if it might have escaped his notice. The truth is that God knows all about my losses. He knows what I lost before, and He even knows what I will lose in the future.

A List of Violations

4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs.
5 They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. 
6 And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name,
    bringing it down to the ground. 
8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
(Psalm 74:4-9 ESV)

Losing a place of worship strikes at the heart of a community. Destroying beautiful things like art, worship spaces, or rare books feels deeply personal. In this psalm, the author writes about the additional loss of a prophet. Prophets serve a community by providing wise guidance. They speak the truth and call a people group to the next steps in the restoration process.

In times of disorientation, seeking a spiritual guide gives necessary support. Ask the Lord to provide a pastor or mentor for you.

When and Why Response

10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! 
(Psalm 74:10-11 ESV)

Sooner or later, I always arrive with God at the “when and why moment.” I want to know the timeline because it might give me an illusion of control. If I only knew when this would be over and the restoration would come, I could deal with this. These are the lies I tell myself.

I also want to know why, and I have even fallen into the trap of assigning motives to other people’s actions, which leads to more offense on my part.

Releasing my need to have every question answered might be the best pathway to healing after a loss.

But God

12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
(Psalm 74:12 ESV)

A turn in the lament occurs at this halfway point in Psalm 74. God works “in the midst of the earth” amid loss and tragedy.

I must choose to take this turn to reorient my perspective. Recently, a friend of mine went through a particularly dark and painful season. She chose daily to ask the Lord to show her himself in the middle of the loss and the pain. Slowly, she began to see a flickering candle of God’s presence. She kept a journal and noted each point of light along her journey. Four years later, she has a powerful testimony of seeing God’s presence in one of the hardest seasons of her life.

Prayer

Lord,

Please help me trust amid loss, allow me to release my need to know it all, and help me see you working each day. In Jesus’s name, amen.  

Self-Help or Surrender – Psalm 70

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

A prayer for help and lament

You can stop a hydrochloric acid leak with a hefty supply of chocolate bars.

Back in the 1980s, on his weekly television show, Angus MacGyver taught me many handy things like that. One never knows when that bit of survival trivia might come in handy. If you doubt this solution, I recommend you check out the circa 2003 episode of “Myth Busters” to see how well the technique works.

Whenever MacGyver found himself in serious trouble, and that seemed to be the premise of every week’s episode, he would use some household objects in a unique combination to save the day. He might call for help, but his efforts always brought about his rescue or the saving of a beautiful woman.

In Psalm 70, the psalmist finds himself in grave peril and cries out for help.

Waiting for God’s Rescue

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
(Psalm 70:1 ESV)

Just like me, the psalmist wants help—right now. Suffering slows down the passing of time, or certainly my perception of time. It engulfs, isolates, and brings me to my knees. After an eternity, perhaps more like an hour, of waiting for a rescue, I’m ready for my MacGyver moment.

I want to reach into my Chelsey boot and bring out a penknife that cuts off what entangles me and lets me run free. It is a struggle to surrender and wait on God’s timing or seek out his ways.

Waiting on God’s Justice

2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”
(Psalm 70:2-3 ESV)

When I place my order for a rescue from God, I would also like it served with a healthy portion of justice. Justice delayed is justice denied, right?

I want those people over there, the ones who have tried to take my life, the ones I feel have failed me, the ones who refused to help me, the ones who might have caused my suffering, the ones who hurt my loved ones. I want them to suffer…do your thing, God. Smite them or bring them to their knees and make them sorry.  

Meanwhile, could you spotlight their wrongdoing, bring them to repentance, and return whatever was lost to me?

When I make this audacious request, do I consider all the implications? Am I ready to experience this myself? Do I want my mistakes to be exposed for everyone to see?

Waiting on God’s Glory


4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
(Psalm 70:4 ESV)

In verse two, the psalmist calls out those who seek to take his life. This time, however, he specifies a different group of seekers. He wants to see the ultimate justice; the Godly ones, those who seek the Lord, should win and dance in victory.

Waiting on God’s Heroic Measures (and not my own)


5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
(Psalm 70:5 ESV)

The final verse in this short prayer brings it all back to the beginning. The psalmist knows he needs help and knows it is beyond his ability to help himself. There will be no surge or music, and the MacGyver moment will not unfold. The psalmist is painfully aware of how poor and needy he is. He now waits in humility and certainty of God’s role as the ultimate deliverer.

Sooner or later, we all need a rescuer who can pull us out of peril and redeem our lives. Only the Lord can do this for us. Our self-reliance and innovations won’t be necessary. I can’t guarantee a quick rescue, but I know the God of the universe is working in our waiting times. His timing is perfect, and his rescue plans are always redemptive.

Prayer

Lord, help me to wait on you for my rescue. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Travel Essentials for Life’s Journey – Psalm 63

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

What are your travel essentials?

Psalm 63 reveals a few essentials for our daily travels around the planet Earth. This world is not our home, so it is wise to pack some items to make the journey a little easier.

  • Water bottle
  • Charging Cord
  • Snacks, My Singing Voice, and a Travel Pillow
  • Velcro Straps

Am I at peace with God? We may mentally assent to this, but do we do salvation by bookkeeping? When we try to rebuild our own sense of worthiness, we nullify the grace of God.

-The Rt. Rev. Andrew Williams, Bishop of New England

Recently, I had an opportunity to hear Bishop Andrew Williams speak at the Anglican Leadership Institute at a camp on Martha’s Vineyard. The first week of this intensive training focused on spiritual self-care. As leaders, Bishop Andrew challenged us, “To know Jesus, to know who Jesus really is, to know Him more.”

Psalm 63 echoes a similar message.


1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

(Psalm 63:1 ESV)

A Water Bottle for My Soul

Bishop Andrew’s question, “Am I at peace with God?” struck me quite profoundly during my time away at the Institute.

Do I seek the Lord regularly, earnestly, and as if my life depended upon it?

Or do I try to ride out into the “dry and weary land” where I currently reside and get by with no water for my soul? Psalm 63 clearly states how dry and weary this land I inhabit is.

While I would never travel far from home without my refillable water bottle, how often do I deprive my soul of much-needed spiritual water?

Watering my soul involves embracing the grace of God, given generously at significant cost to Jesus. Taking time daily to review these truths reminds me of who I belong to and why. Drinking down cups of living water from God’s word is what truly quenches my soul.

These practices keep me at peace with God. 

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

(Psalm 63:2-3 ESV)


A Charging Cord

Beholding God’s power

Beholding God’s glory

To behold is to look at and pay attention. Something changes inside me when I notice God’s power and glory. When I slow down long enough to truly take it all in.

If I forget to plug in my cell phone overnight, I am not surprised when I find my battery is low.

Do I remember to recharge my soul? Or do I wait until I find myself depleted?

A phone charging cord causes power to flow from the power outlet into my phone. It forms the vital link that transfers the essential power into the device. I could put my phone near the outlet. I could even plug in the charger to my phone; however, no charge will be received if the charging cord isn’t plugged into the power outlet.

I must spend time in God’s sanctuary with local believers focused on God’s power and glory. Attending church on Sunday refills my depleted soul. Somehow, doing this in a community amplifies the experience in a way that is hard to explain. Perhaps it is like hearing a song on the radio versus attending a live concert. A Sunday morning service soaks down into my soul.

When I acknowledge God’s steadfast love, a love capable of sticking by my side, I am set free from what Bishop Williams refers to as “salvation by bookkeeping.” I will never do enough to earn God’s love and acceptance. When I strive, my default setting, I attempt to nullify my desperate need for God’s grace. Accepting His steadfast love is better than life because a life of striving will destroy me.

4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

(Psalm 63:4-7 ESV)

Singing, Snacking, and Sleeping 

My soul is designed to be maintained with daily singing, regular meals, and rest. It’s the ultimate soul maintenance plan.

Singing, a mood booster, allows me to praise God, reach out, and be up to Him in new ways. My voice is raised, my arms follow, and I am ushered into the Lord’s presence.

Reading, digesting, and sharing the word of God keeps my soul satisfied and my brain engaged. If I do this every day, then in the middle of the night, I can recall God’s promises. In the darkness, He lights a night light of reassurance that allows me to sleep. Sleep is the ultimate surrender and reminder that God is in control. I can lay my weary head on my travel pillow and know that God watches over me each night.

I can rest in the shadow of His wings and sing myself to sleep.

8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;

10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

(Psalm 63:8-11 ESV)

Velcro

How do I ensure my soul clings to God?

God promises His right hand will uphold me. He uses supernatural Velcro to help me stay attached and supported by Him. It is not all up to me.

When I travel, I often use various Velcro products to hold my things together, seal packing cubes, and bind up cords and cables to prevent tangling.

I can use Velcro to stick God’s promises into my heart and mind by memorizing them, writing them on index cards, and listening to them read to me.

I must actively repeat God’s truth and cling to it because the world overflows with contrary messages.

The good news, worthy of rejoicing over, is what Bishop Andrew shared in the final part of his talk.

“Jesus cuts the tape of accusation that is playing on a loop. The Lord breathes His love into each of us.”

Prayer

Lord, as I travel through this dry and weary land, you are my guide and provider. Thank you for your living water, recharging power, soul food, rest, upholding right hand, and love breathed into me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Shout, Sing, and Say – Psalm 66

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

On any given Sunday, we witness miracles.

When God called my husband and me to church planting, we had to leave a thriving mid-sized church where we had served for decades. We left behind some of our closest friends and family members to launch into the unknown. Initially, we were sent to serve at a church plant well over an hour from our home. We battled traffic and tolls to invest in that community for a year, knowing that it would not be a long-term place for us to grow. During that year, we witnessed God moving redemptively, and we learned a great deal.

In 2022, we finally found our way back to a place we had only dreamed of: church planting in Conroe, Texas. The first time we attended a service in our newly borrowed space, we were stunned to discover that it would take us only fifteen minutes to drive home after we helped clean up and put everything away. This would be a first for us after serving for over twenty years in places and spaces far from where we lived.

This season of church planting allows us to depend very much on God’s provision. I hope I never grow weary of shouting, singing, and saying how good God has been to our little flock. We couldn’t do any of this without His generous hand!

SHOUT, SING, SAY


1Shout for joy to God, all the earth 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!

3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

(Psalm 66:1-4 ESV)

Shared praise and thanksgiving will multiply when I shout, sing, and speak about God’s marvelous deeds with others. The practice spurs our hearts to dig deep and remember the goodness of the Lord.

God commands us to shout and share because it does our hearts good in our community. We are designed to join our voices and share.

Who will you share with today?

MAKING A LIST

5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations—let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

(Psalm 66:5-7 ESV)

Do you ever try to go to the grocery store without a list? It seldom goes well. There is something about making a list that builds on itself. I write down butter and then remember we need milk. I write down apples and recall our low supply of peanut butter.

When I thank God for what He has done for me in specific ways, I recall more and more. I thank Him for my daughter’s new house and remember how God arranged a rental house for her and her family to live in while they searched for this new house in their new town.

I begin the list of thanks for 2023 and remember all God has done for our fledging church plant. The miracles of providing a soundboard, new folding chairs, a 22-foot storage trailer, a wonderful place to meet, talented people who lead worship, run sound, and create curriculum for children. I am so thankful for the teenagers who tirelessly volunteered and the many ministry partners along our journey.

What can you add to your list?

PRAISE HIM FOR THE GOOD AND THE DIFFICULT

8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,

9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.

10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.

11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

(Psalm 66:8-11 ESV)

God calls us to give Him thanks and praise for the good and the difficult. Sometimes, it’s hard to understand why the soundboard died so abruptly. However, it did allow us to see His provision and the generosity of various people who all stepped in to replace it. Just when we began to struggle to store all our stuff each Sunday as we set up, a 22-foot trailer was given to us. Now, there was a small problem. Legal paperwork had to be filed and processed, which took some persistence from a tenacious church member. However, at the end of it all, we thanked God for this mind-blowing provision.

What do you praise God for?

MAKE OFFERINGS

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,

14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

(Psalm 66:13-15 ESV)

Burnt offerings are costly. Fulfilling vows made and promised when I was in trouble can be challenging. I would prefer to give out of what is left over. God calls for sacrifice, and burning the offerings helped His people see how He wished to consume what they had given Him. That likely helped them not drag it back the way I am sadly tempted to. God calls for me to give back to Him, something I will miss and want to keep. These kinds of offerings please Him most.

What can I offer?

SHARE TESTIMONIES AND CONFESSIONS


16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 

18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

(Psalm 66:16-20 ESV)

Corporate testimonies and confession fuel the Holy Spirit to burn brightly in your fellowship. Confession of my sins is essential. Confession of my community’s sins is also required. As we join voices in sharing praise reports, we must also ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what we can confess as a community. Sharing testimonies of what God has done encourages everyone who participates. Sometimes, others see God working in our situation when we cannot. They spy a treasure of His goodness and report it to us. We all need reminders of His steadfast love.

What testimonies can I encourage others with?

PRAYER

Help me to shout, sing, and say your praises regularly. Remind me to list all You have done for me and my people. I will praise you for the good and difficult because it is all for your glory. Keep me in the habit of making costly offerings to you of my first fruits, not my leftovers. Help me to confess alone and together. Embolden me to be in the habit of sharing stories of your faithfulness in my life and the lives of others. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Elusive Satisfaction – Psalm 65

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

Curbside Convenience

Sitting “curbside” at a grocery store, my wait time dragged as I closely monitored the doorway where the delivery personnel came and went.  My online grocery order was now ten minutes past the time I expected. Aggravation bloomed, and a decided irritation sat down beside me. As the worker finally started putting groceries into my trunk/ car boot. A notification on my phone asked me to take a short customer satisfaction survey, and I was more than ready to weigh in. I efficiently responded with all my irritation before the worker finished and closed the trunk.

Additional Information

Upon arriving home, I noticed the employee had carefully placed all my frozen items in a cooler bag she noticed in my trunk. Other non-perishables had been carefully separated into yet another bag. Larger objects carefully nestled on the outer edge. This made unloading the groceries at my house easy.

Would I have given the same rating after I noticed all the care and consideration this worker had put into her work?

Could I see now why she had been running behind?

My Urge to Evaluate

My inbox overflows with customer satisfaction surveys, hoping to quantify my experience in a store, at a local restaurant, or even with a medical professional. These queries feed my urge to evaluate. The questions seek to weigh and measure my perception. How well my needs were met, and how much value I believe I received. Unfortunately, I tend to fill those out when I am not happy.

Sadly, it is far too easy to conclude that I am dissatisfied in a world that tries to convince me that there is much more for me to have. Our culture celebrates my right to receive everything I am owed on time and in the ways I expect.

Sometimes, my default setting is to complain.

How Can I Shift My Perspective?

Psalm 65 celebrates the deep soul-tending satisfaction that can only be found in the presence of the Lord.

1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.

2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.

3 When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.

4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

(Psalm 65:1-4 ESV)

The psalmist reminds me that I owe God a debt of praise and fulfillment of my promises because He alone is worthy of my worship and promises. (vs. 1)

  • He faithfully hears my prayers when spoken aloud in the sanctuary and when I whisper in the dark of the night. Everyone can come to Him in prayer. (vs. 2)
  • He creates order in my heart with atonement for my sins. He provides a way for me to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. (vs.3)
  • My heart and mind are soothed by spending time in His presence. To a world that says I might never have enough, I can declare the satisfaction refilling me daily when I take time to be with God. (V.4)

How Can I Adjust My Posture?

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;

6 the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might;

7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,

8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

(Psalm 65:5-8 ESV)
  • I can live in a posture of hope despite the daily news updates. God will answer every question of this world with righteousness. (Vs. 5)
  • The one who established the highest and most extensive mountain ranges uses His might to control the roaring seas, the crashing waves, and especially turmoil amongst his people on Earth. There will be wars, but He can redeem damage created by forces and violence surrounding us. (vs. 6 &7)
  • Across the entire expanse of the world, God displays signs and wonders that testify about His power and might, and we cheer him on. (vs.8)

How Can I Choose Gratitude and Praise?

9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,

13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

(Psalm 65:9-13 ESV)

  • God brings the water, the grain, the blessings, and the growth to this Earth. (Vs. 9-10)
  • Bounty, overflow, abundance, and joy break out when God passes by. I can respond with joyful singing and praise whenever I see God’s abundance displayed in His creation. (vs 11-13)

Ironically, I can remember sitting curbside at the same store I mentioned above a few years ago.  As the worker delivered my groceries while I sat comfortably in my car, I vividly recall my gratefulness. This store provided the service for free, which I needed in that season.

Perhaps focusing on all God has done for me could refill my soul with an abiding satisfaction. Then, there would be scarcely room for complaining about what I didn’t have or didn’t get when I wanted it.

Prayer

Lord, teach me how to grow and nurture greater satisfaction in my heart and mind. Thank you for all you have done to reveal that to me. Thank you for all you have freely given to me. Help me to walk in that truth today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Where to Focus in Times of War – Psalm 60

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

Images of war, reports of cruelty, and daily updates of escalating violence fill our newsfeeds. The first verses of Psalm 60, a prayer of lament, paint an eerily accurate reflection of scenes in the Middle East in October of 2023.

News networks bombard us with reports of earthquakes, acts of terror, kidnapping, and people staggering under the crushing force of witnessing one traumatic event after another.

1O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.
2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.
3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.
(Psalm 60:1-3 ESV)

The psalmist cries out to God for restoration, knowing that only He could bring what is needed. While the one who wrote Psalm 60 had a clear idea of who was at fault, the current complexities and histories of the conflict in the Middle East could not be summed up so simply. Fault finding by those who live thousands of miles away can become a tool to create even more distance from these atrocities.

  • Are there people in the area who have rejected God? Yes
  • Are there innocent civilians caught in a conflict they did not create? Yes
  • Are there people there who honor God? Yes
  • Are there people there who have turned away from God? Yes

Therefore, only God can and will bring stability to the region because He alone can provide justice and mercy in equal measure.

I may never live in a war-torn city. However, as a believer, I live in times of spiritual warfare. The enemy of my soul bombards me and those I love with discouragement, uncertainty, financial problems, and suffering. When I step out to serve and commit to God’s assignments, I often experience increased discouraging opposition. The onslaught of opposition can leave me feeling defeated before I even start.

4 You have up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!
6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 
(Psalm 60:4-8 ESV)

In verse 4, the psalmist speaks of Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Victory. This name of God reminds us of His ability to win all wars and be the one who fights for us. Amid the brokenness, the destruction, and the trauma, He will set up a banner for His people to flee to.

In times of war, look for God’s banner. Sometimes, God provides a place to flee to before the restoration.

 

By only focusing on seeing the provision or the healing, I might overlook the place of refuge God is calling me to go to with Him.

Banners can be used to celebrate victories, share hope with soldiers in the fight, and establish territory that has been won over. Banners fly high in the sky, beyond the fray, and point in the direction of respite for those fleeing the war.

In verses 5 to 8, the psalmist lists specific geographical areas that remind the people of God’s previous victories. Imagine God is unfurling His war resume full of victories.

In times of war, review God’s victories in your life. Where and when has He rescued you?

Making a list of God’s victories can remind your war-weary heart of all God has done in your life. Take time to give thanks for those victories. Share those victories with other believers to encourage them. Has God given you victory over an addiction? Has God restored a broken relationship? Has God made a miraculous provision for you when you didn’t have what you needed?

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.
(Psalm 60:9-12 ESV)

In verses 9-12, the psalmist focuses on putting all his confidence in God’s abilities. The psalmist turns his attention to what will happen “with God.”

In times of war, focus on what God will do, not the enemy’s attacks.

The final words of Psalms 60 in verse 12 speak of God’s ability to put our foes under his feet. He will be in authority over them. When we spend time with God, our hearts will be filled with courage.

When you feel sad and overwhelmed by the news headlines, take time to pray through Psalm 60. When you feel weighed down from your own spiritual battles, allow the truth of God’s word to tend your war-weary soul.

Prayer

Here’s another prayer for Israel from Psalm 7.

Where do I find God in a desperate situation? Psalm 22

/ Anthea Kotlan / 3 Comments

The book of Esther opens with the swift and forced exit of Queen Vashti, followed by a country-wide search for a new Queen. The King selects a young Jewish orphan named Esther. Just as she is settling into palace life, an enemy of the Jewish people has cleverly manipulated the King to issue a royal edict calling for the murder of her people. Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, has begged her to go to the King. He warned her about the cost of her silence. However, she knows that speaking to the King without an invitation could result in her immediate death.

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the King's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13-14 ESV)

Esther responded to Mordecai’s charge.

16 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the King, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16 ESV)

Have you ever faced such a difficult decision in your life? Of course, it is unlikely that most of us will face the threat of genocide; however, most of us will face difficult decisions made in rugged and isolated places.

Have you been asked to give up a dream or a great opportunity so that someone you love can pursue their goal?

Have you ever agreed to take on something painful or challenging because it was necessary?

Have you ever been called upon to advocate for someone who is suffering or in need of help?

For such a time as this…. What is God calling you to take on or take off in this season?

Sooner or later, we will all have to rely on our faith in God in a season of hardship. Do you find yourself in a time of difficulty? Or is someone you love walking through a season of suffering?

Psalm 22 was written as a psalm of lament by King David. God provides psalms in the Bible for us to process complicated and passionate feelings. There are psalms for lament or sadness, like this one. Psalms are designed to process anger, betrayal, thanksgiving, joy, and acceptance.

Psalm 22 is often called a prophetic psalm pointing to Jesus’ time on the cross. However, the Jewish people have a different perspective.

The Oral Torah states that King David wrote this Psalm in foreknowledge of the time of Hadassah, also known as Queen Esther.

What does this portion of Psalm 22 say about having faith amid hardship? Take a few minutes to read through this portion of the Psalm and see what the Lord has for you.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
(Psalm 22:1-2 ESV)

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for being close by even in my suffering. Even when I cannot see or feel you, I will choose to believe you are still there. Thank you for hearing my hard questions and being willing to answer them in your perfect timing and perfect ways.

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you, they trusted and were not put to shame.
(Psalm 22: 3-5 ESV)

Lord, does how I feel about you, change who You are?

How do I counter the negative voice in my head?

Try reading a psalm of praise or thanksgiving. Then, try reading Psalm 145 or 146.

God is present in the praises of His people. What could you specifically praise God about today? For what could you give thanks?

What do I know is true about me? About God?

You are still on your throne even when it does not seem so. Lord, you have been faithful to generations before me. You are trustworthy to deliver over decades.

Take a moment to close your eyes and ask the Lord, what do you want me to know about you right now?

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for delivering those who went before me. Thank you for answering their prayers. Please help me give thanks and record how you rescued my people and me. Thank you for bringing redemption out of the worst situations. Please help me to see how you will do that for me. If I can’t see those solutions right now, help me to know that your rescue is not based on my understanding.

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
8 "He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"
(Psalm 22:6-8 ESV)

Even when I feel like a worm or entirely worthless, these feelings I have do not define me. You say I am beloved, called, and cared for. Even when those around me mock me, Lord and You are still for me.

Take a moment to remember the times God has rescued you, delivered you, and delighted in you.

Prayer

Lord, help to recall times when you have delivered me. Could you help me make a list and give thanks? Fill my mind with examples of Your faithfulness. Help me trust and delight in You. Help me have courage and wisdom in all difficult decisions knowing You are right by my side. Amen

How do you speak to yourself? Psalm 5

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

Do you use practice kindness or condemnation? I confess my default setting for the voice inside my head leans heavily towards harsh criticism. I struggle to practice self-compassion. In Psalm 5, the psalmist calls out to the Lord for help.

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

(Psalm 5:1-3 ESV)

Thank you, Lord, for hearing me today and every time I pray to you. You are always awake and ready to listen to whatever is in my heart. Words are not required. You hear and understand my groanings.

When I choose to watch for you, I will always see you appear.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
(Psalm 5:4-6 ESV)

Thank you, Lord, for taking care of all the wickedness and deception in this world. It is not up to me to bring justice or to right the balance of power. You have a plan to do all of this in your way and on your schedule. I can rest in you, knowing you are taking care of each and every evil act. You know and see all things, so I don’t have to. Help me release all wrongdoers into your capable hands and your perfect timing. Give me the ability to release my own mistakes and trust you to redeem them.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
(Psalm 5:7-8 ESV)

Thank you, Lord, for providing an abundance of steadfast love. You meet me at the door of your house with the warmest of welcomes. When I come in, I am so overwhelmed by your loving presence, I must bow down before you.

Whenever I look for you to lead me, you do. You gently take me by the hand and make my path clear by revealing each step on the journey. I travel light because I am covered by your righteousness and not weighed down by all of my sins.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
(Psalm 5:9-10 ESV)

There is no truth in the mouths of your enemies, Lord. Help me to speak the truth to myself and not relentlessly criticize myself or anyone else. Guide me away from pointing out what is lacking.

You cast out those who rebel. Your justice is perfect and absolute. I no longer have to keep score.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
(Psalm 5:11-12 ESV)

Thank you for providing a place of refuge open 24/7 because of your grace. Once there, I find myself joining the chorus of joyful singing. In your presence, I can hide inside the shield of your love and acceptance. Help me to practice speaking kindly to myself the way you always do. Silence the voice of my inner critic that seeks to condemn me. Today, I choose to dance in the fullness of your love and give thanks.

Are Your Prayers Plugged into the Power Source? Psalm 19

/ Anthea Kotlan / 3 Comments

(A plug is being plugged into a wall power outlet.)

Sometimes when the power goes out at my house, I have a terrible habit of continuously trying to turn the lights on. Then, as I move about the house and get busy working on other things, I forget about the lack of electricity. I keep doing this repeated action and almost seemed surprised by the outcome every single time.  

If I decided to stand in my kitchen and keep flipping the light switch on in a “try harder attempt” to overcome that lack of electrical current flowing into my home, most observers would be concerned for my sanity. No amount of turning on the light will cause the bulb to be illuminated without access to electricity.  

Sometimes my approach to prayer can look a great deal like this exercise in futility. I pray, but I get distracted, confused, concerned, and defeated. How often am I simply approaching prayer with little preparation?  

Are my prayers plugged into the power source God has provided? In my case, not always. If I am being honest, not very often at all. I want to complete my prayer tasks rapidly in the name of efficiency. I want to move through a list of requests and check them off. And yet I struggle… 

So, what is the power source?  

Before I can plug into God’s powerful provision, I need to review some basic communication principles. Prayer is, after all, my communication with God. So how does God speak to His people? How do I hear from Him? 

Psalm 19 points to one way God speaks: through his glorious creation.  

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 
3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 
5     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 
Psalm 19:1-6 NIV

In His kindness, God also speaks through the Bible.   

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, 
    making wise the simple. 
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 
Psalm 19:7-10 NIV

Every sunset, sunrise, mountain vista, or starry sky speaks volumes for God and His character. God reveals Himself in the world He placed His people in. If I choose to notice, I can take in God’s stunning creation every single day. 

In His kindness, God also speaks through the Bible.  

God’s word provides warnings, guidance, and soul nourishment. It refreshes the soul. Since He created me, He knows exactly what my limitations are. God knows what I need and what would be best for me to avoid. The Bible overflows with gifts for me, but I must open them. Also, and perhaps the part I have so often missed, I must take time to meditate on God’s word.  

Sadly, the secular world has hijacked the notion of meditation and perverted it into something to avoid at all costs. While Eastern meditation practices are not tools for me to use, the practice of meditation itself is neutral. It all depends on the focus of my meditating mind. Spending time focusing on God and His word is a way for me to tend my soul and plug into the power source God has provided. Taking time out of my busy schedule to sit and dwell in God’s presence as I read or listen to His word provides a needed reset.  

11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 
12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 
Psalm 19:11-13 NIV

Focused time in God’s word can keep me on track with His will and serve as a warning when I go off course. God’s word brings ongoing transformation.  

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 
Psalm 19:14 NIV

This final verse from Psalm 19 is a pattern for powerful prayer. Donald S. Whitney, in his book on spiritual disciplines, explains, “…meditation was a catalyst that catapulted David (the author this Psalm 19) from the truth of God into talking with God.” Taking time to process the input of God’s word steeps my heart and mind with His presence. Continually repeating this process with a daily intake of scripture begins to change me from the inside out. My prayers will transform because I will want what God wants. My mind will shift because I will think about what God thinks about. My heart will change, and I will enjoy what God wants.  

The psalms can provide an ideal starting point for meditation that leads into prayer. Each psalm provides both a focus for meditation and a written prayer. For example, read Psalm 19 to begin and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight one verse or phrase.

Ways to Meditate on Scripture

  • Read the psalm a second or third or fourth time 
  • Read the psalm in different versions of the Bible 
  • Listen to someone else read it to you 
  • Look for a song that features the passage of scripture you chose 
  • Try drawing a picture or painting something from the psalm 
  • Read each line, pausing and listening for God to speak between each one 
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something fresh and new hidden in the text  

 

Prayers prayed after a meditation time will be more focused and have greater clarity. This exercise will increase confidence in prayer. My heart is instructed by the truths found in scripture.  

How about you? Do you meditate on scripture before you pray? What passages of scripture do you use? I would love to hear about your experiences.  

During Lent 2022, I’m writing about one spiritual discipline each week. What kinds of spiritual disciplines are you taking on this season?