99 Days to Pentecost: Day 28
Day 28 - March 13, 2021
Psalm 73:25-28 (Read Full Chapter)
Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
So that I may tell of all Your works.
“When my Heart and Flesh Fail…”
Written by Pastor John Lee
Asaph writes this Psalm with immense tension in his heart, mind, and soul. On one end Asaph knows wholeheartedly that God is good and will be a refuge to his soul. Yet, on another, he realizes that his heart has become envious of those who don’t love God. He envies their ability to become prosperous with plenty to eat and no pain in death (v.3-4). More so, Asaph sees that they keep increasing in their wealth and pleasures while those pure in heart remain chastened to the things of God (v.13-14). Yet, Asaph comes to a deep understanding before the LORD when he brings these troublesome thoughts to the sanctuary of God (v.16). And only then does he realize that his embittered heart had led him to become senseless rather than seizing the counsel of God to guide him (v.21,22,24).
I have wrestled with this same tension many times. A moment when I catch my heart and flesh failing – becoming embittered and senseless. Eight years ago I left my full time job in New York to empty handedly pursue ministry in California. While my friends started making six figures out of college by working at hedge funds and startups, I decided to get in a minivan with my Dad and drive across the country. During my first four years here I came to the point where I had no money left to pay rent and skipped quite a few meals. More so, I felt more isolated and bitter at the life I could’ve had when looking at my friends photos. The worst part was that I heard my family back home wasn’t doing well and that my mom had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Darker still, with everything going on I wrestled with the worst of myself and saw my own life spiraling down rather than seeking refuge in God. In the thick of it the thoughts and feelings were vindicated by my experiences. Those specific moments have passed now but new moments continue to come up as life continues.
Maybe you can relate? Perhaps you’ve traversed these moments of tension many times before. Perhaps you’re going through it now. May I encourage you to seek refuge in the Lord when we catch our heart and flesh failing. When are our hearts are embittered by the expected marriage, job, family, and life we should’ve had juxtaposed to the current reality. God has not left you and His nearness is for our good – He will be our refuge (v.28).
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there are areas of my heart that remain embittered. At times I become envious of those who live without your chastening. LORD I don’t fully understand why these things are happening. In humility I give up my need to understand why and ask instead for strength to remain in you. For your nearness is my good – you are my refuge. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Psalm 73:25-28 (Read Full Chapter)
Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
So that I may tell of all Your works.
“When my Heart and Flesh Fail…”
Written by Pastor John Lee
Asaph writes this Psalm with immense tension in his heart, mind, and soul. On one end Asaph knows wholeheartedly that God is good and will be a refuge to his soul. Yet, on another, he realizes that his heart has become envious of those who don’t love God. He envies their ability to become prosperous with plenty to eat and no pain in death (v.3-4). More so, Asaph sees that they keep increasing in their wealth and pleasures while those pure in heart remain chastened to the things of God (v.13-14). Yet, Asaph comes to a deep understanding before the LORD when he brings these troublesome thoughts to the sanctuary of God (v.16). And only then does he realize that his embittered heart had led him to become senseless rather than seizing the counsel of God to guide him (v.21,22,24).
I have wrestled with this same tension many times. A moment when I catch my heart and flesh failing – becoming embittered and senseless. Eight years ago I left my full time job in New York to empty handedly pursue ministry in California. While my friends started making six figures out of college by working at hedge funds and startups, I decided to get in a minivan with my Dad and drive across the country. During my first four years here I came to the point where I had no money left to pay rent and skipped quite a few meals. More so, I felt more isolated and bitter at the life I could’ve had when looking at my friends photos. The worst part was that I heard my family back home wasn’t doing well and that my mom had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Darker still, with everything going on I wrestled with the worst of myself and saw my own life spiraling down rather than seeking refuge in God. In the thick of it the thoughts and feelings were vindicated by my experiences. Those specific moments have passed now but new moments continue to come up as life continues.
Maybe you can relate? Perhaps you’ve traversed these moments of tension many times before. Perhaps you’re going through it now. May I encourage you to seek refuge in the Lord when we catch our heart and flesh failing. When are our hearts are embittered by the expected marriage, job, family, and life we should’ve had juxtaposed to the current reality. God has not left you and His nearness is for our good – He will be our refuge (v.28).
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, there are areas of my heart that remain embittered. At times I become envious of those who live without your chastening. LORD I don’t fully understand why these things are happening. In humility I give up my need to understand why and ask instead for strength to remain in you. For your nearness is my good – you are my refuge. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
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