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In the Valley

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Paul the Apostle sets forth an unusual turn of phrase in Ephesians 5:19. He says that we should "address one another with psalms". We tend to think that psalms are to be used to address God, and they are. However, we now see that they can be used to address one another. The phrase "one another" is seen throughout scripture, and it always relates to our community and fellowship with other Christians.   

So I would like to attempt to address you here with a Psalm. I specifically want to address your worries, stress, depression, and panic with the Gospel found in the Psalms. Let me try probably the most well-known and beloved psalm of all time: Psalm 23. This Psalm begins with David writing, meditating and singing about God. Do you notice how, at first, he speaks about God (not to God) in the third person? He says, "The Lord is my Shepherd...He makes me lie down in green pastures...He leads me...He restores", etc...  

First, the Psalmist starts out with acknowledging the great care that the Lord takes in the guiding and leading David. It is right (and encouraging) to acknowledge and thank God for the pleasant places where he mercifully leads us. David the shepherd is first thinking about good things that the Lord gives. He sings about His provision, the rest, stillness and peace that God causes to happen in David's soul. He proclaims how God sovereignly guides David to walk on the path that God wants him to walk upon, "the paths of righteousness."  

Then David gets real. He doesn't gloss over the bad stuff in His life. His mind (inspired by the Holy Spirit), begins to think about other paths that God has led him through. Not every path that David walks upon is lined with roses, rainbows and ice cream sandwiches. He remembers a time where a lion tried to kill him. He remembers being alone in the wilderness when he had to fight off a bear. He recalls how a man he loved and honored pursued David with a spear, intended to end his life. He describes these ugly places simply as "the valley". These paths are not so pleasant to David. They are nothing like the bright, happy paths that he just described. They are so dark, painful and lonely that David paints a picture of the valley being darkened by the shadow of death itself. Death is near. Life is ebbing away. As David walked along this path, fear stood at the door of his heart.   

Have you ever been in the valley?  

Me too. 

Hopefully we can learn something from David's poetic description of how the Lord handled his heart in the valley. Something changes. Something shifts in David's relationship and communion with God in the valley. Even the way he talks about God is different now. He no longer speaks of God in third person. Notice, he now speaks to God directly, not about God indirectly. He now says "You are with me, Your rod and staff...comfort...You prepare a table before me..." He is now in deep communion with God. Going through the valley was difficult. It was not a place he would have chosen to go. It was the place that God chose David to go, however, and David was the better for it. Why? Because now David knew in reality what he had formerly known only in theory. Before, he knew about the goodness of God, because the Rabbis taught him well. Afterward, he learned firsthand that God is so much better, because He is near. He is the One who came down from His lofty throne, and descended into David's little universe. He descended even further, by going into the valley with David, as a good shepherd should. Why was David unafraid? He said it himself: "...for You are with me." If the shepherd is with his sheep, they have no reason to fear.  The apostle Peter (quoting Isaiah 56) said: "For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." How did we return? Did we pull ourselves out of the valley of our own sin? Nope. We were unable. He did it. Our Shepherd Jesus (the One we should have been following but instead went our own way into the valley) followed us into the valley to set us back on His paths of righteousness.  

If a good Shepherd would do that for you when you first ran away from Him, how much more will He be with you in other valleys that you walk into, now that you are His? Are you anxious, worried, depressed, angry, or fearful? I beg you to find your comfort in knowing that God loves you, and is with you, even in the valley. Come to speak to Him directly. He hears and will comfort you. You will be so full that you will say along with David: "my cup overflows."  

Why I Pray for Metallica and Joel Osteen...

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As a college senior and new Christian I had a hard time understanding things like prayer. It was so new and I was just figuring everything out. Questions like, "If I pray in my head, can God hear me?" (no kidding) and "If I pray for my enemies, is that the ultimate way I can stick it to them?" (again, no kidding). 
 
If I ever had time left over in my new prayer life, I always prayed for Metallica. I know that seems weird. The truth is, I struggled with giving up my old music collection and wanted Metallica to get saved and love Jesus so I can listen to good music again. I also prayed for Soundgarden, Beastie Boys, and about 20 other bands. It was pretty selfish. 
 
I didn't really care about their salvation and whether or not they knew my King - I just couldn't take any more acoustic guitar. When I look back on it all now, it's pretty embarrassing and seems ultra-selfish. 
 
Here in the last few weeks I've used the Osteens (Joel and Victoria) off and on as examples of how not to see suffering and happiness and maybe a couple of other things. They aren't the only players on that side of the chess board but are "low hanging fruit" because they are always in the news. I can't make it through a month without seeing a new statement made or interview where I get annoyed. 
 
With a church of 45,000 and millions of people reading Joel's books, I just want him to shut up and stop leading people away from the Gospel. I even pray for it. I literally ask God to shut them down and lay their teaching low. I'm not sure this is bad. When I think about it however, I'm praying with a similar attitude I had when praying for all my old metal/rap heros. I'm not truly thinking of their souls. I'm only thinking about avoiding or destroying what annoys or angers me. 
 
Don't get me wrong, I do want them to be silent and stop leading people away from Jesus, but God has been charging me also to grieve and pray for Joel and his bride. God has been leading me to see that when I name them publicly and rip their teaching (which is heresy and needs to be ripped) I also need to pray that they see sin clearly, see Jesus clearly, see the Gospel clearly, and truly fall in love with King Jesus. 
 
The Osteens lead millions - It's really pretty amazing. If they were to have a true regenerating revival in their lives it could possible have a greater effect on our country than most anything else in this century. I ought to be praying for that and laboring over that. If I loved people and loved the glory of my King being shown, I would pray to this end. 
 
This seems to be where Jesus was leading us...
 
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 ESV)
 
Oh yeah, I'm going to still pray for Metallica and Run DMC, but maybe for their hearts to be changed rather than my iTunes library. 
 
Question: How are you praying for those you call "enemies" or "sinners"?

 

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