Author: Davelewis

Psalms 119:49 NKJV
[49] Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.49.NKJV

The servant of the Lord

Psalm 36 introduction: To the Choirmaster

Of David

The servant of the Lord

If there’s any name, title or position in life I would like to aspire to, it would be “servant of the Lord.”

It’s not so much what I see or how I see or feel about myself, it’s how God sees me on the inside, in my heart at the core of my being.

One thing we see in David’s life becomes evident when read about his life in the Old Testament narratives, and as we read through the Psalms, most of which are attributed to David. This one trait about his character is His humility before God. He constantly and continually humbles himself before the living God. He sees himself as God sees him; servant of the Lord.

What does it mean to be the servant of the Lord?

We this term and concept over and over in the lives of those God calls, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament; Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the Prophets, the apostles, etc.

They all share one common thread; they all hear the voice of God calling, they humble themselves before Him and poise themselves to listen to His word to them. They all see themselves as “servant of the Lord.”

A servant is simply one who follows and serves a Master. In this sense, they respond to their Lord and Master, the one True God, who has spoken and called them. It takes a humbling of oneself; deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him, in order to respond appropriately to God’s voice.

A servant of the Lord is one who has abandoned everything else for the sole purpose of following God and His call on their life. A true servant is one who has put everything under the Lordship of the One who has called him. All of his ideas, ambitions, goals and aspirations are put aside and filtered through the lens of God’s will and purpose.

A true servant, like Abraham, steps out in faith and moves forward, not knowing where he is going, and trusting God completely in the journey. (Hebrews 11:1ff).

A servant of the Lord is one who is determined in their heart, mind, soul and strength to go wherever God leads, do whatever He commands, allowing Him to steer the course of their lives, along with those in their family.

A servant of the Lord gives up the idea of knowing everything, for the purpose of being a true servant. One who serves the Lord by serving other people.

Jesus tells us to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves.  On these two commandments hang all of the law and the Prophets. The entire word of God is complete and fulfilled when we love God and one another; living, loving and serving one another as Christ loves us and gave his life for

So he asks us in return to give our lives away daily so that His love can be perfected in and through those who are willing to trust and obey, as His servants. His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control will guide us through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in those who have surrendered their hearts, repent and believe in Him and the life transforming power of His word

Are you willing to be a servant of the Lord?

Do you hear His voice on the inside, in your heart? Is He King of your heart? Is seated on the throne? Is He truly the Lord, Savior and Master of your life?

This is the calling! How will you respond,?

The old idiom, “putting all of your eggs in one basket” is a warning against putting all your efforts or resources into one thing, as you could lose everything if it fails.  This is true of investments, business ventures or any other opportunity that comes my/our way.

I have this tendency to go all in when it comes to new ventures. When a door of opportunity opens to me I’ll take it and run with it, often focusing all of my attention and efforts on that one thing. While giving it our all is rarely a bad thing, we can become so singularly focused that we neglect equally important tasks and responsibilities.

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.7-8.NLT

Spreading myself out so that I can give proper attention to more than one opportunity is the wiser way to go, yet not allowing myself to be “stretched too thin” which is another idiom meaning to be overcome and over burdened by too many responsibilities.

A proper balance starts with prayer ; putting God, His kingdom, His mission, His will first and foremost. Then trusting Him to guide and direct my path and allow Him to open doors as I ask, seek, and knock.

Matthew 7:7-8 NLT
[7]  “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.7-8.NLT

I can do all things through him who gives me strength 💪👊💯

Life is going great. I’m happy and blessed. My days are filled with God’s love and grace. I’m truly living a life of meaning and purpose. I’m on a spiritual high. I’m reading my Bible and praying every day and having sweet fellowship with those around me. God is speaking to me and I’m listening. And he’s hearing me, my heart, my prayers, etc.

Then comes a bump in my road, a rough spot on my path. Outside confrontation and disagreement come. I’ve offended someone and that someone goes on the defensive and now there’s division, dissension, hurt feelings, etc.

Isn’t that like the enemy to throw a wrench my way, to trip me up and pull the rug out from under me?

Then my mind starts playing tricks on me. Overthinking, overreacting, making assumptions and making mountains out of mole hills, thinking there’s more to the adverse reactions and responses I’ve drawn from others. I start to imagine things are worse than they actually are.

Isn’t that how the enemy works? Getting under our skin with the ordinary, every day problems?

But Jesus has already gone before me and slain the enemy. I need not entertain the negative thoughts that attempt to invade my mind and rob my of inner peace, steal my joy, kill my hope, and destroy the foundation that I have in Christ.

Matthew 7:24-25 NLT
[24]  “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. [25] Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.24-25.NLT

Worrying about stuff we have no or little control over is a pointless activity in our daily lives.

One preacher put it this way;

“we spend so much time and energy worrying about stuff that eventually works out. Who can add single day to their life by worrying?”

Worry, stress, anxiety, etc, are major consumers of our peace of mind. All of these negative emotions and feelings feed on our soul and rob us of inner joy, steal our peace and destroy our hope.

This is the number one enemy of our souls.

Instead let us take heed to the words of apostle Paul;

Philippians 4:6-8 NLT
[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.6-8.NLT

I always like to include Philippians 4:8 in this scripture reading because Paul instructs us on where our attention and focus should be, instead on our problems, negative thoughts and emotions.

May our focus be on the One who sees and knows everything about us (Psalms 139) and not on that which we have little to no control over. A proper focus gives a proper and better perspective and all of those things will take a back seat to the truth that sets us free.

Sometimes God has to break us of our own will in order to receive His will. It takes much surrendering and prayer and even some inner pain and turmoil. But trust Him in the process. He must increase, I must decrease.  That’s painful to bear sometimes 😔

You might never understand the why’s and how’s of God’s will and timing, but when it’s His will, nothing can stop it. If it’s not His will, nothing you do will make it so. Sometimes it’s hard to accept His will, or something that turns out not to be His will. But know that He will continue to guide your path and make it straight before you. Keep looking to the light and he will show you the way!

Sometimes a door will open to what seems to be an opportunity, but it quickly closes. I’m a firm believer in God’s will and timing, and in His great plan and purpose for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). Perhaps this brief opportunity was just that, for a time and a season. But continue to trust Him as His plans continue to unfold. God always has your good and best interest at heart.

Dwelling on my past isn’t always thinking about the bad things I’ve done or my past sins and failures. Dwelling on my past can also mean remembering the good times, when everything was going well and I was experiencing a period of success that had created great memories. Perhaps even thinking or wishing I could go back there and relive those positive moments. But our past is our past for a reason, for a time and a season.

In order to keep moving forward in my journey, my race, it’s important to be focused on the here and now and living in the moment. Having good experiences and positive memories is great, but dwelling on that aspect of my past can keep my mind occupied and leave me day dreaming and not focused on this moment in time that is right before me.
Enjoy and cherish your beautiful moments in life, but move on! 💪👊💯😘🙏❤️😉

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.5-6.NLT

When I’m knocking on a certain door and it’s just not opening to me, perhaps I need to accept that and move on. There are other opportunities awaiting me if I will continue to trust and obey the Lord.

A part of trusting in the Lord with all of my heart is letting go of my own understanding, instead of trying to wrap my mind around my ways and the path He has laid before me. God knows what He is doing. He will guide my path and my ways.

I don’t need to know the whole plan, or even the next part beyond today. Even the moment by moment details can be received by faith, knowing that if I’m truly seeking His will and desiring the follow Him, He will never lead me astray. He will always go before me and watch my back.

As Abraham trusted God and obeyed God in his journey, so I can learn to trust Him to lead me, each step of the way. I don’t need to know the destination of my journey. All I need to do is continue stepping out in faith, each and every step and turn. God made a promise to Abraham and He makes the same promise to each of us, which is to guide and direct our path, each and every day, as we lean upon Him

every person has a soul and a spirit.

Every living creature has a soul, but only mankind is made in the image of God (Genesis 1, with the Spirit of the living God (the image of God) residing within. The imprint of God on every person is His image, His Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
[12] For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.12.NLT (Hebrews 4:12)

Psalms 119:25-32 NKJV
[25] My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. [26] I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. [27] Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

[28] My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. [29] Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. [30] I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. [31] I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! [32] I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.25-32.NKJV

My soul clings to the dust
Psalms 44:25-26 NKJV
[25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground.

Revive me according to your word

[26] Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.

Psalms 143:11-12 NLT
[11] For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. [12] In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.143.11-12.NLT

Revive, redeem, preserve

Every day my life draws closer to the grave. My soul, which is my life force, will one day come to and end on this earth. Every living soul has a birth and a death; “a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2).

The living power of God’s word revives me in this life daily, as I look to Him, the author and finisher of life; my Beginning and my End, my Alpha and my Omega.

The living power of His word breathes eternal life into my soul and revives my spirit man day after day, as each new day begins.

He transforms and renews my mind and my spirit daily as I surrender to Him (Romans 12:1-2)

My soul clings to the dust from which I was made, and will one day return; ashes to ashes dust to dust.

My soul melts from heaviness

I don’t physically die every day, but my soul can be grow faint and “melt from heaviness (grief).”

Dwelling on grief and grievances. Grief is a spirit of heaviness, depression, sadness caused by loss;

Of life when someone close to us passes from this life.

One can grieve over the loss of a job, a friendship or relationship, bankruptcy or the loss of financial means
I grieved over the loss of my lower leg and foot through left below knee amputation.

We can dwell on grievances, which are ill or negative feelings towards myself and my past failures and setbacks, as well as with others who have caused me harm or foul through sinful thoughts, words and or actions. Many times people do things unintentionally. We can go through these periods of harboring feelings of anger, bitterness and resentment as we hold onto these past hurts, aka dwelling on the past

Strengthen me according to your word

The living power of God’s word strengthens me on the inside, where grief and grievances, feelings of being downtrodden and disrespected, trampled on, etc have their birth and can fester and grow, leaving us with a “spirit of heaviness”

God’s word can replace the “way of lying” when we chose the “way of truth and to walk in His truth. His commands, testimonies, precepts, statutes, law, judgements, etc revive me and strengthen my soul. He strengthens me according to His word. I am not put to shame. I am able to run the course set before me for he enlarges my heart, allowing and enabling me to forgive others freely, extending His grace, by which I stand.

Psalms 119:17-24 NKJV

GIMEL
[17] Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.
[18] Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
[19] I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
[20] My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times.
[21] You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.
[22] Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies.
[23] Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
[24] Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.

God has dealt bountifully with His servants; those who live to love and serve Him, by loving and serving others.

Bountifully; abundantly, richly. There is a great inner harvest within the spirit of those who love God and desire to keep His word and obey His commandments. There is the fruit of the Spirit that flourishes in the heart of the one who is surrendered to the Lord daily, so that God may prosper in and through them and advance His kingdom, “on earth as, it is in heaven.”

This is how Kingdom citizens live. For we are not of this world. We live to love and serve Him. We live in the world, but this world is not our home. We are merely sojourners passing through.

He opens my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things out of his law. His word; laws, commandments, testimonies, statutes, decrees, are my counselors. Through His word he gives me great advice, strength and wisdom for daily living 💪 👊 🙏 ❤️

I’m a firm believer in this biblical principle: everything happens for a reason, for a time and a season. As one season comes to a close, another opens. Trust God in the process. He knows  where he is leading you to, and when you are to arrive at your next door, destination, season, or chapter.

Hebrews chapter 11 tells us that Abraham obeyed God by leaving his home, along with his family, and went out not knowing where he was going. He simply trusted in God, who gave him the vision and the promise to guide him through that vision.  The old saying, “if God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through” holds true. Trust Him especially when it’s uncertain what the next step is. He’ll let you know when you arrive. He’ll let you know when a door is open or when it’s closing. Let go of control; of trying to understand and comprehend His will.

You don’t need to worry about why this or that is happening now, or what will happen next. God goes before you, he’s got your back!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
[1] To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

https://bible.com/bible/114/ecc.3.1.NKJV