March 25 Thought for Today – “Pour Out Your Heart!” “O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8 It may be different for women, but “pouring out your heart” does not come easily for most men. Yet here is King David, the most respected man in Jewish history, encouraging people to “pour out your heart.” David, anointed as king while still a youth (1 Samuel 16:11-13), had waited for years to assume the throne God said was to be his. During those years, King Saul made repeated attempts on David’s life, finally driving David into hiding. After Saul’s death and David’s assent to the throne, David still had to fight many enemies. Perhaps the most hurtful blow of all came when David’s son, Absalom, usurped David’s throne and forced him out of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15). In light of all the persecution he had suffered, David stated that “God alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress where I never will be shaken” (Psalm 62:2). In Psalm 62, David spoke of what others had done to cause him grief and sorrow. In David’s situation they wanted to kill him (62:3), told lies about him, and tried to “topple him” from his position as king (62:4). In addition, they were “two-faced,” “friendly to my face, but cursed me in their hearts” (62:4b). In short, his enemies were like enemies are and always have been – willing to do anything to make a person suffer. After pouring out his heart to God, David repeated his opening thought, “I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my Rock and my salvation” (62:5-6). Then came David’s admonition, “Pour out your heart to Him.” When I entered the life insurance profession, my general agent told me that in addition to helping men with their business insurance and estate planning concerns, I would become their confidant. He said that men often had things on their heart they wanted to share with someone, but who? Certainly not their boss or an employee, not their wife who might worry, not a competitor who might use it against them, or even a colleague who might think them weak. They just wanted to talk to someone who would listen non-judgmentally and keep the conversation private. “Once you have gained their confidence,” he said, “you will be that person.” He was right. As good as my general agent’s counsel was, David’s counsel is much better: “Pour our your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.” Whether we “pour out our hearts” for only a moment or spend agonizing hours in prayer and supplication, God is there as our trustworthy Friend. Our thoughts, concerns, needs, and frustrations are safe with Him. As David wrote, God is “a rock where no enemy can reach (us)” (62:7b). Through our study of the Bible and guidance of the Holy Spirit, God will give us the peace we seek, whatever our need. It is good to have trusted, earthly friends who can comfort, console and counsel us. It is even better when we depend on God as “our rock and our salvation.” “The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8 “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17 Selah! copsonthestreet
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:21:11 +0000
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