Time in the Word ~ Psalm 27:8

Psalm 27:8 “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face Lord, I will seek.” (NIV)

One’s direction is so very important to our journey through life, both to the enjoyment of the experience and the outcome of our lives. One can’t view the TV news or pick up a paper without recognizing some celebrity that has either made a mess of their lives or has succeeded in their career and personal aspirations when they pass from this world. The truth is that you can’t get to California if you follow a map directing you to New York.

So when we study Psalm 27, we find David dealing with both fear and loneliness in his life, and struggling with how to overcome these two debilitating emotions that afflict mankind. David was being hounded by King Saul and his life was always under threat, and if he was not careful he would succumb to fear in his life. You cannot meet the challenges of life with any meaningful results if you are dominated by fear. Fear and the Spirit of God are incompatible in the life of the Christian, don’t you think? What were the first words out of the mouths of angels in story after story when God intercedes with men who were at their wits end? They were the words, “Do not be afraid.”  The hair stands up on my neck when I hear David’s words shouted to the great giant Goliath, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” – 1 Samuel 17:47.

Fear paralyzes us and creates doubt in our lives as we see midgets becoming giants, and ant hills shoot up like mountains. Victory in Christ will never be achieved by a fearful spirit and a doubting soul. David points us to the key to victory in the Christian life when he states our devotional verse, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” This is the key if we are to live with the power and strength of God firmly grasped by our believing heart. When you are seeking God, then you are not dealing with your own weakness, failures, and flaws, since you are focused on the power and personality of God.

Psalm 27 gives an outline for how we seek the face of God and persevere in seeking him over our life time:

1. If we are to seek the face of God, we must love the presence of God in our life and our worship of him. In Psalm 27:4 David spells out this point clearly. The most thrilling times of the week to me are the worship of the saints in the presence of Christ. Nothing provides such joy and fulfillment together as Christians, so shouldn’t we encourage one another never to forsake the assembly of the saints to avoid growing weak and fearful in this life? If we miss church services and the fellowship of believers, we will shrink back! (Hebrews 10:19-39).
2. If we are to seek the face of God, we must learn to praise God to others when God blesses us or delivers us. In Psalm 27:5-6, David makes this practice essential if we are to grow in intimacy with God. Praise and thanksgiving is not a best practice of the Christian, it is an essential practice, which must be a habit and then a mindset in our lives as we continually seek the face of God.
3. If we are to seek the face of God, we must not grow discouraged or weary even when those closest to us turn away, or the darkness seems to envelop us like night. David makes these points clear in Psalm 27:10 and 27:13-14. Waiting on the Lord and trusting him to act in our lives is what builds faith, that leads to confidence, that results in the heart of perseverance, which is the key to “Victory in Jesus”.

Jesus, the last night of his life, told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27. We cannot possibly realize that command in our own lives unless we are convinced that the most important thing in our life today, and every day, is to seek the face of God!

TODAY, FATHER, I WILL LAY ASIDE THE WORLD WITH ALL ITS DEMANDS AND ATTRACTIONS AND GIVE MYSELF FIRST TO SEEKING YOUR FACE. AMEN!

Article Source: Mike White @ Summit church of Christ