Before we finish November with the Psalms, I want to invite you to the upcoming Advent study on the “Wonder of Christmas.” I also want to encourage you to invite a friend to join you. This week I read a tongue-in-cheek paragraph from C. S. Lewis on barbarians from the Island of Niatrib. (Britain spelled backward) Here it is, and may it help us avoid the RUSH and experience the peace of God.

On Niatirb, the barbarians celebrate Exmas for 50 days. They send Exmas cards with a printed picture to many people and beat their breasts and wail curses when they get Exmas cards from someone they did not include. The same suffering occurs with Exmas gifts. They are so tired by all the Rush that on Exmas day they can hardly get out of bed, but finally they do to eat and drink five times as much as usual. They fall into bed, glad to be done with Exmas.

But there are a few among the Niatirbians who celebrate Crissmas and rise early on that day with shining faces. In most temples there are images of a fair woman with a newborn Child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the child. They wish that Zeus would put in the mind of the other Niatirbians to celebrate Exmas at a different time for the Rush distracts even them from the beauty and glory of Crissmas.

May we begin next week, helping one another gaze on the wonder of what God has done by coming to earth, and not get so caught up in RUSH that we miss the true Christmas. May in our beholding and obeying, we shine like stars in the heaven.

Photo by Felix Mittermeirer

We will close out November with Psalm 42, and learn to speak truth to our souls so we might better trust and obey. Here is what Tim Keller says:

If you come and submit to my word totally, what will I do? I will come and I will pour into your life a stream of love and joy and glory. If you obey me, you will shine like stars in the heaven. My sweetness and my greatness will come into your life as well.

Keller says the reason we do not obey and experience all that God has for us, is that we do not believe the promises. 

Psalm 42 has been a paradigm changer in my life and continues to be. This week we are going to combine it with praying the promises.  Let me tell you how this had helped me in the past and then, we’ll dive in so that can experience the power of praying the promises for ourselves and others.

In the past, it helped me cross the icy river of grief by modeling how to talk to my soul instead of listening to her. If I listened to my soul after Steve died she told me:

You will never have joy again. You are not going to make it, your children are not going to make it. 

Listening to her took me down, down, down into the icy river.

I had to take my soul in hand and remind her of the promises from God:

Jesus promised to never leave or forsake you.  He promised to be a Husband to the widow and a Father to the fatherless. Therefore, put your hope in God.

This truth buoyed me up, gave me hope, and by repeating it continually to my soul, I experienced the power to get across that icy river. I also often cried out, “Lord, You promised to be my husband — I need one now. And a man would show up to tow my car out of the woods or get the trees off my roof.” Likewise, He provided father figures for my girls, who were all fairly young. Over and over again He has come running for me and my children.

We will study the psalm, listen to a 15-minute message from Mike Reeves, and practice praying the promises to help us overcome sadness, temptation, and fear. 

Let’s go!

Sunday:

1. What stands out to you from the above and why?

2. Tell us something you are thankful for concerning your Thanksgiving. And if you feel it didn’t go well, find a redeeming truth.

Monday: Speaking Truth to our Souls

3. Read Psalm 42:1-4. 

A. Find the two negative water pictures that describe his sadness

B. What is he longing for but does not have?

and describe the circumstances of the psalmist and how he is feeling. Look carefully. (Hint: There are two negative water pictures and one picture of what he has lost.)

4. Read Psalm 42:5-8

A. Whom does the psalmist take in hand, and how does he talk to her? (v. 5)

B. Verse 7 is both a positive and negative water picture. Spurgeon says the “deep voice of God speaks deep into our souls,” even as the breakers are washing over us.” Share a time of trouble when God spoke His love to you.

C. The psalmist describes what he knows about God. What does he say? 

5. Read Psalm 42:9-11. 

A. How is the psalmist honest with God in verses 9-10? Why is this important?

B. What does he do again? What does this tell you?

Tuesday: Mike Reeves

6. Listen to the above and share what stands out to you and why.

Wednesday: Promises to Overcome Sadness

When the 54th Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, was criticized for gathering groups to pray and told instead, to do something, he said: “Prayer is doing something.” By praying for our own hearts and the hearts of those in deep suffering, we are doing something.

7. Like the psalmist, you may feel abandoned or forgotten by God. Take your soul in hand and speak the truth and promise of Romans 8:32 to her.

8. Do you believe the above? If you doubt, ask God for help with your unbelief.

9. Pray the same for our brethren suffering horrors in Ukraine and Israel, or, for someone you know who is struggling with depression.

Thursday: Promises to Overcome Temptation

In the past I’d usually gain 5-7 pounds during December. But two promises I repeat to myself help me:

The first is negative: If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. (Genesis 4:) I knew I’d give the devil a foothold if I took one bite.

The second is positive: The truth will set you free. (John 8:32) I knew I’d find freedom in being healthier and in liking myself better!

Whether your temptation is too much food, too much spending, or too much anything — pray these promises and ask God to help you believe them, to help your unbelief.

10. Pray these promises or others to help you overcome whatever tempts you and brings you down.

Friday: Promises To Overcome Fear

You probably know the most common command in the Bible is “Fear Not!” What I want you to do, using a Bible app or concordance, is to find some examples of “Fear not” that also contain a promise that is applicable to you. Many of the “Fear nots” are to individuals in special circumstances, and don’t apply — such as “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife…” but many are universal. Find some and find the promise. Then pray it into your heart for whatever you are facing. Then so the same for people you know whose circumstances are overwhelming.

11. Pray!

Saturday:

12. What’s your take-a-way and why?

Join us for Advent, Beginning Tomorrow!

                            In the bleak mid-winter, Jesus Christ was born.