Called 4 Jesus

by TA York

Psalms 86:1-3

“Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.”

Imagine a swimmer about to enter a race, wearing a heavy jacket and full clothing. Do you suppose he will win? Would you bet your life savings on him? Of course not. You might even laugh at the sight, knowing that to win this contest, the swimmer must strip down to the bare minimum to move freely.

Time to move freely in Christ.

This is exactly how we must come to God. We need to strip off the masks of pride, selfish desires, and anger—anything that holds us back from getting “real” with Him. Many gamble with their eternity by clinging to sin while calling themselves Christians. But death can arrive in a fraction of a second. We must stop gambling and hoping that God will accept us alongside our sin.

If we refuse to forsake our sins, how can we expect God to ignore what He has expressly forbidden? If you want God to hear you, cry out: “I’m poor and needy. I’m a sinner—forgive me! I am Your servant.” Only then, through that surrender, will you find His mercy. Jesus will save and guard you, but from that point on, you must remain faithful and obey His teachings.

Don’t misunderstand: God vehemently desires to show us mercy. He loves us so much that He appointed His own Son to die for us. Yet, because God is holy, He calls us to be holy. Holding onto sin is a sign that we do not truly trust Him, regardless of the excuses we use.

Psalms 86:4

“Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.”

Trusting God brings joy; the Bible tells us it is our strength. How do I know this is true? Though doctors tell me I will die soon, I am filled with a sense of peace and His joy. Whether I live or die, I belong to Christ! I look forward to sitting at the supper table with my Lord.

Every day, I confess. Every day, I ask God to reveal my shortcomings. Nothing is greater than feeling His loving hands on my shoulders. I live in pain, but it is a small price to pay for His presence.

Consider these examples of what happens when we place our trust in Him:

David: A stone thrown by a child, guided by God, penetrates man-made armor to fell a giant.

Joseph: A slave, alone in his faith but obedient to God, becomes second-in-command of Egypt.

The Boy: A child gives Jesus two small fish and five loaves, and 5,000 are fed.

Lazarus: A man dead for days is raised to life.

Joseph (Mary’s husband): He listened to angels over the laws of men, saving Mary and the baby Jesus.

Was it the humans who performed these miracles, or was it God?

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Trust God with all your heart!

We often use personal excuses to talk ourselves out of serving Him, yet Jesus holds the answers to our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows.

Has my Christian life been perfect? Absolutely not. I have faced persecution and rejection for my beliefs.
Yet, I echo the words of the martyr Polycarp:

“Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, who has saved me?”

What are you waiting for? God invites you this very minute to return to His loving arms. Pray this with me:

“Jesus, forgive me for my failures. I cry out to You; I am poor and needy. I need You in my life. Help me to overcome the sin that so easily ensnares me. Help me to be obedient to Your word, for I cannot do it alone. I trust in You. Thank You, Jesus, for hearing me. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.”

Daily recommitment builds faith. Praying against strongholds allows the Holy Spirit to guide you. Praying for humility calms the heart, and praying for wisdom grounds you on a solid foundation.

It is okay to question God about the hardships of life; it is okay to be upset when you don’t understand.

The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Wait for His answer. As humans, we want to fix things with our own hands, but that is often a mistake. Allow God to answer. Often, the answer comes from the strangest place when you least expect it. That is how it has always been for me.

Press on, good pilgrims. Press on in the name of Jesus.

God bless.