Rise Up - Remember and Trust in the Lord

Do you rise up in faith or shelter down in depression while writing your life’s story? Chapters of trusting in things of the world - with focus on self - can bring us down. When we focus on our good, good Father, standing strong with eyes on Jesus and hearts in tune with His way, we will be raised up! So, are we rising up or cowering down? Do we give God glory for pulling us from pits of despair and overlook what He does for us and boast about what we’ve done and who we are?

David wrote about this in Psalm 20, saying, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

We should trust in God not chariots (of any age) cars, wealth, possessions, and idols we allow to come before Him. We should not boast about worldly things that we rely on and cherish above the Lord. Things of this world will pass away but our lasting defense that keeps us rising up is our eternal, loving heavenly Father.

David says in verses 7-8 ‘ people who ‘trust in chariots and horses’ will be brought to their knees and fall but we will Rise Up and stand firm”! David was trying to help us recognize that we can’t be raised up and be despairing at the same time.

Becoming Christlike is a process we must go through. When we allow ourselves to get bogged down in sin and misery, life is bad. When we keep rising up and refueling our hearts with God’s Word and living by Jesus’ ways, life is better.

Paul put it plainly on the plate for each of us to understand in Phillippians 3 and 4. He commanded people to focus on the right things, to forget about past miseries, to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. My parent’s teachings and examples keep me raised up and reaching forward, even when circumstances seem to cave in and situations steal our sunshine. We must keep pressing on to the prize before us when Satan tries putting us in reverse. It’s in those troublesome times that we must rise up thinking on things that are lovely and keeping our eyes on Jesus. Before my mother passed away, she gave me a sheet of stickers with encouraging words from God’s Word. Securing them in special places all around my home where I see and read them daily keeps me lifted up and feeling so close to my mother, who loved Jesus and singing His praises while hanging out clothes and cooking our meals. If only I could hear her singing ...lazy bones sleeping in the sun, why don’t you get up and get your day’s work done’! She and daddy didn’t let grass grow under the feet of their four children and taught by example the importance of doing good deeds for neighbors. What I could not see as a little girl ( through my parent’s teachings and church training) has blessed me beyond measure throughout my lifetime! Seeing them live it and being taught to Rise Up, Stand firm, think on things that are lovely, trust in God, love big, be respectful, use time wisely, arise early, shop sales, treat people the way you want to be treated, be polite, keep things in order, go the extra mile, and take time to play (rest) when your work is done. Rising Up with focus on Christ to do what needs to be done in the season we are in keeps us lifted in love and longing to be like Jesus.