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Posted by David Kitz for “I Love the Psalms” @  https://davidkitz.wordpress.com/

Original post found @ https://davidkitz.blog/2021/08/25/making-room-for-god/

Making Room for God

25WednesdayAug 2021

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 10, Psalms

Tags Christmas, room for God, season, seeking God

Reading: Psalm 10:1-4

Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God (NIV).*

Enjoying the long view — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
On the day I wrote these thoughts on Psalm 10, outside my window snow was drifting down, and appropriate or not, my mind returned to memories of Christmas. Ah, Christmas! I love the significance of the season—time spent with family and thoughts of a baby in a manger.

But for many what a mangled wreck—what a gross distortion—this celebration of Christ’s birth has become. For millions of people, this commercial bonanza is completely devoid of any spiritual meaning. It is nothing more than a buying and selling frenzy—a pursuit of trinkets signifying nothing—nothing of eternal value.

In this psalm we see the deceptive signs—the misdirected signs of that season. Through clever advertising and marketing schemes we too were hunted down by the top-level merchandisers of this world. Perhaps you were caught in the schemes they devised. Rather than being a season where we seek the LORD, we too can fall into a trap. We can find ourselves boasting about the cravings of our heart. As the Psalmist says, we bless the greedy and in so doing, we revile the LORD.

The words of the Psalmist ring true, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

No room for God… in today’s world? In a perverse way it seems rather appropriate. There was no room for God in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. No room for God… no room for the Maker and Savior of the universe! That sounds insane, but then it seems we live in a world gone mad.

For you and me, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there was no room for God incarnate in Bethlehem, the magi were busy seeking Him. They were hungry to know more about this Redeemer of Israel and they crossed deserts to reach Him. They came to bow down and worship that baby in a manger.

Regardless of the season, or the season of our lives, you and I can set our hearts to be God seekers. In what remains of this year, let’s set our hearts to seek after the LORD.

Response: Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see You at work today. You are not distant from me in time or space. Show up in my world today. I wait expectantly for You. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you seen Jesus in others? How can you seek God throughout the week? What would seeking God look like for you?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=You+cannot+ask+God+to+make+room+for+you+in+heaven+if+you+have+no+room+in+your+heart&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwirvN_MjNHyAhXnrnIEHe8_BWgQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=You+cannot+ask+God+to+make+room+for+you+in+heaven+if+you+have+no+room+in+your+heart&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1Dn8AJYnfYDYLf8A2gAcAB4AIABTogB7BCSAQIzNJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=cswoYau7BefdytMP7_-UwAY&bih=870&biw=1365#imgrc=I0eSpt65L_lBoM