The LORD God In Our Midst

Reading:  Zephaniah 2,3
My Verse:  "The LORD God is in your midst,
                        a mighty one who will save;
                        He will rejoice over you with gladness;
                        He will quiet you by his love;
                        He will exult over you with loud singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

Love this bright gem within these books of such doom!  Here I am reminded of God's true purpose for his creation.  He created us that we might know and enjoy Him and He us!

Zephaniah speaks here of the "day of the anger of the LORD" - that day LORD God when you will return to this earth.  That day we, your followers, look forward to with great anticipation.  That day unbelievers dread as they will be compelled to answer for their unbelief.

The idea of You, LORD God within our very midst is both scary and exciting.  I cannot even begin to imagine what it will be like, only that I will be all too aware of my shortcomings, my weakness and unworthiness.

Love the phrase "a mighty one who will save."  How I need reminding of that, of how You and You only can save us from the dreadful bonds of sin.  John 14:6.

I have a hard time visualizing how You "will rejoice over [me] with gladness."  But this does cause me to look forward to that day of Your return for I know I will be filled with gladness, Your gladness.
It is such a pleasant feeling when one is complemented.  One feels a warm inner glow - I know this will be ten fold to be "rejoiced over" by You, LORD God.


This phrase is especially wonderful.  "He will quiet you by his love."  Amidst all the rejoicing and gladness there will be a quiet inner peace and safeness within my heart and mind.  We will know You LORD God.  Psalm 23 will become so very real.

   "He makes me lie down in green pastures.
     He leads me beside still waters.
     He restores my soul.
     He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

    "Be still, and know that I am God . . ." (Psalm 46:10).

The final thought here that "He will exult over you with loud singing."  How does one even begin to imagine what it will sound like to hear You sing, LORD God?  To have You exult over me is too wonderful.

Thank you for this.  Yes, there will be much sadness for those who refuse You and yet You are coming.  You will have that final judgement.  And,  oh the rejoicing and gladness spoken here is most wonderful to anticipate!

A Prayer for the World: Psalm 23

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Complacency - Smug Self Satisfaction

Reading:  Zephaniah 1
My Verse:  ". . . I will punish the men
                       who are complacent,
                       those who say in their hearts,
                          The LORD will not do good,
                          nor will he do ill"  (Zephaniah 1:12).

Complacency is an interesting concept.

     1.  My online dictionary:  a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like.  Self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
                                              
     2.  Oxford dictionary:  a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievement.
                                       
     3.  Merriam-Webster:  self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.  An instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction

     4.  Cambridge Dictionary:  a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
                                                
Some synonyms for complacency:
        conceit, license, indulgence, presumptuousness, licentiousness . . .

Some interesting quotes re complacency:
     "You will never be entirely comfortable.  This is the truth behind the champion - he is always fighting something.  To do otherwise is to settle." -Julien Smith, The Finch

    "You all know," said the Guide, "that security is mortals' greatest enemy."  -CSLewis, The Pilgrim's Regress

     "It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us."
        -Isaac Disraeli
   
You, LORD God, warn us throughout scripture of the deadliness of this kind of attitude.  It is false, a false sense of security.

"And I'll say to myself, 
   "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.  
   Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry" (Luke 12:19).

"This is the way of an adulterous woman; 
   She eats and wipes her mouth and says,
    "I've done nothing wrong" (Proverbs 30:20).

"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them 
   will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matthew 7:26).

"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, 
   and the complacency of fools will destroy them . . . (Proverbs 1:32).

"So, if you think you are standing firm,
   be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Finally, what You say to those who choose to be complacent should awaken one out of this state of smug self satisfaction.

"But God said to him, 'You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded of you.
   Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Luke 12:20).

Thank You, LORD God for this reminder about complacency.  To be complacent about anything is to be lazy, careless.  I am afraid I am often guilty of this - help me today to keep my eyes focused on You and on that person You would have me to be.

Awareness That Sets You Up To Win

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!