No Buts About It

Posted on August 1, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. — Psalm 51:12

There’s a few terms I use when I think back of times when I’ve struggled the most, “stuck in the mud”, “spinning my wheels”, “stuck behind the eight ball”. These all refer to when I felt there was no way out or I felt so defeated that I had no energy for the battle.

The funny part is there were always clear solutions, I knew what to do but my response was always, “I know, but…” There seems to be a disconnect sometimes between knowing and doing, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. The path to resolve usually requires a difficult or uncomfortable turn of events, especially when it comes to conflict. Broken fellowship that enables unforgiveness is one of those events. We know the right thing, but the difficulty is bringing ourselves to the resolve. In Psalm 51 we see the response of King David when confronted with the sins he committed regarding Bathsheba. Nathan the Prophet had gone to David with an allegory in order to show David his sin.

This account helps me to see the proper path to going from “I know, but” to “I know and will.” The “But” symbolizes the fear I tend to have whenever the truth is revealed to a situation that requires my efforts. I like the pattern of Psalm 51 because it puts me in a position God desires,

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart, These, O God, You will not despise.”

At the risk of exposing myself to God I realize that I’m not telling God something He doesn’t know, rather I’m agreeing with Him which in return allows me to experience “The Joy of His Salvation.” This restoration of Joy is rediscovered each time I celebrate the salvation of God. This salvation began with Him reconciling me to Himself but it goes further, as I enjoy the continued deliverance that accompanies salvation. David was well aware of the relationship he had with God, David knew the path to reconciliation by restoring the Joy that comes with so great a salvation. He echoes these same sediments in Psalm 27,

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

I can’t think of a better way to turn the “But” to “I will” then meditating on the salvation from God, do you?

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves alongside her on full time staff. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 64-66 |You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all.” — C.S. Lewis

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes. Proverbs 11:7