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The Loss of a Friendship
Andrea Lende • April 29, 2021
Psalm 55:12-13
The Loss of a Friendship
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/The-Loss-of-a-Friendship-evu6bt
Psalm 55:12-13
“For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me – then I might bear it, nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me – then I might hide from him.”
“But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend.”
King David wrote an entire psalm about losing a friend.
And not just losing a friend but discovering a friend was seeking his destruction.
At the beginning of the psalm David is distraught.
He was afraid he would be persecuted and killed by his former companion.
He wrote he was distracted “at the noise of the enemy.”
I could totally relate to his statement.
Noise distracts and consumes me when I am upset.
And it takes me away from resting in God’s presence.
He wrote, “I would hasten to escape and to find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”
I have felt that way before as well.
Wanting to be anywhere but where I am, and the further away the better.
Then David grieved about his close companion turning against him.
He thought about the good times he’d had with him.
He wrote, “We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company.”
He was saddened with loss.
We suffer sadness and loss too when we lose a good friend.
Lastly, David sought solace in the Lord.
He wrote, “Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).”
I love how David takes us through all the stages of loss and how he finally comes to the end of it by giving it all to God.
It gave me pause to consider how impermanent the things of this earth are.
No matter how much confidence we put in something or someone, it is not permanent.
The only One Who is permanent is the Lord.
God is forever.
God is for us.
He will not let us fall.
Today I am thankful the Lord is for me no matter who may be against me.
May you find the Lord is for you in all ways and all circumstances even though it may feel like this world turns against you at times.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me You are for me. Thank You for reminding me You are the One Who sustains me. Even though this world may turn against me You are my strong tower, and You will hold me up. Thank You, Father, for calling me to You. Thank You for teaching me about You. Help me continue to learn about You and Your ways. Help me run to You to fulfill my needs instead of the world. Keep me Yours, Lord. Keep me Yours throughout eternity. Strengthen me to serve You as You ask. Help me love those You as me to love, Lord. Help me serve with joy today. Help me bless someone this day. Thank you for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you My child and will always sustain you in times of difficulty and in times of joy.
Response: Thank You, Almighty God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.