Project Positive!

Scripture

Psa. 20:0   To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1     The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
        The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2     May he send you help from the sanctuary,
        and give you support from Zion.
3     May he remember all your offerings,
        and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
 
Psa. 20:4        May he grant you your heart’s desire,
        and fulfill all your plans.
5     May we shout for joy over your victory,
        and in the name of our God set up our banners.
    May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
 
Psa. 20:6        Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed;
        he will answer him from his holy heaven
        with mighty victories by his right hand.
7     Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
        but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.
8     They will collapse and fall,
        but we shall rise and stand upright.
 
Psa. 20:9        Give victory to the king, O LORD;
        answer us when we call.

Observation

David could certainly have complained about his life. There were lots of rotten things that happened to him through the years and especially in his relationship with Saul. It would seem that the “system” was out to get him and to bring him down.

David continued to cry out to God for his help and salvation and he believed that his pride had to be in what God would accomplish. Notice that his pride was not in his human accomplishments, but “in the name of the LORD our God.” The things of this world and the ways the world does battle “will collapse and fall.” Only those who are living and serving in the LORD will “rise and stand upright.”

When he could have been very frustrated, David chose to be positive. When he could have looked at his own personal resources, he looked to God. When he could have felt that all was lost, he believed that God was the victor.

Application

It’s time to be positive! There are plenty of things in this world about which we can be negative and it’s easy to feed on the negative, but there is also so much good! David could have wallowed in the negative in his life but he chose not to and he believed that God was the one who would get the glory and would see him through!

We serve the same God today that David served and I believe that God is challenging us to look beyond the horizons and not to be fixated on the negative. Bad news travels quickly and often supersedes the good that is being done in this world that glorifies God.

The past number of weeks there has been a lot of negativity within the kingdom. We are good at pointing out our short-comings and there is a proper time and place for that to happen. While Jesus was not remiss to point out the injustices that he witnessed, he also moved on to participate in his father’s kingdom activity in the world. A message or a parable pointed in the direction of the scribes and Pharisees was usually followed by a miracle! The world around Jesus celebrated what he was doing to touch the needy — feeding the hungry and healing the sick. Some of our favorite stories include the feeding of the 5000 and sight being given to the blind. God was glorified in the positive and Jesus’ works revealed to humanity God’s power which can break into our world and transform. That’s the positive.

So, while some of us (especially us Nazarenes) have been a bit consumed by the negative, what would happen if we celebrated the positive?

Today I would like to suggest that we take a little time to participate in project positive! What are some of the great things that we are witnessing in the kingdom?

1) An incredible response by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to the earthquake in Nepal. Check out this story, "The Man Who Stole The Rice."

2) The Florida Nazarene District assembly which celebrated the new ministries and are committed to planting 60 new works by 2020. They are celebrated a time of “pray and plant,” as they reach out to an ever-changing world. Dr. Gustavo Crocker ordained elders last evening in three different languages! That’s amazing.

3) The Church in Eastern Europe — making a difference and trying to break the chains of sex-trafficking. Have you heard? Check out my sister-in-law Teanna Sunberg's blog: "Across Cultures." 

4) Joel Tooley, Nazarene minister, writing sometime around 5pm this morning on Facebook says:  “Opening an emergency shelter, pastoring a church, taking care of widows, and making sure your kids remember who you are sometimes equals 21-hour days. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers!”

What would you add to my list today? Join me in project positive. God is doing great things in and through the Church of the Nazarene and beyond. Some may take pride in horses and chariots — but let’s take pride in the Lord. Add to my list — and share a positive story.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for what you are doing and may you be glorified! Amen.