When I asked my husband, Keith, what he thought I needed to focus on for a Koinonia devotion, he quickly prompted me to focus on spiritual and mental health. He knows it will have a positive effect on our husbands and others. I asked myself what that looked like, prayed, and searched the Scriptures. I found that a first step to spiritual and mental health is often overlooked.
What if we focused on God’s presence, God’s nearness to us? Would that change our perspective and bolster our spiritual and mental health ?
Yes, we’re focused on our mental and spiritual health today more than ever. Sometimes in that order rather than spiritual health first.
When we examine the reason behind our efforts to improve our mental and spiritual health, we might be surprised.
Has our focus been for the benefit of others or just for our benefit?
What if we focused on God’s presence in our lives?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One [plural, our Triune God] is insight [understanding].” (Proverbs 9:10 ESV emphasis added)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:10 ESV emphasis added)
Hebrews 12:28-29 gives us a picture of what it means to fear the LORD (Yahweh, the Self-Existing One).
“Therefore, since we [Christians] are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.” [Hebrews 12:28-29 LSB, emphasis added]
The word for “fear” here means “reverence, respect, and awe;” it can also mean “terror” in other instances.
When we respect a person or are in awe of that person, we want to be around them. We value their presence. Our focus may be to learn from the person or please that individual.
Dave and Ann Wilson write in Vertical Marriage what our focus should be in life and in marriage.
“Let’s say it like this: apart from God’s daily intervention you can do nothing to help your marriage. So then, a vertical mindset shouldn’t be the supplement to the tips, tricks, and strategies for growing a healthy marriage, it should be the main course.” (Dave and Ann Wilson, Vertical Marriage, p. 220)
God’s Presence
The introduction to Psalm 34 states, “Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.” This is a reference to 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David was running from Saul and went to live in Gath, a Philistine city. He pretended he was crazy, but Abimelech ran him out of the city.
But David remembers how God saved him from Abimelech.
“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together! I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:1-8 ESV)
Are you remembering how God has worked in your life? Are you praising God for His goodness?
Saul hunted for David to kill him. Abimelech chased him out of Gath.
What did David do? David called on the LORD (Yahweh, the Self-Existing One) and God delivered him.
First Focus
Because He is our life, our first focus must be upon His presence in our lives. When we turn our eyes upon God, we’re acknowledging God’s presence. Remember, we’re to pray without ceasing.
I’m reading Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. In Volume 2, he writes about prayer.
“Prayer means speaking to God, forgetting ourselves, and realizing His presence.” (Volume 2, p. 52)
Forgetting ourselves and remembering that God is with us.
We remember that God is with us. Praise wells up within us. Then, we state our needs and move forward.
From Focus to Prayer
David prayed and God answered him. He asked for protection and ran. Then David praised the Lord.
This man after God’s own heart boasted in the Lord, and he magnified and exalted God. He encouraged others to do the same.
Are you magnifying and exalting God?
When have you encouraged others to magnify God with you?
David meditated on the holiness and goodness of God. He also acknowledged that those who look upon God are radiant. They shine, beam, and sparkle. Radiant people are cheerful, and their basking in the Lord flows together like a river or stream for others to enjoy.
Are you sparkling? Have others noticed?
Do they seek refreshment from your radiant stream?
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. … This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:4; 6, emphasis added)
The Lord heard and answered. Our heavenly Father, our Abba, hears our cries and saves us.
David Guzik writes about verse 6.
He was the poor man who cried out to God, and God graciously answered.
- A cry is short, and not sweet.
- A cry is brief, and bitter.
- A cry is the language of pain.
- A cry is a natural production.
- A cry has much meaning and no music.
Have you cried out to Abba?
Abba created you. He lovingly formed your husband. Our Creator fashioned your family, friends, and neighbors. Our Father cares about our earthly needs as well as our spiritual needs, and He provides.
Prayer Begins With Praise
Notice that David began the psalm by praising the Lord. Jesus taught His disciples the pattern of prayer to use. He began in Matthew 6:9.
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” (emphasis added)
After praise and acknowledgement of God’s holy nature, then Jesus taught the disciples to pray for their earthly needs.
Prayer Continues with Petition
We cry out for God’s intervention in our suffering, our needs, and our hurts. God provides for those who revere Him.
“Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:9-10 ESV, emphasis added)
God’s intervention reminds us that He is with those who fear Him. Our loving Father provides for us. He is our life. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Through Jesus, we are with our Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
God Is With You
Almighty God tells His people, “I am with you.” That exact phrase appears in the Old and New Testaments 18 times.
Our compassionate Father is with you, dear friends. In Psalm 34:18, David writes that God is near us when we are brokenhearted. We’re brokenhearted, but we’re focused on God.
Like Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14, we choose to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead. We press toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We set our minds on things above and not on our troubles, our hurts, our disappointments, (Colossians 3:2). Yes, we acknowledge them and ask God to act.
Then, we focus on God and His presence, for we know that His plans for us are good. We meditate on His nature, Scripture, goodness, holiness, blessings, promises, and more. We ask Him to reveal to us how He sees others, including our husbands.
Have you asked God to help you see your husband and others as He sees them? Did you smile?
Remembering God Is With Us
When we’re troubled, how do we remember God is with us?
We remember His works in our lives, and we meditate on His Word.
- “I will ponder all Your work, and meditate on Your mighty deeds.” [Psalm 77:12 ESV]
- “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.” (Psalm 119:15 ESV)
- “Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works.” (Psalm 119:27 ESV)
- “I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:48 ESV]
- “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands.” (Psalm 143:5 ESV)
- “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.” (Psalm 145:5 ESV)
God is with us. He is beside us. Our loving Father is near us when we are brokenhearted and need help.
We are in the presence of God.
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)
My friends, walk in the presence of God Almighty, our loving Father, our Abba! For He is your peace. Jesus is your radiance. The Holy Spirit gives you His wisdom and understanding.
As a radiant and wise person whose focus is upon God, His grace, His mercy, His goodness, and His lovingkindness, others will notice. They may even respond in delight.
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