CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 698

“Feeling Cheated”

Psalm 73:1-28 (ESV) … my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant … All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence …
——————————————
Have you ever felt cheated by people and perhaps by life in general? Perhaps you were laid off within a few months of qualifying for full retirement after giving decades of dependable service to a company. Often, we go through various trials and difficult circumstances and it feels like we have been ‘kicked to the curb’ of life as we watch the worldly people go about seemingly enjoying all the pleasures that this world has to offer. Asaph, the psalmist of our reference scripture describes his view from the curb as follows:

…I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind… Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. – Psalm 73:3-12

How can a Christian, a born-again believer and follower of Jesus Christ, keep from feeling cheated and becoming bitter in the midst of the pressure of tribulation and difficulties in this world? The answer lies in the sanctuary of God.

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end… – Psalm 73:16-17

In Asaph’s day the sanctuary was a separate, physical place of prayer where God’s presence was. For Christian’s today, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the presence of God resides within us. We only have to look to Jesus to ‘enter into the sanctuary of God’.

…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our
faith.. – Heb 12:1-2

It is when we take our eyes off of Jesus that we lose our eternal perspective. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we pine for what this world has to offer and forget that we are but sojourners in a foreign land with our citizenship established in heaven.

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. – Psalm 73:21-22

The root word for ’embittered’ carries with it the meaning of being leavened and made sour. Embitterment spreads like yeast and affects the whole person and those around you. By maintaining our focus on Jesus and serving Him in every context of our lives we can avoid feeling cheated and experience His joy and peace as God develops our character and we learn contentment.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds…- James 1:2-4
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. – Phil 4:11

Be aware of the sanctuary principle that God’s presence is continually with you and your focus and perspective will remain on Jesus. Then you can avoid bitterness and say as the Psalmist did:

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge…. – Psalm 73:28

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God.