Live Dead Joy: 30 Days of Living and Dying with JesusSample

“I Will”

One theory of leadership presents three concentric circles. The innermost circle is labeled “Control,” the middle circle is labeled “Influence,” and the outermost circle is labeled “Concern.” The theory posits that we should spend eighty percent of our energy and time on what we can control. As we spend energy on what we can control, we are better able to influence what we cannot control and speak to areas of concern. Unfortunately, here in the Arab world and in much of life, so many things are out of our control. Psalm 27 gives us insight into where we can expend our energy.

I Will Not Fear (vv. 1–3). Turbulence makes me nervous, and I have to fly continually. We worry about our children’s health, danger, political insecurity, harm, sickness, or thieves who barge into our bedroom at night bearing knives and bats. But there are even more insidious fears—the ideologies of our day are coercive and intimidating. We can determine that we will not give in to the spirit of fear for “the Lord is [our] light and salvation” (v. 1).

I Will Abide (vv. 4–5). I am in control of my schedule. I determine when I go to bed and when I rise. In a biographical sermon on George Whitefield, John Piper said that Whitefield went to bed at the stroke of nine o’clock, even if he had guests and they were in mid-sentence. You and I can decide how much time we spend in the presence of Jesus.

I Will Praise (vv. 6–7). The text references “sacrifices of joy.” It is costly praise that delights Jesus. There is no inappropriate time to praise Him. Psalm 34:1 states, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The context is the time David pretended to be mad as he scratched the gates of Gath with drool in his beard.

I Will Seek (v. 8). I will be insatiable for Jesus.

I Will Trust (vv. 9–10). Change, betrayal, and death will only drive me to Jesus. Persecution will make me better, not bitter.

I Will Learn (vv. 11–12). My enemies will be my tutors. My irritants will be lessons. I will pray mercy on those who do me harm.

I Will Believe (vv. 13–14). My work will be to “believe in Him who was sent”—Jesus. On Columbus’ journey to America, when dissent arose among the crew as the journey grew long, it is purported that he wrote in his diary: “Sailed on.” I will sail on. I will believe that Jesus is worth any price and that God will win in the end. Jehovah will have the final say.

Pray for the Unreached:

Lebanese Muslims of Turkey

1,124,000

0.1% Evangelical

Pray that God would unveil the cross and that the veil on the minds and spirits of the Lebanese would be taken away (2 Corinthians 3:16-17).