Like Obama, Psalms 46 Comforts Me Too

With society and the world continuing to change, it has become harder for many Christians like me to live it in.

Everywhere you look, there is constant temptation. However, there are several biblical verses that have helped me and my family make it through the toughest of times.

The first verse is Matthew 6:33, which says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

This verse saved myself and my family from separating ourselves from God. Here’s what I mean: My daughter, 12, is a very talented basketball player and is years ahead of girls her age when it comes to basketball skill. In an attempt to provide her with better competition, for the past four years, she has played Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) basketball, which is widely known as the best of the best. She plays the point guard position.

The problem is that AAU requires youth to play sports nearly every weekend and all day Sunday, typically from February until August each year. By playing AAU, my family sacrificed close to half a year of church, thinking we are preparing our daughter for basketball, and positioning her for a college scholarship.

However, it did not dawn on me until a few months ago that by playing AAU basketball and missing worship each Sunday meant that we really were not putting God first in our lives. Instead, we were actually putting basketball first.

We did not realize that we had been blinded by the enemy, which is exactly how Satan works. He used something we love, which is basketball, to keep us away from God.

Finally, we decided that our family would no longer take part in AAU because we were not putting God first and that if we put God first, everything else, such as basketball scholarships, and more will be added unto us.

The crazy part about it is that our lives were much better before we became involved with AAU than it was when we thought we were doing something for our daughter’s future. We were spending, on average of $2,000 to $5,000 a year on basketball, plus games and practices took up six days of our week for half the year.

We are putting God first and we’re trusting that God will work it out to where the scouts will find her.

The next verse that has helped me tremendously is Proverbs 22:7. It says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. I used this scripture to get on the path to being debt free. The scripture is correct that when you owe someone, you do become the slave to the lender. I had accumulated well over $20,000 in debt, but with the help of this scripture, I have adopted cash only principles, slashed my debt to virtually zero, and I’m on pace to live debt free for the rest of my life.

Another verse that has come in handy is Hebrews 11:6, which says, ” But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Several years ago I found myself without a job and a family on the way. It didn’t matter what I did, no one would hire me. I was frustrated, tired, and thought my career was over.

However, things started to change once I stopped trying to use my connections and other ways to try to fix my situation all on my own. I just let go and let God handle it.

I put my faith in him and he delivered me with my own business.

You see, I was looking for a job when God had a business waiting for me. Now, I am totally happy with my life and where it is headed, but it only happened once I put my faith into action.

Proverbs 3:6, which says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths, has also been helpful in my life.

I remember back in 1996 when I could not decide whether to enter college or the United States military. I was heavily leaning towards joining the military simply because I had no idea where my life was headed, but once I asked God for direction, several events took place in my life to where the decision to enter college was pretty much made for me.

I know that it was only God directing my path because I have been able to use the journalism degree I gained in college to propel myself in various areas in life.

Lastly, just as President Barak Obama found comfort in Psalms 46, which he read to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, I too have found comfort in the first portion of the psalm, which says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

There have been many times during my life where I have felt alone or as if I had no one to turn to during financial trouble, personal relationship trouble, and general trials and tribulations that occur just by being on this earth.

I can honestly say that whenever I need God, he always seems to show up at the right time.

He may not show up when I want him to show up, but he is always there, right on time, which is why he is my refuge and strength, just as President Obama read to our nation for strength during the remembrance of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Source: New King James Version of the Bible


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