Psalm 20 - Boasting in the Name of the Lord

What a week we have had here in Queensland - as my trusty thesaurus calls them - `victories, successes, triumphs, positive results, achievements' - and the list goes go.

We saw our firefighters come home to a heroes welcome after helping NSW fight the savage blazes in the Blue Mountains.  We saw the Churches and a community working together with the police to find a lost Autistic boy on the Gold Coast.  And then there was Monday night when young Demi Em reached her dream and `beat the boys' in X Factor.

What has made these `VICTORIES' even greater, is that in all three instances, we have seen people in the paper, on FACEBOOK and even on live TV, giving glory to the Lord - not boasting in `chariots and horses' but `raising their banners for the Lord', and letting the world know, that without God on their side, there would be no victory.

I am not saying it is wrong to take glory in our own successes, triumphs, achievements and positives results. Our firefighters, policeman, chaplains, communities, churches and of course young Demi deserve their praise - they worked hard to reach their achieved goals, and have every right to feel good about themselves. But wasn't it great to see how they were willing to give their ultimate glory to God.

David was a great King and fought some great battles and he had every right to feel good about himself.   Still, he knew the truth - that with God on his side - to answer his prayers when he called on his name , to give him strength when he needed it, to help his plans succeed, there would be no VICTORY; so he would  `RAISE HIS BANNER FOR THE LORD' and `BOAST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD', and encourage His people to do the same. And hopefully, the Lord would continually to look favourably upon them with continued victories, successes, triumphs, positive results and achievements."

Lets's continually do the same in our own land!

1. Can you think of a situation this week where you can raise your banner for the Lord and boast in His name? 

"In times of trouble may the Lord answer your cry. May the God of Jacob keep you from all harm. May he send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem." Psalm 20:1&2

"May he grant you hearts desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers." Psalm 20:4&5

"Some nations boast in their chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:8

The Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, Tyndale House Publishers.