Uninvited Guest

ME

Have you ever played the game misery poker? I am sure that many of us have played the game without even realizing it. It takes two or more people to play the game. One person will start out saying something or someone that is making them miserable. They will go on in great detail about their misery until they have completed their turn. Then, one of the other players will jump in and raise the stakes by trying to convince the other players that their misery doesn’t even compare with the misery of the current player.

The game continues until everyone is in complete misery, including the people around them that were not even actively playing the game. Now that I have explained it, you can probably identify it or you may have even played in the game yourself. I know that I have broke out the Misery Poker game board on multiple occasions.

WE

The problem with playing Misery Poker is that it turns us all into helpless victims. No one really wins. When the game is over, we all leave defeated, discouraged, and miserable. We all become victims that blame everything on anyone other than ourselves.

In life, you can play the victim, or you can be the victor.

In his book, Louie Gigglio shares a time when he was playing the victim. He believed everyone and everything was stacked against him. In an attempt to gain sympathy from a friend, he sent a long text explaining why he was justified in his attitude and thoughts. He waited eagerly expecting a supportive response from his friend. Instead his friend responded with these nine profound words:

Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table!

In other words, don’t play the helpless victim. There is a difference between how the world should respond to adversity and how the follower of Christ should respond. To illustrate this, we are going to look at Psalm 23 from the world’s perspective. The words may go something like this:

I am my own shepherd, and I am a mess.

I don’t have everything I need. That’s for sure.

I wouldn’t know still water if it were staring right at me.

I haven’t taken a rest in a green pasture for quite a while now.

I don’t walk along paths of righteousness, but I know what fear and evil are.

I seek comfort wherever I can get it.

I can’t stand my enemies. I want to hurt them.

My cup definitely overflows - I’m full of angst, consumed by anger, sorrow, and rage. I’m so full I easily spill over. I’m packed so tight, it doesn’t take much for me to explode.

I don’t know what’s going to follow me all the days of my life, but I can tell you this one thing:

My soul? Not so great.

This type of living is a defeated lifestyle. As followers of Jesus, we are not meant to live this way. Jesus never says that life will be easy.

John 16:33 NLT

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

We will have struggles, we will have pain but we can take comfort that the victory is already won.

Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table!

Let’s look at the real Psalm 23 and maybe we can gain some perspective on how we can live like victors and not victims.

GOD

Psalm 23:1–6 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

YOU

Keys to Victorious Living

Develop an Even though…I will…type of attitude

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 NLT

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

What is your “even though” “I will” statement?

Even though I am going through tremendous financial struggles, I will trust God to provide what I need.

Even though my physical pain is great, I will continue to praise God for all the other blessings he has given me.

Even though I am anxious and worried about many things, I will trust that God has a plan and works all things together for my good.

The good news is that Psalm 23:4 shows us that God is with us. He is with us in the darkest times. In the difficult times. He is present with us in the presence of the enemy. He doesn’t abandon us, leave us, or forsake us. He is there to comfort us in those times.

Beware of uninvited guests

Psalm 23:5 ESV

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. It’s a table that only has two chairs. One for God and one for you. It’s an exclusive guest list, yet the enemies can see the blessings that God pours out on your life. They are not invited and this act shows them that they are defeated and the victory is God’s alone.

Yet many times in our lives we allow uninvited guests like shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, worry, and sorry to sit down at the exclusive table that is meant for only God and us.

Who is an uninvited guest that you are allowing to dine at the table that is meant for only you and God?

Reflect regularly on the power of God

Do we truly understand the magnitude of God’s power?

It seems like we are always placing human limitations on an infinite God. His power is amazing and his power through us can do things that we act like is impossible.

Ephesians 1:19–23 NLT

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Jesus is greater than your depression. Jesus is greater than your fear. Jesus is greater than your sorrow. His power is above everything. He conquered death. He rules over all things of this world and the world to come. He is not powerless or bound by human limitations. He is the All-Mighty!

What would happen if we started to live in the realization of the awesome power of God?

Would anything be impossible?

So today, we have a choice. We can play the victim or we can be the victor.

What is your choice today?

Have you given up hope?

Are you counting your problems instead of your blessings?

Which enemies are you allowing to sit at your table?