Think Like a Psalmist

“We ought to stop thinking like scientists and think like psalmists.” 

—A.W. Tozer

What did Tozer mean when he said this? Why did he describe our way of thinking as scientists? In this busy world we live in, we have forgotten to stop and smell the flowers and just appreciate God’s goodness and beauty. What is more alarming is, we have forgotten God. We have placed God in a box and have overlooked His character. If you read the book of Psalm, you’ll see how God’s attributes are revealed in each chapter. The psalmists knew what was important. They sought God in every trial, every victory, every time they cry, and every time they laugh. They knew God because they have experienced a very important principle that can be found in Psalm 34:8

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

What does it mean for God to be called good?

“God is kindhearted, gracious, good-natured, and benevolent in intention.”
–Attributes of God, A.W. Tozer (p.35)

Because God is God, His goodness is infinite and abounding. Guess what? His infinite goodness is the reason why you and I live today. How? Because of His infinite goodness, He created us. Because of His infinite goodness, He sent Jesus to take the penalty of our sins. Because of His infinite goodness, He wanted to be reconciled with us. Because of His infinite goodness, He does whatever he does because He does things out of who He is. But even though God wants us to experience His goodness, man has the choice whether to respond in awe of His goodness or to turn their hearts away from God’s character.

“God is good toward all who accept His goodness. And for those who reject His goodness, there’s nothing that even the Almighty God can do if He’s going to allow man his free will—and I believe in free will.”— Attributes of God, A.W. Tozer (p. 40)

Nature’s Learning Nuggets

On our recent Batangas-Tagaytay-Laguna family trip I intentionally sought to see God’s goodness and beauty in nature. Here are some of those nuggets:

• God created nature for us to be reminded of the beginning. In the beginning, man had a perfect relationship with God. Everything was good (God created the universe and said that it was good). We had everything we needed but we wanted more. So we decided to ruin God’s paradise for us by sinning against Him. But mankind’s story did not end there, because of God’s goodness He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him. Out of His loving-kindness, He wanted us to experience paradise with Him again.

• To capture the taste of something, you have to chew it slowly and that’s what I exactly did. I inhaled and exhaled and allowed myself to be still before God. We can still be still and experience peace despite the bustling era we live in. Just as the storm is calm at the center or the eye, we can be calm in the midst of chaos by looking above as we stand at the center of His presence.

• Think like psalmists. They learned from God’s handiwork displayed around us. They knew how to give thanks to God whatever the circumstances were. We have complicated life so much and have forgotten that we only need a few important things to live life. Learn from the flowers of the field, the grass which grows all around, and the trees that sway with the wind. I think they’re pretty content with just living their lives bathing in the sun, being showered by water, and gazing up above.

Life Nugget

I think our life nugget can be best summarized by what A.W. Tozer said about God’s loving-kindness (Yes, I am going to be quoting A.W. Tozer in a lot of blog posts because I’m going to start writing about God’s attributes),

“His kindness is something we must have. It must be a reflection, a lingering flavor, like an old vase that once held beautiful flowers. Though the vase is broken, the scent of the roses hangs round the vase. So mankind, fallen like a broken vase, dashed to the pavement and splintered into a million pieces, yet has something we call kindness.”(p.43)

Loving-kindness is a reflection of God’s goodness. God is good and He created us in His own image. Are you reflecting God’s goodness and kindness today?

“Thou art good, and doest good; teach me Thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:68)