Four or five months ago, I felt led to personalize Psalm 20. Thousands of people have since personalized the scriptures on our website www.haroldherring.com including folks in over 40 countries.

Early yesterday morning and I do mean early. . .I was drawn back to Psalm 20 which I’m going to personalize for you. . .using various names.

1 May the Lord answer [Randy] in the day of trouble!  May the name of the God of Jacob set [Randy] up on high [and defend him];

2 Send [Laurel] help from the sanctuary and support, refresh, and strengthen her from Zion;

3 Remember all [Fred’s] offerings and accept his burnt sacrifice. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

4 May He grant [Diane] according to her heart’s desire and fulfill all her plans.

Are you feeling pressure in your everyday life?  On the job. . .in your finances. . .at home either in your role as a spouse or a parent.

Does it seem that sometimes the pressure is almost overbearing?

Peter Marshal, a former Chaplain of the United States Senate once said:

“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”

Perhaps, we need to catch a visual of ourselves becoming like the Hope diamond. . .the most famous of all precious stones.

There seems to be four main causes of pressure. . .whether externally or internally generated.

Do you remember being told in school to “pay attention?”

Perhaps you were day dreaming. . . if so, don’t be reluctant to admit it. . .I happen to be one of those who believe day dreaming is a good thing.

Nevertheless, the teacher wanted you to focus on what she or he was teaching because the teacher knew you would need to know the material. . .either in life or at test time or both.

We should never miss anything that will either prepare us for the workplace, marketplace or the home place.

God is continually looking for people “whose heart is loyal to Him.”

Is God looking for you?  I believe He is.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says:

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.. . .”

God is not sitting back in heaven. . .watching the Dallas Cowboys play football. . .He’s continually looking for someone. . .searching the whole world over.

Why is He looking for the right people?

Does He have a job for them?   Not necessarily.

Stop looking at your circumstances.  Create the circumstances you want instead of the ones you’ve got.

Dictionary.com defines circumstances as:

“a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner, agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor:”

Let me tell you one fact that can’t be modified or changed.

Jesus saves.  Jesus heals.  Jesus delivers.  Jesus changes things which the world thinks can’t be changed.

I should never worry about circumstances. . .because I have the authority, wisdom and access to create any and every circumstance I desire.

Your circumstances don’t determine your destiny. . .they just reflect your current location . . . and what you’re doing or not doing at the moment.