Faith in Focus #38
A reflection from Connection Church and other spiritual events from the week
Faith in Focus is a weekly reflection on what God has been teaching me throughout the week regarding my faith. Whether it’s personal interactions, reading, or the Sunday sermon, God speaks through it all, and I hope this helps you focus on His mission.
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Sermon Reflection
Listening is one of the simplest commands in Scripture and one of the hardest to practice. Psalm 81 reminds us that God isn’t looking for empty religious performance but hearts that remember His faithfulness, receive His word, and respond with repentance.
Based on the sermon by Nathan Schapp, Connection Church Sioux Falls, July 26, 2026.
When God Speaks: Learning to Listen in Psalm 81
There’s no shortage of noise competing for our attention. Notifications buzz, schedules overflow, entertainment is endless, and even good responsibilities can crowd out the quiet voice of God. We often convince ourselves that being busy is the same as being faithful. Yet Psalm 81 reminds us that the greatest danger isn’t simply distraction. It’s failing to listen.
This week at Connection Church, Elder Nathan Schaap led us through Psalm 81, a psalm that revolves around one central question, “Are we truly listening to God?” He organized the passage into three movements that beautifully reveal God’s heart for His people. Remember (Psalm 81:1-7), Receive (Psalm 81:8-12), and Repent (Psalm 81:13-16).
The message was both encouraging and convicting. God has never desired religious performance apart from genuine devotion. He desires our hearts.
The World Behind the Text
Psalm 81 was written by Asaph and was likely sung during one of Israel’s annual festivals. The opening verses overflow with celebration as God’s people are commanded to sing, shout, and remember His mighty deliverance from Egypt (Psalm 81:1-5). Worship was never intended to be a mindless routine. Every feast, every sacrifice, and every song pointed back to God’s covenant faithfulness.
In verses 6-7, God Himself begins speaking, reminding Israel how He lifted their burdens, delivered them from slavery, and answered them in their distress. Before calling His people to obedience, He first reminds them of His grace.
That pattern echoes throughout Scripture. God’s commands are always grounded in His saving work. Grace comes before obedience. He rescues first and then calls His people to walk with Him.
Walking the Passage
Remember
Memory is one of God’s greatest gifts to His people.
Throughout Scripture, God’s people are repeatedly told to remember what He’s done. Forgetfulness often leads to wandering, while remembrance fuels worship and trust. Israel was called to remember the Exodus because remembering God’s faithfulness strengthens confidence in His future provision.
Yet remembering can become mechanical.
The festivals continued. The songs were sung. The sacrifices were offered. Outwardly everything looked healthy. Inwardly, hearts had drifted.
That same temptation exists today. Church attendance, Bible reading plans, serving, giving, and even ministry can slowly become habits detached from affection for Christ. None of those practices are wrong. They are wonderful gifts. But they become hollow when our hearts are no longer engaged.
Jesus confronted this same problem centuries later when He quoted Isaiah, saying, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
God has never been impressed by empty religion. He desires hearts that genuinely delight in Him.
Receive
The middle section of Psalm 81 contains one of the saddest moments in the psalm.
God says, “Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!” (Psalm 81:8).
Then comes the heartbreaking response, “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me” (Psalm 81:11).
Disobedience rarely begins with a dramatic rebellion. More often it begins when we slowly stop listening.
Perhaps we become too busy to pray. Too distracted to open Scripture. Too confident in our own wisdom to seek God’s direction. Before long, we’re making decisions without ever asking what the Lord desires.
Paul reminds believers that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). A listening heart is a growing heart.
Receiving God’s Word means more than reading words on a page. It means allowing His truth to shape our desires, correct our thinking, and redirect our lives.
The remarkable truth is that while idols constantly demand more from us, the Lord delights in giving.
Psalm 81:10 contains an incredible invitation:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
False gods always promise satisfaction while leaving us empty. They consume our attention, our affection, and our energy, yet never satisfy.
The living God is entirely different.
He gives grace.
He gives mercy.
He gives wisdom.
He gives peace.
Most importantly, He gave His own Son so that sinners might be reconciled to Him. As Paul writes, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
God isn’t withholding His goodness from His children. He delights in giving Himself to them.
A Fair Counter-Reading
Some readers understand Psalm 81 primarily as a national covenant text directed specifically to ancient Israel. In that sense, the promises of military victory, abundant provision, and protection are covenant blessings connected to Israel’s obedience under the Mosaic covenant.
That observation is important and shouldn’t be ignored.
At the same time, the New Testament consistently reveals the deeper principle behind the passage. God still calls His people to hear His voice, trust His promises, and walk in obedience through Christ. While Christians shouldn’t automatically apply every national promise to themselves, the invitation to listen, trust, and receive God’s grace remains central to the life of every believer (John 10:27).
The Turn
One statement from Nathan’s sermon has continued echoing into the week for me.
God doesn’t simply want our words or our actions. He wants our hearts.
It’s possible to sing loudly while listening very little.
It’s possible to serve faithfully while loving Christ very little.
It’s possible to know Scripture intellectually while refusing to let it shape our lives.
The gospel offers something entirely different.
Jesus doesn’t merely invite us into better religious habits. He gives us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Through His death and resurrection, we are forgiven, adopted, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to hear and follow our Shepherd.
There’s an old saying that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. That truth beautifully captures the hope of Psalm 81.
Israel repeatedly failed to listen. We repeatedly fail to listen.
Yet Christ never stopped listening to His Father. He perfectly obeyed where we continually fall short. His righteousness becomes ours through faith alone.
That’s why repentance isn’t returning to earn God’s love. Repentance is returning because we have already been loved through Christ.
Carry It Into the Week
Perhaps the greatest application of Psalm 81 is remarkably simple.
Slow down.
Before reaching for your phone tomorrow morning, spend a few quiet moments in Scripture.
Before making an important decision, ask God for wisdom.
Before filling every moment with music, podcasts, or social media, leave room to hear His voice.
Listening isn’t passive. It’s one of the most active expressions of faith.
The beautiful promise of Psalm 81 is that our God isn’t reluctant to bless His people. Unlike every idol that continually takes, the Lord delights in giving good gifts to His children. He’s already demonstrated that beyond question through the cross.
May we remember His faithfulness.
May we receive His Word with humble hearts.
May we repent quickly whenever we drift.
And may we discover again that the voice calling us to obedience is the very voice that first called us into grace.
Song of the Week: Keep Holding On - Jeremy Rosado
Jeremy Rosado has always had a way of delivering songs that feel like conversations with a friend, and Keep Holding On is no exception. The opening line immediately tells you exactly what kind of song you’re about to hear, “I know you’re tired of holding the weight.” It’s an honest acknowledgment of what so many people feel every single day.
Have you ever felt like that? Like you’re carrying the weight of your job, your family, your finances, your relationships, or your own mistakes? Maybe you’re doing everything you can just to make it through another day, putting on a smile while silently wondering how much longer you can keep going. The truth is, we’ve all experienced seasons where the burdens become so heavy that we begin to believe they define us.
But that’s exactly where the gospel meets us.
The enemy wants us to believe that our failures are our identity, that our brokenness is permanent, and that we’re too far gone to receive grace. Scripture tells us something entirely different. Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him, promising, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 ESV). Our identity isn’t found in the weight we carry but in the One who carried the cross for us.
One of the beautiful reminders throughout this song is that we were never created to shoulder life’s burdens alone. God doesn’t simply watch from a distance hoping we’ll figure it out. He invites us to cast every anxiety upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7 ESV). What a comforting truth that the Creator of the universe not only sees our pain but willingly carries it with us.
The chorus continues to point toward hope rather than despair. “Keep holding on” isn’t simply a motivational slogan telling us to try harder. It’s an encouragement to keep holding onto Jesus, even when our grip feels weak. The amazing thing about our Savior is that His grip on us is never weak. When we feel like letting go, He remains faithful.
I also appreciate how the song reminds us that redemption is never out of reach. No matter how long you’ve wandered, how many mistakes you’ve made, or how hopeless your situation seems, Jesus is still in the business of restoring lives. Throughout Scripture we see Him redeeming people who believed their stories were over, only to reveal that He was just getting started.
Maybe today you’ve been trying to carry burdens that were never meant for your shoulders. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’re too broken or too far gone. Let Keep Holding On be a reminder that your brokenness is not your identity. Your identity is found in Christ, who loves you enough to meet you in the middle of your struggle and walk with you through it.
So my prayer is simple. Don’t give up. Call upon the name of Jesus. Give Him your fears, your doubts, your regrets, and your exhaustion. Trust Him with the weight you’ve been carrying for far too long. As long as there’s breath in your lungs, it’s never too late for redemption. God isn’t finished writing your story. In fact, through Christ, the best chapters are still ahead.
Week in Reflection
Confession time. This week was filled with complete and utter laziness. I neglected my Bible reading, my prayer time, my household chores, and even my writing. All because I got addicted to a video game. It started innocently enough, just wanting to unwind for a little while, but before I knew it, “just one more” became the theme of my week. Hours slipped by without me even realizing it, and the things that truly matter were continually pushed aside.
Video games aren’t inherently sinful. Like so many forms of entertainment, they can be a good gift when enjoyed in moderation. The problem wasn’t the game itself. The problem was my heart. What began as a way to relax slowly became the thing I looked forward to most each day. My thoughts revolved around getting back to it, and my priorities shifted without me even noticing. Instead of spending time with the Lord, I reached for the controller. Instead of taking care of responsibilities that God has entrusted to me, I chose temporary comfort. Something that was meant to be a source of enjoyment had quietly become an idol.
It’s amazing how subtle idolatry can be. We often think of idols as carved statues or false gods from the Old Testament, but an idol is simply anything that captures our affection, attention, or devotion more than Christ. It can be a career, a relationship, social media, sports, or in my case this week, a video game. When something consistently takes God’s rightful place in our hearts, we’ve crossed a line that has nothing to do with the object itself and everything to do with our worship.
The encouraging part is that my failure doesn’t surprise God. He already knew my weakness before I ever picked up the controller. Through Christ, I don’t have to hide in shame or pretend I have everything together. Instead, I can confess my sin, repent, and run back to the Father who is faithful to forgive. As 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That promise isn’t an excuse to continue in sin, but an invitation to return to the One whose grace is greater than my wandering heart.
This week has reminded me that spiritual drift rarely happens all at once. It usually comes through small compromises, small distractions, and small decisions repeated over and over again. Before long, those little choices shape the direction of our hearts. That’s why spending daily time in God’s Word and prayer is so important. They don’t earn His love, but they continually remind us where our true joy is found.
So my prayer this week is simple. Lord, help me not to trade what is eternal for what is temporary. Help me recognize when things begin to take Your place in my heart. Give me the discipline to prioritize Your Word before entertainment, responsibility before comfort, and worship before distraction. Thank You that when I wander, You don’t slam the door shut. Instead, You lovingly call me back, ready to welcome me with open arms and continue the work You began in me. May I find my greatest satisfaction not in another level, another achievement, or another hour of escape, but in walking faithfully with You each day.
And always remember, God loves you, and so do I.
Connection Church in Sioux Falls is a gospel-centered community committed to helping people follow Jesus through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and everyday mission. Rooted in historic Christian belief and aligned with gospel renewal movements, the church exists to see lives transformed by Jesus. Learn more: https://siouxfallsconnection.com/who-we-are
