Spurgeon on Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.—Psalm 37:5

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all. What a medicine is this for expelling envy! What a high attainment does this fourth precept indicate! How blessed must he be who lives every day in obedience to it! Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Our destiny shall be joyfully accomplished if we confidently entrust all to our Lord. We may serenely sing— 

"Thy way, not mine, O Lord, 

However dark it be; 

O lead me by thine own right hand, 

Choose out the path for me." 

"Smooth let it be or rough, 

It will be still the best; 

Winding or straight, 

it matters not, It leads me to thy rest." 

"I dare not choose my lot, 

I would not if I might; 

But choose Thou for me, O my God, 

So shall I walk aright." 

"Take thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill; 

As ever best to thee may seem, 

Choose thou my good and ill." 

The ploughman sows and harrows, and then leaves the harvest to God. What can he do else? He cannot cover the heavens with clouds, or command the rain, or bring forth the sun or create the dew. He does well to leave the whole matter with God; and so to all of us it is truest wisdom, having obediently trusted in God, to leave results in his hands, and expect a blessed issue. 

Spurgeon on Truth…

 The lip of truth shall be established for ever but a lying tongue is but for a moment.—Proverbs 12:19

Truth wears well.  Time tests it, but it right well endures the trial.  If, then, I have spoken the truth, and have for the present to suffer for it, I must be content to wait.  If also I believe the truth of God, and endeavor to declare it, I may meet with much opposition, but I need not fear, for ultimately the truth must prevail.

What a poor thing is the temporary triumph of falsehood!  A lying tongue is but for a moment!  It is a mere gourd, which comes up in a night and perishes in a night and the greater its development the more manifest its decay.  On the other hand, how worthy of an immortal being is the avowal and defense of that truth which can never change; the everlasting gospel, which is established in the immutable truth of an unchanging God!  An old proverb saith, He that speaks truth shames the devil.  Assuredly he that speaks the truth of God will put to shame all the devils in hell, and confound all the seed of the serpent which now hiss out their falsehoods.

O my heart, take care that thou be in all things on the side of truth, both in small things and great; but specially, on the side of him by who grace and truth have come among men!

On Remembering to Pray…

 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.—Exodus 17:8-13

These verses served as such a good reminder for me last night.  When prayer becomes weak everything weakens. The Christian life is a battlefield…and the battles we fight are not ours but the Lords. A life without prayer is a life without power. Without prayer there will be no victory. Without the Spirit of God’s help, we are hopeless, helpless and easily defeated.  He, unlike us, does not faint or grow weary. He is never discouraged. 

Beloved…We can’t do this life alone.  We need to pray…not just once in the morning or once in the evening but continually throughout our day.  We need to pray not only for the battles that we face, but also for the ones our brothers and sisters in Christ face. Our enemy is strong, and he is relentless.  When Moses hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur steadied and supported them.  May we do the same for one another. 

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.—Hebrews 12:12-13

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.—Romans 8:26-27

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—Ephesians 6:10-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:28-31

Father…Forgive me. So often I go about my day as if You are not there…as if Your help is not available for the asking or Your guidance is not desperately needed.  You would think the condition of my back and neck when I awake in the morning would remind me of my weakness and need.  Sadly, most days it just makes me grown and complain instead of crying out to You to be my strength.  Lord, use my insufficiency, my weakness and also my pain to remind me of my constant need for You.  Help me to remember to pray and intercede on behalf of those whom Your Spirit places on my heart. O help me to be faithful!   Help me to do as David tells us to do in Proverbs 3.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6

God’s Sovereign Care and Love

 Chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Joshua were some convicting chapters of Scripture for me.  What a reminder of God's sovereign care and love for His people.  What a reminder to me who, like the Israelites, often needs memorial stones to remember the wonderful things God has done and still does in my life.  God wants us to set up these memorials.  He wants us to rejoice in Him always.  He wants us to do this not just for us either...but for the generation that will come after us. 

He desires us to talk to our children about the marvelous things He has done in our lives.  He wants us to show them how the Lord blessed the teeny tiny steps of faith we took....He wants them also to know that when we took these teeny tiny steps of faith and got our feet wet in the waters of the Jordan...THE WATERS DID NOT overflow us AND that throughout it all OUR GOD WAS WITH US.  He wants them to know that it was not anything we did, but it was the Lord our God who did it all.  He was the One who performed all things for us and made all that concerned us perfect. 

The Lord was with Joshua and He is with us. The Lord exalted Him in the sight of all in Israel and when we obey Him and wait on Him as Joshua did, He lifts us up.   I love that as their leader Joshua spoke words of faith to the people God had placed in his charge.  Read them now:

And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."--Joshua 4:5

Wow...what a great thing for your kids to go to bed hearing.  Take a shower, brush your teeth ...tomorrow the Lord is going to do wonders among us.  Be ready for it...look for it!

Too often my kids hear me grumble and complain.  Too often they hear a lack of thankfulness in both my words and my attitude.  How much better if  I magnified my Lord.  How much better if my words and my actions matched always with what I claim to believe.  The faith of all those around me would be strengthened.  God wants lives committed completely and utterly to Him...He desires living sacrifices that glorify Him in both word and deed.  He wants us to dwell on those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report...He wants us to meditate on the praiseworthy.

As a believer, I can thank God in all things.  In trials I can remember that He works all together for good and that His goodness and mercy follow me wherever He leads.  In good times I can remember that also.    I can sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around me always, because my past has been forgiven.  My present is in Him who I can go boldly before to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  My future is secured in heaven.  Things may look pretty dark at times, but in reality, I am blessed in the heavenlies by a Father who holds all good things in His hand that is forever  stretched out in love toward me. 

Praying that my kids today can look to my example and anticipate the wonderful things God can and will do in their lives also. 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him.--Colossians 3:17

Only By His Amazing Grace…

 Deal bountifully with Your servant,

That I may live and keep Your word.—Psalm 119:17

I went about my evening last night thinking on this verse and praying that the Spirit would help me to understand its meaning. Before I went to bed, I looked up some cross reference verses.  As I read them the Spirit enlightened my eyes and confirmed what I had been thinking. 

David prays here for God to deal bountifully with Him…according to His goodness and not according to his merit. This is such a good prayer.  Beloved…in truth, unless the Lord deals bountifully with us…there is nothing…not one thing we can do in our own strength to serve the Lord. We cannot even take our next breath unless His grace makes it possible.  

Without His mighty life sustaining grace, we are dead in our trespasses and sin. It is His grace that saved us.  It is grace that preserves us.  It is His grace that enables us to obey Him and it is…as the song says…His grace that leads us home.  

I was comforted as I went to sleep. David’s words reminded me of what my heart already knows.  There is nothing good in me.  Anything that is good is of God and not of me.  I AM NOT sufficient for this life. I was not meant to be   My God, however, who lives in me, is. As I surrender to His gracious Spirit, I am filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, (not by me) to the glory and praise of my God.  I can return to my rest because He has dealt bountifully with me!  It is God who works in me both to do and to will for His good pleasure. He will complete the good work He began in me.  I just need to surrender and let Him do it. 

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.


Words: John Newton (1779)

Following Hard After God - Psalm 63

 A Psalm of David When He Was in the Wilderness of Judah.  

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.  But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. —Psalm 63

To My Precious Daughters... 

Oh God, You are my God.  David always personalizes his relationship with his God!  I, following his example, do the same.  He is my God.  How sweet these words are to me when I say them.  I belong to Him...He belongs to me.  All His promises are mine.  All His love and care are mine.  I have the richest of what heaven and earth have to offer even now!  I have HIM!!  He has redeemed me and called me by name.   Hour by hour He supplies my needs.  He guides and upholds my every step.  When I rest on Him, He does not fail.  When I trust in Him, my trust is not in vain.  He delivers me out of all my troubles...He does not leave me in deep waters, nor do the flames that surround, burn me.  He is always with me. No one, not even me, can snatch me out of His hands.  Nothing..NOTHING... can separate me from Him.  He is my treasure.  In Him I live and move and have my being.  He is my all sufficient God.  Sufficient for my every need.  He keeps me as a King keeps His jewels...My God, will never for a moment forget me.

David sought God early and always.  His thirst like a physical thirst would be heard.  He was in a weary land and had a weary heart...His desire was to be in the presence of His God.  He looked for Him in the sanctuary.  He looked for Him everywhere and would not be distracted.  He followed hard after Him, knowing  His lovingkindness was better than life itself.  David followed at His God's heels...he did not let him out of his sight.  The withdrawal of the light of His countenance was as the shadow of death to David.  He knew that without the hand of His God upholding him, he would soon fall. He knew that everything he needed was in Him!  

I want to long after God as David did.  I want to follow hard after Him...to look for Him everywhere and to have eyes to see His hand in everything!  Life here on earth is temporary...our God and His mercy are from everlasting to everlasting.  I want my soul to be satisfied feasting, as David did, on the marrow and fatness of my God.  I want His shade to be my sweet, sweet resting place.  As I meditate on Him in the night, I pray that He brings to mind all the times He has delivered and that in my weakness I will  remember that in Him who is sufficient, I have everything I need. 

Sadly, however, David knew that because he did follow closely after God that there would be people who would want to destroy God's work of grace in His life.  As David sought His God, they earnestly sought his ruin.   David was a man with many enemies.  But he knew that his enemies would fade and he would flourish.  He knew that they would fall and be victims of their own wicked schemes.  The pit dug for David, they themselves would fall into.  The hell they prepared for David would swallow them up.   He knew they were destined for destruction so he would continue then to rejoice in His God.  It is so important to remember this.  We do not war against flesh and blood, but against prinicipalites and powers.  When you follow hard after God, there will be some that will follow just as hard after you in an attempt to destroy your witness for Him...to ruin His work of grace in your life.  THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED.  The Lord looks at them and laughs...He holds them in derision.  He sees there end.  Know that God has His banner of love on you.  His mercy to you will not fail.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day!  I love what Spurgeon notes here:  The mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped but the mouth that speaks praises to God will sing forever!

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 

Love

Mom

Spurgeon on Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all. What a medicine is this for expelling envy! What a high attainment does this fourth precept indicate! How blessed must he be who lives every day in obedience to it! 

Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Our destiny shall be joyfully accomplished if we confidently entrust all to our Lord. We may serenely sing—

"Thy way, not mine, O Lord, 

However dark it be; 

O lead me by thine own right hand, 

Choose out the path for me." 

"Smooth let it be or rough, 

It will be still the best; 

Winding or straight, 

it matters not, It leads me to thy rest." 

"I dare not choose my lot, 

I would not if I might; 

But choose Thou for me, O my God, 

So shall I walk aright." 

"Take thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill; 

As ever best to thee may seem, 

Choose thou my good and ill." 

The ploughman sows and harrows, and then leaves the harvest to God. What can he do else? He cannot cover the heavens with clouds, or command the rain, or bring forth the sun or create the dew. He does well to leave the whole matter with God; and so to all of us it is truest wisdom, having obediently trusted in God, to leave results in his hands, and expect a blessed issue. 

My Heart…His Home

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.--Ephesians 3:17a

My heart is Yours, Father....I  surrender it completely to You.  You are building in me a holy habitation. You, the high and lofty One, the One who inhabits eternity whose name is holy, dwell in MY heart!   May it be a dwelling place fit for You...a place where you feel at home...a place where You and You alone have pre-eminence.   I want to say with Paul:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.--Galatians 2:20

You, my Jesus, are my sun, my moon and my stars.  You are my everything.  You make even the night light about me.  Take all of me.  Help my inner man to submit to the strengthening of Your Spirit by my obedience to Your word.   Perfect your love in me.  Fill me with all of Your fullness.  My desire is to live, move and have my being in your perfect love.  Root in my heart.  Envelop it completely. I want you to increase and me to decrease.   Cast out my fear and make me brave and strong...able to bear the trials that this life will inevitably bring.  Make me like the tree in Psalm 1 that is planted by rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither and whatever he does prospers.   You, Father, are my firm foundation.  I am trusting You...exercise Your Lordship over every aspect of my life.  

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our home with him. --John 14:23

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. --Luke 6

Believing the Truth…

 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.—Mark 16:9-11

It says in these verses that after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene that she went out and told those who had been with Him as they were mourning and weeping that Jesus was alive.  What spoke to me is that after Mary Magdalene told them the good news..that she had just been with Jesus…that He was risen, His disciples remained sad.  They went right back to weeping. Why?  Because their unbelief stole the joy that could have been theirs.  Believing the truth would have turned their mourning to dancing. 

There are so many situations and circumstances in my life that can cause me to weep.  

—Even though, I believe that God rules and overrules all in my life according to His perfect purposes and will.   

—Even though I believe that He works all things together for good in my life.

—Even though I know I can give thanks in all things because my God is at the helm and He is sovereign. 

—Even though I know that He is always with me. 

—Even though I know that all of God’s promises are yes and amen in His Son.

If I truly believe God, why then, am I, like the disciples, still sad?  Why am I not rejoicing.  The short answer is that I have not yet been made perfect in His love.  My heart is not yet fully united in believing my God.  

Oh Father!  I believe! Help my unbelief!  You are good and do good! You are faithful!  I so want to live as you want me to live…trusting You completely in all that comes my way.  Peace would then replace anxiety and fear because everything in my life…the “good” and the “bad” were working out for me exactly as You had planned from before the foundation of the world. My joy would be full because I would know without any doubt that my God was for me…completely and utterly on my side. Today, by Your Spirit, I will choose faith. Today I will believe God.  

For we walk by faith, not by sight.—2 Corinthians 5:7

But the just shall live by his faith.—Habakkuk 2:5

The Sacrifice of Praise…

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name—Hebrews 13:15

Under the Old Covenant blood sacrifices were very important. Under the New Covenant these were no longer needed because of Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. Instead we are to offer the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips that thankfully acknowledge, confess and glorify His name.

Beloved…it is so easy for us when we are suffering (or even when we are not) to complain…truly for me at times it can be like breathing.  How beautiful would it be instead to speak words of praise and thanksgiving to God as we went about our day.  I so want to be that person whose words reflect a heart that loves and desires to glorify her Lord. 

Oh Father!  Praise is so important.  Give me a thankful heart. I don’t want to walk and speak according to the state of my emotions. I want to walk in full surrender to Your Spirit in accordance with the commands and promises in Your word. May my hands lift up in praise and my voice in a sacrifice of praise to the One who is my all in all.  

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;

And to him who orders his conduct aright

I will show the salvation of God.”—Psalm 50:23

21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,

And declare His works with rejoicing.—Psalm 107:21-22

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You;

I will give thanks and praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.—Psalm 54:6

I will praise the name of God with song

And magnify Him with thanksgiving.—Psalm 69:30

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.—Ephesians 5:20