Psalm 73 is a Psalm of Asaph wherein he wrestles with a question that all of us as believers struggle with from time to time. Why do the wicked prosper? Life very often just does not seem fair! Often the wicked seem to have it so much easier than the righteous. Here are some excerpts from the first 16 verses of Psalm 73:
Asaph starts off by telling us that he was near to stumbling as he looked upon the prosperity of the wicked and was envious, he says, of the boastful. Pride serves as their necklace and violence covers them as a garment. They have more than their hearts could wish...they scoff and speak loftily. They set their mouths against the heavens and their tongue walks through the earth. They increase in riches and are always at ease. But as for Asaph...he says surely he has cleansed his heart in vain...he is plagued all day long and chastened every morning. (God lets him get away with nothing) Asaph's wages for doing good were affliction! Rightly, Asaph was afraid to speak his thoughts...keeping them to himself they would hurt only him but speaking them aloud would hurt and grief so many others....Asaph does not want to grieve, offend or be the cause of discontentment among his brethren...he knew that his speech had consequences, but he wants an answer!
Asaph goes on to say this in verse 16:
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Asaph did not understand until he went into the sanctuary of God...until he got the eternal perspective on things. Setting his mind on things above changed his viewpoint entirely. It was then that he saw their end. It was then that he saw how the wicked were brought to desolation in a moment and were utterly consumed in terror. That in reality they were set in a very slippery place...they were rejectors of God and hung over the precipice of hell every moment of their unbelief. As Jonathan Edwards wrote...they were sinners in the hands of an angry God. Asaph's envy was now replaced with a holy horror not only of their impending doom but of the way God dealt with them here on earth. This was not the way Asaph wanted God to deal with him!
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Now Asaph gets it! His original sorrow was not that the wicked prospered, but that God had arranged it so they would. This is what had upset the psalmist...why would God favor them so....it just did not seem fair! Here he finally sees that God had not placed them in these positions to bless them. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places....their positions were dangerous...God placed his enemies in these spots...not his children. He chose a more difficult path for his beloved here on earth to keep them close to Him. One where they would be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Their blessings...which was His presence with them always....would come as they depended on Him in the storms and trials of this life. As for the wicked who had been raised so high in this life...how great would be their fall. How dark would hell be in comparison. The joy they had in this life would make the horror of the next more awful....the contrast marked. Their fall will be great...without warning, without escape, without hope. They were like men living in a dream world that disappears upon awakening..coveting the wrong things, they have been fools living for riches that will vanish in a moment.
Asaph now understands and his heart is grieved by his own sin of acting so foolishly as to envy the wicked...even to desire to be like them! He tells his God that he was like a beast before Him. He had judged happiness the way men did..by outward appearances...by things attained in this life...how foolish! His faith had not been his sight. Asaph confesses his sin and clings to His God saying, "Nevertheless, I am continually with You." His "old man" might have gotten the best of him but his God upheld him always...his God kept his feet from slipping. He then goes on to affirm that God shall guide him...no more does he want his own way...he will be content with whatever his God has for him. O, would I have this attitude, always!! Afterward Asaph knows he would be received up to his Father in glory. The Lord's guidance would safely deliver him some day directly into the presence of His Father. Asaph could survive the present knowing that THIS was his future!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Draw Near to Him
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.--Psalm 73:28
The happiness of man is to be near His God! It is good to draw near goodness itself. In fact, not doing so places us in the greatest of dangers...we wrong our own soul. Verse 27 says this:
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish..
Our God wants our greatest good...He is the source of all good and He loves us at all times.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.--Jeremiah 29:11-12
The greater our nearness to our Creator, the less hold the world has over us...the less affected we are by its cares and its distractions. Access to our Father...going boldly to the throne of grace...entering His presence smooths our path and is a balm for all that might ail us.
Drawing near to God transforms us into His image...when we look to Him we are radiant. Our character and our walk or conversation becomes more like His as we draw close. Knit your heart together with your Creator...cleave unto Him. Put your trust in God...live, move and have your being in Him. Your soul will never truly rests until it rests in Him.
When you have done this you will know...you will see His goodness...you will teach and declare all His works and will never be silent because as it says in John 21:25:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
The happiness of man is to be near His God! It is good to draw near goodness itself. In fact, not doing so places us in the greatest of dangers...we wrong our own soul. Verse 27 says this:
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish..
Our God wants our greatest good...He is the source of all good and He loves us at all times.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.--Jeremiah 29:11-12
The greater our nearness to our Creator, the less hold the world has over us...the less affected we are by its cares and its distractions. Access to our Father...going boldly to the throne of grace...entering His presence smooths our path and is a balm for all that might ail us.
Drawing near to God transforms us into His image...when we look to Him we are radiant. Our character and our walk or conversation becomes more like His as we draw close. Knit your heart together with your Creator...cleave unto Him. Put your trust in God...live, move and have your being in Him. Your soul will never truly rests until it rests in Him.
When you have done this you will know...you will see His goodness...you will teach and declare all His works and will never be silent because as it says in John 21:25:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Prayer of Jabez...
The Beautiful prayer of Jabez...
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.--1 Chronicles 4:
9-10
The first several chapters of the Book of 1st Chronicles are comprised mostly of genealogies. As I read quickly through I came here to Jabez. Some of them men chronicled were characterized as unfaithful, evil or wicked but Jabez is singled out here as being more honorable than his brothers. Why was he different from his brethren? Jabez called on His God. Jabez was a man of prayer...Jabez served God. Jabez desired to do good and not cause hurt to others.
I want for myself what Jabez wanted. I desire the honor that comes from my God. I want to please my Creator...the One who died for me and now lives to make intercession for me!
Bless me indeed Father... with the knowledge of Your love...I want to be filled with all the goodness of who You are! Enlarge my territory...my area of service. My desire is to leave the fragrance of Your Son wherever I go. How beautiful are the feet of those who share your gospel! May many see and place their trust in You!
May Your righteous right hand guide and direct my steps....I want You to uphold me...I want You to keep me from falling. I want your hand upon me always! Keep me from evil and allow me not to grieve and hurt those around me. Work all together in my life for good...even the evil intended by others. Transform my sorrows into blessings!
Answer my prayer, Father! Keep me close to Your heart so I can pray Your desires. Like Jabez, I am calling on You my God, in humility and brokenness...."Lord bless me!"
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.--1 Chronicles 4:
9-10
The first several chapters of the Book of 1st Chronicles are comprised mostly of genealogies. As I read quickly through I came here to Jabez. Some of them men chronicled were characterized as unfaithful, evil or wicked but Jabez is singled out here as being more honorable than his brothers. Why was he different from his brethren? Jabez called on His God. Jabez was a man of prayer...Jabez served God. Jabez desired to do good and not cause hurt to others.
I want for myself what Jabez wanted. I desire the honor that comes from my God. I want to please my Creator...the One who died for me and now lives to make intercession for me!
Bless me indeed Father... with the knowledge of Your love...I want to be filled with all the goodness of who You are! Enlarge my territory...my area of service. My desire is to leave the fragrance of Your Son wherever I go. How beautiful are the feet of those who share your gospel! May many see and place their trust in You!
May Your righteous right hand guide and direct my steps....I want You to uphold me...I want You to keep me from falling. I want your hand upon me always! Keep me from evil and allow me not to grieve and hurt those around me. Work all together in my life for good...even the evil intended by others. Transform my sorrows into blessings!
Answer my prayer, Father! Keep me close to Your heart so I can pray Your desires. Like Jabez, I am calling on You my God, in humility and brokenness...."Lord bless me!"
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Divine Providence...
Thinking on divine providence this morning...something I so need to remember in the trials that I face. Our God orders some things and permits others. When He permits affliction to come into the lives of one of His (even though it originates in an evil mind intent on evil) He always goes before such events and it becomes to the believer of God, His providence to them. And God's providence to His saints is ALWAYS a good thing! It is what allows us as believers to say in the midst of all our misery and pain here on this earth,
"it is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.:"
Look at Job...his name has become synomous with the word patience throughout history. Why? Job did not charge what was happening to him as an accident, blind chance or even to Satan...he accepted them as from his God...his God whom he loved and trusted and said this when his life as he knew it lay in ruins before him:
"The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Read Job's conversation with his wife directly after he had been smote from his head to the souls of his feet with boils and had taken a potsherd to his skin.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Job saw the hand of His God in everything. Job's faith and patience has been an encouragement to saints throughout history. God took hold of the evil works of Satan in Job's life and worked them into His plan and brought great good out of them. In effect Job said with Paul, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purposes."
The end of Job's story is that he received back more in the end than he had ever lost. He came through his trials victoriously having trusted His God through them.
This same story is evidenced over and over again throughout God's word with the most magnificent being the overruling of the darkest of evil seen at the cross...the place where our redemption was secured.
E.M. Bounds sums it up nicely: "The providence of God goes before his saints, opens the way, removes difficulties, solves problems and brings deliverances when escape seems hopeless."
Fear not then, beloved of God....Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;--2nd Corinthians 4:17
"it is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.:"
Look at Job...his name has become synomous with the word patience throughout history. Why? Job did not charge what was happening to him as an accident, blind chance or even to Satan...he accepted them as from his God...his God whom he loved and trusted and said this when his life as he knew it lay in ruins before him:
"The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Read Job's conversation with his wife directly after he had been smote from his head to the souls of his feet with boils and had taken a potsherd to his skin.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Job saw the hand of His God in everything. Job's faith and patience has been an encouragement to saints throughout history. God took hold of the evil works of Satan in Job's life and worked them into His plan and brought great good out of them. In effect Job said with Paul, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purposes."
The end of Job's story is that he received back more in the end than he had ever lost. He came through his trials victoriously having trusted His God through them.
This same story is evidenced over and over again throughout God's word with the most magnificent being the overruling of the darkest of evil seen at the cross...the place where our redemption was secured.
E.M. Bounds sums it up nicely: "The providence of God goes before his saints, opens the way, removes difficulties, solves problems and brings deliverances when escape seems hopeless."
Fear not then, beloved of God....Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;--2nd Corinthians 4:17
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Unto God, My Exceeding Joy...
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.--Psalm 84:2
Father,
My soul longeth for You, my God! My soul thirsts and my flesh cries out for the living God! Bring me into Your presence...into Your holy habitation...into full communion with You. I will seek You early in this dry and thirsty land. I want to see Your power and Your glory in my life. I give it all to You....my soul shall be satisfied in You as with the richest of food. With joyful lips I will praise You as I meditate on You all the day long and my eyes will wait on You in the night watches. You are my help and in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows hard after You. It is good for me to draw near to You. My hands are stretched forth unto You. I hope in Your word...my eyes search it and find comfort. My flesh and my heart fails, but my God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
Life at its very best, Father, is empty without You. Life apart from You is without purpose...it is meaningless. I want to drink always from Your cistern and be refreshed. I want to walk through this life in You...relying on You...depending on You...going from strength to strength. Be my sun, my shield and my defense. My trust is in You, Father and I will not be ashamed. You will give me grace and glory and no good thing will You withhold from me.
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God--Psalm 43:3-4
Father,
My soul longeth for You, my God! My soul thirsts and my flesh cries out for the living God! Bring me into Your presence...into Your holy habitation...into full communion with You. I will seek You early in this dry and thirsty land. I want to see Your power and Your glory in my life. I give it all to You....my soul shall be satisfied in You as with the richest of food. With joyful lips I will praise You as I meditate on You all the day long and my eyes will wait on You in the night watches. You are my help and in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows hard after You. It is good for me to draw near to You. My hands are stretched forth unto You. I hope in Your word...my eyes search it and find comfort. My flesh and my heart fails, but my God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
Life at its very best, Father, is empty without You. Life apart from You is without purpose...it is meaningless. I want to drink always from Your cistern and be refreshed. I want to walk through this life in You...relying on You...depending on You...going from strength to strength. Be my sun, my shield and my defense. My trust is in You, Father and I will not be ashamed. You will give me grace and glory and no good thing will You withhold from me.
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God--Psalm 43:3-4
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
DEATH COMES TO ALL...
Death comes to us all. Both high and low and rich and poor together. The wise, the foolish and the senseless all perish and leave their wealth to others. None of them can by any means redeem their brother nor give God a ransom for him. The redemption of souls is costly...and it ceases at death forever. 1 Peter 1:18 is below...
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
Man without God is like the beast that perishes. They live in a body conscious state taking no thought for their souls. Like the animal they are thinking about the next meal...following after the lusts of the flesh. But of those who have been born again by the Spirit of Christ, who live and believe in Jesus Christ, Jesus said, "He that liveth and believeth in Me shall never die" (John 11:26). God will revive them and their dwelling place will be with him.
The sons of Korah said this about it in Psalm 49:
"Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?....BUT GOD will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me."
How beautiful is that. You can spend your life trying to get the approval of men or spend your life serving God knowing that He will receive you saying: "Well done, good and faithful servant....Enter into the joy of Your Lord."
Read Psalm 49 in its entirety....every line is like a well driven nail.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
Man without God is like the beast that perishes. They live in a body conscious state taking no thought for their souls. Like the animal they are thinking about the next meal...following after the lusts of the flesh. But of those who have been born again by the Spirit of Christ, who live and believe in Jesus Christ, Jesus said, "He that liveth and believeth in Me shall never die" (John 11:26). God will revive them and their dwelling place will be with him.
The sons of Korah said this about it in Psalm 49:
"Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?....BUT GOD will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me."
How beautiful is that. You can spend your life trying to get the approval of men or spend your life serving God knowing that He will receive you saying: "Well done, good and faithful servant....Enter into the joy of Your Lord."
Read Psalm 49 in its entirety....every line is like a well driven nail.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Show Me Your Lovingkindness...
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.--Psalm 17:7
Father,
Your lovingkindness is better than life...It is the rejoicing of my heart. You are my God who comforts me when my soul is downcast. One glimpse of You and Your kindness to me in Christ Jesus and my heart is lifted up and my spirit renewed within me. Blessed be my God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comfort me in all my tribulation. You turn my mourning into dancing and lead me always in triumph.
My desire is for You, Father. Show me your tender mercies. Hear my cry and bring me up out of the pit. Set my feet upon a rock and establish my steps. Put your song in my heart.
Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Father,
Your lovingkindness is better than life...It is the rejoicing of my heart. You are my God who comforts me when my soul is downcast. One glimpse of You and Your kindness to me in Christ Jesus and my heart is lifted up and my spirit renewed within me. Blessed be my God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comfort me in all my tribulation. You turn my mourning into dancing and lead me always in triumph.
My desire is for You, Father. Show me your tender mercies. Hear my cry and bring me up out of the pit. Set my feet upon a rock and establish my steps. Put your song in my heart.
Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Valley of Tears....
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.--Psalm 84:6-7
These are some of my most favorite verses in Scripture.
The blessings of being in the presence of our God and worshiping Him during our earthly pilgrimage here are not for the divided or half-hearted. No, the blessings come to those whose heart is completely surrendered to Him. Whose minds, hearts and actions are full of His ways. Whose eyes are focused always on Him. Blessed is the man who loves HIs God with all of His heart, with all his mind, with all his soul and with all his strength. This is the man whose heart can be filled with joy and find refreshment even as he walks through the most difficult times here on this earth. This is the man who can look back over the difficult valleys that he has passed through and can see the beauty the Lord has wrought through them by his surrender. This is the man who finds His all in His God and can comfort others with the comfort He Himself has received. His strength is spent in His God and he does not grow weary but finds both his strength and joy increasing as he journeys. The path shines ever brighter as he walks. His hope is in His God..and His God will receive Him when his time here is done. He will awake in His likeness and will see His face in righteousness and his joy will be unending.
This is what I want as I go through my Valley of Tears here on my earthly pilgrimage. I want to make it a spring...I want to surrender to His Spirit inside and trust the All Sufficient One in my time of trouble. I want my journey to encourage others in their own walk with the Lord. We all need times of barrenness and trouble to grow strong in Him. Strengthen your inner man by spending time with God and you will begin to see your adversity as an opportunity from Him to experience His faithfulness even more. Sing in your time of sorrow. Triumph in tragedy. Look for the rainbows. Our Lord will bear you up on wings like eagles. Immerse yourself in the water of His word and go from strength to strength on your own journey to Zion.
These are some of my most favorite verses in Scripture.
The blessings of being in the presence of our God and worshiping Him during our earthly pilgrimage here are not for the divided or half-hearted. No, the blessings come to those whose heart is completely surrendered to Him. Whose minds, hearts and actions are full of His ways. Whose eyes are focused always on Him. Blessed is the man who loves HIs God with all of His heart, with all his mind, with all his soul and with all his strength. This is the man whose heart can be filled with joy and find refreshment even as he walks through the most difficult times here on this earth. This is the man who can look back over the difficult valleys that he has passed through and can see the beauty the Lord has wrought through them by his surrender. This is the man who finds His all in His God and can comfort others with the comfort He Himself has received. His strength is spent in His God and he does not grow weary but finds both his strength and joy increasing as he journeys. The path shines ever brighter as he walks. His hope is in His God..and His God will receive Him when his time here is done. He will awake in His likeness and will see His face in righteousness and his joy will be unending.
This is what I want as I go through my Valley of Tears here on my earthly pilgrimage. I want to make it a spring...I want to surrender to His Spirit inside and trust the All Sufficient One in my time of trouble. I want my journey to encourage others in their own walk with the Lord. We all need times of barrenness and trouble to grow strong in Him. Strengthen your inner man by spending time with God and you will begin to see your adversity as an opportunity from Him to experience His faithfulness even more. Sing in your time of sorrow. Triumph in tragedy. Look for the rainbows. Our Lord will bear you up on wings like eagles. Immerse yourself in the water of His word and go from strength to strength on your own journey to Zion.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Your Statutes Are the Rejoicing of My Heart...
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:--Psalm 19:8
Feeling as David did this morning, when he penned Psalm 119. My God's law is my delight...truly they are the rejoicing of my heart. They are my counsellors, my songs, and my necessary food. Without my God and His word I would have perished in my affliction. Thank you Father that I am Yours and called by Your name!
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.--Psalm 40:8
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.--Psalm 119:14-16
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.--Psalm 119:24
Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.--Psalm 119:54
Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.--Psalm 119:92
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.--Psalm 119:143
And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.--Nehemiah 8:12
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.--Jeremiah 15:16
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:--Romans 7:22
Feeling as David did this morning, when he penned Psalm 119. My God's law is my delight...truly they are the rejoicing of my heart. They are my counsellors, my songs, and my necessary food. Without my God and His word I would have perished in my affliction. Thank you Father that I am Yours and called by Your name!
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.--Psalm 40:8
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.--Psalm 119:14-16
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.--Psalm 119:24
Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.--Psalm 119:54
Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.--Psalm 119:92
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.--Psalm 119:143
And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.--Nehemiah 8:12
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.--Jeremiah 15:16
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:--Romans 7:22
Thursday, March 29, 2012
When Doubts Assail...
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.--Psalm 16:11
Father,
Many doubts assail and my cares multiply epidemically! I am distracted and drawn in many directions at once. When, Lord, will I get it...when will I learn to leave it all in Your hands and rest? When will I be anxious for nothing? O Father, when my spirit becomes disturbed within me and in need of You...lead me...draw me to You with Your gentle cords of love. Remind me to take no thought for tomorrow, but to trust in Your faithfulness and goodness right at that moment. Help me to just, in that very moment, commit my way to You. Help me to take the manna that is just for today.
Your word tells me I am to be anxious or careful for NOT one thing. I am to be troubled for NOT anything. My cares divide my heart! They are fatal to my peace and my quietness of spirit. Worse yet, they make me doubt your faithfulness and goodness and start me down paths that are not Yours. Remind me to pray when doubts assail, billows roll and storms brew. Remind me to give each and every anxious, careworn thought to You.
Help me to rejoice in You...to let my gentleness (my sweet reasonableness...my gracious humility) be known to all men....help me to remember that You, Lord, are near. This is how I want to live, Father! Moment by moment, rejoicing in You...living simply, by faith, day by day. Praying that You do that work in my heart. I want Your joy to be my strength. I want to cast all my cares to You and rejoice knowing You care for me. As I do this, Father, You will show me the paths of life. In your presence I will find fullness of joy and at Your right hand pleasure for evermore.
Father,
Many doubts assail and my cares multiply epidemically! I am distracted and drawn in many directions at once. When, Lord, will I get it...when will I learn to leave it all in Your hands and rest? When will I be anxious for nothing? O Father, when my spirit becomes disturbed within me and in need of You...lead me...draw me to You with Your gentle cords of love. Remind me to take no thought for tomorrow, but to trust in Your faithfulness and goodness right at that moment. Help me to just, in that very moment, commit my way to You. Help me to take the manna that is just for today.
Your word tells me I am to be anxious or careful for NOT one thing. I am to be troubled for NOT anything. My cares divide my heart! They are fatal to my peace and my quietness of spirit. Worse yet, they make me doubt your faithfulness and goodness and start me down paths that are not Yours. Remind me to pray when doubts assail, billows roll and storms brew. Remind me to give each and every anxious, careworn thought to You.
Help me to rejoice in You...to let my gentleness (my sweet reasonableness...my gracious humility) be known to all men....help me to remember that You, Lord, are near. This is how I want to live, Father! Moment by moment, rejoicing in You...living simply, by faith, day by day. Praying that You do that work in my heart. I want Your joy to be my strength. I want to cast all my cares to You and rejoice knowing You care for me. As I do this, Father, You will show me the paths of life. In your presence I will find fullness of joy and at Your right hand pleasure for evermore.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
David's Example of Humility...
And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.--2 Samuel 3:39
"And I am this day weak, though anointed king;" Wow..I will not go into any detail about the circumstances of David that brought him to this point, because for this study what matters is what this statement made by David, says about the kind of man he was. David understood who he was and who His God was (is). He admitted his weakness not only to His God but to the people as well. What an example of humility and dependence on God he gives us!! I believe it is this kind of humility of heart exampled here by David that prompted Solomon, David's son, to humbly express to God his own inability to govern the people and his need of wisdom and guidance. Here is an excerpt from 1 Kings 3 after God appears to Solomon in a dream and tells him to ask for the one thing he desires above all others.
"Ask! What shall I give you?"
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Solomon wanted an understanding heart in order to rule God's people well. God was pleased with Solomon's request and not only gave him wisdom but also riches and honor because he did not ask for them. It is so good to know that when we feel overwhelmed, we too, can do as David and Solomon did. We can ask for wisdom. We can turn it all over to our God who is never overwhelmed and allow Him to handle it. David's trust in God and his humility were truly the secret of his greatness. He knew it was "not about him." 2nd Samuel 5:12 says this:
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
David did not seek his own glory...He did not seek his own will. He sought his God's! He was a man after God's own heart! He knew it was all about God. God had redeemed him! God had made him king! God had exalted him. David also understood that it was not for the sake of David that God did this, but for the sake of Israel. God loves his people and desires His best for them. If God is using any of us, it is despite of who we are. God, in His infinite mercy and love, uses the foolish things of the world (us) to fulfill His purposes, and to reveal to those He has placed in our lives His great love for them and His plan for their lives. So walk in the works that He has prepared specifically for you, and share His love with those He has placed in your life.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Shepherd of My Soul...
And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”--1 Kings 3:7-9
So often, Father, I feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities and circumstances. Beaten and battered....tired, scared and definitely the wrong person for the job you have given me. So much that I face in this world just seems too much for me to handle. A line from on of my favorite children's book comes to mind.
“And this mess is so big And so deep and so tall, We cannot pick it up. There is no way at all!” --Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat
My kids know this quote well. I have said it often when I am thinking they are feeling this way. It is my way of telling them that I understand...life is hard. Getting through it sometimes seems impossible. And then I point them to their God and remind them of who He is. My prayer for me and for them is below...
Father,
You change the times and the seasons. You remove kings and establish them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. You, Lord, reveal the deep and secret things. You know what is in the darkness....light dwells in You. You, God, rule in the kingdom of men. All any of us have is from You. Your inspiration, Father, gives me understanding.
I am like a little child before You. I do not know how to come in or go out. Like Solomon, I seek You....I seek Your wisdom. I seek Your understanding. I commit to You, both my way and my cause. You, O God, do great things...unsearchable and marvelous things without number. Open my ears, Father, to hear your direction. Open my heart always to desire Your presence. You make me whole...Without You I go astray and am like a sheep without a shepherd. I need You to lead me and go in and out before me. You are the Shepherd of my soul. You provide me with all I need and give me abundant life. You, O Lord, can pick up any mess...no matter how big or tall...You bring beauty from ashes.
So often, Father, I feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities and circumstances. Beaten and battered....tired, scared and definitely the wrong person for the job you have given me. So much that I face in this world just seems too much for me to handle. A line from on of my favorite children's book comes to mind.
“And this mess is so big And so deep and so tall, We cannot pick it up. There is no way at all!” --Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat
My kids know this quote well. I have said it often when I am thinking they are feeling this way. It is my way of telling them that I understand...life is hard. Getting through it sometimes seems impossible. And then I point them to their God and remind them of who He is. My prayer for me and for them is below...
Father,
You change the times and the seasons. You remove kings and establish them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. You, Lord, reveal the deep and secret things. You know what is in the darkness....light dwells in You. You, God, rule in the kingdom of men. All any of us have is from You. Your inspiration, Father, gives me understanding.
I am like a little child before You. I do not know how to come in or go out. Like Solomon, I seek You....I seek Your wisdom. I seek Your understanding. I commit to You, both my way and my cause. You, O God, do great things...unsearchable and marvelous things without number. Open my ears, Father, to hear your direction. Open my heart always to desire Your presence. You make me whole...Without You I go astray and am like a sheep without a shepherd. I need You to lead me and go in and out before me. You are the Shepherd of my soul. You provide me with all I need and give me abundant life. You, O Lord, can pick up any mess...no matter how big or tall...You bring beauty from ashes.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Christophobia: Malchus Flattened
Christophobia: Malchus Flattened: "I AM!" The voice was loud in a way that went beyond sound, into the realm of primal physical force. It blew us backward and knocked us al...
The Fruit of Persistence...by Rebecca
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”’ ~ Luke 18:1-8, NKJV
Not so long ago I read the parable of the unjust judge and was completely at a loss to understand how it could be encouraging. I should have just read Luke, where Jesus explains the parable Himself. Jesus is always the best commentator on His own words! Though the judge was unjust, did not fear God, and did not regard man, he was still capable of avenging the widow for his own sake - lest she annoy him with her persistence. So then, as Jesus points out, HOW MUCH MORE will the Lord, who is just, righteous, and loving, avenge us, His beloved children, when we are persistent? He will avenge us SPEEDILY! Oh, yes, He does bear long with us. He tarries His coming. That is not negligence; that is love. He is waiting for the fullness of those who will be saved to come in, and in the meantime, He is working in the hearts of His children and preparing them for glory. This in-between time, the age of grace, is for the best. However - once the time has come, and this age is over, He will waste NO TIME in fulfilling His word and answering His children's prayers. He will avenge His saints speedily. (Psalm 2, especially Psalm 2:10-12) Nevertheless, when He comes, will He really find faith on the earth? The whole parable of the unjust judge has to do with faith that endures and does not give up, not even when it doesn't see the answer it wants right away. But when the Lord does come at last, with the armies of the saints, ready to restore righteousness and justice on the earth, will He still find faith among those who are left? (This will be after the Church has been snatched up.) There will be the 144,000 witnesses, but who else? Precious few, Scripture seems to indicate. Many, many believers will have been killed for their faith. The earth will be all but devoid of it. There will be no one understands, who seeks God. And tragically, we can already see that day approaching.
But it is not here yet. God's Spirit is still active. There is still time for faith and faithfulness! What I can do today, while the Lord tarries, is persistently pour out my heart before Him in prayer. He hears. He cares. He answers. Persistence bears fruit beyond that of the answer to the persistent plea. Its blessings are manifold! As I cast my cares upon the Lord - talking to Him, looking to Him, drawing closer to Him - I am blessed, because He cares for me and relieves my distress. (1 Peter 5:7) As Paul wrote: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV)
May each one of us be found faithful in the day of Jesus Christ.
Not so long ago I read the parable of the unjust judge and was completely at a loss to understand how it could be encouraging. I should have just read Luke, where Jesus explains the parable Himself. Jesus is always the best commentator on His own words! Though the judge was unjust, did not fear God, and did not regard man, he was still capable of avenging the widow for his own sake - lest she annoy him with her persistence. So then, as Jesus points out, HOW MUCH MORE will the Lord, who is just, righteous, and loving, avenge us, His beloved children, when we are persistent? He will avenge us SPEEDILY! Oh, yes, He does bear long with us. He tarries His coming. That is not negligence; that is love. He is waiting for the fullness of those who will be saved to come in, and in the meantime, He is working in the hearts of His children and preparing them for glory. This in-between time, the age of grace, is for the best. However - once the time has come, and this age is over, He will waste NO TIME in fulfilling His word and answering His children's prayers. He will avenge His saints speedily. (Psalm 2, especially Psalm 2:10-12) Nevertheless, when He comes, will He really find faith on the earth? The whole parable of the unjust judge has to do with faith that endures and does not give up, not even when it doesn't see the answer it wants right away. But when the Lord does come at last, with the armies of the saints, ready to restore righteousness and justice on the earth, will He still find faith among those who are left? (This will be after the Church has been snatched up.) There will be the 144,000 witnesses, but who else? Precious few, Scripture seems to indicate. Many, many believers will have been killed for their faith. The earth will be all but devoid of it. There will be no one understands, who seeks God. And tragically, we can already see that day approaching.
But it is not here yet. God's Spirit is still active. There is still time for faith and faithfulness! What I can do today, while the Lord tarries, is persistently pour out my heart before Him in prayer. He hears. He cares. He answers. Persistence bears fruit beyond that of the answer to the persistent plea. Its blessings are manifold! As I cast my cares upon the Lord - talking to Him, looking to Him, drawing closer to Him - I am blessed, because He cares for me and relieves my distress. (1 Peter 5:7) As Paul wrote: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV)
May each one of us be found faithful in the day of Jesus Christ.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Rejoice Not When Thine Enemy Falleth...
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:--Proverbs 24:17
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep....Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.--Romans 12:14-17, 19-21
David truly understood these verses...he lived them.
"Do the sorrows of your adversaries make you happy?" Do you rejoice when an ill wind blows their way? Sadly in my flesh, I am very guilty of this...but then I remember my God. I remember His great love and mercy towards me. I remember that He loved me and died for me when I was yet His enemy..when I was dead in trespasses and sins. If this is you also, take heart and look to David's example.
Saul's treatment of David was demonic and yet David praised him and treated him with respect and kindness. David did not do evil to those who did evil to him. He overcame evil with good and left vengeance and retribution to His God. The psalmist believed God's promise that he would be the King of Israel some day and obeyed even when all told him otherwise ....even when darkness and despair surrounded him. David understood that he could not control the people or his circumstances, but he could control his responses to them. David placed His trust in God and went from strength to strength. I so want to walk as David walked, by faith and not by sight...obeying and waiting on His Lord.
The most encouraging part of David's story, however, is that he did not do this perfectly...and that in itself provides me (us) with yet another great example. When David failed and fell, he sought His God...He sought His mercy, forgiveness and grace. In His weakness, David allowed the Lord to be strong and God in His infinite mercy and grace used him to fulfill HIs purposes and to reveal Himself to not only the people around David but to us as well.
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep....Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.--Romans 12:14-17, 19-21
David truly understood these verses...he lived them.
"Do the sorrows of your adversaries make you happy?" Do you rejoice when an ill wind blows their way? Sadly in my flesh, I am very guilty of this...but then I remember my God. I remember His great love and mercy towards me. I remember that He loved me and died for me when I was yet His enemy..when I was dead in trespasses and sins. If this is you also, take heart and look to David's example.
Saul's treatment of David was demonic and yet David praised him and treated him with respect and kindness. David did not do evil to those who did evil to him. He overcame evil with good and left vengeance and retribution to His God. The psalmist believed God's promise that he would be the King of Israel some day and obeyed even when all told him otherwise ....even when darkness and despair surrounded him. David understood that he could not control the people or his circumstances, but he could control his responses to them. David placed His trust in God and went from strength to strength. I so want to walk as David walked, by faith and not by sight...obeying and waiting on His Lord.
The most encouraging part of David's story, however, is that he did not do this perfectly...and that in itself provides me (us) with yet another great example. When David failed and fell, he sought His God...He sought His mercy, forgiveness and grace. In His weakness, David allowed the Lord to be strong and God in His infinite mercy and grace used him to fulfill HIs purposes and to reveal Himself to not only the people around David but to us as well.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
“If It Had Not Been the Lord Who Was On Our Side."
"If it had not been the Lord who was on our "my" side,"--Psalm 124:1
I read the verses posted below last night before bed and began to think about Israel and how much they have faced over the course of their history...There have been many attempts to annilihate them as a people. All have failed. Israel has maintained its national identity despite being scattered throughout the world for almost 1900 years. No other nation of people have done this. Their very existence today is a testimony to our God...to His sovereignty, to His providential care and to the inerrancy and truthfulness of His Word.
Then I began to think of all the Lord has done in my own life. How He reached down and saved me when I cried out in helpless desperation and brought such beauty from the ashes that was my life. How He has been my strength, my song and my comfort as I face the many physical and emotional setbacks that plague us all in this fallen world. How would I get through them without my God by my side. Where would I be without Him.
I echo then David's words..."If it had not been the Lord who was on our "my" side,"
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”
I read the verses posted below last night before bed and began to think about Israel and how much they have faced over the course of their history...There have been many attempts to annilihate them as a people. All have failed. Israel has maintained its national identity despite being scattered throughout the world for almost 1900 years. No other nation of people have done this. Their very existence today is a testimony to our God...to His sovereignty, to His providential care and to the inerrancy and truthfulness of His Word.
Then I began to think of all the Lord has done in my own life. How He reached down and saved me when I cried out in helpless desperation and brought such beauty from the ashes that was my life. How He has been my strength, my song and my comfort as I face the many physical and emotional setbacks that plague us all in this fallen world. How would I get through them without my God by my side. Where would I be without Him.
I echo then David's words..."If it had not been the Lord who was on our "my" side,"
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Treasuring up Iniquity...
If you Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?--Psalm 130:3
What a blessing and a comfort this verse is for each of us! Our God does not mark iniquity!!!! As I read this verse I wanted to know what the word marked really meant. It is from the Hebrew word shamar and its biblical usage is the following:
1) to keep, have charge of
2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
a) watch, watchman (participle)
3) to watch for, wait for
4) to watch, observe
5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
8) to keep, preserve, protect
9) to keep, reserve
Now we, as humans, sometimes treasure up and remember one another's iniquities but God does not! Sometimes when we go through night seasons and heavy trials we may think or feel that it is God's judgment on us. Condemnation hits us hard when we are weak. But the truth is that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
David rightly says, O Lord, if you should mark iniquity who could stand? If God dealt with us according to our sins we would all be toast. Psalm 103 tells me that my God does not deal with me, His child, according to my sins, nor punish me according to my iniquities.
No, here is the truth...Jesus already paid the penalty for my sin. "The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" Jesus was "marked" for our iniquity. What a beautiful verse of comfort!
What a blessing and a comfort this verse is for each of us! Our God does not mark iniquity!!!! As I read this verse I wanted to know what the word marked really meant. It is from the Hebrew word shamar and its biblical usage is the following:
1) to keep, have charge of
2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
a) watch, watchman (participle)
3) to watch for, wait for
4) to watch, observe
5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
8) to keep, preserve, protect
9) to keep, reserve
Now we, as humans, sometimes treasure up and remember one another's iniquities but God does not! Sometimes when we go through night seasons and heavy trials we may think or feel that it is God's judgment on us. Condemnation hits us hard when we are weak. But the truth is that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
David rightly says, O Lord, if you should mark iniquity who could stand? If God dealt with us according to our sins we would all be toast. Psalm 103 tells me that my God does not deal with me, His child, according to my sins, nor punish me according to my iniquities.
No, here is the truth...Jesus already paid the penalty for my sin. "The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" Jesus was "marked" for our iniquity. What a beautiful verse of comfort!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
From Whence Comes My Help?
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. .The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.--Psalm 121
I lift my eyes unto You that dwellest in the heavens. You are my refuge and my strength...my very present help in time of trouble. You are the One who holds my right hand and says, "Fear not; I will help thee." The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One, therefore, my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed...and their disgrace will not be forgotten.
I can boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me. You, my God, will bear me up in Your hands. I walk in the way safely and my foot does not stumble. You are my confidence....I am kept by Your power!
You also, are my Watchman. You, My God, never sleep . You are always there when I need You. Your hand of protection is on me always. My eyes look up to You who is the shade at my right hand, my light and the One who goes before me always. You guide me with Your eye. You keep me night and day and satisfy all my needs. You are the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You do not faint nor grow weary. Your understanding is unsearchable. You give power to me when I am ready to faint and when I have no might You increase my strength. When I wait upon You, my strength is renewed and I can run and not grow weary...I can walk and not faint.
Oh Father, You are my tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge at night. You are my covert from the storm and from the rain. I am your beloved....Your hand is aways upon me and because I have set You before me always, I shall not be moved. I will never hunger nor thirst, for You, who has mercy, leads me...even by springs of water, you guide me. You my God will not forget me...I am inscribed on the palms of Your hands and am continually before You. Therefore, my heart is glad and my flesh rests in hope. You never leave me nor forsake me O God of my salvation!
I lift my eyes unto You that dwellest in the heavens. You are my refuge and my strength...my very present help in time of trouble. You are the One who holds my right hand and says, "Fear not; I will help thee." The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One, therefore, my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed...and their disgrace will not be forgotten.
I can boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me. You, my God, will bear me up in Your hands. I walk in the way safely and my foot does not stumble. You are my confidence....I am kept by Your power!
You also, are my Watchman. You, My God, never sleep . You are always there when I need You. Your hand of protection is on me always. My eyes look up to You who is the shade at my right hand, my light and the One who goes before me always. You guide me with Your eye. You keep me night and day and satisfy all my needs. You are the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You do not faint nor grow weary. Your understanding is unsearchable. You give power to me when I am ready to faint and when I have no might You increase my strength. When I wait upon You, my strength is renewed and I can run and not grow weary...I can walk and not faint.
Oh Father, You are my tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge at night. You are my covert from the storm and from the rain. I am your beloved....Your hand is aways upon me and because I have set You before me always, I shall not be moved. I will never hunger nor thirst, for You, who has mercy, leads me...even by springs of water, you guide me. You my God will not forget me...I am inscribed on the palms of Your hands and am continually before You. Therefore, my heart is glad and my flesh rests in hope. You never leave me nor forsake me O God of my salvation!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Your Gentleness Has Made Me Great...
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler to all those that trust in Him--Psalm 18:29-30
Blessed be the Lord, my strength. You are my goodness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and Him in whom I trust; Father, it is by Your grace that I am who I am. Help me Lord to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distress for Your, Son's sake....for when I am weak, then I am strong. Your grace is sufficient for me...Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Help me, Father, to glory in my infirmities that Your power may rest upon me. My heart trusts in You and I am helped. You are my heart's rejoicing and I will praise You with my song. My sufficiency is from You!
As for You, God, Your word is perfect. Your word changes hearts and converts souls. It is living and powerful, making the simple wise. It enlightens our eyes and directs us into Your paths which are mercy and truth to those who love You and obey your commandments.
You are a buckler to me...a strong tower. You keep me as the apple of Your eye and hide me under the shadow of Your wings. You, my God, enlarge the path under me so my feet do not slip. You, O Lord, are my sun and my shield. You give grace and glory and do not withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. It is You who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Truly there is none like You. You make my feet like those of a deer and set me on my high places. Your gentleness has made me great.
Blessed be the Lord, my strength. You are my goodness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and Him in whom I trust; Father, it is by Your grace that I am who I am. Help me Lord to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distress for Your, Son's sake....for when I am weak, then I am strong. Your grace is sufficient for me...Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Help me, Father, to glory in my infirmities that Your power may rest upon me. My heart trusts in You and I am helped. You are my heart's rejoicing and I will praise You with my song. My sufficiency is from You!
As for You, God, Your word is perfect. Your word changes hearts and converts souls. It is living and powerful, making the simple wise. It enlightens our eyes and directs us into Your paths which are mercy and truth to those who love You and obey your commandments.
You are a buckler to me...a strong tower. You keep me as the apple of Your eye and hide me under the shadow of Your wings. You, my God, enlarge the path under me so my feet do not slip. You, O Lord, are my sun and my shield. You give grace and glory and do not withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. It is You who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Truly there is none like You. You make my feet like those of a deer and set me on my high places. Your gentleness has made me great.
Friday, March 16, 2012
David at His Lowest...
David had backslidden and found himself in a place where he thought he would never be. He was among the ungodly Philistines and preparing for war against God's people. By God's grace he was rejected by the Philistines. He goes back to his city and finds that it has been burned with fire and wives, sons and daughters taken captive. David was distressed and the people thought of stoning him because their souls were so very grieved at their loss. David has reached his lowest point but what an example he is for us! What do we read that David does? He turns to God for strength...
"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."
AND GOD IN HIS MERCY AND GRACE GIVES DAVID THE GUIDANCE HE NEEDED! God in his mercy allowed David to hit rock bottom. He knew what it would take for David to turn back to Him...God does the same for us. He removes those things we are trusting in instead of Him until we have no other place to turn. Praying that God does not have to lead me this way...My desire is that I would not be like a horse or a mule who have no understanding and need a bit and bridle to make them draw near. Praying that I would surrender to His instruction and allow Him to teach me in the way that I should go...Father...draw me near and guide me with your eye.
"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."
AND GOD IN HIS MERCY AND GRACE GIVES DAVID THE GUIDANCE HE NEEDED! God in his mercy allowed David to hit rock bottom. He knew what it would take for David to turn back to Him...God does the same for us. He removes those things we are trusting in instead of Him until we have no other place to turn. Praying that God does not have to lead me this way...My desire is that I would not be like a horse or a mule who have no understanding and need a bit and bridle to make them draw near. Praying that I would surrender to His instruction and allow Him to teach me in the way that I should go...Father...draw me near and guide me with your eye.
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