Ps 30

Ps 30:1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

:2 O Lord my Godm I cried out to You, and You healed me

:3 O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

:4 Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

:6 Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”

:7 Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

:8 I cried to You, O Lord; and to the Lord I made supplication:

:9 what profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?

:10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!”

:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

:12 to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

This psalm is headed up in my bible as the blessedness of answered prayer. That is an encouraging heading don't you think?

This is a good one to sing when God heals you or someone you love. Whether it is from sickness, sin's destruction, disobedience, division in family or church. It is a psalm of restoration.

When God allows you to go through a trial, look at it as His vote of confidence in you. He knows you can handle that trial.

Ps 29

Ps 29:1 Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
:3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters.

:4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

:5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

:6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

:7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.

:8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

:9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forest bare; and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

:10 The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever.

:11 The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

David appears to like thunderstorms.

David heard the Lord in the thunder. The God who can control a powerful storm can protect His people. Next time you are in a storm of life remember that.

Baal was worshipped as the god of thunder and rain. David wanted his people to understand Baal wasn't in charge of the storm, the God of Israel was and is.

Mt 6:14 Jesus said, “ If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you.

Hands that reach out in reconciliation freely offer forgiveness. Forgiving others, especially those who refuse to reconcile or acknowledge their own part in a problem, is down right difficult. The key is remembering how much God has forgiven you – then extending that same grace to others. Even after you've forgiven someone, angry feelings may still arise. You may need to exercise your choice to forgive again. And again.

At the heart of forgiveness is unconditional love. Only God can offer that gift perfectly. But He has provided us a way to work on how to do it,

Ps 28

Ps 28:1 To You I will cry, O Lord my Rok: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.

:2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

:3 Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts.

:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve.

:5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.

:6 Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications!

:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

:8 The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

:9 Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.

Sometimes we don't listen when we should. Hubby once told me sometimes he hears what I say, but he wasn't really listening. Ever feel like the Lord hears, but isn't really listening?

Here David must have felt like he had gone to God so many times before even in the same sort of situation. He may have thought God was getting tired of it.

God doesn't ignore us. Sometimes He wants us to wait patiently. Sometimes He wants us to seek Him more. One thing is true though, God is never to distracted to give us personal attention. Even though you might not see it, God is working on your side. His timing, not ours.

We should lay our needs at His feet and trust Him to do what is best for us.

August 8, 2013

Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

:2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.

:3 Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

:4 One thing I have desired of the Lord that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.

:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enenies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

:7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

:8 When You said, “ Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

:9 Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.

:11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

:12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.

:13 I would have lots heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

:14 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord!

My bible says this is an exuberant declaration of faith by David.

Where do you turn to first when your world starts to fall apart and fear raises its ugly head in your heart? Your spouse? A friend? Is the Lord your first thought or a last resort? Stress and fear are reminders to turn to the Lord first.

David had learned that lesson. God didn't just give David light, deliverance and security. God was all those things to David. David trusted in the Lord Himself, not just in what the Lord was able to do.

One of the best ways to bolster your courage is to remind yourself of who God is and to reaffirm your trust in Him. Let God know what you need. Finally, wait on the Lord. That's the hardest part isn't it? I am not great at waiting in general. I get stressed and impatient. I try to always be on time for things. I think it shows respect for the other person and that you value their time. Waiting on the Lord though should be different. You know what time you have an appointment or what time you are supposed to meet friends. God doesn't give a specific time. While waiting on the Lord, it should be a time of peace and rest. His timing is perfect. Ours isn't.

August 6, 2013

Ps 26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord, I will not slip.

:2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.

:3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. 

:4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites.

:5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.

:6 I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

:7 that I many proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.

:8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.

:9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men.

:10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.

:11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.

:12 My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord.

David speaks in his own defense here.

There comes a time in your life where you have just had enough. It's time to put aside that immature behavior, end a relationship that is compromising your commitment to the Lord, deal with an area of disobedience. No more excuses. You draw a line and aren't looking back.

That is where David found himself. He wasn't claiming to be sinless; he was claiming to be blameless. There is a difference. He wasn't claiming to be perfect. Blameless means sin is handled correctly before God and others. He was letting everyone know the whole intent of his heart was to do the will of God.

Are you done with halfhearted commitment to the Lord> are you ready to take a stand in your home, your church, with your friends?

August 2, 2013

Ps 25:1 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

:2 O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me.

:3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without a cause.
:4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.

:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.

:6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindness, for they are from of old.

:7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness sake, O Lord.

:8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

:9 The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.

:10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

:11 For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

:12 Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

:13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth.

:14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.

:15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

:16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.

:17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses!

:18 Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.

:19 Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

:20 Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.

:22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles!

My bible heads this as a plea for deliverance and forgiveness. How appropriate.

Do you ever get distracted while praying? David did and it is recorded for us to read here as a reminder we are human.

He starts to pray for protection in verse 2, guidance in verse 4. Then other thoughts come to mind. He remembers his past sins in verse seven. Then by verse 9 he is praying for guidance again. Verse 11 he is back to his past. Verses 12-15 back to guidance and instruction. Verses 16-20 more of his struggles. The last 2 verses find him shouting affirmation and trust in God, not only for himself but also for the nation.

This is a very private prayer that was just between David and God. Not every prayer is one that should be shared with others. It goes back and forth, focusing on main themes, but also addressing issues that come to mind. Don't ignore those distractions during prayer. Sometimes it is satan trying to distract us, but sometimes it is God pointing out issues He wants addressed. Prayer isn't (or shouldn't ) be just our talking to God. It is a conversation between God and us. Be sure to listen and not just talk. If we have truly repented and asked forgiveness it is the devil but if those issues come up we need to search our heart to see if we have truly repented.

Jn 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Some think the Christian life means deliverance from trouble. It means deliverance in trouble and that is very different. God doesn't give strength for tomorrow, or even the next hour, but for the next moment. It is a moment by moment deliverance.

August 1, 2013

Ps 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
:2 For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.
:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord Or who may stand in His holy place?
:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.
:5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
:6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah.
:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
:8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
:9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
:10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

People say they can worship God anywhere And you can. The real question is do you?

We are called to come before Him in worship with clean hands and a pure heart. Clean hands means no moral impurity in our lives. We confess our sin and receive God's forgiveness. Pur hearts is a reference to the devotion of our hearts to God in love and obedience. Worship is not just going through the motions on Sunday at church. Worship is an attitude that we carry with us all the time.

Rom 8:8 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I shall be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Is 49:15 Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?> Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before me.

Remember when you start to feel fearful or overwhelmed nothing can separate you from God.

Ex 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

Ps 46:10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Ps 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The Lord will fight for us if we will just be still. We struggle sometimes just to keep our head above water in certain situations. It is then that we have to stop trying to do it alone. Let Him fight for us. It's not easy. We feel like if we stop struggling we won't survive. He is calling us to rest. Resting our bodies is easier then resting our minds.

Have you ever tried to physically rest and physically do something else at the same time? Can't be done. Neither can resting in Him and struggling in our mind at the same time.