Loved the Lord

I Kings 3:3

"Solomon loved the Lord, walking in His statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offering at the high places."

Even in the midst of peace for all Israel, unbelievable blessings, and wisdom that superseded all mankind's, Solomon kept the high places and made offering there. This small area of sin tainted the rest of his life, but it is amazing that for the most part he did what God wanted. But when he allowed this small choice to keep its status, it began growing and festering until finally he was rejected by God. What a lesson about the strength of the flesh! When a little is left, it will grow. Man's self-control will never conquer it, but then again that is the mind game we all play. Solomon was the wisest man on earth so I am sure he thought controlling this area of the flesh was no problem. But when it comes to spiritual things, obedience is the only way. God says to be holy as He is! He says have NO other gods before me. What a lesson to me! Do I allow areas of sin by justifying them? Am I careless to confess and repent when convicted? Do I want to hold on to that tiny area of the world? Is my focus completely on God?

Father,

Keep me ever Yours. Send Your Spirit to sweep and cleanse every nook and cranny of my heart. Grant me repentance and help me walk in a new way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Commitment

Ps. 119:1-88

This psalm has so many verses that minister to my heart, verses that I want to pray to God so that His grace can make them a reality in my life. Here are a few:

• v. 10 "With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments." What a prayer! As I ask God to teach me to seek Him with my whole heart, His words will be my guide, my direction, and my way.
• v. 11 "I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You."  This is my desire. Even though I want it so much, I am amazed at how much the world steals my time from storing God's word in my heart.
• v 15 "I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways."  I see this as a byproduct of storing God's word in my heart. When it is in my mind and deep in my heart, then in the night hours I can call it up to pray and meditate.
• v.20 "My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times."  I want God's word to consume my life so that my spirit and soul will be feasting on the riches of His grace.
• v. 29 "Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your laws."  God's word stored in my heart will reveal the false ways and in through His grace, II can grow in His ways.
• v. 30 "I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me." Being faithful to God's  word is my choice. 
• v. 32 "I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart." I won't get ahead of God's timing, but I will wait for Him to enlarge my heart and give me His direction.
• v. 37 "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in Your ways." I want God to turn my eyes from the world and focus completely on His ways.
• What riches are in this psalm! I love it! I pray that God will work His words in my life so that I might run in His ways.

Father,

Keep me in Your way. Give me Your grace and strength to store Your words in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Old Age and Gray Hairs

Ps. 71:17-18

"O God, from my youth You have taught me, and I still proclaim Your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your power to all those to come."

God has been faithful to me from my youth up. He has taught me consistently and grown me according to His will, but  that is not to say that I haven't messed up repeatedly. Thankfully, God is greater than anything that I might think or do. It is these lessons, lessons of failure and forgiveness, lessons of willfulness and submission, and lessons of forgetfulness and remembrance that I am to proclaim to those who follow after me. As I age, I am not to retire selfishly doing my own thing, but instead to recall His wondrous deeds in my life. My sharing is not one of knowing it all and complete success, but one of growing, loving, sinning, and always being forgiven. It is one of pure Grace, only Grace, and amazing Grace! So when I am tempted to retire and be lazy, I must rely on His strength to be mine so that I might share all that He has done in my life.

Father,

Keep me ever active in my service for You. Keep Your grace my focus and motivation.

In Jesus name,

Amen

On My Side

Ps. 112:7

"He will not be afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."

Repeatedly in today's reading, the psalmist's states that a life with God is not a life free from stress, disease,  conflict, and even death. Even though this is true, these passages emphasize that God is there with His saints, and His strength is there for them. First, it says God's child will not be afraid of  bad news so obviously there is bad news. The psalmist handles this news because his heart is firm, trusting in God.  Ps. 116:3 says that the "pangs of death encompassed the psalmist." He suffered distress and anguish, but he was able to call on the Lord for help. He believed in God even when his life was full of affliction. Ps. 116: 15 says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."  God is with him in death and even delights in his death, but does not remove death from him. Ps. 118:5 says that out of distress the psalmist called on God. Even though he is pursued by evil men, he can say "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me?"  If the saint of God need not fear death, then what else is there? The saint looks in triumph not because he has no problems but because the Lord is on his side through the problems. The Lord is his strength, his song, his deliverance, his life, and his light. It is in the dark times that the light of God and the glory of His presence shines brightest.

Father,

Never let me forget that you are there in the dark times. Remind me always that a life with you lacks fear because You give me the strength to endure the pain.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unless the Lord

Ps. 127:1

"Unless the Lord builds the house those who build it labor in vain."

Whether it was the temple in Jerusalem that Solomon was to build or the temple of my life indwelled by the Holy Spirit, it must be of the Lord, or it is in vain. Anything of human effort and human timing does not bring glory to His name. Such a simple truth yet one so hard to make practical!  Ironically, humanity is keen on self achievement and self-sufficiency, and that is the one thing that God does not want. He desires those who are poor in spirit, those who are helpless, moldable, and submissive. He desires to be in every part of my life, in every decision that I make, in the solution to my every problem, and in the plans and dreams that I want for my life. Unless God is totally in my life, then all I do in life is in vain.

Father,

Keep me from the trap of vanity. Build my life to be a temple that constantly glorifies You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Mourning into Dancing

Ps. 30:11-12

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!"

David had displeased and disobeyed the Lord by failing to trust Him to provide the man power he needed for battle. Somehow David thought a census, a solid count would assuage his doubts. Even though Joab warned him against this action, he went ahead. The result: judgment from God. God gave him a choice of three possibilities. He chose the natural disaster so that he would be totally at the mercy of God. God did show mercy and stay His hand over Jerusalem, but before that many died throughout the land. David's choice and sin resulted in a personal judgment but one that also took many lives throughout the land. David mourned for his own sin and loss, but also for the loss of life in the land. He was the king who had willingly jeopardized the lives of those who trusted him. What grief!

But God did change his heart and loose his sackcloth. Happiness and joy became a reality as he praised the Lord. I see two lessons: first my sin always has far reaching influences. Even though it is my choice, my choice affects others that God has placed in my life. Secondly, there is judgment as well as grace after confession and repentance. God doesn't gloss over sin, but he does change the mourning into gladness. Through His grace and mercy, I can praise His name again and rejoice that He continues to work in my life.

Even though David was known as a man after God's own heart, he was a man of flesh. He sinned grievously with far reaching consequences, but he never allowed that to keep him in sin. When convicted and confronted by the words of God, he confessed and repented. His relationship with God was the driving force of his life. When confronted, do I always confess and repent immediately? 

Father,

Keep me tender to Your words so that I can know, confess, and repent of my sins. Help me to love You more than anything that my flesh has to offer. Change my mourning into dancing and my grief into gladness.

In Jesus name,

Amen



Why Worship

Ps. 95:1-2

"O Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!"

The psalms repeatedly state that Lord is to be praised in song and with a heart of thanksgiving. In my reading today the psalmist reveals many reasons why.

• 95:3- "For the Lord is a great God, and a great Kings above all gods." He is singularly great and singularly God. He is the only God among ineffective and lesser gods.
• 95:4-"In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it..." He is the Creator of all life.
• 95:7 "For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." He is the God who chose us to be His sheep. We dwell in His pasture, and are cared for by His hand. We praise Him because He is a good who is personally involved with His own.
• 97:1 "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice..." God reigns. He is the sovereign controller of all. His purpose and plan controls all life.
• 97:6 "The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory." Nature worships God as well. His being, righteousness,and glory are obvious to all men.
• 97:10 "He preserves the lives of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked." His hand of protection is life sustaining for those who love him.
• 97:12 "Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to His holy name." He is holy, without blemish or sin. He alone is worthy of praise!
• 98:1 "Sing to the Lord a new son, for He has done marvelous things."  The works of His hand are wondrous, marvelous to behold. He has made known His salvation, His righteousness, His steadfast love and His faithfulness.
• 98:9 "He will judge the world with righteousness,and the peoples with equity." His own can rest in the fact that His righteousness and equity will ultimately judge the actions of mankind. It will not be done capriciously.
• 99:3 "Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He!" His name alone is worthy of praise because it is synonymous with His holiness.
• 99:8 "O Lord our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings." Just as God answered and forgave Israel, He will do the same with us. He is just in all his dealings.

What should be my final response? "Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!" (99:9)

Lord,

I praise Your name, Your holiness, and even Your judgment. I praise You for choosing me to be one of Your own sheep, a sheep who knows You by name.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Till the Storms Pass By

Ps. 57:1

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by."

David was in a storm whose destruction meant his death. Saul and his armies were unrelenting in their pursuit. Yet, David rested in a merciful God and took refuge in the shadow of God's wings. There, in that intensely personal place, was his refuge till the storms would pass by. Such faith and assurance! David trusted in the God he had loved from his youth up. He had seen this God protect him in many dangerous situations, and he was assured that God would protect him again. I wonder when the storms of destruction come into my life, do I say without hesitation that I take refuge in God? Is God the first place I go to seek this refuge? Is God so near to me that His shadow is my cover? The truly blessed thing is that this God that was this refuge for David is the same God who is my refuge. He is my cover until my storms pass by.

Father,

Keep me from looking elsewhere for protection. Draw me ever close into the shadow of Your wing until the storms pass by.

In Jesus name,

Amen

As a Deer Pants

Ps. 42:1-2

"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for he living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Such longing for God! I picture the running deer, exhausted and needy in search of the one thing that can satisfy. Water! His need is so great that normal breathing is not even possible. His hope for life depends solely on his finding water. What a graphic picture! Have I ever longed so deeply for God?  Has my spiritual need become a physical need that must be satisfied?

The psalmist's thinks his needs will be met in worship, but his enemies are somehow blocking his ability to come before the Lord. He is cast down, discouraged, and mourning. The taunting of his enemies is like a deadly wound in his bones making him believe that God has deserted him, that God will not come to his aid. At the conclusion of the psalm, the psalmist talks to himself questioning his thoughts and his emotions.  Why does he listen to the enemy? But, thankfully, he ends the psalm on a high note. "Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God."  The psalmist's hope in God is enough to pull him out of the deeps and bring him to His God. He knows God is His salvation. He only has to trust. He has to focus on God who is his song in the night.

Father,

When life is overwhelming, keep me listening to your voice. Keep me so close to You that I hear you song above the taunts and the tears.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Worthy to Be Praised

II Sam. 22:4

"I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."

These words had special meaning to David since his enemies were very real and deadly. God was faithful to him when he delivered him from the hand of Saul, and now once again, God had delivered him from the hand of Absalom.  His song of deliverance in those earlier days was just as valid now. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior; You save me from violence." God was the reason he was still alive. He took no credit for great military tactics, a mighty army, or superior weapons. He knew it was only God! I am wondering if I were in David's shoes, would I have placed my trust completely in God? When I was fleeing again, would I have fallen into a fleshly mode? Is God my rock, fortress, delivered, the One in whom I trust?

Father,

Keep my heart close to You so that when onslaughts of the world come, I rest in You. Keep me from responding in the flesh.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Wait in Silence

Ps. 62:1-2

"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken."

How hard is waiting in silence? Extremely! When things get difficult, I want to speak, to explain, to present the problem, to ask for a solution, and to take action. To be silent means that I am willing to let things take their course without any interference on my part. For me as a believer it means that I trust God more than anything else I can do to solve a problem. It means that I trust God in the daily circumstances of my life. I trust that what happens will be for my good because He sovereignly controls all the details of my life.

When I think of David dealing with the rebellion caused by his own son, I can imagine how hard it would be to wait in silence. He would be dealing with his injured feelings and pride, with the safety of his son, and with the leadership of a nation. He would be concerned about what people would be believing and what his course of action should be. But here it says, he waited in silence! When his world was crashing down upon him, he waited in silence!! What a vital relationship he had with God! He knew that God alone would be his salvation and fortress in this great disaster. He was unshaken because God had placed him on the throne and God would keep him on the throne. 

Father,

Teach me to wait in silence resting in Your sovereign plan.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

A Father's Heart

II Sam. 18:33

"And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, 'O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son.'"

I am sure that Absalom grieved the heart of his father when he raped his half-sister, was exiled, tricked his way back home,  instituted a rebellion, and tried to steal his father's throne. But even at the end, after David had fled Jerusalem, he commanded, "protect the young man Absalom for my sake." He deserved death, but David's heart was too full of love to order it. Some soldiers heeded the king's command, but Joab did not. He took three javelins and thrust them into Absalom's heart. Absalom's life ended horribly. He was buried in a great pit in the forest with a heap of stones over him. When David heard the news, he was undone. He wept uncontrollably and wished he had died instead of his son. What a heart!

David's heart reminds me of God's heart for mankind. No matter what man does, God reaches out in love for us. His heart was grieved so much that He sent His son to die for us. He did take our place so that we might live. What love is this!

Father,

Thank You for such great love! I can't really comprehend why You would do this, but I am so thankful that You did.

In Jesus name,

Amen

He Has Heard

Ps. 28:6-7

"Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults and with my song I give thanks."

David's heart was filled with praise because his God heard and answered. When I think of the other nations surrounding David and their false gods who were nothing but wood and stone, I see how monumental it was for David to be heard and answered, to have a personal relationship with God, and to experience His help and strength. It not only gave him the needed answers, but it gave him a personal relationship of trust. God was someone he could rely on. When the enemy was close, God was his shield. When his strength was failing, God was his strength.  When he had no other place to run, God was his mercy. His heart did not take any of these for granted; instead, he thanked, blessed, and exulted in the Lord. In his words: "The Lord is the strength of his people, He is the saving refuge of His anointed."  Words such as these can only come from a heart in love with God. Is my heart in love with my God? When I am in a tight place, do I cry out for Him? When He has been my helper and strength, do I praise, bless, and thank His name?

Father,

Keep my eyes ever open to Your hand in my life. I bless Your name for loving me and growing me. Thank You for being my shield and refuge.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Lust

II Sam. 13

Amnon lusted after his beautiful, half sister so much that it was a torment to him, but his friend, Jonadab had a plan. He crafted a phony situation so that Tamar would be in his room alone and unprotected. With no one there to interfere, he raped her. After the rape he found that he hated her with a very great hatred. In fact, the hatred was so great that it obliterated any lust or love he felt for her. He sent her away with no regard for her life or her future. Consequently, she lived a desolate woman with no future.

What an example of lust! When a person wants something so bad that they get it deceitfully, the outcome is never good. Not only is the fruit of lust bitter and disgusting, but it is always short-lived. Lust is only good in the wanting not in the possessing.

Father,

Keep my eyes open to my fleshly desires so that they don't cloud my spiritual vision. Make my priorities and desires Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unite My Heart

Ps. 86:11

"Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name."

David was concerned about his whole heart, about his thoughts, his concerns, and his ever pursuing enemies. In the midst of all this danger and stress, David cried out to God. He wanted to be taught God's way so that he could walk in God's truth. In order for him to do that he had to have a united heart, one that was wholly God's. What a great insight! Having a united heart before God supersedes all the danger and stress that this world could throw at him. David had no fear in asking this because he knew God was steadfast in His love and faithful in His strength, and he knew that praying this would eliminate the fear of men that was creeping into his heart. A united heart will walk in God's truth!

Father,

Unite my heart that I may walk in Your way and in Your truth. Unite me heart to fear Your name. Draw me ever closer to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Springtime

I Chron. 20:1

"In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle...but David remained at Jerusalem."

God had called David to be the king which meant performing all the kingly duties that were required of him. Yet, this time, he did not. He should have been at war, but he stayed home. From that one decision, came a mountain load of trouble. He not only saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof, but he took her. When she was pregnant with his child, he called her husband, Uriah, home from the battle. Uriah was too good of a soldier to fall for David's plan and would not sleep with his wife. So David sent Uriah back to the battle with orders  for Joab, orders that called for Uriah to be placed in the heat of the battle where he would surely be killed. What began as a vacation from battle had turned into adultery and murder. When David's vision of God faltered, then his actions tanked as well. 

After Uriah was dead, David married Bathsheba, but God's judgment hadn't even begun yet. Nathan the prophet delivered God's words to David. The child of this unholy union was to die, and the sword would never depart from his house. Although David had despised God, his heart was tender towards the words of the prophet. He confessed his sin and sought God for the life of the child, but to no avail. The child died. 

How many times have I fallen into sin when I chose to be somewhere that I shouldn't have been? How many times have I indulged a fleshly response and allowed it to bloom into more and more sin? David's sin is a warning and a wake up call "to watch and pray, to guard my ways." 

Father,

Keep my eyes focused on You and not on my fleshly desires. Keep me in the right place at the right time so that Your grace will be my shield and portion.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust

Ps. 20:7

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

Where is my trust? Am I afraid of what man can do to me? Am I afraid of the circumstances of life? David was in an unprovoked battle with the Ammonites and the Syrians. Even though he was surrounded front and back, he trusted in the Lord. He prayed for deliverance, then trusted God for that deliverance. But to the contrary, his enemy placed their trust in their mighty array of horses and chariots, in their own military might. David knew that God had protected him and delivered him many times in the past, and he knew that God would be faithful once again. What an example for me! When circumstances come unexpectedly and create havoc, am I looking to my own resources (my own horses and chariots), do I fear the power and might of the enemy, or do I go immediately to God seeking His power and grace?

Father,

When I am weak, teach me to trust in You. Thank You for Your saving power and might and for being a God who answers prayer.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Ps. 53:14-15

"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me."

What is the sacrifice of thanksgiving that God desires? This verse makes me think of Ps. 51: 17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

For me the broken and contrite heart speak of dependence and helplessness, of a life altering awareness of sin in comparison to the holiness of God. It is this complete inability to be holy that is my living sacrifice, my offering to God. How can I be anything but thankful for a God who floods me with His grace, whose power is perfected in my weakness. Amazingly, God doesn't what my gifts or my achievements. Instead He only desires me to want Him. 

Father,

I confess plunging ahead in my own strength. Give me Your strength to depend on You and to offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Constantly show me my helplessness.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Justice and Equity

II Sam. 9:7

"And David said to him, do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always."

David took time to search for survivors from the house of Saul to do good to them. That fact in itself is unusual. After all Saul had constantly sought David to kill him, yet David was not seeking revenge. He wanted to show kindness for the sake of Jonathan, his friend. What a bond they had! Daivid's kindness far exceeded the acceptable limits of human understanding. He found Mephibosheth, brought him to the palace, allowed him to eat at the king's table, and restored to him all the lands of the family. What a bountiful reconciliation! David still remembered that Saul was God's anointed. He still honored his position by honoring the remaining members of his family. He had "entrusted his soul to a faithful creator"  and was leaving it to God to administer judgment. For David, his justice and equity was mixed with mercy. David's example to me speaks of God's love for me. He found me, allowed me to sit at His table, and gave me an inheritance that exceeded my expectations. Praise God for His mercy and love!

Father,

Thank You for seeking me, making me Your child, and giving me a place in heaven where I may praise and glorify Your name.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Guard My Ways

Ps. 39:1

"I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue."

How easy it is to sin with my tongue! James has called it a world of iniquity that sets on fire the course of nature. Something with this  potential for damage definitely needs a guard. I notice that it is my ways that I am guarding because out of my ways come my words. If I am frustrated in a situation, I spout off. I I am disturbed by an event, then I express my displeasure. My ways and my words are vitally linked.

What does it mean practically for me to guard my ways? I am thinking it has a lot to do with praying throughout the day and keeping my vital connection with God. It is certainly not something that I do in my own strength, because if it were, I were surely fail. Guarding means crying out for His grace to handle all my ways so that my mouth may always honor and glorify God.

In v. 6 of this psalm it says, "O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!"  What better way for me to know the end of my flesh than through my tongue! If I, in my own strength, try and control my tongue than I am like David when he said,  I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse."  It is not enough to remain silent through my own strength and control. It is only enough when grace is in control, when my sufficiency is His sufficiency. "And God is able to make all grace abound to me, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all time, I may abound in every good work." 

Father,

Thank You for this grace that can be my sufficiency. Keep teaching me Your way so that I might not sin with my tongue.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

This Is a Small Thing

I Chron. 17:17a, 19-20

"And this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God...For Your servant's sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. There is none like You, O Lord, and there is no God besides You.."

David was convinced that God had fully orchestrated his life; and even though these details were a huge thing to David, he knew that to God they were a small thing. What an important insight! If I believe that the things that God does in my life are small in the grand scheme of things, then I would have no reason to doubt God's power and plan for my life. I would have no reason to think He was unaware of  my needs and concerns,or think that He needed my help to solve my problems. I could fully rest in Him because He does all according to His own greatness! And there is none greater!

What a closeness David must have had with God! He understood this important concept in the very core of his being, and it then emanated outward to the practical areas of his life. Even though I understand God's sovereignty and His great power and my smallness in relation to His greatness, I still grip tightly to the details of my life. I am so thankful for the trials and afflictions that come into my life because God is showing me that my grasp on life is fairly powerless, and into this humble insight comes unlimited grace. Just yesterday, our car repair was substantially more than we had anticipated. Why did I come unglued? Why didn't I trust in my sovereign God and live like this car repair was really a small thing to Him. How foolish is my flesh!

Father,

Continue to teach me to trust You and Your unlimited power. Help me not to be undone by life but to come to you.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Heart of Worship

Ps. 100

Ps. 100 describes a heart of worship. "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!" Worship floods spontaneously out of the life. It is that joyful noise that overflows without being polished or rehearsed. Often noises come out of my mouth, but are my noises filled with the joy of the Lord? Am I spontaneous in my worship or do I relegate it to prescribed times and days?

"Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!" But after the spontaneous comes the daily service. Sadly, service that goes on a daily basis can often become a duty and lose that spark of joy. Has mine?  Is my heart full of song as I come into His presence? Worship of the Lord by its very nature is full of joy and music. It is not heavy or burdensome, but a delight.

."Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people,and the sheep of His pasture." What are my thoughts in this joyous worship?  Is the goal of my worship to be in His presence, to know Him?  Is my worship my personal connection with the God who made me, who designed and chose me to be His sheep? Is my worship what God has designed it to be?

 "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; Bless His name."  As I come expectantly, am I coming thankfully? I can remember times when my heart was not thankful, when I was consumed with the details of life. Situations and circumstances had blotted out my reason for living. But, just like thankfulness eliminates stess, stress destroys thankfulness. Thankfulness is my key to a heart of worship. Am I thankful and blessing His name for what is in my life? Am I resting in His promises?

"For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations." Why do I worship at all? Why do I care? Because God is the one who loves me steadfastly with an everlasting love. He is utterly faithful to what He says He is and what He will do. In light of this, how small my stresses seems. How silly to blow them out of proportion! Instead, my worship must be minute by minute focused on the God who has chosen me to be His!

Father,

Give me Your strength to worship thankfully and spontaneously. Help me to rest on Your grace when stresses flood my life. Teach me to worship minute by minute.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Ps. 23:1

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want;"

David's relationship with God was described in simple terms: God was his shepherd. Being a shepherd was something that David understood personally since his youth was spent shepherding his father's sheep.Similarly, His relationship with God followed a shepherding pattern.  

• He had given him green pastures, a safe place to rest and feed.
• He had brought him to the waters for his soul to be restored.
• He had led him in right paths for His name's sake.
• He was with him in the valley of death.
• He had no fear of evil.
• His rod and staff were a comfort to him (Nathan, the prophet).
• He had prepared a table before him in the presence of his enemies (and there were many in pursuit).
• He anointed his head with oil (for kingship).
• He gave him an overflowing cup (riches and blessings).
• His goodness and mercy followed him for his whole life (especially with Bathsheba).
• He allowed him to dwell in His house forever.

What blessings! God longs to satisfy the human heart as he did David's. What He has given to David, he desires to give all those who come to Him as sheep needing a shepherd. And all this He does not because of the beauty or worth of the sheep, but for His own name's sake. He has chosen His sheep, and once chosen, He is faithful to them. I can say with confidence that His rod and staff are a comfort to me. Even His discipline is for my good. I know that His goodness and mercy are my companions, and I will dwell in His house forever. Blessed be God!

Father,

Thank You for choosing me to be Your sheep, and for caring for me with Your rod as well as Your staff. Your mercy and goodness are my daily benefits. Blessed be Your name.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Song of Praise

I Chron. 16:29

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth."

David's heart was full of praise. He had experienced great victories defeating the Philistines, but in the matter of moving the Ark, he had failed. The end result: Uzzah was dead. David's heart was afraid when he saw the great power of the Lord. But later, he gathered the priests and moved the Ark as God had directed. With rejoicing, music and dancing, the Ark was finally brought to Jerusalem. His heart was overjoyed, and he broke forth in a song of praise.

"O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples...Sing to Him...Glory in His name...Seek His presence continually...He is the Lord our God..Declare His glory among the nations...He is to be held in awe above all gods...Splendor and majesty are before Him...Strength and joy are in His place...Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness...O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever."

Such praise as this comes from a heart that knows God intimately and has seen God work mighty deeds. David had experienced his deliverance and His discipline, but whatever he received, he knew that it was from the hand of God Almighty. That was enough for David! Is my heart bursting forth in songs of praise? Am I remembering all God has done in my life? Am I declaring Him before the nations?

Father,

Thank You for Your glorious deeds in my life and for Your amazing grace during the dark times. Teach me to praise You before all those You place in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

I Am Redeemed

Ps. 107:1-2

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble..."

God is truly good! His steadfast love lasts forever and is not based on my behavior in any way. He gathers in those who cry out to Him for He knows that He is the only One that can save the longing soul. He is the only One who can fill the longing soul with good things. His love reaches out to those who wander away, to those who sit in darkness, prisoners, those who were fools in sin, those in stormy waters, those who were hungry, the needy, and the afflicted, to name a few. Since God's love is far reaching and saves completely, it is wisdom to consider the steadfast love of the Lord. It is wisdom to accept this great love. My only response to such love is to declare His goodness and tell all that I am redeemed.

Father,

Thank You for reaching down to me in love. You have redeemed me from sin's control and the power of my flesh. You are so good to me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Unity

Ps. 133:1

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"

Unity is precious in God's sight. It is to be compared to the oil that ordained Aaron, an oil that consecrated him and set him apart as holy. Unity for believers is a consecrating element that builds holiness in their lives.  By application, unity means "having the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."  The problem comes in choosing whose mind is to be held in common. Philippians says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus."  Is is possible to have the mind of Christ? If we obey Phil. 2:5, it is! But how? Saturation in the Word is a key element since Jesus was the living word, the logos. Together, believers need to be 'standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel."  The living, indwelling Holy Spirit is the one who transforms me from the inside out. When He is controlling and transforming all believers, our minds are conformed to Jesus Christ. We then have a common mission and ministry. It is all of Him and His grace! It is no longer of divisive self but of unifying Spirit.

Father,

Grow me in unity as you lead me down this faith walk. Give me strength to seek Your face daily. Saturate me in Your words.

In Jesus name,

Amen

An Army of God

I Chron. 12:22

"For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God."

David's beginnings were not always full of confidence and abounding in military might. In fact, David felt that one day he would perish by the hand of Saul so he escaped to the Philistines with only 600 men. What humble beginnings! Much later in God's time, men came to his stronghold where he met them saying, "If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you, but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you." Finally, his many years of running and being pursued were over. His army gathered at Hebron to make him king, "according to the Word of the Lord." Not only just the army, but "all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king." What God had ordained had come to pass, but it all was in God's timing. The end result: "for there was joy in Israel." Waiting on the Lord brings joy, and more than that, it brings God's Army acting according to the Word of the Lord.

Lord,

Teach me to wait and act only according to Your words.

In Jesus name,

Amen