Category: Month

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An Extra-Ordinary Morning Routine

Dave and I were talking yesterday about our morning routine. Some would see it as too structured, no room for spontaneity, but I see it as foundational for what will come. Sitting in the morning quiet is one of my favorite places. It doesn’t matter the location – what matters is that God chooses to meet with me. I love this time before life demands my attention.

When the kids were little it was imperative that I have these quiet moments to talk with my Father. I would draw my strength from Him and pray over my little ones and those things that would try to harm and distract in their lives. I prayed for Dave, that he would be a man of wisdom and that his integrity would shine through in all he did. As the children grew and the years past my prayers were the same. And as life’s challenges seemed to grow bigger it was even more important for me to have these mornings to sit with the Lord and read His word.

Now that I’m retired and life has slowed down some but my routine has not changed. I still pray for my children, grandchildren, husband and friends. I don’t know what faces them each day but my heavenly Father does. I don’t know what phone calls I’ll receive or emails will come from a friend who’s hurting but I want to be ready to share a word of encouragement and a prayer for strength.

It’s what I do every morning but it’s far from routine. Each day there is something new; a new insight into a Scripture verse, a new circumstance to pray over, a new thought or direction that the Lord is leading. Yes my morning routine is far from being a normal, mundane, regular routine!

“Lord, your rules are wonderful. That is why I follow them. 130 As people understand your word, it brings light to their lives. Your word makes even simple people wise. 131 My desire to hear your commands is so strong that I wait with open mouth, gasping for breath. 132 Look at me, and be kind to me, just as you always are to those who love your name. 133 Guide me, as you promised. Don’t let evil rule over me. 134 Save me from those who want to hurt me, and I will obey your instructions. 135 Accept your servant, and teach me your laws. 136 I have cried a river of tears because people don’t obey your teachings.” Psalm 119:129-136

How many times has David said in this Psalm that the word makes us wise or gives us understanding? I haven’t counted but it seems to be the reoccurring theme in each segment. The Word was such a strong influence in David’s life that it also made an impact on his son Solomon. When the Lord asked him what he desired most, Solomon asked for wisdom.

“One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the Lord God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”

6 Solomon answered: My father David, your servant, was honest and did what you commanded. You were always loyal to him, and you gave him a son who is now king. 7 Lord God, I’m your servant, and you’ve made me king in my father’s place. But I’m very young and know so little about being a leader. 8 And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there are too many of them to count.

9 Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don’t, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.

10-11 God said: Solomon, I’m pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. 12 So I’ll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live. 13 I’ll also give you what you didn’t ask for. You’ll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you’ll be greater than any other king. 14 If you obey me and follow my commands, as your father David did, I’ll let you live a long time.” I Kings 3:5-14

Solomon saw that his father’s ability to lead and to rule successfully came from his dependence on the Lord and it was his desire to be like his father. The Lord answered Solomon’s request and more. This segment in Psalms tells us that the Word will bring light to our situation and that it makes the simple wise.

The Apostle Paul had lots to say about the Word too. He told us in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the Word. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” If we are to grow in faith then we need to be committed to hearing (and applying) God’s word to our lives.

Hebrews 11:6 told us that it is impossible to please God without faith. So if we don’t hear the Word we have no faith and if we have no faith then it is impossible for us to please God. If we want to please God we must make His word the foundation of our lives.

Make it your goal today to love the Word of God and to give it the priority that David and Solomon did. It will give you wisdom and as you follow it you will find that God is pleased.

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The Victory

Some people have the misconception that if we love God and are serving Him then we won’t have any problems. That is so far from the truth. What we do have though is God’s promise to bring us through those problems with victory. This morning I want to put two different Scriptures side by side and let you see how God answered David’s prayer from verses 121-128.

“121 I have done what is right and good. Don’t let me fall into the hands of those who want to hurt me. 122 Promise to be good to me, your servant. Don’t let those proud people do harm to me. 123 I have worn out my eyes looking for your help, waiting for you to save me, as you promised. 124 Show your faithful love to me, your servant. Teach me your laws. 125 I am your servant. Give me wisdom to understand your rules. 126 Lord, it is time for you to do something. The people do what is against your teachings. 127 I love your commands more than gold, more than the purest gold. 128 I carefully obey all your commands. So I hate anything that leads people the wrong way.” Psalm 119: 121-128

David was accustomed to battle but he was also accustom to winning. Before he became king he was pursued by Saul for approximately 13 years, I think I have that right. Then after he became king he had the enemy nations to defeat and even had to fight his own son, Absalom. But most of the time, he was encouraged and confident in battle. David knew the Lord had promised the Israelites this land and had told them to go in and confidently take the land and that they would be victorious.

However, David had to encourage himself with God’s promises when his wife, children and the wives and children of the entire town were captured while he and his men were away at battle. That’s where we are going to read this morning. (This takes place before David became king.)

“David was desperate. His soldiers were so upset over what had happened to their sons and daughters that they were thinking about stoning David to death. But he felt the Lord God giving him strength, 7 and he said to the priest, “Abiathar, let’s ask God what to do.”

Abiathar brought everything he needed to get answers from God, and he went over to David. 8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I go after the people who raided our town? Can I catch up with them?” “Go after them,” the Lord answered. “You will catch up with them, and you will rescue your families.”

9-10 David led his six hundred men to Besor Gorge, but two hundred of them were too tired to go across. So they stayed behind, while David and the other four hundred men crossed the gorge. 11 Some of David’s men found an Egyptian out in a field and took him to David. They gave the Egyptian some bread, and he ate it. Then they gave him a drink of water, 12 some dried figs, and two handfuls of raisins. This was the first time in three days he had tasted food or water. Now he felt much better.

13 “Who is your master?” David asked. “And where do you come from?”

“I’m from Egypt,” the young man answered. “I’m the servant of an Amalekite, but he left me here three days ago because I was sick. 14 We had attacked some towns in the desert where the Cherethites live, in the area that belongs to Judah, and in the desert where the Caleb clan lives. And we burned down Ziklag.”

15 “Will you take me to those Amalekites?” David asked.

“Yes, I will, if you promise with God as a witness that you won’t kill me or hand me over to my master.”

16 He led David to the Amalekites. They were eating and drinking everywhere, celebrating because of what they had taken from Philistia and Judah. 17 David attacked just before sunrise the next day and fought until sunset. Four hundred Amalekites rode away on camels, but they were the only ones who escaped.

18 David rescued his two wives and everyone else the Amalekites had taken from Ziklag. 19 No one was missing—young or old, sons or daughters. David brought back everything that had been stolen, 20 including their livestock.” I Samuel 30: 6-20

You can hear David’s discouragement in Psalm 119 and then you can see the result of the discouragement in I Samuel 30. David says in Psalms “Lord it’s time for you to do something.” And in I Samuel, he seeks God to see what it is that God is going to do. The Lord tells him to go out and recover ALL.

Are you facing a situation that you are saying “Lord, you have to do something”? Then seek Him…spend time asking God what you should do and then get into His Word and find your answer.

“31 What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? 33 If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? 34 Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? 36 It is exactly as the Scriptures say,

“For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered.”

37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:21-39

God loves you – He’s on your side – Now go out and take the victory!

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Stability in the Storm

Recently Dave & I were watching television and it really jumped out at us how the commercials are depicting parents as out of touch, uninformed and down-right stupid. I know this will sound old fashioned and it is but I had a great respect for my parents and whether I agreed with them or not, I was obedient because they were my authority. TV shows like Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Bonanza, and then later, when my kids were growing up, The Walton’s, Little House on the Prairie, The Brady Bunch, etc. taught kids responsibility, right from wrong and showed parents who loved their children.

Let’s look to see how this is reflected in today’s verses.

“I hate those who are double-minded, but I love Your instruction. You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your word. Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands. Sustain me as You promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Sustain me so that I can be safe and always be concerned about Your statutes. You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is a lie. You remove all the wicked on earth as if they were dross; therefore, I love Your decrees. I tremble in awe of You; I fear Your judgments.” Psalm 119:113-120

This first verse is the one I was referring too in my opening comments. In another version it says “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.” Vain thoughts have no real value : idle, worthless – according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. King David was drawing a line of distinction between man’s thoughts and God’s. Man’s are idle and worthless and have no eternal value if they aren’t established on God’s word. So much of what we see on television and read in the paper falls into this classification.

In the book of James, we are instructed not to be double-minded, or vain in our thinking because a double-minded man is unstable. Jesus said that a man who stands on the word is like a man who builds his house on a solid rock. In a storm when the rain and the winds come, that man will be stable, firm and his house won’t be destroyed but the man who doesn’t build on the word will have a foundation of sand and in times of storm he will come crashing down. We can’t afford to fill our thinking with vain or worthless thoughts. We need to stand firm.

“ Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-8 ERV

Verse 114 was the theme verse of a woman named Corrie ten Boom. She survived the German concentration camps of World War II, this is the verse that she based her survival on. In the King James version it says, “thou art my hiding place and my shield”. Her testimony is one to draw from; she lived through the hell of the German concentration camp and came out with a love for her abusers and a solid, unshakable faith in the Lord.

In a sense we need to be “brain washed” – no, I’m not talking about the kind of mind control that manipulates but I am talking about being single-minded, our thoughts washed free of anything that would go contrary to God’s word. The Apostle Paul says we are to have our minds renewed or we are to be single-minded. When we’re singled minded we are grounded and unshakable.

“We tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 3:5 ERV

The Apostle Paul said that we were to “cast down” every vain imagination and take captive every thought that sets itself above the knowledge of God. These vain thoughts will destroy godly thinking if they are allowed to go unchecked. In turn, they will rob our hope. King David knew that his hope could only be in God and His word. Relying in anything or anyone else could bring you to shame.

There are so many in life who are hopeless. They are without God and without hope and it leaves them grasping at straws. We need to be a light and a show them that they can put their hope in God and He will not fail them! Wrong thinking is as deadly as a physical enemy with swords and arrows.

God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. David had walked with God and had seen God’s heart – he trembled or was in awe of just how amazing God was and is. This type of relationship with the Lord isn’t just available to King David, it is available to us as well. The Apostle Paul instructs us to renew our minds so we can know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. That’s available to us as we focus and apply God’s word in our lives.

“Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:2 ERV

I desire to “tremble in awe” of the Lord as I focus on His thoughts today!

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A Well Lit Path

We live in a rural area and there are only a couple of street lights up on our mesa. It makes walking at night interesting. Something we don’t do much of because there’s always an opportunity to run into javelina out foraging or a pack of coyotes on the hunt. We don’t often walk at night but when we do we carry the proper equipment to light our path so we won’t stumble or be surprised by what may be in the shadows.

“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take. 106 Your laws are good and fair. I have promised to obey them, and I will keep my promise. 107 Lord, I have suffered for a long time. Say the word, and I will live again! 108 Lord, accept the praise I want to give you, and teach me your laws. 109 My life is always in danger, but I have not forgotten your teachings. 110 The wicked try to trap me, but I have not disobeyed your instructions. 111 The rules you have given me to follow will be mine forever. They give me great joy. 112 More than anything I want to obey your laws always, until the end of my life.” Psalm 119:105-112

At times, this road called life can be a dark path. One where the next step may seem uncertain but when we seek and follow the counsel of God’s word it becomes like a flashlight shining brightly on our path, illuminating the way we should go. We also have God’s promise that He will be our guide.

“But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” Isaiah 30:20-21

David was a man of his word; he had promised to obey God’s commands and he vowed that he would continue to keep that promise. People depended on him the way he depended on God. As the king of Israel, David’s actions affected the entire nation. He would lead the country to battle their enemies and he would lead them in peace. He needed to know that he was hearing God’s voice and being faithful to follow His word.

We might not rule countries and lead nations but we do have a sphere of influence and we need to be following God’s word. It is essential for us and for those who follow us; our families, co-workers, associates. David refers again to the dangers and enemies he faced. If you read about David’s life in the Old Testament you will see that each time before he faced an enemy he sought the Lord’s direction; each time he waited for the Lord’s answer before he went out and each time he returned victorious.

God’s word will provide the same direction for us. We need to determine that we will follow God’s word at all costs. Live committed to what He says – make it our primary purpose and goal. We can say with David, “The rules you have given me to follow will be mine forever. They give me great joy. 112 More than anything I want to obey your laws always, until the end of my life.”

The greatest gift we can give our children is a godly heritage, standing strong for God even when our children think we are fanatical and/or old-fashioned. God has entrusted us with our children’s lives; we are responsible to teach them to love and respect God and His word. If your children are small or grown, live within your home or are separated by miles, depend upon God’s word to guide you and them and God will be faithful to you both.

Let the Word light your path and encourage them to follow.

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Oh How I Love Your Word

We had a wonderful evening yesterday talking with friends about the Lord and His word. Sharing what God has done in our lives is a tremendous way to encourage and strengthen our walk with the Lord. It reminds us of what the Lord has done in the past and encourages those around us to trust and believe God in their present circumstances.

Then this morning here they are, some of my favorite verses in Psalm 119. I am so excited with today’s verses. These verses have been a part of my regular Bible reading for about the past 30 plus years. Well enough – let’s just read…read them out loud!

“Oh, how I love your teachings! I talk about them all the time. 98 Your commands are always with me, and they make me wiser than my enemies. 99 I am wiser than all my teachers, because I study your rules. 100 I understand more than those who are older, because I obey your instructions. 101 I have avoided every path that leads to evil so that I could obey your word. 102 You are my teacher, so I will always do whatever you decide. 103 Your words are so sweet to me, like the taste of honey! 104 I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way.” Psalm 119:97-104

Years ago the Lord put a desire in my heart to share His word. It is my greatest delight. I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was a little girl; I was raised in a Christian home but my relationship with the Lord really didn’t begin to develop until after I graduated high school. In college, I had a true experience that let me know if there was no one else in the world in my corner, Jesus was there. And that was enough! But for the next 10 years I still didn’t grow that much – I was just confident in knowing that God the Father was always there and that Jesus loved me no matter what but I struggled a lot with stress, worry, fear, etc.

Then I started hearing some preachers talk about victorious living as a Christian – really? Victory?? Absolutely! Once I began to study, really study God’s word, I found that His purpose for my life was victory. If I am victorious, being no one special, then my victories can be a testimony to others that God will do the same for them. Dave and I became frustrated with our nominal Christian lives and began to seek God, seeking Him in every area of our lives. We became “whole” Christians – Christians who dare to believe the whole word and applying it to our whole life.

And then, after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the verses in the Bible began to jump off the page and into my heart, not just my head, but my heart. Since it’s the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of the Bible, who knows better what it means. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and teach us all things…Teach me Holy Spirit, teach me! I realized I had been spiritually retarded for so long and now I was hungry and growing. It was then I found today’s verses – and they described what was going on in my heart.

Have I been victorious in everything? No. Do I always feel like studying God’s word? No. Do I always come back to it? Yes!!! Where else can I go to find the words of life – no where. Only here in the pages of God’s word!

Jesus was teaching in John 6. He had just fed the 5000 and word was spreading that following Jesus was a good thing. The crowds increased, not because of the teaching but because of the miracles. Jesus told those following Him that He was the bread of life and they must eat of him. They thought he was talking about cannibalism and so they left because this was really offensive. Jesus asked his disciples if they were going to leave too. I love Peter’s answer.

“After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left and stopped following him.67 Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave too?”68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God.” John 6:66-69

It’s really the same as what David is saying in today’s verses. “103 Your words are so sweet to me, like the taste of honey! 104 I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way.”

I know where God has brought me from and what He has done in my life and I know that He doesn’t play favorites; so if God opens His word to me, He’ll open it to all. It is my heart’s desire to share God’s word in a simple, easy to understand way so that Christians will grow in their walk and won’t have to live for years in a retarded spiritual state.

Yes, David put the words of my heart down perfectly…“Oh, how I love your teachings! I talk about them all the time.”

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Everything Has Limits Except God

Some people think that to follow God’s Word and to be obedient to the instructions we receive in the Bible is stifling, constricting and even archaic. But I’m not one of those people! To me the Word of God is vital, living, powerful and life changing in a positive and strengthening way. I can live by God’s word and not be disappointed; His Word never fails, it’s beneficial to my well being. My Father never lies.

As I sit here this morning, I’m waiting for the sun to rise. It’s still dark outside all is quiet but in just a bit the day with dawn, the birds will be out welcoming the day, and nature’s activity will be in full swing. I’m excited to see what the day will hold. We received one of those nice desert rains last night and this morning the earth is soaking in that life giving moisture.

“Lord, your word continues forever in heaven. 90 You are loyal forever and ever. You made the earth, and it still stands. 91 All things continue today because of your laws. Like slaves, they all obey you. 92 If I had not found joy in your teachings, my suffering would have destroyed me. 93 I will never forget your commands, because through them you gave me new life. 94 I am yours, so save me! I have done my best to know your instructions. 95 The wicked tried to destroy me, but your rules made me wise. 96 Everything has its limits, except your commands.” Psalm 119:89-96

When you went to bed last night did you stop to wonder if the sun would rise or the earth would be spinning off in space because gravity lost its pull or would the grass still be growing this morning? None of these were a concern right? The very path of nature is predictable, a constant; it operates as God created it to from the beginning. If we want to see how faithful our God will be to us all we have to do is look at creation. The sun has no choice but to obey the command to rise and set; the tides have to ebb and flow; the seasons have no choice but to process through their cycles; they are as the Psalmist says “slaves”.

Jesus constantly used creation in his parables as He taught his followers the principles of God’s kingdom. In Matthew 6, Jesus was teaching about God’s faithfulness to provide and He used the sparrow and the lily. The sparrow doesn’t get up in the morning fretting if there will be enough worms or bugs to eat – no, they wake up singing! Praising God for His faithfulness and another day of fullness, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory…”

The lily stretches her face heavenward and enjoys the morning sun. She drinks in the rain and is refreshed as she grows. Her roots go downward and she receives nourishment from the soil. She is beautifully adorned and all her growth and beauty seem to come effortlessly. God has provided all she has need of for the day.

With last night’s rain the desert will begin to bloom. It’s amazing! The ocotillo stems have dried over the past few months with no rain. The bright orange blooms have faded and fallen to the ground but now with this new moisture it will only be a couple of days and we will see green leaves and festive blooms. It’s their own circle of life. (Sound like a Disney song) No, it’s God’s song, nature’s song and it should be our song.

I’m sure that in all of creation there are a few birds that would be considered unworthy; a few flowers that just don’t measure up to the standard; a few fruit trees that aren’t as good as they should be, they haven’t spent enough time in prayer or attending service or paying tithe or even saying the right thing; but God’s plan comes to pass in all their lives because it’s His plan and it endures to a thousand generations. Now, of course, this is tongue in cheek but I think you get the point. None of us are perfect but God’s plan and purposes are!

Jesus said to consider the lily and the sparrow – are we not of greater value than they? They don’t toil or spin – they are simply obedient to God’s plan. So if we seek first the kingdom of God; God’s plan – God’s purpose – God’s natural flow and His righteousness (His right way of doing things), then all that we have need of will be provided. Why? Because we are such a great example of perfect living before God? No. Because we are so valuable and faithful? No. Because we are so wise and such a step above all the rest? No! Why then? Because it’s God’s nature! It’s His plan and just the same as God’s plan works for every bird, every flower, every seed; He has designed His plan to be the same for each of us – we simply need to trust Him.

Did you notice David’s final thought? Everything has limits EXCEPT God’s word.

Today I encourage you to live as David, in confidence, that God’s word and His faithfulness endure forever!

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Waiting During Construction

If you read my posts on a daily basis, you’ll remember that a few weeks ago I asked the question “what do you do when God seems silent”? David is dealing with that very thing this morning in the verses of this segment.

“I feel weaker and weaker as I wait for you to save me. But I put my trust in your word. 82 I keep looking for what you promised, but my eyes are feeling tired. When will you comfort me? 83 Even when I am like a dried wineskin on the trash pile, I will not forget your laws. 84 How long must I wait for you to punish those who persecute me? 85 Proud people have tried to trap me and make me disobey your teachings. 86 All your commands can be trusted. Those people are wrong to persecute me. Help me! 87 They have almost destroyed me, but I have not stopped obeying your instructions. 88 Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.” Psalm 119:81-88

Personally we waited on the Lord to change a situation for almost 7 years. I know what it’s like to tell the Lord – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” but we WILL continue to trust you! There were days when I felt things would never change and that’s when I would have to remind myself that God is faithful and He will keep His word and bring it to pass.

I can get a real sense of David’s heart in these first verses – he’s tired, he feels like he is drying up inside but he will continue to trust. You may have been waiting now for a very long time, waiting to see a promise that you have from the Lord come to pass. I want to share with you some of the verses God put in my heart to encourage me.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Wait – something we don’t do well for the most part but this verse isn’t talking about a passive action of sitting back; it’s active, like a waiter or waitress, this wait means to pay attention too, to actively participate in meeting the requests of others. So we are told to “wait on the Lord”. During this time, I try to keep my focus on the Master and His desires, not mine. There’s a promise attached with waiting, my strength will be renewed. I will be able to soar above the storm clouds, I will be able to run with race with endurance. Yes, I will learn to wait!

Another verse that ties into this one is Isaiah 26:3 “3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in Thee.”

Staying focused on God and His word will keep me in a place of peace. When I find that I am anxious or upset, weary or weak; I realized that my focus has changed from being on the Lord to looking at the circumstances. In times like that I must return to focusing on God and His word. Because His word says…

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I John 5:14-15

God’s word is His will so if we are asking for things that He has promised in His word we know that we are asking according to His will and can have confidence that He not only hears our prayers but answers them. We are then able to go from a place of continually asking to asking confidently and then begin to thank Him for the result we know we will see. It’s hard to be discouraged when you are saying thank you.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ…” II Corinthians 1:20-21

God is the one that confirms His word by promising to watch over it and perform it; our job is to trust Him. This is something that I have considerable experience with. These are just a few of the verses that the Holy Spirit has confirmed to my heart when it comes to waiting for answered prayer to come. If our focus is distracted we will become like a dried up wine skin, good for nothing but when our hope and trust is in God we will continue to live fruitful lives during the wait.

Verse 88 is the kicker in this segment. Show me your faithful love, in the King James version that word is “lovingkindness” and it carries the meaning of a blood covenant or what we know to be “blood brothers”. When a blood covenant was struck between two people or two nations, it meant you have available to you all the resources that I have and vice versa. I give God all that I have (which compared to Him is seriously lacking) and He gives to me all that He has; His strength, His power, His promises, His provision, His life eternal! That’s what David was talking about – he had entered into covenant with God. This is why he could say I will do whatever You say because he had willingly entered into a relationship with One so much greater than he was. He was willing to do whatever the Lord had to say because David knew it would be the right way to go.

Look at waiting like you do building a house or doing a remodel. We said at the beginning of this study in Psalm 119 that God’s Word is our firm foundation that makes our life unshakeable in the storm. Prepare while you’re waiting for the construction to be complete. Live expectantly – pick out the flooring and the paint for the walls. God is building your life and you can trust Him to make it wonderful!

Again today, I reaffirm “Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.”

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Learning and Understanding

We’re just about half way through this Psalm. Are you beginning to get the point – there is nothing more important than God’s word? David, with all his riches, power, prestige and prominence, only wanted one thing, to know God and His word.

“73 With your hands you made me and helped me become what I am. Now help me learn and understand your commands. 74 Your followers will see me and be happy, because I trust in your word. 75 Lord, I know that your decisions are fair, and you were right to punish me. 76 Now comfort me with your faithful love, as you promised. 77 Comfort me and let me live. I enjoy your teachings. 78 Bring shame on those proud people who lied about me. All I want to do is study your instructions. 79 Let your followers come back to me so that they may learn your rules. 80 Let me obey your laws perfectly so that I will not be ashamed.” Psalm 119: 73-80

David recognized that it was God who had formed him during his development before birth and just as vital as God’s design was in making his body, David also knew it was vitally important to have learn and understand God’s word.

Stop here…think about this! Pick one detail on your body and examine the detail and intricacies of it. I’m looking down at my wrist as I input this message. The angles that it can achieve are amazing; the swivel; the way it works with the hand and the arm to aid in all that the fingers do. WOW! And the God who designed each cell, each bone, each muscle is the same one who is wanting and waiting eagerly to teach me His word.

Verse 73 points out the two-fold process of wisdom, learning and understanding. David doesn’t just want to learn God’s word but he also wants to understand it. Take for instance a very simple Psalm, Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters.” Let’s stop there. This is a Psalm we have probably heard hundreds of times – something that is quoted in movies, used in song, printed on t-shirts, memorized in Sunday School, etc. That’s the learning part but what about the understanding?

David was a shepherd; he knew what it was to care for his sheep. He knew how to keep them healthy and protected. By stating the Lord is my shepherd, David understood that meant the Lord was always watching out for him, concerned for his welfare, protecting him from predators’ attacks. He knew what it meant when sheep lay down; it meant they were full and didn’t need to continue grazing, it meant they felt at peace and had no sense of danger, it meant they had found rest. What about the still water? David knew that sheep don’t drink from fast running streams, he understood that and he knew that the Lord knew that about him as well. He knew that the Lord had made provision for him and the way he was made.

Now see, that goes beyond just learning…understanding comes from searching deeper and an intimate knowing. My son’s a firefighter and he understands fire – he knows what the different colors of smoke mean, he knows how ventilation affects the direction of the fire, he knows the best way to extinguish the flames and he knows how to stay safe while working in danger. He hasn’t just learned about fire, he understands it.

When we read over verses we need to be seeking understanding. That’s when the Word truly changes us. Ooops, all that and I’m just on one verse. In verses 74 & 79, David talks about the importance of fellowship with others who love God’s word. We are connected with other Christians in the body of Christ just the same as my wrist connects my hand with my arm. We need to reach out and encourage and help them grow when we can.

In verses 75-78 the correction that he experienced is fresh on his mind. You notice he says it’s fair and loving. Much the way we administer correction, discipline or punishment to our children when they disobey, God lovingly corrects us and brings us back to a place of obedience. Hebrews 12:10 says “Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us so that we can be holy like him. 11 We don’t enjoy discipline when we get it. It is painful. But later, after we have learned our lesson from it, we will enjoy the peace that comes from doing what is right.”

Discipline is painful – it means that we have to acknowledge that we have been wrong and need to change our course of action. It means we have to admit that we don’t have all the answers. It means that we have to admit our need for someone greater and wiser. Jesus is our example of how the Father loving corrects. Each time he encountered the pride and arrogance of the Pharisees, he would correct them. They would try to trap him in conversation and debate and would try to put him in a corner publicly but each time he would use the word of God to correct and discipline them and it would convict them to the heart.

Jesus didn’t strike them with leprosy to teach them a lesson. He didn’t destroy their livelihood or their families, he spoke the Word. Some of them repented and others did not but his chastisement was always loving and Word based.

Verse 80 comes back full circle – back to obedience, obeying the Word perfectly and being free from shame. Living God’s word may bring ridicule from the world but it causes us to live shame free before the Father.

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Your Defender

We are going to learn how to accept correction from the hand of the Lord and to let the Lord defend us from our enemies. So many times we want to jump right in and defend ourselves in circumstances where we aren’t being treated right. It’s only natural to speak up and defend what’s ours but that’s not always the wisdom God wants us to use. We need to use God’s wisdom when our reputation is being ruined by liars.

“I am your servant, Lord, and you have kept your promise to treat me with kindness. 66 Give me wisdom and good sense. I trust your commands. 67 Once you corrected me for not obeying you, but now I obey. 68 You are kindhearted, and you do good things, so teach me your laws. 69 My reputation is being ruined by conceited liars, but with all my heart I follow your teachings. 70 Those liars have no sense, but I find happiness in your Law. 71 When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me to study your laws. 72 I would rather obey you than to have a thousand pieces of silver and gold.” Psalm 119:65-72

David mentions twice in this segment that the Lord corrected him and that this correction was a good thing – it brought him back to obeying God’s word and that was more precious than silver or gold.

How does God correct us?

“16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

The Word of God is profitable for correction and instruction. It’s amazing to me how some folks can get so off base and say that the way God corrects is to cause us to lose our job, create financial hardship, make us sick, destroy our marriage, send a tragedy all to teach us something. Rubbish! Now these things happen but they are not a result of God teaching us a lesson. We need to recognize that there is a real enemy, seeking to destroy us. And we also need to recognize that sometimes we bring things on ourselves by being selfish and foolish, but they aren’t a result of God “teaching” us.

There is so much more to be said on correction but time and space limitations move me on.

Now how do we deal with those that criticize, lie and seek to destroy our reputations? David said to keep following and obeying God’s commands.

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about the wonderful things you have done. 2 You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you. God Most High, I praise your name. 3 My enemies turned to run from you, but they fell and were destroyed. 4 You listened to me from your throne like a good judge, and you decided that I was right.” Psalm 9:1-4ERV

David knew to follow God’s command was to let God be his defender.

“Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back.” Romans 12:18-19 ERV

Jesus lived this way – He could have retaliated against His accusers and those who persecuted him but He kept silent on His own behalf and just kept on doing what God had called Him to do – He healed the blind, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, healed the broken hearted and preached the love of God.

Paul was persecuted in nearly even town he entered and his comment was

“13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

He kept his focus – he didn’t get off course but just kept pressing forward in doing what God had called him to do.

Isaiah 54:17 also tells us that “Weapons made to attack you won’t be successful; words spoken against you won’t hurt at all. My servants, Jerusalem is yours!  I, the Lord, promise to bless you with victory.”

When we take time to answer our critics and defend ourselves we are being drawn away from what God has designed us to do. If we enter into the conflict of self-defense we are doing exactly what the enemy wants us to do. We need to learn from David, Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul and when adversary and accusation come – we keep our eyes on Jesus, standing on his Word and we will win the battle!

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I Want It All

Let’s jump right in to the verses for today.

“Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:57-64

I find it hard to get passed the first verse. This phrase “thou art my portion” reminds me of a pie. I know, a pie. I heard my Dad say on numerous occasions “the only problem with a pie is that you cut it, just give me a fork and I’ll eat the whole thing”. That’s how I see this verse about God’s word – when asked “how big a portion do you want” the answer came back “the Lord is my portion, just give me the whole thing, I don’t need anything else but Him.”

Jesus said that He was the bread of life. If we eat of Him we will never hunger. “Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

The manna that fell from heaven in the wilderness was a sign to the Israelites that God would be the one to sustain their life. Every man was to take the same amount of manna in the morning and the evening and there was always enough for everyone to eat their fill. That’s the way it is with God’s word; we all come to “eat” of His word and there’s enough for everyone, for each day, for every need.

The word mercy used in the next verse is translated “love” in other versions. I like the word mercy. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve! The Apostle Paul put it this way “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 It doesn’t matter if you are the best sinner to have ever lived, you have still sinned and need God’s mercy. Yes, mercy definitely is love in action but it conveys a deeper meaning.

David says that he thought on God’s ways and made “haste” and didn’t delay in keeping His commands. Again, this reminds me of when David committed adultery with Bathsheba. He learned that she was pregnant and to cover his guilt he called her husband home from war hoping that he would sleep with his wife and then think the child she was carrying belonged to him, her husband. But her husband chose to stay faithful to the men in battle and wouldn’t allow himself the luxury of his wife’s presence. So David sent him back to battle with a letter that told the general to put Bathsheba’s husband on the frontlines where he would surely be killed and he was. Then David took her as his wife.

WOW! They could write a soap opera on that one. David was confronted by Nathan the prophet and when his sin was exposed, he repented immediately!

Yes, David knew a thing or two about God’s mercy and about repenting quickly.

Again, David refers back to his enemies and their attacks. But he knew the Lord would deliver him. Remember what he said in Psalm 23 – “if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. You prepare a table (a banquet) before me in the presence of my enemies”? He knew that God was his protector and provider – his source of strength against his enemies. No fear here.

If things do bother you and you can’t sleep do what David wrote about. Get up at midnight and praise the Lord. I guarantee that after praising God at midnight you will rest well.

Paul and Silas were in a prison cell and they lived out this verse. Praising God at midnight, after they had been beaten and imprisoned, caused an earthquake and their chains fell off – yes, there is power in praise! We can either worry half the night or praise; I like praise better.

“After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.” Acts 16:23-26 CEV

Next, we have a reminder about the company we keep. Every mother has probably made this comment “choose your friends wisely or you may wind up in trouble”. When we choose godly friends we have someone we can talk about God’s word with; someone to help us grow and encourage us.

And finally, we have another reminder of God’s mercy; it fills the earth. Before Jesus came to earth to live and die people lived under God’s mercy and now after Jesus came we live under God’s grace. Grace is receiving blessings from God what we don’t deserve! Now that’s something to praise Him for.

Have some of that banquet that He has prepared for you – make God your portion!

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