Our Faithful God

 

     Another of the many Psalms to savor is the 37^th Psalm. When the world feels out of control, when you see evil rising and wonder, “Where is God?” this Psalm will bring comfort and a firm foundation. Our God will vindicate. Through Jesus, our righteous reward remains steadfast and forever. Delight yourself in Him and trust Him, above all you see in this temporal world. He will keep us safe as we trust Him.

Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4

     These two verses speak volumes to us in how to live life. “Trust in God! Do good!  Take delight in the Lord! He will give you the desires of your heart!”  So much promise and truth for us. When we look to Him in faith and in trust, our desires will match His will and we will find peace and joy right in the midst of chaos and evil.

     One day soon, God will vanquish evil and we will inherit the new heaven and the new earth. Hang on to this hope.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more. Though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and will enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37:10-11

     Finally, in this Psalm, God gives us a promise. Even though we stumble, (and we will!) He will lead us into forever.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him. Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24

Lord,

We take refuge in You as you uphold us with Your hand. Keep Your words in our hearts as we make our way in the world. May evil be vanquished and freedom reign. One day all will be new. Forever awaits.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Words and Meditation

 

     Psalm 19 is one of my favorites. This Psalm combines the majesty of nature, with the wonder of God’s word, two of the places we witness the truth and splendor of our Lord. There are only 14 verses. I invite you to read through them today.

     As you venture outside, take in the sights and sounds, the warmth of the sunshine, the cleansing rain, the way the earth is set in the universe, day and night, sunrise and sunset. As the birds welcome the morning light and the nocturnal animals set out in the nighttime hours, as the trees and flowers bloom with the promise of new life, take time to thank God.

     And search God’s word as if hunting for silver and gold. The wisdom found there is much more precious to us, much more valuable. Ask God to reveal the hidden things of your heart, to bring them out in the light of His countenance. This Psalm ends with a verse I speak out often to our Lord.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

     May our hearts and our words bring honor to Jesus, today and tomorrow.

Lord,

The words speak to the deepest parts of our soul. We praise You today for Your creation that welcomes us to rise each morning and gives us rest each night. We praise You for Your word and how it reaches in to meet us right where we are. May our words be pleasing to You, our Rock and our Redeemer.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Heart and Soul

 

     The Psalmist cries out to God and gives voice to our human thoughts and feelings. The writers seek answers, as we do. We read and feel the pain that mirrors our grief. The Psalms praise God through the ups and downs of life, as we should. If you are searching, grieving, seeking forgiveness, or praising God, the Psalms will echo in your heart and soul. Seek God in them. Find comfort and hope in them. The human condition is found there.

     The word “Psalms” can be translated in the Hebrew or Greek as “praises,” or “songs of praise.” Many of these words were set to music and the ancient Jews sang them as they set out for the temple. Others are Psalms of lament as they cry out to God. Many of the Psalms were penned by King David, others attributed to various writers, including one as far back as Moses. We will look at a few this week.

     Whatever season of life, whatever emotion, whether in joy or a sorrow, you will find words you can use to pray and to praise. The following is a favorite Psalm for many, a reminder of where we need to look to find our peace and our protection.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills-my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

     This Psalm was sung as the Israelites traveled up to the temple of God, a Psalm of ascent. Whatever the future, God holds us in the palm of His hand. He will watch over our lives, our coming and going, now and forevermore. Hallelujah! Look up to the loving God watching over you.

Father,

We thank You for the Psalms, for these songs of praise written for us. You watch over us, protect us and love us as we look up to praise You.

Amen

Living Water

     Our memorable moments bring reminiscent smiles and regretful tears. They bring heartache and excitement. Life lived with Jesus brings us something precious, more precious than gold. He gives us grateful hearts for the breath of life each morning. He is the perfect parent, the great comforter, the healer of our souls, the peace giver. And most precious of all of His gifts, He offers heaven, eternity with Him.

     Keep track of His work in your life as you journey on. You will notice the little ways in which He answers your heart. You will find opportunities to bless others in His name.

     The greatest gift we have to offer is to bring glory to His precious name. Our faith pleases Him. Because He has given so much to us, we have an abundant supply of love to give away. Let His love flow like living water through you.

     Jesus taught the woman at the well about this gift.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” “Sir”, the woman said, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?”  “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. 4:10-11, 14

   Later on, in the 7^th Chapter of John, Jesus explains that this living water is the Holy Spirit, given to those who will believe in Hi. Is the flowing through you from Jesus? Fill up on it in His word. Drink deeply from His love. Take in the nourishment He offers. It is life.

Lord,

Thank You for each memorable moment You give us. Fill us to the brim until we overflow with the living water of the Holy Spirit. We are Your beloved children, and we long for more brothers and sisters. Let us bring Your deep joy with us wherever we go.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God Moments

 

     As we ask God to begin anew in our lives, we also reminisce and thank God for memories, for friends and for family. Think about sweet moments with God. I bet we will be surprised in heaven to learn how many times He and His angels protected us, at the times He grieved with us, or rejoiced with us and for the prayers He answered.

     Has He answered a special prayer immediately? Or have you waited patiently, not believing He even listened, only to discover years later, He was there all along? I believe I have been the closest to Christ during my times of great sadness and worry. Those times bring us to our knees as we beg to understand He is always there to hold you and, He is enough.

     Have you felt His presence in a real way during worship? Been overwhelmed with His love? Stuck up for Him when others don’t believe? There are so many moments, and as we age, we recognize Him more and more. He is involved and He is everywhere.

     Celebrate your God moments today. Think back to prayers answered, to believing the sufficiency of His grace, to feeling His presence throughout the day, for the people He has brought into your life at just the right moment. God is good all the time.

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

I remain confident of this. I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27;13

Lord,

We celebrate You today, for the moments we share, for the hope you bring, for the trust You develop, for the love that never ends. Your goodness follows us all of the days of our lives. We are confident. You are good.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Renewed Strength

 

     It helps me to remember; even when I feel weak in faith, discouraged in life, or worried and anxious, or feeling achy with age, God continues His work in me.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

     When you lose your confidence in yourself, in life, in others, be confident in Christ. When you lose your way, remember He has the path ahead all figured out. When you are about to give up, He will bring the right words, the perfect people, the Scripture you can hold onto for dear life, or the hope of heaven.

     At the end of this life, there is a new place, our perfect home, the beginning of forever. This is not our true home. We are visitors.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

     God is working in your life right now. Trust in Him. He will never let you go. Wait eagerly for His coming. In the meantime, take His hand and He will show you the way to new life.

Jesus,

You are the way, the truth and the life. Our lives here will count for You as we allow Your work in us to continue. Give us renewed strength today. Bring the right words to our hearts and the right people to our paths.

Amen

Soar On Wings Like Eagles

 

     A brand-new believer in Jesus is often filled with new hope and joy and peace. As humans, that euphoria can wear off as life continues to unfold with its hardships and struggles. But deep within, there remains an eternal perspective, the truth and hope of our heavenly home. The Bible tells us eternity is in our hearts.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

     We will not understand all that goes on in our earthly lives. But God knows the end from the beginning.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10

     Allow these words to bring peace to your heart. God knows the end from the beginning. His purposes will come to pass, in His timing, in His way, in your life and in mine. His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55)

     Keep eternity in your heart. All of this is temporal. Allow the blessings of the new life in Christ to give you renewed strength today.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Father,

When we begin to move away from You, renew our strength. We do not want to grow faint and weary in our faith. Keep the peace and hope of eternity in our hearts as we walk out our faith and our new life in Christ.

In Jesus name,

Amen