Psalm 77:1-3
I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Selah
There are times when I feel so selfish, cheated and angry that I can't sleep. I can't get the thoughts out of my head and I can't justify them with the God that I know. I seek comfort but I myself torment myself with my own attitude. God cannot comfort me when I only seek to be comforted by selfishness. Why can't I just give up?! Why is it so hard to die to self!? I have nobody to blame but myself and yet I search for someone else, anyone else to point to. But I can't escape myself. My sin is always before me (Psalm 51). My only answer is to meditate on God and dwell on His sacrifice for me until all I see is Christ. To remember His suffering is to lose sight of mine. To seek the Lord is to lose sight of myself.
God - take away my selfish indignation and self-centeredness. Make me lose sight of me and see only You. Forgive me. Make me new again. Amen
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Blindness to sin
Psalm 69:5-6
O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
My sin is not hidden from God and most often it is not hidden from others. Ironically, the only one who often cannot see my sin is me. And my blind sin and foolishness has a profound and sad effect on those around me. To the believer my in brings shame, sadness and discouragement. My sin may lead those who wait on the Lord to stop waiting. Those who seek the Lord will be confused and cynical because of my sin. Those who seek the Lord may stop seeking Him altogether. Until I see and know and acknowledge my sin, I cannot control the effects of my own behavior. Until I uncover my sin, others will continue to be drawn away on account of me. Every aspect of my life my be consistent and intentional, my message must be clear. Until then and even still, my prayer must be for God to preserve and protect those around me from my own foolishness and sin.
God - help me to see my sin. Make me bold to confess it and courageous enough to change. Preserve and protect those around me; let not my foolishness draw them away from you. Amen
O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
My sin is not hidden from God and most often it is not hidden from others. Ironically, the only one who often cannot see my sin is me. And my blind sin and foolishness has a profound and sad effect on those around me. To the believer my in brings shame, sadness and discouragement. My sin may lead those who wait on the Lord to stop waiting. Those who seek the Lord will be confused and cynical because of my sin. Those who seek the Lord may stop seeking Him altogether. Until I see and know and acknowledge my sin, I cannot control the effects of my own behavior. Until I uncover my sin, others will continue to be drawn away on account of me. Every aspect of my life my be consistent and intentional, my message must be clear. Until then and even still, my prayer must be for God to preserve and protect those around me from my own foolishness and sin.
God - help me to see my sin. Make me bold to confess it and courageous enough to change. Preserve and protect those around me; let not my foolishness draw them away from you. Amen
Friday, February 6, 2009
Psalm 68:5-6a
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity"
What a comforting and timely passage. Today is my daddy's birthday. It's been 2 years since he died and I think about him and miss him every day. In his absence, God has proven Himself to be my Heavenly Father, my comfort, my guide. Today, our foster daughter Andrea decided to get up with me for my quiet time. Last night we talked about her losing her mom and that soon she will be an orphan again. These verses are perfect for her to hold onto now. She smiled so big when we began to read and explain this. God our Heavenly Father will not leave her alone but will step in and care for her and even provide her with an earthly family to love her. I hope Andrea allows us to be that earthly family. God's word is so good and timely. We don't have to worry about anything - God our Father will provide for and care for His kids.
Heavenly Father - I praise You for being my Heavenly Father who cares for and provides for me. Thank You for tending to my family and guiding as as we grow. Thank You for bringing us Andrea and Vanessa. Thank You for letting us take part in this passage. Use us Father to provide and care for the fatherless that Your name may be known and that You may be seen in our family. Amen.
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity"
What a comforting and timely passage. Today is my daddy's birthday. It's been 2 years since he died and I think about him and miss him every day. In his absence, God has proven Himself to be my Heavenly Father, my comfort, my guide. Today, our foster daughter Andrea decided to get up with me for my quiet time. Last night we talked about her losing her mom and that soon she will be an orphan again. These verses are perfect for her to hold onto now. She smiled so big when we began to read and explain this. God our Heavenly Father will not leave her alone but will step in and care for her and even provide her with an earthly family to love her. I hope Andrea allows us to be that earthly family. God's word is so good and timely. We don't have to worry about anything - God our Father will provide for and care for His kids.
Heavenly Father - I praise You for being my Heavenly Father who cares for and provides for me. Thank You for tending to my family and guiding as as we grow. Thank You for bringing us Andrea and Vanessa. Thank You for letting us take part in this passage. Use us Father to provide and care for the fatherless that Your name may be known and that You may be seen in our family. Amen.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
See God's Doings
Psalm 66:5
Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
I am so grateful to serve a God whose works can be seen. I do not know my God by philosophy or ethereal notions - I can see His works. He is not known only by His being, but also by His doing. This is so significant to my faith. In witnessing His deeds my faith is not founded in darkness or mystery but in the practical, tangible and visible. When my faith is challenged or I struggle to recognize the awesome doings of God I can look to Scripture to illuminate and validate what I see. Through the lens of Scripture God's work can be seen in nature, life, relationships, systems, provision, protection, circumstances and so much more. Not only is Scripture my lens, it is also my compass that points me where to look. Furthermore, Scripture is my interpreter to process where and what I see. My faith is founded in the real, visible, valid and awesome work of God. My faith is not blind nor am I - I can see the very work of God.
God - open my eyes to your mighty works and help me recognize your doings around me. Amen.
side-thought - God is not a being... God is a Doing.
Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
I am so grateful to serve a God whose works can be seen. I do not know my God by philosophy or ethereal notions - I can see His works. He is not known only by His being, but also by His doing. This is so significant to my faith. In witnessing His deeds my faith is not founded in darkness or mystery but in the practical, tangible and visible. When my faith is challenged or I struggle to recognize the awesome doings of God I can look to Scripture to illuminate and validate what I see. Through the lens of Scripture God's work can be seen in nature, life, relationships, systems, provision, protection, circumstances and so much more. Not only is Scripture my lens, it is also my compass that points me where to look. Furthermore, Scripture is my interpreter to process where and what I see. My faith is founded in the real, visible, valid and awesome work of God. My faith is not blind nor am I - I can see the very work of God.
God - open my eyes to your mighty works and help me recognize your doings around me. Amen.
side-thought - God is not a being... God is a Doing.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
My Provider
Psalm 65:9-10
You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.
You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers,
You bless its growth.
(When you read this passage, emphasize the You in each line. This really drive home the point David is making. God is our provider.)
In a time of economic struggle and global concern, we must never forget who cares for and tends to the earth. God will sustain that which He has made. He will provide for that which He has created for His glory. I do not have to worry. If God provides for the earth, how much more so will He provide for those whom He has created in His image. How much more so will He provide for and sustain those whom He has called and caused to approach Him (vs. 65:4)!? God is in full control and can be trusted with every aspect of my life.
I praise You Father for Your constant provision and care for me. You are Good and worthy of praise. You alone and worthy. You alone are my provider. I will praise You alone.
You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.
You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers,
You bless its growth.
(When you read this passage, emphasize the You in each line. This really drive home the point David is making. God is our provider.)
In a time of economic struggle and global concern, we must never forget who cares for and tends to the earth. God will sustain that which He has made. He will provide for that which He has created for His glory. I do not have to worry. If God provides for the earth, how much more so will He provide for those whom He has created in His image. How much more so will He provide for and sustain those whom He has called and caused to approach Him (vs. 65:4)!? God is in full control and can be trusted with every aspect of my life.
I praise You Father for Your constant provision and care for me. You are Good and worthy of praise. You alone and worthy. You alone are my provider. I will praise You alone.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Psalm 62:1-2&5-7
1 Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be * moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
Throughout this Psalm David claims God and His nature for himself 12 times!... my salvation, my rock, my defense, my expectation, my strength, my glory, my refuge. And as David claims and proclaims God's character for himself his faith and confidence in God is strengthened. In verse 2 David claims he will not be "greatly" moved. However by verse 6 David is not moved at all!
This habit of recalling the character of God, meditating on His nature, claiming for ourselves and proclaiming out loud the goodness of God is critical to maintaining a strong and growing faith. God has granted me so much, His grace and mercy are so great that I lack nothing at any time. I need only to remember and claim His blessing in my life. He is not just a refuge or a rock or a strength or our salvation (generically speaking)... He is MY REFUGE, MY ROCK, MY STRENGTH and MY SALVATION! Daily I must claim the Truth of His nature and proclaim His Goodness out loud as a reminder of who He is and who I am because of Him.
God You are MY SONG, MY JOY, MY PEACE, MY DELIGHT... in You alone I am blessed. Keep this song on my lips and these words on my heart. Draw me close to You each morning and let me claim and proclaim Your goodness each day. Amen.
1 Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be * moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
Throughout this Psalm David claims God and His nature for himself 12 times!... my salvation, my rock, my defense, my expectation, my strength, my glory, my refuge. And as David claims and proclaims God's character for himself his faith and confidence in God is strengthened. In verse 2 David claims he will not be "greatly" moved. However by verse 6 David is not moved at all!
This habit of recalling the character of God, meditating on His nature, claiming for ourselves and proclaiming out loud the goodness of God is critical to maintaining a strong and growing faith. God has granted me so much, His grace and mercy are so great that I lack nothing at any time. I need only to remember and claim His blessing in my life. He is not just a refuge or a rock or a strength or our salvation (generically speaking)... He is MY REFUGE, MY ROCK, MY STRENGTH and MY SALVATION! Daily I must claim the Truth of His nature and proclaim His Goodness out loud as a reminder of who He is and who I am because of Him.
God You are MY SONG, MY JOY, MY PEACE, MY DELIGHT... in You alone I am blessed. Keep this song on my lips and these words on my heart. Draw me close to You each morning and let me claim and proclaim Your goodness each day. Amen.
Monday, February 2, 2009
to sing of His mercy each morning
Psalm 59:16-17
But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.
To walk with God and to walk like Jesus is no easy task. Sin, temptation, fleshly desires, carelessness and the Devil himself are always waiting to throw us off. Doubt, guilt, shame, apathy; these are the results of not walking with God and force us farther from His steps.
For this reason I will begin each day - with joy - singing of God's great mercy and power over my life. I will remember His provision for me, the price He paid on the cross and the deposit of His Holy Spirit within me each day. This daily reminder is my strength to walk and my defense against doubt, guilt, shame and apathy. I will claim and proclaim His mercy before any other thought or feeling creeps in. I will claim and proclaim His mercy each morning so that I can walk with and like Christ all day long. He will be my strength and His mercy my song.
I praise you God for Your great mercy to me. Keep me mindful of Your mercy all day long. Let Your mercy be the song I can't get out of my head and may I walk with You and in Your steps all day long. Amen.
But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.
To walk with God and to walk like Jesus is no easy task. Sin, temptation, fleshly desires, carelessness and the Devil himself are always waiting to throw us off. Doubt, guilt, shame, apathy; these are the results of not walking with God and force us farther from His steps.
For this reason I will begin each day - with joy - singing of God's great mercy and power over my life. I will remember His provision for me, the price He paid on the cross and the deposit of His Holy Spirit within me each day. This daily reminder is my strength to walk and my defense against doubt, guilt, shame and apathy. I will claim and proclaim His mercy before any other thought or feeling creeps in. I will claim and proclaim His mercy each morning so that I can walk with and like Christ all day long. He will be my strength and His mercy my song.
I praise you God for Your great mercy to me. Keep me mindful of Your mercy all day long. Let Your mercy be the song I can't get out of my head and may I walk with You and in Your steps all day long. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
