Tag: psalms

A heart being transformed by truth; When my heart has whispered, “Seek God,” My whole being replied, “I am seeking him!” Praying; “do not hide your face from me now!” Psalm 27

Psalm 27 New American Standard Bible

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Psalm 27 highlights an extraordinarily deep longing for God’s presence, and it can this longing transforms our lives when we understand and apply its truths.

Today, we will explore the profound truth found in Psalm 27:4 (NLT): “The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.”

This verse highlights a deep longing for God’s presence, and it can transform our lives when we understand and apply its truths.

We will look at three key points: seeking God’s presence, delighting in God’s beauty, and meditating on God’s truth.

1. Seeking God’s Presence

The psalmist, David, expresses a singular desire to dwell in God’s house.

The Hebrew word for “seek” is “baqash,” which conveys an earnest pursuit or longing.

David’s life was filled with challenges, yet his greatest desire was not relief from his enemies but an intimate relationship with God. This shows the importance of prioritizing God’s presence above all else.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Jesus emphasizes the importance of seeking God first, promising that everything else will follow.

A.W. Tozer writes, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One” (The Pursuit of God).

In our busy lives, it’s easy to get distracted by worldly pursuits.

We must intentionally seek God’s presence through prayer, worship, and reading His Word.

Make time every day to connect with Him and prioritize His presence in your life.

Consider a child who, in the midst of a crowded room, runs to their parent’s arms. In the same way, we should run to God, seeking His presence above all else, finding comfort and joy in Him alone.

2. Delighting in God’s Beauty

David speaks of “delighting in the Lord’s perfections.” The Hebrew word “noam” refers to pleasantness or beauty.

David finds ultimate joy and satisfaction in the beauty of God’s character and His works.

This delight goes beyond mere admiration; it is a deep, soul-satisfying pleasure in God’s holiness and goodness.

Psalm 16:11 (NLT): “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

This verse reinforces the joy and delight found in God’s presence.

John Piper states, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” (Desiring God).

We are surrounded by many things that promise satisfaction but often leave us empty. True delight is found in God’s beauty. Spend time reflecting on His attributes and works. Worship Him not just for what He does but for who He is.

Imagine standing before a magnificent painting, mesmerized by its beauty.

Our experience with God should be similar but infinitely greater, finding deep satisfaction in His glorious presence.

3. Meditating on God’s Truth

David desires to “meditate in his Temple.

” The Hebrew word “hagah” means to ponder, muse, or meditate.

Meditation involves deep, continuous reflection on God’s Word and His truths. It is not a passive activity but an active engagement with God’s revelation.

Psalm 1:2 (NLT): “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

This verse highlights the blessedness of those who continually meditate on God’s law.

Dallas Willard writes, “The process of spiritual formation in Christ is one of progressively replacing… destructive images and ideas with the images and ideas that filled the mind of Jesus himself” (Renovation of the Heart).

Meditation on God’s Word transforms our minds and hearts.

Make it a habit to reflect deeply on Scripture, allowing it to shape your thoughts and actions.

Use tools like journaling or scripture memorization to aid your meditation.

Think of a gardener who tends to their garden daily, ensuring that every plant receives the care it needs.

Similarly, we should tend to our spiritual lives through regular meditation on God’s truth, allowing it to cultivate growth and transformation.

Psalm 27:4 calls us all into a transformative journey through seeking God’s presence, delighting in His beauty, and meditating on His truth.

Psalm 27:8-9 ‘When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.’9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

These verses are a truly powerful declaration of the Psalmist’s commitment to reassessing his life’s priorities to seek God’s presence and favor above all else.

The theme of seeking God’s face is a recurring motif throughout the Bible, symbolizing the believer’s longing for intimacy and fellowship with God.

In these verses, the Psalmist is responding to God’s strong call to seek His face, demonstrating a heart that is eager to know and experience the presence of the Lord.

These verses not only speak to the individual believer’s strongest desires for finding God’s face, but it also reflects a much broader theme of humanity’s yearning for an intimate relationship with their Creator.

The context of these verses is important to understanding its deeper meaning.

In Psalm 27, David expresses confidence in God’s protection and deliverance, despite facing opposition and adversity.

He begins the Psalm by declaring,

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, KJV).

Throughout the Psalm, David’s faith is unwavering, as he proclaims his trust in the Lord’s goodness and his desire to dwell in God’s presence.

It is within this context of seeking refuge and reassurance that David declares his fullest possible commitment to seeking God’s face.

Appreciate the symbolism of seeking God’s face which goes far beyond a mere physical encounter.

It represents a deeper, spiritual longing for divine communion and guidance.

In the Bible, God’s face is often associated with His favor, blessing, and presence.

When the Psalmist declares, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek,” he is expressing his turning away from his fears of his enemies towards the path which ultimately leads, guides and directs his far greater desire for God’s favor and intimacy.

This desire stems from an overwhelming recognition of God’s sovereignty and the incomparable transformative power of His presence in the believer’s life.

Furthermore, the act of seeking God’s face implies a deliberate and earnest pursuit of the Lord.

It involves a whole-hearted devotion and a willingness to set aside distractions and worldly pursuits in order to prioritize God’s presence.

These verses challenge believers to prioritize their relationship with God above all else, recognizing that true fulfillment and purpose are found in Him alone.

As Christians, we can draw inspiration from this verse to cultivate a deeper longing for God’s presence in our own lives.

In a world filled with too many distractions and demands, it can be easy to lose sight of the importance of seeking God’s face.

However, just as the Psalmist demonstrates his unwavering commitment to prioritizing God, we too are called to seek His face with sincerity and devotion.

Ultimately, Psalm 27:8 serves as a reminder of the profound significance of turning away from those distractions and demands, seeking God’s presence.

Vigorously examining our drifting own hearts and align our desires with His, recognizing true fulfillment is found only in the intimate presence of the Lord.

It invites us to embrace a life of purpose and meaning, rooted in a deep and abiding relationship with our Creator.

As we seek His face, may we be transformed by His love, grace, and truth.

This week, commit yourselves to prioritizing God’s presence, finding delight in His incomparable majesty, and meditating on His Way, His truth and His Life.

Pray the Holy Spirit to guide you in these essential spiritual practices and grow and mature, strengthen and transform your hearts and minds and your souls.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

42 As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and [c]appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

5 Why are you [d]cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
[e]For the help of His countenance.

6 [f]O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From [g]the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a [h]breaking of my bones,
My enemies [i]reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The [j]help of my countenance and my God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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What Do You Want Now? Get Serious! What is causing all of these quarrels and fights among you? Is it not your desires battling inside you? Do You desire things and do not have them? James 4:1-10 

James 4:1-10 New Living Translation

Drawing Close to God

4 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

4 You adulterers![a] Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.[b] 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”[c]

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Today I would like to share with you James 4:1-4,

“Where do wars and fights come from among you?

Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

You lust and do not have.

You murder and covet and cannot obtain.

You fight and war.

Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your worldly impulses and pleasures.

Adulterers and adulteresses!

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

I share this today because these 4 verses have extreme depth to our personal life, family, the church, all the way up to the highest levels of a city, state, country.

First, it starts in our own hearts.

Jesus said, “Out of the mouth the heart speaks.”

Check your heart and see, are you asking for things because you want it just for your glory and pleasure?

Second, look at those who destroy property, who destroyed nations, who also destroy people.

They do so, because they lust and do not have.

They refused to humble themselves and ask the Lord for direction.

It comes down to a person having hate inside them.

Jesus said that “hate is the same as murder.”

Finally know, that we can not want nor value to be a friend to the spirit of this world and follow the Lord.

You can not be a friend to the adversarial spirit and the Holy Spirit at the same time.

You will either follow Jesus or follow the Adversary.

Would you be able to identify, know, recognize, the difference between them?

What Do You so desperately Want you would risk cheating God?

“You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

4-6 You’re cheating on God.

Desires are thoughts.

Sadly, they often begin with the words of our two-year-old selves: “I want that!”

We can easily think, for example, “I want a car (or a house) like that.”

Or, “I wanted the job he got.”

I want, I want, I want.

Not all of our desires are bad, but many are.

If we want something that belongs to others or if we want something at the expense of others, that is typically wrong.

Pleasure and enjoyment are great blessings, but if we seek such things only for selfish reasons, that can be wrong too.

We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking, “I should have that . . . and why shouldn’t I?”

Our desires can cause battles within us.

How do we know if what we want is right or wrong?

We can take it to God in prayer.

And if we think, “I can’t possibly ask God for that,” it is probably a wrongful desire.

We can also have lots of good desires, though.

We may want our children to do well in school.

We may want our friend’s marriage to be saved.

We may want our church to grow.

God is pleased when we ask for good things like these with the right motives.

As we pray about our desires, let’s focus on those which can bring about glory to God, good for our neighbors, family, and friends.

Let’s pray about what can bring growth and maturity and Shalom in God’s kingdom throughout the world.

Things like these are always in line with the desires of God’s heart.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Security of Those Who Trust in the Lord, and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

37 Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And decay like the green plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Live in the land and [a]cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring out your righteousness as the light,
And your judgment as the noonday.

7 [b]Rest in the Lord and wait [c]patiently for Him;
Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way,
Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
To take down the afflicted and the needy,
To kill off those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their bows will be broken.

16 Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the Lord sustains the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the [d]blameless,
And their inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the [e]glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous is gracious and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him will inherit the land,
But those cursed by Him will be eliminated.

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled down,
Because the Lord is the One [f]who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his [g]descendants begging for bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his [h]descendants are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good,
So that you will dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves [i]justice
And does not abandon His godly ones;
They are protected forever,
But the [j]descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.
31 The Law of his God is in his heart;
His steps do not slip.
32 The wicked spies upon the righteous
And seeks to kill him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are eliminated, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked, violent person
Spreading himself like a luxuriant [k]tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Observe the [l]blameless person, and look at the upright;
For the person of peace will have a future.
38 But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed;
The future of the wicked will be eliminated.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A Prayer to Rekindle, Reignite Your awareness of God’s Abundant Favor to Earth and all Mankind. Psalm 65

Psalm 65 New King James Version

Praise to God for His Salvation and Providence
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song.

65 Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion;
And to You the [a]vow shall be performed.
2 O You who hear prayer,
To You all flesh will come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me;
As for our transgressions,
You will provide atonement for them.

4 Blessed is the man You choose,
And cause to approach You,
That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy temple.

5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,
O God of our salvation,
You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,
And of the far-off seas;
6 Who established the mountains by His strength,
Being clothed with power;
7 You who still the noise of the seas,
The noise of their waves,
And the tumult of the peoples.
8 They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs;
You make the outgoings of the morning and evening [b]rejoice.

9 You [c]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.
10 You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers,
You bless its growth.

11 You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
12 They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,
And the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks;
The valleys also are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, they also sing.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Whether it’s reading and meditating upon the psalms, writing my own blog musings, or perusing a variety of published collections cover-to-cover — I just love poetry. I’m drawn to its sincerity, depths of vulnerability and imagery.

To me, it’s a medium where humankind is free to reveal unique stories, open windows of wonder, and connect with other souls.

Poets often speak with tenderness and conviction about the astounding beauty of nature. Our heart beats openly in awe and wonderment of all those tiny and towering blessings that grace our daily lives. 

As a lyrical poet, King David was also in a deep state of appreciation for God’s provisions from sunrise to sunset.

While creating Psalm 65, he stood in awe of the nourishment that nature freely gives. It is a song of immeasurable gratitude, and several biblical commentaries suggest it was intended to be sung at a special worship and public observance.

It’s likely that a large gathering sang this psalm of praise to God, in celebration of deliverance, abundance, and the beauty of nature.

Whether we sing about it, write it down, or just soak it in, we are all blessed by nature with a symphony of colors (and yes, white as snow is a color) and then soon after with the change of seasons, behold sustenance from seed to harvest.

We can hear the voice of God — in the wind and rain, in a bevy of birdsong… and so much more.

Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 1:20 God’s eternal power is seen in creation.

Romans 1:20 Amplified Bible

20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.

In this verse, Paul encourages readers to know God by seeking proof of him in the creatures, landscapes, and skies.

There are many examples of God’s spectacular creativity in the Bible.

We continue to see it reflected in the great works of famous photographers, musicians, and artists of all kinds. 

And although I try to write poetry sometimes, I’m often distracted by must-dos, social media must-haves, and deadlines just like you.

However, scripture reminds me of the value of seeking God in the smallest feather or faintest whisper.

Simply taking a walk outdoors can rekindle your sense of awe.

It can give you a firsthand taste of God’s love. 

When you spend time in nature, you collect a kaleidoscope of natural wonders with your senses or just study a single clover.

The opportunities to be inspired and amazed are endless, every single day.

Nature is always painting, ministering from, worshiping, the living tapestry of God’s wondrous handiwork. 

Why bother? Why praise God at all, somebody may ask ?

Christians too often take it for granted that everyone understands that God is worthy of praise.

But non-Christians frequently think that for God to demand praise, worship, of his creatures suggests he is insecure if not egocentric.

Perhaps Christians, too, from time to time, also wonder the same—if not less loudly and less publicly. Why should we praise God?

David here gives us three reasons why “praise is due” to God (65:1).

First, it is because of his gracious salvation.

“When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions” (65:3).

What a great reason and motivation for us to praise God!

Yes, we are sinners.

Yes, our sins “prevail against” us; they enslave us, trouble us, and—unforgiven—ultimately damn us.

But God has found a way to “atone” for our transgressions!

Surely this means we should praise God.

Surely the one who in the end found a way to bring us back to himself washed, cleansed, and righteous deserves the praise of those he saved.

Surely that this salvation was in the end wrought at such a great cost—the cost of the sacrifice of the Son of God—means that God deserves our praise.

Praise God, first, because of his gracious salvation!

Second, praise God because he answers the prayers of his people.

“By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation” (65:5).

What a great reason and motivation to praise God!

Our God is a prayer-hearing God!

He answers our requests and moves in response to our pleas.

He is the “hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.”

God is able and willing to respond with what is best to those who ask, seek, and knock persistently in prayer!

Therefore, praise God!

Remember the times that he has answered your prayers in the past and praise God for answered prayer!

Write in your journal in the future the times that he answers your prayers as a testimony to the goodness of God.

So praise God, second, because he answers the prayers of his people!

Third, praise God because of his constant creation care.

“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it” (65:9).

The Christian doctrine of creation is not that God made the world in the beginning—and then left it to its own devices.

The Christian doctrine of creation is that God is constantly upholding all of the universe by the continual exercise of the power of his word.

Every good and perfect thing we see—every sunset and sunrise, every moment of beauty and mountain of grandeur—is a testimony to the greatness of God!

So praise God because of his constant creation care!

Would you then this morning spend time praising God?

It is easy to begin our days with a shopping list of prayer requests.

Would you instead begin to day with a joyful expanse of singing and praise!

So, today — if you’re feeling a tiny bit stuck, underwhelmed, or overworked — I urge you to plan a pause in nature.

Psalm 46:10-11 Amplified Bible

10 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

Let yourself slowly consider the beauty of a snowy landscape, the intricacy of a single snowflake, the sturdiness of a stone or a forest of tall majestic trees, the architecture of an ocean shell, or the simple dances of a butterfly.

Find a moment to savor the impeccable detail and devotion of our Lord, in a leaf, a creek, or a picturesque view. 

Then stop striving so hard and permit a sense of awe to cleanse your spirit. 

Making space to be awestruck will remind you that God weaves the most fragile of miracles, and a masterpiece of infinite stars that can take your breath away.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ….

Praying ….

Psalm 19 Amplified Bible

The Works and the Word of God.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
2 
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge.
3 
There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];
Their voice is not heard.
4 
Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
5 
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 
The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 
The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 
The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
10 
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed];
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 
Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
13 
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Barriers to Christmas Joy: About Confronting or Celebrating Family estrangement this Holiday Season? Psalm 27:9-10

Psalm 27:1-10 Amplified Bible

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
2 
When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
Even in this I am confident.

4 
One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
5 
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.
8 
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”
9 
Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me,
O God of my salvation!
10 
Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,
Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies [who lie in wait].
12 
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have come against me;
They breathe out violence.
13 
I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Psalm 27:9-10 is perfect as a personal reminder that God takes care of you and/or as an evangelism tool to witness to others about Him. 

Psalm 27 is a prayer/poem attributed to King David; it is a cry for help in a time of great distress, a renewed vow of faithfulness to God, ultimately a statement of belief in His power and complete trust in the protection only God can provide.

9-10 You’ve always been right there for me;
    don’t turn your back on me now.
Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me;
    you’ve always kept the door open.
My father and mother walked out and left me,
    but God took me in.

A father and a mother are the primary source of protection and safety for any child in this world.

If you were born and/or grew up fatherless and/or motherless, you can easily identify with this Scripture.

If you grew up in a broken or violent, abusive, unstable, drug infested home, and were physically and/or emotionally abandoned by one or both parents at some point, you can also easily identify with this Scripture, because you know for a fact that your parents, might have endangered, neglected abandoned you.

A father and a mother are the primary source of protection and safety for any child in this world. If you were born and/or grew up fatherless and/or motherless, you can easily identify with this Scripture. If you grew up in a broken or abusive home, and were physically and/or emotionally abandoned by one or both parents at some point, you can also easily identify with this Scripture, because you know for a fact that your parents abandoned you.

It is much harder to identify with it, if you grew up in a… so called… “normal family”, with so called “good parents”, who worked hard and provided for you, and even harder if you grew up in a so called “Christian household”, where Sundays were all about church and the Lord. So, the message of this Bible verse applies to everyone, not just those who grew up fatherless and/or motherless for one reason or another.

Let’s put it this way: if you grew up in a performance based environment and you were conditionally loved and accepted, you were not loved at all! If your father and mother’s love was based on your achievements, they didn’t love you at all, and you were spiritually abandoned by them!

Conditional love is a form of abuse that breaks the heart and it is probably the hardest form of abuse to understand. It is a form of abuse because it is conditional acceptance based on performance and achievements, it is shame based love and acceptance, it makes you feel defective like there is something wrong with you, in such environment there is no room for failure, nor for relaxing or slowing down, you live under pressure all the time in order to achieve what is asked of you and fulfill the expectations of your parents.

If your parents made you feel rejected because you failed to live up to their expectations, they broke your heart and abandoned you spiritually!

If your parents loved you, but only because you devoted yourself entirely to live up to their expectations and succeeded, they broke your heart and abandoned you spiritually!

If you grew up in a family where mom and dad weren’t in TRUE covenant relationship with God, not relating to Him in TRUE knowledge and responsibility (… if they went to church on Sunday doesn’t mean they were in covenant relationship with God, it only means they followed religion), mom and dad were not treating each other like Christ, children were brought up in a home where the family was not in covenant relationship with God and didn’t love the children like Christ… you have a broken heart and were spiritually abandoned by your parents!

Children abandoned by their parents grow up with a lack of personal identity; their true identity in Christ is shattered and a new identity is shaped by the parents’ expectations and the baggage that comes with it, or by the rebellion to such expectations. In either one of these cases this new identity becomes their life and reality.

King David’s earthly father pretty much fit the description (1 Samuel 16)! His father didn’t have much consideration for him; he thought highly of his other sons because they had the physical appearance of strong warriors, and because of that he thought that one of them would surely make a great king for Israel.

But, as Scripture says, “the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” – 1 Samuel 16:7. David’s father thought less of him because he was the youngest and wasn’t tall and strong like his brothers, he didn’t see much potential in David and favored his brothers because of their strength.

David had a heart for God, but his father didn’t see that as a point of strength, but of weakness. David’s father didn’t do much to encourage his youngest son’s self-esteem and self-confidence; so, David grew up not having much of a father to count on for support and encouragement, even though his father was a “good father”, always present in the household, and took care of all his children, including him.

When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to look for Israel’s new king among Jesse’s sons and anoint him, David’s father was well pleased to bring all his sons before Samuel, but didn’t mention to Samuel that he had another son (David) who was not present; that’s because he didn’t have much consideration for him, and didn’t think he had what it takes to be a king, nor that he had any ability to lead the nation and the army, but God knew his heart and chose him.

If your father and mother didn’t raise you in the TRUE knowledge of God, didn’t teach you the TRUE Principles of His Kingdom and didn’t love and protect you the way God would love you and protect you, then your parents may have been good parents by world standards, but spiritually they abandoned you.

So, what now?

If you are a Christian and love God more than this world, you are not fatherless and motherless, you are not left to yourself, in your loneliness and brokenness, to figure things out and make it. God is your protective Father and His Law will guide you and sustain you!

In order to understand the practical meaning of this verse, we need to read the entire chapter of Psalm 27, where we see that God’s protection is directly linked to, intertwined and dependent upon the sincere heart of the believer who offers sacrifices with joy (verse 6) and seeks God’s face (verse 8).

The offering of sacrifices in the Old Testament Temple was the physical act of the spiritual renunciation of one’s own earthly desires and sin. The New Testament parallel to this is “offering ourselves as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) or “offering up spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5), meaning repentance of sin and renunciation of carnal desires. Seeking God’s face means to seek who He is, and, knowing that He is holy, we are to seek holiness and conform to Him, which can be achieved by following God’s Law and renouncing all that is contrary to it and of this world.

And, sure enough, King David states in Psalm 27:4 – “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

To be in the house of the Lord in the Old Testament meant to be ritually sanctified and therefore legally acceptable to enter God’s Temple; and to dwell in the house of the Lord meant to dwell, in a figurative way, among all those believers who keep themselves ritually sanctified and are therefore legally accepted to be in God’s presence, in a nutshell it means to be part of God’s holy people and in covenant with the Father.

In order to be ritually sanctified and lawfully accepted by God, people had to follow His Law, that was based on His righteousness, and apply it to their daily life with a joyous heart (not because it was imposed on them), knowing that obeying God’s Commandments is His love and a source of blessing.

Things are the same today in the New Testament era; the only difference is that under the New Covenant all rituals are abolished, but NOT God’s Law.

Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

1 John 5:3 – “This is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments.”

John 15:10 – “If you keep My Commandments, you will dwell in My love.”

To obey God’s Commandments is the Narrow Way that Jesus talked about, it’s what gives your heavenly Father the power and right to call you His child, keep you in His safe place and protect you from adversities.

King David always turned to the Lord, for strength, protection, encouragement, support and hope. He knew that the way to God is the way of His Law, and in verse 11 he prayed “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a path of justice and uprightness because of my enemies.”

The Psalm ends with these verses, generally translated as follows:

11-12 Point me down your highway, God;
    direct me along a well-lighted street;
    show my enemies whose side you’re on.
Don’t throw me to the dogs,
    those liars who are out to get me,
    filling the air with their threats.

13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness
    in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
    Take heart. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
    Stay with God.

Psalm 27:11-14 Names of God Bible

11 Teach me your way, O Yahweh.
    Lead me on a level path
    because I have enemies who spy on me.
12 Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents.
    False witnesses have risen against me.
        They breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh
    in this world of the living.

14 Wait with hope for Yahweh.
    Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
    Yes, wait with hope for Yahweh.

The word translated as wait literally means to bind together by twisting; figuratively it means to be strong and robust, as the implication is that when you bind something together by twisting you will make it strong and robust.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6960/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Bottom line – the practical application for today is: 

your parents might have failed you, but if you bind yourself together with God by obeying His Law and conforming to Jesus, which is His love, He will be your Father forever and He will take care of you.

Please, drop any bias, rationales, hindrances, share this powerful Bible message with others: realize we are all, will become, fatherless and motherless in a way or another. Realize all our shared vulnerabilities, Psalm 46:10 hope in the Lord.

He is the perfect Father, holy and sinless, always close by protective and loving, He teaches us the way of righteousness, which guides us and leads us moves us on the right path, strengthening our heart in time of need and keeps us from falling into sin and its harsh and painful consequences.

He is our Savior and our deliverer.

Do not be silent, practice the love of God with someone, friends or enemies or complete strangers, clean or unclean. Let them know that if their father and mother have abandoned, abused, neglected them, to hope in God. Truth is the Lord will 100% take care of them as a loving Father with his beloved children!

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying …..

Psalm 78:1-8 English Standard Version

Tell the Coming Generation

A Maskil[a] of Asaph.

78 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.

5 He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7     so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
    whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Shall we rub our eyes—we can hardly bring ourselves to believe it! This is the very day which God acted—let us celebrate and be festive! Psalm 118:24

Psalm 118:21-25 The Message

21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
    you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
    is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
    We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
    let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
    Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The beauty of fall colors is both breathtaking and brief.

We look outside and see the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of fall leaves, and we feel inspired when we’re enjoying the sight of them.

But we also know the truth: those same leaves will soon dry up and fall to the ground. Their beauty doesn’t last forever. The colorful fall foliage season is fleeting, and if we don’t pay attention, we might miss the chance to enjoy it. 

The opportunities God gives us to enjoy each day are also temporary.

Time keeps moving, and each day comes and goes only once. If we aren’t making the most of our time, we may let those opportunities slip by.

Every single day is a gift from God.

God makes each day with good purposes, and he places us in it to rejoice and be glad by fully embracing the opportunities it brings us. 

But how often do we forget this?

We constantly rush through our schedules, get caught up in stress, or focus on disappointments, thoughts drift toward what went wrong yesterday or what might go wrong tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the gift of today quietly slips through our fingers.

It’s like standing under a tree during the season of peak fall colors and never once looking up to enjoy the wonder that’s around us. 

The Bible tells us to rejoice in this day.

Not yesterday, which is already gone.

Not tomorrow, which hasn’t come yet.

God wants us to enjoy this day we’re living right now. 

Our days won’t all be easy.

Many days in our fallen world bring challenging circumstances into our lives.

We may not feel glad.

But God’s call to rejoice and be glad doesn’t depend on our circumstances. It depends on our relationships with him. God made this day, and he is with us in it. God’s presence with us throughout each day is enough reason to be glad. 

The beauty of fall leaves is precious because it doesn’t last forever.

In the same way, today is precious because it won’t come again.

We can’t repeat it, and we can’t hold onto it once it passes.

This truth can inspire us to pay closer attention to all the opportunities God gives us to feel glad.

We can start to notice and celebrate by sharing a meal with our friends and families, laughing with our children, watching a sunset, or just, sit, enjoying listening to music. Everything we enjoy is a reason to thank God and celebrate! 

We can feel glad even when we feel pain at the same time.

When we’re going threw challenging situations, remembering that our good God is still with us helps us notice the good that God brings into each day.

We can choose not to waste today’s blessings just because they’re mixed in with painful circumstances.

The more we look for God’s goodness, the more we can find it and appreciate it. 

Every day we wake up is another opportunity from God to enjoy our lives.

When we practice rejoicing today, we can build lives full of gladness every day.

We can become people who live fully each day God gives us. 

Psalm 118 was the final prayer song in the liturgy of the Passover feast, which celebrated Israel’s freedom from slavery.

Israel was the stone that the builders of civilization had rejected, but God made his people the cornerstone of his plan for the world.

The apostles referred to Jesus also as the stone that was rejected, and he is now the all-important cornerstone of God’s kingdom.

Jesus is the Messiah who rode into Jerusalem as Israel’s king.

Though rejected by the Jews, he became the foundation stone for a new temple.

And he will come again as the heavenly sovereign Judge.

He ultimately is the one who says, “I will not die but live.”

Jesus the Messiah rises from the depths to the heights, and in the process he takes us along with him.

The rejected stone becomes the new cornerstone, and we become living stones essential to God’s new building (1 Peter 2:5).

The word for “cornerstone” can also be interpreted as “capstone,” indicating that Jesus becomes the crowning glory of the building that is the temple or the kingdom of God, and we will share in his glory (Romans 8:17).

No longer rejected but precious; no longer worthless but important—that’s our new identity in Christ.

Let’s pay attention to the wonder of God’s work in our lives every day so we don’t miss everything God wants us to enjoy today. When we do so, we’ll find plenty of blessings from our God to celebrate before the very next day comes! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …..

29 1-2 Bravo, God, bravo!
    Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!”
In awe before the glory,
    in awe before God’s visible power.
Stand at attention!
    Dress your best to honor him!

3 God thunders across the waters,
Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—
God, across the flood waters.

4 God’s thunder tympanic,
God’s thunder symphonic.

5 God’s thunder smashes cedars,
God topples the northern cedars.

6 The mountain ranges skip like spring colts,
The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.

7-8 God’s thunder spits fire.
God thunders, the wilderness quakes;
He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.

9 God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”

10 Above the floodwaters is God’s throne
    from which his power flows,
    from which he rules the world.

11 God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Fresh Air for Rusty Souls: entering into His Courtyard, place where God meets men and women clothed in His Wardrobe of Holiness. Psalm 96:7-9

Psalm 96:7-9 New American Standard Bible

7 [a]Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,
[b]Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 [c]Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an [d]offering and come into His courtyards.
9 Worship the Lord in [e]holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Word of God for th Childrn of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea.
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee,
Who was and is and evermore shall be.

3. Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity. Author: Reginald Heber (1826)

The saints in the Bible knew of God’s holiness and adored Him.

When God passed by Moses in the cleft of the rock, Moses tasted the holiness of God.

When Elijah called down fire from heaven on the false prophets of Baal, the people saw the holiness of God.

When Ananias and Saphira were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit, the church knew the holiness of God.

But other than a relatively few cautionary tales, the New Covenant people were somehow able to partake in the holiness of God without being consumed by it.

I don’t know that we will ever really “comprehend” the full holiness of God.

And that’s too bad.

We throw that term around a lot—holiness—and we have a sense that his holiness is not to be trifled with, but I don’t think we know how to wrap our finite minds around the concept.

We know God as a loving Father—guiding, providing, and protecting.

That one is easier to absorb, at least in theory.

We know God as revealed through his Son, Jesus—compassionate, servant-hearted, gentle, and caring.

We know God through the infilling of the Holy Spirit—empowering, energizing, and enabling us to do his bidding.

But the holiness of God—do we really know him that way?

Exodus 33:19-22 New American Standard Bible

19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion.” 20 He further said, “You cannot see My face, for mankind shall not see Me and live!” 21 Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place [a]by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

We cannot behold the holiness of God for ourselves and still stay alive.

When God’s back passed by Moses in the cleft of the rock, Moses beheld the holiness of God.

Before the weary embarrassed unsuccessful Priests of Baal, Elijah called down fire from heaven on the false prophets, the people saw the holiness of God.

But other than a relatively few cautionary tales, the New Covenant people were somehow able to partake in the holiness of God without being consumed by it.

What is the purpose of Psalm 19:7:8?

Psalm 19:7–8 explains how different portions of Scripture shape us inwardly and outwardly.

God’s law (Torah) is perfect (Ps. 19:7), blameless, like a prize-winning animal. It is exactly the right thing, for any given moment just when we need answers.

What does Psalm 96:8 mean for us?

Bring to God what is due to him; or, render such an acknowledgment as he deserves and claims.

Fully acknowledge him as God, and acknowledge him to be such a God as he is.

Let the honor due to God as such be given him; and let the honor due to him, for the character which he actually has, be wholly ascribed to him.

What is the meaning of Psalm 96:7-9?

Psalm 96:7-9 invites all humankind to “ascribe” strength and glory to the Lord and to offer in his courts worship that is appropriate for the sovereign God.

What does Psalm 96 verse 9 mean for us?

The psalmist calls on all people—of the entire world—to give proper worship to God.

Because of His divine nature, the miracles He has done, the Lord deserves to be praised.

Psalm 96:7-9 …

bring an offering and come into his courts. 

Worship unto the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Three times in a row God directly challenges us to “ascribe,” or give, unto the Lord exactly what is due His name.

Other so-called “gods” are owed nothing, are as nothing to be given anything.

Those who humbly enter His courtyards to worship the Lord should mightily celebrate His holiness, power, and judgment.

I wish that for you—and for me, too—that we could partake in God’s holiness without being consumed by it.

In conclusion, as I meditated upon this psalm I am challenged by the notion my worship of God ought to correspond to the greatness and worthiness of God. 

That’s why after saying “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name” (v.8a), the psalmist follows up by calling worshipers to respond in a manner appropriate to his particular covenant (v.8b).

But as my worship fails to execute this thesis, this psalm provides a remedy: dwell long upon the greatness of God and His saving works; and let that be the primary motivation for worship due God.

In summation, our worship is based on great thoughts of God; and great thoughts of God fuel the worship of God.

I am not sure how we can come into that kind of experience—and perhaps I do not really know what I am asking for—but there is something deep within my spirit crying out to know more and more of God in the beauty of his holiness.

May God grant us a deeper, richer transformational revelation of His Divine holiness so we can authentically worship him in the splendor of his holiness.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 100 NASB

All People Exhorted to Praise God.

A Psalm for [a]Thanksgiving.

100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Serve the Lord with jubilation;
Come before Him with rejoicing.
3 Know that the Lord [b]Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and [c]not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter His gates with [d]thanksgiving,
And His courtyards with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting
And His faithfulness is to all generations.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Have we now transgressed that line in the sand singing solely to listen to ourselves singing our own praises to ourselves, not God, in our worship? Psalm 96:1-3

Psalm 96:1-3 Complete Jewish Bible

96 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Sing to Adonai, bless his name!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Sing to Give, Not Get, Praise

God made us to sing songs. I used to sing into my toothbrush, holding it up like a microphone while imagining myself belting out Little Orphan Annie’s songs with all the vibrato of a Broadway star.

Whether you ever dreamed of signing a recording contract or you’re the sort that hums softly under your breath, your vocal cords were designed to make a joyful noise (music). But left to ourselves we often sing in order to be praised.

Psalm 96 urges us to use our voices not in order to earn praise, but to give it.

Three times David tells us to “sing to the Lord.”

This repetition should automatically signal, “Pay attention!”

God created your vocal cords not for your praise but to give praise to Him.

Not Just Any Song

What is this new song we’re to sing?

That number 1 on the latest top 40 on the Hit Parade?

Your favorite classic traditional old hymn from your church’s hymnal?

No No No — a thousand times No!

The newness springs from its daily-ness.

Just as Jesus taught us to pray every day for the bread of life to eat, fruit of the vine to drink, forgiveness for sin, rescue from evil, the psalmist shows us how to respond to God’s answers to our prayers: with all new songs sung every day.

In our consumer culture, we tend to think new means different, changed, or better than the old version.

But in Psalm 96, new means unending and undiminished.

Irish biblical scholar the late Alec Motyer (1924 – 2016) says the new songs commanded here correspond to the new mercies celebrated in

Lamentations 3:22-23. “Just as [God’s] ‘compassion’ is ‘new every morning’ so is [our] responsive song” (Psalms by the Day, 72).

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel
and pressed me down into ashes.
17 I have been so deprived of peace,
I have so forgotten what happiness is,
18 that I think, “My strength is gone,
and so is my hope in Adonai.”

19 Remember my utter misery,
the wormwood and the gall.
20 They are always on my mind;
this is why I am so depressed.

21 But in my mind I keep returning to something,
something that gives me hope —
22 that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted,
that his compassion has not ended.
23 [On the contrary,] they are new every morning!
How great your faithfulness!
24 “Adonai is all I have,” I say;
“therefore I will put my hope in him.

25 Adonai is good to those waiting for him,
to those who are seeking him out.
26 It is good to wait patiently
for the saving help of Adonai.

We sing from day to day because God’s salvation is at work in us day to day.

The timeless hymn Amazing Grace captures the meaning of new with the line,

“When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun / We’ve no less days to sing His praise than when we’ve first begun.”

Command and Invitation

The song’s newness also stems from who it is doing the singing. “All the earth” is both a command and invitation cloaked here in mystery, but revealed fully at the cross.

As Paul says in Ephesians 3:6,

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Every person in every people group in all the earth is commanded to give God the praise that is His due.

But they are also invited to join in the chorus of joyful worship and noisy praise as they bless His name in response to His grace.

This is not unfeeling obligation, but wide-eyed wonder and heartfelt response to God’s overwhelming goodness!

Scripture reveals that what God commands, He will accomplish.

In Revelation 5, the Apostle John gives us a vision of heaven where the four living creatures and the 24 elders lie prostrate before the Lamb in worship.

Verse 9 tells us they, too, are singing a new song, saying,

Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth (v. 9-10).

This song is full of past tense verbs: of actions accomplished, of vast peoples ransomed, of a kingdom and priests prepared to reign.

What was commanded in Psalm 96—a global response of praise for a great and costly salvation—Jesus has accomplished.

He alone is worthy to open the scroll because He was slain on the cross.

By His atoning blood He ransomed a people from all the peoples for God.

Jesus our Savior is worthy of worship today, tomorrow, and every day for all of eternity.

Our exuberant praises should never cease, our songs never come to an end, they are to be new every morning from today, and forever.

For Reflection
  1. These verses contain five sets of instructions repeated in sets of three. In addition to “sing, sing, sing…to the Lord, to the Lord, to the Lord,” what else does the passage require of God’s people?
  2. What songs do you sing when you’re in the car, in the shower, in the mood to sing? How might you grow your daily musical response to God’s mercy and grace?
  3. Start now. Sing a song of praise to God wherever you are.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 98 Complete Jewish Bible

98 (0) A psalm:

(1) Sing a new song to Adonai,
because he has done wonders.
His right hand, his holy arm
have won him victory.
2 Adonai has made known his victory;
revealed his vindication in full view of the nations,
3 remembered his grace and faithfulness
to the house of Isra’el.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.

4 Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
Break forth, sing for joy, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Adonai with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious music!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the shofar,
shout for joy before the king, Adonai!
7 Let the sea roar, and everything in it;
the world, and those living in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the mountains sing together for joy
9 before Adonai, for he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly and the peoples fairly.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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How, in what ways have we forgotten God in our worship? The When and What of Praising God. Psalm 96:1-3

Psalm 96:1-3 The Message

96 1-2 Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!

2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The other day I was driving to my Doctor’s appointment downtown and as our Lord so kindly saw fit, I drove through six consecutive downtown green lights.

I never had to stop or even slow down!

Upon arrival at the hospital, I immediately took satisfaction this rare sliver of grace the Lord extended to me. I’ve even told other people about it. How often does one make six straight green lights over a stretch of rush hour city driving?

I couldn’t help but reflect about all those providential green lights–how much more impactful are the glorious deeds spoken of God extolled in Psalm 96:1-3.

Are we, should we be, regularly be telling, singing, of God’s awesomeness?

We are told to sing (three times), to tell, and to declare the glory of our great God–each of these in the imperative, which means we are commanded to do so.

This command is carried out “from day to day” so we are to continuously praise God.

This applies to when the little things are good–like making six green lights–just as much as when the big things are bad, like what Job experienced (Job 1:20-21; 2:10).

We are to sing, tell, and declare the glory of our great God “among the nations” and “among all the peoples.”

This means His praise should be on our lips while in line at the grocery store, sitting next to our classmates, co-workers, and interacting with our spouses, children, and family members.

Our praising of God should not be limited to church morning or our private prayer lives.

It should flow out of us as naturally as water comes out of the ground.

The psalmist leaves no doubt about what the content of our praise should be:

God’s salvation, God’s glory, and God’s marvelous works.

At the time of this psalm’s writing, the ultimate act fitting this bill would have been God’s deliverance of His people from Pharaoh and into the Promised Land.

But that was only a pointer to the true deliverance, the true land of rest, the true salvation in Jesus Christ.

Thus, our songs of praise, telling of His salvation, declarations of His wonderful works, should always culminate in extolling the person, work of Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus who took the Father’s wrath (Psalm 75:7-8; John 18:11), it is Jesus who paid our debt (Colossians 2:14), it is Jesus who gives us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), and yes, it is Jesus who enabled me to make 6 consecutive green lights (Proverbs 16:33).

As a follower of Christ, He should be the primary subject of our continual praise, Raise up! May we be an inspired people of relentless praise of the One true God!

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 148

Creation’s Praise of the Lord

1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly armies.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He set them in position forever and ever;
he gave an order that will never pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
all sea monsters and ocean depths,
8 lightning[a] and hail, snow and cloud,
stormy wind that executes his command,
9 mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
creatures that crawl and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,
12 young men as well as young women,
old and young together.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted.
His majesty covers heaven and earth.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
resulting in praise to all his faithful ones,
to the Israelites, the people close to him.
Hallelujah!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Feasting or Snacking or Nibbling or on a Hunger Strike? Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate both day and at night. Psalm 1

Psalm 1 The Message

1 How well God must like you—
    you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,
    you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,
    you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.

2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.

4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked,
    who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
    unfit company for innocent people.

6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take leads to nowhere.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Finding, embracing our Happiness in What We Avoid

Psalm 1

The Two Ways

1 How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a]
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

4 The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

Happiness includes having the courage to avoid destructive situations. We can draw the line in uncertain friendships. We can walk away from compromising situations. We can say no to opportunities that could lead to wrongdoing.

This is how God describes his followers who seek to honor him and to live by his Word. When we are supplied with wisdom from God, we can avoid misfortunes, regrets, and many troubles by learning to exactly how say no before it’s too late.

Rather than walking in step with the wicked, “those who belong to Christ Jesus” can “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25).

In Christ, we are given new life and “called to be free” (5:13).

It doesn’t mean we are free to follow our old sinful nature. Rather, we are called to “serve one another humbly in love” (5:13), following the whole law of God.

If we walk in the way of the wicked, stand proudly with sinners, or sit dutifully among mockers, we will be just like them, and we will not enjoy the happiness of life that God wants for us.

We will be blown away like dust in the wind, for “the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

Psalm 1 is often described as teaching about the two ways: the way of godly wisdom, and the way of foolish wickedness. “Blessed [or happy] is the one who . . .” avoids the way of wickedness but delights in the way of the Lord.

God’s truth will always outweigh and outlive all its detractors.

As the prophet Isaiah proclaims, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

As the Psalter opens, we find that the blessed person—the truly happy one—delights in the enduring truth of God’s word.

The very words of the Lord are precious to them; each word tastes sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10).

Yet such a person doesn’t only delight in the law of the Lord; they also meditate upon it.

Meditation is akin to the process of digestion.

It is possible, in physical terms, just to stick food in your mouth and do nothing with it, but that will add nothing of nutritional value to your body.

We risk the same with God’s word if we come to it Sunday by Sunday and turn to it day by day without intentional meditation.

Often we feel as if our lives are racing by at 100 miles an hour.

Daily time in God’s word becomes a chore to complete, just to say we’ve done it.

Instead, we need to continually find ways to store up God’s word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

We need consciously to take time to chew it over, to ask throughout the day, “What does this verse really mean? How should it shape my thoughts and actions in this situation? What is it showing me about the glory of God? How might God use it to conform me to the image of Christ?”

We are not called to snack on the Scriptures but to feast on them.

There is no end to God’s excellencies, there is no end to the riches of His word.

What will it mean for you to meditate on it?

By prayer, seek the help of the Spirit of God to harness your heart and mind to the text.

Carefully consider what the Bible has to say.

Ponder it.

Probe it.

Chew on it

throughout the day to release as many soul-nourishing nutrients as you can.

Psalm 139:23-24 Christian Standard Bible

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any offensive[a] way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.

What does Psalm 1:2 teach us?

It explains that in which true blessedness –deep, rich, real, God-bestowed, God-centered happiness– consists. And it does so in the very first sentence.

Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man” . . . [whose] “delight is in the law of the Lord.”

Notice there is no opposition of blessing and obedience, or of delight and duty.

What is the simple explanation of Psalm 1?

Psalm 1 is called a wisdom psalm because we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God’s direction of life.

In this psalm the writer sets forth two ways or two directions in life.

One is the right way that leads to happiness, and the other is the wrong way that leads to misery.

What is the moral of Psalms 1?

Psalm 1 proclaims truths echoed in the book of Proverbs: that 

following the wisdom of God is the best and wisest way to live.

Like Proverbs, this psalm declares that those who obey God’s teachings can avoid serious consequences arising from committing to sin and disobedience.

What is the warning in Psalm 1?

This Psalm has a warning and a promise.

The warning describes the downward journey of a person who would rather listen to the chorus of this world rather than the word of God.

While the great promise of His happiness is for the righteous only.

And as you meditate on the law of your Lord, ask God not just to increase your knowledge of Him but o change you from the inside out to be more like His Son.

As you see His word go to work in your heart and mind and life, you will come more and more to experience continuous delight in reading it and living by it.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

Praying ….

Psalm 32

The Joy of Forgiveness

Of David. A Maskil.

1 How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom
the Lord does not charge with iniquity
and in whose spirit is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was drained[a]
as in the summer’s heat.Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately.[b]
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
9 Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.

10 Many pains come to the wicked,
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Engine of Repentance: Let us all take a good look at the way we are living, let us all reorder our lives under God. Lamentations 3:37-42

Lamentations 3:37-42 The Message

God Speaks Both Good Things and Hard Things into Being

37-39 Who do you think “spoke and it happened”?
    It’s the Master who gives such orders.
Doesn’t the High God speak everything,
    good things and hard things alike, into being?
And why would anyone gifted with life
    complain when punished for sin?

40-42 Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living
    and reorder our lives under God.
Let’s lift our hearts and hands at one and the same time,
    praying to God in heaven:
“We’ve been contrary and willful,
    and you haven’t forgiven.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How often do we actually take the time to humbly examine our ways?

Seriously. This is a serious question for these serious days we are navigating!

Think about it.

How often do we sit down and put our lives under God’s microscope?

We can glance over our everyday lives and not think much about them.

Yet, if we consider each passing thought, each insensitive or thoughtless word that comes spewing out of our mouth, every careless action that we do out of habit, how would they hold up against the Word?

Don’t we think, don’t we .01% believe it might be a good idea to actually make it a practice to regularly scrutinize our lives?

Yes, I said “”scrutinize”.

To judge ourselves.

Not in the way of condemning ourselves, but rather in the way of cleaning out our lives.

Even Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:29-32.

1 Corinthians 11:29-32 The Message

29-32 If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.

How do you know if someone has truly repented?

Does it involve more than simply feeling sorry?

One of the most common misconceptions about biblical repentance is that it is primarily an emotion.

We tend to measure the legitimacy of repentance by how badly the person feels about themselves. Lamentations offers a different view.

The mark of genuine repentance is more a matter of understanding than emotion.

Verse 40 describes the nature of true repentance: “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”

Many people who are not yet Christians may have a hard time imagining themselves accepting Christ.

Maybe they have had some bad experiences with Christians in the past and can’t imagine themselves being one of “them.”

Perhaps they carry hurts or shame and they can’t imagine letting go of what happened a long time ago.

In situations like that, it can be helpful to provide someone with chances to “borrow” your faith for a while to try it on.

For instance, offering to pray for someone can be a great way to let people embrace your faith without strings attached.

You could say something like,

“When I’m feeling stressed, I find that prayer (just talking to God) really helps. Would you like me to pray for you?”

Most people are fairly open to being prayed for by someone else, even if they haven’t prayed much or aren’t sure what they believe about God or prayer.

Each situation of prayer and conversation about God registers in a person’s mind as a little faith experience.

Every time someone hears a good rumor of things God has done, or every time God’s Word somehow influences their own life story, they’ll begin to imagine what God might do in their whole life. And that’s a step in the right direction.

Repentance begins when we carefully consider our attitudes and actions, agree with God’s assessment, and then maybe turn ourselves around to face the Lord.

What is more, the engine that drives true repentance is hope.

The nature of this hope is expressed in verses 31–32.

It is the conviction that “no one is cast off by the Lord forever” if they come to Him in true repentance.

This assurance springs from God’s own compassion, an “unfailing love” that cannot be exhausted.

God’s unfailing love provides the theological framework for understanding the afflictions and sorrows that will continue to be the subject of this devotional.

Although there is a divine hand behind them (vv. 37–39),

God takes no pleasure in the injustices inflicted by the agents who enact His discipline or from the suffering experienced by His people (vv. 33–36).

Repentance is not stoic resignation that dispassionately accepts suffering.

Nor is it necessarily a kind of spiritual depression that fills us with self- loathing. Repentance is a biblically informed view of ourselves that has been enlightened by God’s goodness and holiness. We may be grieved by what we learn, but the ultimate goal is to compel us to lift our gaze to God’s mercy.

Go Deeper …

Have you confused repentance with regret?

Have you spent so much time dwelling on your regret you have forgotten grace?

Psalm 32:1-2 New King James Version

The Joy of Forgiveness
A Psalm of David. A [a]Contemplation.

32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not [b]impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying …

Psalm 32 New King James Version

The Joy of Forgiveness
A Psalm of David. A [a]Contemplation.

32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not [b]impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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