Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Psalm 84

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. v10

We are told that we are foreigners in "this world" and at home and citizens of Heaven.

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.  1 Peter 1:17

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

As such we should not grow comfortable with this world and not "conform".

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

We should "[b]e holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy" (Leviticus 19:2).

God knows that we cannot do this alone - so He provides the Word, our brothers and sisters in Christ, the church, and of course Jesus Christ His Son through which we have the Holy Spirit - the same power the brought Jesus from the grave.

Our time here on earth is to be spent discipling others and bringing others to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has brought me out of the miry pit...again and again.  You always welcome me back with open arms - You free from the sting of sin and death and You put me on a path to live a life more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worthy of such love.  I often do not obey and I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!...But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Psalm 81

If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!...But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. v13-14,16

A great promise for us...that God will protect us from our enemies (Satan) and that we will be fed (physically, etc.) and satisfied.  We need both protection and provision.  All of us do....We also need a Savior.

Key here is to listen to God...to listen and obey.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

That is why corporate worship and living hand in hand with other believers is important.  So that we can support and encourage one another...to press forward towards maturity.

But most importantly I believe is to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness so that we may be transformed through the renewing of the mind.


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, even though You know everything about me.  You provide and protect me....and You have saved me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus. I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. v4

As a father, I am called to be spiritual head of the household and to instruct my children in the ways of the Lord - see Ephesians 6:4.  See also this post by Dennis Rainey.

Rainey provide useful guidance about how to manage, minister and model to our families.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has blessed me with a wonderful family - Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love though.  I often fall down in my role as husband and father and I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 73

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. v27-28

God wants us to be in relationship with Him - and this means we must worship, be in prayer with Him, and serve Him - daily.  When we sin, we must confess our sins and repent. When we do so, we are reconciled back to God.  Otherwise, as Psalm 73 states, we remain far from God.  We do not want to remain far from God as once sin catches hold we risk being "dragged away" by our own evil desires.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15

  
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loved me and died for me, knowing everything about my sin.  You always welcome me back with open arms when I confess and repent of my sin.  What a God of love and grace You are.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I neglect my role as father too often.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Psalm 69

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. v5

We all need Jesus Christ because we all need a Savior...because we sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), because the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23), and Jesus is that Savior as He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).   He nailed our sin to the cross and gave us freedom over sin and death.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cr Colossians 2:13-15

 
What is most remarkable for me is that God knows everything about us and loves us no less and He paid the price we should have paid.  Amazing.  Amazing Grace.

 My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gave me amazing grace.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such grace.  I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

Psalm 63

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. v1

David cries out to God as Saul and his men seek him out to destroy him.  David's life is at stake and only God can sustain him.  We must feel the same way.  We need God more than we need water because God provides living water and everything else that sustains us - we are already dead in our sins.  We must seek God to rescue us and also go to God daily for our provision. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me - even though You know everything about me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.

Psalm 58

Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth. v11

We often concern ourselves with how others should be judged for their wrongs and in so doing we sin.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

We should rest in knowing that God knows everything and that nothing is hidden from Him.  We can also rest in knowing that God's justice is perfect.

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.  Revelation 22:11-12

It is not our role to play judge. On the other hand, we are to love others as God loves us (John 13:34). 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who knows all yet loves all.  You know everything about me including my sin, yet You still came to earth to die on a cross for me so that I would be free from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. v22

I worry - far too much.  God tells me not to worry (Matthew 6:25-33).  God wants me to depend on Him fully - 100% - to trust in Him vs self, others, etc.

My only thought this morning is to draw near to God.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

If I draw near to God, He will reveal Himself.  As God reveals Himself to me, I am able to cast my cares on Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who hears me when I cry out....You are always there for me and You never change or forsake me.  All of Your promises come true.  I can rest in You.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet many times I don't and I worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. v10 and 12

David writes this Psalm after being confronted by Nathan regarding his sin with Bathsheba and the resulting efforts to cover up his sin.

We must recognize that we ALL need a savior - to save us from the sting of sin and death.  Only Jesus can save us and create in us faith and a pure heart.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has given me a desire to pursue You and please You - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am far from perfect - I continue to be broken.  I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalm 50

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. v9-10

God has no need for animal sacrifice or empty ritual - He wants our heart and our life.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 

Note also the Lord's words to Samuel regarding David as the anointed one:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who will never leave or forsake me.  You always hear my prayers and You respond with love, compassion, grace, patience, wisdom, etc.  Thank You for being my God.  I love You.  Yet I am not worth such a God.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. v20

Many of us, myself of course included, have grown envious of others when they achieve earthly success yet we fail to heed the words of both this Psalm and also of Jesus.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

It's not that God wants us to be poor or that He minds us having wealth - it's our heart condition.  We shouldn't seek wealth or desire wealth above God.

See also Matthew 19:16-26 where Jesus addresses the "Rich Young Ruler".  


Paul also encourages us to seek the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ".

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who I know loves me and loved me even before I was born...knowing everything about me, including my brokenness.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

Psalm 44

In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. v8

We all have skills and abilities but God is the source of our skills and abilities.  

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge[.] Proverbs 1:7

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

 

We should have no reason or cause to be arrogant or to boast.  Our boasting should be about what God has done.

 

We must be a light.

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 

 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus, You created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them...and You created every human being and all that they have done is due to You.  Lord Jesus You are an amazing God who has done great things both with me and through me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth the love You pour out for me.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? v1-2

As a follow up to a post from a couple of days ago, we must recognize that we can do no good things and have no good things without God; we would also be lost and condemned without Him.  Therefore, we must be desperate for Him - He is life and without Him we would be dead.


Even further, we must see ourselves as dead without Christ.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

But Christ is life.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are...You are life, You saved me and You provide life...to the full!  I am blessed and my cup overflows.  I am overwhelmed.  Thank You Jesus.  But I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. v7

We often - I know I've been there - see others and use others' behavior as justification to engage in sin - peer pressure if you will.  This may be particularly true when we are expecting God to respond to us in a time of need - yet David is warning us that we should avoid running with the world and that we should wait for the Lord, for His wisdom, His provision, His peace, His comfort, etc. and God's timing while it may be mysterious - it is worth waiting for.

This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,
    and in the day of salvation I will help you[.] Isaiah 49:8

The world cannot provide what we truly yearn for - and it cannot fill the hole in our heart that is made for God alone.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and I know that You have great plans for me...to prosper me and not for harm, for hope and a future.  I take great comfort in Your promises and Your love.  Thank You God for Your Son and the Holy Spirit.  I am not worth such love - I am broken and my sin continues - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Psalm 34

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. v10

God provides - for all of our needs. 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

The implication of both Psalm 34 and Psalm 16 is that WITH God, He provides.  We are to stay near to God, connected to Him.  And we are to do so daily.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors[.] Proverbs 8:34

 

Scripture also says that Jesus is our shepherd and that we would be lost without Him.

 

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

My Prayer:  Jesus, You are an amazing God and You have provided all the days of life - abundantly.  My cup overflows.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love because I often chase other Gods or don't fully place my trust in You.  Please forgive me for such sin!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime[.]

Psalm 30

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime[.] v5

We are imperfect and broken - yet He adopted us as His children.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6 

And He is slow to anger and abounding in love.

That He will be with us until the end of the age in the context of knowing that for those who believe, we will never lose our salvation = favor.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  John 10:27-29

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who will never leave or forsake us and You have adopted us as Your children and sealed us for eternity - thank You Jesus.  What an amazing gift and act of grace.  Thank You.  I am not deserving.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. v14

God wants us to be in action and to use our spiritual gifts to the best of our abilities.

 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

 

Yet there are times when God wants us to wait, to trust in Him.

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens[.] Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,
    and in the day of salvation I will help you[.] Isaiah 49:8

 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

 

In our waiting, we can rest in knowing that God loves us, He will never leave or forsake us, and that He has great plans for us - "to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give you hope and a future". 

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are - You have blessed me beyond what I could ever imagine or deserve.  You are truly a great God and the one and only God for me - I would be lost without You. Thank You Jesus.  Yet, I am undeserving of such a God as You.  I worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. v4-5

God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and God is working in us to transform our hearts, minds and lives (Romans 12:2).  If we surrender to Him and ask Him to show us the way, He will lead us...He will show us the way as He IS the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

For us to follow Jesus, we must first acknowledge our own shortcomings - that we are insufficient...that we need God.  We must demonstrate humility.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

I need to daily remember that I would be lost without Jesus...that my way or the world's way leads to eternal damnation. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the ONLY way for You are THE way, the truth and the life.  I WOULD be lost without You.  Thank You for guiding me and leading me.  I am both filled and blessed.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Psalm 20

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. v7

It is easy to believe and have faith in people and the things of this world - I am too often guilty of this.  It is much harder to have faith and trust in God.  That is one reason why God HAD to send His Son Jesus Christ because faith on our own is impossible.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It is also important to recognize that all of what we have is from God - including all of our spiritual gifts, abilities, and material possessions.


Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who provides for all of my needs and who never leaves or forsakes me - You give me faith and life...to the full!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. v7

David is described as a "man after God's heart" and as someone who would do "everything [God] want[ed] him to do" (Acts 13:22).  I will not say I love the Lord as much as David - but I can say for myself that I love the Lord and I seek to please Him - daily.  Yet this was not always true nor did I always have a desire to go "after" God and read and study His Word.  I am far from perfect but I am confident in testifying to the good work God has done in me.

This is both a process and a promise - and God keeps His promises.  I started reading the Bible with more vigor and it took time - I can't say how long specifically and of course it will be different for each of us.  But we must go "after" it and trust that God will do a good work in You - He will.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:4-6

 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them [the law of the Lord] there is great reward. v11

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You HAVE done MANY good works both in me and through me - thank You Jesus for making me more like You - I do feel filled - but I want more.  Yet I am not worth Your love - I worry.  Please forgive me and help shed me of such sin.  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

Psalm 18

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. v7

For believers, we know that God will never leave or forsake us - that He will be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  Yet I am not sure we take the time to reflect on the extent to which God will go to protect us - if we call on Him.

This Psalm gives us a glimpse of God's power and how it comes to our aid in times of trouble.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

 

For us to begin to appreciate this power, we need to be in relationship with God and to put on the "full armor of God".

Power indeed.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has not only created the Heavens and the Universe and everything in them, but also rules over all.  You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You came to save me, dying on the cross.  Thank You Jesus for saving me...daily.  I am not worth such love...I worry and am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Psalm 17

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. v8-9

Christians do indeed have enemies - there are certainly those who don't want us to practice our faith.  These may be other people, but Satan for sure is our enemy - see also 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Some quick digging this morning located this post - which is a keeper.  It is an excerpt from A.W. Tozer's book Rut, Rot, or Revival: The Problem of Change and Breaking Out of the Status Quo.  Tozer writes that Christians face yet another enemy, which is that of routine or what he calls rut - where we become predictable and we fail to push ourselves onward to where God is calling us - He certainly isn't telling us to stand still.  We are to grow.

Tozer uses Deuteronomy as an example of how God wants us to "move forward":

East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

 

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:5-8

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God[.] Hebrews 6:1

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has seen me through dark valleys and mountain highs....both through change and stagnation.  You have never left me or forsaken me...nor will You ever.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I get caught in routine.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin, turn towards You, love You with all of my heart, soul and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me GROW in my faith, and CHANGE.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

Psalm 16

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” v2

I am reminded once again how blessed I am - every good thing I have is due to the Lord.  He provides for all of my needs (v5).

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

God is much more than my provider.  He counsels me (v7), He keeps me from being shaken (v8), and I have peace because God will not abandon me (v10).  This Psalm is a good introduction into the many roles God plays in our lives.  I found this reference which provides a broader list.

God wants us to come to Him for all of our needs - when I look at the above list I often find myself going to different places depending on the need.  Yet how foolish I am.  God can handle and help me with anything and everything.

God, please help me go to You for all of my needs.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is able to help in any and all circumstances - You created everything, are in everything and control everything.  You are full of mercy and compassion - for You came for me and died on the cross for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.

Psalm 12

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. v6

People do let us down - they make promises they don't keep.  That is why we see in scriptures that our faith should rest in Jesus Christ alone, and not in people, for God's keeps His promises.  God is also always available for us as He never leaves or forsakes us.

Yet we chase what the world offers - I know I am guilty of this as well.

I must remind myself - daily of how God is worth more to me than what the world offers.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

Many of the fruits of the spirit, which I have experienced in greater quantity as I have grown closer to Christ - I would not trade for anything the world can offer. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who offers freedom, life, and eternal life.  Thank You Jesus for raising me from the dead for I was dead in my sin.  Thank You.  I am not worth such love and blessings as You provide.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Psalm 11

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. v7

God is all knowing - nothing is hidden from Him - so we can begin to appreciate that God reigns with perfect justice.  We must also remember that we are judged not just for what we have done but also what is in our hearts.


Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Revelation 20:11-12


We must focus on our heart condition.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has created all things, is in all things, controls all things, knows all things, and You STILL love me!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Psalms 8

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? v3-4

Indeed...the God who created the universe, everything in it, and controls all things...loves us...even though we are broken and sinful.  He loves us as His children (Romans 8:16, Ephesians 5:1), created us in His image (Genesis 1:27, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18), and God wants to teach, mold, and refine us to be more like Him.  

God has great plans for us - yet one more aspect of how great God's love is for us.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me - even though I am broken and sinful.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards others.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.