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.

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”

Genesis 15

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” v8

Abram demonstrates the type of "give and take" interaction that God wants with us.  God wants us to be in relationship with us.  He wants to communicate with us.  He wants us to ask questions. He wants to hear our concerns and He wants us to depend on Him for wisdom and knowledge.  He wants us to go to Him daily for our provision - physical needs, emotional needs, etc. - everything.  He is our all in all.

Jacob wrestles with God - Genesis 32:22-32
Moses and the burning bush - Exodus 3

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides for all of my needs.  I am not in want for anything because of You.  Thank You Jesus.  Although I am blessed, I am undeserving.  I continue in my sin - I am harsh with my words. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn 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 strength and wisdom.  Please heal and cure 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.

Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 80

Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. v19

God wants us a relationship with us - a genuine relationship where we share exactly where we are...the highs, the lows, the joys, and the struggles.  This is what a relationship is - it is a commitment.  The Psalms are exactly that - the highs and lows of the authors - from David, Asaph, Solomon, Moses, and others.  This Psalm by Asaph acknowledges sin, yet it also reveals a love of the Lord that is recognized as someone all powerful, and full of love and compassion for His children. God has and continues to rescue us from our sins and our difficulties - but we must also recognize that God has us exactly where He wants for a reason (Romans 8:28).  This said, we must be thankful for where we are and see the goodness of God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God - all powerful, all knowing and present in all things at all times...and You love me...as broken as I am. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am easily distracted by the matters of this world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

Psalm 50

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. v14-15

God does not want empty actions, He wants us to truly know, desire, and worship Him.  Verses 8-13 demonstrate this through God's own words that He has no needs for the sacrifices that are part of the ceremonial law.  We are also to be living sacrifices - be who God intends for us.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

 

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

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that provides for His children all needs - and everyone is worthy regardless of abilities, circumstances.  You know everything about us, including our sin, yet You chose us anyway, suffering and dieing for us so that we would not be slaves to sin and so we could have eternity in heaven with You.  Awesome!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I continue to worry and fail to display love to others as You show to me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. v11-12

Psalm 19

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. v11-12

David asks a critical question here - "But who can discern their own errors?".  Yes, our Christian brothers and sisters can help us (see Proverbs 27:17, Matthew 18:15), but only God knows all aspects of all our sin, including our heart which is of course the key source of our sin.  It is ONLY through daily time with God and His word will He reveal to us our own sin and His message for us.

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

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an incredible God You are!  You are so full of love, patience, mercy, compassion, gentleness, joy, patience, etc.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I fail to dispense these fruits to others as You have to me.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

Psalms 18

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? v31

For believers, this seems like an easy enough question to answer.  Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Yet when we truly examine our lives, how we spend our time, how we spend our money, etc.  Will it be clear that Jesus is our God?  This is a deeply penetrating question and my hope is that on Judgement Day Jesus does not say "I never knew you...":

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  Matthew 7:21-23

Help me focus on the eternal.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of grace, compassion, patience, etc. for me even though I am not deserving of such blessings.  I continue to use my words harshly, among my many sins.  Thank You for Your blessings but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. v10

Indeed, this - that He will never forsake me - is a promise God makes often.  He knows us...He knows how easily we forget, how we worry, etc.  Just like a child needs a parent, we need our heavenly father.  God desires for us to run to Him just like we have our earthly parents...in times of joy, triumph, sadness, tragedy, etc.  In all circumstances, God wants us....and as the Psalm says, He will be there when we call.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

See also Deuteronomy 31:6, 31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Kings 8:57, Hebrews 13:5 for the following verse that is nearly identical each time it appears:

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

As Jesus sends out the twelve for the Great Commission, he says: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

My Prayer: Lord, You are an incredible God that I know is always there when I call...in all circumstances. Yet there are times when my trust and faith in You is not "with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength".  For this alone, I know I am not worthy of a God such as You Jesus.  Thank You for all that You are, all that You have done and all that You will continue to do.  Please forgive me for my harshness with my family.  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You love me. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. v14-15

If we are close to God we must know His "good, pleasing and perfect will" and Paul shows us how in his letter to Romans:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

We must yearn to be close to God, in prayer, in reflection, in study, etc.  By drawing closer to God and knowing His will for our lives, we have confidence in knowing that God hears and answers ALL prayer - according to His will.  The implication is that our prayers should consist of either praying for what we KNOW God wants for us or for us to fully submit to His will - whatever that might be.

My Prayer: Lord You are a Great God and I know that Your designs, plans, etc. for me are perfect, glorify You and are GOOD for me.  Yet I often want to satisfy my OWN desires and this is sinful and wrong Jesus - please forgive me and help me turn from such sinful behavior and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me desire what You desire.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. v15

We all need someone who can understand and empathize with us and our experiences...good and bad.  This is a core basis of any relationship.  This is one of the aspects of Jesus Christ that makes it so easy to be in relationship with Him...He relates to all of our experiences and we can tell Him everything.  He knows everything about us anyway...sin and all.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome and incredible God...I know You know everything about me, including my sin...and You came to die for me anyway!  How awesome and gracious are You.  You are full of gentleness, patience, compassion, mercy, etc.  I am so deeply grateful for all that You are and all that You have done and continue to do for me.  I am blessed well beyond what I deserve.  I am quick to anger, and slow to listen, selfish, etc.  Yet You love me....thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me overcome such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me come to You daily and deepen my relationship with You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.