February 27, 2020

HE HEEDED ME

Psalms 39:1-4 (40:1-3)

I waited patiently for the Lord, and He heeded me
And He heard my supplication,
And brought me up out of a miserable pit
And from miry clay;
And He established my feet on a rock
And kept straight my steps.
He put a new song in my mouth,
A hymn to our God;
Many will see and be afraid,
And shall hope in the Lord.

Encouraging Words

I love how the Psalms have so many verses the remind us how much God loves us and takes care of us. The Psalmist had the promise of the Messiah to keep him going day after day. We have the blessing of the Messiah who has come to keep us going. God does heed us, especially if we wait patiently for Him and prepare our hearts and minds for Him. He hears our supplications and lifts us up out of the mire and mud of this earthly life. He sets our feet on the solid rock of His Son and leads our way through life. He gives us a new song to sing for Him. He is our hope. Glory be to God!

February 25, 2020

WHAT IS MY PATIENCE?

Psalms 38:8 (39:7)

And now what is my patience?
Is it not the Lord?
And my support is from You.

Encouraging Words

All of my life I have perceived patience as something that I can work on in my own life. It has actually been a skill pursued or a way of being that certainly, I could master. But today as I read this passage, I have for the first time, seen patience in a totally different light. To truly find patience in our lives we need to stop looking within ourselves and look to our Lord. If we turn over everything in our lives to Him and look to His patience to be played out in our lives we will see patience manifested. Throughout this process. We will see God's support in our lives. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

February 24, 2020

OUR STEPS

Psalms 36:22-24 (37:23-24)
For those who bless Him shall inherit the earth,
But those who curse Him shall be utterly destroyed.
The steps of a man are guided aright by the Lord,
And he shall desire His way.
When he falls, he shall not be broken to pieces,
For the Lord supports him with His hand.

Encouraging Words

God loves us so much that He gave up His only Son for us. He loves us so much that through the work of His Son we are adopted into His family as sons and daughters of God. That is how we can inherit the earth. In that God-emitting love, our steps are guided and our desire becomes the desire to follow His way. In God's love we will not be broken when we stumble and fall for He supports us in the palm of His hand. Glory be to God!

February 23, 2020

THE JUST MAN

Psalms 36:16-19 (37:16-19)

Better the little with the just man
Than the great riches of sinners;
For the arms of sinners shall be shattered,
But the Lord supports the righteous.
The Lord knows the ways of the blameless,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in an evil time,
And in days of famine they shall be filled.

Personal Challenge

It really does make a difference in who we choose to spend our time with. We can choose to spend our time with those who are not godly people, but who have great riches and make for good parties. But in so doing so our rewards and blessings will be fleeting and fade away quickly. If however, we choose to fellowship and socialize with those who do not have great earthly wealth but are godly and righteous people, then we will see the blessings that they have in eternal blessings and wealth. We are affected by those whom we choose to speed time. We can be either cursed or blessed by their presence. The question is, "Are we blessings to those who choose to be with us?" Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

February 22, 2020

Saint of the Week

St. Isaac the Syrian

February 21, 2020

WHO ARE WE WATCHING?

Psalms 36:7 (37:7)

Submit to the Lord, and supplicate Him;
Do not be envious of him who prospers in his way,
Nor of him who transgresses the law.

Personal Challenge

We are told here to not be envious of the person who prospers in his ways, nor of him who does evil things and gets away with it. How do we do this? We do this by submitting ourselves, our desires and passions, our will, to our Lord and supplicating to Him. If our eyes are on Him we will not be watching the other person and envious of Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

February 20, 2020

HOPE, WORK, DWELL, DELIGHT, AND REVEAL

Psalms 36:3-5 (37:3-5)

Hope in the Lord, and work goodness;
Dwell in the land, and you shall be nurtured by its riches.
Delight in the Lord,
And He will give you the requests of your heart.
Reveal your way to the Lord,
And hope in Him; and He will do it.

Commands with Promises

Living a Christ-centered, God-blessed life is a life of action. Christian is a verb, not a noun. If we desire to see many of the promises of God manifested in our lives, then we must be actively living for Him. What are some of these promises? Being nurtured by the riches of God's land, His kingdom. Being given the requests of our hearts that we lay down before Him. Receiving that which we hope for in Him and in His will. Glory be to God!