Month: July 2016

Psalm 11: 3 – 5 Clear Word Translation “I put my confidence in the Lord.  How then can you say to me, ‘Run and hide in the mountains?  What are the righteous to do when everything appears destroyed?  They are to look to the Lord.  He is still in heaven.  He is still on His throne in His heavenly temple.  He knows everything that is happening and examines people’s hearts everywhere.”

Dear God,

I can depend on Your love and mercy, for without these; I am not whole and have no hope.  Lead me on and grow me beyond the pitiful offering of myself as of the present; such as when I so often hold back part of my self, or am half-hearted in following your wishes.  But praise Your Holy name, for You bring me back to You in repentance and confession, and then I, because of Your forgiveness, I am again covered with the righteousness of Jesus.  I pray to be filled by the Holy Spirit, so that I can learn to walk Your way and stay connected to You.

Upon reflection, there is absolutely no reason I need to be separated from You, for this only happens when I listen to my self- centered, unsanctified thoughts and inclinations.  For I know that when I place my confidence in You, I only want to look to You in heaven.  It changes my attitudes and actions to remember Jesus is in heaven, sitting upon His throne as High Priest in the heavenly temple; looking down in love upon everyone on earth.  It is such a comfort for me to know that both You and He know everything that is happening every place, and can examine the heart of every person.

David, Your anointed king over Israel and the writer of Psalm 11 knew You well.  I also am growing in my love and knowledge of You, and long to be Your true child, and with hope and longing, as did king David, and to someday see You face to face, as written in Psalm 11:7 (Clear Word Translation)”I know the Lord loves righteousness, I know He loves justice and hates corruption. And I know that someday the righteous will see His face.”

Hallelujah, my hope and trust rest in You this morning, the God of my salvation.

John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Dear God,

How delightful it is to worship and adore You, as well as learn new aspects of Your love, care and manifestations of Your character, in these early morning hours.  To give You my first thoughts for the day and receive Your messages in my mind, is an honour that thrills me, to my deepest being, to such an extent that I feel life would be meaningless, without my meeting with You and the Holy Spirit each morning, in education and soul searching, and the giving of myself to You afresh; along with all the other aspects that You give me each day.

Then joy, oh joys, You are with me throughout the day in all ways I need for guidance, support and when needed, spiritual rescue; and my guardian angel is always with me.  Forgive me for the many times; I barely give Your gift of my guardian angel a thought.  Just now I give thanks for many of Your gifts, but especially for Your angelic protection and influence upon me all through every day.

Each day, please remind me of the cost of my salvation.  For You sent Your Son into this world to seek and to save the lost; that by His life, then death, followed by overcoming death by living again, we who would be eternally lost.  Only You God could save us! Jesus as Your Son could answer the accusations of Satan that Your order of things was not fair and unachievable.  Jesus offered to come to earth and save us from sin and the ploys of Satan.  As Jesus and You as His Father are one, and He perfectly represents Your character, there was none other who could restore to us what we had lost, as the consequences of the sin of Adam and Eve.

How wonderful it is that Jesus re-established our relationship with You Father God, for He forgives our sins, He has given us an example of how to live, and will facilitate in us the ability to live in His image.

I praise You God, for all has been restored through Jesus, for those who desire it, from Adam and Eve down through time, until You call an end to man’s opportunity to choose.  I choose the sacrifice of Jesus for me, again today.

Amen

 

Psalm 7: 8 “The Lord shall judge the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me.”

Dear God,

I am so thankful for my life, and for Your love that provides and sustains me in every way that I need.  Which includes the precious scriptures which supply every mental, spiritual and emotional need; and bring me to You; these passages also challenge and nurture my faith in me, with increasing love with each reading.

In the scriptures I have read of many less than perfect situations, along with the life examples of some less than desired actions in Your people.  I find it encouraging reading about these erring people like myself; yet they were still used mightily by You, when they stopped trusting in themselves, and placed themselves, by faith in Your care.  For example, the young shepherd boy David, who was chosen by You and anointed to be the next king of Israel.  He loved You with an open heart in boyhood, and continued to do so, even though often tormented by others who connived against him or sought to kill him.  Yet all through his psalms he continues to declare his love and trust in You; as in Psalm 7: 1” O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me.”  Though I do not have people who are conniving against me or actively seeking to kill me, there are many situations, when I know Satan and his angels are seeking to make bad things happen in me and to me, and I pray in the same terms as David, and give thanks that You do hear and deliver me from my trouble.

David knew as do I that You are our sure defence, and You hear and answer us, when we come in need of spiritual and physical protection, for which I very grateful.  Psalm 7: 10 “My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.”

David has written many words of thankfulness and praise to You, and it is apparent that his praises have given comfort and direction down through the years to all the appreciative readers.   David, Psalm 7:17 “I will praise the Lord according to righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”  As well as Psalm 8: 1” O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who set Your glory above the heavens!”

David also writes, that he does not know a time when he personally has wronged others, but to judge him with all the others, which will reveal who he really is for all to see.

Personally at times, I have taken Your care and answers to my prayers ‘on the go’ for granted, for which I am sorry.   I determine not take You for granted, and instead remember to review Your answers to my prayers with thanks and praise.  The important thing for me is that You, my God, desire and appreciate my prayers, thanks and praise.

The psalmist’s and we on earth who believe in You, were and are in awe when we look at Your creation; especially the heavens, and wonder about the love and care you have for all of the vast universe.  Yes I (we) have everything to be awe inspired and thankful for and I give praises to You my God, afresh today.

Amen

Luke 5: 20 “When He saw their faith; He said to Him, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’”  Acts 16: 30 “………..’Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”

Dear God,

Jesus on earth had power to forgive sins; some found this blasphemous, and so did not take it seriously, and for others to be healed of their physical ailments was to them more desired, than to be forgiven of their sins.

Please God, truly strengthen me, so that I can humble all of me before You in repentance and supplication. To be forgiven and then covered by Christ’s robe of righteousness, is in its self a miraculous thing, for now God does not see me as the sinner I am, but as one sinless, because Jesus the One who covers me is sinless.   Hallelujah, again today, for You love and acceptance of me as sinless, through Jesus Christ.  Please keep this thought and belief deep in my mind and heart for all time.

Your loyal ambassadors, Paul, Silas and Timothy, were filled with much joy and could not keep from telling others about the good news, of the crucified risen Christ; now returned to heaven to intercede for mankind.  Full of consecration and the Holy Spirit, they risked their lives to tell others, so they also could learn to love Jesus and be saved.  The disciples were often not well received, and frequently risked their lives, telling the gospel story so others could choose Jesus and be saved from the consequences of their sins.  On the occasion written about in Acts 16, Paul and Silas had been beaten and put into prison, after witnessing about Jesus their Saviour.

From this passage, I derive so many lessons, and questions to ask myself.  Such as whether I am faithfully telling others about Jesus, as I should be? If I am not in the perfect, joyful trust, of these men in and out of jail; why am I not?  Acts 16: 25 “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”   A mighty earth quake occurred, and all the doors were opened; even those of the inner security section.  The keeper of the jail presumed that all the inmates would have escaped, and was going to kill himself, until Paul called out, telling him not to do that, because all the prisoners were still inside the jail.  The keeper, trembling with shock and emotion, asked how he also could be saved by Jesus, V31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  They believed and were immediately baptized, V34 “………..and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his house hold.”

What a beautiful thing it is, when a person is told about Jesus by someone who loves You too much to keep from telling others about Your great love and their hope for the future. And so it was as I read about the apostles and new believers, who are recorded in the scriptures telling as many people as they could, that they also, with them could be saved from their sins and have eternal life.  They did not forget to tell these new Christians that they also can have the infilling of the Holy Spirit and experience His gifts of joy, hope and peace on earth.

I am thankful that I know about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, and now have hope in Him; because someone cared enough to share, and like the jailer I have accepted Jesus.

Amen

Mark 10: 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Dear God,

Thank You for Your everlasting love and care of all Your creation.  I am especially thankful, that I was helped with adjusting recipes for sharing with others.  Forgive me for the times I rush ahead, and Your gift to us of beautiful fruits and vegetables, is not glorified in my food combinations.  Please be my wisdom and guide to present tasty and healthful recipes, to others.

Jesus came and lived a perfect, selfless, sinless life amongst those within walking distance around His place of birth, representing on earth, You His Father in heaven.  It is wonderful to comprehend, that You both have always been One, in purpose and nature, and are now together in heaven again; after the successful rescue mission, for we the lost and dying/died, from sin on earth.

Because of Your promises, I am assured that I will be led and equipped to be Your true child and representative to all that I meet.  Praises to You God in heaven, for hearing every prayer and I find that You are what I need, every moment of each day.

David a Psalmist and Your chosen king of Israel, was a faithful follower of You, all his life and has written beautifully upon all aspects of knowing You and how precious You are to all who know You, Psalm 1: 1 – 3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly……V2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord……..V 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season……….”  Because David was faithful, You also gave him words of prophecy about Your Son and His mission to come, for the direction and assurance for all people that followed in his ‘wake’.  Psalm 2: 7, 8 “I will declare the decree; the Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.’”

You are a God of truth and honour, and all the messages given by You to David and the other prophets have occurred.   Jesus is yet to come back to earth again!   I/we can be sure, because Jesus came to earth as predicted by the prophets the first time, that He will come again, as predicted for His own loved people, the second time.

Amen

Job 42: 1, 2 “Then Job answered the Lord and said, ‘I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.’”

Dear God,

I give thanks for every provision and each and every gift that come my way from You; The Almighty, and all powerful God.

Too many times we are inclined like Job, to question Your wisdom and doings, forgetting that You are not a finite person that makes errors or does wrong.  Also we can be slow to recognize or admit that many of our adverse happenings are the end result of our own previous words/ actions that in Your wisdom have been allowed to play out to their end, for our own learning and growth.  Forgive me please if I have any such sins, unrecognized or confessed by me, so I can make the changes necessary.

Job later recognized after God had spoken to him.  It is fair to say, how dare he (or we) question Your wisdom, when he/we are without knowledge of how and why the entire universe was constructed.  Anything we think may have happened is only supposed, because none of us were there at the time.

Job in his ignorant talk about things related to You was basically ‘spouting off’ because he did not like the nasty things happening to his body, and how badly his friends were treating him.  He did not know Satan had said, ‘no one would stay true to God, if life went bad for them.’  It is so wonderful however, that Job never did abandon or give up loving his God, as You knew would be the case.

Instead of speaking out of ignorance about Your motives or actions, I will follow Job, because I now realize as Job learnt, that we do not really need to fully understand things in and of the world that are too wonderful to grasp to be able to love and follow You with all our mind and heart.  Now days we have more facts than Job to pin our belief about Your creative works; as science finds out how some of Your creation actually functions; instead of following a belief based on supposition and theory.   The scientists still never have made a cell or element of it, and so have not put any man made cells together, so that it could be said any person on earth has created life. They have of course cleverly used cells already made by our Creator.

As with many of the songs of the Psalms, I must praise for Your love and care of the life of creation, of which I am a part.  Despite only being able to understand what has been revealed, there is fully enough for me to believe in and trust You in all things.

I also wish to serve You truly and with my whole heart all my days, with increasing reverence and understanding.

Amen

 

2 Kings 5: 2, 3 “And the Syrians had gone out on raids and had brought back a young girl from the land of Israel.  She waited on Naaman’s wife.  Then she said to her mistress.  ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!   For he would heal him of his leprosy.’”

Dear God,

I wish to give thanks for my life and this new day; and with the birds, greet this new day with happiness, and sing thanks to You; even though the sun does not shine.

It would seem in the Syrian household of Naaman, the Israelite young girl was like a light in this household.  She had not harboured hard or dark thoughts toward her captives, and had stayed true to her beliefs, in this pagan country, (Naaman mentions the god Rimmon, 2 Kings 5: 18).  She also sounded helpful in her place of residence, and concerned for the welfare of her captor.  As “Naaman the commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honourable man in the eyes of his master”….”but a leper.”

Please be my light and strength, so that Your love shines out of me in all situations, whether pleasant or adverse for me.

It would seem that both the Israelite maid and Naaman were honourable people that were believed when they communicated knowledge or a request to their respective masters.

Firstly Naaman believed the maid, to such a degree, in V4 “And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, ‘Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.”  As he had hoped, his master did not delay in helping him. V5 “Then the king of Syria said, ‘go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel’………”

The bible account tells me that the king of Israel thought it was a trick by Syria to start a quarrel with his country, for he certainly had no power to heal anyone, and he was not on close terms with the God of Israel anyway.  Just as well Elisha heard of the visitor from Syria and the king’s dilemma, and V8……”he sent to the king, saying, ‘Why have you torn your clothes?  Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.’”

It must have been off putting for this man of status, who no doubt was accustomed to respect and deference in all interactions.  Firstly he was bundled off from the palace, and arrives at the humble dwelling of Elisha, who did not even come out and greet this ‘great and honourable man’, but instead a messenger was sent to him, saying, V10 “…’go and wash in the Jordon seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you and you shall be clean.’”  It would seem God that You were testing this prideful man of power, for he needed to put aside his pride, and an in humility go and wash in the dirty Jordan, as instructed.  He almost did not, but his men persuaded him, it was worth trying something so easy, V14 “So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

Elisha did not accept any payment.  Healing comes from You, is never dependent on our actions or payment, and is always a free gift from God.  And this is how easy it is for us to be washed clean of our leprosy of sin no matter what sins they are.  All we need to do is seek You out; then with true hearts, humble ourselves, and with belief, ask Jesus for forgiveness for our sins, and accept that they are cleansed.  Then we like Naaman need to turn our backs on worshipping any other god, only the true, living God in heaven.

Please keep me true to You, God, so that no one or anything becomes more important above You.  Thank You for cleansing my sins.

Amen

Acts 13: 22, 23 “…….He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Saviour–Jesus.”

Dear God,

In the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, Paul was invited to speak, and of course, as with all true believers of Jesus, he spoke on His favourite topic, which was You, God the Father.  He spoke about Your past care, guidance and miraculous leading of the Israelite people down to the recent death and resurrection of Jesus.  Fearlessly Paul proclaimed the risen Lord Jesus, as had Peter and the other apostles, and what this meant for mankind.  Stephen a newly ordained deacon of the acts church fellowship had done so, before being stoned to death, whilst Paul (then named Saul) encouraged the Jewish crowd to stone Stephen to death.  And now through Your grace Paul was telling his story and presenting salvation through the risen Jesus, just as fearlessly as Stephen.

Because You are God who is all knowing and all powerful, You knew the potential of Paul, and so in Your love and mercy, gave Paul a vision of Jesus in heaven.  Paul was converted from a none believer in Jesus as God, to a full conversion, giving his whole heart and zeal to representing Jesus the risen Lord, to as many as he could.

In the introductory texts, Paul is representing You, as the God who knows all things, even knowing what was in the heart of Saul and David: two of the Israelite kings, the nation had demanded instead of You to be their god, so they could be like the other nations around about.  They had been meant to be an example nation showing what it meant to love and worship the God of heaven; their leader/King.  They demanded a human king, who was subject to all the same human passions and frailties that they were, spurning You the divine King, ruling from heaven.

Their first human king, Saul, was good looking and regal in bearing, but sadly was subject to pride and went on to not truly represent You to the people, and because of his disobedience and unfaithfulness.  You no longer allowed him to continue as king; because he now represented himself and not his heavenly King and God.  The next anointed king, was David, who was only a teenager when chosen, but You knew that he loved with his whole heart and would do Your will, the best he could.

Through David’s line of descendant’s, You raised up a Saviour – Jesus, not only to save the Jews, but we Gentiles also.  After Christ the early church was growing every day, because the new converts and followers, also served You obediently with their whole hearts.

As we come down to the last days of earth, I pray for a renewal in the hearts and mind of many people so that we also will give You all our heart, obedience and service, as did the members of the newly converted Christians of Acts.

Amen

 

Job 28: 20 “From where then does wisdom come?  And where is the place of understanding? V 23 God understands its way, and He knows its place.”

Dear God,

I give praise because it is uplifting to reflect upon Your might and power that can do all things, about which we mortals really know very little and we certainly do not know how many things were made or are maintained in the purpose, for which You created them.  We can know for certainty however, because of what is revealed in Your holy word, that You created all things in love, and that You love all that You create.

Job, expounded to his accusers, upon the different functioning aspects of the universe, to an amazing degree.  Which revealed the human wisdom of those times, but no matter the mighty things accomplished by mankind then or now, they do not match the true wisdom and understanding of all things by the Creator. Job who thought he knew God and His ways was given a rebuke that he did not, by God, recorded in Job Chapters 38 – 41.  Job did however know and love his God with all of his true heart, and we find in, Job 28: 28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.  And to depart from evil is understanding.”

It is good to know, You are in everyplace and doing of my life, and when I in prayer I ask, You surely do fill me with thoughts toward You and expand my inadequate understanding and wisdom.  You have given wonderful promises in scripture, that You are also my defense against Satan, who lies about Your character to each of us.

Please be my strength and wisdom in overcoming conceit and wrong attitudes; for it is not good works alone that please You. I am reminded of the truth in, Jeremiah 9: 24 “’But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.’”

I glory in Your glory today, and delight and praise You for it; as well as the delight You have in ‘exercising’ loving actions to me.

Amen