The Power of God

Psalm 68:7-14

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ O God, when you ^(A)went out before your people,
    ^(B)when you marched through ^(C)the wilderness, Selah
^8 (D)the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
^9 (E)Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
¹⁰ your flock^[a] found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you ^(F)provided for the needy.

¹¹ The Lord gives ^(G)the word;
    ^(H)the women who announce the news are a great host:
^{12     (I)}“The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home ^(J)divide the spoil—
¹³     though you men lie among ^(K)the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
    its pinions with shimmering gold.
¹⁴ When the Almighty scatters kings there,
    let snow fall on ^(L)Zalmon.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68%3A7+-14&version=ESV)

History, you can learn from it or you can repeat it.  What can we learn from the history that is stated in these scriptures?  David knew the history of his people and the history of His God.  These verses tell us over and over how God cared for His people.  The strong became weak and the weak became strong because God was in control.

How does that relate to us?  We need to remember, like David, the power of our God.  We need to realize that He is the creator of all, He has a plan, and that plan will be fulfilled.  In the last writing we talked about being a friend or an enemy of God.  In this passage we see God’s protection and care for His people.  Which side would you rather be on?  The side of a mighty God or the side of a fallen angel? God has given that choice to each of us and I choose to be on the side of God who cares for me.

Seek Him and know that He is mighty in strength and power; no one can match His greatness.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila   

Identifying the Enemy

Psalm 68:1-6

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

68 ^(A)God shall arise, his enemies shall be^(B)scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
² As ^(C)smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    ^(D)as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
³ But ^(E)the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

⁴ Sing to God, ^(F)sing praises to his name;
    ^(G)lift up a song to him who ^(H)rides through^(I)the deserts;
his name is ^(J)the Lord;
    exult before him!
^5 (K)Father of the fatherless and ^(L)protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
⁶ God ^(M)settles the solitary in a home;
    he ^(N)leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but ^(O)the rebellious dwell in ^(P)a parched land.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68%3A+1-6&version=ESV)

Who are the enemies of God?  We may think that it is anyone who does evil.  We can think of all kinds of bad people that we would consider enemies of God but truth be known, enemies of God come from every socio-economic class, every gender, they are different ages, even those who do good can be enemies of God, and yes, even those who go to church every Sunday can be enemies of God.  As recorded in Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23, Jesus states that anyone that is not for Him is against Him.  If you are not a follower of Christ, then you are an enemy of Him.  So that means that anyone riding the fence is an enemy of God.    Many people do good in this world and some do it for God while others do it for their own gain.  Our motivation in life should be to please the Father, not man, and not for our own personal gain.  Matthew 12 and Luke 11 are a good places to read about the examples of those who do good for their own gain. 

Take heed, if you take a good look at yourself and realize that you have been trying to do good to earn your way to Heaven yet have not recognized Jesus as Lord then you are an enemy of God.  If this is you, I urge you to follow Jesus, ask Him to be Lord of our life, admit that you are a sinner and ask Him to place you under His care as a believer in Him.  If you place your faith in Him, He will supply your needs.  He will become the Lord of your life and He will take care of you.  If you are an enemy, He will destroy you and you will be in total separation from Him for all eternity.  I trust that all who read this are or will become a friend of God.

Seek Him and know that He is the only answer to the problems of this world.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

The Motivation Behind the Prayer

Psalm 67

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: with ^(A)stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

67 May God ^(B)be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to ^(C)shine upon us, Selah
² that ^(D)your way may be known on earth,
    your ^(E)saving power among all nations.
^3 (F)Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you ^(G)judge the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
^5 (H)Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

⁶ The earth has ^(I)yielded its increase;
    God, our God, shall bless us.
⁷ God shall bless us;
    let ^(J)all the ends of the earth fear him!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+67&version=ESV)

What is our motivation behind our prayers?  Do we really want God to bless us so that He can be glorified or are we looking for the glory for ourselves?  So many good men/women have prayed for blessings, gotten them, and then fallen.  David was one of them.  Even though he knew the Lord, loved the Lord, and praised the Lord, he didn’t do everything right in the Lord’s sight until he repented.  Solomon, who prayed for wisdom and was granted it, caused his kingdom to fall because of his lack of commitment to the Lord.

So many times we want blessings but it is for our gain and not the Lord’s gain.  Next time we pray for a blessing let us examine our hearts and know if it is to give God the glory or ourselves the glory.  Next time we pray for a blessing on another person or family let’s make sure that we want that blessing because it will bring glory and honor to the Lord not for the fulfillment of the family.

As you seek Him, know that He is full of abundance and that abundance and mercy is what we need to share with others.  God should be praised, are we praising Him?  God should be feared, are we in awestruck fear of Him?

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

Nothing More Sure

Psalm 66

English Standard Version (ESV)

 

To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.

66 ^(A)Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
²     sing the glory of his name;
    ^(B)give to him glorious praise!
³ Say to God, ^(C)“How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power that your enemies^(D)come cringing to you.
^4 (E)All the earth worships you
    and sings praises to you;
    they sing praises to your name.” Selah

^5 (F)Come and see what God has done:
    ^(G)he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
⁶ He ^(H)turned the sea into dry land;
    they ^(I)passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
⁷     who rules by his might forever,
whose ^(J)eyes keep watch on the nations—
    let not the rebellious exalt themselves.Selah

⁸ Bless our God, O peoples;
    let the sound of his praise be heard,
⁹ who has kept our soul among the living
    and ^(K)has not let our feet slip.
¹⁰ For you, O God, have ^(L)tested us;
    you have tried us as silver is tried.
¹¹ You brought us into ^(M)the net;
    you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
¹² you let men ^(N)ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and through ^(O)water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

¹³ I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
    I will ^(P)perform my vows to you,
¹⁴ that which my lips uttered
    and my mouth promised ^(Q)when I was in trouble.
¹⁵ I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
    with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats.Selah

^16 (R)Come and hear, all you who fear God,
    and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
¹⁷ I cried to him with my mouth,
    and high praise was on^[a] my tongue.^[b]
18 If I had ^(S)cherished iniquity in my heart,
    ^(T)the Lord would not have listened.
¹⁹ But truly ^(U)God has listened;
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

²⁰ Blessed be God,
    because he has not rejected my prayer
    or removed his steadfast love from me!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+66&version=ESV)

 

This Psalm reminds me of an old hymn we used to sing.  “I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love, I love to tell the story because I know ‘tis true; it satisfies my longing as nothing else can do.”  And that, my friend is why I write these blogs. 

God has performed many wondrous deeds from the parting of the Red Sea to the tumbling of the walls at Jericho.  But even with all of that, we in our human state want more.  The Old Testament is full of stories where people failed time and time again.  Even people who saw the miracles of God and spoke to Him directly failed to always trust Him.  Many times today we say, “Just give me a sign” and many times He does, only for us to turn our backs when things don’t go our way.  How soon we forget when we make a deal with God and He delivers but we don’t.  We are no different from the Israelites who worshipped a golden calf or who grumbled and complained when things didn’t go their way.  Oh, it is easy to look at their actions and judge them but all the while we are just like them.  We don’t have a pillar of smoke or a cloud to follow but rather we have the Holy Spirit guiding us throughout our lives but often times we don’t follow or we grumble along the way.

So what has God done for me?  Why do I love to tell the old old stories?  God loves me so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.  Yes, He did it for you too.  God wants all of us to come to Him but we can only do that by believing Jesus is God’s only son, a part of God Himself and confessing that we are sinners.  He has a wonderful life planned for us but we must believe and trust in Jesus to be eternally with our Father in Heaven.  But even more, God sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in the lives of believers so that we may know and confess our Maker to others. 

There have been times in my life that I felt the hug of my Savior.  There have been times that the only truth I knew for sure was the truth of the Bible.  There is nothing else on this earth that explains our being like the Bible does.  There is nothing else that can explain the joy in midst of sorrow or the hope found in death.  There is no other book that displays human behavior for what it is nor is there another book that can explain the wondrous story of what God has done for us even in our human state.  I love to tell the story because I know that the God of this universe is worthy of praise, glory and honor; I put my trust in Him and Him alone.

Seek Him and know that He is God.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

He is the Maker

Psalm 65

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

65 Praise ^(A)is due to you,^[a] O God, in Zion,
    and to you shall ^(B)vows be performed.
² O you who ^(C)hear prayer,
    to you ^(D)shall all flesh come.
³ When ^(E)iniquities prevail against me,
    you ^(F)atone for our transgressions.
^4 (G)Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
    to ^(H)dwell in your courts!
We shall be ^(I)satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple!

⁵ By ^(J)awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
    O God of our salvation,
the hope of all ^(K)the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas;
⁶ the one who by his strength established the mountains,
    being ^(L)girded with might;
⁷ who ^(M)stills the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    ^(N)the tumult of the peoples,
⁸ so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

⁹ You visit the earth and ^(O)water it;^[b]
    you greatly enrich it;
^(P)the river of God is full of water;
    ^(Q)you provide their grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
¹⁰ You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges,
softening it with ^(R)showers,
    and blessing its growth.
¹¹ You crown the year with your bounty;
    your wagon tracks ^(S)overflow with abundance.
^12 (T)The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
    the hills ^(U)gird themselves with joy,
^13 (V)the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
    the valleys deck themselves with grain,
    they ^(W)shout and sing together for joy.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+65&version=ESV)

How many of us are truly satisfied?  We should be. God has graciously sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He died on the cross as the sacrificial lamb for all those who believe, call upon His name, and confess Him as LORD of their lives.  So why are we not satisfied?  I believe our answer is in verse 4, “goodness of your house” and “holiness of your temple” is what brings us satisfaction but we continue to look for it in earthly things.  Bigger house, most popular church . . . better car, faster computer . . . we measure satisfaction by material things rather than Godly things.  Prosperity preaching says that God will supply us with everything we want but God’s word tells us that all we want should be God and His will in our lives (Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..”) (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A10&version=ESV)

As we read further in Psalm 65 we see that God is the One who created this beautiful landscape.  He is the One that decided we needed an awesome beginning of our day and a peaceful end to our day.  But wait, not always do we see the sunrise or the sunset because of the clouds or manmade objects.    When the storms come our way and the clouds keep us from the beauty of the sunrise or sunset we are once again reminded that God is taking care of the earth He created. When we see the skyscrapers around us that block us from the beauty we are reminded that manmade things and pleasures bring about quick darkness rather than gentle, peaceful, nighttime.

I think the remaining verses should be a favorite amongst God fearing farmers!  I don’t know of any other profession that puts its entire trust in God as much as a farmer.  A farmer who loves the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind will be at peace in drought, famine, or flood.  They know that God is in control and there is absolutely nothing they can do but put their trust in Him.  We were once farmers so I speak from experience.  God directed us to other professions for whatever reason.  Sometimes stepping away from what we enjoy and comfortable with is God’s way of helping us learn to trust in Him more.  Putting your full trust in Him will reduce many heartaches and disappointments along the way.

As you seek Him, remember, that He is the One who began this world, created you, and gave us the beauty of each and every day.  Go today and look for His beauty around you and seek Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

God is Watching

Psalm 64

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

64 Hear my voice, O God, in my^(A)complaint;
    preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
² Hide me from ^(B)the secret plots of the wicked,
    from the throng of evildoers,
³ who ^(C)whet their tongues like swords,
    who ^(D)aim bitter words like arrows,
⁴ shooting from ^(E)ambush at the blameless,
    shooting at him suddenly and^(F)without fear.
⁵ They ^(G)hold fast to their evil purpose;
    they talk of ^(H)laying snares secretly,
thinking, ^(I)“Who can see them?”
⁶     They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
    For ^(J)the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

^7 (K)But God shoots his arrow at them;
    they are wounded suddenly.
⁸ They are brought to ruin, with their own ^(L)tongues turned against them;
    all who ^(M)see them will ^(N)wag their heads.
⁹ Then all mankind ^(O)fears;
    they ^(P)tell what God has brought about
    and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰ Let ^(Q)the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and ^(R)take refuge in him!
Let all ^(S)the upright in heart exult!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+64&version=ESV)

Many many times Christians are being attacked for their beliefs.  False accusations are hurled their way, sometimes even by those who claim to be Christians.  But make no mistake; God knows the hearts of each and every one of us.  He knows our intentions and He know who His enemies are.  I think this Psalm is one for us all to take to heart and to pray because we don’t even know who are enemies are but God does.  Sometimes the ones with flattery talk are also the ones that will stab you in the back without a blink of an eye.  So, we can’t hide from those enemies but God can hide us from them.  He will bring those down when the time is right and because He does, all men will know who He is.

When God brings about justice, David says that all ponder at what He has done.  Have you ever listened to the news when a disaster has occurred?  Many recognize that it was an act of God and they struggle with it.  But notice what the righteous do, they rejoice and take refuge in Him.  The righteous put all their trust in Him.  So, next time a disaster, disappointment, or struggle comes your way, take a check of your life, are you rejoicing or are you complaining and asking questions.  Take refuge in Him and give Him praise while seeking Him with all your heart.  Remember, God is at work and in due time those who have heart you will be brought to justice and His name will be glorified.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

The Busyness of Life

Psalm 63

English Standard Version (ESV)

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David, ^(A)when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, you are my God; ^(B)earnestly I seek you;
    ^(C)my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in ^(D)a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding ^(E)your power and glory.
³ Because your ^(F)steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you ^(G)as long as I live;
    in your ^(H)name I will ^(I)lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be ^(J)satisfied as with fat and rich food,
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶ when I remember you ^(K)upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in ^(L)the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help,
    and in ^(M)the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸ My soul ^(N)clings to you;
    your right hand ^(O)upholds me.

⁹ But those who seek to destroy my life
    ^(P)shall go down into ^(Q)the depths of the earth;
¹⁰ they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
    they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹ But ^(R)the king shall rejoice in God;
    all who ^(S)swear by him shall exult,
    ^(T)for the mouths of ^(U)liars will be stopped.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+63&version=ESV

So often we get busy in the whirlwind of this life that we forget about God.  We don’t bother reading our Bibles (so we don’t listen to Him) and we find no time to pray (we don’t talk to Him).  With the scurry of life around us by Sunday we are too tired to get out of bed and go to Church and we sleep a little longer instead (we don’t praise Him).  Monday morning comes and we start our routine all over again only we woke up late so our routine is already behind.  We continue the week with our busy schedule and find no time to schedule God into it.  Oh, we believe in Him, we have even told Him we want Him to serve Him but right now, we are just too busy.  We know He understands because He loves us and He sees that everything we do is good.  Then, all of a sudden a tragedy strikes.  It may be a large one or maybe even just an inconvenience and we cry out to God, “Help me” or “Why are you allowing this to happen?” or “You have to help me out of this situation!”  “If you will only get me out of this I will read my Bible more, pray more, and I will go to church every Sunday.”  All the while we are still not seeking Him just His power.  We continue in a lifestyle of sin, the sin of “me”. “ I want this, I want that, I want more,  I want less, help me, help me!”  We forget that we have a God who is worthy of our praise.  We forget to sing for joy of the hope that we have in Him.  We forget that He has this under control and that He is the only way to satisfy our soul.  We try to satisfy our inner being with outward pleasure not realizing that the One who can satisfy occupies our inner being (that is if we have trusted upon the Lord Jesus Christ).  So why do we fret?  Simply because we have forgotten that it is not in our actions that make us worthy but rather through our weakness.  He should be our strength but we try to do it on our own.  We forget to give Him praise, to find our joy in Him, to fellowship with Him and we get stuck on “me”. 

The Psalmist makes it clear that the One we need to be stuck on is God.  Forget the successes of this world, count them but loss.  Cling to the Christ and put your joy in Him.  Seek Him, Thirst for Him, Hunger for Him, and Go to Him.   

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

Strength Comes From God

Psalm 62

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to ^(A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

62 For God alone ^(B)my soul ^(C)waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
^2 (D)He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my ^(E)fortress; ^(F)I shall not be greatly shaken.

³ How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like ^(G)a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
⁴ They only plan to thrust him down from his^(H)high position.
    They take pleasure in falsehood.
^(I)They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵ For God alone, O ^(J)my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
^6 (K)He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷ On God rests my ^(L)salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, ^(M)my refuge is God.

^8 (N)Trust in him at all times, O people;
    ^(O)pour out your heart before him;
    God is ^(P)a refuge for us. Selah

^9 (Q)Those of low estate are but a breath;
    those of high estate ^(R)are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    ^(S)they are together lighter than a breath.
¹⁰ Put no trust in extortion;
    ^(T)set no vain hopes on robbery;
    ^(U)if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

^11 (V)Once God has spoken;
    ^(W)twice have I heard this:
that ^(X)power belongs to God,
¹²     and that to you, O Lord, ^(Y)belongs steadfast love.
For you will ^(Z)render to a man
    according to his work.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+62&version=ESV)

I have always wondered what it would be like to live in a castle or to live in the White House or to be the Queen of England.  The lives of the rich and powerful can seem enticing yet the Word today tells us that it is all worthless if God is not a part of it.  Our Scripture today reveals that we are all alike from the homeless man on the street corner to the richest man on earth; we are all but a breath.  If we do not put out trust in God and God alone then our eternal future is gloomy.  Yet for those who put their trust in God, there is a hope and a future.  If we recognize that God has the ultimate power then we know that He also has a steadfast love for us.  Everything we do in life will be a reflection of our hope and trust in Him.

Recently I listened to a radio broadcast where an agnostic was talking about the weakness of a believer in Christ.  He went on and on about how Christians had to have some type of an authority figure to lean upon because they didn’t know how to do it on their own.  Although I was infuriated with this man, he was actually very much correct.  We as Christians are weak and we realize it.  We are so weak that we look for the power that can sustain us.  As a Christian I am so weak that when temptation comes, if I don’t call upon the Lord, I will stumble and fall.  I cannot lean on my own strength because I cannot do anything on my own.  When I put my trust in the Lord I know He will sustain me, teach me, and will always love me.  I would not enjoy any part of this life if it all depended on was me.  I would not survive this life if I believed this was my only chance to live and that what I did here was all that would ever matter.  Yes, that man was correct in saying that I am weak but my strength comes through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.  Although this man thinks that he is strong one day he will bow before the Lord and recognize that all he said was wrong, all he did on this earth was worthless, and he will be eternally separated from God unless he repents and becomes weak with the rest of us who believe there is a greater power than ourselves.

As you seek Him today remember that He is your source of power and strength anything you do without Him is in vain, it’s worthless, as we are but a breath in comparison to His greatness.  Anyone who thinks they can do it on their own is but a fool.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila