I just read a comment back to one of the posts, and I was struck by something said. "It's hard to complain when your 27 year old friend has just lost her husband". This comment was in the context of being an encouragement to me for enduring in the trial.
I haven't been thinking of worry as complaining. I know it's a sin, for not trusting God, but I hadn't given it too much thought previous to this.
I don't want to be a complainer, especially to God who gives so many good things. It must be true that worry is complaining in a backdoor sort of way. If I am worrying about what is going to happen tomorrow then I must be complaining inside about the way it's going right now. Complaining that God doesn't know what He's doing as He continues His work in my life.
Would God be working on someone He didn't have a plan for? Well, then I should be thankful that He is working.
Thanks for the kick in the pants LB. SKH needs to comment on the "reason God didn't create us to be perfect on earth" illustration. I heard it was very good.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Small Group
I just want to say that we have an awesome small group (man family).
We talked about real issues; Bible reading successes and struggles, prayer time, what some of the guys are looking to do/be when they graduate shortly and a host of other things.
We ended in prayer for about 10-15 minutes and when we were done the guys said our 2 hours went way too fast. One said we need a 3 hour small group and another said we could go the entire day.
We don't play games at all. We read the Word and pray together and have grown up discussions, talking about what we are learning.
How can a young man keep his way pure, by being in the Word.
God is working in the lives of His children because they are being faithful to their time with Him.
Pray for the guys that they would continue in His Word and prayer and they would stay faithful. God is SOOO Good.
We talked about real issues; Bible reading successes and struggles, prayer time, what some of the guys are looking to do/be when they graduate shortly and a host of other things.
We ended in prayer for about 10-15 minutes and when we were done the guys said our 2 hours went way too fast. One said we need a 3 hour small group and another said we could go the entire day.
We don't play games at all. We read the Word and pray together and have grown up discussions, talking about what we are learning.
How can a young man keep his way pure, by being in the Word.
God is working in the lives of His children because they are being faithful to their time with Him.
Pray for the guys that they would continue in His Word and prayer and they would stay faithful. God is SOOO Good.
Weak Hands and Feeble Knees
Ps. 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
Ps. 55: 22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Matt. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Ps. 72:12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
Is. 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Today I allowed worry to steal my joy and it is so irritating. These verses are a reminder for me, but I am happy to share them with you.
I can't believe how easily I go from seeing how good things are to thinking there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I know that worry only steals my joy, that it does no good, there is no problem too big for God and everything else, but it just creeps in. AHHH!
I am encouraged that David is soaring with the eagles one time and the next time his bones are wasting away. I totally get that, but it is so frustrating. I don't want to worry about the future of PG and it doesn't do any good, but it just jumps in.
I had to come home this afternoon and get more of His Word, it's my only remedy. The cares of this life are so small compared to how big God is, but they are right in front of me all the time.
Lord, give me faith to trust Your promises, hope for the future that is filled with You, joy in the trials, as I know You take me through them and a vision for the prize of heaven with You. God forgive me for not trusting You in every situation. I want to believe, please help my unbelief.
The burden is too heavy for me to carry. Strengthen my weak heart. I want to find rest for my soul in You. I want to feed in green pastures, beside still waters. Please, Good Shepherd, restore my soul. Make me to know joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.
your consolations cheer my soul.
Ps. 55: 22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Matt. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Ps. 72:12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
Is. 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Today I allowed worry to steal my joy and it is so irritating. These verses are a reminder for me, but I am happy to share them with you.
I can't believe how easily I go from seeing how good things are to thinking there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I know that worry only steals my joy, that it does no good, there is no problem too big for God and everything else, but it just creeps in. AHHH!
I am encouraged that David is soaring with the eagles one time and the next time his bones are wasting away. I totally get that, but it is so frustrating. I don't want to worry about the future of PG and it doesn't do any good, but it just jumps in.
I had to come home this afternoon and get more of His Word, it's my only remedy. The cares of this life are so small compared to how big God is, but they are right in front of me all the time.
Lord, give me faith to trust Your promises, hope for the future that is filled with You, joy in the trials, as I know You take me through them and a vision for the prize of heaven with You. God forgive me for not trusting You in every situation. I want to believe, please help my unbelief.
The burden is too heavy for me to carry. Strengthen my weak heart. I want to find rest for my soul in You. I want to feed in green pastures, beside still waters. Please, Good Shepherd, restore my soul. Make me to know joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Abba Father
Ps. 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep
Yesterday morning I was looking at next weeks install schedule and was talking with our production manager as to why we have some really good jobs on the board that aren't ready to be scheduled. So we have days available to us to install but nothing is ready to go in, which means we can't include this in our sales for the month.
I was thinking about God being the Provider, vs. me being the "provider". It is wearing to be the family provider. This is our role as men, but there can be a lot of pressure when things aren't going as we plan. The wife is to submit to her husband. The kids are to also submit and all are supposed to be content in what is provided. But what about my role?
I saw, for the first time, that I am really not the provider, but that God is THE Provider. I'm a little thick. As the head of my family and PG I am to submit to God's provision, whatever that may be, and let Him carry the weight that I have felt. After all, I am not providing anything anyway. He is the Giver of everything, so what am I doing? I often want to "help" God by doing my part. What is my part other than to work as unto Him and to trust that He will continue to provide? Nothing.
I got this lesson a little bit more yesterday evening. It's funny how God can emphasize a point.
Kimmy and a friend were doing some errands before meeting us at Garrett's last BB game. She called just about the time we left the driveway and said she had been rear ended. She quickly sad that everyone, including those in the other cars, we ok, but she didn't know exactly what she should do. She was calling her dad to get instructions and to let him make the decision. She needed to know that I was there for her and that she was doing the right thing. She was submitting herself to my care and provision. She was calling out "ABBA FATHER" which means "daddy, daddy".
After thinking about this some more, I think this is really what God wants from us, even dads. He wants to take our burdens. He wants to be the SOLE Provider. He wants us to look to Him for our daily bread, for our snacks, for our for our everything. And when He does provide, as He has done so faithfully over every generation, we should be the most thankful people.
What would we have if He did not give it? What will we get that He doesn't give it? What should we want that is not of Him? What will He withhold that we truly need? NOTHING!
Have we ever gone w/o something we needed? Has He ever left us to face life on our own? If He hasn't left us without before, will He start now? If He has always Been there for us, will He change now? NO!
Father I want to see my dependence on You. I don't want to try to carry the burden of being the provider when You want to take it from me. You are the Giver and I want to acknowledge and thank You for what You have provided. Thank you for allowing me to see that You are the One who does provide, the One who loves to have me call out "Abba Father". You are there to supply all my needs, according to Your riches in glory. Your ability to provide is so infinitely higher than mine and yet You give because You love Your children. It is not a burden to You to give. You give and Your supply is not diminished. Your storehouses are full of the best things. Please give us to day what we need for today, and Lord help me be content with Your provision and to be looking to and trusting in Your care for those who You have entrusted to me.
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep
Yesterday morning I was looking at next weeks install schedule and was talking with our production manager as to why we have some really good jobs on the board that aren't ready to be scheduled. So we have days available to us to install but nothing is ready to go in, which means we can't include this in our sales for the month.
I was thinking about God being the Provider, vs. me being the "provider". It is wearing to be the family provider. This is our role as men, but there can be a lot of pressure when things aren't going as we plan. The wife is to submit to her husband. The kids are to also submit and all are supposed to be content in what is provided. But what about my role?
I saw, for the first time, that I am really not the provider, but that God is THE Provider. I'm a little thick. As the head of my family and PG I am to submit to God's provision, whatever that may be, and let Him carry the weight that I have felt. After all, I am not providing anything anyway. He is the Giver of everything, so what am I doing? I often want to "help" God by doing my part. What is my part other than to work as unto Him and to trust that He will continue to provide? Nothing.
I got this lesson a little bit more yesterday evening. It's funny how God can emphasize a point.
Kimmy and a friend were doing some errands before meeting us at Garrett's last BB game. She called just about the time we left the driveway and said she had been rear ended. She quickly sad that everyone, including those in the other cars, we ok, but she didn't know exactly what she should do. She was calling her dad to get instructions and to let him make the decision. She needed to know that I was there for her and that she was doing the right thing. She was submitting herself to my care and provision. She was calling out "ABBA FATHER" which means "daddy, daddy".
After thinking about this some more, I think this is really what God wants from us, even dads. He wants to take our burdens. He wants to be the SOLE Provider. He wants us to look to Him for our daily bread, for our snacks, for our for our everything. And when He does provide, as He has done so faithfully over every generation, we should be the most thankful people.
What would we have if He did not give it? What will we get that He doesn't give it? What should we want that is not of Him? What will He withhold that we truly need? NOTHING!
Have we ever gone w/o something we needed? Has He ever left us to face life on our own? If He hasn't left us without before, will He start now? If He has always Been there for us, will He change now? NO!
Father I want to see my dependence on You. I don't want to try to carry the burden of being the provider when You want to take it from me. You are the Giver and I want to acknowledge and thank You for what You have provided. Thank you for allowing me to see that You are the One who does provide, the One who loves to have me call out "Abba Father". You are there to supply all my needs, according to Your riches in glory. Your ability to provide is so infinitely higher than mine and yet You give because You love Your children. It is not a burden to You to give. You give and Your supply is not diminished. Your storehouses are full of the best things. Please give us to day what we need for today, and Lord help me be content with Your provision and to be looking to and trusting in Your care for those who You have entrusted to me.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Open My Eyes That I may See.
Ps. 119
Gimel
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
The blessings that God gives us should make us be such a thankful people that the only thing we would be concerned with is pleasing the One who Keeps His Word from generation to generation.
I like the "open my eyes" part. I want God to open my eyes to reveal more of Who He is to me. I am blind on my own, but when He gives light and insight into His Word, it just comes to life. The other side of this is that He can hide his commandments from us. If He does hide His Word from us are strangers here on earth, blindly going through life w/o a guide. We need His counsel to guide us through.
When we are consumed by a longing for His Word it really does change our lives. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, that can only be found in Him, we are then satisfied, Matt. 5:6. How amazing it is to be satisfied by the King of Kings.
Those who don't care about keeping His commandments He rebukes. He states this both positively and negatively so we are sure to understand that those who keep His commands are blessed and those who don't, are NOT.
God can give us a good testimony among those around us. In today's world a Christian who is walking in the Spirit looks so much different than the rest of society. We are to have joy in God and shine His light into this world. We can only be walking in the Spirit as we take in His Word, pray and have fellowship with other saints around us.
His testimonies are a delight to those who take time to read and meditate on them. They are the wise counsel we need to get us through this life. I find myself begging God to impart wisdom to me, as I am so far over my head.
Oh, may I love Your Word over every other thing in this life. Show me Your paths that I could walk in them. Make the way clear that You want me to walk in, so I don't get lost or make the wrong decision. You, Oh Lord, are my guide and counselor. You are Wisdom and Truth. Continue to work in my life that I would love You Word and be meditating on it through all watches of the day and night. I am not able to be or do any of this on my own. Please do this for me, that I would be the light You want me to be.
Gimel
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
The blessings that God gives us should make us be such a thankful people that the only thing we would be concerned with is pleasing the One who Keeps His Word from generation to generation.
I like the "open my eyes" part. I want God to open my eyes to reveal more of Who He is to me. I am blind on my own, but when He gives light and insight into His Word, it just comes to life. The other side of this is that He can hide his commandments from us. If He does hide His Word from us are strangers here on earth, blindly going through life w/o a guide. We need His counsel to guide us through.
When we are consumed by a longing for His Word it really does change our lives. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, that can only be found in Him, we are then satisfied, Matt. 5:6. How amazing it is to be satisfied by the King of Kings.
Those who don't care about keeping His commandments He rebukes. He states this both positively and negatively so we are sure to understand that those who keep His commands are blessed and those who don't, are NOT.
God can give us a good testimony among those around us. In today's world a Christian who is walking in the Spirit looks so much different than the rest of society. We are to have joy in God and shine His light into this world. We can only be walking in the Spirit as we take in His Word, pray and have fellowship with other saints around us.
His testimonies are a delight to those who take time to read and meditate on them. They are the wise counsel we need to get us through this life. I find myself begging God to impart wisdom to me, as I am so far over my head.
Oh, may I love Your Word over every other thing in this life. Show me Your paths that I could walk in them. Make the way clear that You want me to walk in, so I don't get lost or make the wrong decision. You, Oh Lord, are my guide and counselor. You are Wisdom and Truth. Continue to work in my life that I would love You Word and be meditating on it through all watches of the day and night. I am not able to be or do any of this on my own. Please do this for me, that I would be the light You want me to be.
The Call
Matt. 4:18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus' ministry on earth is just about to start. He has just been baptized, by John the Baptizer, and from here he is tempted by Satan after fasting and praying for 40 days and nights. The angels come and minister to Him. Except for the baptism, it doesn't appear that there is any human audience for the rest of these things.
So when Jesus comes to call His disciples and they immediately leave all they have ever known to follow Him, what is it about Jesus that drew them to Him? He hadn't performed any miracles yet, so what was it in Him that caused these hardened fishermen to be willing to leave it all?
I don't know the answer to that question, but what about today? We have all read about His miracles in the Word; are we willing to leave it all for Christ today?
There is something about the call on our lives that draws us to Him. Abandon it all for the sake of the call. There's more to life than fishing, and there is certainly more to life than whatever else we are doing currently. The "more" is what He gives us to do along the way. "Fishing while you work" should be our calling. How are you doing in telling others about our Good God along the way? Today, tell someone about something really great that God is doing in your life. They will be encouraged, your faith will be strengthen and God will get the glory.
The Sake of the Call
Steven Curtis Chapman
Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey
Jesus' ministry on earth is just about to start. He has just been baptized, by John the Baptizer, and from here he is tempted by Satan after fasting and praying for 40 days and nights. The angels come and minister to Him. Except for the baptism, it doesn't appear that there is any human audience for the rest of these things.
So when Jesus comes to call His disciples and they immediately leave all they have ever known to follow Him, what is it about Jesus that drew them to Him? He hadn't performed any miracles yet, so what was it in Him that caused these hardened fishermen to be willing to leave it all?
I don't know the answer to that question, but what about today? We have all read about His miracles in the Word; are we willing to leave it all for Christ today?
There is something about the call on our lives that draws us to Him. Abandon it all for the sake of the call. There's more to life than fishing, and there is certainly more to life than whatever else we are doing currently. The "more" is what He gives us to do along the way. "Fishing while you work" should be our calling. How are you doing in telling others about our Good God along the way? Today, tell someone about something really great that God is doing in your life. They will be encouraged, your faith will be strengthen and God will get the glory.
The Sake of the Call
Steven Curtis Chapman
Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey
A Store House of God's Word.
Ps. 119
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
This sections continue on in the same vein as the previous one. We are to be in God's Word, storing up His promises and commands and learning His truths, in order that we might gain a heart of wisdom.
In v12 he tells of the blessedness of the Lord and asked again to have The Lord teach him His statutes. We need God to teach us all that He would have us to learn so we are prepared. He knows what is ahead and He knows perfectly His Word, so what better teacher could we ask for.
He speaks the Word so as to remind himself of the the truths he has learned. We are not only to read and memorize the Word, but as we recite it to ourselves and others, then all will be encouraged to walk in His Truth.
Only God can enable us to delight in His Word more than riches. The pull of the world is strong and we are enticed on every side to run after riches, fame and pleasures, but in the end, and even today, His Word is more valuable than gold. May He give us the delight of our hearts and may that be Him.
He goes back to meditation on the Word as an aid to fixing his eyes on the Way of the Lord. When we are reading and meditating on Scripture our eyes will be focused on what is most important and we will not want to walk in the way of the world, but we will delight in God's Word and He will enable us to not forget all that He is teaching us.
Oh Lord, may we desire Your Word over everything that is trying to steal our joy. Give us a heart and desire for Your Truth, may it be the light that illumines our dark hearts, and because of that light may we be lights in this dark world. Use us to encourage others with Your Truth, to turn sinners to repentance and to shepherd the flock You have given us charge over. God, we want to be vessels fit for Your use. I want to be a pure vessel that You love to use, in whatever way You see fit. You are the One who makes me pure, and You are the One who chooses to use one vessel over another.
Much is happening in the world around me that is capable of stealing my joy. Please let me focus on You and take all the cares of this world, that might rob my joy, and handle them. I want to be a joyous person, but that is beyond my ability. You can change my vision and my heart and transform me to that person You want me to be. God please do that work.
You are Good and You have shown Yourself faithful to all generations. Help me to trust You for today and not worry about what may, or may not, happen tomorrow.
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
This sections continue on in the same vein as the previous one. We are to be in God's Word, storing up His promises and commands and learning His truths, in order that we might gain a heart of wisdom.
In v12 he tells of the blessedness of the Lord and asked again to have The Lord teach him His statutes. We need God to teach us all that He would have us to learn so we are prepared. He knows what is ahead and He knows perfectly His Word, so what better teacher could we ask for.
He speaks the Word so as to remind himself of the the truths he has learned. We are not only to read and memorize the Word, but as we recite it to ourselves and others, then all will be encouraged to walk in His Truth.
Only God can enable us to delight in His Word more than riches. The pull of the world is strong and we are enticed on every side to run after riches, fame and pleasures, but in the end, and even today, His Word is more valuable than gold. May He give us the delight of our hearts and may that be Him.
He goes back to meditation on the Word as an aid to fixing his eyes on the Way of the Lord. When we are reading and meditating on Scripture our eyes will be focused on what is most important and we will not want to walk in the way of the world, but we will delight in God's Word and He will enable us to not forget all that He is teaching us.
Oh Lord, may we desire Your Word over everything that is trying to steal our joy. Give us a heart and desire for Your Truth, may it be the light that illumines our dark hearts, and because of that light may we be lights in this dark world. Use us to encourage others with Your Truth, to turn sinners to repentance and to shepherd the flock You have given us charge over. God, we want to be vessels fit for Your use. I want to be a pure vessel that You love to use, in whatever way You see fit. You are the One who makes me pure, and You are the One who chooses to use one vessel over another.
Much is happening in the world around me that is capable of stealing my joy. Please let me focus on You and take all the cares of this world, that might rob my joy, and handle them. I want to be a joyous person, but that is beyond my ability. You can change my vision and my heart and transform me to that person You want me to be. God please do that work.
You are Good and You have shown Yourself faithful to all generations. Help me to trust You for today and not worry about what may, or may not, happen tomorrow.
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