(Taken from one of my prayer journals 1-8-09)
Numbers 14:18-19a
"The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation. Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of Your steadfast love..." (NASB)
The relevance of scripture never ceases to amaze. When Moses prayed this prayer, did he have any idea how it would speak to the hearts of this current generation? Whether or not Moses could grasp the seemingly eternal application of his words, God knew.
Thank you, Father, for giving us your words and for making them relevant in all times. How can people question their Divine inspiration when they ring so true for each generation? Like Moses, I pray that God's steadfast, all-encompassing love will endure and cover this generation. Like Caleb and Joshua, strengthen the hearts of Your children that we might fully understand and trust that ALL things are possible for You!
Amen
Monday, January 12, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Way of the Righteous (Psalm 1)
Psalm 1
The Two Ways
1 How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!
2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
In my Bible study today, the author talked about how God's prohibitions are not a way of denying us happiness, but a way of keeping us from evil. I have felt this way for a while now and am glad to know that I am not the only one. I have learned (far too often from making mistakes) that God's "rules" aren't in place to deny us a full life. He wishes for us to prosper and have abundant life. He sets guidelines for us to follow so that we won't get sucked into an empty, unfulfilling lifestyle. Why are we, as humans, so willing to look to self help books, doctors, and Oprah to tell us what we should do to change our lives and be happy? Why don't we turn to our Creator, Father, and Savior? Who cares more for us and is more likely to have our best interest at heart than the God who gave us life?
Father,
Thank you for your Word. Thank you for setting limits and revealing to us how we should live. Thank you for loving us enough to care how we live and for guiding us to live lives that are full and joyful. Continue to work in my life and refine my walk with you. I want to be a more mature Christian, Lord, and I know that I can't accomplish this of my own accord. Remind me each day to spend time with You and reading Your word. I want to avoid the circumstances in the first verse of the Psalms and instead follow Your teachings, walk in Your way, and worship with fellow believers.
Amen
The Two Ways
1 How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!
2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
In my Bible study today, the author talked about how God's prohibitions are not a way of denying us happiness, but a way of keeping us from evil. I have felt this way for a while now and am glad to know that I am not the only one. I have learned (far too often from making mistakes) that God's "rules" aren't in place to deny us a full life. He wishes for us to prosper and have abundant life. He sets guidelines for us to follow so that we won't get sucked into an empty, unfulfilling lifestyle. Why are we, as humans, so willing to look to self help books, doctors, and Oprah to tell us what we should do to change our lives and be happy? Why don't we turn to our Creator, Father, and Savior? Who cares more for us and is more likely to have our best interest at heart than the God who gave us life?
Father,
Thank you for your Word. Thank you for setting limits and revealing to us how we should live. Thank you for loving us enough to care how we live and for guiding us to live lives that are full and joyful. Continue to work in my life and refine my walk with you. I want to be a more mature Christian, Lord, and I know that I can't accomplish this of my own accord. Remind me each day to spend time with You and reading Your word. I want to avoid the circumstances in the first verse of the Psalms and instead follow Your teachings, walk in Your way, and worship with fellow believers.
Amen
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Repentant Heart
The Bible study that I chose for today actually started as a study of nature and how it reflects God's glory. As I was reading Psalm 19, I came across the verses below, and they struck a cord. Over the past several years, I have felt myself drawing nearer to God and being more concerned with living a life that is pleasing to Him. I am by no means "there" yet, but I am striving to "forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead". These verses offered encouragment and a challenge worth accepting.
Psalm 19:12-14
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. (N)
13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; (O) do not let them rule over me. (P) Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion. (Q)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, (R) LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (S)
Phillipians 3:12-21
12 Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold (U) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not [c] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind (V) and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly [d] call in Christ Jesus. (W) 15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal (X) this to you also. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever [truth] we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross (Y) of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory (Z) is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious (AA) body, (AB) by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
Father God,
Thank you, Lord, for the forgiveness I have claimed through the redeeming, restoring, mighty blood of Christ. I am often amazed anew when I think about the sacrifice made to bring unworthy, stumbling, bumbling me back into right relationship with You. Guard my heart, Lord, and continue to refine and renew me daily. Like David, I ask that You cleanse me from my "hidden faults" and protect me from knowingly stepping back into a sinful lifestyle. Like Paul, I strive to be mature in my walk and allow myself to be drawn closer to You. Strengthen my walk and reveal my shortcomings to me. As always and in all things, let Your will, not mine, be done.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
Psalm 19:12-14
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. (N)
13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; (O) do not let them rule over me. (P) Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion. (Q)
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, (R) LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (S)
Phillipians 3:12-21
12 Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold (U) of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not [c] consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind (V) and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly [d] call in Christ Jesus. (W) 15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal (X) this to you also. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever [truth] we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross (Y) of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory (Z) is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious (AA) body, (AB) by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
Father God,
Thank you, Lord, for the forgiveness I have claimed through the redeeming, restoring, mighty blood of Christ. I am often amazed anew when I think about the sacrifice made to bring unworthy, stumbling, bumbling me back into right relationship with You. Guard my heart, Lord, and continue to refine and renew me daily. Like David, I ask that You cleanse me from my "hidden faults" and protect me from knowingly stepping back into a sinful lifestyle. Like Paul, I strive to be mature in my walk and allow myself to be drawn closer to You. Strengthen my walk and reveal my shortcomings to me. As always and in all things, let Your will, not mine, be done.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
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