Psalms 4:8 (4:9)
I will both sleep and rest in peace,
For You alone, O Lord, cause me to dwell in hope.
Encouraging Words
For those of us who try to walk in the ways of our Lord, we experience His peace and rest. It is not until we are in those very precarious and even dangerous situations that we really understand and experience the depth of his protection over us and that ability to sleep soundly under His wings of love and protection. Glory be to God!
Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Personal Challenge
What is important to us? What is it that we persistently think about or talk to others about? Is it our occupation? Our stuff that we have collected along our journey of life? Our wealth? Our health? These are all earthly treasures and can disappear in an instant. Do we think about our God? What we can do for him? The family and friends that He has blessed us with? These are the things of heaven and where our heart should be focused. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
Psalms 4:1
You heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness.
You strengthened my heart when I was in distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Encouraging Words
I love the Psalms. Reading through them you can see that the psalmist had a deep and passionate relationship with God. We can all have this kind of relationship with Him, a relationship where we know that we can cry out to Him and He hears us. We can only do this by spending time with Him, trusting Him, walking with Him as Adam and Eve did in the garden, talking to Him, and listening for His response. God will strengthen us in times of distress and always have mercy on us. Lord have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Luke 12:32-33
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
Encouraging Words
Our God loves us beyond all human measure. He desires to pour out His good, His love, His abundance upon us. What does He expect of us in return for this? He wants us to let go of all the worldly things that come between us and Him. It is only by letting go of these things that we will be freed up to embrace the treasures in heaven that He has in store for us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
Psalms 3:9
Salvation is of the Lord,
And Your blessing is upon Your people.
Encouraging Words
God takes care of His people. Even when we wander away from Him, He still loves us and takes care of us. We must always remember that when we do wander away from him that there will be consequences for doing that and we will have to live through those consequences. Even so, God loves us and will always bless us as His people. Glory be to God!
Luke 12:29-31
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
Personal Challenge
Part of dealing with worries in our lives is adjusting what we put our focus on. It is too easy to focus on the things of this world and forget that our God is our source of life. As we do this we end u p seeking those things the that are important to the world. The anecdote to this is to seek God and His kingdom and our focus begins to shift to Him. What He gives us is truly what we need. Glory be to God!
Psalms 3:4-7 (3:3-4)
But You, O Lord, are my protector,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. (Pause)
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord will help me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who set themselves against me all around.
Personal Challenge
Throughout the history of mankind, all the way back to Adam and Eve, we have been beset by the sin of pride. We have a tendency to very quickly slip into the mode of thinking that we are able to do the anything and everything on our own and without someone. like God to guide us along our path of life. The Psalmist reminds us that we are nothing without God and that we can do nothing without Him. God is our protector. He is our glory. He lifts up our heads in those difficult times. We cry out to Him and He hears us. He helps us. He surrounds us with His loving presence. All glory belongs to God.
Luke 12:22-23
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.”
Encouraging Words
It is so important for us to heed these words from our Lord. Worry can tear our lives apart and wear us down. God has His followers in the palm of His hand at all times. Do we really believe this? Then live accordingly. What is it that we so often find ourselves worrying about? It is usually the stuff of this world. God is so far beyond this world. He created and sustains this world. Do we believe that He can take care of us from His abundance? As I find myself quickly approaching that point in my life where I will be taking down my shingle and retiring, I find that there is so much to trust in Him for. He has provided so much to me throughout my life. Whether it was being fired from multiple jobs, losing loved ones, or dealing with illnesses, He has carried me through and I do not see that changing. God is my refuge and I have nothing to worry about. Glory be to God!
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the way of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the troublesome;
But his will is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by streams of waters,
That produces its fruit in its season;
And his leaf shall not wither,
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Encouraging Words
We are so blessed to be able to live in the new covenant with our God. This covenant is not based on what we do or don’t do, but is based on what Jesus did on our behalf. He is our intercessor. He is our intermediary. He is our salvation. The more that we choose to live our lives trusting in Him and yielding our will to Him, the more blessed we are. Glory be to God!
Verse of the Day 