Today’s Reading: Psalm 140-145

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:8

Has your morning ever taken off without you? The day starts at a fast pace and, before you know it, you are hours into your day and you have not spent any time in God’s word. These are my least favorite days. I know from experience how spending time in God’s presence can change me and refresh me. That is why I get up each morning and spend time in His presence before our home gets loud and the day picks up momentum. Me, my God and a hot cup of my morning coffee.

…the godly will live in your presence. – Psalm 140:13b

SPENDING TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE CHANGES US.

Spending time with the Lord produces godliness in our lives. Spending time daily getting a fresh filling of the Spirit produces good fruit in our life. It changes what we do and what we say.

Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. – Psalm 141:3-4

Lord, I long to dwell in your presence and give you control of what I say and what I do. Lord, protect me from the urgings of my sinful nature and breathe into me the urgings of your Spirit. Guide what I say and what I do. Steer the direction of my life, O God.

SPENDING TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE CHANGES OUR DIRECTION.

When I am overwhelmed, YOU ALONE KNOW THE WAY I SHOULD TURN.
Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.
Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
YOU ARE ALL I REALLY WANT IN LIFE.” – Psalm 142:3-5

SPENDING TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE CHANGES OUR DESIRES.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.
TEACH ME TO DO YOUR WILL, for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. – Psalm 143:8-10

SPENDING TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE BRINGS US JOY!

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!
Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord. – Psalm 144:15

SPENDING TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE DRAWS US CLOSER TO HIM.

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them. – Psalm 145:18-19

…the godly will live in your presence. – Psalm 140:13b

Father God, that is where I long to spend my day – IN YOUR PRESENCE. Not just while I drink my morning coffee, but all day long. May your presence in my life today change me – change my desires, change my direction. May time in your presence bring me joy and draw me closer to you. Lord, refresh me and renew me for what lies ahead. I soak in your presence, Father God, and fix my eyes on you.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 139 & 117

The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me. – Psalm 138:8

I love this verse because it speaks to the Lord’s active participation in our lives while also expressing our deep need for Him. There is a confidence that God is in control paired with a desperation for the Creator’s presence. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses in scripture, which is found in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

The God who created me knows everything there is to know about me and it is this God who holds my life in His hands. He is aware of what I am thinking and how I am feeling. He is omnipresent and omniscient; He is everywhere and He knows everything. I am so thankful this morning for the active presence of the Lord in my life!

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know EVERYTHING about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know EVERYTHING I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
I can never escape your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night —
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:1-12

There is no pretending when it comes to our relationship with God. He knows our heart; God knows what we are feeling and where we are struggling. This God who created us understands us. He created us to need His hand to guide us and His strength to support us. He will not leave us alone. When we look back, He is there. When we look forward, He is there.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, you are still with me! – Psalm 139:13-18

God knows all — He will work out His plans for my life and never abandon me. I can rest in the knowledge that God loves me and thinks about me — that His faithful love will endure forever!

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord. – Psalm 117

Lord, you know what this life holds for me. I ask you to guide me and strengthen me according to your plan for my life. Go before me and follow me. Place your hand of blessing on my head. I commit another day to you, Lord, trusting you with all the details. I choose to spend my time in your ever faithful presence. Fill me with your Spirit, O Lord, and make today exactly what you want it to be as you make me exactly who you want me to be. Amen.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out everything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 139:23-24

Today’s Reading: Psalms 8, 136, 138

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1

God, my Creator, will love me with a love that will endure forever.

Soak in the meaning of just how incredible God is. He is a good God – a God who loves us with a love that will endure forever. His love will endure; it will suffer patiently. His love will bear…stand…suffer…tolerate…sustain…undergo.

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights — His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:4-7

God, my Protector, will love with a love that will endure forever!

He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:12-14

God, my Provider, will love with a love that will endure forever!

Do you catch that? Are you letting that completely soak in and saturate your being this morning? Don’t let a phrase you have heard over and over again lose its meaning. Take hold of this promise – HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!

He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:23-26

As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength…
Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life – for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me. – Psalm 138:3-8

God, my Beloved, suffers patiently for me.

The God who created me will not abandon me because He loves me. His love is strong and can bear with me through my struggles because it is a love that protects and provides. The Lord will work out HIS plans for my life. He will part the “Red Seas” and bring me out of my “Egypt”. He will remember me in my weakness and provide for me according to His plan. His faithful love endures forever. I do not deserve this faithful God.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers –
the moon and the stars you set in place –
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them? – Psalm 8:3-4

God, my Designer, will love with a love that will endure forever!

Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the fact that the God of Creation loves me and cares about me! The Psalms do not just tell us about God, they describe man’s relationship with God. As we read through this book, we do not simply increase what WE KNOW ABOUT GOD, we come face to face with the fact that WE ARE KNOWN BY GOD. We walk away with evidence that God loves us with a love that will endure forever!

Father God, we thank you for the blessings you bestow on us each day. We are grateful for the opportunity to live in a relationship with you. God of Miracles, we praise you for how you have acted on our behalf over and over again. Thank you for your protection and your provision; thank you for being a God who created us, designed us, and knows everything about us. You are a good God, and we make the decision once more to put our trust in you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalms 32, 33, 34, 36, 37

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” – Psalm 32:8

There are times in our lives when we wonder if God is watching — if He is going to respond to what is happening around us. The psalmist felt that way at times – times when he was struggling and needed desperately to hear from God. But this same psalmist, David, used his songs to celebrate the wonder of His God. This morning I choose to join David in simply sitting back and relaxing in who our God is.

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. – Psalm 33:6-9

He is our Creator. He made us and, therefore, He understands us (33:15). He is our help and our shield, surrounding us with His unfailing love. In Him alone we can put our trust (33:20-22).

WE CAN TRUST THE LORD.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy…
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles…
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help…
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. – Psalm 34:4-6,15-19

There are so many scriptures that warn us that we will experience troubles and difficult times. Consider John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” There is no promise that our heart will never hurt or that we will never face disappointments or persecution in this life. But we serve a God of unfailing love who never leaves us. He is bigger than any difficulty we are facing.

WE CAN TRUST IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity find shelter in the shadow of your wings.
You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. – Psalm 36:5-9

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
So rejoice and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! – Psalm 32:10-11

Lord, we praise you for being our fortress in times of trouble. You are the God who rescues the godly from the hands of the wicked. You are our help in times of uncertainty. Today we choose to find our shelter in you and you alone (Psalm 37:39-40). Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalms 64, 121, 124, 126, 130

Life is very much like a fresh snowfall. It is absolutely beautiful and full of the potential for fun, but with it comes fear. Just like driving on an icy surface, there is fear when we feel out of control — when life seems to be spinning the wrong direction no matter which way we steer. It is in these moments that we turn our eyes to the Lord. We cry out for His help and we place our family and our life in His hands.

MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. – Psalm 121

WHAT IF THE LORD DID NOT HELP ME?

I love this picture of God watching over me, providing a protective shade. But what if He did sleep? What if He did not watch over us protectively? As a mother, I can drive myself crazy in a matter of a few minutes if I let my mind go to the “what if’s” in life. It is better for me to relax in the reality that I serve a God I can count on — a God I can trust. It does not mean that there will never be a moment when I need His help or when I cry out for help, but it does mean that He will be with me on the hardest days this life throws at me. I cannot imagine how I could survive my darkest moments without the Lord by my side.

What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat:
What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.

Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!
Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 124

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! – Psalm 126:3

From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you.

I AM COUNTING ON HIM.

I have put my hope in his word.
I long for the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in the Lord.
I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin. – Psalm 130

Father God, I am counting on you today. I intentionally take all of my fears and concerns, and I choose to place them in your capable hands. I will put my trust in you; I will place my hope in you alone. Thank you for your unfailing love and for your generous overflowing redemption that gives me the opportunity to experience freedom from my sins. Teach me how to stop holding on to the weight of my list of sins, recognizing that you keep no record — that what is forgiven is forgotten. This morning, I look to the mountains and proclaim that my help comes from the Lord! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 101, 103, 105, 106

The Lord gives righteousness… – Psalm 103:6a

I could just stop right there. I love the powerful message contained in those four words. I cannot in a million years be holy or righteous on my own, but I serve a generous God who GIVES righteousness. I can never be good enough but He is enough. His righteousness can look at this ungodly heart and call me godly.

When I consider that it is HIS righteousness that makes a godly life possible, I can join in with the psalmist in this prayer of commitment to living a godly life. If I think for one minute I can do it on my own, this prayer is said with uncertainty. I HOPE I can live a blameless life, I THINK I can lead a life of integrity.

But, if the foundation of my prayer starts with “The Lord gives righteousness…”, then I can join in this prayer with confidence that it is all about my WILLING heart and God’s CAPABLE hands. It’s not about what I HOPE I can do but what I KNOW God can do! If I am willing to commit to living a holy life, He will give me His righteousness.

THE LORD GIVES RIGHTEOUSNESS.

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord.
I will praise you with songs.
I will be careful to live a blameless life – when will you come to help me?
I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. – Psalm 101:1-2

Give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD!
His faithful love endures forever.
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise him enough?
There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. – Psalm 106:1-3

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. – Psalm 105:4

SEEK THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LORD.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:33-34

Lord, I search this morning for you and for your strength. I am seeking you and asking you for a fresh outpouring of YOUR righteousness into my life. Fill me with your Spirit so I can submit to your plan for my life. Every word I say, every action I take today, may it be evidence of your righteousness at work in my life. Thank you for your faithfulness. I desire to sing your praises all day long! Amen.

I have another song suggestion for you today. I pray the lyrics wash over you in such a way that the Spirit meets you where you are at and encourages you with the truth of the powerful righteousness of Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less / Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness / I dare not trust the sweetest frame / But wholly trust in Jesus’ name / Christ alone, Cornerstone / Weak made strong in the Savior’s love / Through the storm / He is Lord / Lord of all / When darkness seems to hide His face / I rest on His unchanging grace / In every high and stormy gale / My anchor holds within the veil / My anchor holds within the veil [Cornerstone, Hillsong Worship, 2012]

Today’s Reading: Psalms 97, 119

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11

The word that comes to my mind when I read this verse is “holiness”. I hide God’s word in my heart so that I can live out the holiness He is calling me to. To settle comfortably into a life of sin would be to sin against a God who loves me – who created me with a plan to live in relationship with Him. But if I choose to let my sinful nature lead the way, that sin is what separates me from God because God is holy.

It truly is the desire of my heart to experience God, to remain close to Him every day for the rest of my life. I get so frustrated with myself when I allow sinful attitudes to settle into my heart or when I speak words that I know are not from God. How can I grow stronger in my faith and more consistently reflect the holiness of God? The psalmist gives us a great answer to that question in Psalm 119:105.

HIS WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET ON THIS JOURNEY OF HOLINESS; IT IS A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions…
Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for this is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness. – Psalm 119:33-40

God’s word encourages me when I am sad.
God’s word reveals truth to me when I am trying to convince myself of what I want to be true.
God’s word reminds me of the value in God’s plan.
God’s word reassures me of His promises and I am renewed!

HIS WORD IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN MY LIFE TODAY.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. – Hebrew 4:12

God has done more than just hand us His word. He continues to use His word to teach us and to give us understanding. Obedience comes from these teaching moments with God and these teaching moments create more obedience. Every day that we spend time in God’s word, we are growing stronger in our faith and living out our surrender to His holiness. We walk along the path of holiness and find happiness in following His ways.

How I delight in your commands! I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
I meditate on your decrees. – Psalm 119:47

Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold. – Psalm 119:127

WHEN WE FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS WORDS, WE RESPOND WITH A SONG OF COMMITMENT.

Lord, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you — anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees. – Psalm 119:57-64

You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands…
For I have put my hope in your word…
Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight…
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. – Psalm 119:73-77,82

Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight…I am even wiser…
Your commandments give me understanding… – Psalm 119:97-104

Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight…
Your word is my source of hope. – Psalm 119:111,114b

Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement we daily receive from your word, Lord. Today we hide your words in our heart so that your holiness can penetrate our soul. May your Word continue to shed light on the path before us, daily forming us into the person you created us to be so that we can be set apart for your purpose and plan. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Psalms 112, 113, 116, 118

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! – Psalm 116:1-2

He loves you and He hears you. There is nothing going on in your life that He is unaware of – no detail missed by Him. He is bending down and listening. Enter into His presence and share your heart with Him. You will find kindness and mercy. THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours.
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!
I believe in you, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” – Psalm 116:4-10

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
THE LORD IS FOR ME, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, THE LORD IS FOR ME; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:5-9

God is for you! He is aware of everything going on and loves you deeply. It is better to go to Him and take refuge than to look to other people for answers. It is better to cry out to Him than to trust in earthly authority and leadership. When we enter into His presence and pray to Him, bending down to listen He answers us. He saves us from death. He wipes the tears from our eyes and keeps our feet from stumbling.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly… – Psalm 112:4a

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!
He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. – Psalm 113:7-9

THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

We serve a God who sees the hurts and needs of His people. He reaches down and cares for them through the generous love of the godly. He creates in them a natural desire to be generous with others. It is through us that God meets the needs of others. It is through others that God meets our needs.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news:
They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor. – Psalm 112:4-9

THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

Let us draw into God’s presence and take refuge in Him so that He can strengthen us and prepare us to be His hands and feet in the lives of others. THE LORD IS FOR YOU! Until we have entered into His presence and allowed Him to heal us and fill us with His Spirit, we are not ready to help others. We need to first go to Him and then allow Him to send us.

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!…
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:19-21,24

Today’s Reading: Psalm 85, 62, 95; Proverbs 8

Like his father, Solomon was a poet. God gave both father and son the gift of eloquently expressing their emotions and telling the story of where they were at in their intimate walk with God. He put a new song in their heart and powerful words to express their amazement of how wonderful God is. Solomon, the wisest of all men in the land, spoke beautifully of how each one of us can be wise if we listen closely to what God has to say:

Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!…
“Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth…
My advice is wholesome…
My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.” – Proverbs 8:1, 6-9

And in the words of his father, David:

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people. – Psalm 85:8a

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU?

Have you ever experienced a moment when you wondered if you were hearing from God? There are times when we miss out on opportunities to hear God because we do not step out of our busy schedules to just sit still and listen. Or perhaps God is speaking to us but we do not recognize His voice. Consider this great advice from Oswald Chambers:

Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press in on you, say “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline – it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said?… As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time. [https://utmost.org/the-dilemma-of-obedience/]

Those words resonate with my heart’s desire to be close to God. Many times in my life I have been challenged to think of my relationship with God as any other relationship in my life. In order to draw closer to someone, we must spend time with that person and communicate with them, both listening and speaking. This makes sense but the intimacy we have with God is so much deeper than any other relationship.

I love how Oswald Chambers describes the life of listening to God as a romance. The more we listen, the more we will hear from God; the more we hear from God, the more sensitive we become to His voice and the more easily we recognize Him.

This brings to mind one of my favorite worship songs — The More I Seek You, written by Zach Neese and sung by Kari Jobe. This song has a melody that stays in your head – a song that gets stuck in your heart, causing you to desire to recline on the Savior and hear His heartbeat.

The more I seek you, the more I find you. / The more I find you, the more I love you. / I wanna sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand. / Lay back against you and breathe, hear your heartbeat. / This love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand. / I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming. / The more I seek you, the more I find you. / The more I find you, the more I love you.

IT IS WHILE LISTENING FOR A WORD THAT WE HEAR THE LORD SPEAK TO US.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to draw me closer to you. I thank you for the experience of resting in your presence and simply drinking from your cupped hand. Teach me to recline and trust you at all times, finding my hope in only you as I listen to your heartbeat. Amen.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today! – Psalm 95:6-7

Speak to me, Lord. I’m listening.

Today’s Reading: Psalm 40, 52, 70

Oh Holy God! I stay amazed. / You are so much more than words could ever say. / Oh Holy God! I pour out my praise / On the One who never ceases to amaze [https://gatewayworship.com]

These are lyrics to the song Stay Amazed by Gateway Worship, and they are the song my heart is singing today. Our God is amazing, but consider how easy it is for us to get so used to that idea that we stop celebrating it. We can easily get so accustomed to the concept that our God is awesome that we don’t stop to really consider just how incredible He is. What if we were to recognize how amazing God is and then stay there! What if we were to stay amazed?!!

OUR GOD IS AMAZING

He is more than words can say, yet the Psalmist did a great job of putting the wonderful attributes of God into words. Let’s read the words of Psalm 40 this morning as if we were hearing these things for the first time. Let’s celebrate our wonderful God and STAY AMAZED all day long!

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand –
You don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”…

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me…

But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” – Psalm 40:1-9, 11, 16

OUR GOD IS GREAT

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people. – Psalm 52:8-9

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!” – Psalm 70:4

“God is so great – higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars.” – Job 22:12

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!…
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him. – Psalm 96:4a,8-9

OUR GOD IS HOLY

O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? – Psalm 77:13

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. – Psalm 103:1

Lord, we stand before you AMAZED! You are great and you are holy! Your wonderful deeds are too numerous to recite, your love beyond unfailing. Lord, we praise you for what you have done and we join our voices together to say we trust in your good name. Amen.