Trust, rely, and confidently lean on God #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

ANXIETY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, HARD TIMES, TRUSTING GOD

macro photography of water droplets on clear glass

Photo by Priscilla Du Pree on Unsplash

 Too many Red Sea situations. I turned the ignition off and leaned my head against the headrest, inhaled deeply, then let my head rest against the window, pressing my cheek into the cool smoothness of glass.  I would just rest a moment and crack the window to enjoy the smell of the rain. My appointment was not until nine. The tears came then, their path down my cheeks reflecting that of the rain drops sliding down the car’s windows.

“I’m so sorry, Lord! You have been so gracious to teach me how to rely on You during troubles, to keep my mind focused on Scripture, and to choose to be joyful each day but I just can’t this time. There are too many situations that are hopeless.”

I paused.

“Alright. I know better. There are too many situations that seem to be hopeless. I have to wear the bite guard because I grind my teeth at night but the bite guard makes my neck muscles tighten up so much that migraines have returned. The antibiotics for the spider bite that got inflamed make me feel queasy.  I can’t swim until the spider bite heals and You know that is the only thing lately that relieves joint stiffness. It’s been weeks since I did any writing, and . . . “

I reflected on the story of God parting the Red Sea so His chosen people could  escape Pharoah’s army. (See Exodus 13:17 through Exodus 14:30.) They had been hemmed in on three sides by the mountains and the sea and on the fourth side by the armies of Egypt, a truly impossible situation out of which only God could save them. And God did. He miraculously caused the waters of the Red Sea to stand up like walls so His children could escape their evil pursuers.

You have to stop complaining and doubting — eventually. I shifted in the car seat and glanced at my watch. Five more minutes. I resumed meditating upon the Red Sea story, recalling that as the Egyptian army approached the Israelites were terrified, accused Moses of planning to kill them and sarcastically said they preferred to serve as Egyptian slaves rather than die in the wilderness (Exodus 14:10-12).

Despite that despicable attitude from people who had personally seen His miraculous power, God answered their cry and delivered them. Then the people feared the Lord and trusted Him and Moses.

I also recalled that eventually God expected the people to trust Him and stop their complaining and doubting. When they did not, tragic consequences befell them, time and time and time again. (See Psalm 105, 106, and 107.) Yet, when “they cried to the Lord in their trouble, He delivered them out of their distresses”. (Psalm 107:6, AMPC)

“Oh, help me, Lord! Help me have an attitude pleasing to You! I just can’t seem to do that now!”

Glumly, I walked toward the dentist’s office.

A gray day. . . a gray time.  An hour later, I was in the rocker by the window as gray clouds continued darkening the day. I tried to make my heart as still and calm as the silence around me.

“Thank You, Father, that the dentist thought loosening the bite guard would ease the migraines. Open the eyes of my heart now as I finish the morning devotions I had to cut short this morning.”

But as I resumed my reading in Psalms, other troubles floated into consciousness – the ever-present burden for family and friends to be saved, the fatigue that would not abate despite strenuous efforts, the deductibles to be paid this first month of the calendar year, the perennial physical challenges. . .

“Father, these also seem hopeless, just more Red Sea situations! Oh, help me, Lord! I need You!”

I paused then opened my favorite Bible, my Father’s old Amplified Classic, to three passages in Psalms, the words on those pages so underlined, circled and highlighted as to be distracting to anyone who did not have my history with them. Looking at Psalm 28:7, 32:10 and 33:18-22 was like gazing fondly at family pictures.

A PAUSE FOR COMMENTARY. Let’s pause the story and examine one possible interpretation (mine) of these three passages. The Bible text in this section is in quotation marks and in italics (like this). My comments are in in regular print.

[ONE] Psalm 28:7. “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield;”

When I say the Lord will give me strength and will protect me, it helps me to believe it. And then because of that. . .

“my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. “

Because I have tried, the very best I can, to believe His promises, He enables me to trust in, rely on and lean on Him with confidence, which helps me. Then, because of that, my heart leaps for joy and I sing out with praise and gratitude to Him. This is another example of someone with a little faith saying “Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!”  (Mark 9:23-25).

[TWO] Psalm 32:10 “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.”

When we try with all our heart and soul and strength to trust God with confidence (when we trust, rely, and confidently lean) He covers us completely with His mercy and loving kindness. That means nothing but His mercy and loving kindness touches us.

[THREE] Psalm 33:18-22. “18 Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness19 To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”

To have your eye on someone is to watch them closely. Notice that the Lord closely watches those who have deep respect for Him, who value Him and cherish Him. In verse 19 (“To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine”) God reassures believers that He is “ready to deliver them from harm and provide for their needs, even in times of desperation such as death and famine.” Psalms 33 Explained – Verse by Verse Commentary – God’s Blessing

“20 Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield 21 For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name”

These two verses echo the comforting truth of Psalm 28:7 — that we can wait on the Lord with sincere, serious-minded conviction because we know He has helped and protected us in the past. And during those times when we have focused on and been confident in His goodness and mercy, we have been glad.

“22 Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.” (AMPC)

Possibly one purpose of verse 22 is to make us ponder how much of what we receive from God depends upon what we do. I have a part to play. If I want to have as much of God’s mercy and loving kindness as it’s possible to have, I must wait and hope for Him earnestly – with all my heart and soul. Casual, half-hearted efforts avail little. James 5:16 says: “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. (AMPC)

I have intentionally prayed these three verses so often that they now come to mind without conscious effort whenever emotions threaten to overwhelm.

red cardinal on tree

Photo by George Berberich on Unsplash

The story continues. . . A red flash drew my eye to the winter-bare tree branches outside the window. A cardinal perched in silhouette, his beak moving as he whistled the high-pitched and clear cheer-cheer-cheer of his species. Flitting from branch to branch, he sang his bright, uplifting two-second song three more times, then zoomed away, agile as a fighter plane.

“Thank You, Father, that birds bring a fresh glimpse of nature’s beauty, even in cities. I know You see that cardinal, and I know You see me, right now, this very minute. You say if we draw near to You, You will draw near to us (James 4:8).

I turned back to my Bible, noting again how all three passages clearly showed that trusting, relying on and leaning confidently on God was the key to experiencing the daily joy God wants us to have. Trusting with confidence also enables me to perceive His mercy, His loving kindnesses and His unfailing provision.

“Thank You, Father, for the unsayable peace to be found in Your Word. Help me keep my mind on Your truths.”

Another disappointment, Lord??? Then, peace of mind restored, I was up, tidying the two rooms of my condo, making the bed, fluffing couch pillows, folding the crocheted throw, scooping Lily’s mice and crinkle balls into her little brown basket, washing breakfast dishes, wiping the counter, and finally, with sweet anticipation, setting out my grandsons’ coffee and conversation cups. When as preschoolers they began talking over everyone, one day I filled those little white cups with water, placed some Oreos on almost matching plates, poured myself a cup of coffee and practiced taking turns talking, one of many childrearing assists grandparents are privileged to give time-stressed parents.

Then came the sound of a French horn, the ringtone designated for my daughter.

“Sorry, but the boys were invited to David’s house after school today so I’ll pick them up at 7. Can you do pickup tomorrow?”

I stood in silence, then texted: “No problem. I know they will have fun. Love you bunches!” Then a thumbs-up and two hearts.

I picked up Lily, sat in the rocker, and put her in my lap where, because she was half asleep, she stayed.

“Father, I looked forward to today all week. I see them so seldom now that they are teens. I really needed to see them, today especially.”

I waited, rubbing the velvet of Lily’s ear.

“Well, Lord. You know I have prayed for years that they will have plenty of friends, so this is a good and natural thing. Help me be grateful! And Lord, I really am grateful that I can see them at all, that we live in the same city, and that I’ve been privileged to have a daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons.

Really, Father, thank You. I know that is a privilege . . .’

“No good thing will He withhold . . .”  Back in the kitchen area, I put the cups and saucers back in the cupboard and returned the bunny, bear and airplane to the wobbly ivory bookcase that had held my daughter’s toys.

As I filled a mug with water for tea, I glanced at my meditation verses, that bedraggled stack of dog-eared, smudged papers that stayed, with my to-do- list, at the left of my command center, as I liked to think of the generous-sized bar that divides the front room into living room and study area.

One sheet, not squared up with the others, caught my eye. “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11. KJV). I picked up the sheet and reviewed the context.

“You know, Lord. I can see that—to the extent I keep my mind on You–the vicissitudes of daily life strengthen my heart. As I seek, earnestly, to apply Your Word my effort leads me “in paths of righteousness.” My choices to think and do those things that keep me in right standing with You create a path, they guide my steps. It’s like Psalm 94:12-13, isn’t it?

“Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked. (Psalm 94:12-13, AMPC, emphasis added.)

“In times when the weight of troubles does overwhelm me, I do keep my mind on You and on Your truths the best I can. You are helping me accept hard things, like the boys growing up and away from me and the pangs and prickles of this aging body.

You know Lord, a few years ago before You led me to serious Bible study and the habit of meditating-to-the-point of memory, just a couple of negative happenings knocked me into the pit. Now, though, I wobble a bit—because I am so very human!–yet Your Word bubbles up in my spirit, like the fountain of life that it is, Your Living Water refreshes my soul, and we move forward, having made spiritual progress upon the very mountains of “troubles, sufferings, and responsibilities” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, AMPC).

Thank You for helping me hide Your Word in my heart. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the way You teach me personally as I endeavor to diligently study Your Word. Thank You that, though I am not a Biblical scholar, You help me have a scholarly attitude and habit of work that best uses, even amplifies, my personal resources.

And You make the study times and the thinking times with You so warm, so very close.

Truly, Lord, by Your grace, My heart trusts, relies on and confidently leans on You, and I am helped. Truly, my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I do praise You.  I honor You, I bow before You in gratitude. . .  (Psalm 28:7)

 

Blessed in the Tabernacle – Part Three, #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, TRUSTING GOD

REVIEW: Recall that in Parts One and Two, we explored the first two-thirds of Psalm 84, which can be outlined this way:

Verses 1 -4        Adoring God and describing the blessedness of His presence – of being in His tabernacle.
Verses 5-7         Thinking of how God’s presence brings strength.
Verses 8-12       Talking with God – Confidently asking for God’s attention, further adoration of God, reminding oneself of God’s goodness and the blessedness of fully trusting God. And, as a consequence, getting so caught up in adoration as to forget to make the request? I think so.

The first seven verses of this psalm by the sons of Korah, the gatekeepers of the Temple, gave us a few of the multitudinous benefits of being in God’s presence. The psalmist starts thinking about these benefits and, if you notice carefully, begins making his request in Verse Eight but then gets swept up again in adoration and praise, so much so that he does not even make a request of God! His heart is carried away with more happy ponderings about the God he adores.

Notice also that the pattern of this psalm – which makes a wonderful prayer for us today– reflects that of the model for prayer that Jesus gave us in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 as well as instructions about prayer that Paul gave in Philippians 4:4-9.

VERSES 8 THROUGH 12. Let’s see what God has for us in Verses 8 through 12. Read these verses slowly, stopping to think when God leads you to do so. Ask God what something means, then wait a few moments to listen. God loves teaching us directly from His Word.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
9 Behold our shield [the king as Your agent], O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed!
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

Now, let’s go verse by verse.

VERSE EIGHT.  O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! When we see the name “Lord God of hosts” we are reminded that God is the Supreme Ruler over the vast armies of heaven as well as over earth and all else that exists.

green mountain across body of water

Photo by Kalen Emsley on Unsplash

“The name Lord of hosts emphasizes God’s sovereign control over every power, dominion, force, and realm.” (Gotquestions.org) This title for God appears 280 times in the Bible. It reassures us of God’s power, wisdom, and loving care. This is the One to Whom the psalmist is directing his prayer. This is the God Whose I am.  This is the God I am privileged to worship and serve and adore.

Then comes another Selah, another instruction to the reader to “pause and calmly think of that”. The psalmist has approached God appropriately by giving thanks and has drawn nearer to God by taking time to adore Him, as Psalm 100:4 instructs us to do. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. “(Psalm 100:4, NKJV).  This aligns with Philippians 4:6, which says to thank God for all He has done when we present our requests to Him. So, after seven verses of praise and adoration, the psalmist reverently begins making his request.

VERSE 9: Behold our shield [the king as Your agent], O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed! Using the word shield shows that the psalmist was thinking about the fact that God is our protector, and that He worked through the agency, or means, of the king. With the words “look upon the face of Your anointed” he is asking for God’s personal presence and approval.

Notice that the psalmist is having a conversation with God. In Verse 10, he explains to God why he is seeking His favor.

woman on bike reaching for man's hand behind her also on bike

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VERSE 10:  For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. When you want a piece of pie, you would trade a thousand potatoes for that one piece. When you deeply love someone, you would choose to spend one day with that cherished one, even though you were working, rather a thousand leisurely days with anyone else.

The descendant of Korah who is writing this psalm enjoys the role in life God had assigned him, which was, among other things, standing guard outside God’s temple to help ensure God’s sanctuary was treated with proper respect. One way he did that was by allowing only the ceremonially clean to enter. This man would rather spend one day working in His God-assigned place than a thousand days idly pursuing the pleasures of a sinful life.

In Verse 11 the writer of this psalm keeps speaking to God about why He so loves to be in his presence. One reason? Because God is good.

VERSE 11: For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. People living in Old Testament times did not have our modern-day understanding of all that the sun does for those on planet earth. However, they did know that the light and warmth of the sun were essential for life. They also perceived that the sun was one of the most consistent and reliable parts of human life.

And, regarding God being a Shield, this priest would have been taught the Scriptures available up to that time, so he would have learned of all the times God had shielded and rescued His chosen people. No doubt he had read the scroll of Exodus and remembered that God told Moses:

Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!  I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6, AMPC).

Part of God’s being our provider and protector is that He “bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)!” Just think briefly about your own life and you will easily recall situations where you experienced God’s support, provision, and kindness when you very much did not deserve it. (Do we ever “deserve” it? No! But He gives it freely because He loves us so.)

This descendant of Korah had not read John 10:10, where Jesus says “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b, NKJV) However, he apparently understood God’s generous, giving nature because he declared. “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” 

What does upright mean? Searching Bible Gateway reveals this word is used 240 times in the AMPC. Obviously, it is an important concept for believers. The word upright is often paired with blameless and being in right standing with God. In the book of Job, it is used seven times. When God is talking with Satan, He says Job is: “a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? Job 1:8, AMPC). I say to my soul, selah!

VERSE 12: O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You and that without fear or misgiving.” In order to write Verse 12, this psalmist must have understood what trusting God means. Trust is an integral part of our relationship with God. Trust appears in the AMPC 382 times. Some of the clarifying words and phrases associated with it in the AMPC are “relying on and clinging to Me” (God), “remaining steadfast”, and “to lean on and be confident.” Remember that in the AMPC the clarifying words in parentheses and brackets and set off by dashes are shades of meaning that speakers of the original language in which it was written would have automatically understood was meant.

Pondering the word trust in Psalm 91:14 especially comforts me;

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

silhouette of man throwing girl in air

Photo by Laura Lulu Taylor on Unsplash

Our trust in God is important to Him!  Can you hear how frustrated Jesus was in the three times Scripture records that Jesus said to His disciples “Oh you of little faith!” We find this in: (1) Matthew 16:8 after He had fed the 5,000, (2) “when they apprehended not the lesson of the grass of the field (Matthew 6:30), and (3) when they were fearful in the storm on the lake (Matthew 8:26).” https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/16-8.htm.

Trust and faith, although not identical, are very similar. Generally speaking, faith involves believing in something you cannot perceive with your senses whereas trust involves believing in and relying upon something or someone based upon previous experience.

Go back and re-read Psalm 91:14. God promises to deliver and set on high the person who loves Him and who, because of personal understanding of His nature, trusts and depends upon Him. That trust and dependence comes through personal experience with His mercy, love, and kindness.

Do I know God like this psalmist did? I am convinced that the writer of this psalm had an intimate, whole-hearted relationship with God. I think he personally experienced the benefits he describes of making the secret place of God’s tabernacle the home of his heart. That’s why the tone of this psalm is so exuberant. Possibly, he got so caught up praising God that he forgot to present his request. There is no specific request recorded in this psalm. Or perhaps his entire purpose in this prayer song was simply to adore our awesome Lord and Savior.

I must ask myself: How often do I approach God simply for the purpose of adoring Him? How often do I demonstrate my reverence and respect for Him by setting aside time to tell Him thank you and to list the things about Him that I so much appreciate? How often do I turn my mind to God simply to worship and love Him?  Selah, oh my soul!  Selah!

Blessed in the Tabernacle – Part Two, #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, TRUSTING GOD

In Part One, we learned that Psalm 84, a song about the blessings of being in God’s presence, was written by the sons of Korah. These men were descendants of the same Korah who rebelled against God while the Israelites were in their time of wilderness wandering. These descendants of Korah were gatekeepers at the tabernacle, a relevant fact to keep in mind as we continue studying this psalm verse by verse.

OUTLINE: One way to outline Psalm 84 is as follows:

Verses 1 -4        Adoring God and describing the blessedness of His presence – of being in His tabernacle.
Verses 5-7         Thinking of how God’s presence brings strength.
Verses 8-12       Talking with God – Confidently asking for God’s attention, further adoration of God, reminding oneself of God’s goodness and the blessedness of fully trusting God. And, as a consequence, getting so caught up in adoration as to forget to make the request? I think so.

VERSES 5-7: 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.

The gatekeepers who wrote this psalm were Levites, the tribe God had designated to perform religious duties. These particular Levites were charged with ensuring that everyone who entered was ceremonially clean. Vigilance as well as deep understanding of God’s laws of purity and holiness were required.

As explained on BibleHub.com, the gatekeeper’s role was important symbolically and spiritually.

“The gatekeepers’ role was not only practical but also symbolic. They represented the boundary between the sacred and the profane, serving as guardians of the divine presence. Their work was a constant reminder of the need for purity and reverence in approaching God. The gatekeepers’ vigilance was a physical manifestation of the spiritual vigilance required of all believers in maintaining their relationship with God.

“Moreover, the gatekeepers’ duties can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament concept of spiritual watchfulness. Just as the gatekeepers were tasked with guarding the temple, Christians are called to guard their hearts and minds against spiritual threats. This theme is echoed in passages such as 1 Peter 5:8, which urges believers to be sober-minded and watchful.” Topical Bible: The Duties of the Gatekeepers

Possibly as these gatekeepers stood at the entrance to the Temple, they thought about the spiritual habits of people they observed coming to worship. Perhaps they knew a man who consistently displayed reliance upon God and who also consistently left the Temple with the glow of having found joy in God’s presence. Such a person could be said to have a highway to God’s presence in His heart. Oh Lord! Let that be us!

a stream running through a forest filled with rocksPhoto by Daniel Mirlea on Unsplash

VERSE 6: Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. No doubt the sons of Korah knew people who had been through hard times but, through faith and perseverance in God, had been abundantly blessed. The word “Baca” is usually translated as weeping. “The journey of a faithful Christian through times of hardship is a step-by-step expedition “from strength to strength.” (What is the Valley of Baca in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org).

If we whole-heartedly depend upon God, and keep pressing on toward maturity (James 1:4, 1 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Peter 3:18, Romans 12:2), our faith will increase. We will be transformed from “one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18, AMPC).

VERSE 7: They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.  Notice that Verse Seven starts with the word “they” so this verse is still referring to those who travel through the Valley of Weeping. Notice that they pass through the valley, which can symbolize hardship. They do not sit down and give up. They press on with God. Like the prophet Habakuk says in what we label Habakuk 3:19 in our modern Bibles, God will be our strength in hard times. Let me stress here: IF we let Him. He will give us the means to move through trials just as He gives mountain goats special feet for mountainous terrain. And we need never stand still in terror. We can move forward confidently in God and make progress upon the very difficulties themselves.

“19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakuk 3:19, AMPC)

Notice the second phrase in Verse Seven: “each of them appears before God in Zion.”  The persevering, God-loving people described in this psalm—each one of them–all make it through to the joy of His presence. What blessed comfort that is and what motivation to persevere in our faith!

brown deer standing on mountain during daytime

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Part Three will start with Psalm 84:8. Until then, get alone with God and pencil and paper. Read all of Psalm 84 slowly and thoughtfully. Ask God what He wants to say to you personally. He is always right there with you, waiting to spend time with you.

 

Blessed in the tabernacle – Part One

BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, TRUSTING GOD

shallow focus photography of hot coffee in mug with saucerIt had been a busy morning already. Having hit snooze twice, morning routines had been shortened: only token wake-up stretches, just a few scritches atop Lily’s head and abbreviated, albeit not abandoned, morning devotions. But I remembered, as ever, to grab the current Bible passage for meditation from its resting place on the kitchen counter.  With a final “I love you, Lily Bugs!” I slung my lunch bag and purse over my shoulder and was out the door into the slanting rays of morning sun. At the foot of the stairs, I stopped and glanced at the paper in my hand, as I would all the way to the gym.

Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

“How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! “Tabernacles, tabernacles, tabernacles . . .” I glanced at the paper in my lap then murmured as I waited for the light to change. “Oh, I see, Lord! Is the psalmist saying that at the points along life’s journey where You let us be aware of Your presence – the places where we stop and worship You and You receive our sacrifices, the tabernacles—are lovely? Just as the Israelites always carried a way—that portable tent—for You to dwell with them, so we always carry about in our heart the way for You to dwell with us? Is that what You mean here, Lord?”

I began meditating-upon-Scriptures-with-the-intent-to-memorize five years ago when God healed my soul of depression. Although far from perfect in this spiritual discipline, I have been consistent. God has never once failed to bless me beyond the ability to tell as I meditate on His Word. Each and every time.

Why? One reason is that when we meditate on His Word, when we consciously turn our thoughts toward Him with gratitude, admiration, respect, and worship, we create a space for Him to be with us. We build a spiritual tabernacle. In my view, this spiritual tabernacle is the central subject of Psalm 84.

OUTLINE: One way to outline this psalm is as follows:

Verses 1 -4        Adoring God and describing the blessedness of His presence – of being in His tabernacle.
Verses 5-7         Thinking of how God’s presence brings strength.
Verses 8-12       Talking with God – Confidently asking for God’s attention, further adoration of God, reminding oneself of God’s goodness and the blessedness of fully trusting God. And, as a consequence, getting so caught up in adoration as to forget to make the request? I think so.

green grassPhoto by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

What is a tabernacle? Webster’s 1828 online dictionary (Websters 1828 – Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – Tabernacle) gives several definitions of tabernacle:

  • a tent,
  • a temporary habitation,
  • a place of worship or sacred place, and
  • our natural body (see 2 Corinthians 5:1 and 2 Peter 1:3.)

Two more definitions are especially relevant to this exploration of Psalm 84:

  • “God’s gracious presence, or the tokens of it” and
  • “Among the Jews, a movable building, so contrived as to be taken to pieces with ease and reconstructed, for the convenience of being carried during the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness.”

PSALM 84, VERSE BY VERSE: Psalm 84:1-4 – “To the Chief Musician; set to a Philistine lute, or [possibly] a particular Gittite tune. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Who were “the sons of Korah?” It is helpful in understanding this psalm to know that the sons of Korah wrote it. These descendants of Korah–who rebelled against God’s authority and was killed for it–were some of King David’s expert warriors. Later descendants of Korah were prominent leaders of orchestral and choral temple worship, well-known for their dedication to serving in God’s house. So, we are hearing the heart of someone with deep passion for God and for being in His presence, a supremely worthy attitude to adopt. Let’s search for the truths God has hidden in this song of ecstatic worship.

1 How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.
3 Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!”

Do you see that in the first four verses the psalmist is earnestly, ecstatically praising God as he thinks about the blessedness of being in God’s presence? Look at Verse One.

Verse One: “How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!” I have been pondering the understanding I received that morning for several weeks now, that idea that we build a spiritual tabernacle when we turn our thoughts consciously to Him. When we praise and adore Him, we make God the most important thing in our lives. We make Him King. Our whole-hearted praise creates a spiritual throne, with God lifted up and us fully submitted to Him, positioned at His feet, the only appropriate way for us to be in His presence. Truly, God is “enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3b, NLT) and His presence is readily perceived.

That throne, that Divinely-ordained place of meeting with God, is in our hearts, just as the Holy of Holies was in the tabernacle wherein the ancient Israelites worshipped. The Israelites always had available the God-given means, wherever they were, to stop and erect their portable tabernacle. So we always have available the God-given means to stop and build a place to worship Him and to easily perceive His presence – in our hearts.

And here in Verse One, the psalmist is reflecting on how lovely God is in those special places, so lovely that it makes him homesick.

Verse Two: My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.

Ever been homesick? Remember when you could think only of cherished faces, smiles, and voices, of familiar sights, sounds, and smells, and the comfort of your accustomed surroundings and activities? The psalmist longs so intensely and persistently for the joys of being with “the living God” that his longing is nearly palpable. And just remembering being in God’s presence makes him sing for joy.

Obviously, the psalmist is one for whom God has become his home. Home is where you live permanently. It is the primary source for all things necessary for life. You leave home to work, see friends, and run errands but each night you eagerly return. Home is where you get physical and emotional sustenance, restorative rest, joy and so much more. It is your primary place for receiving comfort and companionship.  Can I truly say the living God is my home? Do I dwell, or live permanently, in His presence? Is He my main source for all things relating to life?

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV).

Am I like a bird, diligently searching out the most fitting place to live and fulfill the purpose for which God created me?

Verse Three – Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

I think God is reminding us here He cares for even the tiniest, apparently least significant of His creatures and that He has provided abundantly for these smallest of creatures to live as close to Him—His very altars—as is possible in this earthly realm.  If God does that for birds, how much more will He do that for us?

Birds live and build nests where there is enough food.  We can live and make our home in God’s presence because in His presence is abundant spiritual supply.

a nest of birds in a treePhoto by Annie Lang on Unsplash

Besides densely vegetated areas, sparrows roost in man-made structures, as does the most common swallow, the barn swallow. Possibly the psalmist, after reflecting on Israel’s early history, is now thinking of sparrows living in the tabernacle of King David’s time that, unlike the wilderness Tabernacle, was stationary.

Perhaps Jesus had this psalm in mind when He reassured His followers that they were far more valuable than sparrows. As recorded in Matthew 10, Jesus sent out His disciples and gave them authority to minister, “to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (Matthew 10:1 b, NIV). Jesus reassured them there was no need to fear their enemies, even those who would seek to “kill the body but who could not kill the soul” (Mattthew 10:28). Jesus said:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”  (Matthew 10:28-31, NLT)

Possibly when Jesus sent out His followers on their own, He was thinking of them protectively and affectionately, as a father with a child, wanting them to remember the sparrows living in the Temple which His followers would have seen when they went to worship. Maybe He wanted them to remember—as they encountered the enemy on their own for the first time without Him—that they could always come into His presence in spirit whenever they turned their hearts to Him. He wanted them to be about Kingdom business with joy.

Verse Four: “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!”The first four verses of Psalm 84 could be like one paragraph of thought. Starting at Verse One, the psalmist exclaims “Oh, Lord! the places where You meet with us are lovely, so lovely that I am homesick and pining to meet with You again! You love the lowliest of creatures, even the tiniest birds. Anyone who lives with You is so fortunate that they will sing about You all day long!”

Verse Four points out a by-product of being in God’s presence constantly: you will be busy “singing His praises all the day long” (emphasis added). You will be enthusiastically extolling His countless virtues, admiring Him and the things He does—all day long. Will that leave time for doubt or fear or frustration? It is a good idea to selah, to “pause and think calmly about that” as the last word in Verse Four urges us to do.

What thoughts come to your mind as you re-read Verses One through Four and stop to think? Stop now and do that. Give God a chance to speak to your heart.

Part Two will start with the next verse, Verse Five, which, like Verse Four, also begins with the word blessed as the psalmist continues thinking about the benefits of living in God’s presence.

A couple of birds sitting on top of a wire

Photo by Sophie Legtenberg on Unsplash

 

The Goodness of God, #godindailylife, #thebibleindaily life

ANXIETY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, HARD TIMES, TRUSTING GOD

turned-on laptop computer on top of side table inside bedroomPhoto by Cesar Aldhela on Unsplash

God loves and accepts me . . .  I paused a moment to get oriented, leaning forward on the edge of the bed. Gray light was barely visible around the edges of the window. I smiled up at the ceiling and repeated my personalized version of Psalm 16:3, the verse which had started my day for the six months or so since it had come alive during morning devotions.

“Father, I do roll my works upon You, I commit and trust everything I do today completely to You, and I know You will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will, and in this way our plans —our plans, Lord, not mine but ours — shall be established and succeed.”

I reached over to turn on the radio and stood up. Scuffling the few steps to the bathroom, I paused. As the first few bars of slow, trilling melody glided through the darkness, I felt God gently touch my mind, as ever, with this song.

“I love You, Lord for Your mercy never failed me.
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands.
From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

(The Goodness of God, by Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, and Jenn Johnson, 2018)

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head as overwhelming feelings swirled. I grabbed the towel from the rack and buried my face in it. I stood there, sobbing and weeping as scenes from all the years of God’s unspeakable goodness marched by, scenes like finding two twenty-dollar bills in a closet when my fourth grader needed shoes and we needed groceries, the providence of finding that civil service job with good benefits, God’s leading me to friends when I had none, and years of feeling God’s presence through the Word, worship and sitting in silence with Him.

“Thank You, Father, thank You for this fresh manifestation of Your presence and love. I know that You are telling me You love me and You accept me, just like I am.”

I paused as I noticed a thought that did not seem to be my own.

“Lord, I think that all my life, even after knowing You, the question ‘Am I doing everything right?’ has caused much of the fear, discouragement, and self-criticism. But You know that verse in Psalm 57, the one that says, “You show Your approval of me when You help and comfort me”? Well, I know You are comforting me right now through that song because, as I listen, my emotions are responding. You, Lord, are touching my feelings on the inside and I feel loved. I think You are showing that You approve of me, even though I feel I am not doing enough with my spiritual life lately. This is a lesson I apparently need to keep learning. Oh, Father! Help me take it to heart!”

. . . even when I feel like a failure. The relief was intense because yesterday, like many days recently, fatigue had demanded extra rest and wrecked my plans. After the bare minimum of daily chores and two essential errands, I lacked mental energy even to text or call a friend or do Bible study. I rested through the afternoon, had an early dinner then went to bed, too tired physically and mentally for the fervent attention to my prayer list that I had planned. Even the little I had done that day had required repeated proclamations of Scriptures like Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him”

He tells me everything will be alright.  After tea, morning prayer, and breakfast, I stepped into the surprisingly cool air outside.

“Kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty! Here, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!” I leaned over the balcony and saw her, my sweet little tortoise shell stray, running down the sidewalk, away from her hidey hole around the corner of the building next door.

“Meow! Meow! Meoooooow!” all the way down the sidewalk and up the stairs she came. Little Bit rubbed my ankles thoroughly as I poured kitty kibble into her bowl. I took her water dish inside for washing and refilling, then came back out and sat on the folding chair while Little Bit chomped a third of the kibble. Then, as usual, she jumped into my lap for ten minutes or so of ear rubbing and murmured sweet nothings.

            “Everything’s going to be alright, little girl. I’m going to take care of everything for you.” Then, as suddenly as when I first woke, tears filled my eyes as memory brought another treasured song to my inner hearing – “Gonna Be Alright,” by Ryan Ellis. (2) Ryan Ellis – Gonna Be Alright (Official Music Video) – YouTube

Tears fell on Little Bit’s cream and black fur.

“Father, I think You are telling me that You will never criticize me when I am trying to do good for You and the Kingdom. You will never tell me I am not good enough, or that everything I do is a mess, or that I am sloppy or messy, or that me and my life are pathetic. I know those are all lies directly from the enemy when he is trying to steal my joy with You. I am submitted to You, and I can resist the devil, tell him to leave, and he has to leave, like You tell us in James 4:7!

I know that nothing I ever do could cause You to love me more. Though that does not make sense to my human reasoning I know that is true. You accept me just as I am.  You showed us all that, Lord Jesus, because You died for us while we were rejecting You and living whatever way we wanted to, as Romans 5:8 tells us.

I know Your love for me exceeds the height of the heavens above the earth (Psalm 103:11). You showed the greatness of Your love, Lord Jesus, when You died on the cross. Laying down Your life for me is the greatest love of all, as You say in John 15:13.

You delight in everything I do, far more than a human parent delights in a little child, and You prepare each step of my day (Psalm 37:23). I know that “. . . in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16-b, AMPC),

Though sometimes I feel like it, I know have not disappointed You because I am not further along in my journey with You. I know that is true because I am trying with my whole heart to love You and serve You and that is all You require. You tell me so in Deuteronomy 10:12-13

I know that You long to help me far more than I can understand! Help me meditate on and get the powerful truths of Isaiah 30:18 deep into my heart, Lord!

8 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! (Isaiah 30:18, AMPC)

He helps me keep trusting and doing good . . . So dear friend, what led up to needing God’s reassurance so desperately? For the last six months or so a broken relationship caused deep emotional pain. The relationship is partially restored, for which I am grateful beyond words, but we all are so very human. Much remains to be mended. I continue to pray, trust God and speak words of healing over that relationship. I also continue to trust God for complete healing from surgery and other ailments my earthly tabernacle is enduring. I praise Him for the healing He has already done and for what He is doing and going to do!

However, thoroughly human human being that I am, I occasionally feel discouraged about these things. I also get discouraged at times with how much time dealing with things of the world takes away from my heart’s desire to be about God’s business! By His grace, when I stumble like that I keep getting back up and moving forward with my heart fixed on God and His mercy and goodness. I choose to give voice to my gratitude, and I choose to speak His Words of truth about my life situations.

I am especially grateful for Psalm 37. Recently, I have been leaning extra hard on verses 3 and 4.

3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. (AMPC)

I know that, in His strength and by His grace, I can:

  • Have firm belief in the Lord, His mercy and His goodness as I go about living a life of complete surrender and loving service to Him.
  • I know that as I do that I will remain in the land, or condition, where His promises are fulfilled, just as they were for the Israelites.
  • I know that, while I am doing that, He will supply my every need. His faithfulness will supply me as surely as a shepherd supplies green grass to feed His sheep.
  • And, when doubts about that come because of the enemy’s arrows or my own weakness, I can meditate on the fact that God already knew that I would sometimes have doubts because He emphasizes the fact that I will be fed when He says “truly you shall be fed.” He was stressing that promise!
  • As I live my life, taking pleasure hour by hour in living with Jesus, I can ponder His promise that, as I do so, He will give me the things I desire and the things only He and I know about.

a couple of people standing on a beach under a cloudy sky

Photo by Elias Maurer on Unsplash

. . . and He lets me feel His presence. Our every breath depends totally upon God. I often think of Job 12:10: “For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.” NLT). One of my greatest needs since finding Jesus has always been to feel His presence and to know He approves of me. He has so graciously shown me how He wants me to live all these many years. And He has shown His approval of me when He helps and comforts me, as He is doing even this minute.

17 Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me. (Psalm 86:17, AMPC)

I believe that desperately needing God is very good, as David expressed in Psalm 63:1.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (AMPC)

Many books have been written about how God communicates with us, and the Bible is filled with truth about that topic. Here is a link to an excellent article about this precious gift of hearing God speak to us.  30 Powerful Bible Verses About God Speaking To Us (Full Commentary) – Bible Study For You

A prayer of thanksgiving to God for the manifestation of His presence. A manifestation is a “demonstration of the existence of something ‘unseen or obscure or secret’ by clear evidence. (Webster’s 1828 online dictionary). With that in mind, I pray:

Oh, Lord, my God, my Savior, my sweet and loving King! I thank You, Lord, and I praise You for demonstrating Your existence to me over and over by clear evidence I can perceive, even though You are invisible to my physical senses. Thank You for drawing near when I call to You and telling me “Fear Not.” (Lamentations 3:57.) Thank You for Your tender mercies and innumerable loving kindnesses, which never fail (Lamentations 3:22). I love You, Lord!

I can only join with Charles Wesley, Lord, and say:

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

2 My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.

3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.

4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

5 To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven. (Charles Wesley, 1739)

Amen, my precious Father in heaven, amen!

A little note: A tidbit about this little writing. . . When I began this writing I wondered if it would just be a journal entry. However, over the following three days I heard The Goodness of God three more times. Then as I sit at my computer, doing the final proofreading and looking out my second-floor window, I saw Little Bit languidly strolling, as only cats can do, down the sidewalk. I had only seen her in early morning or early evening, never in the middle of the day. I had to smile. Seeing Little Bit and hearing The Goodness of God may or may not be an indication from God that He wants me to share these thoughts. But, once again, in His tender way, I believe He has let me know He is with me, He loves me, and He understands me.

He is also with you, this moment, He loves you, and He understands you. Will you stop and let Him love you, however that looks for you and Him? We look to Him for our every breath. He looks to us to love Him and choose to be with Him.

Give me a hug. Father spending time with his son outside.

Photo by Getty Images for Unsplash

Honoring Charlie Kirk

Uncategorized

If you knew and admired and loved Charlie Kirk, you probably feel shocked and sad. Please click the link below for a Flashpoint special broadcast about this great hero of our faith. It will greatly encourage you and comfort you.

Charlie Kirk Panel Discussion | America’s Turning Point | FlashPoint

What can we do to honor Charlie Kirk? We can follow in his footsteps of faith by speaking out, however we can, whenever we can, whatever way we can, for God and for righteousness.

If you do not know how you can take an active part in the fight against the evil, watch Flashpoint Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 7 Central Time.  You will hear God’s viewpoint on what is happening in our world, and you will learn about things we can all do to take our part in the fight against evil. We can all do something, even if we have never taken a political action in our entire life.

In the war against evil, what we do as individuals matters. Charlie Kirk knew this. He devoted his life to standing with those, especially the young, who were standing alone. Honor his life. Do something.

FlashPoint – YouTube

Just a note . . .

Uncategorized

Hi – just a note to let you know that you will continue to see fewer blog posts for a while. The reason is a common one: cataracts!  I am grateful that God has given doctors the wisdom on how to remedy this obstacle that most of us face, sometimes sooner, sometimes later.

My enthusiasm for God’s Word and for sharing it with you has not waned. On the contrary, I am eager to be free from eye strain and to return to regular blogging and writing.  I am trusting in God with confidence in His mercy and graciousness, for this and all things, for me and for you.

1 Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. (Psalm 57:1, AMPC).

Love and prayers and blessings!
Freda

two person step on gray soilPhoto by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

God changes the world for you

ANXIETY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, HOPE, TRUSTING GOD

Note: First published March 24, 2023

What’s your perspective today? When I returned home this morning, I glanced down the length of the sidewalk, turned splotchy gray from rain. Quarter-inch puddles stood here and there in the uneven spots, evidence of the passage of years or else of the impatience of the long-ago sidewalk crew. A patch of black dirt stood next to a single mud puddle that reflected the darkened sky. Not such a cheery scene. However, in the center of the six-by-six-foot patch of black dirt grew a sizeable tangle of some sort of shamrock green foliage. I always take a few moments to draw near this little patch of exuberant green to contemplate dew or rain drops winking like diamonds on the surface of the leaves.

How closely are you looking? As I stepped closer, I avoided three snails, each one using its miraculously-constructed “muscular foot” (I had to look that up!) to push against the sidewalk and propel itself along. When my grandsons were younger, I had, perforce, developed the habit of glancing at the ground for little treasures, like roly-poly bugs, lady bugs, bottlecaps, coins and anything else that attracted their curiosity and their magpie-like vision.

Looking closely at God’s handiwork is a good habit. It is obvious that those whom Holy Spirit used to write the Bible were keen observers of nature. I am grateful to God that He provides glimpses of nature even if we must live and work in an urban environment. How often have I heard the chirp of sparrows in bushes as I walked into my office building? How many times have I thrilled to see the sunset from the lofty elevation of an interstate as I drove home on winter evenings? And, in recent years, I have found deep beauty and peace in city parks. But you have to pay attention. You have to look closely to see things like diamond-speckled leaves, right outside your front door.

Beauty, wonder and peace. As I anticipate the next few weeks, which will include a repeat surgery and recovery, I am determined to focus on the countless good things God has provided, good things like knowledge and skill to physicians, bodies that generally work well (which is itself an unaccountable miracle when you think of how many moving parts we humans have!), food, shelter, family and friends, His Word, His powerful and sweet, sweet presence, a good church, and the way that carefully considering nature brings peace.

I wrote the following poem more than thirty years ago. I’ve lived in several homes since then. In each one, God always included a place where I could sit and drink in the sunset and sunrise, even though the view was often partially obstructed. Nonetheless, I sensed His special presence at sunrise and sunset and at any point in the day where I slowed down, observed His handiwork closely and gave Him thanks.

Won’t you take time, today, to slow down and stand in awe at the beauty with which God has lovingly surrounded you? Won’t you take time to be with God? He is waiting for you – eagerly, watchfully, joyfully.

“God changes the world for you”

God changes the world, twice, for you each day.
He dims the light
softens the sound
cools the air
and flames heaven with patterned colors,
all to delight your soul, calm your spirit, and give you rest.

As a tender parent, He blankets earth, and you, with soothing peace.

Stop. Still your hands. Let your Maker tell you of His love for you.

Pause in your rush to do. Listen.
He says “Be with Me” as He said to Adam and Eve in Eden.
Honor His love for you.
Pay attention.

Let Him show you how He turns green branches into inky black filigree.
Let Him delight your ear with birdsong and thrumming silence.
Let Him cool your skin with gentle whispers of wind that slide through the sheltering trees.

Breathe deeply. Take in the fragrances floating in cooler air.

Let Him give your body rest.
Simply stop. Open your heart and your eyes to your Maker.
And thank Him.

You will feel His presence.
You will know His love.

a silhouette of a tree against an orange skyPhoto by Ethel Gr on Unsplash

 

The message of the hummingbird, #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

ANXIETY, DAILY LIFE, ENCOURAGEMENT, GRATITUDE, HARD TIMES, HOPE, TRUSTING GOD

brown humming bird flying in mid airPhoto by Mark Olsen on Unsplash

Note: First published July 25, 2024.

Unsettled. Plink, plink. The kitty kibble rattled into the bottom of Lilly’s bowl. I scratched the top of her head.

“I love you, Lilly bugs. I’m so glad I have you. You are a gift, you know.”

I walked from bedroom back to front room, ignoring the rumpled throw atop the couch and two days of mail sliding off the toppled stack of books on the end table. Darkness still claimed the edges of the room, covering over other signs of recent neglect. Cup of tea in hand, I moved to sit in the rocker by the window, not clicking on the lamp, preferring the softened edges of darkness.

“Father, I feel so unsettled, so messed up, just lost and hurting, Lord. I just need to sit here with you, Lord, and just talk with You about it all. My feelings and thoughts are such a jumble, and it hurts so bad. I cannot do anything about it, absolutely nothing, but pray. You know what I mean by that, Lord. As a thoroughly human human being, I feel in control, at least a little, when I can do something tangible about a situation. But I also know, by faith and by experience, that prayer is tangible and produces tangible results.

This has moved me to pray like never before, Lord, but I still just want to do something. I want to be there, I want to help, I love. . . “

A long pause. I stare out the window, into the gentle dimness. Tears, tears, and more tears.

“I love him so much, Lord, and I can’t do anything. I can’t do anything!”

Another longer, deeper pause.

“But I will pray, Lord, and You can help. You can do anything (Matthew 19:26). Nothing is too hard for You. . .  (Genesis 18:14)

Then, right where I was looking, at the tip of the rose bush growing up the drain pipe outside my second-floor window, a hummingbird poised, for a quick moment, at the end of the branch–a branch with no blossoms, nothing to attract hummingbirds. Then the finger-sized creature darted away, the first hummingbird I’ve seen in the five years I’ve lived here.

The soft blanket of God’s love enfolded me with comforting weightiness. Fresh tears. As so often before, God put a bird right in front of my eyes to remind me of His presence.

“Oh, Father! Thank You! I know You are right here with me. I know You are with me in this. I know You understand how I feel and You are feeling what I am feeling. That’s what compassion is, isn’t it, feeling with someone?

I think You are telling me You have felt the tears the last few days, and You understand that I have not been able to focus, to think or to pray. It’s been all I could do just to do the minimum . . . but to know that You understand, Lord, that You see me, that You promise to never ever fail me, to always help me.

Silently, the balm of a favorite verse moved through my thoughts.

“. . . and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you) [Assuredly not!]  (Hebrews 13:5b, AMPC)

When it hurts too bad. When something turns your heart inside out, when you cannot think clearly enough to pray or even read the Bible, God understands. And He shares your feelings.

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. (Hebrews 4:15, AMPC)

God not only shares your feelings, but He earnestly, passionately longs to help you (Isaiah 30:18). That’s one reason He tells us in many Bible passages to pour out our hearts to Him, to cast all our cares on Him, to trust Him and not worry. He knows that just putting sorrow or fear into words, to a trusted, loving person, lightens our emotional burden. So, He says:

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! (Psalm 62:8, AMPC, emphasis added),

The power of trust. Look again at the verse above. Notice that trusting God includes leaning on Him, relying on Him and having confidence in Him. This thought is repeated in Isaiah 26:3 in the AMPC.

3 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. (Isaiah 26:3, AMPC, emphasis added)

 Trust, according to Webster’s 1828 online dictionary, is:

“Confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person. Includes actively knowing . . . ”

I like that phrase “actively knowing”. That encourages me to keep my mind busy thinking about God’s faithfulness, the endless facets of His goodness, His awesome power, His sovereignty over all that was and is and is to come, His unbounded love for me, and the surety of all His promises. And in hard times, like now, it comforts me to meditate on Romans 8:28, the fact that “ God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (NLT)

Trust and obey. Perhaps you have heard the beloved hymn “Trust and obey” written by John H. Sammis in 1887. Below is the first verse and the refrain.

  1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
    What a glory He sheds on our way!
    While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
    And with all who will trust and obey.
  • Refrain:
    Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
    To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

“Dwell in the land and do good” That beautiful hymn brings to mind Psalm 37:3.

Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. (AMPC)

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This verse has helped me move forward with daily life before when darkness closed in. This verse says God’s faithfulness will feed me. We are the sheep of His pasture and He is the good shepherd. We can trust Him to take good care of us. Didn’t He lay down his life for us because He so loves us?

With those thoughts in mind, I can look for good things to be grateful for, I can go on with the tasks of this day, I can look for ways to help others, I can meditate on the Bible truths I know. I can do what I need to do because it is God Who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) I can rely on Him, not myself. And, by God’s great grace, I can put into practice Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:4-9.

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9, NIV, emphasis added)

No matter the situation, there is always something in it for which I can give God thanks. That is one of the first things to do when burdens are heavy.

Steps to take when you are troubled:

[1] Be grateful for what you have. Find the good things in the situation and sincerely thank God. That is part of putting Philippians 4:4-9 into practice. And Psalm 100 instructs us to approach God through giving thanks.

[2] Pray about the situation. Include statements, often called proclamations or positive confessions, about the situation and what God is doing. Tell God, “Father, thank You that You never sleep, that You always are watching the entire earth. Thank You that Your mercy never ends. Thank You that I know Your love and mercy extend to everyone and that You are always seeking to draw people to You. . . “

Also, spend time praying in tongues, also called praying in the Spirit. If this is a new concept to you, see the free booklet “The Remedy for Desperation”, beginning at page 14 (available on the Basics of Believing page of this website).

[3]  Release the weight of your worries to God. The well-known verse “Cast all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you” in I Peter 5:7 is a quotation from Psalm 55:22. Notice how the AMPC verse clarifies that we are to release the weight of the burdens we carry:

“Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).” (AMPC)

Notice also that God promises He will keep the consistently righteous from falling. Consistent means to be regular or steady in doing something. Consistent does not mean perfect.

[4] Trust God, keep doing good, and keep moving forward with your life. Honor God by considering Him your only hope of safety (Isaiah 8:24). Ponder His omnipotence and His unfathomable love. And I say again: keep moving forward with your life. Except for times of sickness, mourning, or other legitimate reasons, withdrawing from daily life is dangerous. Idleness and isolation leave the heart open to attacks from Satan. Keep your hands and your mind busy. And the best thing to busy your mind with is, of course, God’s Word.

[5] Meditate on His Word. Nothing calms the soul like keeping the mind fixed on God. Consider Isaiah 26:3 in the AMPC.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. (emphasis added)

Be at rest, oh my soul! Hope confidently in the Lord! He has never, no never, no never failed you in any regard and He never, no never, no never will! (Hebrews 13:5). He is with you, and He adores you.

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Comfort and confidence from God, #godindailylife, #thebibleindaily life

ANXIETY, ENCOURAGEMENT, HARD TIMES, HOPE, TRUSTING GOD

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1 Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed.

2 I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! (Psalm 57:1-2, AMPC)

So many trials! I have written several blogs where I briefly listed the latest sea of troubles threatening to overwhelm my soul then went on to share comfort from Scripture. Well, this time I will not even list the recent “troubles, trials, distresses and frustrations” (John 16:33, AMPC).  Life has been especially hard for everyone lately, and I do not want to spend one minute thinking about the hard things. I am sure you understand how I feel.

Three Scriptures for comfort and confidence in God. This blog post shares three Scripture passages in the AMPC that have especially helped me find comfort and confidence in God recently.

  • Psalm 37, especially the last two verses,
  • Psalm 84, 85 and 86, especially Psalm 86:17, and
  • Psalm 57, especially verses1-2.

Let’s look at these three passages.

PSALM 37 – Are you taking the refuge God offers?

39 But the salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust and take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 37:39-40, AMPC, emphasis added).

Psalm 37 is one of many psalms that is heavily marked up in my Bible from repeated readings and studyings. You could summarize the forty verses of Psalm 37 like this. God commands the righteous person to not “fret yourself” in spite of what the evil and wicked are doing. God says to trust Him, delight yourself in Him, commit your life to Him, live right, and just rest in Him because He is going to deal with the evil and the wicked.

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Scroll back up two paragraphs and re-read those last two verses of Psalm 37 (verses 39 and 40). That word because explains how God is going to rescue the righteous from the wicked. He rescues the consistently righteous because they use the refuge He offers. If you took a long hot walk on a park trail, you could find relief in the cool shade of the trees beside the trail only if you trust that the shade is cooler and you step off the path and actually sit under those trees.

In the same way, we can find refuge in God if we trust Him and then take the refuge He offers.

That word trust means “leaning and believing on God, committing all and confidently looking to God, and that without fear or misgiving!” (from Psalm 84:12, AMPC). If you are caught in a wild thunderstorm and you see a shelter, you take refuge in that shelter if you believe it will give relief. You commit your whole self to it when you step inside it. You step into the refuge God offers when you commit you whole self to loving and obeying Him. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:30, NIV). If you do not trust, or believe, that the shelter will be a refuge to you from the storm, you will remain out in the storm, unsheltered, shivering, cold and wet.

Notice that this refuge God offers is for the consistently righteous. That does not mean perfect believers (there are none!), but it does mean that we keep trying whole-heartedly to follow Jesus consistently.

Go back now and slowly read all of Psalm 37. This psalm specifically tells us how to live in our present evil times. It tells us to trust God, obey Him, calm our heart in Him and wait for Him to do as He promised about the wicked. And do you see what God will do to the wicked? Do you see how God will preserve the consistently righteous through “the time of trouble” when the wicked and evildoers seem to prosper and spread out like a healthy tree? (verses 35-36)? Do you see that verse 39 says God will help and deliver the righteous from the wicked?

Read what Halley’s Bible Handbook says about Psalm 37. “This is one of the best-loved psalms. David, always puzzled by the fact that wickedness seems to prevail, here states his philosophy as to how to live among the wicked: do good, trust God, don’t worry.” (p. 331).

May Psalm 37 be a refuge and a secure stronghold for you, “a rock of refuge to which you can always go” (Psalm 71:3, NIV).

PSALM 84 THROUGH PSALM 86. Are you seeking His presence, praising Him, and being confident in Him?

It seems to me that Psalm 84 through 86 go together. Consider the main topics.

  • Psalm 84 – celebrates the blessing of being close to God, of living in His tabernacle.
  • Psalm 85 – recalls God’s mercy in the past, asks for and expresses confidence in God’s restoration.
  • Psalm 86 – David asks God for protection and mercy and reminds himself of God’s goodness and forgiving nature.

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Psalm 84. In Psalm 84 the psalmist describes how he longs to be in the presence of God because he knows those who are in God’s presence sing His praises all day long (verse 4.) Even one day in God’s presence is better than “a thousand elsewhere.” Why? Verse 11 says:

“For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly).” There again is the promise of refuge.  Pause and calmly think about that!

Psalm 85. Psalm 85 is a song of gratitude to God for dealing graciously with His people, for forgiving and covering their sin. It is also a plea for God to revive His people again (verse 6) so that they may rejoice in Him again. In verse 8-9 the psalmist has decided that he will wait and listen with expectation because He knows God will “speak peace to His people, to His saints [those who are in right standing with Him].” Again, we see that God’s promises are for people who are walking in obedience.

The psalmist tells himself that “Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him”. Salvation also means deliverance, as in Exodus 14:13 when Moses told the Israelites ““Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” (NIV)

Then verses 10 through 14 of Psalm 85 describe the time of God’s deliverance as a beautiful time filled with mercy, loving kindness, righteousness, peace, and truth. It is a time where “God will give what is good and our land will yield its increase.” (Psalm 85:12)  And, again, it is righteousness that makes this possible. Righteousness “prepares the way for His steps.” (Psalm 85:13b).  How encouraging to ponder the fact that when we go about our daily life with God, trusting Him, and obeying Him, we are making room for Him to work in our life!

Psalm 86.  In Psalm 86:1-4, David pleads passionately with God for His help and offers himself to God because he knows God is ready to forgive and is “abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon” You. (Verse 5). David reassures himself that God will answer him in his day of trouble (verse 7).

David next praises God Who alone rules over all the nations and works wonders. David pleads with God to teach him His ways so that he can reverently fear and honor God’s name. David continues praising God for His mercy and kindness and His deliverances. David asserts his trust in God even though “the proud and insolent are rising against” him. David pleads once more for the Lord’s mercy and graciousness and his strength (verses 15-16).

Then comes the verse that, for me, is as close to an actual hug from God as I guess we can have this side of heaven.

“ Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because You, Lord, [will show Your approval of me when You] help and comfort me.” (Psalm 86:17, AMPC, emphasis added).

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God unfolded this verse for me in a season of one bitter trial after another. I had managed to cling to God, with faith and trust, through all of it. Yet, a vague feeling stirred inside, a flaming, poisonous lie from the enemy that I was not doing enough, that my faith was not as strong as it should be, and yada yada. Oh, how the tears flowed when I read this verse late one afternoon! I sat reading my Bible and glancing out the window as God dimmed the sunlight and stretched dark shadows over the trees. And I knew, beyond all doubt, that God was saying “See, My child. I approve of you and how you are handling all of this because I keep helping you with it all and comforting you.”

The most important thing in my life is to know I am doing what God wants, so this verse has become to me an impenetrable fortress in which I take refuge and find comfort. This verse, this living, loving Word, never, no never, no never fails to calm my troubled soul. I pray it does the same for you.

PSALM 57 –Are you confident in God?

Finally, we come to the third passage that always brings me comfort and confidence in God. Look at verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 57 again.

“ Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed.

2 I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!” (emphasis added).

Do you see David again pleading with God for the mercy and strength and lovingkindness he knows is in God? Take time to read just these two verses over and over until the Holy Spirit speaks to you.

When storms come we all need to cast ourselves on God’s abundant mercy, like David repeatedly did. We need to remind ourselves that we always find Him to be a refuge and a shelter when we trust Him. We need to remind ourselves that we can be confident in Him because of the experiences we have had with Him, the experiences we read about in the Bible, and the personal experiences  our friends have shared.

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When we take refuge, we are doing what is described in Psalm 91. We hide our soul in the shadow of His wings, and we stay there, baby chicks safe under mother hen’s wings. And we can remain there, free of fear, “until calamities and destructive storms are passed.”  We can cry out to God with confidence because we know He is working out His plans for us. We can have faith in God and please Him with our confidence, as described in Hebrews 11:6.

“But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].” (Hebrews 11:6, AMPC).

Psalm 57 was written by David when was hiding in a cave to save his very life from Saul. This was only one of many severe trials in David’s long life. Yet, while he is in the cave, David reassures himself that God will send from heaven and save him from those who would take his life. David praises God and says “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth!” Even though his enemies are trying to trap him, David’s heart is fixed and trusting in God with confidence. He speaks to his inner self and says wake up! I will get up early and praise God and give thanks to Him “among the peoples” and “among the nations”. Why? Because, as David tells God, “Your mercy and lovingkindness are great, reaching to the heavens, and Your truth and faithfulness to the clouds.”

Then, David says again, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth!” (Psalm 57:10).

“His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.” Turn now to Psalm 136. Do you see how many times this one psalm repeats that God’s “mercy and lovingkindness endure forever”? Do you see that is the main point? God is emphasizing something vital here! We are to give thanks to God, live for Him, and praise Him because “He is good and His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”

In your times of trials, I pray that God unfolds these and many other passages of Scripture for you, so that you may have comfort and confidence in God. Let us fix our minds and hearts on this truth about God — “His mercy and loving kindness endure forever.”

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.

23 To Him Who [earnestly] remembered us in our low estate and imprinted us [on His heart], for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

24 And rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

25 To Him Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

(Psalm 136:1, 23-26, AMPC, emphasis added)

Dear friend, if you are struggling with a situation that seems more than you can endure, like I am right now, comfort your soul by dwelling on the fact that God loves you with a love fiercer than we can imagine. Awareness of His presence creates a shelter. He longs for you to rest in that shelter, to rest in Him. The enemy wants to run you out of that shelter, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NLT).  Resist the devil by immediately replacing negative thoughts with the truths of God’s Word, like the truths found in these psalms. Trust and take refuge in Him.

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