May 2009 Simply Praise

Pondering

Last month I shared about the need to draw near to God, and that still remains my deepest need as always. But I find that doing so isn’t as easy as saying it. There are a lot of things that get in the way. Not necessarily sin, but rather distractions, business, and such. Doing things, which have there time and place but tend to draw attention away from God and onto “self” or other “selves”. Either way I am being drawn away from God and my relationship with Him. There is a song that says; “People don’t crumble in a day, it’s a subtle chipping away”. I like that thought because it’s true. There are so many “things” that have to get done, or so many TV programs to watch, that reading the Bible gets pushed aside like yesterdays newspaper. And as day slips into day it gets easer to say; “I’ll read later; or, I’ll finish my study after this show is over; or, I’ll just do it after I’ve finished doing all the other things I need to accomplish. But the sad truth is I don’t, and another day slips away. Proverbs 4:23-27 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor the left: remove thy feet from evil.” These verses say a lot concerning being drawn away. And how, if you should find your self in the same spot I have found myself, to either avoid it or get out of it. “Keep your heart” with ALL diligence, that is very important, because out of the heart are the issues of life. Now if that doesn’t prick your heart a bit, then perhaps you are where I had found myself, and you too need to ponder the path of your feet. I pray that as the days we are given come, that we would really take another look at the direction our feet are going and make all the necessary steps in getting ourselves back on the right road. Through Christ alone is this possible. Keep your eyes on Jesus, He is the Way! Ponder that awhile.


Guide

Be Thou my guide, through life’s treacherous way.
Be Thou my Rock, on it will I stay.
Be Thou my might; grant me strength anew.
Be Thou my map; gently lead me through.
Be Thou my song, so I will not fear.
Be Thou my stay; keep me safe and near.
Be Thou my grace; firmly clasp my hand.
Be Thou my guide, to the promised land.
(When I’m On My knees)

The Way, the Truth, the Life

At times, Father, my ways haven’t been Your ways. After I strayed from Your path, I slipped and fell, soon realizing what disaster I’d gotten myself into. Then with Your help, I struggled to faltering feet and got back on the right course. Then You gave me direction and sound judgment. Thank You for being my Way. You gave me Your Word. In it You show me truth, and through Your truth I’ve been set free. Day by day I study Your scriptures. Your Word helps me know right from wrong. Through it Your Holy Spirit, advises me in making wise decisions. It cautions me against sinful traps. Thank You for being my Truth. Because of Your certain way and guiding truth, You lead me into joyous, abundant life. When circumstances are difficult and unsure, I still have a deep inward joy filled with victory only You can provide. Not only do I experience a victorious life here on earth, I look forward to life eternal with You in heaven. Thank You, Lord, for my life.
(When I’m On My Knees)

Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life:
No man cometh unto the Father,
But by me.
John 14:6 KJV

Resting In His Way

When my weary body fails me, and my mind is filled with strife, when the world is pressing round me, and I cannot deal with life, when I’ve taken on the burdens, far more than I should share, I cry with broken spirit, “Lord, don’t others even care?” in my darkest midnight hours, I hear You calmly say, “You must take My yoke upon you. You must rest within My way.” Than my many cares I gather and I lay them at Your feet. Where I let Your love surround me, as my every need You meet.
(When I’m On My Knees)

Show me thy ways, O LORD;
teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-6 KJV

Seeing Beyond

Read Psalm 73:18-28
“You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (v.24). Asaph wrote this verse after he had gone through a period of doubt, and it was a wonderful conclusion to his sever depression. He came out of his experience with several certainties. First, God holds us. “Nevertheless I am continually with you; You hold me by my right hand” (v.23). The wicked may have violence, bounty, prosperity and a full cup of apparent blessing. But we have God, and He holds us. Second, God guides us. “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (v.24). That’s the important thing—the afterward. What is going to happen afterward? We can be sure that we will be with Him forever. It makes little difference what happens to us materially and physically in this life as long as we have riches in the next life. Some who are rich in this world will be poor in the next world. But many who are poor in this world will be rich in the next world. ” (v.26).Third, God strengthens us. “My flesh and heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Fourth, God helps us in every stage of life. “But it is good for me to drew near to God” (v.28). Wherever we are, whatever we’re going through, we must draw near to God. “I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works” (v.28).
The promise of an eternal home in heaven with the Lord encourages you in this life. God purchased you with a great price, and He keeps and protects you through everything. What assurances you have!
(Prayer, Praise & Promises,) Warren Wiersbe.

Thank Jesus for the cross, and the promise of eternity with You, guide our every step that we may walk worthy of Thy name.

A Light In The Darkness

Read Psalm 119:105-112 You probably know the following well, but read it aloud as though you were hearing it for the first time. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v.105). What lessons can we learn from that statement? The world is dark. It is in a constant state of moral and intellectual darkness. We have more education today and less wisdom. People make foolish decisions. The world is also dark spiritually. Satan has numbed people’s minds. They don’t want to see the light of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. The way is definite. How do we make it through this dark world? God has marked out a definite path for each one of us, and we don’t have to be afraid of where it leads. It is a path of life, blessing and righteousness. Our walk is deliberate. As we take each step, we see more of what God has for us. Sometimes I would like to have a spotlight that shines for miles down the road. But God says, “You’re going to learn to walk by faith. You’re going to learn to walk by patience, by My promise.” The Word is dependable. That lamp of the word will not go out, and it will not lead us astray. When you read your Bible and let its truth shine on your path, God will show you what He wants you to do.
Because your walk is by faith, you can see ahead only a step at a time. Be encouraged that the way is definite and deliberate and that God’s Word is dependable. Let it be the light of life that guides you as you walk through this dark world today.
(Prayers, Praise & Promises, Warren Wiersbe)

Walk On With Me

My child, the path of duty is before thee. It may look rugged, but it is the only way of divine blessing. Choose out some other way, and ye shall find only disappointment and frustration of soul. Weariness shall overtake thee on the smoothest road, if it be not the pathway of my ordained will. Be not deceived by doubts, and be not detained by fears. Move into the center of My purposes for you: ye shall find there are glorious victories waiting for thee, and recompenses far exceeding every sacrifice. Be obedient: ye shall bring joy to My heart. Neither the applause nor the scorn of men should be of any consequence to thee. My approval is reward enough, and without this, any other satisfaction is not worthy of thy pursuit. Walk on with Me. I shall be very near to give thee support and encouragement, so ye have nothing to warrant thy fears. They shall vanish as ye obey.
(Come Away My Beloved)
Frances Roberts


Distraction Of Antipathy

“Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.” Psalm 123:3. The thing we have to beware is not so much damage to our belief in God as to our Christian temper. “Therefore take heed to thy spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.” The temper of mind is tremendous in its effects. It is the enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God. There are certain tempers of mind in which we never dare indulge; if we do, we find they have distracted us from faith in God. And until we get back to the quite mood before God, our faith in Him is nil, and our confidence in the flesh and human ingenuity is the thing that rules. Beware of “the cares of this world,” because they are the things that produce a wrong temper of soul. It is extraordinary what an enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention from God. Refuse to be swamped with the cares of this life. Another thing that distracts us is the lust of vindication. St. Augustine prayed-”O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” That temper of mind destroys the soul’s faith in God.”I must explain myself; I must get people to understand.” When we discern that people are not going on spiritually and allow the discernment to turn to criticism, we block our way to God. God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede. (Oswald Chambers)

Mind, Heart and Will

Here is a good prayer for you today. “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name” (v.11). The whole person is wrapped up in this prayer. First, we see an open mind. “Teach me Your way;..I will walk in Your truth.” is your mind open to God’s truth? Do you really want Him to teach you His way? He revealed His ways to Moses and to the Israelites. He will do the same for you also. We need people today who will say, “Lord, I have an open mind. I want You to show me Your way and truth.” But that’s not enough. We need to have an obedient will. The psalmist makes a promise in verse 11: “Lord, if You show me Your way, I will obey it.” Jesus said, “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). Finally, we see a united heart. “Unite my heart to fear Your name.” A united heart is wholly fixed upon the Lord. A divided heart is dangerous. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt.6:24). James 1:8 says a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. If you want God to guide and bless you today, follow the example of this prayer. Give to Him an open mind and say, “Teach me.” Give to Him an obedient will and say, “I will do what You want me to do.” And give to Him a united heart. Fear His name, and you’ll end up praising Him, and enjoying His blessings. (Is your mind open to the truth of God’s Word? Does your will respond to truth and obey it? Is your heart undivided, fixed upon the Lord? Today, dedicate your mind, heart and will to God.) Warren Wiersbe….


Trust God with your obstacles. He can help you in the hopeless places, the high places and the hard places.