Even though we sin daily, and our grievous acts are like bruises and purifying sores, like wounds before God, who is holy.
Though we are corrupt, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us.
He will cast them away as far as the east is from the west. He will remember them no more.
This is His promise and this He will do. For He is the Lord and in Him do we hope and in Him is our salvation.
(Psalm 38 and Isaiah 1 verse 6 )
Psalm 37 verses 1 to 5
Don’t worry about people who are not for you. People who pull you down. Those who discredit you. People who speak badly about you. Maybe at work there is a co-worker who is getting everything: the promotion, more money, the accolades. You do the same job, and yet no one notices you, but management gives that coworker the upper hand.
Maybe a friend is getting married and then another and another and you look around and there is no one for you.
Maybe a relative is just so ungrateful after you helped them financially, and they don’t remember your good deeds. Now, look at you with all those bills plying up, and you have no way out.
Don’t worry.
Let all of these people do what they do, but you stay close to the Lord and enjoy His word.
Those people will not last with their joy because it is only for a short time.
You will be rewarded. The Lord will bless you in His time.
Stay strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
I will sing praises to the Lord all day long.
I will magnify his name, for He is worthy to be praised.
He saved me from all my fears. He comforts me.
My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness my Lord and thy praise all day long. My tongue is a pen of a ready writer for thou art worthy from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.
(Psalm 35 verse 28 an Psalm 45 verse 1)
Over eight times in Psalm 34, God’s deliverance from all evil, against the enemy, and from fear is spoken.
The theme of the promise of God hearing the cries of his people and saving them from all their trouble saturates this Psalm.
The faithfulness and precious love of God runs freely from him to those he loves. Trust and belief in the Lord are our weapons against all fear, against whatever evil we face every day. He is a present help when we are in trouble.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34 verse 4.
The Lord is a hands-on God.
He does not only tell you what to do but will gently lead you in the right direction and give instructions.
With a personal touch, he will stand beside you all the days of your life.
He promised never to leave you alone because he is in control of everything. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and there is nothing that takes him by surprise.
When you stumble, he will lift you up.
When you are too weak to move on, he will carry you.
Great is his love and his everlasting kindness.
He knows your frame. He knows everything about you. He knows your fears, weaknesses, desires, and strengths. Every hair on your head is numbered. He remembers you are delicate and made of dust.
You may not understand everything about your present circumstance. It may not be anything of your making. Or it could be totally made by your hands.
Still, he is faithful and will never forsake you.
Trust him. He knows the end from the beginning.
He is in control.
He is God.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalm 32 verse 8.
In my haste, I am cut off from before his eyes.
Nevertheless, I believed, and the Lord heard my cries, and He saved me.
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all who hope in the Lord. ( adapted from Psalm 31 verse 22 and 24)
The Psalmist David writing this work was a fugitive running from King Saul. David was to be king, but he was hiding in caves away from a man who was jealous of him and sought to kill him. This psalm is one of lament, a prayer for help, while at the same time, it declares the goodness of Jehovah as the source of all blessings in times of trouble. David’s unwavering trust and belief in Jehovah is seen in the words of this Psalm 31.
The Lord is your hope when all other paths fail. He is your deliverer when you have no one to turn to and no place to run. He is always there to pick you up and keep you safe if you trust, obey, and believe in him.
If we believe not, he abides faithful. He can not deny himself.
He remains faithful even when we are not. He will never fail his people, those he loves and are called by his name.
God is not a man that he shall lie.
( 2 Timothy 2 verse 13 and Numbers 23 verse 19)
No one said trusting is easy, especially when darkness surrounds you, and doom is at the door.
This is the time you must dig deep into yourself and pray.
Pray when your heart is breaking.
Pray when you feel so helpless and alone.
Pray when there is nothing left to pray for when you see nothing happening.
Pray when all is quiet and there is no movement to victory.
Pray with a passion you did not know existed.
Pray and believe.
The passionate, sincere prayer of a person living right before the Lord is powerful before God.
The effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. (Adapted from James 5 verse 16.)
Give thanks believing you have received it.
Meaning, there is no doubt. Believe the Lord is able to give you what you desire. Ask in faith, not doubting, because a double minded person is unstable in all things.
If there is doubt, then how can you say you trust God? How can you say you say in truth you believe him or that you take him at his word?
You do not believe it because you have no faith.
And you are living a lie.
You do not believe he can do it for you.
You do not believe he is great enough.
You do not believe you deserve it.
You need to make it right. You need to present all your fears and tell him about your doubts then cast them aside knowing he hears you and you trust him.
Even if your faith is small like a grain of mustard seed. He will come through for you.
Believe him and see him as God the creator. The God who loves you no matter what you have done, no matter who you are.
(Adapted from Mark 11 verse 24, James 1 verse 6 and Matthew 17 verse 20)
Next… no one said it will be easy. There can be dark days ahead…
Ask BIG, and don’t be afraid.
You don’t have what you desire because you don’t ask him. He gives us everything because he is our source of blessing, so ask. And when you ask, do it in detail. Every little thing awakes his ear. He loves to know you can trust him, and you believe he can do whatever you ask for. He is faithful.
Jesus said, ” Ask and it shall be given unto you. Everyone who asks receives.”
That person who comes to him he will not cast away or cast aside. He loves freely and fully. Ask and approach him with all reverence and boldness, knowing he will reward you.
With God, all things are possible.
(Adapted from James 4 verse 2 and Matthew 7 verse 7 and 8.), Matthew 19 verse 26.)
Next up…give thanks believing –
jemfinds - Hello World 2.0 