Back into the Psalm!

Yes, I’m back praying over the Psalms! It was wonderful to spend time praying over the Book of Romans, and shortly after that, our Pastor started a series of sermons on it. Reading those prayers months after I wrote them in my journal was surprisingly uplifting, and I changed or added a few things to that original prayer. Also, it showed in those earlier prayers where my mind and heart were set, by what my overall prayers were influenced by the trial, suffering, or oppression of the mind- I was living in that moment. Never be discouraged by your failure to give Him a perfect prayer. Come with a genuine heart of repentance, love, and obedience.

Teach Me

Oh God, who loves my soul and has redeemed a sinner like me. Your Steadfast love, mercy, patience, and faithfulness toward Your servant have overwhelmed me with great shame. But I know Your love has called me to be perfect and completed in Christ’s redeeming sacrifice for me. You are leading, teaching, and the perfect path for my soul. I will exult Your name above all other gods in my heart.

Instruct Me

Forgive Your servant when I lack trust in You. When the enemies, the cultural indoctrination, our fleshly desires, and unceasing evil oppressions have all pressed me into a fearful corner of doubts. Forgive when the desires of my heart supersede my love for Your word. Forgive the temptations that led me away from the purity of my heart and soul. Forgive me when I’ve compromised my faith by ceding to the fearmongering revolution of normalcy that is contrary to Scripture.

Oh God, change my heart to seek wisdom and understanding from Your word. Give me a zeal to read it with a passion that will consume my heart for more.

Change Me

In Your promises of instruction, lead me to Your righteous path. Holy Spirit, teach me how to bear my cross and, through my trials, bear fruits and grow spiritually for the benefit of others and myself.

Help me to retain Your word when:

• I studied scripture
• Memorize scripture
• Read scripture
• Meditate on scripture

Consider Your servant’s plea for our children. I pray you to redeem my youngest son and bring him back to us. Cast away the false teachings and the unforgiving heart my oldest son has embarrassed, bringing him to despair, homelessness, and suffering. Let my daughter continue bearing her love for You and give her strength and discerning when doubts or depression assailed her.

Gratitude

I’m thankful for His instruction from the gospel and the apostles’ letters, God’s steadfast love toward me, His patience and salvation, and that God sees my enemies and gives me the strength to endure it. His forgiveness of sins. His truth and everlasting covenant with us. His righteousness and good paths for me. For my Bible and church.

What I learned about God

• God’s truth (v5)
• In God, I can trust (v2)
• God of salvation (v5)
• Mercyful (v6)
• Steadfast love (v6)
• Goodness (v7)
• Good/upright (v8)
• He leads, instructs, and teaches (v9)
• His paths are perfect (v10)
• Covenant keeper
• He is a friend (v14)
• Redeemer (v22)
• A prayer to trust God
• A plea for deliverance and protection

Note: Prayer dated December 12/23

What have you learned from praying over Psalm 25? What moved your heart? Mine was over verses 8-10, wanting God’s instruction to lead my understanding of His redeeming love for His people.

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources

BibleHub

Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 22 is a testament to the enduring faith one can have in God, even amidst suffering. It teaches us that in our darkest hours, we can look back at God’s faithfulness and forward to His deliverance, which leads us to praise Him. This Psalm encourages us to remember that every trial we face is an opportunity to strengthen our faith and commitment to God.

Biblehub

• Plea to God in Despair
• Vivid Depiction of Suffering
• Faith in God’s Past Deliverance
• Assurance of God’s Future Deliverance
• Praise and Prophecy

As I read David’s Psalms, I was caught in the emotional distress he faced and how he pleaded with God to deliver him from his enemies that I failed to see the strength of his faith. We can cry for deliverance for one thing or another and feel like David trusting in God in all his trials and sufferings.

A Cry of Desolation (v. 1-2)

O God, our God, hear us when we groan in our trials. Hear our voices and answer us because we cannot find rest and peace till You do. We rest assured of Your steadfast love and plan for our deliverance.

God’s Faithfulness (v.3-5)

Your holy throne in heaven has set a secure hope for our salvation, peace, and rest forever. Our fathers can trust in You as their holy God who has delivered us from all our sins. We will not be put to shame if we claim the gospel. O Jesus, my glorious Savior, in you shall I trust.

Confidence in God’s plan (v.6-18)

Those who hate us because we are not of this world will hate God’s plan of redemption. They will try to deceive, hurt, mock, and bring great suffering upon Your people. But we know that You’re the Almighty and Powerful God who has written all the history of this world, and You have already won the battle for us. Crushing all our enemies under Your feet.

Divine Intervention (v.19-24)

We will proclaim amid the congregation, to the next generation, to our friends and neighbours, never ceasing to demonstrate our joy and love for You. You’ve delivered our souls from the sword of wickedness and darkness and brought us into Your marvellous light. You save and rescued a wretched soul as I.

O God, do not despise or abhor when I fail to love You more. Forgive a saved sinner like me who still needs Your guidance and protection.

Invitation to Praise God (v. 25-31)

What a privilege to be able to sing praise to Your name. For all world kingship belongs to You, and You will rule over the nations. I shall wait for Your return, my King, with patience, joy, and trust in Your promises. Give us a heart that desires to serve You and not this world.

Prayer Bible

As you already know, I’ve prayed over Scripture for many years, recording my prayers in a simple notebook. In the last three years, I added drawings, stickers, and quotes in my prayer journal to make it interesting for me to return to a place of quietute and creativity in a way that would glorify God.

But recently, I converted an older Bible into a prayer bible with the theme of the attributes of God. This bible will be only used for praying over His attributes. Not for Bible study or reading. I used Blue Letter to find as many verses as possible for this purpose.

If you want to learn more about this great idea, check out the Sisterita Club Prayer Bible. I’ll leave the link below. Also, Nicki Drake from Crazy Simple Truth Ministry has simple ideas on how to start your own prayer Bible.

Hope you have a great week,

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources:

• https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/22.htm
• Sisterity: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLfrSYhPNBZW4Sq495dnVgXv-2ACfxrEn
• A prayer Bible tutorial:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7CYRJJHYFE
• Crazy Simple Truth Ministry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtoGbHGdI0I

Psalm 21 is a vivid testimony of God’s abundant blessings, a poignant reminder of His power, and a hopeful declaration of His justice. As we reflect on the profound words of King David, we can find reassurance in God’s love, strength, and the promise of deliverance. Like David, we, too, can trust in the Lord’s unfailing love and look forward to the joy found in His presence. ~ BibleHub

Themes:

• Gratitude to God
• Trust in God
• God’s lovingkindness
• The divine power and glory
• Prayers and their fulfillment
• Joy in the presence of God
• The fall of the wicked

Our Salvation

O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 2You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah3For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 4He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. 5His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6For you make him most blessed forever;  you make him glad with the joy of your presence.7For the king trusts in the Lord,and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

God Most High, in Your steadfast love, You gave us blessings and hope. We live in Your glory, knowing you’re our God and life-giver and Creator. You bestow Your splendour and majesty upon us that we may find joy in Your creation. You’re a God that withheld nothing from us, desiring to have your servants worship You through the ages of time. O God, let Your presence be a joy for us!

Strengthened our faith when we wobbled like a child starting to walk. Teach us to trust You even more while the world has caged our minds, bodies, and souls to believe no God exists. In You, I shall trust!

Exult our minds, hearts, and souls when we read Your word and understand that our joy and hope will give us a purpose. Not fearing the outcome but trusting in Your will.

Standing Firm in Christ Jesus

Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9 You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear.The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. 11 Though they plan evil against you,though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. 12 For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

Father, forgive us when we disobey and desire selfish ambitions contrary to Your word. We are ambiguous and need to repent. Our sins and the world will strike us like a roaring lion, desiring to deceive, if possible, the elects. On our knees, we bring our supplication, knowing You hear all our prayers. Teach us to trust in You, our perfect King, and let our voice praise Your Name. Put to flight those who aim hurtful plots against Your saints.

Sing Praises

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Let our voices praise Your Name. In Your marvellous light, we desire to live and stand firm in our faith. There is no other God but You.

What I learned from these verses:

• We rejoice in God’s strength.
• Our salvation exults and glorifies God.
• Our prayers are heard and answered.
• God’s people are blessed forever.
• We are glad in His presence.
• We are to trust in His steadfast love.
• God will destroy, punish, and cut off those who plan against God and His people.
• In remembrance of His promises, we sing and praise His power over all His enemies.
• Our strength, courage, and hope are in God.

What have you learned through this Psalm?

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources

• https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/21.htm

Heaven Declares His Glory

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky abovea proclaims his handiwork.2Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge.3There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard.4Their voiceb goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world.In them he has set a tent for the sun,5which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

God of heaven, Your glory is declared in Your power of grace, which rules this world. Forgive us when we fail to revere You when we do not share our knowledge, understanding and wisdom about the mystery of the gospel, what was revealed to us so that others can praise Your Name.

Jesus, You’re a Savior of souls and delight in those the Spirit converted and brought to the Cross. There, we cried and shed tears over our sins. Our voices are raised in agonizing repentance, for we’ve sinned from the day we were born. In Your grace and mercy, we are forgiven when we believe in You, Jesus, as our Savior. Draw us nearer each day. Let our mind, heart, and soul find joy in You, Jesus.

The Perfect Law

7The law of the Lord is perfect,creviving the soul;the testimony of the Lord is sure,making wise the simple;8the precepts of the Lord are right,rejoicing the heart;the commandment of the Lord is pure,enlightening the eyes;9the fear of the Lord is clean,enduring forever;the rulesd of the Lord are true,and righteous altogether.10More to be desired are they than gold,even much fine gold;sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.11Moreover, by them is your servant warned;in keeping them there is great reward.

12Who can discern his errors?Declare me innocent from hidden faults.13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless,and innocent of great transgression.14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Your testimony, precepts, and commandments are perfect. They are good and righteous, and we should desire to obey them to please and serve You. Not using the law to achieve a work of salvation, but rather be of obedience by responding to our responsibility and stewardship toward Your kingdom.

Forgive me, Father, to have a mind that desires the flesh, of the eyes, and pride in life that leads us into sinful habits. Even if we know what, we should no live according to the ideologies and trends of this world but seek it anyway by making poor decisions for ourselves.

By Your laws, Your servant has been warned. O God, declare us innocent from our hidden faults and become blameless in Your sight.

You alone can forgive us, and we will praise Your Name for all the good words You’ve done in us. Let all our transgressions be washed away by Your precious blood of salvation. Our hope and comfort lay in all Your promises.

Keep Your servant from falling back into sinful habits that displease You. Keep us pre at heart! I love You, Lord.

Let’s Go Pray!

Pray with a Genuine Heart

As you pray over Scripture, don’t worry if your prayer isn’t perfect. If you intend to glorify God in His majesty, righteousness, and Divinity, you will pray like Daniel, Ezra, or Nehemiah. A prayer with praise, supplication, petition, repentance, and thanksgiving. Also, don’t get stuck in a passage of the Psalms that isn’t speaking to you now. Read the passage, then pray over one verse that stands out. What counts for God is that we worship Him above all other gods.

The Lord is my strength.

1I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

The Lord is my strength in every trial or situation we face. You are at the helm of all our troubles and will turn whatever is evil into what is good. We will praise You above all other gods because You have strengthened our faith and heart to do Your will. O, Lord, You do not cease to amaze us how grace and will in power and sovereignty crushed any enemies or evil plot before Your people are crushed with no remnants. “He rescued me from my strong enemy and those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me” (18:17). Your promises are full of hope and comfort. Let us stand waiting for You with hope, joy, and patience.

In my Distress

 The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; 5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;  to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

O God, Forgive us when we fear cultural trends could crush us with their hatred of indoctrination, false teachings, and war rumours. In You, we trust even when we cannot be changed or understand the overall outcome of this future. Teach us to live in the moment for You, not compromising our faith.

Most High (v7-19)

The Most High uttered His voice with power and will send His angels against those who do evil. At Your rebuke, none can’t stand and face Your wrath. Only through Your Son, Jesus, can we be spared and live. O God, avenge us from those who persecuted, mocked, and coerced Your people.

David’s Claims of Faithfulness (v20-30)

“For You save a humble people, but the haughty eyes bring down!” O God, You lightened our darkness by purifying us of our sins. By Your side, we can leap for joy. For You’ve already won this earthly battle. We must remember this and praise Your Name. Live in joy and not fear what comes tomorrow.

Victory! (31-45)

God, You’re our Lord, our sure salvation and rock. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in Your sight.

Morning, August 22nd, 2023

“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.”— Song of Solomon 5:8

Such is the language of the believer panting after present fellowship with Jesus, he is sick for his Lord. Gracious souls are never perfectly at ease except they are in a state of nearness to Christ; for when they are away from him they lose their peace.

The nearer to him, the nearer to the perfect calm of heaven; the nearer to him, the fuller the heart is, not only of peace, but of life, and vigour, and joy, for these all depend on constant intercourse with Jesus.

What the sun is to the day, what the moon is to the night, what the dew is to the flower, such is Jesus Christ to us.

What bread is to the hungry, clothing to the naked, the shadow of a great rock to the traveller in a weary land, such is Jesus Christ to us; and, therefore, if we are not consciously one with him, little marvel if our spirit cries in the words of the Song, “I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, tell him that I am sick of love.”

This earnest longing after Jesus has a blessing attending it: “Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness”; and therefore, supremely blessed are they who thirst after the Righteous One.

Blessed is that hunger, since it comes from God: if I may not have the full-blown blessedness of being filled, I would seek the same blessedness in its sweet bud-pining in emptiness and eagerness till I am filled with Christ.

If I may not feed on Jesus, it shall be next door to heaven to hunger and thirst after him. There is a hallowedness about that hunger, since it sparkles among the beatitudes of our Lord. But the blessing involves a promise.

Such hungry ones “shall be filled” with what they are desiring. If Christ thus causes us to long after himself, he will certainly satisfy those longings; and when he does come to us, as come he will, oh, how sweet it will be! ~ Charles Spurgeon

Resources

• BibleGateway.com

The Lord’s Assurance in Times of Distress

Psalm 20 offers a timeless assurance of God’s presence in our battles. It reinforces that God hears, answers prayers, and delivers His people. No matter how daunting the circumstances, the Psalmist encourages us to place our trust not in earthly strength but in the name of God, our unfailing refuge. ~Bible Hub

The themes in these verses are:

Trust in God
Deliverance through faith
Prayer for protection
God’s sovereign protection
Celebration of victory

When unsure of the meaning of particular passages, it is good to use a reliable source to understand the Psalms.

Protector of my Soul

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May He send you to help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! ³ May he remember all your offerings and regard with favour your burnt sacrifices! Selah

O God, protector of my soul, help us in the day of trouble. You are our King on Mount Zion, and we are saved through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Let Your arms be a sanctuary for our souls and minds. Spirit and guardian of our hearts, minds, and souls teach us how to offer our prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears as Jesus did when He prayed to the Father in obedience and distress(Hebrew 5:7). Let our mouth praise Your Name even when our minds and hearts are crushed by this fallen world.

Desiring to Please Christ

⁴ May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! 5 May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God, set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

Forgive us, O Lord, when we disbelieve that all our plans and desires of our hearts can all be fulfilled. Or when our hearts and minds are troubled and cannot find joy in Your salvation. Your perfect gift of grace and life sustained us and taught us through Scripture your abundance of mercies, grace, and hope through Your promises. We bring our petitions to You with humble hearts, hoping You will hear them. If in doubt, we remember Your steadfast love, patience, and grace that amazes us. How much You’ve sacrificed for us. To have this perfect union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Forgive us when we lack confidence in our faith and doubt Your word, which is excellent and profitable.

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! ~ Psalm 20:5b

We Trust in God our Lord

⁶ Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.⁸ They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.⁹ O Lord, save the king!

Wonderful Savior, we will trust in You in our days of trouble. Grant us the understanding of Your word, which is good, profitable, trustworthy, and filled with knowledge of your beautiful redemptive plans of salvation and hope.

Holy Spirit, gives us the courage not to compromise our faith. Teach us to trust You in all situations, even the most difficult ones.

Thank You for your blessings and our fellowship with Christian friends and church members. Thank you for Your word, patience, and love for us. Let our mouths praise You!

What I learned about God:

• He answer us
• He protects us
• He gives us support.
• He remembers our offerings.
• He regards our sacrifices with favour (according to His will).
• He grants our heart’s desire (according to His will).
• He saved His anointed.

Let’s Go Pray.

Resource

• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2020&version=ESV
• https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/psalms/20.htm

My Righteous Plea

1Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit. 2 May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right. 3 You have tried my heart and visited me at night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

O Lord, forgive us when we do not desire to pray, read Your word or obey, and we instead seek the things of this world which are not profitable to our spiritual growth. Our heart will deceive us if we do so, and we will lack discernment regarding our faith, even comprise Your word, for the sake of fitting in.

In our trials, teach us to trust You without doubts or fear. Our abilities to control events or situations that are overwhelming or out of our hands can distress and depress us and neglect us to seek Your wisdom. Let all s shadows of evil, doubts, uncertainty, and pain be brought to the cross when You test us and let our lips praise You during those moments.

“The lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.”

( Pro. 10:13)

The Shadow of Your Wings

4 As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips, I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My step has held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6 I call n You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Y ur ear to me; hear my words. 7 Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

O God, you have heard my prayers and supplications, inclining your ear to listen to my words. Holy Spirit, teach us how to devote our time to God and seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings. We are so mourners passing through this world, so teach us how to stand firm in Your paths so that our feet don’t slip away from Your teachings.

A Greedy Lion

10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked us down and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground, 12 like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

O God, forgive us when we envy those who are unrighteous and desire to be more like them by desiring what is worldly, detestable, and immoral. Give us the strength and courage to stand firm in our faith by not compromising what is good and righteous. Surround s with Your steadfast love and grace, and humble our hearts to receive affirmation from Your Word.

Be Satisfied

13 Arise, O LORD, confront them. Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword, 14 from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons so they leave their abundance to their children. 15 As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

O Lord, let our mouths profess Your name on high, sharing our testimonies of the sound words You’ve done in us. Comforting, encouraging and nurturing those who need to hear that You care for us. Awake our hearts and mind to seek Your truth in and out of season. Bring us o our knees in our prayers and hears our cries. Satisfy or desire to teach the next generation how great of a God you’re. Not being ashamed of the gospel. For You e the great and mighty God who has already won!

Let’s Go Pray!

RESOURCES

• Bible Hub

Contenment

“The faithful enstruted themselves to the Lord and foster their confidence and contentment in his car.”

ESV Commentary

I Delight with the Believers

“1Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. 2 I said the LORD,”“You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” 3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides. 4 Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or speak their names with my lips.”1Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. 2 I said the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” 3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides. 4 Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or speak their names with my lips.

O Father, our lives would be so different if we didn’t worship and have a relationship with the other believers? Oh God of heaven, our hearts and souls are Yours, and we’re grateful for all the people You have put in our life. Teach, rebuke, and love us as You did when You came as Jesus. Your patience surpassed those of higher authority and nobility. You’re the best!

Preserve and guide us, O God, that it may go well with us and grow to love You more each day as we study, pray, and be ready for Your Word. Praying over the Scripture teaches us to draw nearer You in spirit and faith. To take refuge and trust You in our moment of weakness.

All our friends in Christ have encouraged us in one way or another. In return, a joy of great contentment filled our hearts and minds. We need to pray for our Christian friends and families that all would be well with them, for they are precious to us.

“I have a BEAUTIFUL inheritance.”

Instruct Me

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and cup; You have secured my lot. 6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; indeed, my inheritance is delightful.

O, God, Your blessings have set our hearts on high. You counsel us through Your word, and the Holy Spirit shows us how to live a proper Christian life. We shall be content with whatever you’ve provided us in health, wealth, honour, and promotion. Never complaining about wanting more than what You have given us. You see all our needs before we ask for them, and You will provide for what is needed.

“My HEART is GLAD.”

Contentement in Delighthing in God’s presence

7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night, my conscience instructs me. 8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

We have set the Lord always before us. Instruct us how to love our enemies, pray without access, live a godly life, and pray for the needy and the poor. To study tremendously and share Your word with others.

We pray you will increase our understanding of Your word as we study and pray over it. And call us nearer You so that our faith shall be strengthened and ready for the trials ahead of us.

“In Your presence there is Fullness of JOY.

Contentment in the Path of Life

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. 11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Make known the joy of life in the simple little ways that present themselves to us through friends, children, families, nature, work, or play. Never taking anything for granted but appreciating what was given to us.

Being in Your presence while we pray filled our hearts with hope and joy, knowing that all our prayers are heard. Let not the corruption of this world hold our happiness and hope in check, but let those troublesome thoughts at the cross. Holy God, You’ve not abandoned Your people. Jesus is our Lord and King; we shall wait for His return.

"Contentment:Occurs only once in RSV(1 Tim. 6:6) but in Greek equivalent autarkeia appears other places in the Bilbe.The assurance that God has supplied ones's need. The Christian can be 'self-contained' because we have been satified by the grace of God."

Resources:

Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/psalms/16.htm

Foolish Heart

“1 The fool says in his heart,”“There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. 3 All have turned away; they have together become corrupt; no one does good, not even one.”1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. 3 All have turned away; they have together become corrupt; no one does good, not even one.

O, God, Your Majestic name is proclaimed among all the nations. You have sent a Redeemer to give us hope of salvation. Our comfort comes fast. Your steadfastness for us endures forever.

Our freedom comes from Jesus Christ. We are but lost in our iniquities if we don’t see You in repentance. Your gift of grace is offered to all people, but you’ve saved a zealous people for yourselves, setting us apart from all other people of the lands. To trust, obey, and worship You.

In Your mercy, You send Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, and He is now resurrected and alive! My souls belong to Him, and I’m His! Let not our hearts turn aside from Jesus Christ, who shows us how to live for the truth. He endured it all for us.

Great Terror

They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD. 5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous. 6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, yet the LORD is their shelter.

You’re a God who judges the righteous and the unrighteous according to their deeds. Our consolation and refuge is in Christ, for we know that we would be dead in the flesh without Him. Worse than Essau, who gave his inheritance and birthright away. O God, see our weakness and strengthen our faith with gentleness.

Rejoice

7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice; let Israel be glad!

It will be a wonderful day when the Lord restores our world to a perfect place to dwell with Him. Meanwhile, let our spirit grow in a path worthy of Your name. We seek Your truth and ways and show us how to model after Jesus Christ our Lord.

Resources

Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/psalms/14.htm

Happy Independence Day to our Southern friends

How is your prayer life coming along? Is reading, meditating, and understanding God’s word fulfilling your mind with the joy of accomplishment and savvy, and are you thirsty for more? If you feel guilty because of your lack of commitment to reading scripture and devoting a bit of your time to God, then know that we all go through this dormancy stage, and it’s a dangerous place to be as a Christian. We let the culture’s indoctrination dictate our life and adopt it very easily.

Ask God’s forgiveness, and go grab your Bible and read at least one chapter right now and pray over it. Did you get your Bible yet? Go get it and do it NOW!

Without really looking into it, during June, while I watched Youtube for inspiration for Bible journaling ideas, I bumped into a few moms that really inspired me to dig deeper into Scripture. Their enthusiastic vibe for the inductive study was so contagious that I purchased a few of their digital copy of their Bible study, and let me tell you this: I have been learning for the first time HOW to study a chapter or a verse in very SIMPLE steps that works for me.

I was already studying the book of Ezra using Kay Arthur’s study guide but was a bit overwhelmed by all the coloured coding, but I learned much from Arthur and Jen Welkin. I’m not a nerdy person and cannot retain information that well, but inductive study has slowed the pace, and I’m able to retain information longer.

Have you picked up your Bible yet? Read Psalm 13, and pray over the verse that speaks about God or the verse that spoke to you.

A Plea to God

1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

O Lord, Majestic God of heaven, see all our sorrows for the sake of Your Son’s name. Our cross is our burden; through all our trials, You have not forsaken us. Instead, You have strengthened our faith and humbled our hearts, breaking this selfish contrary character we may have toward You.

“Sometimes, we cried,””How long, O Lord?” We see the wicket prosper and hurt our families, children, and the elderly. Their evil plans have shown no mercy and love but hatred to those who desire to worship You. “Sometimes, we cried, “How long, O Lord?” We see the wicket prosper and hurt our families, children, and the elderly. Their evil plans have shown no mercy and love but hatred to those who desire to worship You.

Consider me, O Lord!

“3 Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death, 4 lest my enemy says,”“I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.”3 Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death, 4 lest my enemy says, “I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.

Holy Spirit, lest my enemy challenges our faith and the truth, we shall live for You, for they cannot prevail if You are beside us. You are our refuge, hope, endurance, and encouragement (Romans 15:5,13). There is none like You.

When our foes rejoiced and applauded at their foolishness, lies, and debased mind while we lived in fear of losing freedom of religion. We trust that in those moments of weakness, our hearts will seek after You and not seek comfort in food, entertainment, and another way to fill that gap of instantaneous comfort. May our eyes be lifted to the sky, to Jesus, and plea for restoration and rejoice in His already fulfilled promises.

Comforted in God

5 But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

Knowing we can trust God for His steadfast love and salvation is comforting. His grace, mercy, and justice surpassed those of this world. You are our King who bountifully gives us His love, kindness, and righteousness. An incomprehensible love for our souls!

O Father, we pray for the poor, needy, a lost son/daughter. We call upon You to save them for our sake according to Your will, not ours.

I will trust in You, for no one understands us better. Forgive our sins and be King to Your servant, showing tenderness during our trials, for they are harsh and almost unbearable. Humble our hearts when we question Your will. Teach us to be light and bear our cross with dignity for You.

Charles Spurgeon

“Thou art fairer than the children of men.”
Psalm 45:2

The entire person of Jesus is but as one gem, and his life is all along but one impression of the seal. He is altogether complete; not only in his several parts, but as a gracious all-glorious whole. His character is not a mass of fair colours mixed confusedly, nor a heap of precious stones laid carelessly one upon another; he is a picture of beauty and a breastplate of glory. In him, all the “things of good repute” are in their proper places, and assist in adorning each other. Not one feature in his glorious person attracts attention at the expense of others; but he is perfectly and altogether lovely.

Oh, Jesus! thy power, thy grace, thy justice, thy tenderness, thy truth, thy majesty, and thine immutability make up such a man, or rather such a God-man, as neither heaven nor earth hath seen elsewhere. Thy infancy, thy eternity, thy sufferings, thy triumphs, thy death, and thine immortality, are all woven in one gorgeous tapestry, without seam or rent. Thou art music without discord; thou art many, and yet not divided; thou art all things, and yet not diverse. As all the colours blend into one resplendent rainbow, so all the glories of heaven and earth meet in thee, and unite so wondrously, that there is none like thee in all things; nay, if all the virtues of the most excellent were bound in one bundle, they could not rival thee, thou mirror of all perfection. Thou hast been anointed with the holy oil of myrrh and cassia, which thy God hath reserved for thee alone; and as for thy fragrance, it is as the holy perfume, the like of which none other can ever mingle, even with the art of the apothecary; each spice is fragrant, but the compound is divine.

“Oh, sacred symmetry! oh, rare connection

Of many perfects, to make one perfection!

Oh, heavenly music, where all parts do meet

In one sweet strain, to make one perfect sweet!”

Let’s Go Pray!

I posted the resources I’m presently using for the inductive Bible Study.

Resource

• https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/morning-and-evening/today
• Bible Hub:https://biblehub.com/
• Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/
• Unfold Truth: https://www.crazysimpletruth.com/
• How to FAith a Life:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJEdg8fhK0-boIiNkjUmUww
• Kay Arthur:https://www.precept.org/study/