The exhortation of Solomon bestowed to us in Proverbs 5 and 6 continues his plea and call for mankind to regard wisdom and know the peril of sin. Sin is seductive and very pleasing to our eyes. Sin tells us that we can claim whatever we desire at any moment if we just follow our own selfish desires. Solomon presents another voice that we can listen to and this voice is not at the outset as appealing but hope and sustenance are found by heeding this voice. Do you desire to follow your sinful lusts or the quiet steadfast voice of wisdom. “For the lips of and adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword… Now then, my sons, listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house.” Proverbs 5:3,4,7,8 There are two forces in this world that desire us wholeheartedly. Will you follow the path of sin and death or will you choose to submit your life to God and trust in true wisdom to save you. Continue Reading…
What provisions have you made for your journey through life: Proverbs 5 and 6
Is God worthy of your praise for all eternity: Psalm 145
Why would we want to praise God for all eternity? There are moments when praising God continually seems like it could be a tiring endeavor but in those moments we supersede our will and expectations upon our eternal relationship with God and we easily find our selfish desires fighting aggressively against the authority of God in our lives. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Everyday I will bless You, and I will praise your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1,2 David is encouraging us in Psalm 145 to desire to praise God above everything else we could and do desire. It is easy enough to talk about praising God forever and ever but we often are left desiring a reason for our desires and actions. Continue Reading…
Is God your all encompassing everything who sustains you: Psalms 144
“My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:2-4 Have we forgotten the love for God that was encompassed in complete awe and wonder because of God’s sufficient faithfulness? Listen to David’s words in Psalm 144; God is David’s lovingkindness, fortress, stronghold, deliverer, shield, and refuge. This list of who God was for David is all encompassing to every corner of David’s life. There is no area within David’s life that God was not intimately present in. God by our limited human understanding should have no desire to interact with us but His grace is greater than our inability. Continue Reading…
Give up the pretense of striving to be good and cling to God: Psalm 143
How are you feeling today? Is your life marked by an eternal perspective or has your perspective wavered as you fight, strive, and toil against your sinful nature? We claim to fully acknowledge our helplessness before God but our thoughts and actions often tell a different story. We consider ourselves to be good but are we living and embracing the grace of God? The grace of God is to be consistently abided in, clung to, and treasured above everything else in our lives. We must give up our pretense, full of our striving to be good enough, and cling to God in our weakness. We cannot make a way through our but God is more than able to help us. “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.” Psalm 143:8,9 David knew that in the despairing moments of life it was only God who could move to bring lasting deliverance. His enemies were surrounding him but despite the imminent danger David clung to God. When all you see is despair will you cling to God? Will you give up you attempts to save yourself and let God save you?
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Will God be enough: Psalm 142
When we are confined and cornered by the worries of life, will God be enough? In Psalm 142 David was pursued by Saul as he was forced to take refuge in a cave. David’s life was in jeopardy and there was no avenue of escape. What did David do? He cried out to God telling Him all the burdens of his heart. When we are in need of help do we find that God is enough for us? Do you pour out your heart to God as you tell Him everything that concerns you? “I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name; the righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.’” Psalm 142:5-7 Continue Reading…
The weight of hopelessness removed at the cross of Calvary: Psalm 139
What is the source of the inner hurt and pain that consumes your life? Do you ever think that no one cares about you or that no one has truly endured a life like your own? Deep down every person wants to know that there is someone who knows their hopes, dreams, fears, worries, pains, and desires. We search out someone who will fulfill that desire in our life and when we fail to find the perfect soul mate we turn to our idols to meet our needs. Do you feel a weight of hopelessness because no one is there to help you? Has everyone let you down and you dwell in a state of continual despair? Where can your hope be found? I can tell you today that there is someone who knows you better than you know yourself. God almighty the Lord of heaven and earth is the one that your are craving to know because He fully knows you. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-4 Continue Reading…
The greatest act of unity occurred upon the cross of Calvary: Psalm 133
Do you dwell in a continuous state of strife with the world around you? When you are at home with your family do you add to the contention and strife? While toiling at work are you scheming to climb the corporate ladder using whatever means necessary? Do you have genuine friendships with people or have you only collected relationships that solely benefit your life? If you have found your life consumed with strife, scheming, or shallowness I encourage you to look at Psalm 133 for a renewed life purpose. David is describing how great it is to live in unity with the fellow believers. It is good and pleasant when believers can put aside strife, scheming, and shallowness to live in unity. ”It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – life forever.” Psalm 133:3 Continue Reading…
Had it not been the Lord who was on our side: Psalm 124
Have we tragically overlooked God’s blessing, provision, and presence in our lives? When David states “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side…” in Psalm 124, what is he believing and thinking? Does the prowess of your mind and the skill of your hands cause you to believe that you are the cause of your success? There are many self-help books that promise everything you desire is obtainable if you just learn a few simple steps, act a certain way, or acquire the perfect set of friends. We are gravely mistaken when we believe that our success is birthed from within ourselves. God the creator and sustainer of all creation is intimately involved in everything that occurs throughout creation. Continue Reading…
Will you radically eradicate the idols of your life: Psalm 101
“Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, so as to cut off from the city of the Lord all those who do iniquity.” Psalm 101:8 Do you look upon your life every morning to search out how you have given in to the lustful desires or your sinful flesh? It is of critical importance that we look upon our lives to make sure we are not harboring pet sins that we seek to indulge ourselves with when the need or urge arises. David sets his will resolutely in Psalm 101 to eradicate all idols in his life. “I will give heed to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” Psalm 101:2,3 Who do you surround yourself with? Are you surrounded by believers who are challenging, encouraging and exhorting you to grow in your relationship with God? Have you set up your house to be a place free of idols that distract you from the worship of God? Take heed to not let any idol fasten its grip on you. Move radically to eradicate the idol before it pulls your attention away from God. Continue Reading…
Resolute and unyielding faithfulness of God: Psalm 89
The story that is proclaimed throughout the Bible is one of God’s intricate work to redeem humanity. The plan that God has enabled from eternity past is unfathomably beyond the comprehension of man. In the midst of all the unfaithfulness that is consistently present God remains faithful. In Psalm 89 the resolute and unyielding faithfulness of God to the line of David and mankind is expressed. “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all the day, and by Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 89:25-18 Do you thirst to know the peace found in knowing God’s faithfulness which is eternally expressed throughout the Bible? Have you heard the joyful sound? It is a beautiful sound that proclaims to you that all your desires and needs can be fulfilled through God’s faithfulness. Continue Reading…
