Tag: the psalmist

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Standing Firm

Trust and Obey

Psalm 112 The world clamors for peace and harmony, yet they deny the radical conversion that Christ performs when one yields to Him and chooses to bear His yoke. They choose ridicule rather than the path of godliness—yet they cannot deny the evidence which stares them in the face. They cannot understand how it is possible to stand firm when faced with adversity. They are like Job’s comforters, which could not wrap their minds around Job’s intense faithfulness amid the worst tragedies to befall a man. How could he sit in ashes and mourn yet keep his faith in God?

What was his secret?

Like the psalmist, Job, and the saints who chose Christ, they knew the blessing of walking in harmony with God. Each decided to let God train them to walk beside Him in the furrows of the good, bad, and ugliness of life and then recorded their steps on parchment for us to read.  It is titled  “trust and obey – there is no other way.” They could then see beyond the temporal circumstances to the eternal reward for those who walk uprightly. They submitted their will, heart, and mind to Him.  They chose not to be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of their mind.  They knew no matter the circumstances of life: “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed.” Therefore, we like the psalmist can say: “I will not be shaken, and I will remember Him who is just and knows the beginning from the end.”

What choice have you made?

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Morning and Evening…CONTINUALLY

How do you begin and end your day? Is every day the same? If not, how do you keep each day fresh?

Numbers 28 “Morning and Evening, continually”

Some practical advice: quiet time2a dan-kiefer

Continually. When you read that word what comes to mind? What do we do continually? We eat, drink and work continually but do we set aside a time when we come quietly in prayer to seek God and His direction continually?

The Israelites were given a manual as to how and when they were to offer sacrifices not for just special days but for each morning and evening. As NT believers we no longer follow the sacrificial system but we are encouraged to have a system of a quiet time both in the morning and the evening. The psalmist, Daniel, and Paul all had a quiet time when they came to meet God. Like them, we can use these times to thank Him for his provisions, protection and offer our petitions.

Hebrews reminds us that we are to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,  that is the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. Romans reminds us that we to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, alive, holy and pleasing to God which is our reasonable service. The psalmist said he came to God to present his case “in the morning.” Again the psalmist said our prayers are like incense in the evening offering.

Do you have that special time with God each day? Share with us your thoughts and ideas.

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What’s In Your “Wallet”?

alone-I stand.ajpgPsalm 112  Are you yoked with Christ so when adversity comes you are prepared?

The world clamors for peace and harmony yet they deny the Yoke of Christ. They deride those who choose the path of godliness yet they cannot deny the evidence which stares them in the face. They cannot understand how it is possible to stand firm when faced with adversity. They are like Job’s comforters who could not wrap their minds around Job’s intense faithfulness in the midst of the worst tragedies to befall a man.

How could he sit in ashes and mourn yet keep his faith in God?

What was his secret?

Like the psalmist Job knew that he walked in harmony with God. He yoked himself to God and allowed Him to train him to walk beside Him in the furrow. It was then he could see beyond the temporal circumstances to the eternal reward for them who walk uprightly. He submitted his will, heart and mind to Him.  He chose to not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of his mind.  This is what he knew no matter the circumstances of life: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed.”  Therefore, like the psalmist, he could say: I will not be shaken and I will remember Him who is just and knows the beginning from the end.

‘Taking a cue from a credit card company:

We could ask what’s in your wallet? 

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