Posts Tagged ‘ Psalms ’
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Psalm 51:1-2, ESV
We are woefully wicked in our sin. Thanks be to God for showing us grace and mercy through the cross to blot out that sin!
One thing I have asked from the Lord , that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 27:4, NASB
Our passion in life should be to see God enthroned in majesty. That only will happen when we get to hear “Well done.”
So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12, NASB
While I have used this to justify birthdays, the greater meaning is that we should remember our lives are short, but we should remember how much God does for us in our lives.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4, ESV
Do not fall for many popular preachers’ message of claiming everything you want in the name of jesus.
Desire God and His will, and you will receive those desires.
(But He does enjoy giving gifts.)
The Psalmist says “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.” Some scholars have deemed this “The protocol of heaven,” that is to say, that if one were visiting royalty in another country (England for example) there is a protocol for what you do and say when meeting with them. It is similar when meeting with God Almighty. Similar, but not the same. Why, because God generally meets you where YOU are. He is wonderfully personal and too many people don’t understand that. He wants to meet with YOU, He wants to talk to YOU! You don’t need to go to a pastor or priest in order to hear the voice of God. There is one simple thing that you must do – be real with God.
God knows your heart anyway so why try to hide anything? He knows your thoughts, fears, worries, concerns, hopes, pride, and yes, even your sins. You see, “thanksgiving and praise” are not the protocol of heaven, but are evidence of the condition of your heart. No matter where on earth you are, you can connect with the God of eternity if you are simply real and honest with Him, because “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” “Real” people are humble people because their self-perception and world view are grounded in reality and the way things actually are. People who are proud or haughty are generally putting on a facade in order to present themselves as better than others. But as we know “ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So as a humble person, you will recognize that we all (including yourself) need a Savior.
Humility unlocks the gate and then thanksgiving can begin. Otherwise we become like the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 who thanks God that he is more righteous than other men, obviously his prayer of thanksgiving was wrought with pride (which God opposes) and the gate of thanksgiving that he was trying to enter remained locked. But there was another man there who was humble when he prayed to God, and we’re told that he went away justified by God.
So humility unlocks the gate and you enter the gate by thanking God. This Thanksgiving, lets remember to be humble and real with God and others so that our thanksgiving is not in vain, and perhaps we can draw even closer to Jesus.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11, ESV
Why is reading and meditating on (thinking about) Scripture important?
We memorize it, and it guides us out of temptation and away from sin. (See Jesus in Matthew and Luke chapters 4.)
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16, NIV
Christ alone is our mighty fortress.
If your faith feels weak, troubles are troubling you, then SING! Shout to the Lord in song, and you may see your strength increase.
