Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Psalm 26
For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness. ... redeem me, and be gracious to me.
God, i am so grateful for Your steadfast love and grace, the boldness in which You allow me to approach You, the fact You incline Yourself to me. Only because of Your unfailing faithfulness do i see, can i walk, do i seek Your redemption and grace. You began it, You planned it, You enable me to respond....and Lord, how i desire Your redemption in the dailyness of my little life. Your grace is my life. i praise You for You.
God, i am so grateful for Your steadfast love and grace, the boldness in which You allow me to approach You, the fact You incline Yourself to me. Only because of Your unfailing faithfulness do i see, can i walk, do i seek Your redemption and grace. You began it, You planned it, You enable me to respond....and Lord, how i desire Your redemption in the dailyness of my little life. Your grace is my life. i praise You for You.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Psalm 25
Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.
Lord, You are the God of my Salvation, MAKE me to know Your ways, because i am obstinate, recalcitrant, inconsistent and indolent. Holy Spirit, don't leave it up to me; even with my best game, i will fail. i praise You that You remember not the sins of my youth, thank You for Your grace. i pray that You would continue to teach this sinner in the way-everlasting, Your right and gloriously true way. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him - i am undone as i begin to consider this truth - friendship with You, the Sovereign, Eternal King of the Universe. who am i, O LORD that You would consider me at all? that You would give ear to the inadequate words i offer? that You would answer a request from one such as i am? i am stunned. may i never depart this tremulous state.
Lord, You are the God of my Salvation, MAKE me to know Your ways, because i am obstinate, recalcitrant, inconsistent and indolent. Holy Spirit, don't leave it up to me; even with my best game, i will fail. i praise You that You remember not the sins of my youth, thank You for Your grace. i pray that You would continue to teach this sinner in the way-everlasting, Your right and gloriously true way. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him - i am undone as i begin to consider this truth - friendship with You, the Sovereign, Eternal King of the Universe. who am i, O LORD that You would consider me at all? that You would give ear to the inadequate words i offer? that You would answer a request from one such as i am? i am stunned. may i never depart this tremulous state.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Psalm 24
A Psalm of David… Holy Spirit, I long to chronicle my responses to You as faithfully as David did. May my life become of psalm of Your very great Name. You are the King of Glory, even if You had never made the world. Help me to remember that You are the only Essential, i am the non-essential – yet greatly desired piece of Your creation. May I graciously and faithfully respond to Your inestimable desirability, as You created me to do. Open the doors of my heart and my mind that I should welcome the King of Glory.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Psalm 23
The Lord is …
He makes me…
He leads me…
He restores me…
For He IS with me
For His Name’s sake.
He makes me…
He leads me…
He restores me…
For He IS with me
For His Name’s sake.
Forever. FOR.EVER. I praise You.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Psalm 22
My God, why has Thou forsaken me? (thank You, Jesus, that You know what i feel)
But You are holy (and You make me holy)
But I am a worm (amazing grace that would save a worm like me)
But You are He... (and there is no other)
But You, oh LORD, do not be far from me (You are nearer still than i can ever know)
You have answered me. (and Your answer is good. i am grateful)
...declare His righteousness...that He has done this. (may my life be spent in making You famous)
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord (seeking You yields praising You - may I seek You more)
You are good, my God. Your Presence, Your Spirit, Your faithfulness, You. Good. May i ever long to know You more, may i never rest while i have the privilege of doing so, may i never take for granted the freshness of Your everlasting love, the persistence of Your devotion and the presumptuousness of Your grace for me. And may i ever-seek that i may ever-praise You...there is no other response upon Your sacred revelation. To You.
But You are holy (and You make me holy)
But I am a worm (amazing grace that would save a worm like me)
But You are He... (and there is no other)
But You, oh LORD, do not be far from me (You are nearer still than i can ever know)
You have answered me. (and Your answer is good. i am grateful)
...declare His righteousness...that He has done this. (may my life be spent in making You famous)
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord (seeking You yields praising You - may I seek You more)
You are good, my God. Your Presence, Your Spirit, Your faithfulness, You. Good. May i ever long to know You more, may i never rest while i have the privilege of doing so, may i never take for granted the freshness of Your everlasting love, the persistence of Your devotion and the presumptuousness of Your grace for me. And may i ever-seek that i may ever-praise You...there is no other response upon Your sacred revelation. To You.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Psalm 21
He asked life from You, and You gave it to him— … His glory is great in Your salvation … For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Lord, Giver of life, salvation, mercy … You give and we respond. You first give that we may respond. The glory of our lives is response to Your salvation. Your faithfulness keeps us steady, allows us to trust in faith and also in experience. You initiate the relationship. You respond to us, we respond to You. Real-ationship. Thank You my Lord and my God for seeking me out. And only in Your strength and by Your tender and relentless mercies, I will not be moved.
The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord …
Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.
Teach me new songs that I may ascribe power and authority, strength and majesty to You. This does make me happy. thank You, my Father and Master-Maestro.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Psalm 20
May the Name of the God of Jacob defend you…
I praise You my Sovereign Warrior Lord, Your Name is my defense. I need nothing else. I have nothing else.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.
My trustworthy Divine Father, You are deserving of my trust. We may be shaken; but in You, we rise and stand. Your Name. Your very great and precious Name. Thank You for giving it to me.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Psalm 19
Lord God, please teach me from Your creation, from Your firmament, Your Heavens, Your days and Your nights. Help me to respond to You as naturally and authentically as those Works of Your hand.
Perfect……converting
Sure….discerning
Right……rejoicing
Pure….enlightening
Clean…..enduring
God…..His goodness, His gifts, His benefits, Himself
True, righteous, altogether. ALTOGETHER. Perfect in fullness and presence and unity. Nothing out of balance or proportion. You do not set aside one God-quality in order to manifest another. Altogether God. I praise You!
Lord, may i never forget or take as common that You have saved me from sin – secret or nefarious. May i never stray from the soul-deep desperation and piercing knowledge that You, so unlike me, have converted me from sin to that which i cannot grasp but by Your unfathomable gift and grace. i need saving. Everyday. In every way. Convert always my mind to Yours. And may i willfully choose at every turn the dominion of the King and no other. Nothing other.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Perfect……converting
Sure….discerning
Right……rejoicing
Pure….enlightening
Clean…..enduring
God…..His goodness, His gifts, His benefits, Himself
True, righteous, altogether. ALTOGETHER. Perfect in fullness and presence and unity. Nothing out of balance or proportion. You do not set aside one God-quality in order to manifest another. Altogether God. I praise You!
Lord, may i never forget or take as common that You have saved me from sin – secret or nefarious. May i never stray from the soul-deep desperation and piercing knowledge that You, so unlike me, have converted me from sin to that which i cannot grasp but by Your unfathomable gift and grace. i need saving. Everyday. In every way. Convert always my mind to Yours. And may i willfully choose at every turn the dominion of the King and no other. Nothing other.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Psalm 18
David finally gets a breath and he pours out praise to his God. He doesn't rest on the laurels or his throne, he doesn't glory in the victory or in himself. Holy Spirit, please help me take myself out of the equation that I may praise and revel in the Sovereign Lord of All with all my heart and ego.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
God, I thank You that You have purposed that I would be a part of Your very great Kingdom; but help me not grow complacent, lazy, distracted in that life. I want to keep Your ways - they are life, I never wish to depart from Your Name, I desire to live a blameless life - one marked by obedience to You, (even though I know I can't mess You up, I do want to get it right ... I know peace flows from yieldedness). You and no other are worthy of my delight and my worship, You have the Words of life, Your power and authority are indescribable - so do they exceed my comprehension. May I see You as David did and join in the sweet "psalmery" of Your Name.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
God, I thank You that You have purposed that I would be a part of Your very great Kingdom; but help me not grow complacent, lazy, distracted in that life. I want to keep Your ways - they are life, I never wish to depart from Your Name, I desire to live a blameless life - one marked by obedience to You, (even though I know I can't mess You up, I do want to get it right ... I know peace flows from yieldedness). You and no other are worthy of my delight and my worship, You have the Words of life, Your power and authority are indescribable - so do they exceed my comprehension. May I see You as David did and join in the sweet "psalmery" of Your Name.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Psalm 17
By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer…. I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress…. With their mouths they speak proudly…. Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry….
Lord, may I live by Your Word. May my word not transgress . Keep me from proud words and thoughts. May my prayers respond greater to Your righteousness and the righteousness You have granted me, as I seek to live by the precious and life-giving and healing and eternally wise Word of Your lips.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Psalm 16
Divine and sacred portion, godly counsel, glad heart, rejoicing glory, hopeful rest, unabandoned, path of life, fullness of joy, pleasures forevermore….all from His Presence. You are my God. Why would I have need of another? All of this and more You accomplish for Your children while never neglecting Your own Name – Your glory, plan or revelation. Only You. My Omni-Omni-Omni LORD. May I praise You and thank You more consistently in view of Who I am learning and comprehending You to be. Thank You for Your revelations, thank You that You would be known by one such as me, thank You for Your flawlessness. I am awed.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Psalm 15
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Psalm 14
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
Holy Spirit, please reveal to me where I behave or choose like there is no God; where I pick me over the Divine. I know it is deception, rebellion, pride, fear, whatever … it is sin and I want no part of it. Purify my heart, my mind, my motives, my reactions that I may never walk as a fool – in the influence, partnership or service of any lesser god. I owe and desire allegiance, obedience, obeisance to none but the Sovereign King of the Universe, my God and Savior. May today be filled with such opportunities and decisions to bring only Him glory and experience satisfaction in Him.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Psalm 13
What a solid prayer for when I am depressed.
Thank You Father God for allowing these kinds of words to be in Your sacred text. Thank You that You rescue from pits we don't talk about. You alone.
Thank You Father God for allowing these kinds of words to be in Your sacred text. Thank You that You rescue from pits we don't talk about. You alone.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Psalm 12
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.
For some reason, the fact that this psalm magnifies our Lord's distaste for wickedness and oppression and that it has specific instructions on how it is to be played really struck me. The concern for the loss of the godly and the intent of the pridefully deceiving and violent is to be "psalmed" with an eight-stringed instrument. A very particular approach. For a specific person. Kind of like the psalm's description. The end result is to be beautiful. This is for the choir director, after all. It is not a private psalm in a personal scroll, only for the psalmist and God. This is for the choir... It will be worshipful, moving, uplifting. It will display God in a unique and glorious way.
God has a particular approach for a specific people group. And His work with all things is glorious, making all things for the good of those who love Him and are called by His Name. All creation testifies of God. What God does brings Him accolades. His actions on behalf of the hurting, the godly, the oppressed will provoke worship and glory ascribed to Him. We will be moved and uplifted, if we choose to be a part of the choir.
Oh, God, may I see the works of Your hands in this wicked world, may I recognize the purity of Your promises and fulfillment of Your precious words amidst the prevailing evil. May I participate fully in the choir, accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument, which "psalms" Your praises, Your fame, Your majesty, Your faithfulness, Your glory, Your presence. I thank You that I am part of Your very specific plans in this time. May I be faithful to Your call. May I be a psalmist of Your Name.
For some reason, the fact that this psalm magnifies our Lord's distaste for wickedness and oppression and that it has specific instructions on how it is to be played really struck me. The concern for the loss of the godly and the intent of the pridefully deceiving and violent is to be "psalmed" with an eight-stringed instrument. A very particular approach. For a specific person. Kind of like the psalm's description. The end result is to be beautiful. This is for the choir director, after all. It is not a private psalm in a personal scroll, only for the psalmist and God. This is for the choir... It will be worshipful, moving, uplifting. It will display God in a unique and glorious way.
God has a particular approach for a specific people group. And His work with all things is glorious, making all things for the good of those who love Him and are called by His Name. All creation testifies of God. What God does brings Him accolades. His actions on behalf of the hurting, the godly, the oppressed will provoke worship and glory ascribed to Him. We will be moved and uplifted, if we choose to be a part of the choir.
Oh, God, may I see the works of Your hands in this wicked world, may I recognize the purity of Your promises and fulfillment of Your precious words amidst the prevailing evil. May I participate fully in the choir, accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument, which "psalms" Your praises, Your fame, Your majesty, Your faithfulness, Your glory, Your presence. I thank You that I am part of Your very specific plans in this time. May I be faithful to Your call. May I be a psalmist of Your Name.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Psalm 11
I praise You Lord and Warrior God, that You do not change. As bad as it was in this psalm, where the foundations of law and order had collapsed and the righteous felt impotent, You were still reigning, watching and examining. You love justice and the virtuous will see Your face; You are still that same God. And God, the righteous seem to choose impotence and passivity; but You are God. You reign, You watch, You examine. You know. You are our Protection. Teach us how to respond, what to do in these times. We are followers; but we choose the wrong things to follow, blogs, shows, political agendas, sports, ...... May we be known as Followers of the Most High God, before our names are associated with any other thing. God, I pray that we would be more excited about what You are doing than with any season finale or new shows.. Let us know that we are most satisfied in You and You alone. I ask that You would give us all, beginning with me, a most holy distaste for the things of this world, that we would recognize and embrace the True, the Real, the Holy. Your Name not ours, Your fame not anothers, Your glory not man's, Your judgments not humanity's, Your pleasure not mine. Soli Deo gloria.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Psalm 10
The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.
Pride. Holy Spirit, please keep me from embracing or entertaining anything, especially pride, which would keep me from seeking You. Please hearten me and keep me seeking You all the days of my life. It's funny to me that since You have always been that the enemy would say that You are dead. Doesn't he realize that if You're gone, he's gone, too.
And by the way, enemy of my God, my Lion is bigger and better than you will ever dream of being. Just in case you didn't remember that FACT.
They seem to think that God is dead.
Pride. Holy Spirit, please keep me from embracing or entertaining anything, especially pride, which would keep me from seeking You. Please hearten me and keep me seeking You all the days of my life. It's funny to me that since You have always been that the enemy would say that You are dead. Doesn't he realize that if You're gone, he's gone, too.
And by the way, enemy of my God, my Lion is bigger and better than you will ever dream of being. Just in case you didn't remember that FACT.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Psalm 9
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
I am not here, yet. Lord, I want to praise You and You are worthy of my full-out praising - but I fear my whole heart is not always available. I distract. I wonder about other things. I commit my whole heart to You for praise - Teach me, Omniscient and Omnipotent Rabbi, how to praise with my whole heart. Increase my capacity to remember all the marvelous ways You interact in and around me; because I want to tell of all that You have done. Joy, that filling and fulness of joy is from and because of You. Make it so, my God, make it so. Please teach me how to sing praises to Your great Name, as You know I don't get songs or singing. I desire to do all of these things that the Psalmist says he will. Help me join in the sacred chorus of praise and storytelling for Your fame.
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
I am not here, yet. Lord, I want to praise You and You are worthy of my full-out praising - but I fear my whole heart is not always available. I distract. I wonder about other things. I commit my whole heart to You for praise - Teach me, Omniscient and Omnipotent Rabbi, how to praise with my whole heart. Increase my capacity to remember all the marvelous ways You interact in and around me; because I want to tell of all that You have done. Joy, that filling and fulness of joy is from and because of You. Make it so, my God, make it so. Please teach me how to sing praises to Your great Name, as You know I don't get songs or singing. I desire to do all of these things that the Psalmist says he will. Help me join in the sacred chorus of praise and storytelling for Your fame.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Psalm 8
what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them?
But, You do. You think and care and include us; You incline Yourself towards us, You emptied Yourself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men…You humbled Yourself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross … for us, for me. i am awed. i praise You. i worship You. who am i that You would consider me? i am Yours, by Your grace.
O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic Name fills the earth!
May Your majestic Name fill my world, my life, my mind, my heart, my song.
But, You do. You think and care and include us; You incline Yourself towards us, You emptied Yourself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men…You humbled Yourself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross … for us, for me. i am awed. i praise You. i worship You. who am i that You would consider me? i am Yours, by Your grace.
O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic Name fills the earth!
May Your majestic Name fill my world, my life, my mind, my heart, my song.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Psalm 7
I praise You Lord, that I can pour out my heart to You; that You know me, my innermost thoughts and motivations, my activities and my passivities. You know where I have chosen well and when I have blown it. I am safe with You. All my words are safe with You. All my feelings and reactions and questions are safe with You. I am completely vulnerable with You; but You are completely trustworthy. No blog, no facebook, no twitter, phone call, no ..., no, nothing this world offers can compare to You and Your unfailing love and reception of me. I thank You and will thank You, my Lord and my God; for You are faithful and just. In gratitude and wonder will I sing praise to Your Name, the LORD Most High and my own precious Savior.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Psalm 6
LORD God and my Sovereign; Master and Designer of Time, the Universe and Creation - I add my voice to David's psalm. You are the only answer to what I need, You are my only Defense, You are Love and from that You incline Yourself to me, provide for me and receive my prayers. In Your wisdom, You allow circumstances which I would never choose to be mine to be mine. May I ever turn to You, ever sing with joy to You, ever thank and praise You and ever trust in Your unfailing lovingkindness. You. Not circumstances, men, powers, authorities, recipes, my figuring, my experience. Only You! Forever You.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Psalm 5
For to You I pray. (I could seek answers/direction from anywhere; but I choose YOU, God of All)
In the morning, O LORD,You will hear my voice (I commit my choice and the time to You, my Lord)
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (I will not distract or detour. I will wait before You for You have the only answer I need)
But as for me, by Your abundant loving-kindness I will enter Your house (nothing of myself grants me the privilege of Your presence, only by Your grace – I praise You for Your consideration)
O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; … Hold them guilty, O God; … For they are rebellious against You. (recognizing the enemies’ efforts against God’s plan which involves me is not personal is freeing. Their actions are rebellion against God. I can choose my way; but not the way of another)
Lord, make me smart, spiritually savvy to walk in Your righteousness and to rebel against the enemy’s strategy. And I ask that You would bring many of the enemy’s soldiers into Your camp, as new soldiers for Your Kingdom. May they take refuge in You and be glad, may they ever sing with joy as You shelter them and they love You and exult in You. Your favor is the force field we need. I thank You for Your merciful provision of grace.
In the morning, O LORD,You will hear my voice (I commit my choice and the time to You, my Lord)
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (I will not distract or detour. I will wait before You for You have the only answer I need)
But as for me, by Your abundant loving-kindness I will enter Your house (nothing of myself grants me the privilege of Your presence, only by Your grace – I praise You for Your consideration)
O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; … Hold them guilty, O God; … For they are rebellious against You. (recognizing the enemies’ efforts against God’s plan which involves me is not personal is freeing. Their actions are rebellion against God. I can choose my way; but not the way of another)
Lord, make me smart, spiritually savvy to walk in Your righteousness and to rebel against the enemy’s strategy. And I ask that You would bring many of the enemy’s soldiers into Your camp, as new soldiers for Your Kingdom. May they take refuge in You and be glad, may they ever sing with joy as You shelter them and they love You and exult in You. Your favor is the force field we need. I thank You for Your merciful provision of grace.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Psalm 4
You have relieved me in my distress;
(past tense, God has a history of relieving Dave
when he's fretting)
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
(present tense seeking God's grace and answer for now)
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?
(Dave talked to God before he addressed and reproved man)
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
(a peculiar people, holy and royal priesthood, aliens,
righteousness not all about self, God's protocol not
my agenda)
The LORD hears when I call to Him.
(Dave's authority is not from himself, the LORD hears
and answers him)
Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.
(response to the God of Righteousness)
And trust in the LORD.
(bottom line)
I praise You God and LORD of All. You alone bring grace, goodness, gladness, safety and peace to me. You are worthy of all of my trust and response. You are perfect in Your provision and supply, You always have been; I trust You always will be. You are God.
I thank You that You hear and already have answer to my calls, my cries. That Your omniscience and omnipotence and omnipresence in no way diminishes Your invitation for me to call on Your Name, to seek You, to know You. You are so beyond my understanding; but that You have allowed me to understand that simple truth is a mercy. I praise You and thank You for that kindness on my behalf. You are not One such as I, may I never figure that You are.
Lord, precious and teaching Father, please increase my comprehension of You that I may readily tremble at the thought of You, at Your Name, Your presence. Holy Spirit, increase my desire and follow-through for holiness.
Jesus, may I learn from Your example of meditation and being still that I may walk more in Your way, think more with Your mind and look more like You, my divine Big Brother.
I seek to offer the sacrifices of righteousness, help me to pursue the holy, the righteous, the true. May i trust in You, LORD. May I trust You. Simply trust. You are God. You speak. You speak to me. trust. obey. simple trust.
(past tense, God has a history of relieving Dave
when he's fretting)
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
(present tense seeking God's grace and answer for now)
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?
(Dave talked to God before he addressed and reproved man)
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
(a peculiar people, holy and royal priesthood, aliens,
righteousness not all about self, God's protocol not
my agenda)
The LORD hears when I call to Him.
(Dave's authority is not from himself, the LORD hears
and answers him)
Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.
(response to the God of Righteousness)
And trust in the LORD.
(bottom line)
I praise You God and LORD of All. You alone bring grace, goodness, gladness, safety and peace to me. You are worthy of all of my trust and response. You are perfect in Your provision and supply, You always have been; I trust You always will be. You are God.
I thank You that You hear and already have answer to my calls, my cries. That Your omniscience and omnipotence and omnipresence in no way diminishes Your invitation for me to call on Your Name, to seek You, to know You. You are so beyond my understanding; but that You have allowed me to understand that simple truth is a mercy. I praise You and thank You for that kindness on my behalf. You are not One such as I, may I never figure that You are.
Lord, precious and teaching Father, please increase my comprehension of You that I may readily tremble at the thought of You, at Your Name, Your presence. Holy Spirit, increase my desire and follow-through for holiness.
Jesus, may I learn from Your example of meditation and being still that I may walk more in Your way, think more with Your mind and look more like You, my divine Big Brother.
I seek to offer the sacrifices of righteousness, help me to pursue the holy, the righteous, the true. May i trust in You, LORD. May I trust You. Simply trust. You are God. You speak. You speak to me. trust. obey. simple trust.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Psalm 3
But You, O LORD, are a shield about me,
the One who lifts my head, You’re my Glory,
O great God, I voiced my cries to You
From Your sacred summit, You responded to me.
You lift my head. You pay attention to my head. You hear my cries. You care to answer me, to respond to my call. You, on Your holy mountain, You, Who maintains the entire universe choose to reply to me. You, Who calls stars by name, Who I cannot reasonably describe, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Who speaks and causes things to be that were not. Who creates from nothing. Who Was and Is and Is to Come, Always and Forever and Never Not Has Been. You give me answer. I’m stunned.
the One who lifts my head, You’re my Glory,
O great God, I voiced my cries to You
From Your sacred summit, You responded to me.
You lift my head. You pay attention to my head. You hear my cries. You care to answer me, to respond to my call. You, on Your holy mountain, You, Who maintains the entire universe choose to reply to me. You, Who calls stars by name, Who I cannot reasonably describe, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Who speaks and causes things to be that were not. Who creates from nothing. Who Was and Is and Is to Come, Always and Forever and Never Not Has Been. You give me answer. I’m stunned.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Psalm 2
Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
Insecurity. Unbelief. Vain ambitions.
I praise You that You are my Security. You are Secure and nothing collides with Your great Name and Purpose. You are Sovereign Over All. and i am Yours. Thank You that I know You. May You always be my Goal. Thank You, my Great God.
... perish in the way ...
Holy Spirit, please keep me in the Way, on the way and furthering the Way. I desire not to ever be in the way. Teach me, Only Wise God and Teacher of the Deep, the way of the Way. The Way. Your Way. May that be all I choose, by Your great grace.
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
Insecurity. Unbelief. Vain ambitions.
I praise You that You are my Security. You are Secure and nothing collides with Your great Name and Purpose. You are Sovereign Over All. and i am Yours. Thank You that I know You. May You always be my Goal. Thank You, my Great God.
... perish in the way ...
Holy Spirit, please keep me in the Way, on the way and furthering the Way. I desire not to ever be in the way. Teach me, Only Wise God and Teacher of the Deep, the way of the Way. The Way. Your Way. May that be all I choose, by Your great grace.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Psalm 1
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Delight. Synonyms: crow, exult, exuberate, glory, jubilate, joy, kvell, rejoice, triumph...(Merriam Webster)
It's a two-way street. Buckle up and delight myself in the LORD!
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus ...
Delight yourself in the Lord ...
Lord, let Your ear be attentive... to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your Name....
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him;...
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you ... O God, my God.
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
For the LORD takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.
The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.
"... but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law...
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Delight. Synonyms: crow, exult, exuberate, glory, jubilate, joy, kvell, rejoice, triumph...(Merriam Webster)
It's a two-way street. Buckle up and delight myself in the LORD!
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus ...
Delight yourself in the Lord ...
Lord, let Your ear be attentive... to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your Name....
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him;...
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you ... O God, my God.
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
For the LORD takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.
The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.
"... but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law...
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
2 Samuel 24
Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Father God, You know I have only read the last line as this loaded on my screen and You know that I am arrested right there. You, the SOVEREIGN and ETERNAL KING of the UNIVERSE and ALL THINGS VISIBLE and INVISIBLE hear and respond to prayer. To prayer for the land, others, healing, mercy, grace. On behalf. Not only do You incline Yourself towards Your creatures, You grant answers on behalf. I praise You. Please grow me up in this privilege and responsibility to come to You ON BEHALF. I expect You. And I praise You.
Father God, You know I have only read the last line as this loaded on my screen and You know that I am arrested right there. You, the SOVEREIGN and ETERNAL KING of the UNIVERSE and ALL THINGS VISIBLE and INVISIBLE hear and respond to prayer. To prayer for the land, others, healing, mercy, grace. On behalf. Not only do You incline Yourself towards Your creatures, You grant answers on behalf. I praise You. Please grow me up in this privilege and responsibility to come to You ON BEHALF. I expect You. And I praise You.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
2 Samuel 23
These are the last words of David: (recorded words, I praise You that he is praising You right now!)
“The inspired utterance (I praise You that Dave is truly inspired in Your presence)
of David son of Jesse,
the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, (that You would incline Yourself, even exalt one of Your creation. Who am i; but Yours?)
the man anointed by the God of Jacob, (I praise You for Your divine anointing)
the hero of Israel’s songs: (You are the Maker of heroes and the Heroes’ God. You alone!)
“The inspired utterance (I praise You that Dave is truly inspired in Your presence)
of David son of Jesse,
the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, (that You would incline Yourself, even exalt one of Your creation. Who am i; but Yours?)
the man anointed by the God of Jacob, (I praise You for Your divine anointing)
the hero of Israel’s songs: (You are the Maker of heroes and the Heroes’ God. You alone!)
God, may I thirst for You as David did the waters from the House of Bread. May I be as valiant in taking the Living Water to those who desire You as the Mighty Three were in acquiring the water for their friend, leader and king. May I honor well my family,friends and others who sacrifice and not treat lightly nor cheaply their precious considerations. May I revere Your Name over all.
Uriah’s name brings grief to me here, as this shows me that David knew well Uriah’s character and loyalty. It broadens and deepens the brutal betrayal and fatal wounding David does to him and his family. Yet, You, Lord, brought good from that. I know it did not please You, I believe that this was not what You preferred; but in Your curious and perfect wisdom, power and authority, You allowed that which would bring You best glory. I don’t understand the preference of the non-preferable; but I trust Your excellent and unassailable sovereignty. May You be glorified in my life; but please help me to choose honoring Your Name and not catering to my flesh. Keep me from betrayal and wounding.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
2 Samuel 22
They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. …
Enemies accuse when I perceive I am in trouble; but I am first and always in the LORD, no matter what I understand the circumstances to be. He was and is and will be my Support, my Strength, my Shield, my Song and my Salvation. I praise You, my God, my faithful LORD.
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. …
Thank You God for reminding me of this. I am blessed again to see Your delight precedes Your rescue and I am Your focus. Unimaginable; but true. I praise You.
You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great …
Somehow, Your great plans and perfect wisdom include mere mortals. You save, shield and bless while bringing best and purest glory to the only One worthy, Yourself.
Unstoppable grace and mercy to His sacredly selected and strengthened ones.
Only You would. I am in awe and yet, I praise You more.
Enemies accuse when I perceive I am in trouble; but I am first and always in the LORD, no matter what I understand the circumstances to be. He was and is and will be my Support, my Strength, my Shield, my Song and my Salvation. I praise You, my God, my faithful LORD.
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. …
Thank You God for reminding me of this. I am blessed again to see Your delight precedes Your rescue and I am Your focus. Unimaginable; but true. I praise You.
You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great …
Somehow, Your great plans and perfect wisdom include mere mortals. You save, shield and bless while bringing best and purest glory to the only One worthy, Yourself.
He gives His king (who is His servant) great victories;
He grants triumph to His servants, not little, minor ones, either.
He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed,Unstoppable grace and mercy to His sacredly selected and strengthened ones.
to David and his descendants forever.
He keeps His Words and promises in the forevers of His creation. He called for the records to be kept and He keeps up with their unfolding - perfectly. Only an ever-present, ever-powerful, ever-purposeful, ever-sapient God could.
Only You would. I am in awe and yet, I praise You more.
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Of course, You, o Lord, coined the phrase “Wait for it…” You are All-Glorious, King of Details and never cliche. Help me wait on You, in strength, focused and expectant; knowing You have all the details established. i confess, i sometimes wait in impatience; distracted from You by the physical toll the deferment demands, the cacophonous chaos of the surrounding vista and even the light and momentary troubles, themselves. i choose to allow my heart to take courage in You. You are ever-faithful and ever-present and ever-strong. Your joy is my strength. May i delight in You and wait in heart-courage, strengthened and confident – not in the circumstances, not in my ability to be patient, not in the outcome, not in the words of others – only in You. The the praise of You, my God, my Defense and my Stronghold. You see me, thank You.