Month: March 2017

God’s Blessings or Satan’s Curse – Psalm 127: 1-2

PSALM 127:

except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
[2] It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. (KJV)

This Psalmist is telling us that unless the hand of God is on us, we can’t build anything good that will prosper. This includes every part and detail in our lives. If these things are not covered by God’s blessings, then they are ruled by satin’s curse.

Satan hates God’s goodness and people so much that we need to be watchful every day. The enemy is always trying to sneak in and wreck what God has helped us to build.

The CITY refers to everything we build: our faith, our marriages, our families, our households, our jobs, our Church’s … absolutely everything. Since these are the most important aspects in our lives, they are the first things that Satan will attempt to break down.

However, as Christians, we can rest assured that the Lord keeps the city. By knowing God and placing our dependence upon Him, our city can stand strong.

For our part, we need to stay close to the Lord, following his lead, confessing our sins and covering ourselves with the Armour of God. By living in that way each day while having our hearts fixed on God, we can succeed at keeping the enemy, at a good distance.

“It is vain for us to rise up early and sit up late”-Those who do NOT know God and wish to succeed in life will work very hard. They will get up early, work vigorously all day and then will stay up late, trying, to make something of themselves.

Christians know that being a child of God is what matters first and foremost. When we work in His will, he will look after us and He will bless us.

“To eat the bread of sorrow” –

Many are wanting to have a good life on their own. They worry and gets nervous and things never seem to go right because they don’t have a relationship with The Lord. Without that relationship, problems can wake us up early, or keep us up late and stop us from having a good sleep.

With Gods blessings we could have peaceful sleep, relaxing, knowing that God is in control. Today, there are still many Christians who must also learn to have this type of faith in Him.

The author is saying that God wants us to work, to plan, to prepare, to dream, but it should be done by having a relationship with Him and according to His Will for us. How will we know what God’s Will is for our lives, if we are not close to him?

However, with faith and trust in God we won’t have to be stressed or restless. We can give our worries and problems over to the Lord and he will look after them all. God will lead and guide us. We need to listen and follow!

Thank you Father

Lord may I always talk to you regardless of the day, situation or experience. May I always ask for your advice then listen AND follow your leading.

Father I can remember the numerous days and hard circumstances that occurred because I didn’t ask for your opinion or direction or for your blessing.

I have learned hard and costly lessons through my head strong ways, wanting to go it alone.

I can definitely see a difference in the times where I involved you in the entire process and how relaxed I felt. May I always turn to you first and seek direction and abide by your answer.

Many times that answer will be “no” to something that I really think I should have or do. May I learn from my past mistakes that when you say “no” I should listen, even if I don’t want to.

Help me to remember; the many sleepless hours of the night, the restlessness of the days and the money that I have put into projects of my own accord, without your blessing. Remind me that no matter how hard I may work, nothing will come of it without Your blessing!

Remind me of the times; I knew in my heart, that had I asked, you would have said no, so I took it upon myself and charged ahead without your guidance, only to have failed in the end.

Had I talked to you and obeyed, you may have said no or may have said to just wait a bit or possibly you may even have lead me to something better.

Father, please help me to always seek your guidance in everything I do. Even though I am an impulsive human and have a hard time waiting once I get something into my mind, help me to remember to pray in all situations. Help me to sit quietly and listen to your voice and your leading.

I am truly grateful to be your child.

I am truly grateful that you hear me all the time.

I am truly grateful that as a good parent, you sometimes have to say “no” to my requests.

I am truly grateful that in the times I rushed ahead, not bothering to include you, you still kept me under your watchful eye, while allowing me to learn valuable lessons, from my own mistakes.

I am truly grateful that you are a firm but loving Father.

Thank you for loving me so much.

I love you too!

All for your glory!

In the precious name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus. I pray.

Amen

I Sought the Lord and He Heard Me

PSALM 34: 1-6

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.3O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.4I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

David sought the Lord and received peace from God

“I sought the Lord and he heard me”. While in prison, David realizes he was far from God, so he repented and is once again trusting the Lord and honouring Him. David composes Psalm 34 during his imprisonment in Gath, telling how he found God’s peace again. Without realizing it, David’s singing and praising God, encouraged others in the prison to trust the Lord in all situations. The full story can be found in 1 Samuel 21.

David stops relying on the Lord and loses faith

David, fleeing from Saul, went first to say goodbye to his friend Jonathan (Saul’s son). Following that, David heads to the Holy place in Nob where he meets the Priest Ahimelech.

The Priest asked David why he is alone. David, relying on himself, instead of having faith in God, lies, saying that he is on a special journey for King Saul and asks the priest for bread and a sword. With that lie, David receives 5 loafs of holy bread and the sword that he used years earlier to cut off Goliath’s head. These were items David should not have access to.

David; running on his flight instinct, is not thinking straight nor relying on God. He leaves the Priest, heading directly to King Achish of Gath. As David heads into the pagan city of Philistine, he is carrying Goliath’s sword and, is recognized immediately as the person who had killed Goliath and is captured and thrown into prison.

David repents and sought out the Lord

David, becomes ashamed that he left God out of the equation. He repents of his sins asking for forgiveness. His faith is restored and he finds peace, even though his situation has not changed.

David, still in a dire situation, begins writing Psalm 34, blessing and praising God. Was this Psalm written as a bribe? No, it was written from thankfulness that he has God’s presence with him, once again. Regardless of the outcome, David is filled with love and respect for the Lord. He now he sings “I sought the Lord, he heard me and delivered me from all my fears“. David is no longer frightened, even though God did not say that he would help David. Yet, here is David , still in jail, writing Psalm 34 with peace, confidence and praising, praying, and singing to God. David’s faith impresses me.

David’s actions encourage the Philistines to seek God

David believed that God may help him, but knew that only God can take away his fears. God gives David peace that passes understanding. Philippians 4 (Verses 6-7).

On the day David was taken before King Achish, thoughts of playing the part of a man who had seizures and acting insane came to David. So when he was placed before the king, this drama worked so well that David was released from prison and forced to leave the town. No one can be sure if David acted on his own, in this charade, or if it was God’s suggestion. Regardless, David was a free man!

God had listened, helped and delivered David. The prisoners that witnessed everything were amazed. Because of David’s faith, many of them became believers. Hallelujah!

Following his release from prison and leaving Galt David wrote 1 Samuel 20, 1 Samuel 21. David says that no matter what happens in his life, during the good or bad times, he will always be praising God!

I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears

MY PRAYER FOR: PSALM 34:1-6

Father in Heaven,

Lord, whenever I praise, pray, sing or call to you , I know you hear me. Sometimes I am looking for solutions, however the answers or the help that I receive are not always the ones I ask for or want. However, the answers are definitely the ones I need.

Can others see you Lord working in my life?

I pray people will witness my joy, peace and love for you. Perhaps they will hear your calling, as the Philistine prisoner’s did, that watched David.

Lord as soon as we open our hearts, you are there with open arms. Encourage me to be an inspiration for people to leave the darkness and enter into your beautiful glorious light.

Heavenly Father, I will forever bless you. May I always magnify you with my praises. God, no matter what is happening in my life I know that you are watching over me very closely. Whatever situation I am going through, is exactly where I am meant to be.

I am fortunate that by loving, following, and knowing you, I can feel your arms around me. I can relax in you no matter what I’m in the midst of. Lord, you love and care for me and I am so very honoured and privileged to be your child.

I praise your mighty name Father, now and forevermore!

In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen

Peace for Jerusalem – Psalm 122: 6-9

PSALM 122:

The Jewish people had been captives, exiled from their own land and are now returning to Jerusalem. David is speaking to all people; not just the Jews but the Gentile as well.

In David’s Psalm, he is saying that when there is peace and prosperity within the city, the people can also find their own personal peace and prosperity.

Today is especially hard for the Israelis and as time gets closer to the end, they are needing our prayers more than ever. Everyday, without fail, we need to pray for their welfare, goodness, unity of each other and for preservation of their land and people, and against their enemies.

We need to recognize that it is a privilege that God has asked us to pray for them and we need to accept that request, not out of obligation, guilt or “because we are asked to” but out of our love for the Lord, His people and His land.

Heavenly Father,

You are Yahweh (the God eternal) and so deserving of my prayers.

How happy and loving I feel when I see my children are getting along well, are peaceful, helping, and loving on each other. When I see this happening, my heart “melts” towards them. It’s the same with you Lord. When I pray, help or love on your chosen, your heart “melts” and you love me in a deeper way.

You have asked me to pray for protection, peace and prosperity for Jerusalem, and I do it because it is my privilege to serve you and also because I love you!

Open my heart to allow me to pray for Jerusalem in the manner in which you want. I know that as I pray for the country and the people, my heart will be opened and will grow to love them as much as you do.

In the precious name of Jesus (of Nazareth),

I pray,

Amen

Righteous vs Unrighteous – Psalm 37: 37-38

PSALM 37

David, during his old age, is thought to be the writer of this Psalm and believed to be writing to his people.

Perhaps they were being tempted to sin, after watching the idolaters. It may have appeared that those with many gods were living a “good life” and the followers of the “true God” we’re living in hardship and poverty.

David is telling the people; those who keep God (in their hearts) will be given the reward of peace at the end. This shows that patience, hope and remaining godly is the way to stand strong.

God gives us the strength to do just that, by faith in Him. Those who can stay true to God, regardless of what they go through, here on earth, will be winners at the end of their lives. (Blessed with God for eternity).

Those who are idolaters are the wicked (they keep selfishness in their hearts) and are enjoying their rewards while here, on earth. At the end of their time, they will be cut off and not-blessed. (Without God for eternity).

Lord, please remind me that I am never to be sad, envious or jealous of anyone who appears to have it all and especially of the ones that seem to never have had adversity in their lives. It is extremely dangerous for me to be jealous of what LOOKS like a good thing.

Does this mean that Christians can’t have material items and good times? Absolutely not true! In fact the Bible tells us that God wants our cups to run to overfill. It means that he wants us to stay true to Him and trust in Him to meet our needs and receive the gifts that He has for us, both here on earth and in Heaven.

Heavenly Father,

I am reminded by these verses that you and you alone are God almighty. The King above all kings; the First and the Last; the Alpha and the Omega and I worship you and only you, because you are so very deserving of my praise and love.

I know; that as a Christian, I am not exempt from bad things happening to me. Throughout my lifetime, I have been through many seasons of feasts AND many seasons of famine. Your word says that regardless of the time I’m in, that I am to be thankful.

In fact, I’ve found that it’s during many of those hard times that I grow the most in you, and although; not at the time, but in the aftermath, I can see why I went through certain situations. So yes Lord, I am thankful for even the hardships. They allow me to lean on you and to stand even that bit closer.

Satan (the deceiver) on the other hand, hates me because I am your child, so he will try to break me down as he attempted with you on the mountain, at the beginning of your ministry. He will also try to buy me (and other Christians), offering us wonderful “stuff” as a ploy to tempt the righteous away from you. Help me Lord, not to listen to his lies!

Please remind me Father, that Satan is nothing and even “I” (as do all of Gods children) have the authority over Satan, in the name of Jesus. Please help me to keep him under my feet where he belongs.

Regardless of what this life brings for me, by trusting in and staying close to you Father, I can always be assured that my forever home will give me a good ending, with eternal happiness and peace.

Your Word (over and over again) assures me of that. Hallelujah!

I praise you Father God.

In Jesus’s holy name, I pray

Amen