seeking and experiencing Yahweh

Psalm 119:9-16, Proverbs 30-31

 ⁹ How can a young person stay pure?
      By obeying your word.
 ¹⁰ I have tried hard to find you—
      don't let me wander from your commands.
 ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart,
      that I might not sin against you.

Before my Aunt Jean's funeral last Friday, our family had lunch at the church, and I got to sit with my cousin Neill.  He is a devoted follower of Christ, and I trust his advice.  I asked how I should seek the Lord's vision for my family, my vocation, and my church.  He replied that if we search for anything above God, it is idolatry.  Therefore, we should seek to know and experience the Lord more deeply, and out of that will flow His vision for us.  He provided Exodus 33:12-23 as an example.  God had given Moses a small portion of the vision, and Moses wanted more details.  But the Lord wanted more of Moses.

Heavenly Father, I want more of you.  I need more of you.  You are my only hope - my only prayer.  Lord, please help me seek you with all of my heart so that I may find you because your Word promises that you will reveal yourself to me.  Lord, I do not seek you with the ulterior motive of discovering your will for my life; I seek you to know you and experience you because you are the ultimate!  I beg you for grace.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

integrity

Psalm 119:1-8, Proverbs 29

Since my original goal in taking the book of Psalms one chapter at a time was to slow down, meditate on them, and soak them in, I realized that I should really slow down in Psalm 119 instead of blazing through it in a single day.  This is hard for me because I am such a type A personality - I would rather continue with my schedule and be pleased with myself for sticking to the plan.  But the Lord is helping me be more flexible, which allows for more growth, which is ultimately preferred over adherence to an arbitrary schedule.  So, I'm going to take Psalm 119 one letter-stanza (eight verses) at a time, and the two most challenging verses for me this morning are:

 ² Joyful are those who obey his laws
      and search for him with all their hearts. ...
 ⁵ Oh, that my actions would consistently
      reflect your decrees!

If we were to plot sanctification (ordinate) versus time (abscissa), verses 2a and 6 correspond to the ordinate value, whereas verse 2b corresponds to the slope of the line.  (For the chemical engineers, we could nondimensionalize the ordinate with the Righteousness of Christ and the abscissa by your lifespan.)  Yes, God is concerned with how sanctified we are - that is, the extent to which we behave like Christ.  But, realistically, we all need to get better.  Which brings us to verse 2b.  I think God cares more about the rate (slope) of our growth towards Him.  But, to be honest, I don't feel like I am searching for Him with all my heart.  If I was, wouldn't I be praying, fasting, reading the Word and spiritual books, and fellowshipping with the saints - all day, every day?

Heavenly Father, please don't give up on me.  Lord, I need your grace.  Please turn my heart toward you, and help me search for you with all my heart.  Lord, I don't know what that looks like.  Please help me.  Lord, please mold me into the image of Christ.  And please do so quickly.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Obedient Son.  Amen.

this is the day the LORD has made

Psalm 118, Proverbs 28

Last night was the finale of our Perspectives course.  The Lord certainly used this course to change our perspective of God, us, and the world.  One of the points that the speaker made last night was that in the initial development of spiritual disciplines, high structure is useful.  But once a spiritual discipline has been established, low structure is better so that we are free to blossom under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I love these verses at the end of Psalm 118; I think they communicate the Gospel so well:

 ²² The stone that the builders rejected
      has now become the cornerstone.
 ²³ This is the Lord's doing,
      and it is wonderful to see.
 ²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made.
      We will rejoice and be glad in it.
 ²⁵ Please, Lord, please save us.
      Please, Lord, please give us success.
 ²⁶ Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
      We bless you from the house of the Lord.
 ²⁷ The Lord is God, shining upon us.
      Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
 ²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you!
      You are my God, and I will exalt you!

 ²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
      His faithful love endures forever.

Heavenly Father, thank you for salvation through Jesus Christ.  I pray that my whole life will be worship for you.  Lord, I beg to be near you - to abide in you.  Please shine your face upon me, and mold me into the image of Christ.  I pray that you will extend your Kingdom - the reign, rule, and authority of Christ - through the practical details of my life.  May I rejoice in you today because you have created this day, and you have given me another day to live for your glory.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Eternal Sacrifice.  Amen.

simple summary

Psalm 117, Proverbs 27

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, yet it communicates so much truth:

 ¹ Praise the Lord, all you nations.
      Praise him, all you people of the earth.
 ² For he loves us with unfailing love;
      the Lord's faithfulness endures forever.

   Praise the Lord!

Our fundamental purpose is to worship God, and He has revealed Himself to us as Yahweh (LORD), the "Self-existing One".  As a consequence of sin, some people in the world do not know Him, so part of our function is to communicate the truth to every nation so that everyone in the whole world can worship God.  Not only should we worship Him for His supreme and holy character, but we should love Him because of His love toward us - demonstrated through Christ's death on the cross.  We have hope of eternal life because His faithfulness endures forever.  And forever we will sing praises to Him because He is worthy of our worship.

Heavenly Father, I praise you.  I praise you because you are good, and I thank you for your infinite love and eternal faithfulness.  Lord, please help me grow in worshiping you, and please help me grow in helping others learn to worship you better.  Lord, may I be a good example for my wife and children.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Aunt Jean

Psalm 115, Proverbs 25

 

Yesterday morning I flew back home for my Aunt Jean's graveside and funeral.  She went to be with the Lord on Wednesday; she was such a dear Sister in Christ, a godly wife and mother, and a servant in the Church.  At her funeral, my hometown pastor shared from Proverbs 31, and she was indeed a Proverbs 31 woman.  I am so blessed to be a part of this family because, like most others in this family, she was full of Lord's abundant life flowing through her.

 

I was blessed by Psalm 115 this morning, especially as I remember my Aunt Jean's life: 

 ¹ Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

      but to your name goes all the glory

      for your unfailing love and faithfulness. ...

 ⁹ O Israel, trust the Lord!

      He is your helper and your shield.

 ¹⁰ O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord!

      He is your helper and your shield.

 ¹¹ All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!

      He is your helper and your shield.

 ¹² The Lord remembers us and will bless us.

      He will bless the people of Israel

      and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

 ¹³ He will bless those who fear the Lord,

      both great and lowly.

 ¹⁴ May the Lord richly bless

      both you and your children.

 ¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,

      who made heaven and earth.

Heavenly Father, blessed be your name.  Thank you for my Aunt Jean and the way you blessed her and used her to increase your reputation.  Lord, I ask that you will use me to bring honor to yourself.  May my life be spent in humble dedication to your.  Lord, you are good, and your love endures forever.  Please anoint me with your Holy Spirit to continue the work of Christ.  It is in His name that I pray.  Amen.

presence of the LORD

Psalm 114, Proverbs 24

Yesterday I presented my dissertation proposal to my committee.  Many of my friends and family were praying for me, and I could sense a blessing from the Lord.  I am so thankful for the Lord's sovereignty in guiding me along His plan for me.

 ¹ When the Israelites escaped from Egypt—
      when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—
 ² the land of Judah became God's sanctuary,
      and Israel became his kingdom.
...
 ⁷ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
      at the presence of the God of Jacob.
 ⁸ He turned the rock into a pool of water;
      yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock.

Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are worthy of worship.  Lord, may my body and life be your sanctuary - a place where you are worshiped and where your presence abides.  Lord, please teach me to fear you.  Please reveal yourself to me.  I pray that I will know your presence.  Lord, I need you - I need Water from the Rock!  Lord, please give me a fresh drink from your fountain of salvation today!  I ask you in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Theocentricity

Psalm 113, Proverbs 23

As I finish preparing to present my dissertation proposal this morning at 11:00am, it is very helpful for me to read Psalm 113, which is so focused on God.  It is so easy to be focused on myself during stressful times, but I gain so much peace as I meditate on the Person of God.  His reputation deserves praise.  From every person on earth, and from every atom in the universe, God deserves praise.  He is unlike anything else.  While He is infinitely beyond us, He is simultaneously right here with us - through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  He rescues us from the destruction we've created, and He makes us princes in His Kingdom!

Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are so amazing.  You are eternal and good.  Lord, you are benevolent and merciful.  Thank you for the opportunities you have given me, and thank you for turning my heart toward you.  I pray that you will be pleased with me today, and that I will increase your fame on earth.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

generational empowering

Psalm 112, Proverbs 22

I think these verses go hand-in-hand:

Pr. 22  ⁶ Direct your children onto the right path,
      and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Ps. 112  ¹ Praise the Lord!   How joyful are those who fear the Lord
      and delight in obeying his commands.
 ² Their children will be successful everywhere;
      an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

My dad told me several times when I was growing up that his father was a great father, but my dad still wanted to improve and be a better father to me than his father was to him.  This is an opportunity afforded to those who seek the Lord and fear Him, which both my grandfather and father have done.  I feel like my dad did improve generationally, and he has inspired me to try to improve upon his fatherhood - which will be a great challenge.  As the saying goes, "We stand on the shoulders of giants."

Heavenly Father, thank you for a heritage of fearing you.  Thank you for a heritage of genuine fatherhood and commitment to improvement.  Lord, please help me fear you and be joyful in who you are.  May I delight in obeying your commands and teaching my children to love you and seek you.  Lord, let me receive the treasure of fatherhood that my dad has passed on to me, and give me the grace and Holy Spirit power to improve towards your perfect Fatherhood.  I pray that this will please you.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son.  Amen.

praise Him!

Psalm 111, Proverbs 21

Brandi and I visited the rheumatoid specialist last week to review her most recent bloodwork, and while she does have two antibodies that could impact the pregnancy, the doctor said that she does not have the antibodies that indicate lupus or other severe disorders. Praise the Lord!

Yesterday we visited a perinatologist to discuss the potential impact to the baby's heart development. We had a sonogram and had the great privilege of seeing our beautiful healthy baby and hearing its 175 beats/minute heartbeat! All of the measurements were normal! Praise the Lord! We are so thankful for His loving care!

Ps. 111 ¹ Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
² How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
³ Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
⁴ He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

Heavenly Father, you are so good! Your love and tender care are perfect! Thank you so much for sustaining my wife and child! Lord, may I never forget your goodness towards me, and may I be faithful to share your goodness with others. Dear Father, please help me grow as a husband and father so that I may honor you as a steward of the treasures you have placed in my care. I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jesus is the Messiah

Psalm 110, Proverbs 20

Ps. 110 ¹ The Lord said to my Lord,
      "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
   until I humble your enemies,
      making them a footstool under your feet."

Yesterday we talked about Jesus being the Messiah, and before preparing for this lesson, I had never noticed His anointing in all three functions: prophet, priest, and king.  The scripture passages, Isaiah 61:1-4, 42:5-8, and 42:1-4 correspond to proclamation, mediation, and administration of justice, in parallel with Christ operating as prophet, priest, and king.

Part of the Christian life is to cooperate with Christ via His Body (the Church) in His ongoing mission of being the Messiah to all of humanity.  We cooperate with Him to bring every aspect of human existence into the wonderful Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Lordship sounds intimidating from our fallen human perspective, but the Lordship of Christ is wonderful when we trust Him by faith.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your humble servant Jesus who is the Christ.  Thank you for His death and resurrection, which proves your love and power.  Thank you for the opportunity to cooperate with you in your redemption of humanity.  Jesus, you are my master and Lord.  I trust you in faith, and by your grace, I will obey.  Holy Spirit, please empower me to keep in step with you.  I pray this in the name of my savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

testing

Psalm 105, Proverbs 15

Psalm 105 is a highlight reel of God's sovereignty that spans from the time of God's promise to Abraham to when Israel entered the Promise Land.  As we know (objectively and subjectively), life isn't as smooth as we might expect or hope:

 ¹⁶ He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
      cutting off its food supply.
 ¹⁷ Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
      Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
 ¹⁸ They bruised his feet with fetters
      and placed his neck in an iron collar.
 ¹⁹ Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
      the Lord tested Joseph's character.

If God's plan was for Abraham's descendants to live in Canaan, then why didn't He simply move them there in the first place?  What was the point of Joseph's suffering or Israel's suffering in Egypt?  I see two reasons.  First, it amplifies the glory of God's salvation; He is always working His plan:

 ²⁰ Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
      the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
 ²¹ Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household;
      he became ruler over all the king's possessions.
 ²² He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased
      and teach the king's advisers. ²³ Then Israel arrived in Egypt;
      Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
 ²⁴ And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel
      until they became too mighty for their enemies.

Second, it is a type of Christ, and it is through suffering that we are molded into the image of Christ and take on His character:

 ⁴⁵ All this happened so they would follow his decrees
      and obey his instructions.

   Praise the Lord!

Brandi had some blood drawn for analysis before Easter, and Monday she called the office and they told her that everything was clear.  Yesterday they called her and told her that when they spoke with her on Monday, not all of the tests results had been reported, and that some of the remaining tests were abnormal, so we will have several follow up visits.  Why does God allow us to experience testing?  It forces us to dig deeper into His character.  In addition to Phil. 4:6-8, James 1:2-5, and 1 Peter 1:3-8, this point is explained in Psalm 105:

 ¹ Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
      Let the whole world know what he has done.
 ² Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
      Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
 ³ Exult in his holy name;
      rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
 ⁴ Search for the Lord and for his strength;
      continually seek him.
 ⁵ Remember the wonders he has performed,
      his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
 ⁶ you children of his servant Abraham,
      you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

 ⁷ He is the Lord our God.
      His justice is seen throughout the land.
 ⁸ He always stands by his covenant—
      the commitment he made to a thousand generations.

Heavenly Father, I trust you, but I confess that I do not know you like I can or should.  I know that you are faithful because your Word explains this through many people's lives, but I realize that you want me to know you subjectively for myself.  May I devote myself to seeking you and your strength because I am week and you are strong.  I believe that you are mighty to save, regardless of the circumstances.  Your love is infinite; you proved this with Christ on the Cross.  Your power is infinite; you proved this by resurrecting
Christ from the dead.  I believe that your love and power extend to me, my wife, and my child.  I trust you to heal my wife, for your glory and your fame.  May your grace abound.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Gracious One.  Amen.

awareness

Psalm 104, Proverbs 14

Psalm 104 reminds us that God is acutely aware of the condition of every tree, bird, animal, and mountain.  The amazing thing is that He is personally involved with us humans!  I think He desires for us to try to be as aware of Him as He is of us.  The psalmist concludes by praying that God is pleased with all of these thoughts about Him.  I pray that the Lord will grow me to think about Him all day long.

 ¹ Let all that I am praise the Lord.

   O Lord my God, how great you are!
      You are robed with honor and majesty.
    ² You are dressed in a robe of light.
   You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
    ³ you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
   You make the clouds your chariot;
      you ride upon the wings of the wind.
 ⁴ The winds are your messengers;
      flames of fire are your servants. ...

 ³¹ May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
      The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
 ³² The earth trembles at his glance;
      the mountains smoke at his touch.

 ³³ I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
      I will praise my God to my last breath!
 ³⁴ May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
      for I rejoice in the Lord. ...

   Let all that I am praise the Lord.

   Praise the Lord!

Heavenly Father, you are good, and your love endures forever.  Because of your great love, we are not consumed; your compassion never fails.  Lord, please help me set my mind on the Spirit and focus on you and your greatness.  I pray that my life will praise you and that you will be pleased with my thoughts.  Help me be aware of your presence and your control.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

"barak Yahweh"

Psalm 103, Proverbs 13

Ps. 103  ¹ Let all that I am praise the Lord;
      with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
 ² Let all that I am praise the Lord;
      may I never forget the good things he does for me.
 ³ He forgives all my sins
      and heals all my diseases.
 ⁴ He redeems me from death
      and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
 ⁵ He fills my life with good things.
      My youth is renewed like the eagle's!

How can a human being bless the Most Good Being?  Faith, thankfulness, praise, obedience, holiness, humility, etc.

As I prepare to be a father, I am challenged by these verses:

Ps. 103  ¹³ The Lord is like a father to his children,
      tender and compassionate to those who fear him. ...
    ¹⁷ But the love of the Lord remains forever
      with those who fear him.
   His salvation extends to the children's children
    ¹⁸ of those who are faithful to his covenant,
      of those who obey his commandments!
Pr. 13  ²⁴ Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
      Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

Heavenly Father, you are good, kind, merciful, and holy.  You are eternal and constant, always faithful, and always trustworthy.  Lord, you are the Perfect Father; your grace and discipline are perfectly balanced.  Dear Father, please teach me how to be a good father like you.  Lord, I want to show you to my children in the way that I relate to them.  I pray that the words of my mouth and the attitude of my heart will be pleasing in your sight.  I pray that my actions will bless you.  May I walk according to the Holy Spirit, being molded into the image of your Perfect Son.  I ask in faith in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

mercy (lovingkindness)

Psalm 100, Proverbs 10

Here is a very simple truth on the debate of creation versus evolution:

 ³Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (KJV)

The Hebrew word for mercy or love in Psalm 100:5 is the same word in Lamentations 3:22:

חסדי

 ⁵ For the Lord is good.

      His unfailing love continues forever,

      and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

We can joyfully serve our God and master because He is fundamentally good; His character is mercy-love!  Our Heavenly Father has demonstrated His love by sending His own Son to die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus Christ is the Paschal Lamb (Korban Pesach) whose blood spares us of eternal death, and whose broken body gives us eternal life!

 

Heavenly Father, may I be drawn closer to that old rugged cross that I may see the great cost that Christ paid for my sin.  Dear Lord, thank you for your lovingkindness that never changes; may I never take your mercy for granted.  Holy God, please break my pride and help me walk humbly with you.  I pray, Dear Father, that you will show your lovingkindness to my children.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

holiness

Psalm 99, Proverbs 9

Ps. 99 ¹ The Lord is king!
      Let the nations tremble!
   He sits on his throne between the cherubim.
      Let the whole earth quake!

Why?  What is the fundamental character attribute of God that causes us to tremble and quake?

Pr. 9 ¹⁰ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
      Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Why?  What attribute of God causes us to fear Him?

Ps. 99 ³ Let them praise your great and awesome name.
      Your name is holy! ...
 ⁵ Exalt the Lord our God!
      Bow low before his feet, for he is holy! ...
 ⁹ Exalt the Lord our God,
      and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem,
      for the Lord our God is holy!

Heavenly Father, you are holy!  You are separate from all of creation because you are the Creator.  You are perfect and above everything.  Please help me see your holiness.  Please help me see how great you are and that you deserve to be separate from everything.  Lord, thank you for condescending through the person and work with Jesus Christ.  May I be your servant today.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

resurrection celebration

Psalm 98, Proverbs 8

I think these verses from Psalm 98 apply to our celebration of what God has done through Christ's death and resurrection:

 ¹ Sing a new song to the Lord,
      for he has done wonderful deeds.
   His right hand has won a mighty victory;
      his holy arm has shown his saving power!
 ² The Lord has announced his victory
      and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! ...
 ⁴ Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
      break out in praise and sing for joy!

I am reminded by these verses in Proverbs that He promises to reveal Himself to those who seek Him, and our joy comes from seeking Him daily.  It is my prayer that my children will seek Him and know Him better than I have.

 ¹⁷ "I love all who love me.
      Those who search will surely find me.
 ³⁴ Joyful are those who listen to me,
      watching for me daily at my gates,
      waiting for me outside my home!
 ³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
      and receives favor from the Lord.

Last night at Perspectives, a Brother from Food for the Hungry spoke to us about caring for the poor.  The two main points that I walked away with were:

1. Humility.  We are all impoverished.  Everyone has a deficiency in some aspect of their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual existence that can only be supplied by God. And His supply usually comes through the Body of Christ.  Therefore, we are to minister to one another in humility - recognizing that each of us is broken and in need of saving.
   
2. Holistic.  As we minister to people, especially those in severe physical need, we must minister to the whole of their humanity - body, soul, and spirit.  Only preaching the Gospel is not enough.  Only giving them food is not enough.  Only providing economic development is not enough.  We must minister holistically.

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the work of Christ Jesus!  Dear Lord, please help me preach the Gospel in boldness, but do not let me neglect the physical, emotional, and social needs of those around me.  I know that you are redeeming mankind, and you are redeeming the earth.  Please use me to increase the Lordship and dominion of Jesus Christ today.  I pray this in His name. Amen.

simple key

Psalm 97, Proverbs 7

As I consider the significance of the Resurrection of Christ and the availability of that power in my life, I see this key at the end of Psalm 97:

 ¹¹ Light shines on the godly,
      and joy on those whose hearts are right.
 ¹² May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord
      and praise his holy name!

Living in Resurrection power is characterized by joy and praise to the Lord, by which His light shines through us.

Heavenly Father, please let the light of your face shine upon us.  Lord, may we be faithful to testify to your goodness and grace.  Lord, please fill my heart with joy and praise for you, my King who rules in righteous justice.  Father, may I experience the power of Resurrection - may I share in the sufferings of Christ and die to myself today so that I may be raised up in the spirit as an obedient son.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Perfect Spotless Lamb.  Amen.

praise Him!

Psalm 96, Proverbs 6

As a farmboy, I really appreciate the bolded verse in this context:

 ¹ Sing a new song to the Lord!
      Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
 ² Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
      Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. ...
 ¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
      Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
 ¹² Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
      Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise
 ¹³ before the Lord, for he is coming!

But it is not fitting for only inanimate creation to praise Him!  We must tell every human in the world, because we are uniquely created to fellowship with our Creator, and thus, to uniquely worship Him:

 ³ Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
      Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. ...
 ⁷ O nations of the world, recognize the Lord;
      recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
 ⁸ Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
      Bring your offering and come into his courts.
 ⁹ Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
      Let all the earth tremble before him.
 ¹⁰ Tell all the nations, "The Lord reigns!" ...

Heavenly Father, thank you for making me a son through the person and work of Jesus Christ.  I praise you, Lord, and I want to reflect your glory like the beautiful sunrise this morning.  Lord, please strip the pride of my flesh and give me humility and boldness by the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel to all the nations that are here in this city and my school.   Lord, please give me a worshipful attitude today.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the righteous King of Kings.  Amen.

majesty

Psalm 93, Proverbs 3

 ¹ The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.
      Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. (NLT)
 ¹Jehovah hath reigned, Excellency He hath put on, Jehovah put on strength, He girded Himself, Also -- established is the world, unmoved. (YLT)
 ¹The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; (NASB)
 ¹ God is King, robed and ruling, God is robed and surging with strength. (MSG)
 ¹THE LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is robed, He has girded Himself with strength and power; (AMP)

This is the entry from Strong's dictionary for the word translated as majesty:

H1348 - גאות - gê'ûth - gay-ooth' - From H1342; the same as H1346: - excellent things, lifting up, majesty, pride, proudly, raging.

Heavenly Father, you are majestic.  You are the King of the universe, and you reign in complete sovereignty.  Without compromising any of your authority, you are infinitely kind, generous, merciful, and gracious.  Lord, creation is the work of your hands, and it is a testimony of the infinite height of your intellect.  Lord God, please let me see you more clearly, that I may be more humble in your presence and the presence of my fellow man.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

who is God?

Psalm 92, Proverbs 2

 ¹ It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
      to sing praises to the Most High.
 ² It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
      your faithfulness in the evening,
 ³ accompanied by the ten-stringed harp
      and the melody of the lyre.

He is worthy of our worship and praises, and He deserves thanksgiving.  He is unfailing in love.  He is always faithful.

 ⁷ Though the wicked sprout like weeds
      and evildoers flourish,
      they will be destroyed forever.
 ⁸ But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever.

He is patient and just.  He is eternal.

 ¹⁰ But you have made me as strong as a wild ox.
      You have anointed me with the finest oil.
 ¹⁵ They will declare, "The Lord is just!
      He is my rock!
      There is no evil in him!"

He is gracious.  He is personal.  He is entirely good.

Heavenly Father, you are good, and your love endures forever.  You are eternal, just, and kind.  You are mysterious and intimately knowable.  I worship you because you are supremely holy.  Lord, please fill me with joy and cause me to overflow in blessing your reputation.  Lord, please help me walk with you today in a way that honors your name.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

shelter

Psalm 91, Proverbs 1

 ¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
      will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 ² This I declare about the Lord:
   He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
      he is my God, and I trust him. ...
 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
      He will shelter you with his wings.
      His faithful promises are your armor and protection. ...
 ⁹ If you make the Lord your refuge,
      if you make the Most High your shelter,
 ¹⁰ no evil will conquer you;
      no plague will come near your home.
 ¹¹ For he will order his angels
      to protect you wherever you go.
 ¹² They will hold you up with their hands
      so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.
 ¹³ You will trample upon lions and cobras;
      you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

I think it is hilarious that the Devil, as he tempted Jesus to jump off the top of the temple in Jerusalem, quoted parts of verses 11 and 12.  What is the context?  Walking humbly in the shelter of the Most High and resting in the shadow of the Almighty God.  What is the consequence?  Trampling cobras and crushing fierce serpents under your feet!  That sounds like Genesis 3:15 to me!  The Devil is just like that, isn't he?  His deception is so subtle.  But the emphasis is not on the Devil here; that would be blasphemy.  The emphasis is on the goodness and intimacy of our Heavenly Father who protects us as we cling to His promises and make Him our refuge and shelter (v. 9).

Heavenly Father, you are so kind and gracious.  I need your presence for salvation.  Lord God, be near!  Lord, please help me make you my refuge and shelter.  May I find rest in the shadow of your Almighty protection.   Lord, please deliver me from the Serpent, and use the Body of Christ to crush him under the Feet of Christ.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.