perspective

Psalm 20, Proverbs 20

Last night my wife and I went to the first meeting of the Perspectives course in Austin. It was such a refreshing explanation of God's eternal plan to bless humanity with Himself!  The two Brothers in my congregation that I know have taken it have said that the Lord uses this course to change your life.  I'm ready!

From the context of last night's discussion, I was especially impressed by these word's from King David:

1May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
   May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from the sanctuary
   and give you support from Zion!

I want to have the Biblical perspective of God fulfilling His promises and accomplishing His will through us.  I want to have the genuine and dynamic relationship with Him each day to glorify Him and be a part of His plan of blessing people with His ZOE life.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise you for your beautiful creation and your wonderful plan of Life!  May I join you in your mission of redemption and reconciliation!  I love you, and I thank you for your mercy and grace.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

delighting in Him

Psalm 19, Proverbs 19

Our pastor is preaching from Psalm 119, and yesterday he preached about treasuring the Word of God.  My wife and I agreed that the most challenging point from yesterday's sermon was how to delight in the law of the Lord.  I can read the Word religiously, and I can memorize the Word religiously and self-righteously, but how do I delight in the Word?  How do I delight in the Word more than money, cheesecake, or football?

I think these verses from Psalm this morning "shed some light" (haha, pun intended):

 7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul.
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
       making wise the simple.

 8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
       giving joy to the heart.
       The commands of the LORD are radiant,
       giving light to the eyes.

 9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
       enduring forever.
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure
       and altogether righteous.

 10 They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

 11 By them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.

 12 Who can discern his errors?
       Forgive my hidden faults.

 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
       may they not rule over me.
       Then will I be blameless,
       innocent of great transgression.

 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
       be pleasing in your sight,
       O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that I will love you, enjoy you, and delight in you more than anything in this world.  Please forgive me for taking so long to see you more valuable than any other.  Truly Lord, may not only what I say, but may the attitude of my heart and the thoughts of my mind please you because you have molded me into Christ.  You are Yahweh, my stronghold.  Jesus Christ, thank you for redeeming me from sin by the payment of your blood on the Cross.  Holy Spirit, I want to walk with you today; please produce your fruit in me.  I ask these in the name of the Son, Jesus.  Amen.

humility and sovereignty

Psalm 16, Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16: 5 The Lord detests the proud;
      they will surely be punished. ...

 18 Pride goes before destruction,
      and haughtiness before a fall.

 19 Better to live humbly with the poor
      than to share plunder with the proud.

I am so stinking proud!  I need humility!.  But how do you just get humility?  Has anyone seen a vending machine stocked with humility?

Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans,
      but the Lord determines our steps.

I need to trust the Lord's sovereignty.  I need to make plans according to the Holy Spirit's leading wise council.  But at the same time, I have to acknowledge that I am so vulnerable to deception and wandering, so I must trust that He will lead me where He wants me.  He is able and willing.  He demonstrated this at the Cross.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I need you so much!  I am so ignorant of how proud I am; it is disgusting.  Lord, please forgive me and make me humble.  Lord, if I could just see your face and know you, I would better see who I am and how I desperately need you.  Lord, you are my inheritance.  I pray that you will be the center of my motives.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Scripture memory

Psalm 15, Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked
       but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

Psalm 15:1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
       Who may live on your holy hill?
 2 He whose walk is blameless
       and who does what is righteous,
       who speaks the truth from his heart.

For me, one of the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of "pursuing righteousness" is memorizing Scripture.  Over the past week, I entered into an accountability for weekly Scripture memory with Brothers Bill and Ryan.  Several years ago, I memorized John 15:1-17, so my memory goal this week is to re-memorize that passage.  Last night I spent a couple of hours compiling and organizing a list that includes most of the Scriptures that I have ever memorized.  It is embarrassing that it is such a tiny portion of the Bible.  Over the next few weeks, my goal is to expand a list of weekly Scripture memory chunks that I memorized in 2007.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to dwell with you and worship you in your sanctuary.  I want to live with you on your holy hill.  Lord, please make my walk blameless, and make me a righteous man.  I pray that you will fill me with your Word, which is Christ, so that I may speak the Truth from the Scriptures stored in my heart.  Lord, please change me, by the power of your Word.  May my dedication to memorize your Word be free of legalism and honor you.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

chill out, Bro

Psalm 14, Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:29 People with understanding control their anger;
      a hot temper shows great foolishness.

 30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
      jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

OK, so I might not have a "hot temper", but I usually get frustrated by insignificant inefficiencies (stemming from the fact that I am an idealist and a recovering perfectionist).  I need to be understanding of others (especially realists).  Generally, I think I'm a little too "tightly-strung".  I need a proper balance of living an engaged and intentional life while at the same time peaceful, joyful, and rested in person of God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, please give me understanding, patience, and forgiveness to reflect your love to those around me.  I pray that the peace that you give will transcend all understanding and guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  I pray that I will be so focused on you that I will not be frustrated by this world.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

the good life

Psalm 13, Proverbs 13

At prayer breakfast this morning, one of my Brothers told us that his boss sent an email two days ago to the whole office with this ultimatum: either you resign by noon Tuesday and get two months pay, or take a pay cut and get no severance pay if your job is soon terminated. 

I finally realized that there is some truth to the "recession" that the media has been so obsessed about recently, and that I am quite sheltered from these effects as a graduate student.  The Lord has blessed my wife and me with stable incomes, for which I am very thankful.  I need to be more thankful; I so often and so completely take three square meals, clothes, shelter, friends, and vocation for granted.

Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
      I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
 6 I will sing to the Lord
      because he is good to me.

Proverbs 13:9 The life of the godly is full of light and joy ...

He is so good to me!  I don't understand why He is so good to me.  I know that it is not because of anything that I've done; it is strictly grace!  My life is full of light and joy because of the Lord Jesus Christ!  Why can't everyone experience His grace?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace.  I am humbled by your mercy and kindness.  Lord, you provide for me and bless me beyond what I understand; yet, I am often unappreciative and guilty of contempt.  Lord, please forgive me and humble me.  I pray that I will see the sweetness of your love and radiate the light and joy of your presence.  I pray that others will see the good life that flows from your Holy Spirit.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

words

Psalm 12, Proverbs 12

Many of the verses in Proverbs 12 draw contrast between the content/value/effect of the words of the godly and the wicked.  I think the verse that succinctly captures the distinction is:

Proverbs 12:6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.

This is something I need to work on.  I need to make sure that all of my speech is not only profitable but salvific.  That means my speech must include Christ, because He is our only Salvation.  And of course, the only way Truth is revealed is by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I need you to save me from my destructive self.  Lord, I confess that I have spoken many hurtful and destructive things in my life.  Lord, please forgive me for the intentional as well as the careless things that I have spoken that did not honor you.  Lord, I pray that you will help me be considerate before I speak, and may I only speak according to the Holy Spirit.  I pray that my speech, even today, will honor you.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.