Saturday 31 October, 2020

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Psalm 25

Of David. 1 In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. 2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. 4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. 13 They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. 14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. 18 Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you. 22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

David begins this Psalm with declaring his commitment to God, giving his life to God and trusting him. He asks God to show him the way, to teach him, because no one who trusts in God will be disgraced.

But there is a change beginning in v16 when he says that he is alone and in deep distress. His problems go from bad to worse.

And this change is a reminder that even when we trust in God, when we humble ourselves and submit to God’s ways and teachings, that things don’t always go the way that we would like. Sometimes we will still have enemies, sometimes people will hate us, we still need protection and rescuing, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is God who protects us, it is God who rescues us. Our hope is always in God, no matter what troubles we go through.

Only God is our hope.

Father I thank you for the reminder that you alone are my protection and you do rescue us. Instead of focusing on my troubles, I choose to follow you and ask like David, that you lead me and guide me in your ways.

Written by Andrew Martin

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Friday 30 October, 2020

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Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm. 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.

“The earth is the Lords and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” I am reminded as I read this passage that our creator God lovingly made this world and cares deeply for it and for all of us who inhabit it. As I reflect on the depth of this truth I am confronted both by God’s glory and goodness, and of my short comings. I am challenged to see what I could change of my lifestyle and practises, to better reflect my creator’s likeness, in showing gracious care to the environment and to my neighbours both near and far. I am particularly moved by the Spirit to consider those hardest hit by the current pandemic, the poorest of the poor. What might I do to care for them today – Pray/Give/Advocate/Partition?

This passage continues to pack a punch as I consider verse 3 and 4. Who can stand before God? “One who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”  What are the idols/false gods in my life? Do I idolise my time and my pleasure, over serving God and others? Have I made a false god of my money and have I rationalised my use of it for my own selfish pleasures/gains? I know that I am not justified by my works but by grace alone and that it is through Jesus Christ that I have been washed clean and now I have new life. A life that was bought with an immense price, a sacrifice of unequal worth. I want to live sold out to my Saviour and King honouring him with all that I do and say. I want to walk in God’s blessing and know the Lord of Glory who is strong and mighty (verse 8). What strength of God is displayed in Jesus and his death! Such glorious humility and grace.

Jesus thankyou that you have made me clean and given me new life, may I live each day, reflecting you in humility, grace and service towards this world and all who inhabit it. Amen

Written by Ps. Zoe Stewart

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Thursday 29 October, 2020

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Psalm 23

A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Name a more famous Psalm? David’s worship poetry features two main metaphors: The kind Shepherd with their Sheep (1-4), and the Banquet celebration (v5-6). Firstly, God is our Shepherd. The caring protector. The guide in all of life’s circumstances. Secondly, God is our benefactor who convenes a feast in our honour(!) This banquet of celebration takes place in full view of our opposition; a ceremony where we are extravagantly having oil poured over our heads and our position as children of the house of God is made unquestionable – we will dwell in this house forever!

This Psalm is a beautiful painting of a spiritual and eternal reality. Jesus in my life puts me under the leadership and protection of the Good Shepherd. To be without want, to be rested and restored. I am guided in the darkest valley and I can live fearlessly. Jesus in my life makes me an adopted child of the eternal heavenly house. I am a bonafide family member and no outsider can displace me.

Thank you Jesus for David’s reminder of your care, protection and adoption. We are with you. Thank you for eternal life that begins with your restoration and anointing. Amen.

Written by Sam Stewart

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Wednesday 28 October, 2020

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Psalm 22

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” 9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. 19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. 22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. 25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

It’s almost impossible to read this psalm without seeing Jesus all through. It’s clearly prophetic, but I think it would be wrong to treat it like a checklist of how to recognize the Messiah. When Jesus shouted the first verse from the cross (Mark 15:34), I don’t think he was saying “this is all about me”. Quite the reverse. I think he was saying that his coming and dying on the cross is all about us. He’s stepping into David’s desperate situation, into the depth of his despair. (David is writing from his own perspective.) He’s stepping into my darkest moment when I’m hopeless and helpless. He doesn’t rescue me from a distance. He does it from right in the middle of my messy life. This is more about how to recognize myself in Christ.

Scholars have puzzled over how it could be that God could abandon God, in the person of Jesus on the cross. But I think it’s a rhetorical question. God’s answer to David would have been “I never abandoned you”. Jesus’ answer to us is “I never abandoned you either. I came looking for you when you abandoned me.”

And his goal? That “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD” (v27). That I should step into his resurrection life. That I should step into the restored relationship as God’s child. That I should embrace his Holy Spirit living in and with me.

Thank you, Jesus. We “will proclaim [your] righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!” (v31).

Written by David Cornell

2 replies
  2. Howard Reed says:

    Thanks David. Always helpful! BTW, I agree with you that God did not abandon either David or Jesus. It just felt that way to them for a short time, just as it does for us sometimes. It was their felt experience, not their reality!

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Tuesday 27 October, 2020

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Psalm 21

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. 3 You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever. 5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. 6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. 8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. 9 When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. 11 Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. 12 You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow. 13 Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

Every time I have read Psalm 21 lately, I have been drawn to verses 6-7, “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.” I have written a small note next to these verses in my bible to remind myself: ‘Trust that God is at work, even when you can’t see the evidence. My trust will not be shaken.’

There is a lot of faith in these verses! David did not start verse 6 with the word ‘Perhaps’, or the word ‘Potentially’ – he used the word ‘Surely’. Often, we don’t get to see all the behind the scenes action that is going on when we bring our needs and requests, our heartfelt desires to God. We cannot fathom how huge He is, nor can we understand all the minute details that He is orchestrating. Sometimes it can feel like we are just waiting and waiting with no evidence of change. Yet as I pray, as I seek God for his help, provision and answers, I am choosing to stand on this promise. It is a choice, an active decision to say that our trust will not be shaken.

The other part of this verse that stands out to me is that David was made “glad with the joy of your presence”. May this be the attitude I take when I seek God, coming from a place of faith & certainty that God can be trusted in all things, yet what I need to seek most is who He is, His presence; not just what He can do.

God, thank you that you are always in control. You are the most trustworthy, you never let us down, regardless of how we are feeling. Lord may I always approach you with such unshakeable faith, knowing that your plans are always best, even when I only have limited understanding of what you are doing. Above all, may I seek you to know who you are and grow in relationship with you. Amen. 

Written by Ps. Madelaine Tarasenko

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Monday 26 October, 2020

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Psalm 20

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. 6 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

David here acknowledges the victory we have when we are in relationship with God. That We receive and live from the victory of the cross and who God is. David recognises the distress and pain we feel within this world however understands the victory we have in God. That our posture to win, is one of surrender. That whilst others have chariots and horses, we Trust God.  The MSG translation puts it as “we’re making garlands for our God.”

When we find ourselves in moments of challenge, in moments when we fight against principalities and powers (not flesh and blood) we don’t fight with weapons of this world but surrender to knowing that God is a God who we can trust. We adorn him with praise & thanksgiving, trusting him to fight on our behalf.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are victorious. Thank you that we can place our trust in you, our faith in you and you give victory to your anointed. Help us today, to trust you and rely on you. In Jesus Name, Amen

Written by Ps. Annique Botta

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  1. Linda Stengl says:

    And stand firm.

    Amen.

    A timely message for a tired and thirsty heart.
    Thanks Annique for your insight.

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Sunday 25 October, 2020

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Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing 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 decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

What a beginning to a Psalm – “the heavens proclaim the glory of God”. Yes they do.

I am amazed every day about the intricacies of God’s creation. It is something I interact with on a regular basis as I do my work as a scientist. It can be overwhelming to see how things fit together so well, to see how an ecosystem functions with so many pieces – it all comes together to create what we can see but there is so much going on underneath the surface. Take a moment and think about the flower you saw recently or the full moon or the ocean and the waves. Appreciating His creation is a way to then move into the rest of the Psalm.

Not only has God done an amazing job on His creation to help us see who He is, He has left us guidance about how to live life well. His words restore us, guide us, bring wisdom and insight, bring joy and light to our souls. Do you come to Him and His guidance? Do you make space to listen to His creation, to His words? I know I need to do it more often than I do! How about you?

Dear Lord, as this Psalm says “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Help me Lord, to notice Your creation, its beauty and wonder. Help me Lord to take that view and apply that thinking to my approach to Your word – to notice its beauty and wonder and to make use of the wisdom You have provided. Amen

Written by Therese Manning

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  1. Sue says:

    How incredible is our God.
    It amazes me how we make such a mess of the earth and in His design it can heal itself like our bodies. In awe!!

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Saturday 24 October, 2020

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Psalm 18

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: 1 I love you, Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. 12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. 15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. 22 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 23 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. 27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. 36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 39 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer. 42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets. 43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, 44 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. 45 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. 49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. 50 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.

This Psalm was written by David after God destroyed his enemies including Saul. The beginning of the psalm starts by describing the nature God.  David describes the Lord as his rock, fortress, protector, shield etc and importantly that God is worthy of praise.  The middle of the psalm describes a rather dramatic rescue of David. The final part of the psalm describes David’s position after rescue – that of victor!

To me this psalm is like an outline of what to do when going through some kind of an ordeal.  Firstly, recall what God is like, his capability, who he is and that he is worthy of praise at all times.   Cry out to God for help, remember that he can hear you and delights in being able to reach down and save you. God provides a safe place for our feet, he steadies us, strengthens us and makes a way through the difficulty. He loves to do this for his children.

Thank you Lord that you are the great rescuer and that I can call out to you in times of distress and you will hear, help and show me the way I should go.  Amen

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods

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Friday 23 October, 2020

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Psalm 17

A prayer of David. 1 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. 3 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. 4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. 5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. 6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 10 They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. 13 Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. 14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

When we read the Psalms we read David and his passion towards God. 

In all David’s frailty, sin, disobedience, His heart was still after God Himself.

It shows us in this Psalm that God is not after perfection but after our hearts.

It makes me so thankful that my mistakes and lack, my fickleness at times and in my distraction, God passionately and desperately is wanting relationship with me.

HE LOVES ME (HE LOVES YOU)

Nothing is based on what you or I do or don’t do.

One day we will stand before Him – we will see HIM for who He truly is.

We will awaken with the revelation of HIS glory (character) in us.

As I read this Psalm – the cry of David’s heart BECOMES MINE.

May my words and my ways be passionate for the heart of God.

May His word mould my footsteps.

May I always rest in trust – knowing that God will answer me.

May I understand that God listens with love to my prayers.

One day I will fully see Him and Me.

Lord, thank you that you never leave us nor forsake us.  Help us to continue to put aside all the distraction of this world and fully follow your ways.  One day we will stand before you and see you for who you truly are.  We look forward to that day – Lord Jesus.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

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Thursday 22 October, 2020

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Psalm 16

A miktam of David. 1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” 3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” 4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. 5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Often, I find myself thinking that life is hard. As I write this, my car is broken down and I’m at the side of the road, waiting for the NRMA. 

I was going somewhere to do something important, but now I can’t do that. 

Plus it’s likely that fixing my car will cost money that I would have preferred to spend on other things than my old car. 

But this psalm, written by David, reminds me that the goodness of God is so much greater than my circumstances. 

It has helped me to have an eternal perspective: recognising that no matter how hard life gets (and I know it could be far worse), I have an eternity of time in Heaven to look forward to, where the troubles of this life will fade away. 

I heard a person say recently, that if I don’t keep an eternal perspective, I will be tempted to try to cram an eternity worth of pleasure and justice into one human life. 

As Paul, who was imprisoned for preaching the gospel, writes in Philippians 1:22 “if I am to go on living in this body, this will mean fruitful labour“.

Clearly, I should look forward to heaven, but have a clear realisation that the existence of eternity means that what I strive for on this earth is ever the more important. 

Lord, help me to grasp your goodness and your eternity as I seek to live out the life you have called me to here on Earth. 

Written by Ps Justin Ware 

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