Let Not My Heart Incline To Evil!

Reading:  Psalms 140 - 141
My Verse:  "Do not let me heart incline to any evil,
                        to busy myself with wicked deeds
                    in company with men who work iniquity,
                         and let me not eat of their delicacies" (141:4)!

I cannot lie here.  There are times when the things of this world, things that are not quite kosher (if I may use that word); things that do not quite fit into Your precepts, LORD God; things that would not fall under the "whatevers . . ." of Philippians 4:8, have a certain draw to them.  They have an allure that piques one's interest and can easily lead one down that slippery path!  They have that appearance of a "delicacy" - something that would be so delicious!

One always knows in one's heart of hearts that this "delicacy" is wrong.  It does not seem to matter the culture or religious beliefs - we each of us know when something isn't right.  It is like we have a built in radar that senses sin.  Is this the conscience that You, LORD God placed in us?  And yet, the draw is there.  We want so much to indulge ourselves - "busy myself with wicked deeds."

This is addressed often  in the Psalms.

"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:2,3).

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me . . ." (Psalm 19:13).

The third thought in this verse seems to indicate a reason for this danger - "in company with men who work iniquity."  Isn't that a common maxim?  "Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them" -W. Clement Stone.  That is a biblical truth!

I Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived; "Bad company ruins good morals."
Proverbs 13:20 "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Psalm 1:1  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers . . ."
Proverbs 22:24-25  "Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare."

Thank you for this, LORD God.  Thank You for all the guidance You provide me in Your word.  Thank You for the radar You have placed within me.  You know how very dangerous sin can be for me.  You know how it destroys us from within and damages and can even destroy all that we have - including our loved ones.

I cry out along with David "Do not let my heart incline to any evil."

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Darkness is as Light!

Reading:  Psalm 139
My Verse:  "Even the darkness is not dark to you;
                        the night is bright as the day,
                        for darkness is as light with you" (Psalm 139:12).

 I love this verse because when read in its context of Psalm 139 the focus is positive.  I am reminded of Your omnipresence and omniscience.  For You there is no such thing as darkness.  I can never get into a place so dark that You cannot see me!  You are always there to lead and guide me when I cannot see what is before me.  To You, darkness is as light!

"Even the darkness is not dark to you" seems a contradiction.  But we are speaking here of the contrast between man's vision and that of You, LORD God.  We are limited, You are not!  I like how the Amplified Bible states this phrase, "Even the darkness hides nothing from You."

"The night is bright as the day." This makes me think of those beautiful moonlit winter nights when the snow and moonlight combine to make everything just sparkle!  It is truly magical!  It is night, and you know it is night, yet all is so very bright!  This must be something of what it is like for You, LORD God.  You sense the night(darkness) but Your light simply dispels the darkness as the moon and snow do on a winter night. And so as the Amplified Bible states it "the night shines as the day."

"For darkness is as light with you."  You, LORD God know instantly and effortlessly all that there is to know.  Nothing is hidden from You, LORD God! All man's deeds lay exposed to Your eyes! (Hebrews 4:13)  This should be a most comforting knowledge!  We need not fear the unknown for there is no such thing for You!  In the phrasing of the Amplified Bible, "the darkness and the light are both alike to You."

Daniel, a great wise man living in exile in Babylon served in the courts of the kings.  When called on to interpret a dream he praised You, LORD God with this.

     Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
          to whom belong wisdom and might.
     He changes times and seasons;
          He removes kings and sets up kings;
     He gives wisdom to the wise
          and knowledge to those who have understanding;
     He reveals deep and hidden things;
          He knows what is in the darkness,
          and the light dwells with him.

     To you, O God of my fathers,
          I give thanks and praise,
     for you have given me wisdom and might,
          and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
          for you have made known to us the king's matter" (Daniel 2:20-23).

Yes, for You, LORD God, darkness is as light!  Thank You, for this!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Strength of Soul

Reading: Psalms 132 - 138
My Verse:  "On the day I called, you answered me;
                        my strength of soul you increased" (138:3).

I am so constantly amazed, LORD God, at the little treasures I find in Your Word.  Those special little bits that grab me, intrigue and pique my curiosity and wonder.  Here the little phrase "my strength of soul" catches my attention.

This tells me I need help not only physically. mentally and emotionally but also spiritually.  I must cry out to You to strengthen my soul!   It is a very important part of me!  You tell us to "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).  I am not to neglect any part of my being - my spirituality is actually most important as it has to do with my very eternity! (Matthew 16:26)

I think of all those that refuse to acknowledge their souls. They push aside that part of themselves and carry on with their lives as if they do not face eternity.  That is until death looms large in front of them!  Blaise Pascal in Pascal's Pensees says of those that refuse to acknowledge their souls:

     "I find it necessary to point out the sinfulness of those men who live in indifference to the search for truth in a matter which is so important to them, and which touches them so nearly.  

     Of all their errors, this doubtless is the one which most convicts them of foolishness and blindness . . .

     For it is not to be doubted that the duration of this life is but a moment . . .

     At this point, therefore, we condemn those who live without thought of the ultimate end of life, who let themselves be guided by their own inclinations, and their own pleasures without reflection and without concern, and , as if they could annihilate eternity by turning away their thought from it, think, only of making themselves happy for the moment."

Oh, LORD God, I pray for loved ones the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3:14-19:

     "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

I thank You, LORD God for this lovely phrase, "my strength of soul you increased!"  I am so grateful for the wonderful truths you reveal to me.  Help me to have that simple, strong faith Emily Dickenson portrayed in her lovely poem.

     I never saw a moor,
     I never saw the sea;
     Yet know I how the heather looks,
     And what a wave must be.

     I never spoke with God,
     Nor visited in heaven;
     Yet certain am I of the spot 
     As if the chart were given.

My soul is strengthened!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!


   

Calm & Quiet My Soul!

Reading:  Psalms 128 - 131
My Verse:  "But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
                        like a weaned child with its mother;
                        like a weaned child is my soul within me" (131:2).

I love this verse!  It speaks to that great need we have for a quiet soul - peace!  How the world clammers and yammers at us!  Way too often we succumb to whatever it is that is crying out at us!  Oh, LORD God, help me to calm and quiet my soul.

Because this verse says "But I have . . .", I realize that I am able to calm myself.  I must use the abilities You, LORD God give me to be proactive and do what is needed to calm and quiet my soul.  Too many want to say, "Well, that is just the way I am."  This is a poor excuse for indulging oneself and giving into those many temptations that You, LORD God, warn us against.

You mean for us to live full abundant lives! (John 10:10)

You mean for us to live purposeful lives!  "Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people)" (Ephesians 5:15).  We must purpose in our hearts to live for You, LORD God.  As Paul told us, "But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit" (Galatians 5:16).

 You do not want us to live in fear but to be disciplined and strong. "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).  To be like a "weaned child" I need to exert self-control!  This is not an easy thing to learn!   How I admire those great spiritual giants that lived before me!  And yet, when I read their stuff I realize that they too struggled with self-discipline.  I need to remind myself (over and over!) that this is a process that I will get better at but never completely master as long as I live on this earth.  I also need to be reminded that I cannot do this on my own power.  Calvin Miller gleaned some great truths and strategies from Terese of Avila's writings.

The first is to realize that Satan is behind all the clamoring at our souls!  We must defeat him by praising other's achievements; anticipating when we are vulnerable and avoid situations that tempt us; realize that You, LORD God are vital to our true happiness not worldly gain;  and avoid falling into the "what if" cycle that spirals into a "poor me" pity party!

Then we need to realize that You, LORD God are LOVE!  You love us more that we can ever realize and You allow things to happen to us for our good.  Plus, You will never push us beyond what we can endure - how I need to remember this! (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Thirdly, we need to take time to meditate or focus on You, LORD God!  I like how Miller explains this. "The essence of focusing is the quietening of the heart and stopping the busyness of the mind."  He then says what it does.  "Focusing is a way of breaking the thrall that the world has over us."

We are to use what Miller calls "selective listening."  Teresa says in her writings that we are "not to listen to everyone who brings their opinion against us."  Even You LORD Jesus addressed this in Luke 8:18.  "Therefore consider carefully how you listen."  It is so easy to allow what someone says to spiral one down into an anguish of the soul!

Finally, we are to remember that You, LORD God, are our Father in heaven!  You love us as a father would.  Matthew 7:11 and Luke 11:11-12 make this very clear.

Thank you for this.  Help me today to use these strategies to calm and quiet my soul!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Striving In Vain!

Reading:  Psalms 123 - 127
My Verse:  "Unless the LORD builds the house,
                        those who build it labor in vain.
                     Unless the LORD watches over the city,
                          the watchman stays awake in vain" (Psalm 127:1)

I just watched a science video on what would happen or what is thought might happen if two stars hit each other.  The narrator said they would both go into oblivion!  I question that, how can they know what is happening so very far away?  And what exactly is oblivion?  I was fascinated with the final words of the narrator, "a pair of stars say farewell to eternity."  What does that mean?

Can something go into oblivion?  Can something become nothing?  Fascinating questions!  LORD God, You spoke into being all that is. "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).  Did You speak into being all that is, from nothing?

It is interesting how even great scientists who claim to be atheists struggle with explaining themselves without inserting God into their explanations.  Stephen Hawkins, an acclaimed scientist and atheist did this when he said, "I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science.   The laws may have been decreed by God, but God does not intervene to break the laws."  There is now even a theory call "Intelligent Design" for those that realize the universe is too orderly to have come into being by some random big bang.  But they do not want to acknowledge that You, LORD God are the intelligence behind all that is!

They do not want, as Hawkins stated here, to believe that You do intervene in our existence.  Your word, the Bible tells us how You have intervened throughout time as we know it.  Yet, man strives to live their lives without You.  They go about building their houses, fighting their wars but without You - it is only a striving after the wind! - a chasing after wisps of dreams that are never realized.

As Solomon, considered the wisest man to have ever lived,  said in Ecclesiastes.

"For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God.  This also is vanity and a striving after wind" (2:26).

"For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow?  (6:12)

  Oh, LORD God, I truly believe what You say in Ecclesiastes 3:11 "Also He has put eternity into man's heart."  I remember as a very young child having this sense of there being so much more to my world than what I perceived through my senses.  I know too that this is the source of man's discontent and lack of peace.  All men know in the depths of their hearts that they are eternal beings created by You!

Thank You, LORD God, that we do not need to live empty lives, striving after something that is unattainable.  You gave us a purpose - "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  You gave Your Word to guide me, teach me and encourage me - to reveal Your purposes for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

I Lift Up My Eyes!

Reading:  Psalms 120 - 122
My Verse:  "I lift up my eyes to the hills.
                        From where does my help come?
                    My help comes from the LORD,
                        Who made heaven and earth" (121:1,2).

Again, David is crying out to You, LORD God!  But today I note that this is not mere blubbering!  It is mindful, worshipful and particular.  David first gives You his focus and attention - "I lift my eyes to the hills."

David then states Who You, LORD God are.  You are the God Who "made heaven and earth."  Tozer, in his wonderful little book, The Knowledge of the Holy, states how very important it is that we think rightly about You, LORD God.

     "Without doubt, the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God . . . I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God. . . . 
      Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character.  The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is - in itself a monstrous sin - and substitutes for the true god one made after its own likeness.  Always this God will conform to the image of the one who created it and will be base or pure, cruel or kind, according to the moral state of the mind from which it emerges.
     The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.
     So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it."

In essence we shortchange ourselves by not thinking rightly about Who You are LORD God.  Forgive me for I do this often.  I start to doubt and question.  Help me to stop and turn my eyes to You!

David then recounts how You, LORD God will save and keep him.

     "He will not let your foot be moved,
           He who keeps you will not slumber.

     The LORD is your keeper;
           The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
      The sun shall not strike you by day,
           nor the moon by night.

       The LORD will keep you from all evil;
           He will keep your life (121:3 - 6)

Thank You, LORD God!  Thank You for Who You are!

"I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3:14)!
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending (Revelation 1:8)
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ (I Timothy 2:5)
"I Am the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6)
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)

Thank You that I can lift my eyes to You knowing who it is I am trusting.    I have but to look into Your word and into my heart to know You.  I thank You for this Psalm and the promises within it!

"The LORD will keep 
      your going out and your coming in
      from this time forth and forevermore" (Psalm 121:8)!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

It is OK To Pray For Myself!

Reading:  Psalm 119
My Verses:  "Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
                          and I will keep it to the end.
                     Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
                          and observe it with my whole heart.
                      Lead me in the path of your commandments,
                           for I delight in it.
                      Incline my heart to your testimonies,
                           and not to selfish gain!
                      Turn  my eyes from looking at worthless things;
                           and give me life in your ways" (Psalm 119:32 - 37).

I am struck by how frequently David prays for himself!  I keep thinking that I am being selfish by crying out to You, LORD God to get me through my day!  But that seems to be what the Psalms are!  A constant cry to You to teach us, guide us, lead us, turn our thoughts to You, keep us away from all that distracts!  If David is any example, and I believe he is one of the best, then I am to unabashedly cry out to You, to pray for myself!

I remember reading of a man who happened to listen in on the prayer of a fellow believer.  The listener was amazed to hear how much of the fellow believer's prayer was for himself - seeking guidance and wisdom.  The listener greatly admired this praying man.  He said it was a great encouragement for him to spend time in prayer for himself!

I need to take a lesson here.  So often I spend much time praying for everyone but myself.  I think I need to power through, that I should not be so needy!  But here in this Psalm David is constantly praying for himself!

"May my heart be blameless in your statutes" (119:80).

"I am yours, save me" (119:94).

"I am your servant, give me understanding" (119:125).

"give me understanding, that I may live" (119:144).

"With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD" (119:145)!

"I rise before dawn and cry for help" (119:146).

"Look on my affliction and deliver me" (119:153).

I truly believe that not only is all of scripture "God breathed", it is also for my edification, for my instruction. (2 Timothy 3:16)  So many spend much time seeking out the world's wisdom but that will pass away!  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:25).  "Forever, O LORD, your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens" (119:89).

Your Word is also alive and sharper than any two-edged sword! (Hebrews 4:12)  It is refreshing and healing to me each time I read it.  It helps me to think rightly.

Thank You, LORD God, for this permission to pray for myself.  Help me today to look to You constantly, gladly and without hesitation!  Help me to pray fervently and earnestly as did Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10.

"Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me!  And God granted his request."

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Trust God Not Man!

Reading:  Psalm 118
My Verse:  "It is better to take refuge in the LORD
                         than to trust in man" (Psalm 118:8).

 At my last Bible study we were to reflect on what it is that gives us the greatest sense of security.  There were all these choices: money in the bank, a job, parents, friends, one's own abilities and skills, promises of God, awareness of God's presence, assurance of God's guidance, a good investment, children, social acceptance, spouse - i.e. family,  etc.  When I looked over this list, at first I thought well they all do.  But then I started to really examine each item and began to realize that anything that was of "man" was really not reliable when you come right down to it.  Truly only, You, LORD God can give us that steadfast sense of security - "for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!"  So, yes, in the final analysis, it is better to trust in You than in man!

The next verse says to especially not put my "confidence in princes."  I thought this interesting, as You, LORD God place those "princes" in power.  Yet, so often they fall away from following Your precepts. So while I am to obey and pray for my leaders, all those in authority over me - I cannot trust them to be steadfast.  Only You, LORD God are true and steadfast.  "His steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 18:1,2,3).

I am reminded of Blaise Pascal's admonition to mankind.  He speaks of the uncertainty of life itself and how all the activities that we engage in are so very uncertain.  Yet, so many refuse to act on the most important thing of all - the destiny of our souls.

"If we must not act save on a certainty, we ought not to act on religion, for it is not certain.  but how many things we do on an uncertainty, sea voyages, battles!  I say then we must do nothing at all, for nothing is certain, and that  there is more certainty in religion than there is as to whether we may see tomorrow; . . . 

According to the doctrine of chance, you ought to put yourself to the trouble of searching for the truth; for if you die without worshipping the True Cause, you are lost. - - "But," say you, "if He had wished me to worship Him, He would have left me signs of His will." - - He has done so; but you neglect them.  Seek them, therefore; it is well worth it." (Pascal's Pensees)

Oh, LORD God, thank You for enlightening my heart that I am able to entrust myself in Your care! "The LORD is God, Who has shown and given us light [He has illuminated us with grace, freedom, and joy]." (Psalm 118:27 Amplified).  Thank You for relentlessly pursuing me!

"You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You; You are my God, I will extol You. O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy and loving kindness endure forever"(Psalm 11828,30)!

Thank You for that deep, steadfast sense of security that comes only from You.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

From the Rising Of the Sun To Its Setting!

Reading:  Psalms 113 - 117
My Verse:  "Blessed be the name of the LORD,,
                        from this time forth and forevermore!
                    From the rising of the sun to its setting,
                         the name of the LORD is to be praised" (Psalm 113:2,3)!

What a wonderful collection of Psalms!  Oh, LORD God, thank You for these songs.  Thank You for ever reminding me that I need to devote my day to praising You!  Praising You, LORD God throughout my day is uplifting, healing and strengthening!  Help me to look to You "from the rising of the sun to its setting!"

By praising You I am uplifted!  By praising You, I take my eyes off myself, my cares and worries.  "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith and is also the Finisher" (Hebrews 12:2).  Oh, to be in the wonderful light of Your gaze, LORD God!  "For You light my lamp;  The LORD my God illumines my darkness" (Psalm 18:28).

You and You only are the healer of my soul!  You, LORD God, are the only one able to free us from the terrible chains that bind us and drag us down to the pit.
             "Bless the LORD, Oh my soul,
             and forget not all his benefits,
             Who forgives all your iniquity,
             Who heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:2,3).

You and You only strengthen me and enable me to have the courage to live as You would have me to live while here on this earth.  I so often have a hard time visualizing myself as victorious but You tell me in Your word often that I am victorious in You!

     "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:57).
     No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
     "I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
     "What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us" (Romans 8:31)?

So, yes!  From the "rising of the sun to its setting"  I will turn my eyes upon You, LORD God and praise You!  "To You lift I up my eye, O You that dwell in the heavens" (Psalm 123:1).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!