Sharing the Word: November 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 30, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 30:32-33 (HCSB)
³²If you have been foolish by exalting yourself or if you've been scheming, put your hand over your mouth. ³³For the churning of milk produces butter, and twisting a nose draws blood, and stirring up anger produces strife.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 32:11 (HCSB)
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Psalm 33:1-3 (HCSB)
¹Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful. ²Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp. ³Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.

My observation:

Today's Psalm picks up where the previous Psalm ended. It is a call to worship of God's people. Notice that the call to worship is addressed to, "you righteous ones" in both cases. It is the people of God who have reason to sing praises to the Lord.

Notice that the call is to sing a new song. A new song does not have to necessarily be a new composition. The new song may be an old song in response to a new experience of the grace and mercy of God.

Whether we sing a new song or an old song, it is a good thing for the people of God to give praise where praise is due.

Psalm 107:1 (HCSB)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise you because of your enduring love. Father, there is nothing on earth that compares with your faithful love for your children. Father God, I give you the only thing that I can give to a sovereign God and that is the praise of my lips, and the surrender of my life to your will and purpose.

Psalm 103:1 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

My song:

Let's Just Praise the Lord (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/praise.html

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 29, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:11 (HCSB)
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 32:6-11 (HCSB)
⁶Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You at a time that You may be found. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him. ⁷You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah ⁸I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel. ⁹Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you. ¹⁰Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. ¹¹Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

My observation:

David was a man that had experienced protection and deliverance from the hand of the Lord. Therefore, he had something to share with others. Notice that what David had to say is for everyone who is faithful. This reminds us that even the faithful sometimes go astray.

David had been in this position, and not just on one occasion, and he had learned that the way out was to pray to the Lord before you get into deeper trouble. He promised that if the Lord got him out of his troubles, he would tell others how to find help in their time of need.

Psalm 34:11 (HCSB)
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Psalm 51:13 (HCSB)
Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You.

Not everyone who makes a promise when they are in a tight spot that if God will deliver them out of their predicament that they will serve him faithfully. However, David was faithful to keep his promises to the Lord. In our current focal passage we find him doing what he promised he would do.

Psalm 32:8 (HCSB)
I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that you are a God who is faithful in all your ways. Father, when we bring our faults and failures to you in prayer, you are faithful to forgive us, cleanse us, and restore the joy of our salvation. Father God, because of your promises, I know that everything is going to be aright if I put my sins in the hands of Jesus.

1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

My song:

I Surrender All (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_I_Surrender_All.html

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sunday Morning Reflections_November 28, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:20 (HCSB)
A faithful man will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 139:1-2 (HCSB)
¹Lord, You have searched me and known me. ²You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away.

Psalm 139:17-18 (HCSB)
¹⁷God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me ⌊to comprehend⌋; how vast their sum is! ¹⁸If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You.

The Word for encouragement:

Philippians 4:8 (HCSB)
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that I serve a God who knows me personally, and who loves me just the way I am. Father, I thank you that you loved me first, that you loved me before I even knew you. Such love humbles me, and drives me to my knees in prayer.

Father God, today I pray these two prayers of the Apostle Paul for my family, my friends, and for myself. Lord, I thank you that you hear the prayers offered in faith by the faithful.

Ephesians 1:17 (HCSB)
⌊I pray⌋ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Ephesians 3:16 (HCSB)
⌊I pray⌋ that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit,

My song:

Still, Still with Thee (Click on link below for lyrics and to listen to this song):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/555

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 26, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:3 (HCSB)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 32:1-5 (HCSB)
¹How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! ²How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit! ³When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. ⁴For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer's heat. Selah ⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah

My observation:

In the first two verses of this Psalm David answers the question "Who can be truly blessed?" In the next three verses he describes a personal experience that supports the premise.

There are two important words in this passage about dealing with sin; forgiven and covered. It is foolish for man to attempt to hide his sin like David did. Hiding sins only makes matters worse, as David describes what covering his sins did to his body externally and internally.

Proverbs 28:13 (HCSB)
The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

David discovered that the path to happiness and blessedness comes by owning up to your sins, and seeking forgiveness from a merciful God. When you are truly penitent before God, he will deal graciously with your sin problem. God will forgive and cover your sin. When God covers sin he takes away the guilt and the iniquity of our sin.

Psalm 32:5 (AMP)
I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]—then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

When you pause and think about this you can't help but experience what David felt and experienced. The silence of David in verse three was turned into singing in verse seven.

Psalm 32:7 (HCSB)
You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you are a loving, kind, gracious, and forgiving God. Father God, I thank you that in being transparent with you, I can find sufficient grace to cover all of my sins.

My song:

Grace Greater than Our Sin (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Grace_Greater_Than_Our_Sin.html

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:13-14 (HCSB)
¹³To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters. ¹⁴The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 100:1-5 (HCSB)
¹Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. ²Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. ³Acknowledge that Yahweh is God. He made us, and we are His — His people, the sheep of His pasture. ⁴Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. ⁵For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 17:11-19 (HCSB)
¹¹While traveling to Jerusalem, He passed between Samaria and Galilee. ¹²As He entered a village, 10 men with serious skin diseases met Him. They stood at a distance ¹³and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" ¹⁴When He saw them, He told them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And while they were going, they were healed. ¹⁵But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. ¹⁶He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷Then Jesus said, "Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸Didn't any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?" ¹⁹And He told him, "Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well."

My prayer:

Our father in heaven, my dear Father, I delight to join in the day that has been set aside as Thanksgiving Day to give you praise and thanks.

However, my prayer is that every day of my life will be a day that I give thanks to you with my lips and my life. Father, may the thanksgiving expressed by my lips be accompanied by thanks-living in my daily walk. Father God, today and every day I am thankful for your promises and your provisions.

My song:

I Thank You for Your Promises (Click on link below for lyrics and to listen to this song):

http://songsofpraise.org/song.php?songid=470

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 24, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 24:10 (ESV)
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 31:19-24 (HCSB)
¹⁹How great is Your goodness that You have stored up for those who fear You and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in You. ²⁰You hide them in the protection of Your presence; You conceal them in a shelter from the schemes of men, from quarrelsome tongues. ²¹May the Lord be praised, for He has wonderfully shown His faithful love to me in a city under siege. ²²In my alarm I had said, "I am cut off from Your sight." But You heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to You for help. ²³Love the Lord, all His faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant. ²⁴Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.

My observation:

David concludes this Psalm by giving praise to the Lord because of his goodness. David had learned not to put his trust in his own strength, because his strength was too small for the adversity he faced in his life.

David realized that even his own faith sometimes faltered, but his God was faithful to pardon even David's unfaithfulness.

Psalm 31:22 (HCSB)
In my alarm I had said, "I am cut off from Your sight." But You heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to You for help.

Isn't God good to his people who put their trust in him, fear him, and take refuge in him? When the Lord is your hope and your helper you don't have to focus on the size of your problems, rather, you can focus on the size of your God.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I delight to join with the saints of the ages in giving praise to you for your unfailing love. Father, your love is truly a love without limits.

Father God, I thank you that because of your goodness, I have strength for today and hope for all of my tomorrows. Father, when my day of adversity comes I will trust in, and rely upon the loving favor of my heavenly Father. Lord, I am weak, but you are strong so I can rejoice because the victory is mine through the strength of the Lord.

My song:

Be Strong in the Lord (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbIvlYjfnD4

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 23, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 23:15-16 (HCSB)
¹⁵My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice. ¹⁶My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 31:9-10 (HCSB)
⁹Be gracious to me, Lord, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow— my whole being as well. ¹⁰Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my sinfulness, and my bones waste away.

Psalm 31:14-18 (HCSB)
¹⁴But I trust in You, Lord; I say, "You are my God." ¹⁵The course of my life is in Your power; deliver me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors. ¹⁶Show Your favor to Your servant; save me by Your faithful love. ¹⁷Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on You. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be silent in Sheol. ¹⁸Let lying lips be quieted; they speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

My observation:

It would be good if we never had to experience trouble in our life, but I am not sure it would be the thing that would be best for us. The hymn writer said, "If I never had a problem, how would I know that God could solve it? Tell me, how would I know what faith in God could do?"

Earlier in this Psalm David recounted his past problems and how God had delivered him from his troubles and his enemies. In our focal passage for today he finds himself having to deal with a present problem. The troubles of the night might turn to joy in the morning. However, problems have a way of returning. In this present world, we will have problems.

In dealing with the present problems David reaffirmed his trust in the Lord. Through all of his problems; past and present, David was able to say, "You are my God". If God is your Father, you can call upon him when trouble comes into your life. David called upon the Lord, and asked for God to favor his child with his faithful love.

If you have ever had a problem, and asked the Lord to solve it, you know, as another hymn writer wrote, "God can do what no other power can do". Can I get a witness that God is faithful?

My song:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the strong hands, the compassionate heart, and the faithful love of my heavenly Father. Lord, I am so grateful that I have a God that I can believe in, and in whom I can trust to see me through my problems past, present, and future. Father, I am so blessed to be able to say, "You are my God".

My song:

Standing firm in the Storm (Click on link below for the lyrics and to play midi to listen to this song):

http://songsofpraise.org/song.php?songid=285

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 22, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 22:3 (HCSB)
A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 31:3-8 (HCSB)
³For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name. ⁴You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for You are my refuge. ⁵Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, Lord, God of truth. ⁶I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. ⁷I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my life ⁸and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.

My observation:

The picture that we see in this Psalm is a godly man who had to face many troubles in his life. In addition he had his share of enemies to deal with. This wears on a person, and David was no exception.

However, we see that David had a confident faith, and was able to have a joy in his life that his troubles and enemies were not able to rob him of. The source of his joy was his Lord, in whom he had great confidence. When the Lord is your redeemer and your refuge you can make it through whatever life throws at you, and still go through it without losing your joy.

Notice how similar is the words of David and the words of Jesus in their dealing with trouble and suffering by the wrong doing of others.

Psalm 31:5 (HCSB)
Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, Lord, God of truth.

Luke 23:46 (HCSB)
And Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit." Saying this, He breathed His last.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for being a God of truth, for being a God who I can trust in with my whole heart and with utter confidence.

Father God, I am so blessed that I can say that the Lord is my redeemer and my refuge. Father, with Jesus as my savior and sustainer, I know that I can make it through life in spite of my troubles and my foes. Troubles may come into my life, but I know that I can always depend upon the amazing grace of my loving Lord. Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.

My song:

Amazing Grace (Click on link below to listen to Mahalia Jackson sing):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJg5Op5W7yw&feature=related

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sunday Morning Reflections_November 22, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 21:23 (HCSB)
The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 31:19-20 (HCSB)
¹⁹How great is Your goodness that You have stored up for those who fear You and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in You. ²⁰You hide them in the protection of Your presence; You conceal them in a shelter from the schemes of men, from quarrelsome tongues.

The Word for encouragement:

Colossians 4:6 (HCSB)
Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

James 1:19-20 (HCSB)
¹⁹My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, ²⁰for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you would hide my life in the protection of your abiding presence. Father God, it is only by your presence and your power that I can guard my mouth and my tongue to meet your standards. Lord, work in me, and give me the desire to cooperate with you, so that out of me will come words that are loving, kind, and full of grace.

Psalm 19:14 (HCSB)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 19, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:17 (HCSB)
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 31:1-2 (HCSB)
¹Lord, I seek refuge in You; let me never be disgraced. Save me by Your righteousness. ²Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.

My observation:

Today we come to another of the Psalms of David, and we find that the subject is a familiar one. David finds himself in need of calling on the Lord for help in dealing with trouble caused by his enemies. Have you noticed that there is no distinction when it comes to having troubles in your life? They visit the homes of the godly and the ungodly.

However, I do notice a difference in resources to help in time of trouble. You will notice that David opens this Psalm by seeking the help of the Lord. David problems were large, and he needed a source that was able to help him; a source that was bigger than his enemies and his troubles. Notice how he described his need, "Be a rock of refuge for me, and a mountain fortress to save me". When you need a rock, a pebble won't get the job done.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a rock and a fortress that you can lean on when troubles come into your life. You can stay in close communion with him through prayer. The recurring troubles that we face in life should convince us of our need for a rock and a fortress that is greater than ourselves. I need the Lord in my life, and I need him every day and every hour.

Psalm 31:5 (HCSB)
Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, Lord, God of truth.

Psalm 31:15 (HCSB)
The course of my life is in Your power; deliver me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise and thank You that I have a Savior who is my redeemer and my rock. Jesus is my rock and my refuge when the storms of life flood my soul.

Father God, I pray that by faith, I will learn how to take my hands off of the control switch, and rely completely upon the hand of the Lord since God alone is able to redeem and deliver his people. Lord, I need you, and thank God I have you in my life today and forever.

Psalm 31:7-8 (HCSB)
⁷I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my life ⁸and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.

My song:

A Shelter in the Time of Storm (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.biblestudycharts.com/SH_A_Shelter_in_the_Time_of_Storm.html

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 18, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:10 (HCSB)
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 30:11-12 (HCSB)
¹¹You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, ¹²so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.

My observation:

There is no escaping going through this world without encountering trials and suffering along the way at some point in our life. There are two important things that we can do to prepare ourselves for the day of trouble.

Jesus taught his disciples and all who would follow him afterwards that they should expect to have troubles in the world.

John 16:33 (HCSB)
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."

The second thing that you can do is to make place in your life for Jesus. He is the only one who has overcome the world, and he promises that he will give peace to his people who are in him, and who come to him.

The trials and the suffering that you may be facing today are not unique. The saints of every age have faced trials and suffering. This is what Amy Carmichael says about suffering and the Savior.

"We say, then, to anyone who is under trial, give Him time to steep the soul in His eternal truth. Go into the open air, look up into the depths of the sky, or out upon the wideness of the sea, or on the strength of the hills that is His also; or, if bound in the body, go forth in the spirit; spirit is not bound. Give Him time and, as surely as dawn follows night, there will break upon the heart a sense of certainty that cannot be shaken."

Our troubles and suffering may overwhelm us, but they are not too big for our Savior. David stayed close to the Lord, and in his day of trouble he took his problems to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 30:2 (HCSB)
Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

Isn't it good to know that when we take our problems to the Lord in prayer that we can expect something good to happen in our lives. We can get ready for the praise gathering that David and the worshippers had following David's deliverance.

Here is another Amy Carmichael quote to encourage you in what you may be going through on the way to your praise party.

"Joys are always on the way to us. They are always traveling to us through the darkness of the night. There is never a night when they are not coming."

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I ask that I would remember in my day of trouble that I am not in it alone. I have a Savior who has overcome the world, and his promise is that he would give me peace if I am in him, and he in me. Father, I thank you that joy is always coming to your children, even during our darkest nights, joy comes in the morning. Lord, help me to release my fears, and hold on to my faith in my Savior.

My song:

No More Night (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vX3HHtytDo&feature=related

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 17, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 17:9 (HCSB)
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.

Proverbs 17:17 (HCSB)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 30:8-10 (HCSB)
⁸Lord, I called to You; I sought favor from my Lord: ⁹"What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your truth? ¹⁰Lord, listen and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper."

My observation:

In this Psalm David reflects on his life, and he invites the worshippers to reflect upon their lives. David had two issues that he was dealing with in his life. One was his enemies and the other was sickness. He mentions these in the first two verses of this Psalm.

Psalm 30:1-2 (HCSB)
¹I will exalt You, Lord, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. ²Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

What problems have you had in the past, or problems that you are going through now that enables you to identify with this Psalm? Are you able to recall and rejoice like David did? Aren't you glad that troubles are not forever, but that God's favor is for life, and that joy comes in the morning?

Psalm 30:5 (HCSB)
For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.

In today's focal passage David reflects on another circumstance in his life. On this occasion he was near death, and he asked the Lord to spare his life. David wanted more than just extended years, even though that is something precious. David wanted more life so that he could praise the Lord, and tell others of the Lord's graciousness and faithfulness to his people.

Psalm 30:9 (HCSB)
"What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your truth?

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that in my weakness I can find strength in the Lord to carry on through the dark nights knowing that joy will come at dawn. Father, I praise you for your faithfulness to your beloved children. Father God, thank you that the circumstances I go through are only temporary, and that your loving favor is forever.

My song:

The Barrett Sisters sing "Yes Jesus Loves Me" (After the introduction):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWy7Py0Epg4

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 16, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 16:17 (HCSB)
The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 30:6-7 (HCSB)
⁶When I was secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." ⁷Lord, when You showed Your favor, You made me stand like a strong mountain; when You hid Your face, I was terrified.

My observation:

The believer must beware of one of the snares that David had to confront in his journey. David came to a place in his life where he no longer trusted in the Lord with his whole heart, but he became over confident, and pride led him to the false belief that he could stand in his own strength.

That is nothing wrong with having self-confidence, but not at the expense of trusting in the Lord, and realizing that your strength comes from the Lord and not from yourself. When David attributed his success in life to himself, God disciplined him by removing his blessings and his favor.

David did some self-examination, and what he saw terrified him. It drove him to prayer, and prayer has the power to change our minds and our hearts. It is not good to forget where your strength comes from. Those who forget do so at their own peril. The risk of having unbounded self-confidence comes when things are going well in our life. The cure is to remember the source of your strength.

Psalm 27:1 (HCSB)
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom should I be afraid?

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that when you look at me that you would not find in me a false sense of believing that I am sufficient in my strength alone. Father God, if you find in me a trace of false pride, I ask that you remove it. Father God, replace it with a confident faith and trust in You as the source of my strength and power for living.

My song:

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/568

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Daily Prayer_November 15, 2010

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 15:8 (HCSB)
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 30:1-5 (HCSB)
¹I will exalt You, Lord, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. ²Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. ³Lord, You brought me up from Sheol; You spared me from among those going down to the Pit. ⁴Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name. ⁵For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.

My observation:

As we approach the day that has been set aside in our nation as Thanksgiving Day, this Psalm is a reminder that every day should be a day of thanksgiving for God's people. I don't have to look back very far when I start to count my blessings.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to have access to our heavenly Father and to be able to bring to him the cares and concerns that we have in our life. In that great teaching on prayer Jesus gave his disciples a pattern for praying.

Matthew 6:11 (HCSB)
Give us today our daily bread.

If you are hungry, you should ask the Lord for food. If you are sick you should ask the Lord for health. David's need was for health so that is what he asked the Lord for in this Psalm. You can ask your heavenly Father for whatever you need.

Psalm 30:2 (HCSB)
Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

There are no perfect saints. David was not perfect, but he served a perfect God, and his God had dealt mercifully with him. When you are not perfect it is good to be in the hands of God rather than in the hands of man.

1 Chronicles 21:13 (HCSB)
David answered Gad, "I'm in anguish. Please, let me fall into the Lord's hands because His mercies are very great, but don't let me fall into human hands."

Yes, David would say that it pays to serve the Lord, and to make a place in your life to talk to him every day. The Lord brought David from sickness to health, and from weeping to joy. If the Lord has done something good and gracious for you, why don't you do what David did? Give the Lord some praise.

Psalm 30:4 (MSG)
All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face!

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful to be able to have this daily face time with you. Lord, I can identify with David because you have been for me a doctor in a sick room.

Father God, I have also missed the mark, and have experienced the chastening of the Lord's hand in my life. And like your servant David, I would rather be in the hands of the Lord than in the hands of man. Father, mercy suits my case.

My song:

Praise Him, Praise Him! (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Praise_Him_Praise_Him.html

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.