Thanks be to God part 9

And so are the words, "Deliver us" over and over. David used them, Daniel, Nehemiah, Moses, even Jesus and now I use them. Deliver me, deliver us, save us from our enemies, save us from those who would want us harmed. Save me God because there are those who don't care about You and they mock me and give me gall to drink. (Sound familiar?) (Psalm 59:6-17; Psalm 69:1-30). And then Jesus in Matthew spoke those wonderful words, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake, for their reward is in heaven." Heaven is the only place that matters. Heaven is where God is, heaven is my one true home. Anything down here will turn to rubble, not heaven. It was the reason for writing "How Firm a Foundation", because in heaven there is an immovable foundation. So no matter if I am sinking in the mire, as in Psalm 69, God still knows what the matter is and that it's going to be OK, I will be alright. Thanks be to God for being such a wonderful protector and shield. And for giving me this day and the next and however many He chooses to give me for His sake.

Thanks be to God part 8

As David said, "Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. So shall I have wherewith to answer Him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hope in thy judgments. Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thought hast caused me to hope. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. I am thine, sav me, for I have sought thy precepts; uphold me according to thy word, unto thy mercy and teach me thy statutes. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O LORD; I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto Thee, save me." (Psalm 119:38, 42,43,49,73,94,116,124,145,146,153,173-176) When Jesus prays for God to give us our daily bread in the Our Father He is praying not just to be fed although that is fundamental to be sure, but He s asking as well for wisdom. God's wisdom. And this God freely gives. He gives me wisdom because of His great mercy and love for me. He could let me fend for myself, but He knows that I would sink rapidly and so thourgh His great powers He gives me His wisdom and His knowledge of His will. And by using these I can never stray far, not without being able to run back to Him. In another psalm, Psalm 143:11,12, "Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy Name's sake, for thy righteousness' sake, bring my soul out of trouble, and of thy mercy, cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that affect my soul, for I am Thy servant."

Thank God for God part 6

But I not only need bread. I need physical and spiritual strength (Psalm 79:10-12) coming from Him. I need others to see Him working in my life, so that what I say about Him bears witness in my walk. People are more likely to look for actions rather than for words. For my enemies (Psalm 83:1,2,18) as well as my friends, I need to be a witness of Him in my life. All of my life. I nmeed to demonstrate Him privately and publicly. And I need to show my love for Him always. When it seems He has gone, oh, how my enemies reproach Him and me for His sake. (Psalm 106:67) But this is life, that all is for Him and only Him. He gives me my bread that His name be glorified and His life magnified through the instrument that He has created within me. (Psalm 115:1,2)