Psalm 69:13
“But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.” There comes a turning point in every battle, every storm, every trial, where one must choose how they, as an individual, will respond and give account for their actions. There are times when teamwork takes precedent, but in the end, the team does not give account to the Lord as a whole. Each of us will stand before the Lord someday and give an account for us alone. For the first twelve verses of Psalm 69, David lays out his situation. How the deep waters are overtaking his soul, and he feels as if he is sinking in the mire. He is weary from crying because of those who hate him without a cause. He pleads to God for deliverance. But in verse 13, we see four words that are the turning point of David’s mindset. “But as for me…” What a reminder for us to have a checkpoint within ourselves of how we are handling the situation around us! When was the last time you stopped and considered how you were conducting yourself in the midst of your circumstances? Here are some examples of some questions we can ask ourselves in reference to “as for me”: What did I choose? Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” How did I respond? Psalm 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” How did I react? Psalm 26:11 “But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.” What did I do with the responsibility He gave me? 1 Chronicles 29:17 “I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.” How did I handle myself in the middle of my storm? Daniel 7:28 “Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.” How often did I pray for others? 1 Samuel 12:23 “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:” When all is said and done, each of us only have to answer for “as for me”. Bible Reading: Jeremiah 15-16 | Psalm 10-12
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1 Peter 1:6
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” What is your favorite season? Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer. Baseball, football, basketball, soccer. Waiting, trusting, rejoicing, mourning, growing, moving, standing still. “for a season” A promise that our circumstance today will not last forever. Seasons come and seasons go. Sometimes we rejoice for a season, and sometimes we mourn. Sometimes we wait, sometimes we move forward. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” A new season comes to bring about a needed change. “if need be” Sometimes the Lord allows a season, for which only He knows the reason. Rest assured that if He sees fit to allow it, He knows we need something that will come out of it. He has a reason, and He has a purpose. 1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” The trials we face all have one thing in common…His purpose. No matter the trial, His purpose remains the same…that it might bring Him praise, honour and glory. “though it be tried with fire” How we handle ourselves in the fire, the choices me make, will determine whether people see us or they see Him. Whatever season you are facing today, allow Him to get the glory through it. Bible Reading: Jeremiah 13-14 | Psalm 7-9 Isaiah 43:2
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Many times in our lives it feels like the situation we are in will never end. We are convinced that the storm will never cease, the waves will always crash, and the wind will always rage. The truth is, in those moments, we have forgotten Whose we are. Isaiah 43:1 “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Because we are His, we can look at our storms and trials differently. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee…” When we are in deep waters, we can past through them because He promises He will be with us. “…and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee…” Remember the Lord parting the Red Sea? He can hold back the waters of the rivers in front of us so that we can pass through without them overflowing upon us. “…when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” The three Hebrew boys experienced this and found very promise to be true. We can walk through our fires without being burned or even smelling like smoke. Whatever you are facing today, He can lead you through. Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Bible Reading: Jeremiah 11-12 | Psalm 4-6 Psalm 138:2
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” There is a Name that is above all other names. The Name of Jesus. Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” John 14:13 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The Name of Jesus has power. We gather in His Name. We pray in His Name. We believe and have life through His Name. We find salvation through His Name. We praise His Name. Yet…the Holy Spirit used David to pen these Words: Psalm 138:2 “…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” As much power as there is in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Lord magnifies His Word above His Name. Jesus Christ is the Word. We have the written Word preserved for our every need. Yet, how often do we neglect the very Source we need the most? The Lord has chosen to magnify His Word above His own Name, should we not also do the same? His Word must be our foundation for everything. All we believe. All that we are. All that we do. All that we say. Everything and all things. What is your foundation today? If you are not standing upon the Word today, it’s time to move. Psalm 56:4 “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” Bible Reading: Jeremiah 9-10 | Psalm 1-3 John 16:13
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” It has often been said that the Bible is too hard to understand. If we try to comprehend the Word through our own abilities, we will surely be confused. This is why we are not meant to read and study the Truth by ourselves. The Bible is the only Book where the Author is always present. God the Father gave the Word. Jesus is the Word. The Holy Spirit guides us through the Word. Jesus spoke these Words as part of His answer to Judas not Iscariot’s question. John 14:22 “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” Several verses later, we learn that the Holy Spirit is a Person, and He will guide us into not just some truth, but all Truth. John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” When we read the Word, the Holy Spirit helps us to discern what the Word means. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” There is so much in His Word that He has prepared for us. But these things cannot be learned on our own, He must guide us. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Ask the Lord to guide you in His Word today. Bible Reading: Jeremiah 7-8 | Proverbs 31 Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” When we are filled with Him, we will see fruit. His fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit…” It is His fruit for it is Him that works in and through us. Without Him, we have no fruit that will remain. The fruit of the Spirit has nine parts, to make one whole proof that He is at work. Love. Love for God. Love for thy neighbor. Joy. Regardless of the circumstances, we can count it all joy through Him. Peace. That passes all of our understanding. That only comes from Him. Longsuffering. Patient in trouble, deferring anger and willing to endure as a good soldier. Gentleness. Sweet, kind, and forgiving. Goodness. Ready to do good always when given the opportunity. Faith. Belief and conviction in the Truth. Meekness. Not easily provoked. Temperance. Able to remain in control, without excess. Is “the fruit of the Spirit” evident within our testimony? Or are we full of ourselves? Seek to be full of His fruit today. Colossians 1:10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” Bible Reading: Jeremiah 5-6 | Proverbs 30 Ephesians 5:18
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” Any substance that lowers our inhibitions causes us to lose control. Alcohol and drugs rob us of our sobriety and awareness. Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, used the contrast of being drunk with wine and filled with the Spirit. In order to be filled with Him, we must first be empty. Empty of ourselves. Empty of our pride. Empty of our strength. Empty of anything but Him. It is then, and only then, we can have a controlled life. Not one where we are in control, but where He controls our every move as we submit to Him. A controlled life is simply a Spirit filled life. Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Without Him, we are out of control. Without Him, we have no direction. Without Him, we are prone to wander. Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” The key to being filled, is to simply yield. Yield to Him today. Bible Reading: Jeremiah 3-4 | Proverbs 29 1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” In Bible times, a ship or boat was the form of transportation to get to one side to the other of a body of water. Today, instead of a boat most of the time we use a bridge. Bridges make a way for us to go somewhere we could not otherwise. Much like lakes or rivers impede getting from one place to the other, our sin stands between us and the One True God. We have way of crossing the great divide by the Bridge of Salvation, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is The Bridge. He is the one Mediator between us and God. Without Him, we are heading down the road to destruction that will lead to our eternal death. With Him, and only because of Him can we come to God at all. When we cannot get from one side to the other, there is a Way. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The Bridge is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. By Him, we are passed from death unto life. John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Next time you see a bridge or go across one, remember…He is The Bridge. Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1-2 | Proverbs 28 Mark 4:35
“.And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.” Jesus promised that they would reach the other side before they even got in the ship. He knew they would arrive safely. He also knew that they would have to go through a storm in order to get there. The disciples did not know either of these truths, only Jesus did. Isn’t that just like our lives sometimes? We set out in faith, not knowing what will transpire before we get there. Is Jesus in your ship? His presence makes all the difference. Mark 4:37 “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” Are you in a great storm today? Are the waves beating against your ship? Even with Jesus onboard, we are not immune to facing storms along the way. He may have been sleeping in the hinder part of their ship, but He was there. They knew exactly Who to go to even when fear made their faith disappear. Fear had overtaken them so much that they questioned if Jesus even cared. May we never allow any storm or circumstance to make us even consider such an ignorant thought. 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Whatever storm you find yourself in the middle of today, you can run to the Master of the wind. Mark 4:39 “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” He has promised that you will reach the other side. While you weather the storm, allow Him to work in and through you for His glory. Bible Reading: Isaiah 66 | Proverbs 27 Psalm 85:8
“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” We all desire peace, yet so often look for it in all the wrong places. Amazon cannot deliver peace…for no amount of material goods will speak peace to your heart. A drink or drug may deceive you into a temporary fix, only leaving the desire for more to fill the void. Our favorite destination spot may help us avoid our problems for a few days, but eventually it is back to reality. True peace is only found in God, who is the Author. 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” For us to find peace, we must first listen to what He has to say. Psalm 85:8 “I will hear what God the LORD will speak…” He has promised to speak peace to our weary souls. Psalm 85:8 “…for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints…” No matter what you are going through today, He will speak peace to your heart if you will simply hear what His Word says. Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” You will never find peace if your Bible is closed. Open the Word today. Bible Reading: Isaiah 64-65 | Proverbs 26 |
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