Tag Archives: Faith

Who are You???

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 40                            

Hi Friend, ready to break camp and move on? This meditative journey into Psalm 139 has been exciting to me even though I have been walking through it for many years. This is true of all God’s Word. It never becomes boring when He walks us through His beautiful Kingdom of grace.

Ahead on our journey, in verses 13-16, are the  majestic mountains

VLUU L200 / Samsung L200

Majestic Mountains of Purpose

of Purpose. From their heights we will see the amazing and wonderful way God made us. David, the author of this psalm, will break into spontaneous praise and thanksgiving as he marvels at God’s creative work. I pray that we too will have eyes to see God’s beautiful purpose in us. God, help us to have ears to hear the whispers of Your joy in us in the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit.

Today, please pause and read through these four verses of Psalm 139:13-16 several times. Allow the Holy Spirit to begin to engraft them into your soul.

 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

The world says we are simply biological accidents that emerged from the slime; just smart Hex coil 1germs. God says we are His beloved children made for a holy and high purpose. We have been formed to be His instruments of grace and love.

Remember, God’s word is “living and active.” (Hebrews 4) As you humbly receive His word you allow it to work in your heart. Receiving the truth that God has a divine and unique purpose for some people is very hard to believe. Please pray with me that each of us reading this today will began to see the distinctive and very special person God created us to be.

Observation: David gives us the revelation of how and why God created us in verses 13-16. He is overwhelmed by the purpose and plans of God for his life.

Interpretation: Knowing we are created by God with purpose is a powerful understanding. The world says people are just naked apes that come and go like any other animal. God’s word shatters that lie as we receive and believe the truth through Psalm 139.

Application Prayer: Father God, Thank you for making me. I am in awe that you take such interest in me. I am sure I will never fully understand why you saved me, but please help me to glorify you each day. Please help me to fulfill the purpose you created me for in this world. … in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

Advertisement

The Wicked Weapon of Rejection

2 Replies

Meditation Journey Day 39    

Hi Friend, Though you might like to read a comment about last weeks Meditative Journey:

Hey Pastor Neil,

I’ve wanted to thank you for all the messages that you send, they are great to read. I appreciate the time you take to help those of us who don’t understand the word of God as easy as you do. Thank you for all you do to help me get closer to the Almighty!!!

JM

Now back to Psalm 139……..

Rejection is a wicked weapon in the hands of our Enemy. The need to know we are unconditionally accepted by God is vital to our spiritual growth. Satan will use people and circumstances to slam our hearts with the feeling we do not belong and are unloved. Knowing what God says and thinks about us becomes our shield of faith. It gives us strength to face the rejection that we experience in our world. Psalm 139 verses 7-12 express very strongly God’s truth about our place of belonging in His heart.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol (hell), you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

The eleventh verse of this section again focuses on David’s rebellious choice of trying to run and hide from God; this time it is in darkness. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night.” Hiding in darkness is the natural bent of mankind. In John 3, Jesus had a piercing commentary on why people like the darkness, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”  

When we sin, our human nature wants to hide.Adam

We become afraid. We got this bent from our first parents Adam and Eve. “They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.  And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3

They tried to conceal their nakedness with fig leaves and then when God approached them they ran into the darkness. We still act the same way.

What David finds in hiding is the consistent presence of God, “even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

Rejection 2We know God is everywhere because He is omnipresent, but what these verses reveal is the attitude He has toward us everyplace we go. In all places, but hell, we will find the loving kindness of God. In our last meditative entry (38) we learned when we take the wings of the morning and rebelliously run away He is there dancing with us. At our deepest despair and most wicked moment, God’s attitude towards us is never condemnation and further rejection. For His children, it is unconditional love, mercy and grace. His love for us is not determined by our behavior, but by His patient enduring mercy given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

I trust this truth about God’s grip of grace on you will help you to turn to Him continually. Satan wants us to hide in fear; God calls us to walk with Him in the light of His confident love. Christ is with you in the great times, the good times, and even the really bad times! This even includes your worse choices and decisions.

I pray that you continually allow your soul to soak in the truth of these verses. The message of God’s gracious love can be easily pushed aside when we are hit by the fiery arrows of our Enemy. Please humbly tend the garden of your heart with the confidence of God’s loving presence in your life.

Observation: David, like Adam and Eve, ran and hid from God. In verse 11 he tried darkness, but even there God was with him. As His children, there is no place in our existence where we are ever away from our loving God.

Interpretation: God’s gracious love extended in unconditional terms is astounding for all who trust in Jesus Christ. That He takes our worse choices and works them together for our good and His glory is comforting. We will always face the consequences of our choices, but never will we face them without His gracious presence. This is all because of the love poured out on us through Jesus Christ!

Application Prayer: Father God, I am so grateful you sent Jesus to die for me. I may feel alone, but I know those feelings are never true. You are always with me, always holding me. I humbly surrender to you and trust your love to guide me.  … in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

 

Does God Dance with you?

1 Reply

Meditation Journey Day 38

Hi Friend,

Psalm 139 is a very condensed communication of God’s mercy and loving kindness to each of us. It is reasonable to believe God loves me when I am doing well, but to think He still loves me at my worst stretches my faith.

Consider verses 9 & 10 in our journey: “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” They tell us of the tender and reassuring love of God even when we are very sinful and rebellious. It is reasonable to believe God loves me when I am doing well, but to think He still loves me at my worst stretches my faith. In Psalm 139 this is exactly what David, the writer f this Psalm, is reporting.

First, I need to tell you why I can say God’s love is so consistent even when we are willfully disobeying Him. The very simple answer is Jesus’s sacrifice. Jesus Christ died for all our sin; all our past rebellion, present willfulness, and even our future wickedness. Trusting His sacrifice pays for all the moral debt we owe. When we put our faith in His righteousness we also receive His merit of goodness. From the moment we exchange our rags of self-righteousness for His moral purity, God looks at us differently. Paul said it this way,

“What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did…  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5

Now read the verses again, “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” David is remembering times when he willfully and rebelliously ran from God. He wanted to fly away and find a place where he could live his own way. No matter where David went he found God there! What is remarkable to David and should be to us, is God’s attitude and actions towards David. Notice God’s one hand is leading David and the other, God’s right hand is holding David. Allow me to suggest this is a dancing position. God is facing David looking at him directly in the eyes and God’s left hand is holding David’s right hand. God’s right hand is around David’s waist and holding him.

Knowing more about the hands is very important in our meditation. The right hand is a term in scripture that refers to the power and might of a person.  The right hand of God is a metaphor for all the power of God! Consider with me the placement of the hands in these verses.  David’s right hand, all his human strength, is being held and directed by God’s left hand. It is when David’s strength is finally rendered powerless that he realizes he is in the hands of God. He is at the end of his rope and yet God is leading him. God’s right hand, His power and might, is holding David. Just like David, at our most wretched moments when we are in rebellion to God, he is still holding and leading us. This is hard to Dance 3imagine but the placement of Father God’s hands resemble the placement of someone dancing! Is it possible that when we are at our worst God posture is to dance with us!!!  Grace says this is true, but our minds resist this kind of grace.

That my friend is the kind of love I need and have found in Jesus Christ. I find this overwhelmingly kind and precious of God to be so patient with my failure and sin. This Psalm made it real to me at my worse moments, and God will reveal the depth of His great love for you as you fill your mind and heart with His Word.  Remember Proverbs 2, “My, Child if you will receive my word…”

Have you taken the wings of the morning? Do you wish to run away from life and are you struggling against the grip of God? Know that at your worse He is still dancing with you. Please turn to Him now and trust Him so the dance can be enjoyed by both of you!

My your day be filled with grace and peace…. from the Lover of your soul…Jesus!

 

Observation: David finds even when he willfully runs from God, The Lord never leaves him. He also realizes that when he is in rebellion God is still holding him.

Interpretation: God’s attitude and actions at David’s greatest failures is pure grace and love. The way God is holding David appears to be a loving and kind posture. This is a picture of great grace and mercy at our lowest moments.

Application Prayer: Father God, thank you for sending Jesus and covering my sin. I was so afraid that when I chose my own way you would leave me in my brokenness. Knowing that you are always there holding me helps me trust you and relax in your faithful love. … in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

Do you know where your going to?

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 35                         

Hi Friend,

OK, lace up your boots and pick up your back pack we are moving on into the next section of Psalm 139. This next section many be rough for some of us. Verses 7-12 are all about going. It starts with a question, “Where shall I go from your presence? It ends with the conclusion the LORD is with me everywhere I go.

VastWe really are only going in one of two directions. The only variable is how fast we are moving. Either we are moving towards God or away from Him. That is always the choice we have in every major decision we make.

The author of this psalm, King David had a lot of experience in moving towards and away from God. If you know King David’s biography in the Bible you are aware he was on the run for many years before he ever became king of Israel. He was being hunted by King Saul and at one point actually ran away to live with the enemies of God for safety. He hid in caves in the wilderness and barely survived. He did not always make godly choices; you can read David’s entire story in 1st & 2nd Samuel. Knowing his struggles, fears and his flight adds depth to this passage.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol (hell), you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

RuunnerJust like David we can run towards or away from God.  Are you running towards the Lord or away from Him? Remember it is not so much a physical direction as it is an attitudinal posture. Here are some questions to help you decide which direction your heart is heading. When truth about your behavior is presented to you do you embrace it or resist it? Are you wishing you could get away with things you know are wrong? When circumstances do not go your way do you give thanks to God quickly, slowly or not at all? When things go well do you thank God? When things go bad do you blame God or think He is punishing you? When you accomplish remarkable things to whom do you give credit…you or God? Are you mentally arguing with people from your present or past? Is there anyone you have not forgiven?

These are just some questions that reveal to ourselves what direction we are going. The Apostle James says we all stumble in many ways so do not think you’re the only one who is challenged by these questions.

If this inquiry felt a little rough to your spiritual knees and you realized you have stumbled and fallen down; I suggest you stop and evaluate what we have learned in verses 1-6. He really does love you and value you highly. Choose to humble your heart in surrender to Him. Go deeper in your faith by trusting His grace to lead you back to His path. Oh yes, if your knees hurt, do not forget to ask for His forgiveness.

Observation: We are all moving towards or away from God. David learned from his experiences that the Lord God is always with him.

Interpretation: Since we are always in route, it is important we keep focus on the right direction. We choose every day which direction we are going. Our repentance is God’s plan to get us back on His path.

Application Prayer: Father God, thank you for your word. It helps me to get up after I have stumbled. Your grace reminds me you will forgive my waywardness. I do want to go your way. Teach me your paths. I will walk in them… in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

Does Jesus Know You?

1 Reply

The Meditative Journey has been on hold as I went through knee surgery and recovery for the last month. We are now back on track.

Meditation Journey Day 34                          

Hi Friend,

One last thought about knowing Jesus Christ. It is not enough for us to think we know Him; what is critical after we die is that He knows us. In Matthew’s gospel, chapter seven, Jesus responds to some people with one of the scariest replies in the whole Bible.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

This is very unsettling because the double use of the word “Lord” indicates they thought they were close to God. They also believed what they accomplished for Him was very impressive. These deceived people really thought that just performing religious works was all God was expecting from His followers.

When David wrote that the LORD knew him it was in a very personal way. It is more than God knowing everything about every person at all times. That is what the Bible describes, and theologians teach, as the omniscience or all-knowing of God. What David means when he discovers that the LORD has searched him and knows him was that God knew him in a personal way.

RelationshipThe meaning behind the phrase, “the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” is achieved when we love Him with all our hearts and love others as He has loved us. The ability to obey God comes from a loving relationship with Him. David had that relationship with God in an intimate and interactive way. It is only as we have a personal close relationship with Jesus that we will actually do His will and not just follow man’s religious dictates.  

David knew God and God knew him because David was dependent on God. He knew that without the Living God being with him, he had no spiritual life. Jesus taught this in John 15 when He said, “I AM the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” We can do much religious activity, even impressive sacrifices, but God wants our undivided love. Paul wrote: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13

Jesus wants a genuine relationship with us. In John 15, He called this abiding in Him. “Abiding” is a very dependent relational term that reveals a living connection that is continually nourished through interaction. It means to dwell with God.  I may visit many places to sleep and eat, but I dwell at my home. Does Jesus dwell with you continually? Do you interact with Him on a personal intimate basis or is your relationship formal and religious? Is God personally with you all the time or does He just live at some building we call church? The people Jesus rejected and declared He did not know had the attitude that you left God at the building. They had a formal relationship with God that only functioned within their set of rules.

Relationship 1David realized The LORD is the living God with whom we enter into a relationship of love on a personal basis. This relationship is illustrated by a godly marriage where the man and wife relate to each other in a continual and intimate way (Ephesians 5). Jesus doesn’t want to just date you. He wants to take you home and be your husband!!! You may think you know Him, but does He know you?

You can be sure He knows you, if you have a continual humble dependent attitude towards your Loving Savior and His Word.

He said it clearly in John 15:7. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Then when we cry Lord, Lord, He will be attentive to our call.

Observation: God wants to know us personally.  He knows everything about everybody, because He is omniscient. What He created us for is to have intimate personal fellowship with us. The question is not do we know Jesus, but have we yielded to Him in humble love so He can know us?

Interpretation: Religion can deceive people into thinking God just expects us to keep righteous rules. Jesus died on the cross and rose again so we could know Him and He could know us…in a personal and close relationship. Do you have that kind of a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

Application Prayer: Father God thank you for sending Jesus to become The Door to Heaven and open fellowship with You. I want to know you and I want you to know me. I yield my heart to you and humble myself to your Word.…in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

 

 

 

sustained through temptation & trials

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 33                            

Hi Friend,

I am so blessed that we are together on this meditative journey though Psalm 139. I know that the truth in this psalm is foundational knowledge for every follower of Jesus Christ. It must be establish in us to walk in assurance and joy with the Savior. Here are the verses we have traveled in the last ten days. 

1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it  altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

These first six verses revealed to us how God values us. As we internalize this message, of our worth, through memorization and tend the truth through meditation, peace and joy will begin to grow in abundance. Having this deep sense of worth, based on a relationship with the Great I AM, will sustain you through temptation and trials.

Deep KeelKnowing our worth in the eyes of God is like having a deep keel on a sail boat in a storm. In this world, we will get hit by waves of doubt and winds of rejection. Temptation from this world, Satan and our own self will always buffet us with pressure to given in and give up! The more we know, really know about, how Father God cherishes and treasures us, the more we will trust Him. This trust provides us sustaining strength to stand tall with humble grace. Sin, Satan and the world’s influences on our soul are loosened as we grow in our faith and confidence towards God. As we receive God’s grace, released through His Word by the Spirit, we can keep sailing!

The Word is called a “hammer and a fire” by God in Jeremiah. The Apostle Paul describes it as a “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6). These metaphors of the word reveal that in the hands of the Holy Spirit, the word we engraft into our hearts becomes a powerful weapon to destroy Satan’s strongholds. We must remember that the Word that accomplishes God’s purposes in us is the one that the Spirit can weld as a sword in our hearts. It is the truth that you have personally embraced and received as God speaking to you. The LORD reveals this clearly in Isaiah 55. “As the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and MAKING it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is MY WORD that goes out from MY Mouth. It will not return to me empty, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT.”

Friend, my deep desire is not just to give insight into the meaning of the word, but to instruct you in hearing God’s word in your heart. I know that when we humble our hearts to hear God personally, we will receive transforming life and release the Spirit to put to death our sinful natures (Col.3). I pray you are reading Psalm 139 throughout your day. That you have begun to ponder the truth of this Psalm allowing it to challenge the lies you may believe about yourself. Please pray this for me too as I know His thoughts are higher than mine.  Only He gives grace to the humble!

 Observation: The first six verses reveal our great value and worth to God. He loves and treasures us more than we can imagine!

Interpretation: The truth we are given by God is given to transform us in to Christ-likeness, but that only happens as we engraft it into our hearts and minds. When we do, the Spirit is able to use the Word we engraft/plant as a weapon to destroy the lies that reject God’s love and truth.

Application Prayer: Father God, You are the Great Gardener of the True Vine. I so need your help in tending your word in my heart. Teach me to “chew” on it every day to give the Holy Spirit the weapons He needs to defeat Satan’s lies in my mind. I know without You I can do nothing! I love Your Word. …in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

EUREKA!

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 32

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain unto it.” Psalm 139:6

Hi Friend,

We now have journeyed through the first five verses of Psalm 139. It is a gold mine of God’s wisdom and truth about us. I am praying for each of us to have the EUREKA moment that King David did as he considered how God thinks of him and cares for him. David was transformed by the truth that the Great I AM valued him so highly. He was overwhelmed and amazed, probably on his knees, with a mixture of joy and holy reverence towards God.

2planting seedsFather God deeply desires that we will realize the depth of His love and how highly He values us too!!!  My Friend, the process to know God this way is revealed in Proverbs 2:1-5.  As we receive His Living Word, Christ Jesus, continually eating the Bread of Life and surrendering to The Holy Spirit, the reality of His grace will bloom in your heart! We can receive the eternal life of Christ and be born again in a moment, but the growth and transformation process to be formed into the image of Christ is like growing a garden. It takes time and patience.

Note how David responds to this gracious knowledge of God’s love. To him it is “too VLUU L200 / Samsung L200wonderful”, “it is high” and David acknowledges its comprehension is beyond him. He is humbled by the treasure he has found in Christ; over joyed by the realization that Father God, The Great I AM, is so close, so concerned and ever caring of him. At the same time he understands that there is much more, and he is only touching the very bottom, not the top, of God’s mountain of love! His cries are full of profound humility as he recognizes the greatness of God’s mercy and love. David is blessed by the assurance of God’s love, but he is also humbled that he has just beginning to comprehend how highly God values him. 

God also tells us this in Isaiah 55.

“My thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not My ways”, declares the LORD! “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than you ways and My thoughts than your thoughts”

For us to believe what God says about us begins in a moment of faith, but the reality of that belief only grows and blossoms as we tend the garden of our hearts. I urge you to read Proverbs 2:1-5 today and humble yourself to God asking Him to lead you deeper into His heart.

                                   

Observation: David is overwhelmed by God’s gracious loving kindness and how he is valued by Him. He has just beginning to see himself as God sees him.  

Interpretation: What David experienced we too can experience. God has revealed the truths of Psalm 139:1-5 because He loves us each just as He loved David. The real question is will we plant the seeds of truth, God’s Word, in our hearts and tend it with humility and obedience so that it can yield the fruit of the Spirit in us? Then we can cry out with joyful praise: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain unto it.”

Application Prayer: Father I want to know you and receive Your eternal life and grace. Today I choose to accept The Living Word into my heart. Forgive me of all my sin and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I need to know your great love for me and to live in the peace and joy of your Presence. Give me grace to walk in your truth. …in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

 

an amazing view of your life

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 29        

Hi Friend,

Psalm 139:2-3 reveal an amazing view of your life through God’s eyes….

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:2-3

These two verses emphasize the depth of The LORD’s knowledge of our mood swings.Anxiety 1 Sitting down, rising up and lying down can be literal too, but when we perform each of these actions our attitude is most important. Sitting down and lying down is figurative of giving up and quitting! Rising up symbolizes the times of hope and faith in our lives. What sweet assurance to know Our Shepherd is able to discern and detect our thoughts, emotions and moods even when we think He is far away! We may feel like He is “a far off”, but remember He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb.13) He is NEVER far off from you! No matter what it may seem like to you!

The word “search” used in this Psalm implies a personal examination and a close scrutiny of our lives. The Examiner is looking clearly into every part of our being. The King James Version translates “You search out my path” with the words “You compass my path”. I like how the word “compass” conveys the picture of Him encircling my entire life from the womb to the tomb! He is all around us knowing us from every angle and protecting us. The next phrase “and acquainted with all my ways.” makes my eyes tear when I think of Him being that familiar with me and loving me. It does not shield me from the consequences of my bad behavior, but it does assure me that my worth does not diminish in His eyes. His being “acquainted with ALL my ways” means nothing I do will surprise Him. NOTHING! Nothing in my past shocked Him. Nothing in my present astonishes Him and nothing in my future will be unknown to Him. He knows me in EVERY way and He loves me in every way! This is how your Savior and Shepherd, The Great I AM, loves you and is ever present in your life.

His knowing us to this depth and loving us to this extent adds great impact when we think of God’s forgiveness. When we trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior we believed He had paid the full price for all our sins; past, present and future. Therefore, when we do make sinful choices and grieve the Holy Spirit, it is critical for us to keep in mind He has already paid our debt in full. He may allow us to experience the consequence of our choices, but He is still with us. He is not angry with us for He knows what we will say and do in advance of our actions! We do not surprise or shock Him with our bad behavior. We should not allow the shame and guilt of sinfulness to produce fear in our minds leading us to think He is against us or wants to punish us. He is for us; He is with us. This knowledge should encourage us to not hide or run from God. You and I are extremely valuable to Him! As His richesbeloved Children, we may come to Him quickly with our pain and shame. Remember He exchanged His Son’s life to purchase ours. Christ died for us so we can be free of sin and guilt. He loves us and is leading us out of the darkness into His glorious light.

Therefore, when we do make sinful choices and grieve the Holy Spirit, it is critical for us to keep in mind He has already paid our debt in full. He may allow us to experience the consequence of our choices, but He is still with us. He is not angry with us for He knows what we will say and do in advance of our actions!

Observation: The LORD who is ever present and knows all has personally examined each of us individually. He is never far away and there is nothing about us that has been or will be a surprise to Him!

Interpretation: His knowledge of us should enable us to trust Him more and empower us to quickly turn to Him when we sin. His knowledge is complete and His forgiveness is absolute! He never chooses to punish us. He is not against us, but He may allow us to experience the consequences of our choices. Rest in His love as He values us more highly than we can ever imagine!

Application Prayer: LORD Jesus Thank you. I choose to rest in Your loving kindness and not hide in my shame and guilt. I am so blessed to know My Savior is always for me and never against me. I am humbled by knowing You sent You son to die in my place. That thought, Father, helps me understand my worth to You! …in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

Who Loves You?

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 28

Hi Friend,

We have learned the name “LORD” that David calls out in Psalm 139:1 (“O LORD you have searched me and known me”) means I AM that I AM; I am the Self-Existent, Uncreated One. The importance of this name is magnified in the New Testament when Jesus Christ describes Himself as “I AM” to the religious rulers. In a fierce discussion with them, Jesus stated, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” John 8   After Jesus revealed the truth that He was the “I AM” to the religious rulers they wanted to kill Him for the sin of blasphemy. Jesus Christ, the Great I AM, is one and the same. It is He who searches for us as The Good Shepherd seeking His lost sheep.

Jesus also used the same phrase “I AM” in seven pronouncements about Himself. In all seven, He combines I AM with tremendous metaphors which express His saving relationship with the believer. Keep in mind seven is the number of completion. The seven I AM statements undergird the fact God knows you completely and loves you perfectly. The seven declarations are:

 I AM the Bread of Life (John 6) I AM the Light of the World (John 8); I AM the Door of the Sheep (John 10:); I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10); I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11); I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14); and I AM the True Vine (John 15).

 The One that was personally searching out David and knew David intimately was the eternal Son of God! Friend, the One that knows you and is searching for you is Jesus Christ the lover of your soul.

He is The Bread of Life that we need to feast upon every day for spiritual nourishment.

He is The Light of the world that guides us to truth and away from sin.

He is The Door into God’s Presence and the haven of hope.

He is The Good Shepherd that lays done His life for the sheep and leads us to still water and green pastures.

He is The Resurrection and the Life of God that infuses us with hope.

He is The Way, the Truth and the Life that leads us to Father’s House.

He is The True Vine and as we abide in Him we receive His life.
God lovesAs you read through Psalm 139 please keep in focus that Jesus Christ is the Great I AM. Draw near to Him for He has died for you. Jesus is The Friend that sticks closer than a brother. He knows every time you fail, every time you rise-up and your every thought. He is there when you lie down and when you rise up. He knows everything about you and still loves you!

Observation: “O LORD” is the Old Testament’s name for the “I AM”. Jesus Christ was the “I AM” incarnate. He loves us in a complete way.

Interpretation: All that David experienced in Psalm 139 is how Jesus Christ knows and loves you today! As we engraft this Psalm into our hearts and minds we will understand the cherished way Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, loves us.

Application Prayer: Lord God Jehovah, Thank you for coming in the flesh as Jesus Christ to be like us. Thank you for taking away the brokenness between you and me so I can know you. Thank you for searching me out and knowing me so well. Your grace is amazing and your care for me is overwhelmingly kind.  …in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

As we begin to journey through Psalm 139 please continue to pray for the people receiving these daily instructions.

Let’s Get Personal…………..

Leave a reply

Meditation Journey Day 27

Hi Friend,

When David addresses God in Psalm 139 the name by which he identifies God is very important. David cry’s out “O LORD you have searched me and known me” The name LORD is a personal name of God. The English Standard Version translates the name Jehovah or Yahweh as “LORD” with capital letters. Jehovah means the “God who is” or the “I AM that I AM”. In the Old Testament this name is the most personal name of God. Jehovah was the name God used to identify Himself when Moses was at the burning bush. Here is the exchange between Moses and God from Exodus 3:

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

 Jehovah/Yahweh means: I AM that I AM; I am the Self-Existent, Uncreated One.

When David cries out “O LORD you have searched me and known me” he is saying, Yahweh the GREAT I AM is with me. Yahweh knows me. He has chosen me. He has taken the time and interest in my life to dwell with me.

David’s joy comes from the fact that God in a very personal way is with him and truly God breathing into Adam the breath of lifeknows Him. David realizes he is not alone, nor is he unknown. The searching of David by God was an intimate, personal examination of David’s life. It was not David who sought out God. It was God who sought out David! David is realizing the wonder and joy that the GREAT I AM would take such interest and care to want to know Him! It is amazing that Yahweh would value David so highly as to personally know Him.

Friend, David was not a super saint. The LORD loves you in the same way as He loved David. When God choose us it was to be with Him and Him with us. Each person called by God is chosen and known in a personal special way. I hope that you come to the realization that your Heavenly Father has sought you.

It was not your choosing of Him. It was His choosing of you.

He loves you, really loves you! He wants to be with you. You are a treasure to Him! I pray your heart can cry out with joy… “O LORD, you know me.”

Observation: The name David identifies God as is Jehovah/Yahweh. Jehovah/Yahweh means: I AM that I AM; I am the Self-Existent, Uncreated One. God loves us in the same way He loved David.

Interpretation: David’s amazement is that the Great I AM is interested in him personally enough to seek David and take the time to know him. We too should be amazed that God choose us and calls us to be with Him.

Application Prayer: Father God, open my eyes to the gift your Presence is in my life. Your closeness to me is amazing. Your desire to know me is beyond my comprehension! Your choosing of me surprises me with joy!  Thank You for knowing me. …in Jesus Name, Amen.

What is your take away?

As we begin to journey through Psalm 139 please continue to pray for the people receiving these daily instructions. Let me know of anyone you want to add to the list to receive the emails. Also, please tell me if you want to take a break from the process and not receive the emails.