If anyone knows Melissa…

Day 174 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 96-100

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PSALM 96 – HE SHALL JUDGE THE EARTH RIGHTEOUSLY

The Fields are Joyful, and the Trees Rejoice
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. – Psalms 96:11-13

He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people (Melissa) with His truth.

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PSALM 97 – LIGHT IS SOWN FOR THE RIGHTEOUS

The Lord Reigns
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. – Psalm 97:1-5

He Preserveth the Souls of His Saints
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. – Psalm 97:10-12

He preserveth the souls of His Saints (the soul of Melissa).

He delivereth them (Melissa) out of the hand of the wicked.

Light is sown for the righteous (for Melissa) and gladness for the upright in heart (for Melissa).

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PSALM 98 – THE LORD HATH MADE KNOWN HIS SALVATION

Sing a New Song
O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. – Psalm 98:1-2

He Cometh to Judge the Earth
Let the floods clap their hands: Let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; For he cometh to judge the earth: With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. – Psalm 98:8-9

With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people (Melissa) with equity.

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PSALM 99 – THE LORD OUR GOD IS HOLY

Worship At His Footstool
Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. – Psalm 99:5-9

They call (Melissa calls) upon the LORD, and He answered them (answers her).

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PSALM 100 – FOR THE LORD IS GOOD

Serve the LORD with Gladness
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations. – Psalm‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭

We are (Melissa is one of) His people and the sheep (one of the sheep) of His pasture.

(Melissa always remember), The LORD is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations.

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Note – Someone suggested as we go through our daily Bible reading to look for God’s promises and add our names to that promise. Even if it is a promise made to a specific person that promise is still applicable to each of us because God is not a respecter of persons.

Day 173 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 91-95

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PSALM 91 – HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS

I my God – in Him will I Trust
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, Even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation. – Psalm‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭

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PSALM 92 – IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS

It Is a Good Thing to Sing Praises Unto Thy Name
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: – Psalm 92:1

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PSALM 93 – THE LORD REIGNETH

Thy Throne is Established of Old: Thou Art from Everlasting
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: The world also is stablished, That it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, Yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever. – Psalm‬ ‭93‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

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PSALM 94 – THE LORD WILL NOT CAST OFF HIS PEOPLE

Neither Will He Forsake His Inheritance
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. – Psalm 94:14-15

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PSALM 95 – HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART

Your Fathers Tempted Me, Proved Me, and Saw My Work
Harden not your heart, As in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my work. – Psalm 95:8-9

Day 172 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 86-90

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PSALM 86 – UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR THY NAME

Teach Me Thy Way
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. – Psalm 86:11-13

O Lord, I come before You today and ask You, my heavenly Father, to teach me Thy Way. I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy Name. I praise You, and I glorify (and will continue to glorify) Thy Name. Thank You for Your mercy and deliverance that today I can walk in Your Truth and Yours alone. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

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PSALM 87 – ALL MY SPRINGS ARE IN THEE

His Foundation and All His Springs Are in You!
His foundation is in the holy mountains. – Psalm 87:1

All my springs are in thee. – Psalm 87:7b

The Lord loves His people and His chosen dwelling place. He loves Jerusalem. However, we must remember that He now makes His dwelling place in the hearts of His believers. God is with man and also in man, and His foundations are built in our hearts. So, we must walk as the chosen people of God, holy and blameless before Him. We should do everything He asks of us. We should genuinely “occupy” the places and duties He has given. We should find our satisfaction and joy in Him and His love and walk in truth for His glory. All His springs are in YOU!!! ALL MEANS ALL. Hallelujah!!!

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PSALM 88 – MY SOUL IS FULL OF TROUBLES

Let My Prayer Come Before Thee
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. – Psalm 88:1-3

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PSALM 89 – MY MOUTH WILL MAKE KNOWN THY FAITHFULNESS

I Will Sing of His Mercies Forever
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. – Psalm 89:1

The Blessings of the People that Know the Joyful Sound
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. – Psalm 89:15-18

We Live and We Die
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. – Psalm 89:47-48

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PSALM 90 – TEACH ME TO NUMBERS MY DAYS

That We May Apply Our Hearts Unto Wisdom
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

Day 171 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 81-85

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Lord, Help Me to Hearken to Your Voice
I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!– Psalm 81:10-13

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He is Our Defender and Judge!
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.– Psalm 82:3-4

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. – Psalm 82:8

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That they May Seek They Name
Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. – Psalm 83:1-3

O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. – Psalm 83:13-16

Some would say ease of life is a great blessing and it is but the greatest of blessings could be the sickness, the persecution, the hardships that you go through but that leave you calling on the name of the Lord. Taking your hands off of your life and surrendering, turning your life over to the one true and living God – that is the greatest blessing any of us could ever receive on this earth because it is a blessing that will last for an eternity.

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Longeth, Fainteth, Crieth, Trusteth
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. – Psalm 84:2

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. – Psalm 84:10-12

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Wilt Thou Revive Us Again?
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. 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. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. – Psalm 85:6-9

Day 170 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 76-80

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PSALM 76 – THOU DIDST CAUSE JUDGMENT TO BE HEARD FROM HEAVEN

Thou, Art to Be Feared
At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah., – Psalm 76:6-9

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PSALM 77 – WHO IS SO GREAT A GOD AS OUR GOD?

Thou Art the God that Doest Wonders
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. – Psalm 77:13-15

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PSALM 78 – GUIDED BY THE SKILLFULNESS OF HIS HAND

Choose His Will
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. – Psalm 78:27-31

How often do I thank God that He did not give me my own desires when I whined, complained, or pitched a tantrum? How often have my desires been contrary to His? Too many to count. His plans are always best. When will I learn that? Thank You for Your mercies Lord and (as the Psalmist said in Psalm 131) for helping to wean me, from me.

This phrase rattled me a bit – They were not estranged from their lust. Basically it is something you desire so much that you aren’t willing to separate yourself from it. It can be anything food, people, activities, or even mindsets. 

Lust – an overmastering desire or craving
Estrange – Alienated; no longer in a friendly or affectionate relationship

Lord, help me separate myself from anything that could even possibly be defined as a lust, craving, or something that would distract from my relationship with You and Your will for my life. Help me to guard my heart and convict me when I start to whine, complain, or any such thing as that. Thank You for Your Word that guides me and teaches me. Thank You for Your Holy Ghost that brings conviction that leads to repentance. Thank You for sending Your beautiful Son, Jesus, that I can live and worship and honor eternally. I love You Father!!! and I say and ask this all…In Jesus Name. Amen!!!

He Led Them, He Will Lead Me
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.– Psalm78:52-53

His Strength, His Glory, His People, His Inheritance
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. – Psalm 78:61-62

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified by His own creation. If that isn’t love!!! I am in awe of that kind of love, but at the same time, it breaks my heart to think of the wickedness in me that delivered Him into captivity; that took His glory and threw it into the enemy’s hand for temporary pleasure. We are a people, His people, so prone to betrayal. I am sure when He looks at His inheritance (us) he still has some anger at the way we take all He has given and throw it away for so little. But then His love speaks and the same love that took Him to that old, rugged cross and the same love that brings anger where anger is due…looks at His creation and draws us again to the place of conviction, repentance, for the sake of renewed relationship.Thank You, Jesus for loving me!!!

He Feeds and Guides
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. – Psalm 78:72

It is encouraging to know that God will feed me with the integrity of His heart, and He will guide me with the skillfulness of His Hands. He pours into me that I may then be His vessel. Then He can use me to feed and teach others what I have seen and learned from Him.

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PSALM 79 – PURGE AWAY OUR SINS

For They Name’s Sake
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. – Psalm 79:9

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PSALM 80 – CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE

Turn Us Again
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. – Psalm 80:3,7,19

Day 169 – A Year in the Bible – Psalm 71-75

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PSALM 71 – IN THEE, O LORD, DO I PUT MY TRUST

Let Me Never Be Put to Confusion
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: Let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: Incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress. – Psalm‬ ‭71:1-3‬

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PSALM 72 – BLESSED BE HIS GLORIOUS NAME FOR EVER

He Only Doeth Wondrous Things
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. – Psalm 72:18-19

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. – Psalm 72:20

When I read this last verse, I thought how David seems to be declaring the place he began as David, the son of Jesse, and the place where he will end, as David, the son of Jesse. All of the things in his life are because of and for the glory of God. It was God who took a young boy, set him up to be king, and used him for His purposes and His glory. What more could David say of his life than he said in these verses?

What more can I say of my life. Where God brought me from, where He has brought me to, where He will take me in the future? May my prayer and my heart song, today and every day, be as David’s and yet wholly my own.

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious Name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen!

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PSALM 73 – WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE?

His Counsel Guides Me
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. – Psalm 73:23-26

That I May Declare All Thy Works
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. – Psalm 73:28

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PSALM 74 – GOD IS MY KING OF OLD

Something to Meditate On
For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. – Psalm 74:12

In Psalm 74, the Psalmist is crying out and praying to God, recalling all the things he has done in the past and detailing each time God comes to rescue the children of Israel.

It tells me the importance of detailing every victory, every answered prayer, every time God has saved, healed, and delivered me…detail by detail.

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PSALM 75 – GOD IS THE JUDGE

Promotion and Demotion Comes From God
For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. – Psalm 75:6

Day 168 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 66-70

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PSALM 66 – IF I REGARD INIQUITY IN MY HEART

The Lord Will Not Hear
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. – Psalm 66:18-20

Regard – to have or show respect or concern for; to think highly of; esteem
Iniquity – Gross injustice; a wicked act or thing; sin

One version says, “if you cherished iniquity in my heart.” Another says, “If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it]”

If I like my sin and refuse to turn away from it, God will not hear my prayers! What a huge, huge price to pay. To not have your Father in heaven hear your prayers. To not know that He is listening to your crys and your requests. To not know that you can commune with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. How sad that would be. Yet, that that isn’t even the highest price. The sins that we regard only lead to an eternity in hell. Turn from sin and turn to Jesus before it is too late. Even one day without a relationship with Jesus is way too high a price to pay!!! Help us all Lord. 

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PSALM 67 – GOD BE MERCIFUL UNTO US AND BLESS US

That Thy Way May Be Known
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. – Psalm 67:1-2

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PSALM 68 – LET THE RIGHTEOUS BE GLAD

Let God Arise, Let His Enemies Be Scattered
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. – Psalm 68:1-3

IF we keep close to God and live full of the Holy Ghost, our enemies will scatter when He arises in our lives. If they hate Him, they will flee, even from us, who have Him living within. The enemy must leave because nothing of the enemy can stand and stay in the presence of almighty God. On that day, we will be glad and rejoice. But we won’t just rejoice. We will exceedingly rejoice!!!

He Loadeth Us With Benefits (Every Single Day)
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. – Psalm 68:19

This verse says that not only does the Lord give us benefits daily, but that He gives them in loads – he loadeth us with them daily.

Loadeth – to supply in abundance or excess

The God of Israel Giveth Strength and Power
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; Lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the clouds. O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. – Psalm‬ ‭68:33-35‬

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PSALM 69 – YOUR HEART SHALL LIVE THAT SEEK GOD

My Reproach
I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. – Psalm 69:8-10

Reproach – to bring into discredit; to express disappointment in or displeasure with

What Pleases God?
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. – Psalm 69:30-32

A song of thanksgiving to our God will please Him more than anything you can sacrifice before Him.

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PSALM 70 – LET ALL THOSE THAT SEEK THEE REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN THEE

Let God Be Magnified
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: And let such as love thy salvation say continually, let God be magnified. – Psalm 70:4

My Help and My Deliverer
But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. – Psalm 70:5

Day 167 – A Year in the Bible – Psalm 61-65

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PSALM 61 – THAT I MAY DAILY PERFORM MY VOWS

Thou Hast Heard My Vows
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. – Psalm 61:5

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. – Psalms 61:8

Vow – a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment; a solemn or earnest declaration.

The Lord knows the vows that I have made to Him. I made a vow when I received salvation to serve and worship  Jesus as my Lord and Savior and Him alone. There are other vows we take as we go deeper in this walk with Jesus. We pledge to the Lord things when we pray. God expects us to keep and live out our vows.

As a young Christian, for a season, I came under the teaching of Sister Gwen Shaw. Sister Gwen was a missionary and evangelist, but I knew her mostly as a woman of prayer and fasting. I learned much in my early years from her teachings on fasting and prayer. Those who sat under her leadership were called “End-time Handmaidens” and took vows before the Lord. I was so moved by the vows that I took them as well. My heart desires is to live out these vows all the days of my life. I was not vowing to Sister Gwen or her organization. I am in no way affiliated with them. I just came under her teaching. But these vows are holy to the Lord because I made them to Him and Him alone. I have not been perfect in fulfilling them. As I sit here and reread them, I am very aware that I must realign my heart even today.  I do desire to be faithful and true, and if I strive toward anything, it is to be counted faithful to my Lord, Jesus Christ and to those He has set me under at this time. Here are those vows – my vows:

“Lord, I give myself to You;
I give my life to You.
I want to be your servant.
I feel Your call;
I believe I was sent
To do the will of my Father.

I will take orders from You.
I will submit to You.
I will let You break my will.
I will not seek for comfort
Nor for high position,
Nor to do what I want to do.

Mine is the humblest task,
Or the most dangerous task;
By the grace of God, I will do it.
I will go where You want me to go;
I will do what You give me to do.
If in this walk I seem to have nothing,
I will not complain.

At times when I find myself in a kind of prison,
I will rejoice, and I will praise You
Because You’ve been to prison for me.

I love You, Jesus!

I thank You for calling me,
And that You want me,
And that You can use me;
I thank You that You are there to guide every step
As I do my part to ready
Your bride for Your return.
And I say today with my whole heart,

“Send the Fire and burn up the sacrifice.
Fill me again and again with Thy Holy Spirit
And give me a double portion of Thine anointing.”

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PSALM 62 – POWER BELONGETH UNTO GOD

God Hath Spoken (the verse that satisfies today)
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. – Psalm 62:1-2

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. – Psalms 62:11

How many of us constantly talk to God while we are waiting? We have a hard time sitting alongside Him in silence. I know I have a hard time with it. But I also know that a season of waiting means to do so in body, mind, and spirit. Stop everything. Stop the busyness. Stop overthinking everything. Just be quiet. Just be still.

As in any relationship, times of quiet and contentment, just in who you are together, are vital. Be patient in the waiting and in the quiet. If you find yourself doing anything then let it be listening! If you do not listen, you will never hear what is on the other person’s heart. 

This is also true in our relationship with God. If you are constantly talking (even about good things), you will not hear God speak. You will not hear Him say things like – Power belongs to Him! Power belongs to Him. POWER belongs to HIM!

That one verse satisfies all the needs of my longing heart today. POWER!

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PSALM 63 – MY FLESH LONGETH FOR THEE IN A DRY AND THIRSTY LAND

Early Will I Seek Thee
O God, thou art My God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; – Psalm‬ ‭63:1‬ ‭

In the Shadow of Thy Wings
Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. – Psalm 63:7

Thy Right Hand Upholdeth Me
My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. – Psalm‬ ‭63:8‬ ‭

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PSALM 64 – THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE GLAD IN THE LORD

Preserve My Life from Fear of the Enemy
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. – Psalm 64:1

All the Upright in Heart Shall Glory
The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory. – Psalm‬ ‭64:10

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PSALM 65 – BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHOOSEST

Chosen
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. – Psalm 65:4

What a blessed place to be allowed into the Presence of the One True and Living God; to be allowed to approach the King of kings and Lord of lords on behalf of ourselves and others. To have the Father’s ear. What a privilege to be chosen for a time such as this.

Day 166 – A Year in the Bible – Psalm 56-60

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PSALM 56 – I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT FLESH CAN DO UNTO ME

Trust the Lord
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: In the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living?

– Psalm 56:3-4, 8-13

In all circumstances and in every emotion that springs forth, we have the choice to trust the Lord through it and allow Him to do His perfect work in our hearts and lives…or to trust our own feelings. Leaning into feelings, whether it is fear, anger, jealousy, loneliness, or even earthly love and happiness, rather than leaning into Jesus will cause us to start straying from His perfect path and walking toward disobedience. 

Heavenly Father, Please help us to trust You and You alone today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

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PSALM 57 – I WILL CRY UNTO GOD MOST HIGH

Perform: to carry out; execute; do; to accomplish; to fulfill a command, promise, or undertaking

He Performeth All Things (for me)
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. – Psalm 57:1-3

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PSALM 58 – VERILY THERE IS A REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS

The Righteous Shall Rejoice
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. – Psalm 58:10-11

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PSALM 59 – I WILL SING ALOUD OF THY MERCY IN THE MORNING

God is My Defense and My Refuge
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. – Psalm 59:16-17

Defense – resistance against attack; protection; the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc.
Refuge – Shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.; anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape

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PSALM 60:12 – HE IT IS THAT SHALL TREAD DOWN OUR ENEMIES

We HE Shall Do Valiantly
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. – Psalms 60:12 

I can do nothing except yield.

Day 165 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 51-55

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PSALMS 51 – TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME

Then I Will Teach Transgressors Thy Ways
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. – Psalms 51:1-4

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:5-12

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. – Psalms 51:13-19

I broke this passage up because I saw it broken down interestingly, and I wanted to share it. Unfortunately, the author was not documented, so I couldn’t either.

Come Clean

1. I have sinned against God (verses 1-4)

We will never see sin rightly until we see that our sin (all of our sin) is against God.

2. God must cleanse me (verses 5-12)

I can’t do anything to cleanse myself. Only God can!

3. God must restore me (verses 13-19)

I can’t do anything to restore me. Only God can!

Then I will teachUse your past sin to teach and encourage others that there is an escape and His Name is Jesus!

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PSALM 52 – WHY BOASTEST THOU THYSELF IN MISCHIEF

Evil Words
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.  Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. – Psalm 52:1-5

Boasting, mischievous, deceitful, lying, devouring words lead to destruction.

I Trust in the Mercy of God For Ever and Ever
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: And I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. – Psalm 52:8-9

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PSALM 53 – GOD LOOKED DOWN

To See if Any Did Understand, Any Did Seek Him
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. – Psalm 53:2

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PSALM 54 – THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL

My Helper
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. – Psalm 54:4

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PSALM 55 – OH THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE!

The Safety of the Wilderness
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. – Psalms 55:5-7

The psalmist is hurting and overwhelmed by so much going on in his world and his mind. He wants to fly far, far away to the wilderness to rest. To fly to a wilderness says to me he wants to be in a rugged and lonely place. A hard place. Haven’t we all been there?

Why the wilderness? Maybe because you are pretty sure others won’t follow you there. They might follow and come against you when you are sitting comfortably, but no one much fights to go to the wilderness…except those who want to go deeper with God. Those will find that in the wilderness, there is a great safety. That the Presence of the Lord, though sometimes hard found, is always there. It is a place where you can rest, and if the enemy arrives to take you down, you will likely see him coming.