Do You Need Rescued Today?

O. T. #1300  "Do You Need Rescued Today?"
Oct. 9, 2018
Psalm 91-Part 2
I will say unto the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
Psalm 91:2

LET IT GLOW

Do you need rescued, freed, or saved today? Is your life falling apart at the seams?  It is a cold world out there, full of selfish people. I don't pretend to have it all together, nor to have all the answers, but I know the One who does. Today's psalm helps us.

It is while in the secret place of the Most His God, where the psalmist is abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, that he says unto the Lord four things:

1. You are my refuge-a shelter, hope, trust.
2. You are my fortress-defense, strong hold, strong place;
3. You are my God-Supreme God (Elohiym);
4. I trust in You.

If you are like me, I am always in need of a refuge and fortress, a place where I can find hope and a place of defense. (This old world can easily get me down.)We find it in our God, the strength that we lack. Did you notice that the psalmist made it personal by using the word my?  God wants to have a personal relationship with us. The Most High and Almighty God desires to converse with little ole you and me. How astounding! Now that is grace and mercy flowing from the throne as we trust in Jesus.
Are we trusting in Him, seeking Him?

LET IT GROW

For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. (verse 3, NLT)

Do you need rescued today? Here is another one of God's promises. Those that take refuge in God will be freed from the hands of the wicked and unreasonable, and the temptations of Satan. The protection of God is what we need to live in this world so we hear, "Well done, My child."

LET IT GO

                             ... and let God be my shelter, stronghold, hope.
                                ... and put my trust in Almighty God today.
                                ... ask Him to protect me from deadly diseases.  

Secret Place

O. T. #1300  "Secret Place"
Oct. 8, 2018
Psalm 91
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

LET IT GLOW

Where is your secret place, hiding place? When I was a kid, who had been disciplined, I ran to my hiding place, the closet, and cried. I was alone there. Finally, Mom would come and talk to me there.
We can have a secret place today as an adult.

This is a psalm of comfort. It offers us some sweet promises of our God.  Just look at the first verse. Here are some key words that are significant to us as believers in Christ. Here are the meanings in the Hebrew language:

Dwelleth means to sit down; in quiet; to remain; inhabit; make to keep (house); (bring again to) place, return; remain; sit; settle; sit down still; a sitting place; tarry.

Secret refers to a cover; protection; hiding place.

Abide is to stop; to stay permanently; abide all night; cause to lodge all night; remain; tarry.

Shadow is a defense.

Let's break it down. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High...

If we sit down in a quiet place, remain there, tarry, in the hiding place of protection of God, then what will happen? Now, we have to make a deliberate and conscience effort to get there. Dear friend, we will be met by our loving God there and welcomed inside. His peace will be found as we converse.

Jerry Falwell explained it this way in Liberty Bible Commentary:

This is a great promise of blessing to believers. Yet, the promise is not made to all who believe, but only to those who are willing to make their abode in the secret place, to sit down or take up residence there. The words shall abide signify pass the night. They imply a constant and continuous dwelling, and not just as temporary visitation during trouble or calamity. Psalm 91 is a promise to those who take up residence in the secret place.

So could  this phrase refer to us having a quiet time to pray to the Most High God, entering into the Holy of Holies (being covered with the blood of Jesus), to converse with Him? We can enter anytime, anywhere. He is only a breath or thought away. If we need to cry out to God all night, He is there listening to us.

LET IT GROW

... shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

When we dwell in that place, we are going to be protected with the defense of the Almighty. Do we even stop and consider His defense? He has thousands of angels equipped to fight for us. We have seen evidences of God's strength in the hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, tsunami. (People call them acts of nature.) This is the God that we can converse with, dear one. Bring those troubles to Him. He can melt them like wax in heat.
 Jesus defeated the devil's temptations in the wilderness with God's Word, which is the Truth. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to carry on, take the next step.


LET IT GO

Make my abode with God every day, all day long.
Bring my requests in the secret place of the Most High.
Stay under the shadow of the Almighty.
Keep my sins confessed up.

Work That is Blessed

O. T. #1299  "Work That is Blessed"
Oct. 5, 2018
Psalm 90-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Work that lasts? Ladies, I know our work involves dirty laundry, dirty dishes, dirty bathrooms, and dirty floors. They keep demanding our time and energy every week, and often in between. Certainly, woman's work is never done. Yet, our work is for a purpose-meeting the needs of our family and honoring God. Are we giving our best in whatever our hands find to do? What is our attitude? Now, sometimes our work does not involve our hands, but in giving of our time and showing love  to another in need. Is our work blessed? Does it have eternal value?

While in the wilderness, Moses wrote this psalm, a prayer. In the last verse, he says, And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.

The word beauty means splendor, grace.

Even though Moses' generation would not see the Promised Land, he prayed for God to bless them with his grace. David said earlier that the one thing he desired was to behold the beauty of the Lord (Ps. 27:4). One day we will see the beauty of the Lord and be like Him (1 John 3:1-2). Can you imagine that? In my wildest dreams I can't imagine Jesus standing in the purity and splendor of His holiness.

Matthew Henry explains: Holiness is the beauty of the Lord. Let that be upon us in all we say and do; let the grace of God be in us, and the light of our good works, make our faces to shine (the comeliness God puts upon us), then let divine consolations put gladness into our hearts, and a luster upon our countenances.

Does he mean for us to have a smile upon our face, a gladness in our heart, and our countenance to be shining, which is the source of God's beauty?


LET IT GROW

Moses' prayer continued: And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. (verse 17)

When our endeavors to serve God are done, a task completed, we wait upon Him to bring success. When He is leading our hands, He gets the glory.

My hope rests in the willing, faithful, powerful, and loving presence of God with me. (Paul David Tripp)

God's approval yields successful efforts. Let us be open to His leading.


LET IT GO

It is well with my soul.
Lead me to do Your will, Your way.
May what I do last for eternity.

A Secret Life

O. T. #1298  "A Secret Life"
Oct. 4, 2018
Psalm 90

LET IT GLOW

We change authors now. Moses wrote this prayer during the 40 years he wandered with Israel in the wilderness. Israel had refused to follow God and Moses (except for Joshua and Caleb), so those 20 years and older did not get to enter the Promised Land. What was it that sustained Moses all those years? It was faith in his God.
In Deuteronomy 33:27, we read his words, The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee: and shall say, Destroy them.
 What sustains you and me?

In his prayer here, Moses declared this:

• God is eternal and everlasting, has no beginning or end. (verse 2)
• He is Creator of the earth and mountains and God before it all existed.
• He has been a refuge, dwelling place, for people throughout all generations. (verse 1)
• God turns frail people to dust after death. (verse 3)
• A thousand years is but a day, a brief few night hours to Him. (verse 4) 
• He sweeps our life away from the earth like our dreams disappear, grass springing up in the morning and withering in the hot sun. (verses 5-6)

We are mere mortals, so our time on earth is limited and was established before the foundations of the world. Yet, we are immortal in that our soul lives forever. In contrast, the Eternal God . If we want to spend our eternal life with God, then we must come to Jesus for salvation provided by Him.
We recognize that God created time and gave it as a gift to us. What are we doing with this gift? What do I want to see happen in my life before I die?


LET IT GROW

Secret sins-God sees them as well as our open sins. Folks, one day secret sins will be brought out into the light, if we don't confess them ahead of time. Christians need to be careful that they don't get hooked on porn, elicit sex, underhanded business deals, living a secret life. We can't cover up our sins. Only the blood of Jesus can do that. I try to live as though Jesus was walking with me all day long. After all, He sees and hears all I say and do.

LET IT GO

Thank You God for being my refuge; for holding my eternal life in Your hands; for forgiveness of my sins. May I honor You today. Help my secret life and public life be pleasing to You.

Not One Word is Taken Back

O. T. #1297  "Not One Word is Taken Back"
Oct. 3, 2018
Psalm 89-Part 4


LET IT GLOW

What you said hurt my feelings. Take it back. Of course we can't take back our words once they have exited our mouth, but we can be sorry for them. Words. They can be encouraging or hurtful.

Never break faith. Do not go back on your word. Once You have made a commitment, said you would do thus and so, then do it. If we can't be taken as faithful to our word, then what do we have?
As believers in Jesus, we bring Him honor when we keep our word. Today, we read of someone who keeps His word. Read on to find out who it is, friend.

No matter how the descendants of David had acted and strayed from God, God remained faithful and merciful. He told them:

• God's lovingkindness would never fail, for He would never stop loving David's family.
• He faithfulness would not fail.
• Jehovah would keep His covenant with David. He would not take back a single word. (verse 34)
• He sworn an oath to David and in His holiness, God cannot lie. He could swear by none greater than Himself. (verse 35)
• David's seed, dynasty, would go on (through Jesus Christ) forever.
• As long as the sun and moon exist, his kingdom will be. (verse 36)

Israel did disobey, evil ran rampant, the nation was divided, exile came-but through it all, a remnant of God's people remained faithful. Even through their disobedience and punishment, God would never break faith with them. Centuries later, the Messiah arrived, the eternal King from David's line, just as God had promised. All that God promises, He fulfills. He will not take back even one word of what He says. God can always be trusted to save us as He promised He would (Hebrews 6:13-18). God is completely reliable. (Life Application Study Bible)

I see You in everything, all day. Every beat of my heart keeps reminding me. What a song!

LET IT GROW

Remember how short my time is. (verse 47)

It seems just yesterday that happened. I now understand what is meant by that statement. Time is running by so fast. Months and years keep coming as fast as the odometer on the car turns with the miles traveled. What are we accomplishing during this short time on earth, in this short lifetime?
Even when we turn 60, don't sit down and leave the good works to the younger ones. Let me challenge us to use our wisdom and share God's faithfulness. The youngin's need to hear it. They need to see us walking by faith through the trials of this life. Teach them to pray and cherish God's Word.

LET IT GO

Look around and see the faithfulness of my God.
Keep my word.
Serve the Lord with gladness today.

Walking in the Light of His Presence

O. T. #1296  "Walking in the Light of His Presence"
Oct. 1, 2018
Psalm 89-part 3


LET IT GLOW

There are several statements by the psalmist that are worth noting:

• God is righteousness, justice, love, and truth. (verse 14)
• He is Creator of the heavens, world and everything in it, earth, the seas, and the mountains. (verse 11-12)
• The Lord is our defense and our king. (verse 18)
• Faithfulness and mercy shall be with us. (verse 24)
• He will never stop loving us, nor fail to keep His promises. (verse 33)

These seem to put things in their right perspective. God is our Creator, who does what is right, loves us, exhibits faithfulness, and mercy. He keeps His promises and never takes back His Word.

As God's ambassadors, we should exhibit the same traits when we deal with people. Make sure your actions flow out of righteousness, justice, love, and truth, because any unfair, unloving, or dishonest action cannot come from God. (Life Application Study Bible)

Will we take this challenge today?


LET IT GROW

Want to be happy? Verse 15 provides the way: Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presence, LORD.

MacArthur describes it this way, "This refers to a cheer, a shout of joyful homage to God."

Israel shouted for joy when victories over their enemies came, when their sacrifices were acceptable, and at their feasts and celebrations.

Are we joyfully worshiping God today? When our life pleases God, we will have a joyful heart. Are we walking in the light of His presence? Are we obeying His Word?
I want to walk in the light of the Lord's presence, so I can whenever I joyfully worship Him.


LET IT GO

I praise Your great name, King Jesus.
Help me be joyful when I worship You.
May I and my friends walk in the light of Your presence today?

Faithfulness

O. T. #1295  "Faithfulness"
Oct. 1, 2018
Psalm 89-Part 3
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

LET IT GLOW

If there is one thing that has demished in our culture, we can agree that it is faithfulness of people. Though we may remaining faithful, others may not-a spouse, an employer, friends, church folks. I am so sorry that some of you may have experienced this kind of hurt. Just remember, God remains faithful. He will love us forever and keep His promises.

Last time we discovered that the psalmist sang about the mercies of the Lord. In addition, he also sang about God's faithfulness. We read of God's promise to David in verse 4-his seed would be established forever. In Christ the seed of David will be an everlasting kingdom.

In the Hebrew language, faithfulness means firmness; security; stability; steady; truth.

In six verses His faithfulness is proclaimed:

1. The psalmist said that the young and old would hear of God's faithfulness. (verse 1)
2. It is as enduring as the heavens. (verse 2)
3. The congregation of the saints, those redeemed and living on earth, shall praise God for His faithfulness. (verse 5)
4. God is entirely faithful. (verse 8)
5. His faithfulness was with both David and Christ. (verse 24)
6. God's love for David would never stop and He promised to never fail to keep His promises to him. (verse 33)

God was faithful to David and Christ. We, too, can proclaim God's faithfulness in our life. Are we?


LET IT GROW

Who is a rival for the Lord, an equal to His majesty and might?

• not angels in heaven;
• no princes on the earth. (verse 6)

I like how the New Living Translation answers the question in verse 7: The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround His throne.

He is greatly to be feared and reverenced in the assembly of the saints. Isn't He an awesome God?


LET IT GO

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
You alone are awesome and majestic.
None can compare to Thee.
Help me to keep proclaiming it to all generations so they, too, can experience Your mercy and faithfulness in their life.