I chose not to quit, not to let bad luck beat me.”
–Ty Murray
“I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
“I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
–Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)
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I smile when I read someone who agrees with me. Really when it comes to the writings of Paul, Peter, James, and the others, I should be more humble. It is good, however, when my mind and spirit is united with the writers of the Bible. That is the Holy Spirit working. Contemplate the words of Steven Lawson before we look at the first portion of Psalm 92. “Worship is a lifestyle, a continual experience of magnifying the glory of God. This adoration should be carried out through a Christian’s actions, thoughts, and words. Wherever we are, that place should be transformed into a palace for praise. Whatever we are doing, that activity should be a platform for worship. Ceaseless praise, all day every day, should be a living reality to every believer.”
1 — It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 — To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,
3 — On an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound.
4 — For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
5 — O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.
6 — A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.
7 — When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever.
8 — But You, LORD, are on high forevermore. (NKJV)
It is hard for you to deal with life? Do the problems of the day aggravate you, whether they be at work, at home, or at school? Perhaps more time is needed for the Lord. Perhaps more of our lives should be dedicated to Him. Hmm, perhaps we need to realize that everything we do should be unto Him. George O. Wood asks the following, “When was the last time you woke up in the morning with good thoughts of God’s love and bedded down at night thinking of His faithfulness? Have you lately sung for joy at the works of God’s hands? Have you paused to celebrate the sky, birds, flowers, forest, sea, grass, the butterfly as expressions of the Lord’s artistry, power, and love of beauty; or gladdened yourself by praising Jesus for what He has done for you?” Go back and read Psalm 92:1-5.
Friend–it is good to give thanks to the Lord! It is reasonable and right. Just think of His faithfulness, in the small things as well as in the great things. He is devoted to His children. Let me give a simple, little illustration that happened to me on Friday. The family went to Washington-on-the-Brazos and Kimberly purchased some earrings made from cow horn. Annie put them on and she noticed when we got home that somewhere one was lost. We looked through both vehicles and couldn’t find it. I went out the next morning, praying to the Lord for Him to show me where it was. It was drizzling rain, and I drove into the parking lot, got out of the truck, looked to my right and there it was. See He cares for the little things in our lives. Verse 4, in the NLT is translated, “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!”
Ah, but then there is the senseless man–one who is dull or stupid, a brute beast (Ps 73:22). This man does not know the ways of the Lord nor does he care to know them. They are fools–they are wicked. They just don’t “get it”. That’s one reason there is so much hatred, evil, and perverseness today; people do not care to understand the ways of the Lord. They are fools to reject such a great salvation that is provided through Jesus Christ. These, “because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18, NKJV) are fools, they are senseless. They may spring up around you “like weeds” (NLT) but they are soon to be destroyed.
Having trouble? Burst into song. I do it ever so often, despite my “wondrous” tonal quality. Come, let’s be like Martin Luther when he said, “Come, let us sing a psalm and drive away the Devil.” A song of praise to the Lord will do more than drive the devil away; it will change your mood, change your attitude. Oh, the problem may still be there, the storm might continue to raise, but the perspective in facing it has changed. Cultivate a spirit of praise and thanksgiving and open your eyes to the thrills of a life with God (Petersen).
“O Jesus my Savior, with Thee I am blest,
My life and salvation, my joy and my rest;
Thy name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my song.”
–unknown
—————————————
I smile when I read someone who agrees with me. Really when it comes to the writings of Paul, Peter, James, and the others, I should be more humble. It is good, however, when my mind and spirit is united with the writers of the Bible. That is the Holy Spirit working. Contemplate the words of Steven Lawson before we look at the first portion of Psalm 92. “Worship is a lifestyle, a continual experience of magnifying the glory of God. This adoration should be carried out through a Christian’s actions, thoughts, and words. Wherever we are, that place should be transformed into a palace for praise. Whatever we are doing, that activity should be a platform for worship. Ceaseless praise, all day every day, should be a living reality to every believer.”
1 — It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 — To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,
3 — On an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound.
4 — For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
5 — O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.
6 — A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.
7 — When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever.
8 — But You, LORD, are on high forevermore. (NKJV)
It is hard for you to deal with life? Do the problems of the day aggravate you, whether they be at work, at home, or at school? Perhaps more time is needed for the Lord. Perhaps more of our lives should be dedicated to Him. Hmm, perhaps we need to realize that everything we do should be unto Him. George O. Wood asks the following, “When was the last time you woke up in the morning with good thoughts of God’s love and bedded down at night thinking of His faithfulness? Have you lately sung for joy at the works of God’s hands? Have you paused to celebrate the sky, birds, flowers, forest, sea, grass, the butterfly as expressions of the Lord’s artistry, power, and love of beauty; or gladdened yourself by praising Jesus for what He has done for you?” Go back and read Psalm 92:1-5.
Friend–it is good to give thanks to the Lord! It is reasonable and right. Just think of His faithfulness, in the small things as well as in the great things. He is devoted to His children. Let me give a simple, little illustration that happened to me on Friday. The family went to Washington-on-the-Brazos and Kimberly purchased some earrings made from cow horn. Annie put them on and she noticed when we got home that somewhere one was lost. We looked through both vehicles and couldn’t find it. I went out the next morning, praying to the Lord for Him to show me where it was. It was drizzling rain, and I drove into the parking lot, got out of the truck, looked to my right and there it was. See He cares for the little things in our lives. Verse 4, in the NLT is translated, “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!”
Ah, but then there is the senseless man–one who is dull or stupid, a brute beast (Ps 73:22). This man does not know the ways of the Lord nor does he care to know them. They are fools–they are wicked. They just don’t “get it”. That’s one reason there is so much hatred, evil, and perverseness today; people do not care to understand the ways of the Lord. They are fools to reject such a great salvation that is provided through Jesus Christ. These, “because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18, NKJV) are fools, they are senseless. They may spring up around you “like weeds” (NLT) but they are soon to be destroyed.
Having trouble? Burst into song. I do it ever so often, despite my “wondrous” tonal quality. Come, let’s be like Martin Luther when he said, “Come, let us sing a psalm and drive away the Devil.” A song of praise to the Lord will do more than drive the devil away; it will change your mood, change your attitude. Oh, the problem may still be there, the storm might continue to raise, but the perspective in facing it has changed. Cultivate a spirit of praise and thanksgiving and open your eyes to the thrills of a life with God (Petersen).
“O Jesus my Savior, with Thee I am blest,
My life and salvation, my joy and my rest;
Thy name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my song.”
–unknown