So how'd you do in Hebrews the last couple of weeks? It's so rich in content and there are definitely a lot of things to take in. So remember, if you have any questions, you can ask and we'll answer them.
The rest of this week we take a little breather and move back into the Psalms. I use the Psalms that way quite a bit. It seems to keep me grounded because they are so real. The writers are pouring their hearts out to God and laying out whatever they are dealing with. It's so refreshing to see that although it's thousands of years later, my life issues are really much the same. It's also a great reminder for me that the Lord knows exactly what's going on in my life and what emotions I'm dealing with and that He wants to be part of that. I feel closest to the Lord when I am completely open and honest with Him--when I don't hold anything back but tell Him all that's on my heart.
I want to encourage you to read all our readings (Psalms 36-39) the rest of this week because they are filled with so many real conversations/communications with God. You'll see confidence, praise, rejoicing, hope, thankfulness, need, love, despair, patience, you name it. God wants us to be real with Him.
As you read, let me know if any verses catch your attention. Here's what caught mine. I'll sign off with them. Psalm 37:3-6 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." Tami W.
Tami, I was drawn to Psalm 37:16 - "it is better to have little and be right than to have much and be wrong." To me, it says to be steadfast in the Lord and don't worry about what others have. Account to yourself and let the others account for theirs.
Hi there Tami, I've been checking out P4 for a week now. "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." What a powerful statement. Something to hang your hat on in a day when life's issues are abounding. I enjoy your comments. Thank you. Bobbie
I needed that perspective. I know that it is providence that part of Psalm 37 was in one other devotional recently. The Book of Psalms is such a great comfort in so many ways. Also, the video still was great!
God bless,
ScatterGus
Hi Tami,
In my quiet time this morning I read Ps 36 thru 39. Many things stood out for me but two verses in Ps 37 are the ones I want to share. Ps 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." My thought was that I do delight in the Lord and I seek his will for me every day. So, why hasn't he given me the deepest desire of my heart which I have been praying for 23 years? I have been praying for my husband to find Jesus Christ and to give himself to the Lord. I want him to have eternal life and while still here on earth, to share in my love of God. What a joy to be able to go to church with my husband. So far, my husband's heart seems as hard as ever, yet he's a good man. So, why Lord, how long do I have to wait?
Then I read Ps 37:7 which says "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him." I had to stop and say "Yes, Lord, I know my time and your time are so different. What seems a long time to me may just be a nanosecond for you." I continued to pray and to ask him to give me the patience I need to wait and to help me be a good witness in my own home, in my actions and my attitudes.
What a wonderful quiet time I had with the Lord this morning. Being in the presence of God in the morning sets the tone for the whole day. It gives me calmness, inner peace, and a smile on my face.
I just want to share one more thing today. I just had what I call a "God moment." My husband called me into the living room to look out the window. There on our lawn, bathed in the golden setting sunlight, were a mother deer and her fawn. What a breath-taking sight. Praise God.
Really enjoyed Hebrews, I also enjoy reading this blog and all the people that responded to it. Back to the Bible is great.
Once again, another appropriate Psalm for today. Going through these particular Psalms reminds of when I was going through severe anxiety and depression. My pastoral counselor at the time recommended "Anxiety Attacked" and in it author John MacArthur encourages "Psalm Therapy" for reasons that you touched upon.
I find that while I have been quite angry with the trials I've been going through lately, I've been able to be real to others and not put on what I call the "Christian Smilex" grin. If we don't share our struggles with a person who we trust and have some accountability with, then how will we ever be real and deal with our problems in a Godly way.
Thanks and God bless you and Back to the Bible for this ministry.
ScatterGus
Happy blessed Sunday Tami and P4 team. God is good and good all the time. Here are some verses that I wrote in my journal that immediately grabbed my attention.
Psalms 37: 37-38: Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalms 38: 21-22: OH Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me Lord My Savior.
This is a constant reminder of God's unconditional love and promise to me and all of us. I am so blessed that he chose me. Although I am not perfect, I want to please him in every way that I can. I do not want my existence to be denied in the end. I want to stand strong for Jesus, because after all, it doesn't matter what this world thinks or has to say about me. What matters most to me is what the Father thinks or has to say about me. And I want him to be proud of me and welcome me with open arms. I want Jesus to introduce me with honors to his Father. Amen!
Tina
Hello Tami,
I am writing from Jamaica. I am blessed by your series.
Please pray for me. I am now unemployed again for the second time in recent years. At 56 years old, it is very difficult to find employment. I am trying to be patient and not worry, but you know there are always thoughts of the bills piling up.
The first verse of Ps. 40: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry."
Please give me some advice.
Phil
Mary,
Thank you so much for your blog and for sharing about how you've been praying for your husband to come to know the Lord. Your persistence and faith really came through and were an encouragement to me. This Wednesday morning we are having an all staff chapel. As part of that service, I wanted you to know that we'll be praying for you and your husband. Tami W.
Hello Tami, so bless your series.
Our God is so great in our life even were not perfect to him, cuz we are all sinner's still, his love endure forever. im a church leader, and as a leader of our church i have a lot of love and concern for my the ministry of God that he gave me, not to me but to all my co-member/ my brother & sister in Christ..
Tami,
1.) Please Pray for our church to have a own place.
2.) Pray for our finances.
3.) Pray for my Pastor.
Thanks,
GOD BLESS
In Christ
Ernest
Thank you for your comment Phil. I am writing on behalf of Tami.
Please be assured that we will pray for your situation. If you are actively pursuing employment, then I believe the best you can do is (as you say) wait patiently on the Lord. There are, however, some verses that may bring comfort to you during this time. I would encourage you to read and memorize: Phil. 4:6-7, 4:19. Isaiah 40:31 is also a wonderful verse for those who are waiting. God bless.
In Him
Allen Bean
Biblical Correspondent
Hi Tami,
I found Psalm 37:24 so comforting, because even when we are going through tough times, in this life God has given to us on loan, He holds us in the palm of His hand. Psalm 39:5 is a favorite of mine, because it reminds me of our short and fragile life is. We spend so much time looking at ourselves in the mirror at home, so we can impress others, who don't even notice. We are preoccupied with age and image, although, there is nothing wrong with being neat, but some of us idolize the way we look all the time and obsess about staying young. We are deteriorating a little each and every day and what matters most is giving Him the glory, by the good works we do, while we are able to do them. Being able to do for Him is food for the soul too.