Tuesday, February 26, 2019

praying effectively: Taste and See (Ps.34)

(Psalm 34:1-22)
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want.
10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to meI will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, tcut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we magnify and exalt the Lord together (34:3)
- that we taste and see that the Lord is good (34:8)
- that we take refuge in the Lord (34:8)
- that we fear the Lord (34:9)
- that we heed the words which God has inspired (34:11)
- that we watch what we say (34:13)
- that we do good, not evil (34:14)
- that we seek and pursue peace (34:14)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, let what we do and say magnify and exalt Your name!  May the peace that You give our hearts desire to reach out and share and make peace with others.

When we meet together as believers, let there be excitement and joy, to celebrate what You have done for us, what You are doing for us, and what You will do for us in the future.  May we desire to gain more and more understanding and continually grow closer to You and Your word.  Thank You for being our righteous protector and most generous provider.  Amen.

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