today's meditation (Ps.91) Calling Upon the Lord

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 91:1-16)   One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
     Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.
2   I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
     My God, in whom I trust!”
3   For it is He who rescues you from the net of the trapper 
     And from the deadly plague.
4   He will cover you with His pinions,
     And under His wings you may take refuge;
     His faithfulness is a shield and wall.

5   You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
     Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6   Of the plague that stalks in darkness,
     Or of the destruction that devastates at noon.
7   A thousand may fall at your side 
     And ten thousand at your right hand,
     But it shall not approach you.
8   You will only look on with your eyes 
     And see the retaliation against the wicked.
9   For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
     The Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will happen to you,
     Nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels orders concerning you,
     To protect you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will lift you up,
     So that you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will walk upon the lion and cobra,
     You will trample the young lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he has loved Me, I will save him;
     I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
     I will be with him in trouble;
     I will rescue him and honor him.
16 I will satisfy him with a long life,
     And show him My salvation.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

I love the pictures that are painted here for us to build up our faith and confidence.  There will be troubles, but when we have made the Lord our refuge and dwelling place, we do not have to fear anyone or anything.  We just have to look to Him and call upon the Lord!

today's meditation (Ps.90) Being Approved

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 90:1-17)   Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2   Before the mountains were born 
     Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
     Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

3   You turn mortals back into dust 
     And say, “Return, you sons of mankind.”
4   For a thousand years in Your sight 
     Are like yesterday when it passes by,
     Or like a watch in the night.
5   You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
     In the morning they are like grass that sprouts anew.
6   In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;
     Toward evening it wilts and withers away.

7   For we have been consumed by Your anger,
     And we have been terrified by Your wrath.
8   You have placed our guilty deeds before You,
     Our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.
9   For all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;
     We have finished our years like a sigh.
10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
     Or if due to strength, eighty years,
     Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
     For it quickly passes, and we disappear.
11 Who understands the power of Your anger 
     And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
12 So teach us to number our days,
     That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

13 Do return, Lord; how long will it be?
     And be sorry for Your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness,
     That we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days.
15 Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us,
     And the years we have seen evil.
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants 
     And Your majesty to their children.
17 May the kindness of the Lord our God be upon us;
     And confirm for us the work of our hands;
     Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

There have been a few times where I pleaded for God to give me a break from all my troubles, and I did get that.  But eventually I started wondering when I was due for more troubles, since it had been a while.  Well, I thought back over the peaceful reprieve and realized that there had been "troubles" - I had just given them to God for Him to sort out.  In all that time, I had been resting in His strength, wisdom, peace and guidance;  so there was a quick "note to self" - remember to do that always!!!

Being created in the image of our Creator, means that we will have a desire to create and build and work.  As believers, it should be our desire to have God approve what we are doing.  And what is pleasing in His sight are the things we have done in His strength and guidance.  It stands to reason that whatever we try to do in our own strength and wisdom will fall short of what the all-knowing, all-powerful and eternal God can do.  So here's another "note to self" - always remember to ask God to do things through me and do them FOR me.

today's meditation (Ps.89) Staying Faithful

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 89:1-52)   I will sing of the graciousness of the Lord forever;
     To all generations I will make Your faithfulness known with my mouth.
2   For I have said, “Graciousness will be built up forever;
     In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”
3   “I have made a covenant with My chosen;
     I have sworn to My servant David,
4   I will establish your descendants forever 
     And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah 

5   The heavens will praise Your wonders, Lord;
     Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6   For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
     Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord,
7   A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones,
     And awesome above all those who are around Him?
8   Lord God of armies, who is like You, mighty Lord?
     Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
9   You rule the surging of the sea;
     When its waves rise, You calm them.
10 You Yourself crushed Rahab like one who is slain;
     You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
     The world and all it contains, You have established them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
     Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have a strong arm;
     Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
     Mercy and truth go before You.
15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
     Lord, they walk in the light of Your face.
16 In Your name they rejoice all the day,
     And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
     And by Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
     And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones,
     And said, “I have given help to one who is mighty;
     I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found My servant David;
     With My holy oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom My hand will be established;
     My arm also will strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not deceive him,
     Nor will the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 But I will crush his adversaries before him,
      And strike those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and My favor will be with him,
      And in My name his horn will be exalted.
25 I will also place his hand on the sea,
     And his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father,
     My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 I will also make him My firstborn,
     The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain My favor for him forever,
     And My covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 So I will establish his descendants forever,
     And his throne as the days of heaven.

30 “If his sons abandon My Law 
     And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they violate My statutes 
     And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their wrongdoing with the rod,
     And their guilt with afflictions.
33 But I will not withhold My favor from him,
     Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
34 I will not violate My covenant,
     Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.
35 Once I have sworn by My holiness;
     I will not lie to David.
36 His descendants shall endure forever,
     And his throne as the sun before Me.
37 It shall be established forever like the moon,
     And a witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah 

38 But You have rejected and refused,
     You have been full of wrath against Your anointed.
39 You have repudiated the covenant of Your servant;
     You have profaned his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken down all his walls;
     You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 All who pass along the way plunder him;
     He has become a disgrace to his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
     You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You also turn back the edge of his sword,
     And have not made him stand in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendor
     And cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have shortened the days of his youth;
     You have covered him with shame. Selah 

46 How long, Lord?
     Will You hide Yourself forever?
     Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember what my lifespan is;
     For what futility You have created all the sons of mankind!
48 What man can live and not see death?
     Can he save his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

49 Where are Your former acts of favor, Lord,
     Which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, Lord, the taunt against Your servants;
     How I carry in my heart the taunts of all the many peoples,
51 With which Your enemies have taunted, Lord,
     With which they have taunted the footsteps of Your anointed.

52 Blessed be the Lord forever!
     Amen and Amen.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

No matter how many questions David had, or how many times he felt he had to vent about his struggles, David still continued to bless the Lord!  It helps to know the scriptures and remember God's promises in order to remain faithful.  It is the seeking after God that keeps us seeking after God, because God is faithful and gracious, and will provide to us whatever it is that we need!!!

today's meditation (Ps.88) Relying on God

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 88:1-18)  Lord, the God of my salvation,
     I have cried out by day and in the night before You.
2   Let my prayer come before You;
     Incline Your ear to my cry!
3   For my soul has had enough troubles,
     And my life has approached Sheol.
4   I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
     I have become like a man without strength,
5   Abandoned among the dead,
     Like the slain who lie in the grave,
     Whom You no longer remember,
     And they are cut off from Your hand.
6   You have put me in the lowest pit,
     In dark places, in the depths.
7   Your wrath has rested upon me,
     And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah 
8   You have removed my acquaintances far from me;
     You have made me an object of loathing to them;
     I am shut up and cannot go out.
9   My eye grows dim from misery;
     I have called upon You every day, Lord;
     I have spread out my hands to You.

10 Will You perform wonders for the dead?
     Or will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah 
11 Will Your graciousness be declared in the grave,
     Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness?
     And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, Lord, have cried out to You for help,
     And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Lord, why do You reject my soul?
     Why do You hide Your face from me?
15 I was miserable and about to die from my youth on;
     I suffer Your terrors; I grow weary.
16 Your burning anger has passed over me;
     Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They have surrounded me like water all day long;
     They have encircled me altogether.
18 You have removed lover and friend far from me;
     My acquaintances are in a hiding place.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This psalm shows David's humanness, although I cannot totally relate, as I have never been a king over a nation, surrounded by many, many enemies.  But whatever we are going through, we should keep in mind that God is in control, but does not tempt anyone or cause evil.  He is just and fair, and will only allow certain things to fall onto us, whether these are consequences of our own actions, of other people's actions, or due to natural disasters or diseases because we live in a sinful, fallen world.  God allows these things as tests for us to grow closer to Him.

In such times we are to be like David - persistently pursuing God!!!  We can tell and ask God anything, because He already knows what we are thinking and feeling.  And David actually asked some questions in verses 10 to 12 which might have seemed unreasonable to many, but they were excellent questions.  Not only did God eventually answer these questions, but the answer is beyond amazing!

When Jesus died and paid the price for sin, He did go to that dark place.  And because He rose again, having victory over death, those who believe in Him will be resurrected and go to heaven for all eternity!  This includes anyone who believed in the Lord BEFORE Jesus came to earth in flesh, including David.  So even if things seem hopeless right now, if we have placed our hope in Christ, we can be confident and rely on His faithfulness and graciousness. 

today's meditation (Ps.87) Being Born into God's Family

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 87:1-7)   His foundation is in the holy mountains.

2   The Lord loves the gates of Zion 
     More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
3   Glorious things are spoken of you,
     City of God. Selah 
4   “I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me;
     Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Cush:
     ‘This one was born there.’”
5   But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
     And the Most High Himself will establish her.
6   The Lord will count when He registers the peoples,
     “This one was born there.” Selah 
7   Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes will say,
     “All my springs of joy are in you.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

In the Millennium, Jesus will establish Israel and its capital city, Jerusalem.  The Israelites will be established in the Lord, and they will be fruitful and blessed with all their covenants fulfilled, because they as a nation will have accepted Jesus as their King and Messiah at the end of the Tribulation.  

As for right now, it is not about logistics, it is about the condition of one's heart and being born again into God's family.  Like that saying goes, "Home is where the heart is."  When we become children of God, our heavenly Father knows us and promises us that we will go to heaven for all eternity.

Until that day, because we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, He establishes His firm foundation in us on a personal level.  We may be aliens living on this earth, but the Lord is always with us and working in and on our hearts so that we may experience joy in the Lord!

today's meditation (Ps.86) Allowing the Lord to Work in Us

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 86:1-17)   Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;
     For I am afflicted and needy.
2   Protect my soul, for I am godly;
     You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
3   Be gracious to me, Lord,
     For I call upon You all day long.
4   Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
     For to You, Lord, I lift up my soul.
5   For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
     And abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
6   Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
     And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
7   On the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
     For You will answer me.
8   There is no one like You among the gods, Lord,
     Nor are there any works like Yours.
9   All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
     And they will glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
     You alone are God.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord;
     I will walk in Your truth;
     Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
     And I will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your graciousness toward me is great,
     And You have saved my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 God, arrogant men have risen up against me,
     And a gang of violent men have sought my life,
     And they have not set You before them.
15 But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
     Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and truth.
16 Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
     Grant Your strength to Your servant,
     And save the son of Your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of good,
     That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
     Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This psalm does an excellent job at defining what a Christian - a true believer - is.  So, who are the godly ones?  They are those who know that there is only one God, and He is great and does wonderous deeds.  They have humbled themselves, knowing that they are afflicted and in need of a Savior, and that salvation is only through Jesus, the Lord.  They have gone to the Lord for forgiveness and have given their soul to Him.  They know they can go to Him to pour out their hearts and find comfort.  

Christians trust in the Lord.  They are those who call upon the Lord and depend on Him for help "all day long" - for everything - always!  And they call out to Him "on the day" of their trouble, without waiting.  They know that God works and answers their prayers, so they go to Him for His strength and joy.  They know to run to the Lord for His guidance because they are confident that He is just and fair.  

Christians are those who fear God and put Him first in their lives.   They see and know all of His qualities and how they benefit a person, therefore they want to learn from the Lord so they can walk in truth and in unity with Him.  They ask God to help them be steadfast servants, being thankful to Him for everything.  They go to worship Him and glorify His name.  

Christians are those who realize that for all these things, it is the Lord at work in us!

today's meditation (Ps.85) Sprouting and Being Fruitful

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 85:1-13)   Lord, You showed favor to Your land;
     You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2   You forgave the guilt of Your people;
     You covered all their sin. Selah 
3   You withdrew all Your fury;
     You turned away from Your burning anger.

4   Restore us, God of our salvation,
     And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5   Will You be angry with us forever?
     Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6   Will You not revive us again,
     So that Your people may rejoice in You?
7   Show us Your mercy, Lord,
     And grant us Your salvation.

8   I will hear what God the Lord will say;
     For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
     And may they not turn back to foolishness.
9   Certainly His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
     That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Graciousness and truth have met together;
     Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth sprouts from the earth,
     And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
     And our land will yield its produce.
13 Righteousness will go before Him 
     And will make His footsteps into a way.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Without planning, this is the passage that falls on Christmas, which is a day we remember the purpose of Jesus coming to earth as a baby!  When we accept truth we will find grace, and in righteousness we will find peace.  Jesus is truth and righteousness.  

So verses 10 to 13 are really speaking to me.  After dying on the cross, being buried in the ground, and paying the price for all sin, Jesus rose from the dead.  And those who accept His free gift of salvation and take on His righteousness will "sprout" and be fruitful in bringing Him glory, as we walk with integrity and share this good news of salvation, hope and peace.

today's meditation (Ps.84) Trusting is Not a Feeling

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 84:1-12) How lovely are Your dwelling places,
     Lord of armies!
2   My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the Lord;
     My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3   The bird also has found a house,
     And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young:
     Your altars, Lord of armies,
     My King and my God.
4   Blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
     They are ever praising You. Selah 

5   Blessed is the person whose strength is in You,
     In whose heart are the roads to Zion!
6   Passing through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring;
     The early rain also covers it with blessings.
7   They go from strength to strength,
     Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8   Lord God of armies, hear my prayer;
     Listen, God of Jacob! Selah 
9   See our shield, God,
     And look at the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
     I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God 
     Than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
     The Lord gives grace and glory;
     He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
12 Lord of armies,
     Blessed is the person who trusts in You!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

There is nothing better than being a child of God!  This is a person who has put their faith and trust in the Lord.  The action of commitment comes before any feelings.  

We know when we truly trust in God, we can trust that what He tells us to do is right and it will work.  And as God works in our hearts and works through our service to Him, and blesses and works things out for us, we will long and yearn to know Him more, and we will want to sing praises to Him.

today's meditation (Ps.83) Asking For God's Help

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 83:1-18)  God, do not remain quiet;
     Do not be silent and, God, do not be still.
2   For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
     And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
3   They make shrewd plans against Your people,
     And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
4   They have said, “Come, and let’s wipe them out as a nation,
     So that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”
5   For they have conspired together with one mind;
     They make a covenant against You:
6   The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
     Moab and the Hagrites;
7   Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,
     Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8   Assyria also has joined them;
     They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah 

9   Deal with them as with Midian,
     As with Sisera and Jabin at the river of Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor,
     Who became like dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
     And all their leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let’s possess for ourselves 
     The pastures of God.”

13 My God, make them like the whirling dust,
     Like chaff before the wind.
14 Like fire that burns the forest,
     And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your heavy gale,
     And terrify them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with dishonor,
     So that they will seek Your name, Lord.
17 May they be ashamed and dismayed forever,
     And may they be humiliated and perish,
18 So that they will know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
     Are the Most High over all the earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

David asks God for help.  And even though he wants his enemies to experience extreme consequences, his hope is that they would realize who God is.  And maybe they would even want to seek out the Lord, as it is God's desire that all come to know Him and be saved.  (1 Timothy 2:3-4) 

There is good reason why we should leave judgment and vengeance to the Lord!  We are not all knowing, but God is.  He knows exactly who will become believers and how much it will take for them to feel remorse to the point of repentance. Our task is to continue in God's will, praying for God's guidance and help, and allowing God to do what needs to be done.

today's meditation (Ps.82) Being Children of God

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 82:1-8)  God takes His position in His assembly;
     He judges in the midst of the gods.
2   How long will you judge unjustly 
     And show partiality to the wicked? Selah 
3   Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
     Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4   Rescue the weak and needy;
     Save them from the hand of the wicked.

5   They do not know nor do they understand;
     They walk around in darkness;
     All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6   I said, “You are gods,
     And all of you are sons of the Most High.
7   Nevertheless you will die like men,
     And fall like one of the princes.”
8   Arise, God, judge the earth!
     For You possess all the nations.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

At the moment, it seems that the wicked are running amok and running many things in this world.  Even though God created all mankind with a purpose, and with the intention that all would be children of God, sin separated us from Him because Adam and Eve brought sin, separation, destruction and death into the world.  They chose to disobey and believe Satan's lie that they could be as God.  

We can see from the state of the world that people do not make very good gods.  We deceive ourselves if we think we can be god of our own lives.  When we try to take control and do things our way, things will go wrong.  This is why we need Jesus Christ as our personal LORD GOD and Savior!  

There is only one God, and He is Sovreign and perfect.  We cannot be gods, but we can be children of God when we put our faith in Him.  And as children of God, He will work on our hearts to be more and more like Him.  

today's meditation (Ps.81) Being Obedient in the Lord's Strength

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 81:1-16)  Sing for joy to God our strength;
     Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.
2   Raise a song, strike the tambourine,
     The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.
3   Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
     At the full moon, on our feast day.
4   For it is a statute for Israel,
     An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5   He established it as a testimony in Joseph 
     When he went throughout the land of Egypt.
     I heard a language I did not know:

6   “I relieved his shoulder of the burden,
     His hands were freed from the basket.
7   You called in trouble and I rescued you;
     I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;
     I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. Selah 
8   Hear, My people, and I will admonish you;
     Israel, if you would listen to Me!
9   There shall be no strange god among you;
     Nor shall you worship a foreign god.
10 I, the Lord, am your God,
     Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
     Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 “But My people did not listen to My voice,
     And Israel did not obey Me.
12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
     To walk by their own plans.
13 Oh that My people would listen to Me,
     That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies 
     And turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 Those who hate the Lord would pretend to obey Him,
     And their time of punishment would be forever.
16 But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
     And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God wants to help and bless Israel, all they have to do as a nation is listen and hear the Lord, and walk in His will.  Prophecy shows that this will only happen by the end of the Tribulation, and then Jesus will return to earth, take them into the Millennium and fulfill their covenants.

Meanwhile, God wants to save, help and bless - anyone who listens and hears the Lord and walks in His will.  It's not that we have to be obedient first and then He will save us.  It is actually impossible for us to do that.  God just asks that we make Him our personal Lord and Savior, and then He will help us walk in His ways and give peace and fulfillment to our lives.  The Lord is our strength!!!

today's meditation (Ps.80) Calling Upon the God of Armies

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 80:1-19)  Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
     Who leads Joseph like a flock;
     You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
2   Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, awaken Your power,
     And come to save us!
3   God, restore us 
     And make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

4   Lord God of armies,
     How long will You be angry with the prayer of Your people?
5   You have fed them with the bread of tears,
     And You have made them drink tears in large measure.
6   You make us an object of contention to our neighbors,
     And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7   God of armies, restore us 
     And make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

8   You removed a vine from Egypt;
     You drove out the nations and planted it.
9   You cleared the ground before it,
     And it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow,
     And the cedars of God with its branches.
11 It was sending out its branches to the sea 
     And its shoots to the Euphrates River.
12 Why have You broken down its hedges,
     So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?
13 A boar from the forest eats it away,
     And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

14 God of armies, do turn back;
     Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,
15 The shoot which Your right hand has planted,
     And of the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
     They perish from the rebuke of Your face.
17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
     Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn back from You;
     Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
19 Lord God of armies, restore us;
     Make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We need to realize that it is God who saves us and works things out for us.  All we have to do is see and believe and call upon Him.  Several times in this psalm, David uses the name "God of armies".  God created everything and is over everything, including the angels.  As this is the case, we should know that God is able to carry out His promises and His plans, and we can be confident that it is as good as done!