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Psalm 18:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 28, 2022
Psalm 18 is one of my favorite psalms, for it reveals the rich and deep relationship David had with his Lord, who sustained him in the midst of the problems, pressures and the ever present dangers of his life. David is a good example to us, as he takes everything to God and lives in the Lord’s strength, power and protection, not trying to make it on his own.
“For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”
[And we all know how Saul repeatedly sought to kill David and how God protected him from Saul’s anger.]
Psalm 18:1 “I love you, O LORD, my strength.”
[You, Lord, are the intimate and ultimate God, whose deep love for us calls forth an echo of affection from our hearts. To love you is a great privilege, a wonderful freedom, a deep grace, bringing us out from our natural negative notions into the light of your marvelous presence, your mighty power and majestic wisdom. There your love overflows onto us, washing through us, bringing us cleansing, renewing and joy.
You, Jesus, declared in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
This is an amazing statement: Jesus offers us the great, eternal, all powerful love that the Father has for Him: whole-hearted, enthusiastic, unending, joyful, grace-filled, kind and warm love. So, as Jesus is secure in His relationship with the Father, we can be secure in our relationship with Him. And His love calls forth the desire to love Him back, to remain in His love by obeying him in all that we know to be right.
In verse 11 Jesus continues, “…. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete”.
[You are not only the One who loves us but the one who desires to share your joy with us and out of that love and joy your power flows into our lives. You are my strength–I have so little; in fact, practically speaking, no strength of my own, especially in comparison to that of our enemy, Satan, who is much stronger than I am. So I need your power to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Picture: speaking of love, here we are with my loving grandmother in Illinois, probably in 1979
May be an image of 3 people, child, people sitting, people standing and indoor
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Invitation to an Adventure

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 27, 2022
 
I praise you, Father, for you have given us full reality, as far as we can comprehend it, from your revelation in the Word.
 
We need to eagerly let go of our natural worldview and leap wholeheartedly into your biblical worldview where you are Sovereign, Powerful, Good and Loving. Where everything is right side up: loving our enemies, forgiving as we have been forgiven, returning good for evil, giving thanks in all things.
 
You are inviting us into the adventure of living for you, in you, by you and with you in bringing history to a conclusion and sweeping as many as possible into an eternity with you, our marvelous and mighty God. To refuse such proffered purpose, meaning, honor and significance is the deepest form of insanity (being detached from reality). To surrender is the highest form of worship.
 
The choice is ours to begin now, surrendering our understanding to you, being filled with your Spirit, learning to think your thoughts, to live in your values and run in your paths of Truth, as laid out in your Word.
 
Lead us on to deeper and deeper surrender, Lord, thinking your thoughts, pursuing your purposes, living in your light, so that we may be more and more useful for you, continually bringing you greater and wider honor.
 
May be an image of nature and tree
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Astounding God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 26, 2022
Praise you, my Heavenly Father, King of Glory, Creator of the universe, the Beginner and Ender of time. When you created all the physical universe, Satan was there, as were all the angels, fallen and faithful both.
 
What was there before all we know was created? We don’t know, but certainly there was a place where you dwelt, Lord, where you and all the spiritual beings you had created earlier existed.
 
You are much bigger, much more powerful and far greater than even the vast and deep spaces of the known universe indicate. It is, of course, impossible for our tiny human reasoning to grasp your dimensions, to understand what eternity entails, what it means to have existed forever, without being created, without change or growth because you are already perfect, living forever and ever.
 
Such thoughts are mind-warpingly beyond our comprehension, they are certainly magnificent and stunning—and comforting.
 
They are comforting because you, our Heavenly Father, in spite of your greatness and glory, in spite of your having no need for us, came to our insignificant Milky Way galaxy, crossing it’s 50,000-light-year radius to approach a tiny speck of dust tucked under one arm of our huge galactic spiral, and there, at great cost to yourself, proceeded to redeem the rebellious and repulsive population of sinners.
 
What reason could you possibly have had for this? There is no attractiveness, no usefulness, no positiveness about us–sinful and selfish as we are– to entice you into such a sacrifice. This is utterly illogical to our minds.
 
Yet, you, the Mighty and Majestic One, who has created all we can see and far more, stooped to gather into your embrace all the rebels who will come. You forgive, cleanse, adopt, equip and invite us into significant roles in your great plan to right wrong, infuse good, eliminate evil and bring a re-created universe into eternity with you. Wow!
 
Are we who have believed in you, going to refuse to join you in this great plan? Are we going to continue on in our self-centered, activity-based, feel good focus, taking for granted all you’ve done and given? Or are we going to embrace all you have for us, making you the center of our lives, our being, our day, our activities? A no-brainer if we are looking at reality.
 
And that’s the key: you have given us full reality, as far as we can comprehend it, from your revelation in the Word.
 
We need to eagerly let go of our natural worldview and leap wholeheartedly into your biblical worldview where you are Sovereign, Powerful, Good and Loving; where everything is right side up: loving our enemies, forgiving as we have been forgiven, returning good for evil, giving thanks in all things.
May be an image of flower and nature
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More on Psalm 17:15b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 25, 2022
Further thoughts on, “when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” Psalm 17:15b
 
When I awake from death you will be there, too. How much more stupendous it will be when I arrive in your full presence, Lord Jesus, seeing you without the veil of sin and selfishness. It will be indescribably wondrous.
 
I praise you for the daily revelations you give now from your Word, through your Spirit, through God sightings, in the beauty of your creation like the flowers below, in the beauty of your creation like the flowers below, as you remind of us of truths taught and lessons learned so we can apply them again.
 
As one who has the privilege of knowing you so, of living in your joy, may I be a hope carrier, a perspective bringer, and faith supplier to all those around me as I pass through this life.
 
May the wonder of your love flow through and out of me to those I meet today, giving you glory and honor and bringing further surrender and obedience in us all.]
May be an image of flower and nature
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Psalm 17:15

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 24, 2022
Psalm 17:15 “And I—in righteousness I will see your face;”
 
[Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you have given me your righteousness and opened the way so that I will see you in eternity, face to face. What a hope, what a high and wide security, equipping us to face the future, knowing where we are going. And what joy to see more and more of you here on earth in your Word, in your Works, and in your Wisdom.]
 
“when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
 
[When I awake each morning, you are there, Lord Jesus, watching over me, having prepared this day with all that is needed: grace, wisdom, insight, discernment, challenges and opportunities, as well as protection and provision.
 
You are a marvel, a joy, a wonder, a glory. I praise you for the deep, rich, powerful and glorious privilege of being yours, of being with you, of being in you.
 
Knowing you now, living with you now is certainly enough reason for joy! Seeing you through your Word and works, veiled and dim as it is, is majestic, transforming, marvelous and far more than enough reason to find all my joy in you.
May be an image of nature, sky, twilight and tree
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Psalm 17:14

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 24, 2022
Psalm 17:14 “O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life”
[The wicked are in the hand of the evil one; they live only for this world: they are shortsighted, focused on what they can get in the short run and are short-lived.
But praise you, Lord, that in contrast, you have given us the long range perspective of living for eternity, living for greater things than the values of this world.
 
You have lifted us from the narrow, dark pit of sin and slavery, and brought us into a wide, pleasant position before you, into the light of your Word, into the place of your presence, into the peace and joy of your love.
Praise be to you for all the good you share, all the beauty you bring, all the gifts you give. To look at those forces of men and devils who attack us and what they want to force on us—slavery, fear, despair, hopelessness and death–and then to look at where you have brought us—into the Kingdom of light, into your grace, into your embrace–the contrast is stark, deep, powerful and wonderful.
To you be glory and honor for sharing your goodness with the naturally godless like us, making us your children, putting your divine nature in us, placing us in your family, your Kingdom, your plan and your heart.
May you be glorified in my life today through gratitude, gratefulness and being a glory-giver in each instance, each decision, each challenge, by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
May be an image of cloud, tree and nature
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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 22, 2022
Psalm 17:12 “…the wicked who assail me…are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.”
[Our powerful enemies, Satan and his hordes, are like a beast desperate for food: dangerous, destructive and determined–burning churches (as has been happening here in the US), killing Christians, persecuting children. They are terrifying and terrible,a mob too strong for us. We are in desperate need of help before they overcome us.]
Psalm 17:13 “Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;”
[In your might, Lord, you can easily win this battle. You are the Creator of the universe, Breather of the stars, Bringer of the dawn, Captain of history and Ender of time. You are strong enough to deliver us from any enemy.]
“rescue me from the wicked by your sword.”
[No one can withstand the onslaught of your sword of Truth and the Power of your right hand, Jesus. As John wrote in Rev. 19:11.21, “…there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war….[those who fought against God] were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse….”]
 
As it says in Psalm 46 “The Lord is an ever present help in trouble…therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and fall into the midst of the sea….” Even when everything around us collapses we can rest in the God of goodness and trust our Supreme Shepherd. Remind us to do that, Lord.
Picture: though the earth give way….
May be an image of 2 people and outdoors
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Psalm 17:11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 21, 2022
Psalm 17:11 “They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.”
 
[Satan intentionally sends his servants out to track us down and attack. This description of spiritual warfare is expanded on in Psalm 62:3-4: “How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down– this leaning wall, this tottering fence?”
 
We are weak and unable to stand on our own against the attacks of Satan’s forces, whether he uses people or events, sickness or accidents, fear or frustration.]
 
“Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place;”
 
They want to have us forget who we are in Christ–children of the Most High God, chosen, forgiven, adopted and delighted in–to forsake Him as our high tower, to topple us into the swamp of self-pity, materialism and despair.]
 
“they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.”
 
[Satan’s forces can be slick, sounding so positive and constructive at times (“we welcome all, we don’t want anyone to be offended”), but their goal is destruction, causing people to accept lies and harmful values–as we see happening all around us today, with abortion, rampant divorce, twisting of the definition of marriage and political correctness.]
 
Our strength is inadequate, but yours, Lord God, is mighty, invincible, far more than adequate–you who breathed the stars, who hung the earth on nothing, who brings the dawn each day–you are able to empower us to stand in any situation.
 
Help us to remember these truths:
that we are in a spiritual battle every day;
that our real enemies are not people,
but Satan’s forces using them.
 
Help us, Lord, to keep on the full armor you have provided, to fight with praise, prayer and persistence in obedience and to see your mighty power triumph in our lives and in those of people we are called to serve.]
 
May be an image of nature
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Psalm 17:9-10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 20, 2022
 
Psalm 17:9 “… hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.”
 
[For David, these enemies were actual people; for us it is sometimes people acting like our enemies, but it is actually our spiritual foes, Satan and his forces of demons and devils, who regularly use people to attack God’s children.
 
This opposition is real, it is powerful, it is beyond our abilities to withstand or overcome. We know that Satan’s goal is to rob us of joy, to destroy our testimonies, families, churches and lives. And to kill, as he is doing in the Middle East and parts of Africa with attempts by terrorists to wipe out all Christians in their area. We need help desperately!
 
Praise be to you, Lord, that you do want to hide us in the shadow of your wings. You are our rock, our salvation and our high tower. You urge us to take shelter in you–just as David is doing in Psalm 17 by pouring out his heart to you and asking for help–so that we will never be shaken.]
 
Psalm 17:10 “They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.”
 
[People used by Satan are certainly callous—I read recently that a young man publicly executed his own mother for opposing his joining a jihadist grouup!
 
And when you hear the pronouncements of those who oppose biblical truths and standards, there is huge arrogance as they exalt their own intellect above the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, Maker of the sea and all that is in it. They are but pawns in Satan’s plans; mercy and grace are foreign concepts to them. May this not be true of us!]
 
Praise God that He is the opposite of this: our gracious Savior, our caring Shepherd, our powerful Protector and persistent Provider. We can always know that “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
May be an image of tree, twilight, nature and sky
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Psalm 17:8b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 19, 2022
Psalm 17:8b “hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
[You, Heavenly Father, actively shelter your children, covering us with your pinions of your Presence and Power, keeping us safe from what is truly evil, like the rooster in the picture below.
 
But we, like chicks, must choose to stay under your wings, to abide in your love, as you, Jesus, command us in John 15:9-10, “Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
If we choose to disobey your commands, Lord Jesus, and in arrogance and selfishness elevate our intellect and desires above your Word, as Adam and Eve did, we remove ourselves from the protecting shelter of your love.
Even then, though, you never stop loving us. You are always there, calling us, waiting for us to come and again abide in your shelter, your grace, your unconditional love.
And when we do stray in disobedience, you actively, in your love, chasten us by letting us suffer the consequences of our poor choices (Heb. 12:1-17). You do this so we will come to our senses and return to obedience to you.
 
You WILL hide us under your wings, if only we will come and abide there.]
Help us, Lord, to abide in your love, obeying what we know to be true, reveling in the Truth of your great and wonderful compassion and care for us. May we have the glow of your love in our hearts, in our souls and on our faces as we go with you into today, that we may bring light and hope to all those we meet.
May be an image of game fowl
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