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Psalm 9:17-18

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 18, 2018
 
Psalm 9:17 “The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.”
 
[Those who forget you, Lord, will be forgotten. You are the most important One in existence, the most signficant Being in history, the most central Point of all the Universe.
 
How could we forget you–you who are the source of all good–and not be guilty of the fatal sin of unbelief (John 16:9)? You, O Lord, are worthy, not just of remembering, but of totally absorbing our attention, our affection, our adoration!]
 
Psalm 9:18 “But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.”
 
[You, O Mighty and Loving Heavenly Father, remember and watch over the needy–and we are all needy–you see each one, you care for every one. You are the God of goodness, giving comfort to those who are hurting, support to those who are suffering, help to those who are hopeless. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
 
I praise you that you are the God of hope, giving “joy and peace to those who trust in you so” our lives can “overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
 
In you, Lord God, there is all we need and desire: there is belonging, there is worth, there is meaning, there is purpose, there is a certain and positive future because you are moving history to a definite conclusion and taking us, your children, with you.
 
Help us to keep our eyes on you, Lord Jesus, to let go of what is temporal, to hold on to what is eternal and to rise above the turmoil and tragedy of life in a fallen world. Help us to remember that we are destined for a re-created and perfect world, where there will be no sin, no rebellion, no evil. In you, Lord Jesus, we are safe, secure and can be satisfied, no matter what our situation may be.
 
Help us, Heavenly Father, to live out today this truth of your faithful guidance, your powerful protection, your bountiful provision and your perfect plan, by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in every circumstance (Ps. 50:23), thereby honoring you in faith and cooperating with you in being open to the help you will bring.]
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From My Worship Journal

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 17, 2018
Written after lifting my troubled soul to God (telling Him transparently what I was thinking, feeling, wanting), and receiving His insight, conviction and forgiveness.
 
Praise you, Lord God, for you are the King of Glory and the Lord of Grace, who reaches down into my life consistently: guiding, providing, protecting, teaching, correcting, forgiving and transforming. “You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, abounding in mercy to all who call on you” (Ps. 86:5).
 
It is such a wonder to belong to you, the Creator of all, the Sustainer of all, the Ender of all. On the level of universe-wide thinking, I live on a tiny speck of cosmic dust, tucked under one arm of the Milky Way, which itself is a small, inconsequential galaxy among millions of others.
 
And yet you, the Great One who stoops to look upon us, have the desire and commitment to be intimately, consistently involved in my life: “From his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do” (Ps. 33:14,15).
 
You can do this because you are infinite, you are powerful, you are loving and good, and you are filled with Grace, giving your enemies the opposite of what we deserve.
 
Forgive me for taking your mighty, rich love for me for granted–I so easily forget how great you are, how huge the universe is, and how much I deserve the opposite of your tender care.
 
You are marvelous in your love, magnificent in your forgiveness, munificent (splendidly generous) in your provision and magnanimous in your grace. You are truly worthy of wholehearted worship, lavish love, supreme surrender and outlandish obedience.
 
Help me today to remember your greatness, my unworthiness and your rich, redeeming love, so that I may respond by living worthy of your Name and the calling you have given me.
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Psalm 9:15-16

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 16, 2018
Psalm 9:15 “The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.”
 
[Praise you for your faithfulness to judge in righteousness, Lord, for evil without justice brings hopelessness. Therefore you bring upon evil doers what they have prepared for others. At the top of the list is Satan himself, who has been judged and will end up in the lake of fire where he has sought to send so many others.
 
I think of the destruction that came on Germany and Japan after WWII for the cruel and oppressive regimes that ruled there. I think of how the dictators ruling in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia were taken down in the Arab Spring. In the end, evil doers are consumed by their own plans.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, that you bring justice at the right time: “Fret not yourself because of the man who prospers in his way…for evil men shall be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord shall inherit the land.” (Ps. 37:7,9)]
 
Psalm 9:16 “The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.”
 
[Your justice, O Lord, is strong and broad, sure and right, certain and consistent. You will bring judgment on all who, in their evil independence, refuse the refuge of your love and forgiveness. This actually is the most wicked thing we can do, to reject the salvation Jesus provided at such great cost.
 
Praise you, Lord God, that your character is the measure of all. You are all we truly seek: Great Good, Perfect Peace, Total Truth, Wholly Holiness and Lavish Love. To you belongs exaltation, glory, praise and honor. To you I bow in worship, for you I rise to obey, with you I go forth into the day to join you in your great and beautiful plans. May you be glorified in my life today.
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Psalm 9:13

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 15, 2018
 
Psalm 9:13 “O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,”
 
[Lord, there are so many believers around the world, in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, India, Nigeria and Eritrea, who are literally being pursued to the gates of death. Recently a suicide bomber entered a church in Egypt and killed dozens of worshipers. In a second incident, the gate keeper prevented a bomber from entering a church, saving many lives, but was himself killed by the blast.
 
Praise you that you are there, helping them, strengthening them, delivering them, whether it be through the gates of splendor into eternity or out of the clutches of groups like ISIS, Al Kaida and Boko Haram. You are both faithful and merciful in the help you powerfully provide.
 
Protect them, Lord, embrace them, help them to respond to persecution with your thoughts: praising for the privilege of suffering, forgiving and praying for their persecutors, blessing those who misuse them (Matt. 5:11,12,43,44).
 
The widow of the martyred gate keeper responded with biblical grace on national television, forgiving the man who killed her husband, astounding the Muslim news commentator listening to her interview. He was literally speechless! May this powerful testimony of Christian grace result in many coming to faith in Christ.]
 
Psalm 9:14 “that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.”
 
[One major purpose of deliverance is to give you glory, Lord, to praise you for your goodness, to rejoice in you–not just to be relieved at the end of our pain and turn back to our self-centered, futile living.
 
Praise be to you for your power to preserve, for your strength to save, for your promise to protect, and your commitment to keep. May we live in the light of that today, passing through difficulties with the power of the Spirit, and praising you for your deliverance–past, present and future.]
 
In the picture below, taken in the bombed church in Egypt, a bloodied page with text from Matthew 16:24-28 includes these words: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
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Psalm 9:11-12

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 14, 2018
 
Psalm 9:11-12 “Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; for he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.”
 
[Praise you, O Great and Mighty Lord, for you are just; you will avenge evil; you will not forget.
 
I thank you that you pay close attention to the cry of the afflicted, that you know each person’s heart, each person’s suffering, each person’s deep desire for security and significance, for belonging, worth and competence.
 
As it says in Isaiah 51:12-15, “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass, that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?
 
For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar– the LORD Almighty is his name.”
 
We all long for freedom from the oppression of the enemy, and you, the LORD Almighty, have provided that for us in the death and resurrection of Christ.
 
I praise you, Lord, for your consistent care for us, your good guidance and your powerful protection, like a father watching over his son (below Josh watching over Kenan). You are truly worthy of worship, glory and honor. Today we offer you praise, exaltation and obedience in and for all that will come from your good hand.
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God’s Faithfulness to Warn Me

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 12, 2018
Thank you, Lord, for your faithful and good work in my life. I praise you for that disturbing dream this morning, where two attractive, alluring women wanted to hug me long and I cooperated, wanting to. I awoke horrified at what I’d done, but realized immediately this was a warning from you.
 
The warning was that I had grown slack in saying “no” to myself in two areas: eating ice cream out the box (no boundaries) and reading on and on in the L’Amor books when I had determined to stop at the end of the chapter. I had not taken the time to think with you about what was right here.
 
These self-indulgences weakened my resolve to discipline myself well, to set good limits and to organize my day, my eating, my activities according to wisdom, and resulted in self-centered, self-satisfying, unhealthy indulgences.
 
A little erosion in one or two areas will leave me vulnerable when larger temptations come. So, thank you Lord for bringing me up short with a dream rather than a fall in real life. I repent of my selfishness, my lack of seeking your guidance in the simple things and commit myself, with your power, while keeping on the armor, to walking in Godly discipline.
 
I commit afresh to obeying 2 Peter 1:5-7, adding to my faith virtue (full surrender to you); to my virtue, knowledge of the Word, thinking your Truth; to my knowledge self-control according to your Word; and to my self-control, endurance, pressing on in obedience, whatever the difficulty. Help me to stay the course, Lord, to finish well.
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From My Morning Worship Journal

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 11, 2018
 
As I step outside on the porch in the early morning, the moon shines brightly in the west, while Mars, Venus and Jupiter form a clear triangle in the east and the Big Dipper points unfailingly to the North Star.
 
The horizon is touched with the fingers of dawn, a golden line against the lingering black of night. A frost lies on the grass; I can’t see it yet, but feel it in the crispness of the morning darkness.
 
Thank you, Lord, for your greatness, revealed in the glory of this morning. I praise you for your beautiful, pristine character: like this dawn light penetrating the darkness, the brightness of stars and the promise of the day.
 
Your attributes are perfectly balanced. In you there are both justice and mercy, judgment and love, hatred for sin and love for sinners. You are fully sovereign while bestowing the gift of responsibility on your creatures.
 
I praise you for your rich display of your qualties in your Word, showing us that you are eternal, without beginning or end; you are wise and joyful, powerful and kind, mighty and loving, and majestically great while paying attention to every minute detail.
 
You are all knowing while forgiving and choosing to forget sin. You are wonderful beyond conception, and for that I am glad—for that proves you are God, completely separate and outside your creation—no human being could ever think up a Creator like you!
 
This fall season’s display of beauty also reminds me of your character, Lord. The trees are clothed in brilliant shades and fiery glory. Some have three colors at once–red, yellow and green—reminding me both of your triuneness and of your love for variety.
 
This is echoed in maples of bright yellow standing next to pines of soft green and oaks of crisp brown. Everywhere there is diversity, a contrast and compliment of colors. This is truly a reflection of your character, where the diversity doesn’t divide but produces a richer beauty, a deeper grace and a more astounding complexity within a powerful unity.
 
You, Lord God, are the ultimate in every aspect: beauty and wisdom with power, judgment and righteousness with love, sovereignty and control with grace. I praise you, Lord God for how wonderful you are, worthy of our worship, deserving of our adoration, meriting our obedience.
 
May we dwell today in the light of your beauty, in the grace of your unified diversity and in awe of your monumental and majestic greatness. To you be honor and glory in all.
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Psalm 9:11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 10, 2018

Psalm 9:11 “Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.”

[You, Lord God, are worthy of praise, and more, for all that you have done; to you belong worship, exaltation, honor, glory and thanksgiving.

You have provided the possibility of forgiveness for all evil doers, you have redeemed and rescued all willing to become your children, you have released your saints from the dominion of darkness and ushered us into the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of your Son whom you love.

In Him we are forgiven, cleansed, transformed, adopted, commissioned to special service, equipped to join you in what you are doing. In Jesus we are dearly loved, doted on and delighted in.

You have glorified your name in countless instances of doing good to your enemies, being gracious to your rebellious children, being kind to all people, being holy in the face of evil, being patient in the face of rejection and being purposeful in your work of bringing history to a conclusion where you will eliminate evil and restore the perfection of pre-fall creation.

In the light of all this, what is our response? We must worship you, we must exalt you, we must praise you, for there is no other possible reaction for those who know your name.

May you be honored in our lives today, may obedience flow, may praises multiply, may trust reign, may glory rise to you each moment–for you are worthy, O Triune, Glorious and Eternal LORD!

 

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Psalm 9:10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 9, 2018
Home from the hospital, doing well.
 
Psalm 9:10 “Those who know your name will trust in you,”
 
Your name, Elohim (God), means the powerful and faithful One. You have shown your power in your vast, varied and beautiful creation, as seen in the picture below,
and your faithfulness in following through on your promise to provide salvation through Christ for all, especially for those who will believe.
Your name, Adonai (Lord), means the powerful Authority who has the right to demand full obedience, and along with that, promises complete provision of all we need to live for and obey you. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…” (2 Pet 1:3).
Your name Yahweh (LORD), means the holy One who is utterly independent of your creation and utterly committed to caring for it. You are the Hater of sin, the Judge of evil and the Lover of your sinful creatures.
 
You are the great I AM, with no beginning and no end, ever existent, ever powerful, ever present. You are absolutely, utterly, completely, eternally trustable. To not trust in you is a great sin, denigrating your mighty, majestic, magnificent Names.]
 
“for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
[The record speaks! You have come to the rescue of all who have called upon you: Adam, Abraham, Moses, the Children of Israel (many, many, times), the Judges of Israel, David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, the Apostles, Paul–and us.
 
As we seek you, call out to you, you are faithful to answer. As it says in Psalm 34:4-8, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
 
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
 
“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
 
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
 
So let us take refuge through trust in and obedience to the Almighty One who will never forsake us and helps those who take refuge in Him.]
 
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Psalm 9:9

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 8, 2018
Technical problems have prevented me from posting for several days,  but now we are back!
Psalm 9:9 “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,”
 
[Praise you, Yahweh, the great I AM, Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and earth, the sea and all that is in it. While filling the whole universe, you are aware of each of the oppressed and call every one of us to yourself for refuge.
 
People are oppressed first and foremost by the devil as he keeps them enslaved by fear of death, by desire and deception, by division and distraction. And he oppresses through evil people, evil persuasions, evil purposes. Then we are also oppressed by our own old nature where selfishness, pride, lust and greed consistently seek to rule us.
 
But you, Lord Jesus, have opened a door out of this miserable mess of darkness and despair into the Kingdom of Light where you are our very personal refuge and strength, not just for our comfort but so we may give you ever increasing glory.]
 
The Lord is “a stronghold in times of trouble.”
 
[In you we are safe during the destructive attacks of the enemy, able to turn these assaults into opportunities for growth and helping others. In you we can find comfort and rest, salvation and protection. In you we find love and grace, goodness and help. In you we find forgiveness and pardon, cleansing and transformation.
 
In you there is loving chastening, firm correction and certainty of rebuke when needed. In you there is deliverance from deception, lust, selfishness and stubborn, destructive independence. You are our protector in all troubles, as long as we dwell in your shelter, obeying your Word.
 
As it says in Psalm 91:1-4 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’
 
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” ]
 
Lord, help me to willfully take shelter in you today, my mighty Rock and my Refuge.
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