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Psalm 4:7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 7, 2018

Psalm 4:7 “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.”

[Having wealth, security and provision bring joy to the natural heart. However, Lord, you desire to give our hearts much greater joy than anything this world can offer.

This is clear in our undeserved and rich relationship with you, in your unbelievably warm and loving grace and goodness which are personal, pleasant, powerful and profound. “These things I have told you so that my joy might remain in you and your joy might be full” (John 15:11). Truly, to know you is enough for joy!

To be your child and to walk with you opens our eyes to see more and more of the unseen, enables us to praise you in the midst of failure, rejection, hurt and pain–for your greatness, goodness and glory continue to be poured out upon us during such times.

In fact, the flow may increase during these times as we exercise the privilege of praise when we don’t want to, offering the sacrifice of our lips, the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Help me, Lord, to do this consistently as we ride the unpredictable roller coaster of Barbara’s depression, and now the slow recovery from my bout with encephalitis as well as my eczema, itching terribly from ankles to neck

Oh, that we would practice this all the time, for then we will rise through the levels of growth to greater and greater intimacy with you, to more and more understanding of your Love, to a deeper and broader grasp of your greatness, to a wider and higher vision of who you are.

There is no end to our ever-expanding wonder at your beautiful Character, your loving Heart and your mighty Strength, for you, Lord God are infinite in every aspect and are constantly at work in our lives, giving us God sightings daily. I praise you for your care, protection and provision for us every minute. You only, O Triune Lord God, are worthy of our worship.]

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Psalm 4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 6, 2018
Psalm 4:6 “Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’”
 
[This is because many are willfully blind to or continually distracted from, the constant flow of life-giving goodness you pour out on us every day, Lord–your unending provision of our basic needs, your wonderful protection, the great attention from your heart to the details of our lives.
 
There is so much goodness that we cannot begin to count it all! From your keeping the stars in place to holding together every atom in the universe, you are doing what is beneficial for all human beings on every level, in every situation. You are marvelous, you are majestic, you are forever good–powerfully, patiently, persistently, paternally so, and we praise you for it.]
 
“Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.”
 
[And so you do every day, Lord, every minute without ceasing, with love and grace and goodness. We praise you for the privilege of having you as our Heavenly Father.
 
You keep on giving everyone light through creation, events and believers. You speak through the Spirit and your Word, giving conviction, insight, wisdom, guidance and direction, and providing sun and moon, clouds and rain, seasons and years, crops and animals–even though people take them for granted, or complain about what comes.
 
Many choose not to see your light, even though they have it: “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:9,4). The people of the world prefer darkness because their deeds are evil: the light of Christ makes unbelievers uncomfortable.
 
You knew, Lord Jesus, that you would have such massive rejection when you came to live in the world as a man; you knew that from a human standpoint your time on earth would appear to be a failure, but you came anyway because you always know what is best, and do it, irrelevant of what people think.
 
Help us to see daily all the God sightings you give us, Lord, to live in the light of your presence, to walk in the light of your Word, to rejoice in the light of your love, seeing all that you provide every day, and give you honor for your generous, gracious and good heart.]
 
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Psalm 4:5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 5, 2018
Psalm 4:5 “Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.”
 
[In all things, including those that “make me angry,” (that is, actually reveal my own selfish agenda), I must make the right sacrifices, by trusting in you, O LORD.
 
It is so easy to do what comes by nature, to offer sacrifices that do not please you: to punish myself, deny myself to make myself better, try to earn your acceptance by my own “good” works.
 
In contrast, what are the sacrifices you desire? A major one is this: “He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me…” (Psa. 50:23). Or as it is expressed in the New Testament, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Heb. 13:15).
 
This is what God desires, a response based on heavenly wisdom that honors Him with trust and faith. This means believing He has a good and loving plan for each of us and will use whatever He allows into our lives for good. Therefore, we can sacrifice our natural response to complain on the altar of trust, and instead praise in the midst of distress, thank in the midst of pain, delight in the midst of disappointment.
 
This is a right sacrifice, for it is done by faith, not by sight—and by offering this, all is transformed: suffering, disappointment, hurt, persecution, injustice, loss and difficulties–all become platforms for giving God glory, and bringing transformation in our lives.
 
As the Word says, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him” (Heb. 11:6). Offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving is an act of faith, a wonderful way to please God.
 
No wonder Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 12:9,10, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Paul knew that praise brings power from God, that “he who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving…opens the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord” Ps 50:23b).
 
Paul knew this because God told him directly: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul believed this so deeply that when he had difficulties, he rejoiced, he got excited, he embraced them as positive: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties….” (2 Cor. 12:10).
 
Paul’s understanding of God’s character, of His way of working, of eternal Truth, of the “right-side-upness” of God’s Kingdom compared to the “upside downness” of this world’s, led him to say, “…when I am weak, then I am strong.” That is a “faith sacrifice” that God wants.
 
Lord, may I live that today, understanding the unseen so clearly that the power and truth of your Word may flow out of my life in responses of thanksgiving in whatever comes, in a sacrifice of trust that will bring delight to you!]
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Psalm 4:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 3, 2018
 
Psalm 4:3 “Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;”
 
 
[This is a most wonderful, mysterious statement. You knew what was to come, that we would respond to your call, that we would believe and be brought into your family–and you prepared all for it. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29a).
 
I praise you that you desired to have a relationship with us, that you delight in our being in your family, that you made us godly and continue to move us in that direction.
 
You are such a good God. You are so kind and gracious, even when we grieve you with unbelief and disobedience. You are loving when anyone else would be impatient, insulted and angry.
 
Praise you that you consistently move us towards being more godly. You chasten us, discipline us, rebuke us, shape us and guide us. You are forgiving, forbearing, forever faithful. We belong to you, we are yours alone and rejoice in this fact.
 
“the LORD will hear when I call to him.”
 
Because I belong to you, you hear and answer, you watch over me, care for me and protect me. You are the mighty LORD, the great I AM, the King of Glory–and yet you are attentive to even the least of your children, giving tender, compassionate, consistent attention.
 
How wonderful! How unbelievable! How marvelous! I praise you, O Lord, for your great grace, your lavish love, your persistent patience, your powerful provision. To you be glory for all that you are doing in our lives. To you be glory for who you are!
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Psalm 4:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 2, 2018
 
Psalm 4:2 “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?”
 
[It is the nature of human beings to worship, and you, Lord God, are the only One worthy of such adoration, honor and obedience.
 
Yet we so often leave your glorious Being to worship the tinsel and lights of this world: shiny new cars, flashy new electronics, exciting sports events, absorbing work, stimulating relationships, a focus on food, the slippery slope of sensuality, or the latest electrifying entertainment.
 
We seek our fulfillment, our excitement, our security, our significance in these things. We worship them as our idols, meaning we demand these things to be happy. I can get so absorbed in a project that I will snap at anyone who interrupts me. I focus on the feeling of accomplishment, not on my fellow followers.
 
In seeking elsewhere for what only you can give, we turn our backs on you, shaming you, the Creator and Source of all, the Provider of the possibility of these momentary pleasures. We willfully forget that it is you alone who are Eternal, it is you alone who are Almighty, it is you alone who holds time in your hand, who sets up and takes down kings, who breathes out stars and fills the heavens.
 
You alone are the glorious One to be worshiped, adored, exalted and obeyed, yet we let the momentum of the moment divert us away from your majesty to focus on the microscopic. Forgive us, Lord, lift our eyes to your greatness and free us from our idol worship.]
 
“Selah”
 
[which can mean, “Think on this.” Lord, to think on you, to lift up your name, to look on your glory–this is the purpose for which we were created. But in our twisted state, even as believers, we turn from you to the physical world for our gratification, strength and significance.
 
Forgive us for our rebellion against Truth, for our rejection of your Reality, for our regression to idols, for our repetition of Israel’s sins, for our return to the repulsive ways of our natural selves. It is the nature of our fallenness to worship what makes us happy, instead of you, who desires to give us all joy and peace, you who are the actual source of all goodness, righteousness and truth.
 
Help us to deny self, to let go of our natural tendencies, to hold on to you and fall at your feet in obedience and worship. Help us to live in praise for your great faithfulness and love, whether we are in pleasure or pain, goodness or grief, happiness or heaviness.
 
Glorify yourself in our lives today, Lord. We bow before you as your unworthy servants, as your redeemed and beloved children, as your dearly loved family. May the meditations of our hearts and the words of our mouths be pleasing in your sight today, O Lord, our mighty Rock and Redeemer (Ps 19:14).]
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Living out our purpose

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 1, 2018
I praise you, O Lord, for you are “the God who sees me” (Gen. 16:13). You are a shield around me (Ps 18:30), you shut me in behind and before and lay your hand over me (Ps. 139:5). You are my refuge and strength (Ps. 18:2).
 
To you I am a valuable inheritance, a beloved son, a cherished family member, bought with a price, adopted with fervor, loved with passion, sung over with joy and cared for with power. In you there is safety, in you there is help, in you there is goodness and grace.
 
You are the great Transformer, using the attacks of the enemy, the power of sin, the consequences of our rebellion to bring growth and goodness to us and glory to your name. You use them to unmask, break and undo then to reshape, redo and restore us towards the original image of yourself, to make us more like Christ.
 
Therefore I choose to live today in the truth that “Knowing Jesus is enough for joy!” I choose to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving for each thing that comes–as all comes with your permission and in your plan–and thereby fulfill the purpose you have given me of bringing honor to your Name!
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Psalm 4:1b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 30, 2018
 
Psalm 4:1b “…be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”
 
[Praise you, O Triune God–Loving Father, Powerful Jesus, Holy Spirit–that you are merciful. My being alive here on earth is evidence of your mercy: you have a right and obligation in your holiness to punish every sinner, and could do it at any moment, sending us all to hell right now. However, you chose to wait, to secure forgiveness in mercy, then to work in every heart to draw to yourself those who were willing to turn and have the veil removed, the condemnation resolved and our rebellion relinquished.
 
You, Lord, are merciful, and you do hear prayer: “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. He hears their cry and rescues them” (Psa.145:19). “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me“ (Psa. 86:7).
 
You fill the universe, you are everywhere at once, so you can see and hear each person. And you are capable of hearing the prayers of billions all at the same time, while you have endless resources with which to answer: “Out of your glorious riches strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being….” (Eph 3:16).
 
When I call to you, you are there, you listen and you answer. Praise you for the times we have to wait, knowing that you have actually answered before we called. You are the God worthy of worship, of trust and praise in the midst of our difficulties, suffering, troubles and persecutions.
 
Lord God, help us to live in the light of your presence and to exalt in the beauty of your faithfulness long before we can see the answers to our prayers. Help us to praise you, the faithful One, who will answer out of your righteousness, your love, your mercy; who answers for the sake of your glory, your name, your good desires.
 
I praise you now, for what you are going to do today: the events you will allow, the positives as well as the disappointments, the difficulties and the downers, for these valleys are death to self and bring growth to your children.
 
I pray that, in the power of your Spirit, my thoughts, motives, words and actions will bring joy to your heart today, my Lord and Savior!
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Psalm 4:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 29, 2018
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Psalm 3:7-8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 28, 2018

 

Psalm 3:7 “Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.”

[David’s call was desperate, he needed help now. He knew that you, Lord, were completely capable of bringing down his enemies, and wanted you to act right away. And, as we know from the story in 2 Samuel 17 and 18, you did so, bringing defeat to Absalom’s forces.

Although David said “all my enemies,” he did not really want you to bring down of his son, and mourned his death greatly.

You answered, but he did not like the answer: you allowed that Absalom would get his hair caught in the tree, that Abner would be the one told about this and then go and kill him. Absalom had been pardoned before and had proved himself unworthy of trust. So it would have been all over again if he had lived–and you prevented that. You know what is best, so we must trust you in whatever answer you choose to give.]

Psalm 3:8 “From the LORD comes deliverance.”

[From you alone, Lord, by you alone, for your glory alone comes deliverance. “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him…” (Ps.145, 19,20a).

 

We must look to you, LORD, the great I AM, the King of glory, the Lord of all, for deliverance, not to people, to our own efforts or some other source. Forgive me for looking first elsewhere for help–to medicine, to friends, to influential people, to money–before coming to you. You may use these to help me, but I must first come to you.

You are the Source of all good, the Creator of all existence, the Sustainer of all life. Praise be to you that you are the answer and the Answerer; you are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help me to keep you as the focus of my existence!]

“May your blessing be on your people.”

[You are the One true source of blessing—genuine happiness and true joy come only from you—all other sources are temporary and many are destructive, addictive and harmful. With you, however, is the fullness of joy combined with the freedom to live in ever growing obedience to Truth.

You are worthy of worship and I give you honor, praise and glory now; I give you obedience, respect and joy. May you be glorified and honored this day in me and before me. Bless me with reminders to check in with you at each juncture for your direction and wisdom that I may join you in what you are doing.]

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Psalm 3:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 27, 2018
Psalm 3:6 “I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”
[For David this was a physical fact: Absalom came with a large army and all the advantage. But in this crisis David was thinking about you, Lord: the Majestic, Mighty, Powerful, Undefeated, Unconquerable, Eternal Lord of Hosts. You are strong beyond imagination, you command the armies of Heaven, you can end everything in an instant, you work to weave all into your plan. Therefore, David did not give in to fear.
Praise you that for us, too, in the battle that is more against spiritual forces than physical ones, you are there, giving us support and grace, your presence and your protection. These we experience every day: in the timing of things, in provision of needs and in protection from Satan—all the perfect working of your hand in our lives.
So as we daily face the unseen but real forces of hell, who love evil, who have not one gram of goodness, who desire to destroy and are constantly at work to tear down all positives–we can rest in you.
As we cry out to you, you are at work, you have already defeated this enemy and are calling us to participate with you in the cleanup operation here on earth. We do this by keeping on your armor, fighting with praise, prayer and persistence in doing what we know to be right.
At the same time, on the level of what can be seen, the world now faces a growing horde of terrorists, eager to conquer and rule all the earth; but in this, too, we need not fear. You are moving history to a conclusion and taking us with you.
 
You are our Rock, our King, our Lord, our Ruler and we can trust in you no matter what storms come into our lives. Your plans are perfect, your presence is persistent, your protection is powerful. So I praise you now for what you will do today in carrying us through the attacks, over the barriers and into your peace.]
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