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God’s Four Gifts, Part Three

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 22, 2018
God’s Gifts to Us, Part Three
 
A fourth gift He has for us is improving our emotional, mental and physical health through expressing gratitude as we live out Psalm 50:23 by giving thanks in all things, both positive and painful, delightful and difficult.
 
A secular article on News Max entitled “Giving Thanks Makes Us Happier,” points out that having an attitude of gratitude brings many benefits. A summary says, “Researchers delving into the physiology of gratitude have discovered it acts powerfully upon neurotransmitters in the brain to increase happiness, reduce stress, boost energy and even improve sleep.” In a separate article, I read that gratitude also strengthens our immune system.
 
This, of course, is simply discovering what God has told us all along: giving thanks is powerfully good for us, as well as for all those around us. And it is good for God, as we are joining Him in advancing His Kingdom.
 
When God commands us to do something, it is always for the best. His expression of these truths is found in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, WILL GUARD your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
These truths are reiterated in an article in the latest Reader’s Digest, entitled “The Goodness of Gratitude,” saying, “people who wrote thank you letters or performed good deeds for a six-week period decreased their pain, upped their energy, accomplished more every day, and improved their mental health for up to six months. And you can reap these benefits at any age.”
 
God’s wisdom is far deeper than we can imagine! It is our privilege and responsibility to live out Psalm 50:23 (“He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me and opens the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord.”), making every day a “Thanksgiving Day.”
 
Do yourself and many others a good turn and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving in each event, especially the ones you don’t like, and watch God work!
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God’s Four Gifts, Part Two

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 21, 2018
God’s Gifts to Us, Part Two
 
Psalm 50:23 starts with “He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me,” and continues with “…and prepares the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord.”
 
Here we see the second gift God has for us: the privilege of partnering with Him in bringing about solutions.
 
As we give thanks in and for difficulties, we open the way (maybe get out of the way) for Him to bring the resolution and results He’s planned and prepared. These may come right away, or they may not be visible until years later, as with Joseph in Egypt. Whether seen or unseen, God moves as we give thanks in faith for what is painful for us.
 
This means that the opposite may also be true: when we complain we block the way for God’s salvation. As 1 Peter 1:5 says about believers, “who through faith are shielded by God’s power….” As we trust we are protected, as we complain, we are not.
 
A third gift that is bestowed when we give thanks, is the privilege to be a powerful witness to those around us. Our unnatural, supernatural response to trouble puts us up on the stage of grace where we can do the dance of faith in front of all those around us. As we trust God we bring a focus on God’s good character in a way that words alone could never do.
 
Thus God gives us opportunity to join Him in the spread of the gospel, in opening people’s eyes to spiritual truth, and in drawing them to Himself. Are we joining Him?
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God’s Four Gifts, Part One

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 20, 2018
God’s Gifts to Us, Part 1
 
What a kindness you have bestowed us, Lord God, in calling us to give thanks in and for all things. You have a plan, you know what is best, no matter how it may look to us–like a leafless tree in winter–and work powerfully and patiently to bring goodness out of it at the right time.
 
Giving thanks in all is a privilege. It is God inviting us into a partnership with Him where He has at least four rich gifts awaiting us.
 
Psalm 50:23 shows us two of those gifts. “He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me…” This speaks of sacrifice, denying self, giving thanks when it is not natural, when it costs us. Note that this is not being thankful, which is an emotion, but giving thanks, which is an act of the will, often against what we feel.
 
This obedience of faith is a great means of glorifying God. When we give thanks in the midst of hurt, disappointment, suffering or loss, trusting that God has a plan and has allowed this for a good we cannot yet see, the angels stand in awe, the demons cringe in defeat, Adam’s descendants are amazed and God’s name is lifted on high.
 
Giving God such glory is the purpose for which we were created. So every time we find ourselves in situations where there is no solution, no discernible good, no visible positive point (as we are right now with my little wife’s illness), we can choose to believe that God is good, at work and trustable–and we can demonstrate this trust by giving thanks in and for all things.
 
In doing so we are fulfilling the purpose for our existence (worshiping God) and doing something that will last for eternity. This privilege of giving thanks by faith is the first gift.
 
You, Lord, are the God who is better than our dreams, more than what we could hope for, beyond the understanding of our limited perspective. You are Great and Powerful, Glorious and Perfect, Gracious and Pure.
 
You are the fulfillment of the longing of our hearts and far more. Glory and honor belong to you alone! And we praise you for the privilege of giving you honor throughout each day by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving. May we be consistent in doing that today.]
 
Drawing by Michaleen Haesler
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Living in the Light of the Gospel

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 19, 2018
The gospel is not just for unbelievers to hear, it is a body of truth we should be repeating to ourselves daily. We should consistently be in awe at the wonder of God’s outrageously, illogically loving us and qualifying us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light (Col. 1:12).
 
Lord, to belong to you, to be your possession, your treasured child, to know you as Father, God, King and Shepherd, is beyond wonderful. Blessed is way too mild a word!
 
And our wonder increases when we think of what we actually deserved–punishment, rejection, suffering, despair, hopelessness, death and eternal separation from you, being sealed off from all that is good.
 
In the light of this, to know that you chose us, wanted us as your children, bought us, sought us, adopted us and transformed us, that you love us and cherish us (Eph. 1:2-8)–what marvelous, unbelievable truths! They are more than we could ever have hoped for.
 
Truly, you are the God who is beyond our dreams, beyond our hopes, beyond our understanding. You are Great and Powerful, Glorious and Perfect, Gracious and Pure. You are the fulfillment of the longings of our hearts, giving us what we desire: belonging, worth and competence (Eph. 1:18-19) and far more. Glory and honor definitely belong to you alone!
 
May my wonder at you increase every day, O Triune God, may my amazement at being redeemed and loved by you deepen each morning, and may praise, thanksgiving and worship pour out of my soul to you throughout the day as you lead me to walk in the light of your powerful and preserving Presence.]
 
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Psalm 118

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 18, 2018
 
Several years ago I wrote, “An entry from the book EDIFIED! is very relevant to me as my little wife continues to live under a weight of multiple negative symptoms without any clear diagnosis or relief in sight. Is this simple depression, or chronic Lyme’s Disease, or something else? No one knows and thus far nothing has helped.
 
“In the midst of this we must keep our eyes on Jesus, for He is the one who knows and will both give grace to pass through it and, at the right time, bring relief. Here is the perspective we must have: ‘Let those who fear the LORD say: ‘His love endures forever.'” Psalm 118:4
 
Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are my Shepherd, that we can know that whatever comes, you have led us into it, as you led your disciples into the storm on the lake, into the opposition of the crowd, into the pain of your death. You have the larger picture, so we can trust and follow you as you walk with us into the future.
 
Psalm 118:5-9 says, “In my anguish I cried to the LORD….” This is the proper response to any situation, going right to you, O God, fleeing from self-pity, worry, fretting and anger to embrace your goodness, wisdom and love.
 
You will respond to our prayer: “In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:7). And your answer begins inside: “I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4). “In my anguish I cried out to the Lord and he answered by setting me free” (Ps. 118:5).
 
You, Lord God, are the Freedom-giver-freedom from eternal death, from punishment, from condemnation, from selfishness and Satan, as well as from fretting and fear, problems and difficulties. You are always at work to set us free from things that bind us, on a deeper level, in a higher way.
 
Praise be to you for your wisdom, your insight, your understanding. You operate with full knowledge, certain of which thing to work on next, which enemy to defeat, which sin to reveal, which character lack to camp out on until we respond. You don’t guess and fumble as we do in life; you know exactly what is wrong and you know exactly how to deal with it, for you are the Creator, the Healer and the Freedom-bringer.
 
“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid” (Ps.118:6). As we look away to you, fear is defeated, fretting is routed, worry is wiped out, unbelief is banished. They cannot stand in the light of your mighty, majestic, magnificent power, of your gracious, great and good heart, of your perfect, powerful, positive character, of your deep, dynamic, everlasting Love.
 
To trust in you is always wise, to take refuge in you is always good, to rest in you is always right. Praise be to you, Lord Jesus: Creator and King, Lord and Savior, Judge and Victor.
 
Prayer: “To you be glory in my life today and forever more. Help me to flee to you with each challenge, problem and difficulty, so the answer can come from you and bring you glory. Help me today to distrust myself and to trust in you instead. Amen.”
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More on Psalm 62

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 17, 2018
More thoughts on Psalm 62.
 
Psalm 62:6 “[The Lord] alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
 
[This is an exact copy of verse 2, a repetition of the truth of where real security is found, indicating its importance. As I face each new day, If I seek refuge in the Lord, I will not be shaken, no matter how traumatic the events that come to me.]
 
Psalm 62:7 “My salvation and my honor depend on God;”
 
[We so naturally seek our salvation in our own efforts, and our honor from the opinions of others. However, both our salvation and our honor actually depend fully on God, not on us or others.
 
He has provided salvation both for eternity, and for every day; we know where we are going, and we know He is with us in the nitty-gritty events of life, protecting, guiding and providing.
 
He is the One who has already given us great honor–making us children of the Creator of the Universe, granting us membership in the Kingdom of light, giving us each a special part in His plan. What else could we desire? Yet we stubbornly tend to seek our salvation and honor elsewhere. Forgive us, Lord, help us to seek salvation and honor only from you.]
 
“he is my mighty rock, my refuge.”
 
[The unshakable, unassailable, unconquerable God is the One to be trusted. When all else seems to fall apart, He is there, steady, stable, reliable, good, wise and sure.]
 
Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O people;”
 
[There is that command again: “Trust!” When we trust, we can rest. And this is possible all the time because God is always there in His goodness and grace. You, Lord, are sufficient, you are faithful, you are absolutely trustable.]
 
“pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
 
[Lord, It is right, good and necessary to pour out before you all our fears, desires, feelings and thoughts. With our heart emptied of these, with the Spirit’s help we can fill it with Truth and Trust. Then we are safe in your refuge.
 
You will never reject us for being honest with you–you already know all about us–and you are delighted when we are open, transparent and truthful with you. You desire to be our refuge, you call us to yourself, and in you we are safe.]
 
Help us, Lord God, to trust in you more and more, to find our rest, our refuge, our salvation, our honor, our safety, our joy in you. You are worthy of trust, you are worthy of praise, you are worthy of worship. May my life give you honor and glory today as I trust in you alone, demonstrated by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in all.
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True Rest

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 16, 2018
I praise you for your wonderful Word, Lord, and the powerful way you use it in our lives. During a very trying time in my life, I wrote the following.
 
Psalm 62:5, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;”
 
[This is a command, not a suggestion. In verse one the same truth is given as a statement “My soul finds rest in God alone,” telling us where rest is possible. Here we are called upon to make a choice to find our rest in You, Lord.
 
We need to turn away from what we naturally pursue for rest–getting what we want, resolution of situations and tensions, positive reactions of people, or removal of conflict.
 
The fact is that each of these solutions is fleeting and superficial, so quickly replaced by other stresses. But finding our rest in you is the true solution, one that is deep, powerful and eternal. Help us to willfully find our rest in you alone.]
 
“my hope comes from him.”
 
[Again, this statement is a bit different from verse one (“my salvation comes from him”). Here is the hope, the certainty of receiving what we desire: rest. But we need to turn from our desire for rest to desiring the One who can grant it.
 
As it says in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart.” You. Lord, are to be the focus of our affections; then you can safely give us good things, knowing that they will not become idols.
 
And as we trust, the power of the Spirit comes into our situation; as we intentionally find our rest in you, Lord, then you pour out all kinds of goodness in our lives.]
 
We can trust you because you are Elohim, the incredibly powerful and persistently faithful One. You show your power in creation–you are the star Breather, the galaxy Former, the planet Hanger, the earth Spinner, the dawn Bringer. You are great beyond comprehension.
 
And you are the fully faithful One–you promise and it happens; you plan and it comes to pass. At the right time you came to be our Savior; at the right moment you save us in our daily lives.
 
Therefore, in the midst of present uncertainty and disappointments, I choose now to embrace your character as Elohim–the powerful and faithful One–for you know what you are doing as you shape, guide, change and transform my life. I gladly join you today by wholeheartedly trusting you with total praise.
 
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Psalm 33:21-22

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 15, 2018
Psalm 33:21 “In him our hearts rejoice, ”
 
[You alone are the source of our joy, Lord Jesus. All that is good comes from you, from your gracious heart and grace-filled hand. To know you, to live with you, to be your child, to serve in your power–this is far more than enough for rejoicing, no matter what our circumstances may be.]
 
“for we trust in his holy name.”
 
[Yes, our joy flows because you make it possible for us to trust in you, whose name means “Savior.” You have opened the way so we can know your Name in all its power and purity, its love and light, its faithfulness and forgiveness. You are worthy of trust and submission and obedience.]
Psalm 33:22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,”
 
[Praise you that your love never fails, that your faithfulness never ends, that you character never changes. Praise you for your promise that your love will rest upon us now, today, in the moment of need, and forever!]
 
“even as we put our hope in you.”
 
[Again you remind us that this is a partnership: you provide all, you wait for our participation. May our daily decision be to hope in you , and be ever evidenced by persistent praise in our hearts, minds, souls and mouths.
 
To you be glory forever and ever, Lord Jesus, King of Glory, Lord of lords, Shepherd of power and love. I bow before you in awe and respect, I rise up in submission and obedience to your, your Word, your Spirit, your Truth. Glorify yourself in my life today.
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Help in Life

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 14, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Edified-Devotionals-Stimulate-Personal-Transformation/dp/1979719446/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518626219&sr=8-2&keywords=s.m.+wibberley&dpID=41N9rlCSmkL&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Got an email from an old friend whose wife, Sue, died last year.
 
He wrote, “I took Chambers’ devotional with me for variety but returned to Edified upon return. Of great interest to me was discovering again the underlining and marginal notes in Sue’s copy. She frequently would place the year in the margin (2014-16) as if to say “amen” to your point.
 
I believe your book benefited her more than any other factor in developing a sweet attitude of submission and peace during her last two years of illness.”
 
You, too, can benefit from the book EDIFIED! 365 devotionals to stimulate personal worship and spark inner transformation–as it did for Sue in her suffering. Click on the link above to see the book.

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Psalm 33:19-20

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 14, 2018
Psalm 33:19 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him…to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”
 
[Here is the true picture. You, Lord Jesus, are the only One who can deliver us from death. In the greatest way you have delivered us from eternal separation from you by your own death and resurrection. We are saved and safe now for eternity!
 
And you save us every day. How many times have you saved me from near accidents, including potential head-on crashes–and how you protected us in the one head-on crash we did have. You are at work in seen and unseen ways, delivering us from death daily.
 
On another level, you are the One who keeps us alive by supplying our daily bread, often in great abundance. You see our need and provide it. You are the Source of all, you are the Provider of all that is necessary and far more.
 
Psalm 33:20 “We wait in hope for the LORD;”
 
[Instead of trying to save ourselves in our feeble strength, it is much wiser to pray and wait for you to act, Lord and then join you in it.
 
Sometimes we wait for a long time, but you are faithful and will act at the right time, just as you did with Joseph. You kept him in prison until he had learned all that was necessary. Then at the right moment you brought him out, ready for the great work for which you had prepared him.
 
In you there is hope, a certainty of provision at the right time, the hope of love moved by wisdom and power to bring about what is best.]
 
“he is our help and our shield.”
 
[Your mighty, majestic power moves in love to support us in our weakness. You consistently pour out upon us grace, wisdom, insight, peace, joy and rest. Out of your superb strength you move to shield us from the attacks of the enemy, from all that would harm us spiritually. You hold your hand of power over us to ward off the evil one and evil men. You only are our true help and shield.]
 
You are the God who is beyond our dreams, beyond our hopes, beyond our understanding. You are Great and Powerful, Glorious and Perfect, Gracious and Pure. You are the fulfillment of the longing of our hearts and far more. Glory and honor certainly belong to you alone! May they flow from my life to you today.]
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