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Undeserved Goodness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 11, 2018
Praise you, Lord, for your undeserved goodness, given to us daily, manifested in multiple minor ways, like the gifts of sight, speech, hearing, smell, taste, and touch–things we take for granted, but miss much if we lose them.
 
Then there are the major, majestic, mighty ways you pour out your goodness on us: pardon from definitely deserved death, the gift of eternal life, the indwelling of the Spirit, the wonder of your Word, an intimate relationship with you, guidance, meaning, purpose and protection in life. Plus help in every circumstance, membership in the Body, and abundant grace at all times. There is no end to the wonderful flow of your goodness, just as there is no end to learning about your marvelous and magnificent character.
You are the Three-in-One God: the Father who plans, the Son who brings it to pass, the Holy Spirit who finishes it up. You are the perfect Person, the perfect Personality, the perfect Planner, the perfect Partner who invites us into your work.
 
You are Marvelous in your personality, Majestic in your judgments, Mighty in your redemption and Magnificent in your mercy. To you belongs all affection, all loyalty, all commitment, all awe, all reverence, all obedience, all honor–for in you there is no flaw, no imperfection, no error, no sin, no evil, no lack, no wrong. You are worthy of eternal, complete, wholehearted and total love.
 
So, I bow before you this morning, Lord God: I praise you, Heavenly Father, I honor you, Lord Jesus, I surrender to you, Holy, Spirit. To you be in my life what you continually deserve: exaltation, magnification, obedience and glory. Amen.
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Psalm 31:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 10, 2018
Psalm 31 For the director of music. A Psalm of David.
 
“In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;”
 
[Where else, O Lord, is there for safety? You only are my Rock, my Salvation, my High Tower. From you only comes my Rescue. You only are my Lord, my Shepherd, my King, my God.
 
You alone are the One in whom I can find refuge, for you are powerful beyond belief, wise beyond comprehension, good beyond hope, loving beyond expectations, faithful beyond understanding. You are the Glorious, Holy, Strong and Trustable One, the only true Stability in the universe. In you alone is there Hope.]
 
“let me never be put to shame;”
 
[taking refuge in you will lead to your glory and my safety. You will give me the honor of your love and protection, of your care and compassion, shielding me from the shame your enemies want to heap on me. “My salvation and my honor depend on God…” (Ps. 62:6). Grant me a token for good that those who hate me may see it and be shamed instead.]
 
“deliver me in your righteousness.”
 
[Praise you that you are totally Right, completely Holy and always act out of your Pure character. I praise you that you are really Righteous in all that you do, totally Trustable, fully Faithful. I praise you that you will deliver me finally, first from fears, then from troubles.]
 
Praise you, Lord God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–that you are constantly, consistently at work in our lives, bringing all the help, wisdom, protection, ordering and provision that we need. We are so weak, so small, so vulnerable, but you are so wonderfully powerful, majestically mighty and absolutely undefeatable. In you we can hide. In you we can rest. In you we are safe.
 
I am so thankful, Lord Jesus, for your powerful, effective, wonderful Salvation, bought at great personal price, giving us value, acceptance, meaning, family and a future–a great demonstration of your rich, merciful Love, which continues to flow into our lives every day.
 
Thank you for the challenges that come, the opportunities to trust you, the chances to rest in you and to listen to you rather than the strident, confusing voices of the world, of my flesh and of the devil. I praise you, Lord God for how you will care for me today. May I live worthy of you, in thought, motive, word and action. Amen.
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Psalm 30:9-12

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 9, 2018
 
Psalm 30:9 “What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?”
 
[This is David’s desperate appeal for help; it was done in logic and in a desire to honor you, Lord; he desired to live for the magnificent purpose you have granted us: giving you glory. Help us to grasp, like David, the privilege of honoring you each moment of our lives—and to live that out.]
Psalm 30:10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help.”
 
[It is a wonderful truth that you, O Lord, do hear and are richly, powerfully merciful–you are our ready help, you will answer in the right way and at the right time. Therefore I can give you praise in and for all, long before any answer comes.
 
I praise you now for how you are going to work in the situations and relationships that are in flux around me. I praise you for your wonderful help and guidance that flows freely and continually into my life. Praise be to you for your goodness, continually emanating from your perfect and beautiful character.]
 
Psalm 30:11 “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”
[You answered David, you brought him through the dark valley, you delivered him from his fears, his enemies, his dangers. And for what purpose?]
 
Psalm 30:12 “that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.”
 
[You saved him so David might have the privilege of exalting you further, you who are worthy of worship, of love and obedience.]
 
“O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.”
 
[And you ARE worthy of thanks forever and ever. May we daily live in the power of thanksgiving, of praise, of worship, so that, for the joy set before us, we can endure whatever cross you deem necessary, knowing that we will be set down in heaven with you at the wedding feast of the Lamb! What a hope, what a future, what a privilege to live with, for and in you Lord Jesus! May we do it well.]
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Great entry from EDIFIED!, written in 1980! The picture is from yesterday

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 9, 2018
 
“Rejoice in the Lord always…do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer, supplication and thanksgiving present your requests to God…whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure… lovely… admirable… excellent and praiseworthy think about such things.”
Philippians 4:4-8
 
This familiar passage has opened my eyes again to how often I think in human terms rather than in biblical ones. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the negatives pressing in on me that it is a struggle to be positive about anything!
 
In the midst of this daily fight, God’s Word is such a wonderful help. It is the Touchstone of Truth, the Window on the Wonderful and the Revelation of our Riches. If we obey it, thinking on the positives listed above, our thoughts will be lifted to the Lord Jesus, for He is certainly all of these: He is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
 
When all is going well and there isn’t a great deal of pressure, it’s easy to be positive—but, when things get difficult, thinking on the Lord Jesus and all He is becomes both a struggle and significant.
As I read the other day, if we faint in the day of adversity, our strength is small (Pro. 24:10). So before adversity comes, we need to strengthen our spiritual lives by willfully thinking on what is positively true, both in big things and small. When I lose my keys, I can think on the truth that God knows where they are and will help me find them, if that’s best. When tragedy comes, I can remember that God has a plan and is going to work it out. Through this way of thinking truth, we can nurture our soul, grow strong, deepen our trust in God and will move to praising Him in all. That will make us ready for the day of adversity.
 
These weeks past have given us a testing ground for our strength (which often proves to be too small). Taking classes in the local language here every day plus teaching English classes every night, along with the preparation for both, plus my work with the foundation, and other activities have all allowed us to see just how much we must rely on the Lord for strength. There is certainly always room for growth!
One area where we are really encouraged is health: we are all remaining healthy and strong in spite of the pressures and the cold temperatures in our house. Although it is mid October and the temperatures are in the 30s and 40s F outside, by law the central heating won’t be turned on until Nov 15. So we just dress more warmly and heat up one room with an electric heater–when the electricity is on; it’s off more than on here. God is our provider and we will praise Him for whatever He allows.
 
Prayer: “Father, forgive me for my tendency to complain; help me to reject the natural, negative thoughts that rise up from my selfishness, and to think instead of you in all your excellence and perfection, and of all the good things you provide. Make praise the keynote of my life. Amen.”
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Psalm 30:6-8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 5, 2018

Psalm 30:6,7 “When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’ O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm;”

[When we are in a positive situation, when we are safe and see your blessings, it is easy to feel firm and stable. Such times are important for solidification and building up in truth–if we take advantage of them, diving into your Word, exalting in personal worship and basking in your love. But here is little opportunity in this secure situation to go by faith, to trust you as we can when all sense of security is gone, when all is in tumult and uncertainty.]

“but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.”

[When my feelings turn negative, when my situation goes downhill, when I am attacked, my health fails, my friends desert me, my financial situation goes bad, or my work does not prosper–then it is easy to be dismayed, to be discouraged, to flag in my strength.

But this is also the time to flee to you, Lord, to affirm my trust in you, to find shelter in your Word and in your presence. “In times of trouble you will keep me safe in your dwelling, you will hide me in the shelter of your tabernacle and set me high on a rock” (Psalm 27:5).]

Psalm 30:8 “To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:”

[This is the proper response, to seek you and your mercy, to recognize my weakness and your strength, to trust you, not myself. I praise you, Lord God, for your goodness and graciousness and for how you answer us in such situations, first delivering us from all our fears, then strengthening us with strength in our souls, then saving us out of all our troubles, whether through deliverance or through giving endurance, or through death (Ps. 34:4-7).

You are the God who is there, you are the God who hears, you are the God who answers. “…the angel of the Lord encamps round about those who fear him and delivers them” (Ps. 34:8).]

Help me to utilize the times of security to deepen my walk with you, Lord Jesus; help me then to rejoice in the times of difficulty, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, finding my rest and hope in you, exalting you by living in Truth. And I thank you now for how you will answer this prayer.

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As we prepare to fly back to CT tomorrow

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 4, 2018
 
 
You, Lord Jesus, are my serene Security, my superb Stability, my unshakable Surety, my mighty Rock. With all that swirls around us in life, we could not make it without you as our powerful Foundation, our strong Anchor, our great Shepherd, our powerful King. Praise you that you are our impenetrable Shield, our impregnable Fortress, our undefeated Defender, our eternal Stronghold.
 
In you and your protection there is no gap, no chink, no forgotten loophole for the enemy to come through. You are total salvation from evil as well as the great and gracious gateway through which comes all that is profitable, helpful and positive.
 
Praise you that you protect and provide through your wide wisdom, your complete knowledge, your rich love and your perfect patience.
 
You are the One to be trusted, Lord God, Triune God, Holy God. I praise you for what you will bring today in your wisdom and love, your purpose and plan. Help us to follow you well, joining you in what you desire to accomplish today–in, through and around us.
 
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Psalm 30:4-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 4, 2018
 
 
Psalm 30:4 “Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.”
 
[YES! This must be our response to you, Lord, singing and praising you for your marvelous character, which is displayed in your holy name, Yahweh. You are sinless, separate, and strong; you are glorious, gracious, and great; you are worthy of worship, worthy of praise, worthy of our surrender, love and obedience. To you be honor in song, glory in praise, exaltation in thanksgiving.]
 
Psalm 30:5 “For his anger lasts only a moment,”
 
[Praise you that you are angry with sin, that you move to justly judge and properly punish, that you don’t draw back from chastening us. And that your anger ends when your desire is accomplished.]
 
“but his favor lasts a lifetime;”
 
[You are the God of forgiveness, of grace and of goodness, pouring out your undeserved favor on us forever. As it says in Psalm 18:19, “He brought me out into a spacious place. He rescued me because he delighted in me.”
 
Praise be to you that you can delight in your redeemed but still crooked children. We rejoice in your favor, we exalt in your goodness, we revel in your love, we bask in your grace. You are wonderful, you are marvelous, you are incredibly, unbelievably, beyond-conception-good!]
 
“weeping may remain for a night,”
 
[You do take us through loss, disappointment, difficulty and heartbreak, but for good and wise reasons. Some of them are to mature us, to shape us, to deepen us that we may be more useful for you, share more in your glory and earn a greater reward in heaven.]
 
“but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
 
[Weeping in the night, especially the weeping of repentance, is followed by joy in the morning as we see what you have done, how you have forgiven, how you embrace, accept and love us. As we move out of the darkness of our limited understanding into the light of your deep and broad wisdom, we are able to comprehend more of your great and marvelous mind.
 
To you be glory, O Lord, to you be honor, to you be trust, praise and thanksgiving, for you are worthy of worship at all times, in all circumstances, in all outcomes. May you be honored today in my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength. Amen.
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Psalm 30:2-3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 3, 2018
 
 
Psalm 30:2 “O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.”
 
[You, O Triune God, are revealed in your names: you, Yahweh, are the final authority; you, Elohim, are the infinitely Powerful One; you, Adonai, are the absolutely Faithful One.
 
To you I can call in my distress, for I know that in your authority, power and faithfulness you answer in wisdom, goodness, and grace. Although I don’t deserve it, in your wisdom you answer, you act, you help, you heal. Praise you that you are real, you are loving, you are present and you are powerful. I can trust you in all.]
 
Psalm 30:3 “O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.”
 
[You can heal when all hope is lost, you can restore when no possibility remains, you can give life when death is imminent. I praise you for your grace in preserving us when we deserve destruction. And you can take us to be with you when the right time comes.
 
To know you is to have a rich life, a full life, eternal life; to trust you is freedom from worry, fear and anxiety; to rest in you brings true, lasting and powerful peace.
 
I give you glory for your goodness to me, Lord, for the certainty of your activity in my life, and for the joy of a future with you. I am so blessed, so filled with your goodness, so gifted with joy and knowledge and experience with you, so privileged to be able to join you through prayer in what you are doing.
 
To know you, Father God, King of Glory, Lord of the Universe, to be your child, to be given a place at your table, in your family, in your Kingdom, to have instant access to your heart and attention, to be called to join you in your work—these are great and powerful privileges, undeserved, totally from grace, wonderfully bestowed, gratefully received.
 
Lord Jesus, may you be exalted in my life today; Heavenly Father, may you be pleased with my life today; Holy Spirit, may you be honored through obedience in my life today.
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Psalm 30:1b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 3, 2018
Psalm 30:1b “and did not let my enemies gloat over me.”
 
[I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you do not want my enemies–primarily Satan and his forces–to gloat over me, so you are consistently at work to deliver me at the right moment. You will, at times, allow me to suffer enough to learn the lessons I need, but it will certainly be far less suffering than I deserve!
 
You, Lord Jesus, are the Great and Powerful One, the Mighty and Wise One, my Rock, my Fortress and my Defender. You persistently reach down into this world of sin and evil to protect your children. I praise you that in the day of trouble you will keep me safe in your dwelling, you will set me high upon a rock and exalt my head above the enemies that surround me (Ps. 27).
 
I praise you that as I commit my way to you and trust also in you, you will bring the best to pass, you will bring forth the righteousness you’ve given me as the light and my judgment in your forgiveness as the noon day sun (Ps. 37).
 
I praise you that you give us your Shield of Victory, that you support us with your Powerful Right Arm, that you stoop down from your Throne to make us great as your children (Ps. 18).
 
To you be glory and honor and praise, O Lord God, the Triune One, the Perfect One, the Powerful One, the Most High Ruler of all. To you I bow down today, for you I rise up to live in obedience so that you may be honored. Give me the direction and wisdom you know I need for this day, O Lord, and I praise you now for what you will do.
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A new day, a new week, a new month, a new year–all fresh opportunities to live for Jesus!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 1, 2018
 
Psalm 30:1 A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.
 
“I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths….”
 
You, O Triune God, have lifted us out of the depths of Satan’s dominion of darkness, out of death, out of the prison of our evil desires and selfish rebellion. You have brought us out into your light, into your love and into your life where we will live forever. You have made us your children, your partners, your friends.
 
So I exalt you, Lord Jesus, for you are a marvel, a wonder–too good to be true, yet Truth itself. I exalt you for cleansing us in your blood, washing us with the water of the Word and setting us upon the Rock.
 
You are worthy of praise for bringing us from the darkness of death into the light of your delight, into the warmth of your love, the acceptance of your grace and the wonder of your goodness.
 
You brought us out into a spacious place because you delighted in us, even before we believed in you; you did this because of your great love that works against all reason, against all odds, against all human idea of justice.
 
You are worthy of exaltation, Jesus, for you are the LORD Yahweh, King of glory, Savior of the world, Shepherd of the redeemed and Leader of all who will follow.
 
Help us this day, this week, this month, this year, Lord, to live in the light of your goodness, to be your disciples by denying our natural selfishness so we can live in otherness, obeying your Word, taking up our cross daily and following you with all our hearts. May we run with endurance the race you have set before us, looking to you so that you may finish our faith.
 
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