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Psalm 23:4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 2, 2017

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;”

[At least one of the paths of righteousness you will lead me on, Lord, goes through this dark valley. It may be a time of dying to a desire, to my will, to a possession or it may be physical danger and sickness or death of a loved one or myself. Whatever it is, I do not need to fear that evil will triumph.

There may be loss and suffering, but in the end, evil will not win because Jesus is already the Victor and I belong to Him.

Think of Paul in his shipwreck described in Acts 27. In the midst of a great storm there were days and nights of uncertainty where Paul was cold, wet and hungry; and then the crashing of the ship into a sandbar and everyone having to swim to shore through crashing surf. There was evil: the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners, Paul included, so they couldn’t escape, but that was prevented. Then the viper bit Paul, but God protected him and no harm was done.

It was a dark valley, but in it, the witness of Paul shone brighter in his faith, in his declaration of God’s sovereignty, in his prediction (all possessions will be lost, all people will be saved), and in his being protected. Without that dark, the light would have not been seen so clearly.

As we take refuge in His love, power and truth, God does not always protect us from what will harm us physically, but from what would harm us spiritually. Then we can shine in the darkness of this world as a light house for those seeking Truth.

The valley of the shadow of death is not a threat but an opportunity to fulfill the purpose of our lives: honoring the One who walked this road before us and will walk with us through it again.

So, let us look to Jesus, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

Let us follow the advice of the Word to “throw off everything that hinders [our natural worldview] and the sin that so easily entangles [addiction to comfort, selfishness and security, to name a few] and run with perseverance the race marked out for us [some of which will go through the valley of the shadow of death], fixing our eyes on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2a) and we will come out on the other side, in a pleasant place: “He brought me out into a spacious place, he rescued me because he delighted in me” (Ps. 18:19).

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Psalm 23:2b,3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 1, 2017
 
As my “Psalm 23” Shepherd, Lord Jesus, you lead me beside the still waters—you give me opportunity to be with you, to take in, to gain eternal perspective.
 
You lead, but I must both follow and then drink. I must choose to spend time in your Word, in worship, in intercession and confession, in pouring out my heart and lifting up my soul to you. And I can do this because you are “good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all who come to you” (Psalm 86:5 KJV).
 
As I choose to drink from your Word and revel in your presence, you will restore my soul: bringing refreshment, insight, wisdom, understanding, greater faith and more praise.
 
You work to restore my soul to more of its pre-fall perspective, making me more like yourself. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory…” (2 Cor. 3:18).
 
You will then lead me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake—but again, I must choose to follow. And I can be sure that the way you lead me will be righteous and upright, pure and positive, godly and good, bring honor to your Name.
 
If I sense leading which is not one of these, then I can know that it is not of you, but from the subtle and sinister call of the world, the flesh and the devil. This I want to reject, so I can give you glory in all I do. Therefore, for the sake of your name, help me to gladly follow your righteous lead, no matter how much self-denial it requires.
 
Praise you, Lord Jesus, for you are my Shepherd, my King, my Sovereign, the One to be obeyed and feared, loved and served. Praise you for the wonderful and powerful privilege of being both your sheep and your ambassador in a fallen and faulty world, bringing your light to deluded and deceived people.
 
Praise you for your Holy Spirit to fill, empower, guide and encourage. I praise you for your care, your protection, your provision and your presence throughout the day.
 
May I be filled with your Spirit; may I be a vessel of grace to all I meet today; may I be a useful instrument in your hand, Lord, obeying you, living worthy of your calling and pleasing you in every way. To you be glory, honor and praise in and through my life today.
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Psalm 23:1-2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 30, 2017
Psalm 23:1, 2 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
 
You, Lord Jesus, as my Shepherd, MAKE me to lie down in green pastures—you don’t ask what I think or want. You select the pasture I need now and keep me there as long as is necessary so I can grow and deepen, mature and develop to become more like Christ, a better instrument in your hand.
 
Joseph in the OT didn’t particularly want to be a slave, or go to prison, but those were the green pastures you had for him.
 
There he learned to deny self, to live for you and to be a good administrator. This made him fit to save many others, including his family, the Egyptians, and the line of Jesus–so the Messiah could be born and eventually save us!
 
When finding ourselves in green pastures that aren’t pleasant (sickness, loss, disappointment, heartache or failure, to name a few), we can follow this advice: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you KNOW that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
 
In the hand of our Shepherd, difficulties are directive, problems are providential and heartaches can be healing if we cooperate with Him, continuing to lie down in the green pastures He selects.
 
A key aspect here is to embrace what He brings with thanksgiving rather than just suffering through with discontent and complaining.
 
To embrace is to receive grace, to complain is to reject it: “God resists the proud [who reveal their pride by complaining] but gives grace to the humble [who accept what He brings]” (James 4:6).
 
So, let’s trust Him to know what is a green pasture for us and join Him in what He’s doing in and through it, in and through us.
 
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Worship Journal

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 29, 2017
I praise you that as I awoke this morning, Lord Jesus, you were there–my God, my Shepherd, my elder Brother, my King.
 
I praise you that this day I shall not want, for you in your wisdom, your riches and your power have already provided all that I need and much more.
 
As it says in 2 Peter 1:3,4 “[Your] divine power HAS GIVEN us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of [you] who called us by [your] own glory and goodness.”
 
We just need to learn to take up your provision and use it—to get to know you more and more, to be filled with the Spirit, to put on the whole armor of God daily, to lift our souls to the Father and off-load our junk stress, to meditate on your Word and to flee temptation, taking refuge in you.
 
In addition, through your glory and goodness, Lord Jesus, you have “given us [your] very great and precious promises, so that through them [we] MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
 
Wow! We are able to participate in YOUR divine nature! What a gift, to have the Holy Spirit indwell us, as He did David, Isaiah and Daniel. We are truly different from all other creatures and peoples because, as your born-again children, your divine nature dwells in us!
 
As John wrote in astonishment, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).
 
Help us, Lord Jesus, to live today in the reality of your personal indwelling and powerful provision. Help us to take up and use all that you have given us so we can live godly lives, bringing you honor, while shining your light and hope on all those around us.
 
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Psalm 10:16-18

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 28, 2017
Psalm 10:16 “The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.”
 
[You, the Eternal One, set up and take down rulers and nations, you begin and end all, you will remove the wicked and restore the righteous. Of this we can be certain, because you, O God, are faithful and good forever.]
 
Psalm 10:17 “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,”
 
[Praise be to you, the God who hears, who listens with complete understanding, who knows our hearts and answers in wisdom and power, with comfort.]
 
Psalm 10:18 “defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”
 
[Praise you, Lord, that you defend, you provide, you protect and encourage. You will move us out from the oppression Satan wields through wicked men. Your love and care, your protection and deliverance will bring you glory and praise, honor and exaltation, for you are the King of Salvation!]
 
Help us to live today in the light of your goodness, trusting in the sure hope of your deliverance, whatever our situation might be.
 
You hear our cry, you will faithfully answer in the right way at the right time with the right deliverance, whether it be in this life or the next. Help us to trust you fully so that you may use us fully.
 
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Today's entry in my worship journal.

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 27, 2017
 
 
Praise be to you, my Lord and God, the Lover of my soul, the Redeemer of my life, the Ruler of all, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I exalt you for your Love, I extol you for your patience, I rejoice in you for your persistence, I revel in you for your forgiveness. I desperately need each of these every day.
 
I thank you that your love for me never wavers—for in human terms it should, as I think evil things, act out of negative, selfish motives, and indulge in greed, anger, impatience, unthankfulness and complaining.
Yet in your unquenchable love, you forgive, you carefully correct, you patiently wait for me to repent, and consistently seek to lead me in paths of righteousness. Thank you so much for your goodness to me, your care and unmerited favor, your kindness and power.
Thank you for your grace in revealing again my selfishness, impatience, anger and my setting my heart on earthly things, thereby setting myself up for disappointment, failure and rebellion against what you have allowed. Forgive me, although I do not deserve it.
 
Thank you for this answer to prayer for ongoing revival, by
–revealing more of my sinfulness,
–highlighting your graciousness, Love and goodness,
–bringing me to a deeper surrender in you.
I do not like the pain of it, but embrace it because you are at work there, doing what is best,
–leading me forward in the race you have set before me (Heb. 12:1,2),
–breaking me of trust in myself,
–deepening my trust in you,
–finishing my faith,
–giving me further opportunity to earn glory, honor and praise (1 Pet 1:6,7),
–teaching me to embrace whatever cross you have for me,
–helping me to despise whatever shame I or others would put on me,
–teaching us to find our joy in the hope you’ve given us for the future.
 
Praise you, Lord Jesus, for your faithful work of Shepherding us. Praise you Heavenly Father, for your faithful work of answering our prayers. Praise you, Holy Spirit, for your faithful work of convicting us of sin, teaching us about the God-head, glorifying Jesus and giving us wisdom.
 
To you, O Triune God, I bow afresh, to you I surrender, to you I commit myself again to praise you in and for all, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, boasting in my weakness.
 
To you I lift up my soul and praise you for the cleansing, strengthening and joy that you give me in the process. To you be honor and glory today in all I think and do.
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Psalm 10:11-15

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 26, 2017
 
Psalm 10:12 “Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.”
 
[The psalmist has ended his complaint and now turns to you, Jehovah God, the only true help, who will move to intervene. Perhaps you have not acted earlier because no one prayed for your help, even though you prompted them to do so. But now the writer prays and you will answer.]
 
Psalm 10:13 “Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won’t call me to account’”?
 
[the answer: he is blind, caught in the net of delusion the enemy has set for him; he fell into this trap because he rejected the light, the truth that God offered him. He has, like Esau, valued power, position and prosperity above what is of eternal value.]
 
Psalm 10:14 “But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
 
[We can commit our feeble, helpless and vulnerable lives to you, O Lord, for you are our defender, our shield, our high tower, our salvation. You are the One who sees the fatherless, the widow, the helpless ones and will act on their behalf.]
 
Psalm 10:15 “Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.”
 
[You, O Holy God, do see all, you will act and judge evil, at the right time. Praise you for your great and powerful working! Help us to wait for your perfect timing.
 
As it says in Psalm 37:7-9, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”
 
Help us to be still before you, Lord, to reject our anger, wrath and fretting, to rest in you, knowing that you will deal with evil.
 
Help us to obey you in what we know to be right so we can be a light in your light–like the double sun in this picture–shining grace and the gospel on all those around us.]
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Psalm 10:1-10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 25, 2017
Today we will begin looking at a Psalm which is an example of “Lifting one’s soul to God.” Today’s part is the first step: describing the distress of the psalmist.
 
Psalm 10:1
“Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
 
[So it often seems. Here the psalmist is lifting his soul to you, Lord, pouring out his thoughts, feelings and desires, wondering why you seem to be doing nothing about the suffering of the weak.
 
However we know from your Word and our experience that you are actually at work behind the scenes, setting things up, preparing to act, working in deep and effective ways. The psalmist goes on in his complaint about the wicked:]
 
10:2 “In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
10:3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.”
 
[Sounds like current events.]
 
10:4 “In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
 
[Brutal, selfish, proud, greedy and arrogant—the wicked man does not think of God at all. Instead he bulls his way through life taking, getting, having his own way–while God seemingly does nothing.]
 
10:5 “His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
10:6 He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me;
I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’”
 
[So it seems to the psalmist. However, in all the wicked man’s seeming success and strength, he is deluded, caught in the web of Satan’s lies while enjoying it—but only for a time, for you, O Lord, are prepared to act at the right moment, to bring him low, to bring justice.]
 
10:7 “His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
10:8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
10:9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10:10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.”
 
[As ever, the wicked prey on the weak, never on the strong. They are cowardly and utterly selfish. Their goal is power, domination, wealth, control and comfort—and they will find it temporarily.]
 
10:11 “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees.’”
 
[This is the utmost in arrogance, claiming that the all-seeing Creator, the all-knowing Sustainer isn’t aware of what is happening! This man’s concept of God is fatally flawed, twisted, and much too small—he has made God in his own image—his world view is willfully devoid of truth. And he will pay for it.]
 
May we, Lord, be exactly the opposite of such a person; may we live in the light of your presence, rejoicing in your transforming Truth, reveling in your healing Grace, submitting to your ever-flowing Love. May we carry goodness, mercy, kindness and grace to the weak and weary. May you thereby be glorified in our lives today.]
 
 
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Psalm 9:19-20

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 24, 2017
Psalm 9:19 “Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;”
 
[Yes, Lord, prevent sinful man from overcoming your plans, your purposes and your people; bring the evil doers low, defeat them in their attempts to bring harm so that your name may be honored.]
 
“let the nations be judged in your presence.”
 
[Let your judgment flow like rivers of waters. Praise you that you will judge the nations in righteousness and people with justice. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom. 12:19).
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We don’t have to carry the burden of making it all right. We are called not to be judges, but to be your lights in our sphere of influence, doing good, sharing the Word and trusting you to bring judgment to the nations.]
 
Psalm 9:20 “Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men.”
 
[Yes, Lord, may terror overwhelm them because of your greatness, may fear seize them because of your righteousness, may anxiety grip them because of the judgment to come.
 
May many thereby be brought to belief in you and surrender to you by a supernatural fear descending on them: fear of death , fear of judgment and condemnation, fear of the future, fear of what lies beyond death.
 
May they realize clearly that they have nothing to trust in and turn to you–who offers them forgiveness, cleansing, adoption and eternal life–instead of trusting in their traditions which can give them nothing in the end.
 
Break through, Lord, bring great awakening, sweep many in to your Kingdom!]
Selah (think on that)
 
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Psalm 9:17-18

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 22, 2017
Psalm 9:17 “The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.”
 
[In you, Lord, there is justice: those who forget you will be forgotten. You are the most important One in existence, the most important Being in history, the most important 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 hope, 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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