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Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 29, 2017

Psalm 23 is very familiar to everyone, but recently the Lord has shown me some new, very interesting points in it from the perspective of praise. Praise in and for all things is really the act of surrendering to the Lord at that moment and in that situation. In addition, it is resisting the devil and his suggestion that “this situation is just awful! Poor me!”

Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” That means He is watching over me all the time, with great care and attention, holding at a distance what is truly bad.

He “makes me lie down in green pastures.” That is, He finds for me the situations which are profitable for growth and brings me there. He doesn’t ask if I like it, nor does He ask my opinion. He makes me lie down there until I’ve learned what is needed. In this I can cooperate with Him by praising Him for what He is doing whether I like it or not.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death….” This refers not just to physical danger and death, but to other aspects, such as dying to self, to ego, to my plans and desires and opinions. This can mean having my plans fail, my vision perish, my hopes dashed.

“I will fear no evil for you are with me…” The difficult happenings in this “valley” are not evil but are allowed by God for my good—being all powerful He could easily prevent them, especially since He is with me all the time, but He allows what He knows is useful for my growth and for my giving Him glory.

Thinking through this Psalm in terms of praise has brought great joy to me and removed some of my natural thought patterns (the tendency to resent what is hard, to complain, to fear being hurt or rejected)–patterns which make it difficult to praise in and for all things. Take a look at the rest of Psalm 23 from this perspective and see what things you can find to encourage you to praise Him in and for all.

 

Prayer: “Lord, keep opening my eyes to your view of things; speak to me through your Word as I read it daily; move me forward in the discipline of praise. Amen.”

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Psalm 1:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 28, 2017
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Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water,”
 
[Planted, put down in one spot and kept there—it seems this is the result of a cooperation between you, Lord, and the person, as he avoids the three sins of verse 1 and then delights and meditates on your Word, he is planted in the right spot. And not by just one stream, but streams of water to put his roots down in, draw sustenance from and grow strong.
 
This is your good desire for us, Lord, that our roots go down into your Word, which brings deepening growth, maximum maturing, and spiritual strengthening. There is no end to the insights, understanding, wisdom and guidance you give us from your Word as we meditate on it. Your desires are good!]
 
“which yields its fruit in season”
 
[For the person who meditates on God’s Word day and night, when it’s time to bear fruit, you, Lord, will bring it forth. And it will be the right fruit, whether it be the fruit of the Spirit, or the fruit of praise, or the fruit of good works, or the fruit of those who come to Christ. Praise you, Lord, that you make us fruitful as we abide in you, for without you we can do nothing.]
 
“and whose leaf does not wither.”
 
[No matter what happens around this tree, it remains green—in drought, dryness, winds, dust storms or disasters, failure of the seasons, failure of other streams, this tree always has water to draw from, for its roots are deep down into the true source of vitality and strength, the Word of God.
 
Whatever difficult events come to us—weakness, hardship, insults, persecution, difficulties or loss—we can prosper, remain lush and green, bear our fruit, be a delight to those around us. This is all because of you, Lord, for you gave us your Word and draw us into it. And this is what I am experiencing right now as my wife goes through her deep depression—I am not withering up, but remaining green and bearing fruit because you are empowering me to do so.]
 
Psalm 1:3c “Whatever he does prospers.”
 
[As a result of avoiding the three sins mentioned in verse 1 and meditating on God’s Word day and night with delight, whatever situation or work you call us to do, Lord, you promise to prosper both it and us.
 
This is partly because we will be thinking as you think, acting in accord with your Word, obeying what we know to be true, and living in your power not our own. It is partly because you will act on our behalf. This is the promise I will rest on.
 
Of course, your definition of “prosper” may be different from ours. What may look like failure of our efforts, can be what you will be using to make us prosper spiritually. And from this we can prosper in other areas, like relationships that are difficult, in being light and salt, in being hope carriers to all around us.
 
One example of this is that our last church plant failed; humanly speaking this is not prospering. But we know that you can bring something better out of this death of a vision.
 
For one thing, the believers all moved to other fellowships, taking their training, maturity and drive with them. Some of those have gone through very difficult situations since and have stood strong in their faith, trusting you.
 
You have deepened us through this, showing me that I put too much importance on being successful from a human standpoint instead of keeping you in first place. You are prospering our efforts in a way that is different from what we wanted, but you are bringing growth and direction.
 
You, Lord God, are certainly worthy of worship, of glory, of adoration, of obedience, of surrender. I praise you now for what you will do today, as well as for what you will not do and for the opportunity to give you glory at each step of the way as you cause us to prosper as you define it.]
 
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Psalm 1:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 27, 2017
 
Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD,”
 
[Your Word is so delightful, Lord, so full of rich glimpses of your Majesty, insights into your marvelous character, demonstrations of your might and holiness, displays of your wisdom, grace and righteous wrath against sin.
 
Your Word has all that we need to know you and to know how to live. It is deep, powerful, revealing and convicting. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
 
As we delve into it, you use it to delve into us, convicting us of the next sin we need to repudiate. As we dig in through memorization and meditation, you lead us into an endless discovery of gems of wisdom and treasures of truth. These make our lives rich and spiritually powerful, leading us to being glory-givers, wholehearted worshipers and grace receivers and givers–all of which leads to more delighting in your Word.
 
It is not hard to delight in your Word: we just need to spend time there and divest ourselves of the taste for the ashes of the world and get used to the rich, heady fare of your Truth!]
 
“and on his law he meditates day and night.”
 
[To internalize your Word by memorizing and meditating on it is wonderful. It is a marvelous privilege to be permeated with your Truth, to think as you do, to set our hearts and minds on things above, to be able to say “Whom have I in heaven but you, and earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Ps. 73:25).
 
To meditate on your Word day and night results in having a Teflon-like cover for our mind and heart, coating them with Truth, so the mud of the world does not stick, and is daily washed away by the water of the Word.
 
When we memorize, personalize and pray through your Word, the Holy Spirit works powerfully to transform, to undo and redo, to break and reshape in the image of Christ. He opens our eyes to new things, He replaces human thought with His thoughts, natural responses with supernatural ones, selfishness with God centeredness, lust with worship.
 
Lord, to have your Word in my mind through memorization, in my heart through personalizing it, in my will through praying it—this means that all through the day I can think on your Word, measure my motives, my thoughts and my words by it, reject what is natural, choose what is of you.
As I daily meditate and pray through the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 and the prayers of 3:16-19, and other verses, you take me down into a greater and more glorious understanding, into deeper and more dynamic insights. You work more widely and powerfully in the renewing of my soul. You manifest yourself more and more in my life.
 
Praise be to you for the great privilege of meditation on your Word, thereby knowing, living with, walking with, and working with the King of Creation, the Lord of Love, the God of Goodness. I praise you, I exalt you, I glorify you. May you be magnified in my life today so that people also meet you when they meet me and that you may be more honored.]
 
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Psalm 1:1b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 26, 2017
Psalm 1:1b “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked”
[This is a call to discern and reject the wrong way: will I agree with God, or will I make human understanding the measure of right and wrong? Praise you, Lord, that you give discernment, based on your Word and the direction of the Spirit, to see and avoid the advice of the wicked—and I find that the majority of the wicked advice I encounter arises from my own heart!
I praise you, Lord God, that you are light, continually shining wisdom and understanding into our lives. “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever more brightly til the full light of day” (Pro. 4:18).
 
You give us enlightenment each moment so that, if we take it, we can discern and avoid the traps of the wickedness. Blessed are those who have learned to walk in the light of your presence. And the more we avoid the counsel of the wicked, the more we walk in your light, in your love and into your blessings.
 
I praise you for the joy of being able to avoid the wiles of the devil, to recognize when he puts out the bait for me, to reject it, grasping clearly that the devil’s way only leads to misery, fear, oppression, failure and death. But you, O Lord, in your true wisdom, offer us just the opposite: joy, security, freedom, success and eternal life!]
 
“Blessed is the man who does not…stand in the way of sinners”
 
[This, I believe, is to watch what sinners do and desire to do the same. This is so common, so easy, so attractive: TV, movies, music, shopping, catalogues, colleagues, books, magazines, newspapers, the internet—all call us to stop and view, look and lust.
 
It is so natural to do this, but to walk instead in the way of Jesus is so much better. “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left, keep your foot from evil” (Pro. 4:25,26).
 
Yesterday at the photographers, I failed in this, looking twice at an unhealthy picture; forgive me, Lord, help me to heed instead to the voice of the Spirit, and stand not in the way of sinners.]
 
“Blessed is the man who does not…sit in the seat of mockers.”
 
[Lord, it is such a part of my nature to be judgmental, to criticize, to make fun of others. It makes me feel good, to set myself above and to decide who is acceptable and who isn’t, who is cool and who is a nerd.
 
But this is destructive, negative, unhealthy, ensnaring and evil. To do so is pleasing to the devil and grievous to you. It is the opposite of what you do with us—and since you know us completely, you have abundant reason to judge, condemn and reject us, yet you choose to love and elevate us to being your beloved children.
 
I praise you, Lord God, that you have worked so consistently in my life, convicting me of my negativeness and bringing me to the point of surrender, to stop speaking negative things, and to work at being positive–in my thoughts as well as words–to follow your command in Philippians 4:8 to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
 
You yourself, Lord Jesus, are the great positive: in you there is only good, only purity, only holiness; there is no evil, no sin, no negative, no dark side. You are thoroughly, completely, perfectly good and all you do is good. You are the One for me to think on, rejoice in, delight in, and I choose to do so because your beautiful, shining, lovely, wonderful character is worthy of all worship and honor.
 
Praise be to you, glory be to you, honor be to you today in my life. May those around me benefit from the overflow of your Spirit and the goodness you pour into me, so when they meet me, they may also meet you.]
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Psalm 1:1a

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 25, 2017
Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man…”
 
[Praise be to you, O Lord God, for your desire is to bless people, to bring goodness and grace into their lives, to give them joy and satisfaction, fulfillment and positive pleasure. But this is not automatic, as the rest of Psalm 1 tells us.
You give us the power to choose–power we can use to bring blessing or curses down on ourselves. It is like you give us a powerful machine which can lift gigantic blocks of stone: with the push of a button, the pull of a lever, we can move great weight and volume.
 
In the spiritual realm, as we obey your principles, as we submit to the clear directions of your Word, as we obey the leading of your Spirit, as we whole-heartedly embrace your commands, then you move mountains to accomplish your will, to do great things in and through us, while bringing joy, grace, goodness, provision and safety to us and those around us.
 
As you said in John 15:10-11, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
In you, Lord Jesus, is all we need, and you have given us the privilege and power to access it as we choose your way over that of the world, of our old nature and of the devil.
 
Help us to choose for you through each moment of today that you may be lifted up before humanity and the spiritual forces that surround us.]
 
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Example of Lifting My Soul to God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 24, 2017
Written in my worship journal some years ago after a run in with a team mate, an example of lifting my soul to God.
 
Lord, I think of the many refugees in the Middle East, forced out of their homes, villages, towns, jobs, security, possessions and forced into uncertainty, insecurity, physical and emotional needs, without safety or the necessities of life, living in tents, sleeping on the ground, never being sure of food the next day. They are without hope, without a future, without peace.
 
That’s what is difficult, not the present uncomfortable conflict I have. Help me to remember how much you give me every day, Lord: so much good, so much protection, so much provision.
 
Praise you for your rich, warm, positive, supportive grace and love. Help me to walk in the light of your presence all day long so that you may be glorified through the faith you have given me.
 
Give me wisdom in how to proceed in the conflict before me. Thank you so much, heavenly Father, that I am not left in this alone, but have your presence, your help, your wisdom. Instead of fighting to win, to protect my ego and my sense of significance and position, I want to focus on who I am in you, and operate out of a position of weakness and humility, for then your power will be made perfect in my life. Therefore I can move through difficulties with others from the solid foundation of your goodness, grace and greatness.
 
Truly, my soul finds rest in you alone, Lord Jesus. No other can give me what I need, weak and needy as I am–but you, Lord Jesus are eternal, infinite and perfect. You live forever to intercede for me. You have given me worth in creating me in your image, in choosing me before the foundation of the world. You left all in heaven and, for your Father’s glory, died for all and defeated death. You chose me, called me, you transformed me into a new creature, you adopted me as your son, you have given me your Holy Spirit, you invite me to live with you, work with you, be your partner in all that you are doing.
 
In you I have significance, for you have made me important with your love. In you I have security, yfor ou have made me safe in your power. In you I have meaning, as you have made me a partner in your plans. In you I have purpose, as you have granted me the possibility of giving you glory in everything I do.
 
You, O God, are my King, my Lord, my Shepherd, my Protector, my Guide, my Corrector, my Loving Brother. Praise you, Lord Jesus, that in you I am complete, need nothing else and can live a life of giving rather than of getting.
 
Help me to live in this light, to be a spring of living water rather than a sponge, a source rather than a sucker who is dependent on others’ approval and acceptance. In you I already have all that and can trust in you with all my heart.
 
Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are the God of completeness, full of far more than I need, always pouring out grace and goodness and greatness into my life. I give you praise and today want to honor you with all my heart. Guide and direct me, Lord, especially in resolving this conflict, that you may be lifted up before all those around me. Amen.
 
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Proverbs 8:18

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 23, 2017

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Bountifully Blessed

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 22, 2017
 
Praise be to you, Lord God, King of glory, Lord of love, Shepherd of my soul.
 
I thank you for the rich and deep privilege of being your child, swept up in your arms of love, warmly welcomed into your family, given an important role in your Kingdom, equipped and empowered to serve you, filled with your Spirit, interceded for consistently by Jesus and the Spirit, led personally by the Good Shepherd and destined for the new Heaven and new Earth!
 
This is what you have graciously given me, in total contrast to what I deserve—only you in your wonderful mercy and grace, your marvelous love and lavishness could and would do such a counter-intuitive thing.
 
I rejoice in your wonderful and magnificent being, I praise you for your beautiful and majestic character, I bow before you in awe and thankfulness. I rise up in obedience to love you by carrying out your commands, and they are not burdensome.
 
I praise you that you have given me faith with which I can overcome the world, be a hope-carrier to all around me, and shine your light of joy, peace and grace throughout each day. Guide me in doing that well so your Name may constantly be lifted up before all in the seen and unseen world around me today.
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Update on Barbara

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 21, 2017
Update on Barbara.
 
This week’s sessions with her two counselors were significant, with breakthrough insights in each one. These helped her to be able to accept painful truth, to realize some lies she’d accepted about herself and to be able to effectively replace them with truth.
 
The enemy, of course, did not let those advances go uncontested. The next night, Barbara fell while getting back into bed during the night and bruised her back on the night stand. Painful as this was (as continues to be), there was nothing broken, no serious damage. And, in the Lord’s timing, the visiting nurse was scheduled to come the next day, confirming that there was no damage and giving us help in treating her pain.
 
It is a battle, but the Lord is with us and we are praying on the armor every morning. Thank you again for your prayers.
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Psalm 37:38-40

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 20, 2017
Psalm 37:38 “But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.”
 
[The certainty of your judgment, Lord, is absolute: sin and all who choose to remain in it will be condemned, destroyed in this world and removed from your presence forever. Then the new earth and the new heaven will have no evil, no sin, no wickedness– only obedience, love, glory-giving and worship of you, Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are worthy, the only One to be exalted, for you are the wise and good God.
 
Now David ends his Psalm with a reminder of how you are the Protector and Savior of your people.]
 
Psalm 37:39 “The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.”
 
[we should look nowhere else for salvation, for no one and nothing else can save us, protect us, keep us as You can, Lord God, our Savior, Shepherd and Warrior King.]
 
Psalm 37:40 “The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,”
 
[You, Lord, are active, powerful and always present; you allow pressures that are good for us and remove those which are destructive. We can trust you to work all things out, as you did in defeating the wicked at the cross.
 
And lastly, here’s God’s desire and His condition for protecting us:] “because they take refuge in him.”
 
[You call us, Lord, to find our refuge in you, our great and good God. When difficulties come we so naturally and quickly flee to other help. We run first to the doctor for a pill, to the banker for a loan, to the politician for influence, instead of first coming to you in prayer, seeking wisdom, direction, help and healing.
 
You give us direction here: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). After we seek you in prayer, you may direct us to human help that you will use, although many times you act without that help.
 
I praise you, Lord, for your calling us to partnership with you. Help us to remember to come to you first, all the time, displaying before men and angels our trust in you, for you have proved yourself many times over to be our refuge, our fortress, our shield and our defender. And then from this refuge, you will guide us in utilizing whatever human resources you choose to bring about the conclusion you desire for us in each difficulty you allow.
 
Praise be to you, the God of Abraham, the Lord of Joseph, the Shepherd of David, and the Savior of the world. May you be honored, exalted and glorified as we respond in all things with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, the calmness of faith and the obedience of trust.]
 
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