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The Gift of God's Faithfulness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 24, 2017
The Gift of God’s Faithfulness
 
Psalm 13:3 “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;”
 
[Thank you that we can cry to you in our desperation, as David did here, O Lord. We can always appeal to you, knowing that your faithfulness lwill flow like a stream forever. As it says in Psalm 86:7 “In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you WILL answer me.”]
 
Psalm 13:4 “my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”
 
[Even when we fall, we can stand again, firm in your faithful power, with you as our persistent Shield and Defender. I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are our unshakable rock, our faithful fortress, our high tower and can never to be defeated.]
 
Psalm 13:5 “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”
 
[Yes, I look away to you, Lord, and look down the long history of your unfailing love where you–in faithfulness–answered, acted, protected, and guided Abraham, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jesus and Paul. So you will do with us.]
 
Psalm 13:6 “I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”
 
[David here still did not have an answer, he was still in danger, but this is a declaration of his trust in God to answer and save, based on his past experience of God’s help.
 
We also can sing now in praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord, before you act in our troubles, knowing that you will come and work things out to rescue and save, to empower and carry us through–just as you have helped us in the past, always acting out of your pristine character and your faithfulness to your Word. It is in this certainty that, while still in trouble, we can sing in praise for the help you will bring.
 
Help us to persistently praise you in every difficulty, Lord God, before we see any answers, resting and reveling in your full faithfulness. May you thereby be glorified before the people and the spiritual powers around us today.
 
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The Gift of God's Goodness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 23, 2017
The Gift of God’s Goodness
 
Psalm 13:1,2 “How long, O LORD?”
 
[There will be times when God seems distant, when He is not answering our prayers on our time table, when things are going awry with no help in sight. We pray and wait, but nothing seems to happen. There is no hint of His goodness. And yet, in the darkness and mists in our lives, the light of your Word is shining hope on us.]
 
 
“Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?”
 
[There are dark valleys in life, ones we must pass through. These may be sickness, unemployment, relationship problems, depression (like the deep one my dear wife is going through as I write this), the death of a loved one, or fears sparked by governmental chaos and failure, by wars or great disasters.
 
But we can know that you, Lord, in your goodness, designed or allowed each one to mature us, bring glory to yourself and to demonstrate your power to the world.
 
As we know and believe this–even though at times our hearts fail us if we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by disappointment and the immediate circumstances surrounding us–we can choose to have hope in the midst of despair, we can have light in the midst of darkness–> because you are good, you have a plan for good and will carry it out.
 
“How long will my enemy triumph over me?”
 
[At times the enemy does triumph over us—evil leaders arise in nations (ISIS), bad decisions are made by government or mission leaders, churches fall apart, families dissolve in bitterness, hard-working people can suddenly become homeless.
 
None of these may be your desired, overall will, but you allow them for greater reasons. For unbelievers, it is to nudge them towards belief (many have come to Christ in the Middle East because of ISIS). For believers, it is an opportunity for growth, glorifying you and rewards.
 
As it says in 1 Pet. 1:6-7, “Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith…may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
 
So we can that no matter what, Lord, you are always there: you are at work for good, moving deeply, quietly, powerfully, patiently, waiting for the right moment to remove the pressure. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” In your goodness we can rest. Help us to do so today.]
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The Gift of God's Flawless Word

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 22, 2017
The Gift of God’s Flawless Words
 
Psalm 12:6 “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”
 
[Praise you, Lord God, King of Glory, Creator of only good, for you are Truth itself; therefore, your words are pure as newly opened flowers, for you cannot lie.
 
You have revealed your words to your prophets, had them written down and preserved through the ages, bringing them to us as a bright light in deep darkness.
 
With your words you protect, guide, teach, correct, rebuke, comfort and encourage us. As you are flawless, so are your words. Therefore they are worthy of trust, of praise, and honor.
 
Psalm 12:7 “O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people [oppressors and liars] forever.”
 
[Praise you for this certainty, Lord, both now and in eternity. And a major means of protecting us is your Word. For a time, we may have to suffer the negative effects of liars appearing to win. But their seeming successes cannot affect the core of our stability–our relationship with you, nurtured through your Word.
 
You, Lord God, are our peace and joy, our hope and rest; these are for forever, for they are bound up in you and your eternal and unchanging character.
 
All that we own, all that we love here on earth is expendable and temporary. Knowing this we can let go and release it all to you.
 
Then we can hold on to what is eternal–which is primarily our relationship with you, nurtured by your Word, from whence flows all goodness.
 
And third, with your given grace and strength, we can rise above all the difficulties, problems and losses of this world, remembering that you, Lord, are all that really counts.]
 
To you be glory this day, Lord, in all I have to do and say. May I spot and reject lying and selfishness in myself and conform instead to your steady Word.
 
May you, Holy and Eternal One, our Great God and Glorious King, be lifted up, glorified and exalted before the world today in my thoughts, motives, words, actions and attitudes. Amen.
 
 
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The Gift of Truth

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 22, 2017
The Gift of Truth
 
Psalm 12:1 “Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.”
 
[Thus it seems so often. I praise you, though, Lord, that you have always reserved some who are righteous in Christ for yourself. You are quietly at work to keep your children strong, to make them truth-bearers, shining the truth in love to all around them, to be yeast, salt and light in society. Help us be hope and truth carriers to all around us; convict us when we are not.]
Psalm 12:2 “Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.”
[This is true of so much of what goes on today: lies about what is right; the lies in political correctness; the intolerance of those who claim to be tolerant.
 
You, Lord God, are the only One we can truly trust to speak only truth. Help us, too, to be truth lovers (loving your Word), truth speakers (especially to ourselves) and truth discerners.]
Psalm 12:3 “May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, ‘We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips—who is our master?’”
[Yes, Lord, show yourself mighty, expose the liars, bring them to justice; show yourself Master. May the deceived be brought into the light and grasp truth. May we not be fooled by anything that is put forth by liars, including lies we tell ourselves.]
Psalm 12:5 “’Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,’ says the LORD. ‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’”
[Praise you, Lord, that you are the God of justice, that you will, at the right time, rise up to expose evil, judge righteously and protect powerfully.
 
We pray that you will do this soon. We cry out to you to expose the lies of Satan, self and sin (beginning with ours). Bring forth your righteousness as the light and our judgment as the noon day sun.
You, Lord God, love righteousness, and you love the righteous—those purified and forgiven in Christ—as well as all those who continue in darkness, believing the lies of the Devil. Rise up and show your love in causing Truth to flow throughout the land, giving light to all, sweeping as many as possible into your Kingdom.]
 
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The Gift of Protection

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 19, 2017
The Gift of Protection
 
Psalm 146:9 “The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow,”
 
[You, O Lord, not only see, but act on behalf of these weak ones, those whom men are so willing to plunder. You protect, provide and guide the vulnerable, the hurting, the defenseless. I praise you for your graciousness in doing so, for it shows your mercy and love of justice, your compassion at work in wonderful ways.]
 
“but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”
 
[Praise be to you, Lord, that you actively intervene to block the desires of the evil one as he seeks to work through evil people. You seem to let them prosper for a while, as Hitler did for 12 years, but then bring them low.
 
Lord, act quickly against such evil desires and evil men; foil the plans of the nations and thwart the purposes of the people; bring instead your desires to pass.]
 
Psalm 146:10 “The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.”
 
[Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are the eternal King, ruling and over-ruling, inexorably moving history to the conclusion that you desire, the end you have ordained–undeterred by the rebellion of men, the failure of believers, or the resistance of the devil.
 
You reign, for you are the sovereign Lord, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving and all-good God, worthy of worship, worthy of honor, worthy of glory, worthy of obedience. So, Lord Jesus, I bow before you now, I eagerly acknowledge your right to rule in my life. I commit myself to give you glory and honor with my mind and mouth.
 
I rise up and go forth to obey you this day, with my whole heart, to bring you praise and thanksgiving by doing before men the good deeds you have prepared for me to do . May you be highly honored in my life today. Amen!]
 
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The Gift of Sight

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 18, 2017

The Gift of Sight

Psalm 146:8 “…the LORD gives sight to the blind….”

[Praise you, Lord, that this is true both physically and spiritually. Spiritual sight is by far the more important one, for if we can see Truth now, even though our eyes are blind, we will see physically in heaven.

Praise you that your desire is to take away the veil over each person’s eyes (2 Cor. 3:13-16), to allow them to see the spiritual reality of being sinners, of being under condemnation and of standing before you, the Righteous One, without hope of relief from their own efforts.

Then you give them the bright dawn of hope in you and your provision of pardon and release, of cleansing and transformation so they can become your beloved children! That’s really eye-opening truth!

I love John’s comment about this in 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”]

“the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,”

[You, Lord, in your tender love, reach out to all those who are depressed, discouraged and disheartened by the burdens by life. Satan, along with sin and its consequences, beat them up, beat them down, bring them low.

But you, Lord Jesus, offer them hope, love, forgiveness, encouragement, guidance, strength, protection and grace. You offer–but they have to accept. Sadly, many continue on being bowed down because they refuse your marvelous message of mercy and love.]

“the LORD loves the righteous.”

[You love the world and all in it (John 3:16). And you especially love  the righteous, those who have accepted your offer of pardon, who then receive the righteousness of Christ, imputed through your mercy and grace.

You delight in your children–stubborn and rebellious as we often are. You see us standing in Christ, sinless, forgiven, pure and complete. Your vision of what we are going to be is what fills your thoughts and your great love for us never ceases as you move us towards maturity in Christ.

So, in the midst of the turmoil of life, in you we can rest, because of your rich, ever-flowing love. And out of that love we can serve you and others, needing nothing in the line of recognition or acclaim, for what we have in your love is enough.

May we delight your heart today, in faith, obedience and praise, shining the light of your love to all those around us, who are frozen in the grip of sin.]

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The Gift of Freedom

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 17, 2017
The Gift of Freedom
 
Psalm 146:7b “The LORD sets prisoners free,”
 
[Right from the beginning of our lives we are all imprisoned by sin, for the web of Satan has everyone ensnared in its sticky strands of lies, fear and violence. Just being born into a broken and twisted world results in quirks and knots in our personalities that bring problems, difficulties and oppression.
 
Our upbringing and family culture instill further dysfunctional thoughts, feelings and desires into us. And our culture’s worldview and its internalized values lock us into destructive feelings, desires and goals.
 
All these lead us to emotional pitfalls, to accepting false answers to the great human thirst for love and approval, for significance, security and belonging. These wrong answers then produce fear: fear of man, fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of pain, loss and hurt. Satan uses all these to oppress, control and in the end to kill all he can.
 
But You, Lord Jesus, you have made a way out of this prison of oppression, opening the door to the cell of hopelessness. You have called us to step out of the darkness of fear into the light of your Love, into the rich and warm relationship with you where our fears can be washed away in the river of your goodness and grace and glory.
 
Through your great sacrifice and work, you provided all we thirst for: in you we belong, in you we have significance, security, acceptance and approval.
 
In you there is the certainty of your shepherding us through every dark valley of life into the wonder of your everlasting dwelling in Heaven. You have provided all that is needed for us to follow you in freedom: Your “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…” (2 Pet. 1:3).
 
You, Lord Jesus, are the great Deliverer, the mighty Shepherd, the everlasting King. You are worthy of endless honor, praise and exaltation; you are worthy of all obedience, glory and thanksgiving.
 
I praise you for your constant, deep, compassionate and lovely presence in my life, convicting me of the next sin so I can be set free from it; drawing me on to greater surrender; protecting me from my own foolishness; guiding and empowering me to live more and more worthy of you.
 
So, I lift you up, praise your Name and exalt your Word above all things. Use me today to bring honor to your gracious and glorious Name.
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The Gift of Beauty

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 17, 2017
 
Praise the LORD, for another sunny day, pleasant weather and a beautiful countryside: rich, warm sunshine streaming over the hills, casting long, deep shadows from the trees and buildings, bringing out every dip and rise in the land.
 
The trees are silver with dew, the river is clothed in shimmering wreathes of fog, flowers are peeking out from bushes, gardens and graveyards, the birds are joyfully flitting about and singing in the new day’s light.
 
You, O Lord God, are a lover of beauty, and are so gracious to share this visual feast with us, a breakfast for the eyes, a refreshment to the soul.
 
I praise you for your marvelous creativity, making all so practical and yet so beautiful. You could have made everything black and white, ugly and efficient—but you have chosen to clothe usefulness in gracefulness, practicality in loveliness. You cover fruit trees with fragrant and colorful blossoms; you make water sparkling and pure; you give the hills and trees many shades of green.
 
Praise you that you do the same in our lives, making food festive, procreation pleasurable, worship wonderful.
 
You are yourself beautiful, O Lord.
You are lovely in goodness, graciousness, gloriousness and greatness.
You are righteous, pure, positive and just.
You are kind, compassionate, ready to forgive and long suffering.
You are present, protecting, seeing and caring.
You uphold all who are bowed down.
You deliver from the oppressor.
You heal the broken-hearted.
You guide the lost.
 
You are the God of only goodness,
The God of eternity,
The God of salvation,
The God of faithfulness.
 
Therefore, you are worthy of worship, praise, glory and honor. I bow before you now in awe, praising you in gratefulness; I rise up in your joy to exalt you in thankfulness and obedience.
 
May you be glorified today in my thoughts and actions, words and reactions, O great and mighty, lovely and lavish Lord Jesus!
 
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The Gift of Supply

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 15, 2017
 
Praise be to you, Lord, for your great and gracious heart. Praise you that you look down and see every single person on this earth; you are aware of each one’s needs, desires, suffering, rebellion and anger.
 
I praise you that you work in the life of each–believer or not–to supply their needs: “… your Father in heaven…causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45).
 
You bring each one help: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psa. 34:18).
 
And most importantly you offer the opportunity for all to enter your Kingdom “when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world [everyone] of sin, righteousness, and judgment…” (John 16:8-10) and “…whosoever believes should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16b).
 
Psalm 146:7 “He upholds the cause of the oppressed…”
 
[You, Heavenly Father, went right to the core of the issue and provided an escape from the three sources of oppression: Satan, sin and self. All other oppression we experience flows out of these.
 
Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for paying the price of great, deep, profound, excruciating suffering to provide the only possible way out from this oppression. Praise you that daily you give grace, guidance and goodness to your children in the midst of every oppression so we can rise above it.]
 
“and [He] gives food to the hungry.”
 
[You are the One who provides our daily bread. You give enough to live on and you give us the freedom to share this with others, the privilege of being the conduit to supply their needs,. Help us not to squander your supply or withhold from others the abundance you constantly give. We praise you that you are wonderfully generous and give freely, fully to all.]
 
Help us to recognize the marvelous supply you give us every day in the unending stream of gifts, help and guidance you pour into our lives. Help us to live in the light of your love today and to bring honor to you in all we do.
 
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Insight

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 14, 2017
People remember little of what you preach; they remember some of what you say; but they remember fully how you made them feel.
 
Concept from the book “The Emotionally Healthy Church” by Peter Scazzero, one I highly recommend.
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