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Mighty, Majestic Magnificence

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 25, 2016
From the devotional book EDIFIED!
 
“Your faithfulness will be my shield and my rampart….” Psalm 91:4b
 
Today, Lord Jesus, I walk in amazement under the canopy of your love, knowing that you look at me, not with tolerance, or thinly disguised disgust because of my stubbornly selfish responses, but you see me clothed in your righteousness! You look on me with delight, with joy, with pleasure, glad to have me as your child, as your brother, in your family, in your Kingdom.
 
You call me to meet with you each day as you stoop low to gather me to your heart, enjoying our interaction. I praise you that, contrary to all logic, you revel in our relationship, you delight in doing good to me, you rejoice in being my rampart, you savor shielding me from harm. And all this when I deserve the opposite: there is no earthly reason for your love; no, only heavenly reasons.
 
I praise you, O Elohim, that in your power and faithfulness you consistently shield my head in the battle of each day, you always stand as the rampart between me and the attack of the enemy; I can rest in you.
 
You are the Most High, the All-knowing, the All-present One, so you are never caught off guard, are never late, are never out-witted by the enemy. Your defenses are impregnable, your presence is unassailable, your plans are impenetrable: the enemy can never get by you without your permission; you are always the Victor in the end!
 
You, Lord Jesus, are a wonder, a marvel, majestically awesome, massively powerful. Your great compassion has sowed in me the seed of love for you, the seed of submission, the seed of adoration for you. As I gaze on you in worship with unveiled face, you are moving me towards living those sublime words: “Whom have I in heaven but you, and earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Ps. 73:25).
 
I adore you, I lift high your name, I revel in you, I exalt you. I offer you praise, glory and worship, O Great and High King, Lord of Glory, Ruler of the Universe, Judge of all, Redeemer of all sinners, Concluder of all history. You only are fully Patient and Profound, Gracious and Good, Pure and Perfect. You only are worthy of worship!
 
Prayer: “To you, Lord Jesus be joy, power, authority, victory and honor today, now and forever. Guide me in giving you glory this day. Amen.”
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Great is Your Mercy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 23, 2016
Praise you, Lord God, for a new day, a fresh gift from your hand, toasty warm with grace, steaming with potential, delicious with your presence. As someone said, every day is a gift, that’s why we call it “the present!”
 
I praise you, Lord Jesus, my Good and Great Shepherd, for all that you will give today: your provision, protection, presence and preparation in all that will come.
Praise you for the privilege of nurturing my first love for you, worshiping you, praising you, focusing on you, accompanying you through the day, joining you in what you are doing and checking in with you on what my role is.
 
May there be no sneakiness on my part, doing what I’m not sure you would want instead of looking to you for guidance. I confess my sin of doing that, of ignoring you in making decisions, of setting my heart on gaudy baubles of pleasure rather than on your kind eyes of wisdom. I confess my double-mindedness, my halfheartedness, my rebellion and unbelief.
 
Forgive me for these serious, glory-stealing sins. It is not worth it to try and do things I’d like without checking in with you; I only end up with a mouthful of gravel! Help me instead to be open to you in all things, so that I may live in the light of your presence, of your Truth, of your wisdom, of your grace.
 
Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for your great forgiveness, your efficacious sacrifice, your powerful cleansing, your consistent application of discipline, and your persistent patience with me in my unbelief and rebellion.
 
You are great, you are good, you are gracious and thereby worthy of praise, honor, worship and obedience both today and forever.
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Psalm 28:3-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 22, 2016

Psalm 28:3 “Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.”

[This is not what most people think of as evil—seemingly being cordial–but would label as goodness! Yet you, Lord, look beyond appearances, to the motives, at the intent of the heart and label this as sin. Lord, help us to also be intent on seeing our sin as you view it, and being harsh with evil in our motives, rejecting it and living instead with love and grace in our hearts towards our neighbors.]

Psalm 28:4  “Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve.”

[You, Lord God are a righteous and loving God, therefore you deal with what is evil. You, Lord Jesus, will come as judge and bring clear, just, right condemnation on those who have refused to believe in you, on those who refuse the truth and live according to their own ideas.

Praise you, Heavenly Father, that you do not allow evil to go unchecked now and unjudged in the future. I can trust you 100% to do what is righteous and merciful: I am so thankful that you have wiped my record of evil clean with the blood of Christ.]

Psalm 28:5  “Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done,”

[This is a description of independence from God, a rejection of His values, His work, His Word. They do not acknowledge God, His divinity or His marvelous accomplishments. All is natural, all is science, all is man-centered. And all who live so will fail.]

“he will tear them down and never build them up again.”

[They are fighting God, but it is futile: He will win. They will fall, not the least in that they must die and then face judgment.

You, Lord God, are sovereign, the One to be obeyed, revered, glorified and honored. I praise you for your goodness and for what you will do today. May my life be the opposite of those described above so you may be honored in my words, revered in my actions, exalted in my reactions, and praised in my relationships.]

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Psalm 28:2,3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 21, 2016
Psalm 28:2 “Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,”
 
[Where else can I look for mercy and help but you? You are the spring of all mercy, you are the source of all help. In the midst of wars, refugees and political upheaval, in the midst of suffering, sickness and sad relationships, you hear our cry for help.
 
The goodness and beauty we see on the earth is but a reflection of your great, faithful and wonderful character, reminding me that I can trust you to hear, to answer, protect and guide.]
 
“Hear…as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.”
 
[To focus on you who dwells in the Most Holy Place in Heaven—and also within me–is the right thing to do, for there is no real help in any other place. You are the one who is moving History to a conclusion and taking us with you.
 
You are the Holy One who knows what is good and edifying for us, whether it be relief or the need to go through difficulties. In you I can trust to bring, in mercy, what is needed. In you I can hope and therefore I can praise you before there is any sign of your working.]
 
Psalm 28:3 “Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil,”
 
[Lord, keep me from joining the wicked, from doing evil whether in thought or in action. Help me to live according to the position you have given me, being a son of the Most High, a child of the King and an ambassador of Jesus. Help me to live in your power, be filled with your Spirit, be obedient and diligent in doing what is good.
 
I praise you that you help me every day, guiding me in deciding ahead of time to be gracious, kind, helpful, servant-hearted, and then, when the moment comes, to immediately respond so with thanksgiving and gladness.
 
I praise you for how you are changing me in this way instead of dragging me away with the wicked, for in my old nature I do deserve to be cast out, rejected, judged and condemned. However, in you, Lord Jesus, I am forgiven, helped, guided and protected, I am being transformed, growing, deepening and changing through your strength and love.
 
In you there is hope, in you there is power, in you there is goodness, in you we have growth. Praise be to you for your gracious and great provision; may you be exalted in my life today.]
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The Powerful Planner

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 20, 2016
You, Lord, are the God of Wisdom and Grace, full of Love and Life, Laughter and Light.
 
I praise you for your good working in us on very practical levels, dealing with the details right down to the subatomic level—you care for us wonderfully, persistently, lovingly, graciously. It is especially warming to think of your loving care in contrast to what we deserve. I give you honor and glory for your powerful, persistent, perfect agape Love.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for what lies before us today: on our part partially planned but truly unknown, while on your part it is fully planned and fully known.
 
What an amazing thought: you have gone through the day of each one of your children– millions of them–preparing things in detail, planning in personalized lessons, guidance, protection, chastening, blessing and provision.
 
And you do the same for the elect, as well as pouring out your goodness and attention on those whom you know will never believe. “…your Father in heaven…causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
 
You are truly the God of Grace, the God of Goodness. To you belongs all glory and honor, all praise and applause, all worship and exaltation, all obedience and reverence, all fear and love. Such care, such compassion, such cherishing, such comprehensive love is found in no one else.
 
We fall to our knees in wonder, we bow down in awe, we rise up to give you honor in belief and obedience. May you be exalted in our lives today.
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Wrong/Right Focus

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 19, 2016
I awoke with somewhat negative feelings this morning. Perhaps from thinking too much about my books. Instead I want to be thinking on, focusing on you, Lord Jesus, to be rejoicing in you and who you are throughout the day.
 
You are the eternal One, the Righteous One, the Holy One, the Mighty One, the Glorious and Beautiful One. You deserve our love, our devotion, our worship, our obedience, our fervor, our focus.
 
I praise you that you lift our eyes from the temporary to the Timeless, from the small to the Great, from the created to the Creator. You are the One to be worshiped and I repent of thinking so much about sales and success.
 
Guide me in being balanced in a biblical way, in approaching this work with you, in your time, in your wisdom, in your power. I thank you for all you will do.
 
I praise you, that you are the Lord: my Refuge, my Fortress, my Stronghold, my Shield, my Shepherd, my Protector, my Guide, my King and my God.
 
To you be glory in this day. Help me to be a glory giver at each step, at each juncture, offering praise for the pleasant and the sacrifice of thanksgiving in every difficulty and disappointment, thereby honoring you.
 
You are the One whom I am to follow, to gaze upon, to focus on, to worship, to love. Help me to do that so that you may receive glory and honor for all that you will do today.
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Trusting God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 18, 2016
From the devotional book EDIFIED!
 
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
Ephesians 3:16b,17
 
Every morning we face a new day, another week, another month, another year, another decade, each one of which is full of uncertainty. We have hopes that things will go well from our perspective, but they may not. God may have other, greater plans, and we need to be ready to join Him in those, living out our purpose of giving Him greater and greater glory.
 
Recently a friend was giving away books, and I got one called Don’t Just Sit There, Have Faith by Ron Dunn. Faith, the author points out, is our response to the revelation of God’s character (the Almighty One, the Holy One, the Faithful One, the Just One). Faith is looking beyond the visible to the unseen: “My grace is sufficient for you” no matter how things seem (2Cor. 12:9,10).
 
Here’s a quote from the book, telling the story of a pastor’s wife’s illness and death, an illustration of walking in faith. The pastor wrote: “I had hoped for the miraculous healing of Sara and that we might bear a dramatic testimony to the direct intervention of God. I had a sermon ready. But it was not to be….
 
“My disappointment was intense but sober thinking has changed my view. If a dramatic experience of healing had been ours it would have been sensational, but…. Most of us do not have such miracles. Our loved ones die…and we need a word for those who walk the Valley with no happy ending to the story on earth.
 
“So I preach and write for a host of fellow travelers through the Valley whose hopes, like mine, were not realized and whose deepest wish was not granted. If we can move through the Valley and come out in victory, we have found a greater blessing than if our personal wish had been fulfilled in some miraculous way.” (Don’t Just Sit There, Have Faith by Ron Dunn, Here’s Life Publishers, 1991)
 
Knowing God is enough for joy, period. If He answers our prayers with “Yes” or “No” or “Wait,” faith says, “Fine, Lord, I trust you to do what is best.” Our focus must be on Him rather than the answer. Then, in the light of His wisdom, goodness, power and grace, we can accept with praise what He gives.
 
Prayer “Lord, may this day be one with my knowing you better, and growing in faith, living a life with the keynote of praise. In my exercise of the faith you’ve given me, may I be an encouragement, beacon and help to all those around. Amen.”
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Psalm 28:1 The Lord Rocks

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 17, 2016
Psalm 28:1 “To you I call, O LORD”
 
[You are the great I Am, the LORD, Yahweh, the Holy One who is totally other, totally self-sufficient, without need of anyone. You are pure and sinless, spotless and good. Your glory is in your holiness. You hate sin and will punish it, but love the sinner and provide a way of forgiveness. You are the LORD, worthy to be worshiped, worthy of praise, worthy of reverence and awe, fear and obedience. Glory belongs to you; may all glory be to you.]
“You are…my Rock;”
 
[You, the Great and Mighty One have made yourself to be my Rock: unshakable, unmovable, unassailable, undefeatable, impregnable. In you there is security, in you there is safety. Nothing can get through you to me expect what you allow in your wisdom and love. I can rest in you, be secure in you, trust in you. You are the everlasting eternal Rock, ever the same, ever trustable, ever good.]
 
“do not turn a deaf ear to me.”
 
[I praise you, Lord, that your ear is ever listening, never deaf towards your children. You are the prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God. You delight in having us come to you in prayer, and you delight in answering us. You may chasten us by not answering when we are willfully living in sin, but the problem then is with us, not you. Praise you for your faithful, loving, Fatherhood commitment to hear and answer your children.]
 
“For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.”
 
[This is true: if we had no access to you, how would we be different from those who don’t believe, who live in death, from those who have already died? In you, Lord Jesus we are given access to light, life, love, and lasting goodness—for that is what you are. And you are always there in our lives.
 
Praise you that your Word ever speaks to us, that you are active to bring us through each valley, through each dark night, through each difficulty and danger, for you are our great Shepherd who speaks and is not silent.]
 
Lord, today I lay my life before you on the altar of obedience. I praise you now for what you will bring, for how you will guide, for how you will protect. I can trust you to do what is right, to bring what is best, to lead in what is wise.
 
May you be glorified in my life today, be honored, lifted up and exalted in my thoughts, motives, words and actions. Protect me from the evil one and evil men; protect me from myself; protect your own glory. Amen.]
 
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Light!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 16, 2016
Further thoughts on Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light”
 
[When all is dark, when I can’t see the way, when confusion reigns and I don’t know what to do, you shine your light on the path, Lord Jesus, for you are light itself and your presence brings light, whether we can see it or not. At the right time we will be enlightened. Praise you for your faithfulness in illuminating the way.]
 
“And my salvation.”
 
[You–the Star Breather, the Earth Spinner, the Dawn Bringer, the History Ender–are at work in great power, in deep wisdom and in unquenchable love to bring what is best within a broken world
 
I think of all the times over the years you have protected me in driving, all the times I should have had an accident, yet you alerted me, kept me from changing lanes or had others avoid me.
 
Thank you for keeping us safe just recently when the brakes on my aged vehicle give out twice, both times in good places, preventing an accident. I praise you for what you are doing every day to protect us, both from our own foolishness and from others’ errors.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, for your great faithfulness and love, your gracious, undeserved protection and help. Truly you protect and deliver on every level: eternal, temporal, spiritual, intellectual, volitional, emotional, physical, financial, social, vocational.
 
You shield, you deliver, you provide, you warn, you rescue, you embrace. Why? Because you are love itself, you cherish your children, you delight in us, you choose to love in spite of what we are.
 
I praise you in the midst of shame for my unbelief, in wonder for your gracious forgiveness, in humility for your goodness, in joy for your undeserved love, in enthusiasm for your delight in your children, in deep thankfulness for your marvelous, rich, positive and good character.
 
In you I am safe, in you I am secure, in you I am significant, in you is all I need. Praise you that you are save to the uttermost those who believe in you.]
 
“whom shall I fear?”
 
[With a God like you watching over me in love, tenderness, forgiveness and power, who else should have sway over me? Who else should I fear and respect in obedience? Who else could bring real damage to me when you filter out what is truly harmful?
 
You only are the One to be feared, to be obeyed, to be revered. Praise be to you in all, Lord Jesus, Redeemer of all, especially of those who believe.
 
I praise you now for what you have planned for my life today, I delight in your love, rejoice in your provision, and revel in your perfection. May you be exalted today in my life, for you deserve all glory, honor and praise in and for all things. ]
 
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Knowing Jesus is enough for joy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 14, 2016
An example of lifting my soul to God, written a number of years ago during a difficult time.
 
Praise you, Lord, for your gracious work in my life: my miserable life on a human level, my wonderful life in you. Thank you that you are working on raising me to a higher level, leading me upward and onward, out of the swamp of my natural self into the light and lushness of your green pastures, into your powerful, positive presence.
 
I thank you for my unwanted circumstances, Lord, for the dreaded that I have to do, and the desired I’m unable to do. You know what is best, what is right and will bring it to me.
 
I give you praise now, O Triune God, for your wisdom, love, goodness and power. You, my Heavenly Father, watch over me and bring into my life the challenges and opportunities I need.
 
I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are the great Heavenly Shepherd, leading me in the proper paths, carrying me through disagreements and difficulties, through my poor choices and out the other side into the goodness you have for us. I praise you for your good and gracious presence at all times, for your bringing me through when life is too much for me.
 
You, Holy Spirit, are my Heavenly Teacher, my present Transformer, seeking to bring me to an ever higher level of life with you.
 
Praise you, O Triune God, that you are the One I can trust in the midst of my present uncertainty and difficulties. You are my Heavenly Protector, blocking what is harmful, allowing what is edifying. So I can now give you honor and praise now before any of this is worked out, for you are gracious, great and good, full of power, positiveness and love.
 
Thank you now for how you will help me today to do all the things that you desire, to make decisions based on what is best, not just on what I’d like. Give me wisdom in how to proceed and what to accomplish. Help me to live the truth that Knowing Jesus Is Enough for Joy, Period
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