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First Love Renewed

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 10, 2017

From the book EDIFIED!

“…I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Revelation 2:4

Barbara says it’s easy to tell when I am “in cahoots” with God, because then I am in tune with her. What she is referring to is the condition of my first love for Christ. I can perform all the spiritual disciplines correctly (quiet time, prayer, attendance, giving, being nice) but Barbara can tell when the connection with God is missing, when I have no passion for Him.

As you may remember, when Jesus spoke to the Ephesians in the opening chapters of Revelation, He had a lot of positives to say about them, but ended with rebuking them for losing their first love. They had all the mechanics right, but their hearts had grown cold.

His command to them was, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Rev. 2:5).

So it is with us: we get busy, we give our heart and passion to something else, like our work/ministry/hobby/sport. As a result, our relationship with God grows cold, so slowly that we don’t notice it. But our spouse often does because our marriage relationship reflects the warmth or coolness of our walk with God.

What can we do to nurture, strengthen and deepen our first love for Christ? Here’s what I’ve found effective in rekindling that love.
First, repent: acknowledge that our relationship is not what it should be.

Second, remember: take the time to think about the early days of our walk with Him, the delicious sense of freedom from condemnation, the giddy wonder of having a new start, the soothing warmth of being fully accepted by God.

Third, reveal: practice lifting our souls to God, regularly telling Him honestly what we are thinking (mind), wanting (will) and feeling (emotions), then evaluate these by the Word, surrendering each to Him.

Fourth, rejoice: spend time daily in personal worship, extolling Him for who He is without thinking about how that benefits us. This kind of worship is standing in the light of God, seeing more and more of Him, having sin exposed, being transformed (2 Cor. 3:18), reveling in His love and grace. As I do this, usually by writing my worship thoughts in my journal, there is continual renewing of my first love, there is a growing passion for Christ—and Barbara can see the difference!

Here’s an example of personal worship, using Psalm 84, meditating on the name “Lord Almighty” or “Lord of Hosts”.
“Praise be to you, Lord God Almighty, Commander of the hosts of Heaven. To you we give glory and honor and praise, for you, Lord God, King Jesus, Gracious Father, Holy Spirit, are the most High, the most Wise, the most Powerful, the most Good and the most Holy of all.

You are without beginning or end. You are the junction point of seeming opposites: justice and mercy, truth and grace, holiness and redemption. Only you could be so, only you are worthy of honor and praise. It is right to bow down in worship before you. It is right to surrender all to you. It is right to rise up in obedience. Praise be to you, Lord God Almighty.”

I encourage us all to make a fresh beginning for our first love for Christ, and intentionally nurture it. With time, those around us will be amazed at the difference!

Prayer: “Lord, I confess my failure to intentionally nurture my first love for you. Forgive me and help me to do this every day in worship, in your Word, in praise and in obedience to what I know to be right. Amen.”

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Psalm 37:21,22

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 9, 2017

Psalm 37:21 “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;”
 
[Here is a clear contrast between those who follow God’s character and those who don’t. The wicked raise money and possessions to the level of an idol, holding onto to them even when it comes to stealing.
 
The righteous, however, are willing to part with the money God has entrusted to them, distributing it to those in need. And, as we know, giving away money makes us happier; for your principles are always the best, Lord. Help us to follow your wisdom, walking in the fear of the Lord, caring deeply what He thinks.]
 
Psalm 37:22 “those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off. “
 
[And here is the outcome of obeying or disobeying God: receiving more or being rejected. The choice is clear. I, for one, want to be blessed by God. This begins with belief in His Word and His provision of forgiveness, being born again; and it continues with walking in His Way, growing in our knowledge of God and His commands, listening to the Spirit, obeying what we know to be true, doing what is best. Then blessings roll more and more, and we will inherit the land, whatever land that may be, whether here on earth or there in heaven.
 
To be cursed is what we were at birth: alienated from God, living in darkness, a resident of the dominion of the devil, cut off from grace, without hope, meaning or purpose. There was nothing in our future but being permanently separated from God by going into a Christless eternity.
 
But, praise you, Lord, that you made the way out from under that curse, providing forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation for each person who has ever lived. So, with the work of the Holy Spirit, we can each make our decision to remain under the curse or move out into your righteousness. You are so gracious, O King, you are so good, O God.]
 
Praise you for what you will do today, Heavenly Father, for how you will provide, guide, protect and carry us through the difficult, dark time we are in at the moment. Give me your wisdom, your guidance, your care today. I thank you for what you will do, knowing that from your hand comes only what is good. May my life bring you glory today.
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Psalm 37:18-20

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 8, 2017
Psa 37:18 “The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,”
 
[My times are in your hands, Lord; you determine the number of my days; you, who live outside time, know completely how long I will live and all that will happen during my lifetime.
 
You, Lord, watch over your children who are blameless because their sins are forgiven in Christ. Praise you for you mighty and wise protection. Today I read in an article that those who believe in God and practice their faith live longer (average of 7 years) and more healthily than those who do not. Interesting confirmation of your Word.]
 
“and their inheritance will endure forever.”
 
[You have made us heirs, Lord, heirs of the riches of your Kingdom, all of which are eternal. The first treasure is our relationship with you, the wonder of knowing you in spite of our depraved and sinful nature. I thank you with all my heart that you are the Great Lover of all your creatures whether they are good or evil.
 
I praise you for your other gifts to us: eternal life, the indwelling Spirit, the written Word, the wisdom, grace and guidance, the protection, provision and power that are ours in you. And in the life to come, untold riches will be poured upon your children so that we might bring more glory to you. I praise you now, Lord, for all that you have already given us, and for all that will come in eternity.]
 
Psalm 37:19 “In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.”
 
[Your hand of protection is always over us, your sustaining grace is always enough. We need not dry up under the withering heat of disaster, or worry and starve in famine, for you will provide what we need and will save us by miraculous provision, by grace, or by death.
 
In you we can trust, Lord, in you we can rest. I praise you that you know how much to provide to carry us through and give us more than that
 
It is up to us to take it up and use it so that we can be “like a tree planted by the streams of water, which will bear its fruit in its season, its leaf will never wither and whatever he does will prosper” (Ps. 1:3). This is your description, your promise as we take up, learn and live your Word which is a huge portion of our inheritance.]
 
Psalm 37:20 “But the wicked will perish: the LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish—vanish like smoke.”
 
[You will send what is needed to destroy the wicked while giving shelter to your people. I praise you, Lord, that you have planned this, that we can know you are going to carry it out.
 
As we see the madness of Ir.an, the hatred of Isl@m, the bitterness, oppression and violence of groups like Ha.mas and IS.IS, we praise you that you will deal with them after you have used them to prepare many hearts for the gospel. I praise you, Lord God, for your wonderful and powerful plan which you will bring to pass at the right times.
 
You, Lord God, my heavenly Father, my Lord Jesus, my indwelling Holy Spirit, are worthy of all my love, all my devotion, all my obedience, all my praise. Help me to give these to you throughout this day, trusting in you, resting in you, living your Word’s way as you empower and give wisdom. May you be honored in my thoughts, words and actions today. Amen.
 
 
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Psalm 37:16,17

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 7, 2017
Psalm 37:16 “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;”
 
[Better 15,000 a year than 200 million, if the difference is between righteousness and wickedness. This is thinking with a view from eternity, a judgment based on the unseen. To decide for this truth requires faith, rejecting what we can touch for what we know, resting on the Word of God. Praise you, Lord, that you have revealed this perspective in your Word. Help us to always decide for it.]
Psalm 37:17 “for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.”
 
[The power of the wicked was broken at the Cross. You, Lord Jesus, won in the midst of what seemed certain loss. You defeated sin and Satan, death and despair. You upheld righteousness, and made it available to all those received your by faith.
 
And now you give us the privilege of living out every day the reality of your upholding the righteous. This involves walking in your Spirit, drinking in of your Word, and deciding consistently to follow you rather than the world, the flesh or the devil. Praise be to you for the Light, the Freedom, the Love, the Hope, the Power, the Future you have given us from your gracious heart.
 
It is wonderful that we can praise you now for whatever you will bring into our lives–for what you give is always good. I thank you, Lord,
 
Here at the beginning of a new day, we ask that you guide us, Lord, that we may accomplish all that you desire. Help us to keep our eyes on you, to rest in your greatness, to trust your wisdom and power. I praise you now for the answers you will give, for the protection you will offer, for the progress you will grant us.
 
We can trust you because we know that you are good, always; that you are wise, always; that you are holy, always; that you are infinitely powerful, always; and that you win in the end, always. I praise you for how you will demonstrate your grace in all today. Help me to live in faith, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in all so that I may continually bring honor to you.]
 
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Incredible Help

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 6, 2017
 
I praise you, Lord Jesus, for your active work in our lives. I surrender to you my desire to be getting more done, and thank you for what we don’t get done, for that which we must wait upon. I praise you for how you are watching over us in great and powerful ways.
 
I praise you for your great patience, for your waiting, wooing and winning many for your Kingdom, while allowing the headstrong and unbelieving to reject your offer, inflicting shame, pain, suffering and sadness on your heart. Praise be to you that you give every person many chances to believe, that your Spirit works with each one, giving them enough light to pursue–and will give them more if they do.
 
I praise you for your compassion released upon your creation through your giving justice its due on the cross. I praise you for your love setting fire to our hearts when we begin to grasp our own depravity and your great, costly forgiveness. I praise you for your graciousness in granting us all we need to live a godly life for you.
 
Praise you for being you, the Powerful Creator, the Faithful Savior, the Wise Shepherd, the Righteous Judge, the Lover of sinners, the Redeemer of all, the Ender of Time and the Lord of eternity. To you belongs glory, honor, power and praise.
I bow before you this morning, confessing my total unworthiness to be your son, rejoicing that you have qualified me to be a partaker in the inheritance of the saints, and I rise up to obey you in all I know to be true. May this lift your name on high today, bring you much glory and proclaim your greatness to all around.
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Praying in Power

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 5, 2017
A prayer written years ago in my worship journal while living in another country; a prayer for healing and restoration in the church we attended.
 
Praise you, Lord, that I awoke this morning to find you there. In fact, I woke up several times in the night and also found you there, leading me to pray, especially for our church, using Psalm 86.
 
I pray that you will grant us a token for good that those who hate you may see it and be ashamed. We are poor and needy, Lord, hear us, have mercy on us, help us to lift our souls to you, to trust you. I cry out to you in the day of trouble that you will save us.
 
Let not this blow that fell Sunday on the wall of pride, tradition and fear of man go for nothing. Press the attack, Lord, widen the crack, blast through. Bring revival, bring great conviction of sin, a vision of your holiness, a grasp of how much we have undeservedly been forgiven.
 
Lord, only you can do this, I cry out to you for a working in power, a defeat of the enemy, a powerful overcoming of his plans and tactics with your great wisdom, power and love.
 
Shine on us, expose sin, bring repentance, deal with pride, clean house that this church may become again a beacon for you. I ask that you answer in power for the sake of your name, for the sake of your glory, for the sake of more worship in eternity.
 
Answer out of your great love, your mercy and grace. Sweep in in strength, transform in power, tear down and build up in wisdom. I praise you now for what you will do. Work especially in the leadership, Lord, and bring to pass what will glorify your name.
 
Epilogue: God did answer, much more slowly than I wanted, but thoroughly, carefully and as far the people, including us, were willing to change. He is faithful to His Word, and praying it is how we join Him in what He is doing.
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Psalm 37:12-15

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 4, 2017
Psalm 37:12 “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;”
 
[This will always be: there can be no blending of the wicked and the righteous; there will always be hatred against those who follow Jesus. The wicked will seek to eliminate anything that stands in their way, and we certainly are a thorn in their side, so we should expect opposition, hatred and attack.]
 
Psalm 37:13 “but the Lord laughs at the wicked,”
 
[“but” is a wonderful word here, bringing hope of justice, protection and deliverance. God is not intimidated by the anger and plots of the wicked: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Prov. 21:30). He is completely in control and will easily limit their actions to what He will use for good.]
 
“for he knows their day is coming.”
 
[God doesn’t just desire justice, He will competently bring judgments against those who oppose Him. He stands outside of time, seeing the future as well as the past. He knows what He will do to thwart the plans of the wicked, judging them at the right time and in the right way . We can rest in this certainty of God’s power, plan and purpose.]
 
Psalm 37:14 & 15 “The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.”
 
[God, in His greatness, goodness and graciousness, will turn the plots of the wicked back on themselves. They will not be successful in their schemes, but will be brought to justice in His time and in His way.
 
I think of Hitler, who was limited, lasting only 12 years instead of a lifetime. And he was used by God to plow the hearts of many people, making them open to the seed of the Word. Plus God used him to give many believing soldiers a vision for the needs of the world, resulting in tens of thousands going out all over the globe as missionaries after the war. The wicked did terrible things; God used them for good.
 
Praise be to you, O God, my Father, my King, my Shepherd, my Brother, my Lord. You are the One we can and must trust, for you are powerfully and consistently in control. You are good, you are wise and you are infinitely strong, able to bring what you desire to pass and to block the way of all you proclaim to be wrong.
 
Praise you for your good work in our lives, for the protection, the exposure, the problems, the trials you bring to us so we may be shaped and sharpened into better instruments in your hands.
 
May you be glorified in my life today, Lord, so that you may have more honor before men and angels. Fill me with your Spirit, may He overflow onto those around me, keeping us all washed with the cleansing, transforming water of your Word.
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Thankfulness for Every Day Things

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

I praise you, Lord God, for your care and protection, your guidance and grace. I thank you for your goodness evidenced in your daily provision—it’s good to list these out periodically, as I so easily can take these for granted.

I have a bed to sleep in, a home to live in, food in abundance, income, warmth, water, clean air and physical strength. I can see, hear, walk, talk, feel, taste and grasp. You have given me good relationships, protection, work, meaning, hope and love.

I praise you for your Word, your prophetic, powerful, pro-active, penetrating, pro-creative Word, bringing revelation, repentance, rejuvenation, rebirth and release from Satan, sin and self.

I praise you, Lord Jesus that in you I am complete, you are enough, you are the total sum of my needs, wants and longings.  I was made to be one with you, to fit into the perfect relationship where you employ, empower, empathize and eternalize all who come to you.

You, Lord, are my wonderful and wise Shepherd, watching over us, causing us to lie down in green pastures and know when to move us on. There is nothing I lack, even from a human perspective, and certainly nothing from a heavenly perception.

You, Lord God, are the great and gracious provider. I thank you for all that you have given and will give, for you are faithful and wise and good.

To you be glory in my life today, help me to do what is best, what is wise, what is glorifying to you. Help me to rest in you, to rejoice in you, to resist the devil with you, to rise up in praise at each challenge.  I praise you now for how you will lead me in doing these things. Praise and glory be to you all through this day.

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Entering A New Year

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

Twenty-Seventeen–a new year, a new start, a white parchment stretching out before us, blank to the horizon. What will God write on it? What will we write? We cannot know now, but we do know that God is good and has prepared a course for us that will move us upwards and onwards, no matter how it may appear.

Hebrews 12:1&2 has been a great help to me this year, assuring me that God has laid out a path for us and that Jesus is running with us. It gives us the perspective needed to realize what great roles He has offered us in the midst of distressful happenings.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,”

[Indications are that we are being watched by many: angels, demons and those who have gone on before us who lean over the balcony of heaven to cheer us on, as well as the people who see us every day. We are not hidden in a corner, but are in the stadium, running for God, and our performance matters.]

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

[Realizing our role, we should eagerly look to jettison anything that prevents us from running well. This could range from too much phone/TV/movie/game time, to sin we are willfully engaging in. Like a runner shedding his street clothes, stripping down to just the essentials, so we should eagerly give up what hampers us in this race for life.]

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

[It’s clear: God has set out a course for each of us; nothing is random, we cannot get lost as long as we stay on the path as it twists and turns, dips and climbs. The race will require perseverance, and endurance, but God gives those, too. Are we going to run or sit and feel sorry for ourselves when the climb is steep or the mud is deep?]

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

[Jesus is running with us! And as we run, we are to keep our eyes on him, not circumstances, other people or our feelings. When we encounter difficulties, we can know they are for the development of our faith as Jesus works to mature and perfect it.]

“For the joy set before him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

[We need to have Jesus’ attitude. As he faced the cross, He looked beyond to being seated again with God. We, too, need to look to where we are going (eternity with God), to count as nothing the shame we and the world try to heap on us, and to rest in the Truth of the coming new Heaven and new Earth. Charles Spurgeon said, “Christian, meditate much on heaven, it will help you to press on and to forget the toil of the way. This vale of tears is but the pathway to the better country; this world of woe is but the stepping stone to a world of bliss.”

So true! So let us run with perseverance and endurance the race He has set before us for 2017, keeping the big picture in mind, laying aside whatever hinders us, looking to Him, trusting Him, praising Him in all, following Him–and we will fulfill the purpose of our lives, honoring Him.

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Psalm 37:6,7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 30, 2016
 
Psalm 37:6 “He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
 
[Praise be to you, Lord God, for you truly know where we are right and where we are wrong. When we are falsely accused, unjustly condemned, or wrongly attacked, we are to entrust ourselves to you. Then at just the proper time, you will clearly and publicly reveal where we are right in you.
 
The key is that we need to wait for your timing. This means be willing to endure wrong, to pass through the tension of others’ disapproval and condemnation, believing that you, Lord, know the truth and will bring it out at the right juncture. I praise you for the times in my life where you did exactly this, with those attacking me admitting in the end that they were wrong, without my forcing their hand in any way. I praise you, Father of Truth, that you are faithful to bring timely vindication of those who trust in you.
 
Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;”
 
[That can be so hard, so difficult. We want help and justification now! But you, Lord, in your wisdom and complete knowledge, have your perfect timing–which is usually different than ours.
 
“Why do you wait so long?” we cry. Yet you are at work, preparing all for the right time of revelation and deliverance. A good example is Joseph. You kept him in captivity “till the word of the LORD proved him true.” (Psalm 105:19). When Joseph had learned all he needed, then God acted and brought him out to Pharaoh for service.
 
And it wasn’t until more than eight years after becoming the ruler that Joseph was justified before his family, as they came to Egypt for food. Then his prophetic dreams came true as they all bowed down to him. It was God’s time.
 
Am I willing to wait for His timing? Things work out much better that way! Help me, Lord, to rest in you, to patiently trust you, to join you in waiting for the perfect time to answer my prayers–and thereby bring you honor before the great cloud of witnesses that surround all believers (Heb 12:).]
 

 

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