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Aging Gracefully

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 1, 2016
We had a chat a while back with an older neighbor. She has given up gardening because it is beyond her strength. May we have such wisdom: realizing what we can no longer do and to give it up willingly, whole-heartedly. Then we can move on to what else the Lord has for us, so we can wisely and graciously make our way through the aging process.
 
Such wisdom will lead us to:
lift our souls to God every day, not storing up negatives, especially bad feelings;
praise in and for all that comes and goes;
let go of what we cannot keep;
let go of what tends to worry us (what will happen if…?) and let God handle them;
let go of our small desires, our focus on details and keep our eyes on the bigger picture;
remember our great purpose in life–to glorify God–and to do so in the small things as well as the big;
to deal with resolvable pain with what’s available: diet, exercise, weight loss, meds, etc.;
to continue to be teachable;
to focus on prayer, the Word, and reading good, edifying material;
to accept offered help;
to speak kindly and with patience;
to think of others;
to be generous;
to not fret about waste;
to make praise the keynote of our lives.
 
Such non-self-centered living will free us to enjoy what God has given us and to focus on the Joy that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, enduring whatever cross we may have, despising whatever shame we may feel, knowing that we are going to be seated with Him in heavenly places (Heb. 12:2). Let us embrace this great hope, great future and great purpose and rise above every situation.
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Freed

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 31, 2016
After pretty good night’s sleep, I woke up at 8:15! Guess I needed the sleep.
 
My initial reaction was unhappiness because I don’t like to get up late, I don’t like to have my worship, quiet time and prayer later in the day.
 
But I praise you, Lord, that your Spirit right away brought to my mind that fact that I can let go of my desires and values, hold on to the truth that you have my day in hand, and eagerly let you guide, rejoicing in a different kind of day and rise above my unhappiness.
 
And this I did and am walking in the freedom and the light of your goodness and presence. Thank you, Lord Jesus, my good Shepherd, that you are leading me well and that I can trust you to carry me in the right direction. Praise be to you.
 
“The Lord is my light and my salvation,” so of whom or what should I be afraid? Not of of change, or having my plans disrupted or of being disappointed. In you I can rest.
 
Thank you for the great freedom you have brought us, Lord Jesus. Help us to walk in it daily by surrender, praise and obedience to what we know to be true and thereby bring you honor.
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Shepherded

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 30, 2016
 
Psalm 28:8 “The LORD is the strength of his people,”
 
[In ourselves we have no strength to speak of. We are here on earth for a short time with a limited sphere of influence, unable to control even our basic lust for significance and security, and live at the mercy of many other forces around us.
 
But in you, Lord Jesus, we are given strength, filled with your Spirit, washed in your grace, enlightened by your Word, protected by your power, used in your hand. Our eyes are on you, for otherwise we know not what to do.]
 
“The Lord is…a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”
 
[You, O Lord God, have declared yourself our Fortress and Protector, the Deliverer, and Savior of all who trust in you. In you only there is safety, security, significance and salvation. These are found in no other; all else is temporary, incomplete, weak and futile.
The choice is ever before us, in which will we live? Jesus or self, safety or fear, life or death, transformation or termination, good or evil, victory or failure. In you is all good, Lord Jesus; we only need to surrender so you may work all this in and through us.
 
Psalm 28:9 “Save your people and bless your inheritance;”
 
[Praise you, Lord God, that we are your people: chosen, purchased, cherished, dearly loved, delighted in and doted on. Praise you that we are your inheritance: redeemed, treasured, protected and loved. Praise you that daily you save us and bless us, preparing every event, providing all we need and protecting us in love.]
 
“be their shepherd and carry them forever.”
 
[And so you are, Lord Jesus: our Great and Wonderful Shepherd, leading, sheltering, feeding, watering, exercising and strengthening us. You carry us through each day, arranging all, holding back the enemy, preparing a feast in the presence of our enemies, leading us beside the still waters, providing patience, peace and purpose. And this you will do forever with passion, power and persistence.
 
We can rest in you, rejoice in you, rise up each day in your power, wisdom and goodness. You are worthy of honor, Lord Jesus, of obedience, of worship, of praise and glory. May I give you honor and exaltation today by living in a way that is worthy of you.
 
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Protection

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 29, 2016
July 29 already! Time is moving by so rapidly. Thank you, Lord, that our times are in your hands and that you move us along as is best, whether we feel good about it or not. Praise you that the measure is not our feelings but your perspective, which is Truth.
 
Praise you for your power with which you arrange and lead. You are my light and my salvation, the stronghold of my life. Whatever comes is a gift from you, an opportunity to live by faith, to respond with trust, to dwell in truth, to walk in the light.
 
I give you praise and honor because you are a strong, wise, gracious, firm and loving God, One who would allow a test like Job’s so that he might be a beacon of hope and wisdom to many, giving glory to you.
 
Lord, help us, help me to remember that each incident, each happening, each chance to react is an opportunity to be a grace receiver and a glory giver, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Help me to remember that each is an opportunity to live in the unseen and eternal, rather than what is tangible and temporary.
 
An example is the nearly disastrous happening yesterday when the brakes on my tractor gave way and it careened backwards over a bank, ending up at a dangerous tilt. You enabled me to just step off the tractor as it went over the bank and walk away, avoiding any harm. You kept it from turning over and pinning me under it. You displayed your power, your protection and your provision.
 
In the light of your goodness, thank you now for this new day, for what you will allow or bring, for the uncertainties before us, for Barbara’s continuing dizziness, for the need to make difficult choices. Help me, Lord, to do what is best in each situation. Help me to speak into messy relationships with grace and gentleness, with wisdom and wit, with truth and tolerance, that you may be honored before men and angels.
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The Source of Joy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 28, 2016

Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy”

[To trust you, Lord Jesus, and thereby see you in your grandness, power, glory and wisdom, to understand your carefulness, consistency, cherishing and constant care in our lives—this leads us to respond with joy.

Your rich love and warm acceptance, granting us honor and security in your Kingdom—these are just what we desire, they are exactly what we were made for in having such a relationship with you!]

“and I will give thanks to him in song.”

[Deep, full, genuine trust leads to rejoicing, thanksgiving, praise with singing. You, Lord God, are the source of joy, of song, of music, of gladness, so you have planted in us this response of love to your poured out grace.]

I praise you now, Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, for the day before us that you have prepared, for the things you are going to do and bring, for the activities, the failures, the weakness and difficulties that will come–each an opportunity to live for you, to give you glory, to rest in you.

I praise you, Lord Jesus, for the wonder of knowing you, of living with you, of being called to join you in what you are doing, of being equipped, empowered, protected and useful to you, an effective instrument in your hand.

May you be pleased and honored today by my trust and obedience, may your name be lifted up and exalted as your Spirit works in and through me, O Lord God, King of Glory, Ruler of all, Shepherd of the weak. Amen.

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The Power of Trust

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 27, 2016
 
Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”
 
[Without trust much good is forfeited as we hold back and live in anxiety, fear and fretting. With trust we can praise our mighty and sovereign God in faith before we understand what He’s doing with the difficulties in our lives, before we get an answer, before relief comes.
 
Trust comes from being in your Word, and and is strengthened as we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, giving thanks for what we would normally complain (Ps. 50:23).
 
We can rest in you, Lord God, because we know that you are the good One who is committed and certain to guide and protect us through any unwanted circumstance that comes from the world, our flesh or the devil.
 
As we trust, you give us peace, wisdom, guidance and provision. And in trusting you, we give you glory and honor, praise and exaltation before all, both the seen and unseen.
 
As we trust we open the way so that your salvation for this moment may come through. Paul declared this in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “…I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest on me.”
 
As we trust we are changed, you are lifted up, others are blessed and unbelieving sinners see your glory.
 
As I trust in you, I can reject impatience, worry, fear, anxiety, lust and over eagerness; therefore, instead of being caught in the tyranny of the urgent and the power of fretting, I can rest in you in peace and joy and confidence.
 
Praise you that in trust I can take up your patience, your grace, your wisdom, your strength, your calmness, your light and live today in your power, protection and love. Truly, knowing Jesus is enough for joy.]
 
Help me, Lord, to so trust you today that you will be honored before all around me for your marvelous character, for your mighty strength, magnificent goodness, majestic greatness and magnanimous graciousness.
 
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Marvelous Mercy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 26, 2016
Psalm 28:6 “Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.”
 
[O LORD, you are the great and Triune God, pure and holy, powerful and high, perfect and heavenly, persistent and humble—therefore to you belongs all praise.
 
You are the prayer-hearing God, stooping down low from your Heavenly throne to hear and help us, to comfort and support us with your gracious right hand. Therefore you are worthy of all exaltation.
 
I think of your mercy on one Sunday as we traveled to speak in a distant church: an accident on the other side of the freeway caused a huge traffic jam, backing things up for miles, while on our side we could zoom right along and arrive in time for the meeting.
 
Then on the way back there was another traffic jam, again on the other side, this time from all the people returning home on Sunday evening. However, we were able to zoom right along and make it home in good time. You are the provider and protector, the merciful One who watches over us in every way. I thank you for your care.]
 
Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield;”
 
[I am so weak, so vulnerable, so easily defeated by the devil’s legions and the people they use. But you, Lord Jesus, you are the Victor, you are the Most High, the Almighty, the undefeatable Defeater, towering over time and eternity.
 
And you give your strength to your children, making yourself our Rock, our Fortress, our Defender, our Stronghold. You give us your shield of victory, you support us with your right hand, you stoop down to make us great.
 
You reach down from on high and draw us out of deep waters, you rescue us from our powerful enemies, from our foes too strong for us, you save us because you delight in us and bring us into a spacious place (Ps. 18:16-19).
I give you praise and honor, glory and exaltation for the daily demonstration and revelation of your great goodness, Lord Jesus, as you work powerfully and personally in my life. Forgive me for taking much of it for granted. Every time I arrive home safely, have enough to eat, experience peaceful sleep and awake to safety and beauty, I have experienced your mercy and goodness. Help me to note these every day and thereby grow in faith and praise.]
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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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