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Daily Date

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 21, 2016
As you lead me into worship each day, Lord Jesus, there is a definite sense of solidification within, a strengthening in my inner being. I am more at rest in you, my confidence is shifting from other things to you, there is a growing sense of firm faith in you which stands against self-pity, impatience, discontent and fear.
 
Being weak is no long something to be feared and despised. It has become like a lens, focusing my attention on you, Lord God, and your mighty, loving, wise character.
 
Worship (praising you for who you are) brings transformation as I gaze on your greatness: “…we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2. Cor. 3:18).
 
The light of your character, Lord–pure, powerful, passionate, perfect, positive—is like a Lazar beam, shining deep into the recesses of my soul, exposing the filth of sin, burning away dross, purifying, healing, and guiding me into confession, repentance and the filling of the Spirit.
 
I praise you for the great love you have for us, leading you to work so patiently, so graciously, so faithfully even when we focus elsewhere on the trinkets and trash of earth, on selfishness and security, on busyness and business.
 
Your goodness persists through all, Lord, and I am so thankful that you do not give up on me, but are continually bringing me into a wider place as my first love for you grows.
 
Spending that daily time with you is so good, so powerful, so transforming. I praise and thank you for keeping me consistent in it.
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Ultimate Protection

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 20, 2016

Psalm 22:6,9 “I am…scorned by men and despised by the people…Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast.”

[You, Lord God, were with David, and with Jesus from before conception, working in them to prepare them, to give them, protection and guidance, to have them trust you. So you have been with us, watching over our development in the womb, preparing our parents, our upbringing, our education and every other detail in life.]

Psalm 22:10 “From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”

[You know who will respond to your invitation to be their God. In fact, before the creation of the world you saw who would believe and who wouldn’t, and on that basis chose those who would respond to the work of your Spirit: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Rom. 8:29); and “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world…” (Eph 1:1). What a great privilege to be thus brought into your Kingdom, Lord Jesus.]

Psalm 22:11 “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

[David had only you to turn to. Only you could help Jesus in his earthly life. And so it is in our lives: in the midst of powerful forces swirling around us, only you, Lord God, can actually help. All others are limited and weak, they fail, are faulty, are fickle, but you are faithful.

As it says in Psalm 18:16-18, “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.”]

I praise you, Lord God, that you reach into every aspect of our lives to carry us through whatever challenges come. You take us through the valley of the shadow of death “out into a broad place; [you] rescued me, because [you] delighted in me” (Ps. 18:19).

Thank you that today you will work this way in my life. Save me from the evil one, from evil people, from evil events and from my own evil within. Help me to keep on the armor, to trust in you that you may shield my head in today’s of battle. Amen.

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Right Answer at the Right Time

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 19, 2016

It is a certainty that you, Lord God, are guiding me in making decisions [“Make me to know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul” (Ps. 143:8b)], that you have me where I should be and are giving me significant work to do. I praise you for these good and great truths which hedge my life in, protecting me from evil both without and within.

Praise you, Lord Jesus, my great Shepherd, for the wonderful, profound, powerful and complete security you provide for us. My role is to find my shelter, my help and my way in you (Ps. 91:1). Like David, I must embrace my weakness so I can rest in your greatness. He wrote:

Psalm 22:6  “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.”

[Here David experiences the rejection of those around him, and turns to God for support. This foreshadows what Jesus experienced 1000 years later in an even  greater way: rejected by his own people, betrayed by two of His disciples, abandoned by them all, and turned away from by His Father–yet trusting Him.]

Psalm 22:7  “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:”

[This is exactly what happened to Jesus, when even those crucified with Him mocked Him.]

Psalm 22:8  “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”

[Again, exactly what the Pharisees said to Jesus, insulting the Creator of all as He hung on the cross. But you, Lord Jesus, saw the greater picture, so you chose not to defend or vindicate yourself to men, instead staying on the cross to save them.]

So you call us to trust in you, to suffer the scorn of men, to know that you will deliver us because you delight in us—but not in ways that the world would expect, or that we might want. We praise you, Lord God, that your ways are higher than our ways, that you truly see the big picture and will work things out in your perfect understanding, timing and wisdom.

Thank you now for how you will answer various prayers that I’ve been praying for years without visible response from you. I can trust you in your faithfulness to be working in deep ways to bring these to pass at the right time and to work out what is best. I praise you now for answers unseen, unrecieved, but prepared for timely delivery.

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Awesome and Fearful Is Our God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 18, 2016

“For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:4

You, O Yahweh, are great beyond comprehension: great in wisdom, great in power, great in patience, great in creativity, great in knowledge, great in holiness, great in love, great in mercy, great in justice, great in strength, great in kindness, great in faithfulness.

You are truly most worthy of praise and honor and glory and exaltation, “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens” (Ps. 96:5).

You stretched out the tent of the skies, driving in its pegs firmly, tying its ropes securely, making it strong and sure: it cannot be changed without your desire. You spoke and the stars became, you shepherded them into galaxies, assigning them their places and names, and at your command they settled there. You spread the galaxies across the vast empty stretches, forming immense patterns, beyond the perception and comprehension of man. You, O Lord, are immense in power, wonderful in wisdom, awesome in creativity.

We exalt you in your greatness and your goodness; we submit before you in amazed submission, leading us to whole-hearted obedience. We proclaim among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” You are truly God and I bow before you in awe, in smallness, in humility that flows from a vision of your holiness. You are God, you do what pleases you and it is always good. We tremble before you, the Holy One, the great I AM, the righteous Judge, the faithful Father. You alone are worthy of obedience, of submission, of trust and praise.

Prayer: “You reign rightly, O Lord. Reign in me today. Convict me of where I am following my own whims and desires instead of your great goodness; bring me up short, bring me to submission. Amen.”

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Weakness is Good

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 17, 2016

Praise you, Lord Jesus, for working daily in me, helping me to see my weaknesses as positives, rejoicing in them.

One can do this only in the light of your Being, knowing the goodness of your heart and the desire you have for the benefit of your children. We can know that your power will work to bring what you know to be best.

Yesterday was a “topsy-turvey” day, as my plans were over ridden by the needs of another, and trusting you I could let go and move wholeheartedly into a different program of heavy, difficult work–which we were able to finish just in time for an evening appointment. To let go, hold on and rise above is a wonderful thing, as I could leave my plans behind with joy.

I praise you now for what you will do today, whether it be what I desire or the opposite, or anything between. In you I can trust: “my soul, find rest in God alone, for my hope comes from Him.” Ps. 62:5

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Psalm 22:4,5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 16, 2016
Psalm 22:4 “In you our fathers put their trust;”
 
[Throughout the history of Israel with Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David and Daniel, you were the One they could depend on. They turned to you and were saved in and through their difficulties.]
 
“they trusted and you delivered them.”
 
[This describes what you desire: a partnership with your children. We are to trust, then you act. Without our joining you in trust, there is no certainty of getting answers. As it says in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him….” Without that trust, joy and peace won’t come.]
 
Psalm 22:5 “They cried to you and were saved;”
 
[Trust is demonstrated by crying out to you first, not seeking answers elsewhere. If we trust in ourselves, or others, or circumstances, or luck, God waits, allowing us to suffer the consequences of our poor decisions so that we might come to ourselves and turn to Him in trust.]
 
“in you they trusted and were not disappointed.”
 
[You, the faithful One, always come through in the right way and at the right time, which is often very different than what we would like you to do and when we would like you to do it.
 
As it says in Psalm 46, “God is with her [Jerusalem then, now He is in us], she will not fall, He will save her at break of day.” We would like help before it gets dark instead of having to wait through the whole cold, long night—but you act at the right time and we can praise you while we wait.]
 
You, O Triune God, are our unfailing Rock, our unassailable fortress, our undefeatable deliverer. When the darkness closes in, when pain and sickness come, when disappointment dominates and failure flows, you are there, making sure we have enough grace, that we can move through in faith, giving you great glory in trust.
 
Praise you for these opportunities you give to fulfill the purpose for which we were created: giving you glory, honor and praise. And the greatest way to do this is through praise and trust before we get any answers, rejoicing in our weakness and your greatness, in our difficulties and your power.
 
As you said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weakness so that the power of Christ may rest on me.” He embraced his weakness, realizing it was partnering with you.
 
I praise you now for all you are doing in the unresolved things before us, for your perfect timing, help, protection, deliverance and guidance that will come. I see none of this now, but know that you will provide at just the right time. Praise be to you forever and ever for all you are doing and will do.
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Psalm 22:1b-3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 15, 2016

Psalm 22:1b “Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?’

[This is how David felt: he recieved no immediate answer, had no sense of presence, no support, no help, no guidance.

And this was the reality for Jesus on the cross: You, Father, were far from Him, you did not save Him from this suffering, because the three of you had a greater plan.

So it is with us, you send us through suffering because you have a bigger, wider plan than our being comfortable, a plan which will accomplish much more and in a better way than what we desire. Glory be to you for your great wisdom and your persistence in carrying it out. Help us to walk in faith, embracing those times of your silence, trusting you to act when the time is right.]

Psalm 22:2 “O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.”

[There are times when our prayers seem to go no further than the ceiling. These are times of testing our faith, a call to rest in the certainty of your goodness when there is no sign of it.

Jesus did this on the cross and in His descent into death. Becoming sin for us, He was far from you, but in the midst of His separation He also trusted you fully, following through with your plan. So must we.]

Psalm 22:3  “Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;”

[David here reminds himself–and you–of who you are, the Perfect Presider, the Supreme Shepherd, the Righteous Ruler, the Glorious Guide, the Ever-present Parent. The first thing we should do when we feel far from you, is to remember who you are.]

“you are the praise of Israel,” and of us!

[As we look over history and see how you faithfully protected, provided for and guided Israel through the centuries, it is so clear how you, in your unwavering love and care, are worthy of the praise of Israel. And you are worthy of our praise for your power and presence in our lives, for your goodness and grace, your faithfulness and fatherhood, your holiness and help, your greatness and glory.]

In the light of this, we must praise you, O Lord God, for your complete knowledge, your deep wisdom, your mighty work, your powerful faithfulness, your persistent love and your unending goodness.

Today, whether I sense it or not, I know that I am with you, that you love me, that you will guide me in the way I should go. I surrender to you and praise you for what you will do. May you be honored in my life as the Holy One, enthroned on high.

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Psalm 22:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 14, 2016
[Praise be to you, O Triune God, for your rich and revealing Word. Here we have another prophetic, Messianic Psalm, foretelling your suffering on our behalf and for your glory. Praise you for your wisdom in preparing the way in such a manner that your revelation here helped those before Christ and inspires wonder in us who come after.]
 
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
 
[David felt far from you, abandoned and alone; but this is much more a “pre-echo” of the actual abandonment by you, Heavenly Father, of the God-man Jesus as He became sin for us while hanging on the cross.
 
You, Father, had to turn away, breaking the relationship of the Trinity. The perfect relationship–without strife, without conflict, with perfect harmony, commitment, love and unity–was torn asunder. All three of you, Father, Son and Spirit, suffered great pain in this ripping of the relationship.
 
It was brutally broken by the burden of sin, as you, Father, turned away, and you, Lord Jesus, were left alone. Your shared reason for doing this, was that we would not be left alone, that all might have the possibility of being saved and have a rich, intimate relationship with the Trinity.
 
In offering your enemies such a never-ending relationship with you, Lord God, the possibility of abandonment from your side became impossible, while the possibility of rest, stability and safety became rock-solidly certain, for you are faithful to the end. In you is all our hearts long for, and we can only have it because you were willing to suffer the pain of separation to bring salvation.
 
I praise you, O Triune God, for your great, deep, powerful Love that would lead you to embrace and endure such suffering for the undeserving. You are a gloriously wonderful God, full of love and wisdom, grace and goodness. To surrender to you is such a powerful privilege, embracing the truth that when we are weak, then we are strong. Rule in us today, Lord, and use us for your glory.
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Psalm 21:8-13

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 13, 2016
 
Psalm 21:8 “Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.”
 
[You, Lord God, did just that in the resurrection of Christ. And you will continue to act in righteous justice against those who oppose you, every one of them: Satan and his forces of demons, and all human beings who join him in rebellion against your Word, Truth and Character.]
 
Psalm 21:9 “At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them.”
 
[You will appear again, Lord Jesus—this is a certainty–and deal with them in your righteous wrath, having given every one of your human enemies the chance to believe, to respond to the light they have received. Your judgment will be just. Only those who have accepted your gracious offer of salvation, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will escape this judgment.]
 
Psalm 21:10-12 “You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed; for you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.””
 
[“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” You will triumph, overcome and win, destroying all evil.]
 
Psalm 21:13 “Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength;”
 
[You are strong, you are powerful, you are undefeatable, you will win over all your enemies. For this you deserve to be lifted up on high and exalted. We can be confident in your victories, past, present and future; we can rest in them and rejoice.]
 
“we will sing and praise your might.”
 
[We respond to these great truths with worship of you for your mighty, majestic, multifaceted power which will overcome all evil, sweeping it into the lake of fire and sealing it forever, so that the new heaven and earth can be the perfect paradise you intended with no sin, rebellion or evil to mar it.
 
Your righteous wrath will right the wrongs that ravished creation. You will bring goodness and grace to every atom and every galaxy. We praise you that you have included us, your children in this. To you be glory forever and ever. Amen!]
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Psalm 21:6,7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 12, 2016

Psalm 21:6  “Surely you have granted him eternal blessings”

[You granted David the blessing of being an ancestor of Jesus and along with that, eternal life. Jesus now lives forever to intercede for those who believe in Him, blessing us with a rich, everlasting relationship with Him, from which flow further blessings into our lives: grace, goodness, power, protection and wisdom—all a foretaste of what we will have in eternity.]

“and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

[You, Heavenly Father, have restored the fabric of the Trinity, which was torn when you turned away from Jesus as He became sin for us on the cross. Now there is no end to your joyful, righteous relationship–the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’s rich unity–and your joy of being in the presence of each other. And you share that joy with each of us who believe!]

Psalm 21:7 “For the king trusts in the LORD;”

[In submitting to death, the Lord Jesus trusted you, LORD, Jehovah. He was totally vulnerable, absolutely submitted, helpless in his humanness. He was willing to be weak because He knew and trusted your pure, positive, perfect character which proved true again in the resurrection:]

“through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.”

[Your love did not fail, did not leave Jesus in death, but brought about the great victory over death, decay and the devil. And that “unfailingness” continues in our lives, as you, the Most High, the Final Authority, the Almighty One, persist in your perfect love to protect us so we will never be shaken as we rest on the rock-solid reality of your rich and reliable character.

Praise be to you Lord God, Triune King, Gracious Shepherd, Mighty Warrior. Tender Father. To you be honor and glory and praise in my life today and on into eternity forever. Amen.]

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