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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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What a God!!!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 13, 2016
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good….” Psalm 106:1
 
You, Lord Jesus, are powerfully, deeply, broadly, thoroughly, completely good. There is nothing in you that even remotely resembles rebellion, or rejection of what is right, or any relaxing of your righteousness. You are purely, positively, perfectly, powerfully good: you reject sin, you abhor sin, you cannot sin, and we praise you for it!
 
You love righteousness, you love purity, you love light: in you there is no darkness, no evil, no shadow, no turning from good, no twisting of truth, no scheming, no inconsistency, no contradiction, no sneakiness, no double-mindedness, no self-centeredness, no egoism, no wrong motive, no mistake.
 
You are the Rock of Righteousness, the Lion of Light, the Lamb of Love. In your goodness you are unshakable, unstoppable, unquenchable, unending: “…his love endures forever” (Ps.106:1b). From eternity to eternity, through blessings and difficulties, through our obedience and rebellion, through pleasure and tragedy, your Love goes on and on, flowing like a mighty river, unending, unceasing, unwavering.
 
In your mighty flood of majestic ministry to your creatures, your gracious stream of Love sweeps over sinful people, transforming those who yield to the current of your grace, while sweeping aside those who resist in their rebellion and rejection of righteousness. Your Love endures forever. Hallelujah!
 
“Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?” (Ps.106:2). Your powerful acts are as many as your multifaceted Character is marvelous. Your praise is ever expanding, ever growing, ever widening, ever deepening, filling the universe because you are absolutely worthy.
 
No matter how much we praise, you deserve more, for you are infinitely good and great: there is always more to learn about you, giving us more reason to exalt you. Your light that reveals much about you also blindingly hides aspects of your being which you will reveal to us only in eternity, the unending display of your marvelous, majestic, multifaceted, mighty Character.
 
Truly you are worthy of endless praise, ever-flowing glory, ever expanding exaltation, full trust and complete obedience. You are great, gracious, gorgeous, glorious and good, worthy of the worship of every creature, every feature, every measure of creation—and that’s not enough, for you deserve more!
 
Prayer: “May you be glorified through praise and obedience in my life today before the unseen hosts, before the unseeing peoples, before your saints, before the Throne of Grace, for you are worthy, O Lord our God, our Savior, our Sanctifier, Supplier and Shepherd, the King of Glory, Lord of Hosts and Ruler of All. Amen!” –from the devotional book EDIFIED:
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Wait on the Lord Psalm 27:12b-14

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 12, 2016
 
Psalm 27:12b “…false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.”
 
[Satan certainly rises against me and incites people to do the same. I think of a neighbor who spread lies about me in town and threatened me.
 
I praise you that you allow such attacks to strengthen my faith, expose my sin and mature me. As you led me to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving for my neighbor’s actions, and to respond by doing good to him, you resolved the situation and he’s become pleasant and positive.
 
Help me to discern these lies, wherever they come from—from the devil, my flesh, people, the world—and to counteract them with your truth.
 
I praise you for your gracious, selective protection. I need to be alert to any time that I allow violent aspects to be a part of my emotions: anger, impatience, strong words and negatives, for these are not from you, but of my old nature, the world and the devil.]
 
Psa 27:13 “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
 
[No matter how bad things get, your goodness will always be there, and it will shine through in the end. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life”(Ps. 23:6).
 
My confidence needs to be in your goodness, not measured by my desires being fulfilled, by my comfort or success, but by your greatness and glory revealed in your Word; by your doing what is best as revealed in history; by your beautiful and pristine character as revealed in creation.]
 
Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the LORD;”
 
[So I must wait for you by spending time with you, by listening to your direction, by not acting too early and on my own desires. As my wife is fond of saying “Waiting on the Lord is the greatest economy of time.”
 
“be strong and take heart”
 
[In you, in the midst of my weakness, I can be strong and take heart, for you are strength itself, you are faithfulness itself, you are great and wonderful in every way. I can give you glory, honor and praise in all things.]
 
“and wait for the LORD.”
 
[Repetition of this command shows how important it is. I praise you, Lord, for your trustworthiness, for the certainty of your moving and answering my prayers at the right time. “In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:7).
 
You are right, you are true, you are good and faithful. Therefore I can rest in you. Praise be to you for what you will do today as I wait on you.]
 
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Psalm 27:11,12 Straight Path

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 11, 2016
Psalm 27:11 “Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path”
 
[Praise you, my Great Shepherd, that you consistently teach me through your Word and Spirit—help me to pay attention and implement what you teach.
 
And you continually lead me, even though I sometimes stray off your straight path. Forgive me for my failures to obey and to follow. I praise you for your consistent care, continual help and constant protection. Teach me your way today, Lord, and keep me on the straight path that I may be bring joy to you, light to others and hope to all I meet.]
 
“…lead me because of my oppressors.”
 
[The main oppressor, Satan is always there, using people and events to trip me up, keep me in fear, make life difficult, and lead me into disobedience.
 
So, when Satan accuses, tries to beat me down and seeks to make me stumble, help me to stay on your straight bath, laying aside every weight and sin that Satan wants to entangle me with, so that I may run with perseverance the race you have set out before me (Heb. 12:1,2).]
 
Psalm 27:12 “Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,”
 
[I praise you for how you protect us from our foes who are too strong for us. At the same time, thank you that you do not protect us from many of the consequences of our wrong choices, in order to teach us, to chasten us, to redirect us, to bring surrender and growth.
 
Thank you that you protect us from what will be truly injurious, helping us to discern and reject the voice of our enemy, while listening to and heeding your Word and your Spirit.
 
Thank you for the warning to me to slow down in life, to consistently spend more time with you, to be careful in not doing too much but to select with your help what I should be involved in.
 
Thank you that you help me to discern and reject the desires of my foes to do too little, to be lazy, self-indulgent and to waste time in insignificant activities.
 
I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are my Wisdom, my Shield, my Shepherd and my Strength. Help me to distrust my natural responses, which my foes want to use, and to fully trust you and your Word, so I can stay on your straight path. Use me today for your purposes and bring honor to your Name.]
 
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Set on a High Rock

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 8, 2016
 
Psalm 27:5 “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
 
[This is what you will do for us when we seek you, when we choose to dwell in your presence and trust you: protect, provide, shelter and deliver.
 
My part is to immediately seek you when trouble comes, rather than venture out in my puny strength and very limited wisdom to accomplish my own deliverance—a futile effort.
 
As I seek you, you will hide me from the enemy, you will set me on a high point, giving me both your protection and your perspective. Help me to consistently take shelter in you by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in the face of trouble, thereby honoring you and opening the way so you can show me your salvation (Ps. 50:23).]
 
Psalm 27:6 “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;”
 
[You will work things out, you will do what is best in defeating the enemies around me—primarily Satan and his minions–who attack me, who want to bring pressure and harm. You will accomplish this deliverance as I follow and trust you in praise, in prayer, in obedience to what I know to be true, keeping on your armor.]
 
“at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.”
 
[Because of your great Love, your mighty Help, your gracious g
Goodness, I will rejoice in you, call out praise, sing and exalt you in music. I praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for your constant and good work in my life.
 
Guide me today, Lord, in giving you glory and exaltation that those around me may also rejoice in you. I will give you honor through praise, I will give you glory through obedience. Help me to let go of what is temporal, help me to hold on to what is eternal, and give me the wisdom to discern which is which. May you be honored in my life today. Amen.]
 
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Living in the Temple

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 7, 2016
Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,”
 
[When David wrote this, he was thinking of the tabernacle in Jerusalem. Today this request has come true for every believer because we have each become a temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19) and the Holy Spirit lives in us. That is part of the wonder of being your children, Lord: we are ever with you. And as we are with we you call us]
 
“to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”
 
[This takes intentionality, it takes focus, surrender and discipline—I must turn my eyes from the distractions of my desires, of the world’s offers and look instead to you.
 
I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you have led me to begin learning to gaze upon your beauty in personal worship. In that you are teaching me to see your greatness, your power, your wisdom, your grace, your wrath against sin, your mighty love demonstrated in redeeming your rebellious creatures, and your great patience in working in us to bring us to maturity in you.
 
In teaching me to worship, you are helping me to give you the glory and honor which is due your name for your wonderful greatness. Then when trouble comes, I can reject my natural tendency to first seek solutions on my own, or from those around me. Instead I can, as my first move, seek you, the only One who can help in every difficulty. More than that, you are the One who delights in helping us in exactly the way we need.
 
Forgive me for my independent attitude; help me to be fully dependent on you instead.
Thank you, Lord, for all that you are, and for revealing some of it to us–breaking into our lives and dwelling with us, even though we deserve only rejection and punishment. Help us to continually “gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple,” praising you, the Great and Glorious One who stoops down to see and help us in our weakness and need.]
 
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Being Healthily Emotionally Independent

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 6, 2016
In daily praying on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), there has been a significant solidification of my emotional state, with a growing stability that is very encouraging. In this the Lord is bringing an emotionally healthy independence from others—I no longer feel obligated to be influenced and controlled by others negative emotions.
 
And He is also bringing an emotionally healthy dependence on Himself—His unshifting character manifested in His love, acceptance and graciousness is the rock upon which I can rest.
 
This is not a self-centered focus, but is believing and accepting what God says about us, living in the light of His love rather than in self-condemnation, vague shame and negative thinking that Satan has for us.
 
Below here is what I pray in putting on the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness. But I do not just say the words, I seek to enter into the truths emotionally, letting myself feel both sides (negative and positive) and chose to rest in the warm and rich goodness of His love for me. Try it yourself, praying this each day for a month and see what a difference it makes for you!
 
“Help me, Lord, to stand today having on the belt of truth. On one side is the truth that all I deserve as a sinner is failure, frustration, depression, despair, hopelessness, suffering and death.
 
“But now, in your gracious love, you have redeemed me, cleansed me, called me into your waiting arms, made me your child, brought me into your family and into your Kingdom of light, love and life. You have given me love, joy and peace. You have given me purpose, protection and provision. You have given me meaning, hope and a future. In you I am chosen, holy and dearly loved. I did not choose you, but you chose me because you wanted me! (John 15:16).
 
“You, Lord Jesus, love me as the Father loves you! (John 15:9). You are glad when I come into your presence in prayer, you laugh with pleasure when we are together and you rejoice in having me as your son (daughter). You saved me because you delight in me (Ps. 18:19).
 
“Help me to put on the breastplate of righteousness. In doing this, I agree to forgive myself as you have forgiven me, to accept myself and to love myself as you do. I choose to bask in your wholehearted approval of me; I agree to rejoice in your unceasing love for me; I choose to revel in your rich and eager acceptance of me as your beloved child.
 
“While eagerly confessing any sin and embracing your forgiveness, I repent of being critical, negative and unaccepting of myself. I exchange these for your garment of approval, your covering of love and your continuous warm, happy, gracious embrace of me as your dear and valued son (daughter), chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before you in love! (Eph. 1:4).
 
“What a wonder! I praise you for your great and gracious love, your marvelous kindness and your unending, undying, eternal goodness to me. Help me to walk in the light of your presence throughout today, loving myself as you love me so I can better love my neighbor.”
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