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Psalm 23:3b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 10, 2016
Psalm 23:3b,“He guides me in paths of righteousness”
 
[I praise you, Lord Jesus, Our great Shepherd, that you take the time to show us the right way, the best way, so we can walk with you well through whatever circumstances you bring.
 
I praise you that we can know the way of righteousness because you reveal it to us with your Word, your life and the Spirit’s guidance.
 
Praise you for the preparation you have done to give us direction, drawing and driving us into the Word, teaching us your thoughts and arranging circumstances. Praise you for your constant presence to lead us step by step as we listen to you. Thank you for your loving, gracious care.]
 
“He guides me…for his name’s sake.”
 
[What a wonderful motive for guiding us—we can be sure your guidance will be right–and that as we follow you, we may bring honor to your name.
 
Praise you that your foundational desires are always clear in your Word, that your Spirit prompts us in the right way, and that we can then bring glory to you by obeying you.
 
I think of my lost passport in Charlotte, of our delayed arrival in Dallas, of my plane being late coming into Frankfurt and missing my train. These uncomfortable situations were all opportunities to follow you in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake, to exalt your name by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, by trusting you to have a plan and to work it out for the best. And in each case you did.
 
I praise you that these happenings show how trustable your leading is, how you always help us towards doing what is right and righteous, to keep your name clear and clean.
 
Part of your leading us on these paths is teaching us how to respond to difficulties and persecutions, which is a call to share in the sufferings of Christ. May we do this well, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving at each juncture and rejoicing in the privilege of honoring you.
 
You, Lord Jesus, are our gracious and good Shepherd, worthy of trust, worthy of worship, worthy of belief. May I follow your leading today in your paths of righteousness.]
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Psalm 23:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 9, 2016

Psalm 23:3  “he restores my soul.”

[You, Lord Jesus, are the Shepherd of my whole being: spirit, soul and body. I praise you that in believing in you, I was born again and you made my spirit come alive. Praise you that in living with you, my soul is being restored, being moved towards its pre-sin condition, a process to be fully achieved at death.

You are doing this by transforming my thinking, my will and my emotions as I lie down in your pasture, as I take in of your Word, drink in of your being, and bask in the light and love of your presence.

The rich discipline of memorizing your Word and praying through it while personalizing it, brings more transformation in each area. You teach me to think your thoughts, to desire your will, to lead my emotions. You are transforming what I understand, decide and feel.

In addition, worshiping you through praise brings further change, much of it on an emotional level, seen in a solidification of strength in my soul. Praise brings a greater grasp of your love, a deeper understanding of the security of belonging to you.

It brings a detachment from the thoughts and opinions of of others, learning to fear you instead of people.

It brings a growing desire to please you, of the certainty of your goodness to do what is best, a deepening of faith.

It leads to the response of praise instead of complaining, of positive words and actions in in the place of critical negative statements.

It brings a deepened patience flowing from grasping that you control the timing of what is going on around me. These are some of the ways you have restored my soul, and I’m sure there are many more such good steps to come.

You, Lord Jesus, are the source of life, of healing, of transformation, of hope, of joy. I praise you for your great and deep love which leads you to work with us stubborn sheep, we who wound you afresh every day with our willful, selfish, sinful choices.

Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for hurting you. Forgive me for my rebellion and unbelief. Forgive me for not walking consistently with you through the day, not praying during conversations, not denying self when necessary, not rejecting fear of man, not immediately fleeing from lustful thoughts, not being diligent in what you have given me to do.

Help me today, Lord, to walk in close communion with you, to obey the clear commands of your Word, and to follow the promptings of your Spirit, that I may not grieve your heart, that my soul might be further restored and that you may receive more honor and glory.

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Weakness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 8, 2016
Written August 2011
 
Praise you for sleep, Lord, not as long, undisturbed or deep as I’d like, but I will accept and praise you for what you bring. You are God, you are Lord, you are the King worthy of praise.
 
I praise you for the privilege of being weak; I praise you for the need to depend on your working things out when I can do nothing myself. I can depend on you because you are wise, just, good and righteous; you are holy dependable, wholly good.
 
Praise you now, Lord God, for the outcomes of the things before us. You are our Shepherd, you will make us lie down in the right place for the right length of time. As you moved us from the Middle East to Germany, so you will move us from here to somewhere else at the right time.
 
“I love you, O LORD, my strength” (Ps. 18:1). My weakness is irrelevant. Your strength is everything.
 
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Psalm 23:2b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 7, 2016
Psalm 23:2b “…he leads me beside quiet waters,”
 
[As our good Shepherd, you know of our need to drink deeply of your Truth, so you carefully and consistently lead us to the source, your Word. You encourage us to come to quiet waters, to spend focused and unhurried time with you.
 
However, instead of coming to drink wisely, we often wade into these waters with our worries and impatience, riling our thoughts and muddying our perspective.
 
Praise you for your patience and graciousness, working to train us in quietness and contemplation, teaching us to lift our souls to you, to pour out our hearts and then wash our thoughts, worries and frustrations with the cleansing water of your Word.
 
Praise you that your provision of quiet waters is perfect: it is pure, it is abundant, it is healing. In our physical lives, drinking sufficient water can prevent illnesses and can speed recovery of those we get.
 
So it is in the spiritual realm. Time with you, in your Word, in worship, drinking deeply of Truth brings the transformation, strengthening of faith, deepening of understanding, broadening of surrender and nurturing of first love. These prevent us from falling unnecessarily into sins like rebellion, selfishness, worry and fear.
 
I praise you for your persistent faithfulness in calling us aside to drink of the Word with its powerful enlightening, revealing, convicting and healing properties.
 
I praise you, O Lord God, that you give us significant choices: to drink or not. Spending time in your Word–reading, memorizing, meditating, praying–are such unnatural activities, fought against by the world, the flesh and the devil. Yet they are the most normal ones for the sheep who love you, desire to live for you and are committed to following you wholeheartedly.
 
Praise you for the privilege of soaking in the Word with the understanding your Spirit brings. Help me to daily delve into its depths and see more of your beauty and goodness. I thank you today for what you will teach me through it. Glory be to you.]
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Psalm 23:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 6, 2016

Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down”

[I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you don’t ask my opinion about what situation I should be in; you, in your wisdom and goodness “make me lie down.” Praise you for your love and power in doing this, in arranging events, circumstances and pressures so I have to lie down where you know it is best.

Sometimes I could get up and walk away from this pasture (out of a relationship, off a job, away from a neighbor), but once you’ve made me lie down, such rebellion would only lead to loss and then you would again make me lie down in a similar situation until I have learned what is necessary. Praise you that you are firm, persistent and powerful, wisely bringing me to what I need.]

“in green pastures,”

[The place you choose for your sheep is one where we can graze and grow. There is spiritual food, there is provision, there is nourishment. Praise you for your wisdom, that you know what is exactly right for each sheep and that you are persistent in providing it at that right moment.

We can trust you no matter how brown the pasture may appear to us; in your greater and more comprehensive view, you know it is a profitable place, providing us with the opportunity for growth, equipping and maturity.

Our green pasture is where we am now, the situation where, along with beauty, comfort and the provision of our physical needs, there are pressures, stresses and challenges which push us onto our knees, into your Word, into your arms and into your lessons.

In these uncomfortable situations, you are giving us an understanding of our weakness, the opportunity to praise in distress, the chance to shed sin (complaining, gossip, selfishness and competition, to name a few) and to take up grace (such as forgiveness, kindness, service and love).

The harder it is, the greener the pasture. As it says in Romans 5:3,4, “…we also glory in our sufferings, BECAUSE WE KNOW that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

When we look at the larger view of what you are doing, we can gladly stay in the pasture you call green until you tell us to move on. Help us to lie down where you lead us that we may join you in what you are doing in us, through us and for us.

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Joy and Light

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 5, 2016
Thank you, Lord, that, even though it is dark and gloomy out today, within is your light, your Sonshine to warm and cheer me. I praise you that you want us to have joy: rich, deep, abiding, refreshing and empowering joy. The flow of this joy is dependent on you alone, fully independent of circumstances, feelings, suffering, persecution, weakness or difficulties.
 
However, the entrance of such joy into our lives is dependent on us: “May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace AS YOU TRUST IN HIM…” (Rom. 15:13).
 
This joy is like a beam of light shining into a dark room through a hole in a wall; if we stand before it, we are enlightened, warmed and encouraged. If we move away from it, we may see it, but it does not touch us.
 
We have to look away from the darkness and come to you, trusting you to be our Light, our Lord, our Life. As it says in Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining on ever more brightly till the full light of day.”
 
To put it another way, in Psalm 86:4 it says, “Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for I lift up my soul to you.” It is that coming into the light, looking to Him, being transparent, open, honest before Him, confessing our worries, fears and frustrations to Him and laying them aside as we stand in the warm, healing light of His presence.
 
This is what Jesus desires for us. In John 15:10,11 He said, “If you keep my commands [don’t worry!], you will remain in my love…I have told you this SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU and that your joy may be complete [full].” He wants us to be filled with His joy so that we might be light bearers, hope bringers, faith carriers and love givers to all those around us.
 
If I am negative, worried, fearful, discouraged or complaining, I have stepped away from the light, turned from trusting you, Lord, and will blend in fully with the dark shadows of this corrupt world. But if I stand in your light, thinking truth, bringing all the sin and weight that entangles me to you, leaving them at the foot of the cross, then I will stand out sharply from the shadows, a flaming torch of hope and joy spilling light and love to all around me.
 
Lord, help me to live in your light, to rejoice in your goodness, to be filled with joy because I know you, the mighty Creator, the majestic Ruler, the marvelous Shepherd, the magnificent Savior.
 
Help me, Lord God, to let go of the temporary that entangles, to hold on to the truth that frees, enlightens, equips and brings joy, and help me then to rise above whatever comes, flying on the wings of truth, borne up by the shining feathers of your grace and goodness. Help me to move forward in your love and light, drawing ever closer to you so that your joy may fill me to overflowing and bring light and life to all those around me.
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Joining God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 4, 2016
I am so thankful to wake up and find you waiting for me, Lord God. It is so good to be in your presence, in your hand, in your family, in your plan, in your love. Thank you that I am made to need you, to be weak in myself and strong in you.
 
You have designed me to fit snugly into your hand so you can use me in whatever way you decide to bring glory to your name, to bring people to know you and believers to maturity. You are the One to be lifted up, exalted and glorified. Guide me in doing so each day, Lord.
 
Be with those who are suffering today for your name’s sake; give them grace, wisdom and courage; help them to fear you, not people. Protect them from too much pressure; keep your hedge of angels around them.
 
Help them to respond with your grace by rejoicing in their persecutions as you taught in Matthew 5:11,12, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
 
I praise you, Lord, for your unwavering, gracious presence in our lives, unimpeded by anything that others can do to us. Praise you for the possibility to walk in the freedom and light of your presence at all times; help all your children to do that today.
 
Thank you for the day before us, for the certain prospect of your guidance in all that will come. I praise you for your character, your care, your competence in all, for it is absolute, perfect, powerful and pervasive.
 
You, Lord God, are worthy of worship, of love, of obedience, of godly fear. Help me today to walk with you, following your lead, seeking your guidance at each step.
 
You are the One I want to honor by joining you in your work. Remind me to pray about all things, to be focused on what is on your heart rather than my schedule. I praise you now for how you will answer.
 
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Psalm 23:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 3, 2016
Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd”
 
[Five short words that hold infinite grace. You are the Holy, Pure and Triune God, utterly other, totally Just and Punisher of sin–yet you make yourself the Shepherd of rebels.
 
We are the antithesis of you: finite, sinful, polluted through and through, nurturers of sin, lovers of lusts. Yet you are willing to stoop down, to reach into this sin-soaked, iniquity-infused, evil-endowed world and make yourself Shepherd to your redeemed, yet selfish sheep.
 
You have made a total commitment to our good: patiently and persistently guiding, providing and protecting us. You do this even though we daily grieve you with our stubborn love for sin, our rebellious selfishness and our unholy focus on things rather than relationships.
 
We can be certain of your faithfulness, of your goodness, of your wisdom, of your grace, of your power: “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (Ps. 73:21-24). We praise you that you have chosen to be our Shepherd.]
 
“I shall not want.”
 
[Four short words, describing the outcome of having an infinite, holy Shepherd who gives absolute, total, powerful and wise provision. To know you, the great and gracious One who holds the future in your hand, who is the source of all supply, who makes the decision of what will come to us–this is enough.
 
Your provision goes far beyond the seen; here is some of what you give us.
 
–You provided your Spirit to convict of guilt, to shepherd us into belief and repentance and then to dwell within giving unending gracious guidance.
 
–You provide love, forgiveness, transformation and adoption into the Family and Kingdom of God.
 
–You pour into our lives ever growing peace, love, joy and hope.
 
–You provide healing, growth and maturing in our souls: mind, will and emotions.
 
–You provide belonging, worth and competence.
 
–You provide unending and immeasurable significance and security.
 
–You provide protection from the evil one, evil men and our own evil nature.
 
–You filter out of our lives the events that will harm us spiritually, and bring to us the events that will challenge, deepen, equip and mature us.
 
–You provide us with weakness, hardships, insults and persecutions as platforms upon which we can give you glory through trust and praise before the watching crowds of people, demons and angels.
 
–You provide what is needed in the physical realm, which is often less than we desire, but much more than we deserve.
 
–You pour out more than we need, so we can then provide for the needs of others.
 
Praise be to you, O my Great Shepherd. Forgive me for grumbling about not having this or that and forgetting the immeasurable, invaluable invisible things you pour into my life every day. Help me to live in the Truth and Security of your choosing to be my Shepherd, of your being the focus of my life, my heart, my activities, my future. To you be honor and glory today in all I do, say and think.
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Psalm 22:29-31

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 2, 2016

Psalm 22:29 “All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive.”

[No one can keep himself from dying, none of us can defeat old age or death. And no one can avoid judgment: all human beings will come before you, Lord, and bow their knee, whether willingly or not. No man will be able on his own to stand in your magnificent, holy presence, for the strength of your mighty power and majestic authority will force all to bow in submission in the judgment to come.

But you offer us the privilege of bowing before you now in willing surrender, in belief, in faith, bringing us into your presence through the blood of Christ where we, as your children, can joyfully bow to your Kingship, Lord Jesus. And we do so willingly, wholeheartedly, in wonder.]

Psalm 22:30 “Posterity will serve him;”

[There will always be an ongoing line of believers, sustained and guided by you, no matter what the era may be–just as there were in the Dark Ages, in the Middle ages, in the Enlightenment, in modern times, in postmodernism and now in the “me culture.” Man tries to go his own way, but there are always those who respond to your invitation to walk in your way.]

“future generations will be told about the Lord. Psalm 22:31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn—for he has done it.”

[There will always be a witness, there will always be propagation of the gospel. You, in your righteousness, truth and grace have done all, made all preparation, sending out your word in creation, in the Book, in spoken witness, in dreams or visions if necessary.

You have prepared all and will bring history to your desired end: the elimination of evil, the entrance of eternity, the enlightenment of all by your eternal character. Praise you for your greatness, your goodness, your glory that was, is, and is to come!

You alone are worthy of faith and obedience, of trust and praise, for you are wonderful: you only are to be worshiped. Help us to do so every day, all day!

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The Privilege of Aging

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 30, 2016
“Though we are outwardly wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
 
Aging is, to put it bluntly, the process of progressive deterioration of the body and loss of abilities and qualities. Hearing fades, eyesight dims, muscles lose strength, flexibility decreases, joints creak, energy wanes and the mind slows.
 
Many of these losses are more than physical, for they are also the loss of what has made us feel good about ourselves, of what gave us a sense of worth, importance and the ability to accomplish. Therefore the process of aging can be doubly devastating as things physical, mental and emotional are taken from us.
 
Looking at this from a different perspective, however, aging is an opportunity for a deepened life. It should force us to reexamine the values we have adopted, especially on an emotional level. As our ability to perform is taken from us by these losses, it is an opportunity to further turn our attention towards enduring values and truths.
It is an opportunity to affirm that our worth actually does not depend on our accomplishment but upon two unchangeable facts: as human beings we are made in the image of God and as believers we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. In addition, our significance does not come from what we can do with our bodies and minds, but from being given important and vital roles in God’s overall plan for the universe: praise, prayer, persistence in doing what we know to be right and propagation of the gospel.
 
These can be carried out in old age even better than in our youth as we have had time to develop a character that reflects Christ. When we age to the point where we can do nothing else but exist, Christ’s kindness, love and grace can still shine out of our lives as we continually offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Ps. 50:23).
 
In addition to worth, our sense of satisfaction does not need to come mainly from physical strength or mental ability or accomplishments. It should come primarily from the unending and unfathomable truth that we, as believers, belong to God.
 
He is carrying us through each stage of life, onward to a timeless and perfect relationship with Him in a sinless and overwhelmingly wonderful setting. “…our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:16,17).
Aging, then, becomes an opportunity to further shift our focus away from the passing things of earth to a deeper and timeless mindset as seen in Psalm 72:25, “Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire besides you.” This leads us to thinking Truth rather than half-truths, thinking eternally rather than temporally. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).
 
Aging is also a further chance to understand Paul’s statement, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). My increasing lack of competence in the natural realm is a platform upon which the grace of God can be displayed to all around me. It is an impetus to look forward to what God has for us as we age and can no longer depend on our own abilities!
 
Old age is the process of losing things; maturity is letting them go, embracing the truth that God has better things for us.
 
Prayer: “Father, help me to be continually moving from a natural mindset to a supernatural one, praising you in all, seeking to give you glory, seeing you as my all in all, letting go of what I can’t keep, holding on to what I can’t lose, and rising above the losses of life with joy. Amen.”
–From the devotional book EDIFIED!
 
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