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Rise up and Stand

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 13, 2023

Psalm 20:8 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses…[but] They are brought to their knees and fall,”

[Horses die, chariots shatter, people pass, strength subsides, and every person in the world at some time comes to the end of his or her rope where there is no further hope. Human help is limited, fickle and untrustable.]

“but we rise up and stand firm.”

Why can we rise up and stand firm? Because  in you, Lord Jesus, strength endures forever: your love is everlasting and your grace goes on through all eternity. You never waver, change or forsake us. When we come to the end of our rope, we can switch to your infinite and eternal rope, crying out to you, surrendering to you, trusting in you.

In you and in your power we will be able to advance against a troop, to scale a wall, to fight the battle, for we are shielded by your goodness (Ps. 18:29). We will always be able to stand firm in you, if we have on the full armor of God.

Help us to live in the tower of your Name and protection, rejecting Satan’s attempts to get us down on the ground where he can defeat us. In you we are safe!]

Here is a picture of a woman and her husband who was abusive to her. She came to the end of her rope and sought help from my friend Imtiaz. He went and talked with the husband and gave him a copy of the book Equipped. When Imtiaz visted them a while later, the man was transformed, having become a positive, supportive husband. He, too had switched from his rope to God’s. In his own words he described his transformation thusly.

  • After listening to this  book, EQUIPPED and God’s Word
  • Ø I started to be happy
  • Ø The fight in my house is over
  • Ø People started respecting me
  • Ø Sickness left my house
  • Ø I grew stronger in God
  • Ø I learned to forgive
  • Ø I strengthened my children in the Lord
  • Ø I felt the presence of God in my life
  • Ø I came to know the Word of God
  • Today I am living a happy life with my family.
  •  I am thankful for this book which transformed my life. I intend to work with distinction for the glory of God’s name

May be an image of 2 people and people smiling

 

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The Name of the Lord God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 12, 2023

Psalm 20:7b   “but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

[You are the only One who is trustable to the end: you are the eternal God of all might, the everlasting Lord of all power, the undying Creator of every creature, the ongoing Ruler of all dominions and kingdoms, the endless Lord of all principalities and powers. No one and nothing can stand against you.

You have a plan for each of us and you will bring it to pass, as we follow you: “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Ps. 33:10,11).

You, Lord God, can do no evil, no wrong, no sin; you only do what is good and righteous and wise–therefore in you we can trust. In your Name we can exalt by believing and obeying your Word, for “the LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2). Praise be to you!]

Help us to walk today in the greatness of who you are, Lord Jesus, rejecting our tendency to primarily trust in other helps, which are feeble and futile.

Help us to trust in you instead, coming to you immediately in prayer and dependence. We will believe you to use whatever you chose to protect, provide and guide us through this day. Praise be to you now for how you will work, our great eternal King and everlasting powerful Savior.

May be an image of flower

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February in July

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 11, 2023

Today something different: a  February poem for a July day.

2/24/07

The night was crisp and dark

The crooked smile of a new moon

rested in the leafless arms

Of the winter trees overhead

Surrounded by bright stars

But look! some of the stars

Have fallen into the trees:

Yesterday’s snow,

Melted and refrozen

became

Droplets of ice on the branches

Reflecting the moon’s blaze

Which was star?

Which was ice?

Hard to tell.

We, like that snow

Have been reshaped

In Christ, too

Become transparent

And in His light

We are stars in the trees of life

Reflecting His beauty

And carrying His love

 

May be an image of twilight and tree

 

 

 

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Whom Shall I Trust?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 10, 2023

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses,”

Yes, Lord, we often trust in other powers: money, might or men of position. Sometimes we trust in training, technology and theology. And sometimes we trust in planning, persuasion and people.

But all of these fall far short of what we actually need; all are pitifully weak in comparison to our enemies: the world, our flesh and the devil. But you, Lord, are immensely more powerful than any of them. “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise….He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (Ps. 18:3,17).

All our enemies are less than nothing in comparison to you, Lord Jesus, the Star-breather, the Earth-spinner, the Dawn-bringer, the History-ender. You defeated them all in your death and resurrection. Therefore we must reject confidence in anything else but you.]

You are my Savior, my Shepherd, my Sovereign; you are my King, my Kin, my Keeper; you are my Protector, my Provider, my Planner. In you I can trust, for you will save me from the enemies who are too strong for me. Help me, Lord Jesus, to rest in you, to remember how you have helped me in the past, for so you will help me in the future.

May be an image of grass and body of water

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Running the Race

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 9, 2023

I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you know every bend, every turn, every pitfall in the path you have laid out for me, as well as every ambush the enemy has set up. And you prepare me for them as I spend time with you each morning.

Then, as I keep on the whole armor of God, think your Word, and listen to your Spirit, in your power I can respond to each ambush, stand against each attack and be more than a conqueror no matter what Satan may throw at me. “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies” (Ps 18:3).

I may trip, fall or get knocked down, but remaining in your truth by confession and repentance, I can spring to my feet again and continue on the upward path of righteousness you are leading me on for your name’s sake.

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.” You, LORD, “are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer… my shield and…my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2), and as I remain behind the shield of your love, in the stronghold of your holiness, and on the rock of your mercy, I am safe.

Praise be to you, the God of goodness, the Lord of love, the King of kindness, the Giver of grace, the Healer of hearts and the Protector of your people. Today I choose to live in the truth that “Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy,” following your example, Lord Jesus–who, for the joy that was set before you, endured the cross, despising the shame and are set down at the right hand of God (Hb. 12:2).

Help me to keep my eyes on you and on the joy of knowing you, of knowing where I am going in life and death, for then the difficulties and pain of this life will fade in significance and power, so I can run with patience the race you have set before me.

May be an image of twilight, horizon, nature, tree and cloud

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Wonderful Gifts

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 7, 2023

Praise be to you, Lord, for your rich and beautiful gifts: new life and eternal life, joy and peace, hope and purpose, your love and embrace, light and grace. To know you is far beyond good, for it is the deepest desire of every human heart to be enfolded in a rich relationship with the Creator of the universe–but sadly, most rebelliously resist your regal offer and are instead locked into the crushing, destructive embrace of the negative values of this fallen world.

However for those who accept your offer, It is such a magnificent and beautiful privilege to rest in your embrace of love, in the warmth of your acceptance, in the grace you exude at each moment. And it is a great freedom to rejoice in the lack of condemnation, the lack of accusation and the lack of conditional acceptance. These realities are so wonderfully edifying, strengthening, encouraging and empowering–giving us a rich, warm foretaste of Heaven.

I can go out with you into today, Lord Jesus, knowing that I am with you and you are within me, that you will never leave me. I can trust you fully to guide me through the obstacle course of the day as we wend our way forward in this fallen world, leaving behind a better trail that others can follow.

May be an image of tree, grass and twilight

 

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He saves His own

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 6, 2023

Psalm 20:6 “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;”

[This is a rock-solid certainty: you, Heavenly Father, saved king David in many difficult circumstances. And you saved Jesus, the anointed One–but not in the way any human would have expected. You did not save Him from suffering and death; you saved him through agony and dying by the resurrection. And you saved us through the same act of grace.

I praise you that every day, in the battle of life, you continue saving us, your chosen ones, your anointed ones, your beloved children. You are a shield to all those who take refuge in you (Prov. 30:5).]

“he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.”

[You answered David in his distress, you answered Jesus in his death, you answer us in our difficulties–every day. And your answers aren’t some minor move but are in the mighty majesty of your right hand, your most powerful means of action. Your munificent ministering shows the depth of your commitment and attention to your chosen and appointed ones.

Praise you, Lord God, that you are the Deliverer, the Rescuer, the Answerer, the Shield, the Lover of your children. You are the Nobel and Trustable One to be worshiped and obeyed in trust and truth!

Help us to trust in you today, Lord God, resting in the certainty of your presence, your power and your provision, even when at the moment, we can see no help on the horizon. Praise you for your faithfulness we will experience today, so we can “know this love that surpasses knowledge” and our lives can be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:10).]

May be an image of flower

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Giving Glory

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 5, 2023

Thank you, Lord God, that you have made faith the primary means of joining you in your great plans, so anyone can do that: young and old, illiterate, and highly educated, rich and poor, powerful and weak, new believer or old.

This is an exciting truth, for it shows how everyone in the spectrum of maturity, from the newest believer to the most mature saint, can all give you glory at each moment in time, simply by responding in faith–getting up the shield of faith by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Heb. 13:15).

I praise you for what you have before me today, Lord; help me to partner with you, knowing that all will flow from your hand of goodness, from your heart of wisdom, from your boundless grace, from your desire for me to join you in your great plans.

Help me to see each “next negative” as a positive possibility to offer you honor through thanksgiving, to grow spiritually and to be a shining light to those around me. What a privilege! Thank you for it and for what you will do in and through me today.

 

May be an image of flower

 

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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 4, 2023

Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, my Shepherd and King, as I woke to find myself with you. My dreams were unpleasant, having one obstacle after another–kind of like real life, but without your presence–so it was good to come back to reality with you!

Thank you for the wonder of knowing you, Lord Jesus, of having your grace, goodness and greatness in my life, of being continually offered rest, hope, and peace, a partnership of purpose and power in prayer, of being able to join you in what you are doing.

Thank you that this day before me will be filled with multiple possibilities of honoring you with faith, responding to disappointments, interruptions, problems and challenges with thanksgiving and the chance to thereby defeat frustration, impatience, selfishness, fear and worry.

To respond with faith is to do something that has eternal value, fulfilling the purpose you have given me in life of honoring you rather than focusing on myself and what is visible.

Lord, help me to live in and to live out this reality, walking by faith, offering the sacrifice of  thanksgiving in all things, joining you in what you are doing today.

No photo description available.

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Justice will come; are we willing to wait?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 4, 2023

In the last couple of days I’ve had conversations with several people who are angry and discouraged by the injustice going on. People in power are getting away with serious crimes while the average joe goes to jail for years for the same thing. The lying, cheating, destructive decisions, the crazy things people espouse and you can’t object without being attacked. The all drives people to anger and sometimes despair.

I’ve been rememorizing Psalm 37, the place I go when having difficulties with people (like my vengeful renter). Starting in verse 7 there is great direction for our times. Notice the commands

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For those who are evil will be destroyed,

but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

 

This reminds me of Asaph in Psalm 73 who was so stressed out by the corrupt officials. He said, “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply

till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

Then Asaph looked back on his fretting and anger and realized that “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.” Not smart!

And he also realized this, in spite of my stupidity, “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.

His conclusion is: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

A good orientation for us in our times!  So, let us,“  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…  For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”

The Lord has a plan–are we willing to wait for His timing, and in the meantime delight ourselves in Him and His wonderful goodness?

 

The wrath of God will come on the wicked.   Picture from internet

 

 

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