Our Guide 07.10.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday July 10, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Psalms. Please read Chapters 81-88 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2081-88&version=9

Today we will read and learn about God's goodness and Israel's waywardness; the blessedness of living in God's presence; David's desire to walk in truth, and a plea for God. Today we will learn the importance of realizing that one of the many things we learn as we worship God is to listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides us into all truth

Sometimes the unbelieving world looks down on the Christian who turns his back on the pleasures of this world. But to be a servant of the Most High God is better than all the pleasure of a rich man's world. "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.....For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." (Psalm 84:2, 10-12).

Christians enjoy a peace with God that surpasses all understanding of what the world believes. Both David and the psalmist knew God would not permit them to miss out on, or be deprived of, His best and He would direct each step of life's way.

The Holy Spirit guided David to unite the only two weapons of our spiritual warfare, prayer and the inspired Word of God. Psalm 86 expresses the power we have when these become our way of life. "Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." (86:1-4). David was the king of Israel he recognized the lordship of God over his life. He often spoke of himself as the servant of the Lord in the Psalms.

David continued to worship and confess God's mercy and readiness to forgive. He expressed the utmost confidence that God listens to His people's prayers and is able to deliver them from all harm regardless of our circumstances, he also asked God to teach him to obey Him. "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.......For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell......Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me." (86:11,13,17). 

The Christian who desires a closer relationship with the Lord does not depend upon previous learning to continue a day-by-day walk in the way of truth, but upon the continual daily guidance of God through His Word. Instruction is much more than just information; it is the means to understand His will and be obedient, it also includes the thought of correction. The child of God never graduates from the Spiritual school of instruction. That is why all of us need to read His Word each day.

A sincere commitment to the Lord is essential. The Apostle Peter recognized this when he encouraged us to do the will of God. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:4-8). We have the potential to live in obedience to His Word, but it requires voluntary submission and it's up to us to take the initiative to build our faith.

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through Jerusalem, from where the psalmist declared all of the springs of joy and happiness emanate (Psalm 87:7). Jesus is the source of our joy as the angel announced at His birth (Luke 2:10).

Have a great day full of many blessings.
God Bless,
Christina

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