I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:1-3
These opening verses from Psalm 34 are much more powerful when the context is considered. David penned these words of praise not from a place of comfort in the palace, but from the wilderness while on the run from Saul. David had sought refuge in enemy territory and barely escaped with his life only after pretending to be insane.
Though grateful to be alive, he is still in danger from Saul. Fear, uncertainty, and anxiety must certainly be emotions that attempt to bubble up in his heart and mind. And yet, David chooses to praise God in this time of trouble.
His opening words, I will, remind us that praise is sometimes an act of our will rather than an expression of our emotions.
He begins by choosing to praise God in verse 1. Note his praise is not quiet — but out loud (“on my lips”). Verse 2 confirms his desire for others to hear his praise to God. And, finally, in verse 3 he encourages others to join in.
Please click the arrow below to listen to this week’s complete teaching from this powerful Psalm — so timely for these challenging times we are living in.
Are you old enough to remember the Florida Orange Growers TV commercial from the 70’s? It featured folks of various ages and stages of life pausing in their day to drink a big glass of cold, refreshing orange juice and then declare:
Orange juice – It’s not just for breakfast anymore!
That commercial came to mind as I studied Psalm 23. Inspired by the Floridians, let’s coin our own phrase:
Psalm 23 – It’s not just for funerals anymore! (And it really never was!)
While it my be the most-quoted passage for funerals, this poetic Psalm provides truth for every age and stage of life. Called the Shepherd Psalm, David drew all the way back from his childhood to teach us about God – and about ourselves. In declaring God to be my shepherd, David suggests a personal relationship (emphasis on the pronoun my.) He also adopts a posture of humility – in declaring God the shepherd, David self identifies as a sheep.
Here’s a summary of the verse—by-verse truths found as we unpacked this rich Psalm:
Verse:
Because God is my shepherd:
1
I have everything.
2
I have rest and peace
3a
I have restoration and healing
3b
I have guidance and direction
4a
I have courage
4b
I have comfort
5a
I have provision in danger
5b
I have more than I need
6a
I have His presence
6b
I have eternal life
Each verse carries shades and depths of meaning that can easily be overlooked – even after years of memorizing and reciting. Take some time to read this powerful passage today and embrace each truth as your own.
Here’s the complete teaching on this Psalm:
I hope you will listen in and then leave a comment below letting us know which phrase stirs your heart this week!
May God bless you, my friend, as you walk with Him — our very good and very great shepherd!
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119:18
I hope you are joining me for our 4-week/21-day study in the Psalms. Here’s the introductory lecture, where Psalm 119:18 is highlighted:
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the longest book in the largest testament in the Bible. With 176 verses, it is a loving, inspiring devotional that conveys the value of the Word of God. Clearly, the author embraces the many and monumental benefits of abiding in God’s truth.
When I begin a new study, this is most often my go-to for inspiration. One of my children asked me years ago, “Mom, what’s your favorite passage in the Bible?” My answer then, “Whichever one I’m reading when asked that question!” But if pushed to choose, I would say this one. (However, it is what I’m reading as I write this!)
The plea recorded in verse 18 above is one to pray each morning as you open your Bible to meet with Jesus: Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119:18
This verse reminds me to approach God’s Word with the eyes of my mind and my heart wide open, focused and looking. Expectant. There are wonderful truths to be found here – treasure, inspiration, conviction. There is direction, guidance, and reassurance. I don’t want to miss anything God has for me. Even familiar passages become like fresh manna for the day, as the Holy Spirit reveals new understanding in light of current circumstances and challenges.
Come join me as we pray together through a selected few verses from this powerful chapter:
Blessed are they who keep his statues and seek him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:2 Lord, bless me! Help me to live out the truth I am learning. Holy Spirit, I want to be all in as I follow in obedience. Give me an undivided, committed heart.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 Jesus, help me to fill my heart and mind with the truth of Your Word. Enable me to commit to memory truth that will sustain me and equip me to serve others. Holy Spirit, bring those verses in my heart to my mind and my tongue when needed.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Psalm 119:16 Forgive me for an attitude of drudgery regarding Your Word, God. Stir my heart with delight – a “want-to” in lieu of “have-to” attitude. Enable me to push aside my emotions when needed and choose by my will to abide in Your Word.
I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 119:32 O God, too long I wasted days believing Your way was confining and restrictive. Thank you for the joy of seeing the FREEDOM found in Christ! Your path and your commands are my joy.
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Psalm 119:35 Each day give me direction, God. I am “prone to wander” as the old hymn says. Keep me, direct me, guide me in your path – the way to delightful blessing.
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
Psalm 119:71 Lord, I can look back now and see how you brought good from bad. Trouble drove me to your Word. Thank you for meeting me in hardship.
…I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:74b There is no greater source of hope than Your word!
Praying for you, dear reader, that God’s Word would be your hope and your delight, and that you would daily ask Him to open your eyes to see wonderful truth He has for you there!
If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin
and I will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
This Thursday, May 7th, is the first Thursday in May and that means it’s the day we link arms across America to observe the National Day of Prayer. And if there was ever a time we needed to pray, that time is now!
Following the prompting of the familiar verse above, it’s time for followers of Christ to do four things:
Humble ourselves
Pray
Seek God’s face
Turn from our wicked ways
No longer can we blame the world (the media, the entertainment industry, the internet, the drug lords, the government, etc. etc. etc.) It’s time for us to step up (or, perhaps bow down) and do what God is asking us – His people – to do. It’s time. It’s high time. It’s time to look to God Most High!
We’ve got trouble, but we serve a big God! And look what He promises to do in response:
He will hear us!
He will forgive us!
He will heal our land!
Are you ready to pray?
I’m posting a daily verse and a daily prayer prompted by that verse every day in May. You can find it on the Cross My Heart Ministry YouTube channel and on the Cross My Heart Ministry Facebook page. You can also find the posts by searching: #HighNoonHighTime. We hope you will post your own daily prayers and use this hastag, too!
To hear my challenge to pray and teaching on II Chronicles 7:14, please view the video here:
If we were playing the $25,000 Pyramid and the category said, “2020 Pandemic,” our answers might include:
Historic
Frightening
Horrific
Unprecedented
Devastating
These last few weeks have brought suffering to many and inconvenience to others. What is your response? How are you doing? Surviving? Enduring? Ready for it to be over?
Many of us, even while suffering or being inconvenienced, are also gleaning good things during this collective time out. We are spending more time with family – which can be both a blessing and a challenge. We are experiencing the freedom from an over-filled calendar. We are mot likely spending less money. There is good to be found even in the midst of all the bad.
What would it take for you to look back and declare (at least some) of this season good?
As we endeavor to stay home and stay safe, I believe part of what could make it good is staying close to God. Do you feel close to Him? Do you know Him – really know Him? I’m convinced the best way to know God more deeply is to read His Word.
Have you always intended to do a Bible study, but life was too full or work or other commitments made it challenging? Maybe it was too intimidating or awkward to go into a room with a bunch of other women. If so, I have an invitation for you:
Please join me for a FREE four-week study in Psalms!
You can do it from your home. You can download the lessons for free. You can watch the teaching lecture anytime you want. Are you interested? Here’s how it works:
Then check back on May 8 (or later) to watch the Introduction to the Study.
Download the free Bible study here: www.JoyofLiving.org/free-studies
Complete the daily questions on your own. It is available in both pdf or Word format. You can even write out the answers on your own paper if you don’t have access to a printer.
Take your time with these. Think. Pray. Ask God to teach you. There are daily questions, but you can take more time if you want. No need to rush.
After completing each week’s study, go to the YouTube channel and watch that week’s video teaching. Lessons for each week will posted as follows:
Week 1: May 8 (Introduction)
Week 2: May 15 (Psalm 23)
Week 3: May 22 (Psalm 34)
Week 4: May 29 (Psalm 139)
That’s all there is to it!
Will you/would you/could you commit to try this for four weeks? I’m hoping and praying you will! I’m convinced the Spirit of God can take the Word of God and stir up our hearts in powerful and even surprising ways. Please join us on this journey!
The teaching will remain on the channel, so if June (or later) works better for you than May you can do the study on your own schedule.
And if you would like to build in some accountability, consider engaging with a friend or group of friends to share your answers and discuss the passage. Who might you ask to do the study with you? Ideas include:
*Sister, mom, daughter, cousin, aunt, or friend.
*Women in your small group or Sunday School class.
*Neighbors, co-workers, college friends, high school friends.
You can connect via phone, Facetime, Zoom meeting, or social distance meet up.
God’s plan for His people was that they be a light to the world. He called them out to send them out.
When God established the nation of Israel, He said to Abraham:
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing…
And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Genesis 12:2-3
Our Lord Jesus echoed these words in His Sermon on the Mount:
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
God’s purpose for His people then–and God’s purpose for His people now– is that we would live different…that we would live counter to the culture….that we would live HOLY – that we would be that light shining in the darkness tof a world that desperately needs Him.
At the end of our study last week in I Samuel 7 – the people were worshipping God. They had experienced a spiritual high. They had repented, declared their commitment to return to God with ALL their hearts, they had gotten rid of their idols and God faithfully showed up and delivered them from the Philistines.
Samuel knew how prone they were to forget, so he led them to set up a stone – an Ebenezer stone, a “stone of help.”
Every time they looked at it they would be reminded that God is faithful. They would remember that God keeps His promises. And being reminded of what God had done in their past would give them hope and confidence that He would continue to be there in their future.
As we launch into I Samuel 8 this week, about 20-25 years have passed. A long time — enough time for the people to forget about God’s faithfulness and about their call and commitment to be holy and live for Him.
Rather than choosing to stay the course, remain faithful to their faithful God, to choose to be differen, they want to be like all the other nations. They want an earthly king. In demanding a human king to rule over them, they are rejecting God as their king.
Clearly, their eyes have shifted from the Ebenezer stone. Their hearts have shifted from focusing on God. The people ask Samuel for a king. Actually, they demand a king. And even after Samuel warns them of all the consequences that will come from an earthly king, they refuse to listen.
I Samuel 8:19-20 records their response to Samuel’s warning:
But the people refused to listen to Samuel.
“No!” they said. “We want a king over us.
Then we will be like all the other nations,
with a king to lead us and
to go out before us and fight our battles.”
I Samuel 8:19-20
Summed up: We want to be like everybody else. We want to adopt the ways of the culture we live in. We don’t want to be different. We don’t want to be holy.
As we sigh and shake our heads in amazement, as we criticize and condemn the people of Israel then, we must examine ourselves and even our churches today. Are we adopting the ways of the world? Do we water down the truth of scripture to blend in, be more relevant and be less controversial?
We must consider that both the end result and the way to get there must bear up under the testing and scrutiny of the truth of scripture.
One of my favorite Bible scholars, Warren Wiersbe, says this:
Whenever leadership in a church decays spiritually,
that church becomes more like the world
and uses the world’s methods and resources
to try to do God’s work.
–Warren Wiersbe
We can be smart and savvy–without compromising biblical truth.
Perhaps a re-working of Dr. Wiersbe’s quote might make it applicable to us:
Whenever a woman of God decays spiritually,
she becomes more like the world
and uses the world’s methods and resources
to try to do God’s work.
Ladies, we must do God’s work and we must do it God’s way. We must remain true to Him and His Word. We must choose holiness over even happiness and godliness over expediency. We must choose the joy that comes with living and abiding in Him. We must choose to live different – to live holy…so that our light will shine in the darkness and God will be glorified.
The woman of God is holy.
The definition of holy is simply:
devoted
dedicated
set apart for a purpose
The church is a holy building because it is set apart for God’s work and for worship. It is different from every other building.
The word of God is holy because it is different from every other book.
And the woman of God is holy because she is set apart for the purpose of glorying God. She is dedicated…devoted…. She chooses to reject the ways of the culture and embrace the joy of living for Him and being a light for Him in the darkness of this world.
Wedding rings: Visual reminders of vows made to each other.
The American Flag: A marker to declare allegiance, victory, ownership.
Monuments: Honor the service and sacrifice of those who gave all and help us remember the high price paid to purchase freedom for us all.
Scrapbooks and photo albums: Capture special events and keep records for future generations.
Monuments. Markers. Memories. Sometimes we need something tangible to help us remember, to keep us from forgetting. Our family, our community, and even our country – all erect monuments and markers to commemorate important events, great sacrifices, and extraordinary people.
Perhaps it’s even more important that we consider establishing spiritual monuments, markers, and memories.
That’s exactly what Samuel led the Israelites to do in I Samuel 7.
After 20 long years of separation from God: all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. I Samuel 7:2
Samuel then challenged them with a big IF. Ifyou are really serious about returning to God, then get rid of these idols you’ve worshipped in your past and choose to worship God alone in your future. He said it this way in verse three:
If you are returning to the LORD, with all your hearts,then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. I Samuel 7:3
Samuel exhorted them to rid themselves of their idols – to set aside their past behavior. He challenged them on that day to commit themselves to God and God alone. And the promise for the future was God’s protection.
Samuel then called them all together for prayer. The people fasted and confessed. Samuel offered a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The Philistines heard and they came to attack God’s people.
And God came and delivered them. His provision was immediate – even while Samuel was still offering the sacrifice.
The Philistines were in a state of panic. They are routed and the Israelites are given the victory. It’s as if God was waiting and ready to release blessing upon His people.
Samuel knew the importance of remembering the extraordinary events of that day. In verse 12 we read this:
Then Samuel took a stone
and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.
He named it Ebenezer,
saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
I Samuel 7:12
That stone would serve as a reminder to the people in the days to come of what the Lord had done for them on that day. Ebenezer means “stone of help.”
Every time God’s people would look at that stone it would serve as a reminder that God keeps His promises. He promised to help and He delivered.
It’s Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child!
I love this ministry. When raising our children, this was an annual tradition. We collected things all year in anticipation of packing boxes in November. Each child would pack a box for a boy or girl their age. It was a great launch to our own Christmas season. As everyone was making a Christmas list, it was good to be reminded that there are children whose only gifts will be those we pack in a box.
I’m continuing that tradition now with my granddaughter – she and I shopped together for a 4-year-old girl. Julia Grace was even persuaded to give up her latest Chick-fil-A board book (a treasured possession) to include in the box. Shouldn’t a real gift cost us something? Shouldn’t there be an element of sacrifice involved if it’s a genuine gift from our hearts?
Our ladies’ Bible study takes a break from our regular study each semester to do what we call a Love Out Loud. Our fall LOL has traditionally been shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Our ladies have such fun packing, writing notes, and then praying over them after we are finished. What a joy to anticipate how God can use such a small thing to do great big things.
You can get a glimpse of our LOL day by clicking on the YouTube link above.
If you need ideas for how to pack, check out this post from a blog I write for:
As we do this small thing, let’s pray God will bless the child who opens this box and that it would be a key to opening that child’s heart and mind to receive the message of the gospel.
May God bless you and yours this Christmas season and may He use every box that is packed to do “exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask or imagine!”
I learned the term “BAE” from my millennial daughter. It’s an acronym representing the phrase, Before Anything Else. And it’s a good phrase to use when doing a little self-assessment on the topic of idolatry.
As followers of Christ living in the 21st-century western world, we may assume idolatry is one sin we can cross off the list – we may readily acknowledge struggles with envy, pride, gluttony, etc, but since our home is free of statues and we don’t make trips to bow to graven images, we are okay – right? Perhaps not.
In our study in I Samuel 5, the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines. They haul it into the temple of their god, Dagon. The inference, of course, is that the God of Israel (represented by the Ark of the Covenant) is inferior to their man-made god. The first morning their false god is found fallen on his face. The next morning he has fallen again and his head and hands broken off. Subsequently, disease and devastation come to the Philistines. They play the game “hot potato” – passing the Ark on to other Philistines cities before finally returning it to the Israelites.
But they never consider the obvious: the God of Israel is the true God.
Merriam-Webster.com defines an idol as “an object of extreme devotion.” Nancy Collins says an idol is “anything that is loved or revered more than God.”
Keeping those two definitions in mind, what is your BAE? Is there anything in your life that is an object of extreme devotion or is loved or revered more than God?
In this week’s teaching, we borrowed from the game show Family Feud to complete these three statements:
I never leave the house without _____________.
When I’m happy (or sad or angry or hurt), I __________.
The one thing I never miss is ___________.
We offered some possible “survey says” answers to prod us to consider the possibility that we do indeed struggle with idolatry issues.
I hope you will watch the entire teaching lecture on YouTube (just click the arrow on the photo above) . I also pray that this week’s study will prompt you to declare in your heart and in your mind that Jesus is your BAE!
Matthew 6:21 says:
For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Can you honestly say that you treasure God– that you treasure His Word?
There is nothing inherently wrong with vacations and shoes and family time and even money – but are those good things usurping the best thing? Is God alone the object of our extreme devotion? Can we declare that there is nothing or no one else in our lives that is loved or revered more than God?
Sometimes what’s not there is even more telling than what is:
Thanksgiving dinner with no turkey leaves a huge whole on the dinner table
A car up on blocks with no wheels tells a sad story– you’ve been robbed.
Did your kids try to play the “last puzzle piece game” at your house? Sneak out a piece and hide it just so they could be the one to put in the last piece? No matter how beautiful the rest of the scene, our eye is drawn to that gaping hole.
In I Samuel Chapter 4, the Israelites go out to fight with the Philistines and are defeated. As they regroup and consider what to do next, what’s not there is even more revealing than what is. I Samuel 4:3 says,
When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked,
“Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines?
Let us bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh,
so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
They inquire of each other, but not of the LORD. They immediately decide to haul out the ark of the covenant – an action that comes dangerously close to idolatry. Where is the prayer? Where is the seeking after God? The first battle led to a sound defeat and as they prepare for round two what’s missing speaks volumes about their relationship with God—or lack thereof.
The Israelites wanted God’s blessings, but not God Himself. What’s not recorded is as telling as what is: no conviction or confession, no prayer or praise, no calling out to God, no worship – just human effort and human striving.
Do you and I ever do the same? Do we roll up our sleeves and get to work before dropping to our knees in prayer or lifting our arms in praise?
Let’s ask God to convict us when we resort to manipulation to manage life’s challenges.
Let’s ask God to help us make praise and prayer our first response to hardship.
Let’s ask God to Help us see where the problem is not really the ‘Philistines’ before us, but perhaps our own hearts.
Let’s ask God to call us to be women who worship before we get down to work.
In this week’s teaching, we also unpacked some explanations for why God causes or allows bad things to happen. You can watch the entire teaching for this week’s passage by clicking the arrow on the photo above. It would also bless our ministry if you would click that red subscribe button when you finish. (It’s free). Have a blessed week!
