Happy hump day, folks. Technically, Tuesday was my hump day but I’m keeping tabs on today because around this time last week I was back to slacking off. Today, so far, we’re right on schedule with my routine – actually, even a bit earlier than usual because I need to be out in a bit to do stuff.
I’m reminding myself today that consistency is key – and that as God is faithful, so we are able to be faithful to what we commit to. I’m reminding myself that God is faithful – God is a faithful Father, rather.
I am thankful that no matter how the seasons turn out, I am always in the presence of the Lord, guaranteed by Christ and His finished work, proven by His Spirit alive in us.
Thank You, Lord, for health; For Life, for Love, and for Light in all things.
Thank You, Father, for the reading of Your Word.
Psalm 25
Teach Me Your Paths
OF DAVID.
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
Whatever happened to those old school songs by Maranatha? They had a song that was based off of these two verses in particular. Nothing complicated, no lyrical verses, no separate chorus, just these verses repeated again and again.
Sorry, I just had to jump into the Youtubes to play it:
Unto thee o Lord, do I lift up my soul
Unto thee o Lord, do I lift up my soul
O my God, I trust in thee,
Let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me.
And apparently, I was mistaken. Those last two lines were the chorus. And they didn’t just sing verse 1, but they went all the way down to verse 7.
Most of the comments on the video I clicked on mentioned how this song stuck to them after so many years, and I agree with one of them as to why – because it was purely based on the Gospel. On Scripture.
I suppose that’s a lesson for me – if you want something to stick, you need to draw from Scripture, of infinite significance.
I’m brought to consider this – not only for song selections, but compositions, sermons, facilitations, statements of faith; oh, that last one, especially.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
I’ve been fond of quoting lately, on how we trust in God, and on how we will not be put to shame – But prayers of mercy towards those who declare themselves our enemies, because the Lord shall not allow them to triumph, and it’s more likely that they would be put to shame.
However it plays, may the will of the Lord be done – may none perish, but may many or all come to repentance; All for the glory of His name, forever.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
We pray for others, as Paul prayed for the Colossians and the Ephesians – for them to be filled in the knowledge of the will of God; But as for us, we sing songs of praise that we may also be equipped with the truth; That by the power of the Holy Spirit, we would also be taught and shown His paths and His ways – that we would see more and more into the significance of Christ, the Way of ways, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
And, yes, by the way, we will not be put to shame when we trust in the Lord, but here I’m also reminded that we renew our strength when we wait on Him.
6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
The Lord is merciful, in that He reveals His way to sinners – surely as His Spirit is faithful to convict the world of sin (along with righteousness and judgment), so, in that sense, He reveals His love and goodness. His glory is seen in all of creation, and our prayer is that it would lead many to repentance.
(Gosh, I’m sorry, I’m not really sure about the energy I’m sharing today as I type, but I just continue to pray that it all flows smoothly. Probably still rusty. Then again, I didn’t have a really good night’s rest last night. It’s taking me a little more than expected to elaborate, to clarify what I receive from the Word this morning… but I’m still going to roll with it. Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and Your faithfulness)
We are humbled, because You remember our sins no more, and through David’s composition we’re learning that You love us by teaching us Your way.
And we take in Your teachings, eagerly hearing what You share, because
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
By Your love, You teach us Your ways and paths… and in Your ways we see Your love, and in Your paths we see Your faithfulness even more.
Perhaps today isn’t about me making sense of it all for myself of for You, dear reader. I just pray that we would see His love and faithfulness in all that transpires today.
I keep telling myself that we need to make the most out of every moment by being present; Here I find myself saying that we take in God’s love at all times – because He is faithful, all the time.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
With all this mentioned, I’m just taking in that we would also be as open about our own afflictions, our own troubles. We could tell others and ourselves about our loneliness and our distress, but as members of the body of Christ, we would do well to celebrate God’s ever-present love and His faithfulness as a Father to us – by letting Him in on our suffering.
In our recalling our troubles, it is inevitable that we also remember our friendship with the Most High, His instruction, His reminders; We remember our forgiveness, and His faithfulness.
The deeper we get into the pain we feel, the more we see His steadfast love. The more we see His integrity and righteousness, the more our minds are renewed, and the more we give thanks, the more we rejoice.
The deeper we are in the dark, the brighter His light shines.
We are not alone. We are not forsaken. The best is yet to come. Take heart!
2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Proverbs 25:2-3
First of all. There was a time at church where we would be all about rebuking each other and sowing seeds of doubt and uncertainty… and it all starts and/or ends with the line: ‘Search your heart‘, quoting lines from the Bible, specifically where it says that the heart is deceitful… but completely disregarding how we’ve been made new creations, we have new hearts, and, in fact, we’ve been made obedient from the heart.
Second, if, as kings, or as part of a royal priesthood, if it’s our glory to search things out, we probably shouldn’t be wasting our time searching our own hearts – contrary to what we used to be spreading around our prayer circles, and also, contrary to all the introspection into the heart that the world encourages. We would do well to operate and act, knowing that this heart that we do have through Christ and His finished work, has been made new, and is reliable.
I’m led to do the exercise we were encouraged to do last night. Based on Ephesians 1:3-9, we would do well to know that we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Consequently, we are blessed here on earth as it is in heaven.
We ought to know and continue knowing in our hearts, that we have been chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, and as such, we should be holy and blameless before Him in love.
Our hearts should keep reminding our heads that we have been adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will. Not only have we been adopted, but we have been accepted in the beloved – we should know in our hearts that no matter what we go through in this life, we are beloved.
And here’s a solid hitter: Our hearts ought to rejoice, because regardless of it being unsearchable, it should probably be in step with our minds in continuing to declare that we have redemption through the blood of Christ, that we have the full forgiveness of our sins, all according to the riches of His grace.
Feels like something we’d rather trust instead of try (in vain) to understand.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.Proverbs 25:11-12
Here’s a reminder for us to listen well as much as we speak wisely. Speak from the mind of Christ. Seek faith when hearing, rather, when listening.
28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.Proverbs 25:28
And here’s a reminder that chaos reigns when control is absent. Also remembering Jocko Willink’s line: Discipline equals freedom.
Man, I’m sorry. Feeling all over the place in this ‘devotion’. But I’m sharing it anyway, not just for the words, but also to be open about my vulnerability today.
Not sure where it’s coming from. But my hope and trust continues to be in the Lord, now and always.
God bless you.
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