Worship and Wisdom

Psalms and Proverbs

I don’t know how this is blessing you as you read this each day, but to study Psalms and Proverbs together is reminding me where my help comes from and where my strength and tenaciousness abide.  It is God!  ALL God!  Do you hear God speaking wisdom and truth right the core of your being?  Do you understand that He is God and we are not?  Are we realizing the full extent of His sacrificial, relentless, unchanging love that He has for us? 

As we read, are we gaining new insight as God pours out all He has for us in His Word to nourish our thirsty souls?  Are we gaining ground in our stand against the world’s ways prompted by the enemy?  Are we willing to allow God’s Holy Spirit to challenge, correct, comfort, and critique us in God’s effort to grow and mature us to be all He intended for us to be?  Are we developing the fruits of His Holy Spirit?  Are we more and more becoming in character like His Son, Jesus Christ?

These are all the questions I am asking myself today?  Is what we are reading and applying to our lives worth the time?  YES!  A million times, YES! 

Where would I be without the Lord to guide me?  I don’t even want to know. 

Psalm 5, The Message

A David Psalm

5 ^1-3 Listen, God! Please, pay attention!
Can you make sense of these ramblings,
my groans and cries?
    King-God, I need your help.
Every morning
    you’ll hear me at it again.
Every morning
    I lay out the pieces of my life
    on your altar
    and watch for fire to descend.

^4-6 You don’t socialize with Wicked,
    or invite Evil over as your houseguest.
Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;
    you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.
God destroys Lie-Speaker;
    Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.

^7-8 And here I am, your invited guest—
    it’s incredible!
I enter your house; here I am,
    prostrate in your inner sanctum,
Waiting for directions
    to get me safely through enemy lines.

^9-10 Every word they speak is a land mine;
    their lungs breathe out poison gas.
Their throats are gaping graves,
    their tongues slick as mudslides.
Pile on the guilt, God!
    Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.
Kick them out! They’ve had their chance.

^11-12 But you’ll welcome us with open arms
    when we run for cover to you.
Let the party last all night!
    Stand guard over our celebration.
You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,
    for decking us out in delight.

TRUTH: “You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers!”

When we are overwhelmed by the life we live, perplexed by what is going on around us or at a loss for how to overcome, God, our Father, welcomes us with open arms.  We take shelter under His care.  As we seek God, we find Him.  We discover that He has been there all along waiting to love, help and teach us through all adversities. 

Are we famous for pointing the struggling to God?

Proverbs 3:21-35

Never Walk Away

^21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
    don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
    they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
    you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
    you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
    or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
    he’ll keep you safe and sound.

^27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
    your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time”
    or “Try me tomorrow”
    when the money’s right there in your pocket.
Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
    when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.

^30-32 Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder,
    always spoiling for a fight.
Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.
    Why be a bully?
“Why not?” you say. Because God can’t stand twisted souls.
    It’s the straightforward who get his respect.

^33-35 God’s curse blights the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
    but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honor;
    stupid living gets the booby prize.

WISDOM: “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.”  God “blesses the home of the righteous”.  Blessings from God are God’s character traits continuing developing in us.  See Galatians 5 for a description of Godly traits which are the opposites of being a bully as described in this passage!

Abba Father,

Thank you for reminding us daily that this life is not about us but all about you.  We were created to praise you.  We were given specific gifts and abilities to serve You by serving others.  We thank you for maturing us by the daily dive into Your Words of wisdom and honest worship.  Thank you for saving us from ourselves.  Thank you for renewing our spirit and restoring the pure joy of your salvation in us.  I love you, Lord with all that is in me.  I praise your Holy Name today.  I’m listening for what you want from me today.  In Jesus Name, Amen