HAPPINESS AND INTEGRITY

 HAPPINESS AND INTEGRITY

Ps. 119:1 Happy are the people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord. Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts. NLT

Almost everyone wants to just be happy in life. People try a countless number of ways to find a semblance of happiness. Promises are made all the time about if a person does this or buys that, that they will find happiness. Many believe happiness is found in a pill, a bank account, popularity, fame, a career, etc. People spend all their lives trying to find happiness and if they perchance do find something that makes them happy, they find out quickly that it doesn't last. The Psalmist tells us where lasting happiness is really found.

Happiness is found by those who have integrity of heart, those who live by the Word of God. Integrity is rooted in the character of God. It is a Christ-likeness in the soul. It is striving to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and thinking about the right things. It is living by God's standards and not the standards of the world.

Happiness is obeying God's Word and searching for Him with all of one's heart. This means that one must regularly be into God's Word. He must read it, meditate upon it, let the Holy Spirit give him an understanding of it, and then seek to apply it to his living. It is living by the highest standard possible, a holy life. It is a life that is much deeper than emotions; it's a life that is steady regardless of the circumstances of life.

Happiness is to know the Lord and living like you do. It's as simple as that.

CALMATIES

 CALAMITIES

Ps. 34:21-22 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned. NLT

Christians are not immune to life's calamities. We deal with tragedies just like the rest of the world. We go through devastating times of life. We suffer like everyone else. We deal with diseases and death like everyone else does. Life is not easy for anyone.

However, when it comes to our spiritual lives, there is a distinct difference between believers and non-believers. Certain calamity falls on the wicked. In this life it may not seem so, but yet, we don't know the agony of their souls as they try to deal with life. Behind the image, they like to portray lies a very lonely, hopeless, and dark soul. After death, their fate is even worse. They are cast into utter darkness with tormenting fires, agonizing souls with no help or hope of escape. Eternal alienation from God and anything good will be their punishment.

For the righteous, those who serve the Lord, there is great good and reward for them both in this life and in eternity. In the Lord we find peace for our souls, knowing our sins are forgiven, forgotten, and forever purged from us. In the Lord, we have joy as we live in His presence. We know what it is to love and be loved by God. We have fellowship with God as we serve Him. We have help from God as we go through the calamities of life; He holds us steady and helps up to get back on our feet and keep going. And, after we die, we spend eternity with Him, engulfed in His perfect love, holiness, and glory.

Trust in the Lord regardless of what life throws at you and you will be truly blessed. He will set you free and you will soar like an eagle and not be overcome by life or be afraid.

THE LORD WILL HELP YOU

 THE LORD WILL HELP YOU

Ps. 34:19-20 The righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one. For the LORD protects them from harm--not one of their bones will be broken! NLT

Don't kid yourself. Being a Christian does not spare you from the bad things of life. Troubles do come our way. Temptations still come. Turbulent times still come. Terrible times even come our way. BUT, the Lord is with us as we go through them and He rescues us from each and every one of them. Never does the Lord let us deal with life without Him. He helps all who are in Him and who will let Him help them. He doesn't force His help on us, but He is always there for those who want Him.

No matter what you are facing in your life, the Lord is here for you. He wants to help you. He is able to help you. All He is waiting for is for you to let Him. Call on Him and He will answer your call for help. It makes no sense at all to me when we struggle through life and don't call on the Lord for help. He is ready, willing, and able to help you.

Why not call on Him right now and ask Him to help you through your troubles? Don’t put it off. The sooner you call on the Lord, the sooner He will help you. Your troubles may not go away, but your stress over them will. He will give you peace in your troubles and the wisdom and strength you need to get through them.  

TROUBLES OF THE RIGHTEOUS

 TROUBLES OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Ps. 34:19 The righteous face many troubles, but the LORD rescues them from each and every one. NLT

Anyone who says that the righteous can live trouble-free lives is not reading their Bible. God's Word is full of accounts where the godly endure all kinds of trouble. The way to heaven is a difficult one and very few actually walk it. Why? Because we don't like troubles. We want as little trouble as possible in our lives. We want everything to go smoothly and for everyone to like us. We want as much as possible heaven on earth.

Life is full of trouble for the righteous because we live in a world that is not our home. We are on Satan's turf and there is conflict everywhere. Satan is a master at harassing God's children and he is relentless in doing it. If we stay true to Christ we will always be at war with Satan. If you live a trouble-free life you are not living a life that is pleasing to God.

The good news is that we don't face our troubles all alone. The Lord is with us and saves us from all of our troubles. He doesn't leave us alone in our struggles. If He did, we would not make it; we would crumble underneath the pressure and stress of it all. The Lord helps us through our troublesome times. He uses people and His Word to give us the strength to overcome. He whispers to our hearts to reassure us that He is near and we will make it.

The troubles of life are good for the soul. They cause us to turn to the Lord. They help to develop our faith and make us stronger. They help us to appreciate the Lord and His people more. They help us to know even more deeply that every promise of God is true and that He never leaves or forsakes us.

Yes, the righteous face troublesome times. Life sometimes gets very messy and complicated. Sometimes we are so troubled that we see no way out. Yet, the Lord's promise for the righteous is that He will save us from all our troubles. We may stumble our way through them, but we will never crumble if we trust in Him.  

THE LORD CARES

 THE LORD CARES

Ps. 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. NLT

The Lord cares about our hurting hearts. He cares when we are so full of sorrow that our hearts threaten to break. He cares when we go through times of life when it seems like all hope is gone and there is no more reason to live. Let the truth of this verse be branded deep into your heart. When times of brokenness come, it is very difficult to be comforted. The sorrow and grief of the moment are overpowering and controlling. It is then that we must let God’s Word come out of our minds and into our hearts. We must be reminded that God is nearby. He has not left or forsaken us to suffer all alone. He is near to embrace and comfort us. He can be depended on to take our hand and lead us through the darkness and into the light.

It is so important that we learn God’s promises while we are in the light so that when the darkness comes, we will not be without hope or help. Write this verse down somewhere where you will be able to find it when you need it the most. Mark it with a heading like, “When brokenhearted”. Tape it somewhere you know you will find it, perhaps inside the leaf of your Bible, on your refrigerator door, or some similar place.

Life is not without sorrow and pain, but we have a Comforter who will always be there for us when we are faced with them. The promise of God is if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Don’t wallow in your suffering, grief, or pain. Take it all to the Lord, linger in His presence, and He will carry your burdened heart for you. The Lord really does care about you and wants to help you. Will you let Him?

THE LORD IS NEAR

 THE LORD IS NEAR

Ps. 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. NLT

Some who are reading this today are brokenhearted. Someone you love may have broken your heart by leaving you. Perhaps someone has said or done something that absolutely crushed your spirit. Perhaps you are brokenhearted because of the decision someone you love has made the decision to leave the Lord out of their life. Perhaps someone you have reached out to has turned you away. Perhaps someone has betrayed your trust. It hurts us deeply when our heart is broken.

There is another type of brokenheartedness, and that is being genuinely sorrowful for the sins you have done against God. When the Lord convicts us of sin and we accept our responsibility before God for them, it breaks our hearts. If we truly love the Lord and understand how much we have hurt Him because of our sin, it crushes us. Understanding the damage sin has done to our souls and how it has affected others, crushes us. Understanding the damage sin does in the world crushes us. We cannot love the Lord without feeling remorse over sin.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit. No matter what causes the heart to break, the Lord is near and can heal it. The Lord comforts the brokenhearted. He gives us the soul strength to move forward instead of lingering in our brokenness He gives us hope in the most seemingly hopeless of situations. He embraces us in His love and His Word. He leads us to the green pastures where we can lie down and rest. He replenishes our souls so that we can carry on.

No matter what you may be facing in life today, the Lord is near. He wants to touch your broken heart and heal you. He wants to lift you up and once again put you on the Solid Rock. Dear friend, open your heart up to the Lord today. Give Him your brokenness. Tell Him everything. He loves you and wants to help you. He will take the heavy burden off of your soul and heal you. Won't you let Him have His way with you today?

THE LORD HEARS

 THE LORD HEARS

Ps. 34:17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. NLT

Sometimes we get so caught up in our circumstances of life that God seems so far away. The more suffering we experience, the more doubts we have that God is near or hears us. When nothing seems to change, we begin to lose our grip on faith. We begin to listen to Satan's suggestions that God has abandoned us or doesn't care about us as we suffer.

When your faith begins to waver, remember this wonderful and powerful truth: “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles." The Lord hears the heart cry of His children. Even when we can't even put into words what we are feeling, God hears us. He knows all about the thoughts and feelings we go through. He cuts through the pain and agony we may have and listens to our heart's cries. He hears and rescues us from all our troubles.

Sometimes the answers we need are not evident to us. We don't always know what needs to take place to free us from our circumstances. We don't know what is best for us. We don't know how to handle some of life's struggles. But, the Lord knows exactly what we need and how to meet it. When we let Him have our difficulties, He makes a way out of them for us.

God never has and never will abandon His children or His plans for them. He is with them each step they take in life's journey. He is with them during their darkest hours. He has a plan for each one and when we wait upon Him and trust Him, He fulfills His plan in us. His plan is always to bless. His plan is to always lead His children into a deeper relationship with Him. His plan is to use all of our life's circumstances to make us holy, a people after His own heart.

THE LORD IS WATCHING

 THE LORD IS WATCHING

Ps. 34: 15-16 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. NLT

There are three wonderful truths to note in these verses: the Lord watches over those who do what is right, His ears are open to those who cry to Him for help, and the Lord turns away from those who do evil.

The Lord watches over those who do what is right. How we live does not go unnoticed by the Lord. You may sometimes feel like it's a waste of time and energy to try and do what pleases the Lord, but it's not. The Lord sees how we live and He will reward us for it. Without the fruits of faith, the words of faith are meaningless. What we do determines our rewards in heaven. The Lord watches over us to keep us on the right track, to help us do right, and to help us be right. He has an invested interest in our lives; He pours His life and Spirit into us.

His ears are open to our cries. My wife penned a song a few years ago with the phrase in it, "Each time I cried, He stood by my side." That one phrase says it all; the Lord hears our hearts cry. He is always aware of how we hurt. Whether we say it with words or just cry out in moaning from the deep recesses of our souls, the Lord hears our cries. We are never ignored or forgotten. The ears of the Lord are open to our cries. God heard the deep cry of Hannah’s heart when all she could do was move her lips, and God heard her cry and gave her a son, the prophet Samuel ( I Samuel 1:1-18).

On the other hand, the Lord turns away from those who do evil. He does not answer their prayers just because they pray. He does not keep track of them as they foray in their sinful ways. In fact, He will erase their very memory from off the earth. Without the righteousness of Christ, God cannot have fellowship with them. Their sin-crusted hearts makes them enemies of God and objects of His holy wrath.  

HOW TO FEAR THE LORD

 HOW TO FEAR THE LORD

Ps. 34:11-14 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. NLT

First of all, listening requires us to be still long enough to pay attention. It means we respect the one who is speaking to us. It means we are quiet while the other person speaks.

The Psalmist has something very important to teach us today. He will teach us how to fear the Lord. When we learn this lesson of life, we will be assured that life will be good for us, both now and for eternity.

To fear the Lord means we get a handle on our tongues. We understand that God is holy and expects us to live holy lives. If your heart is holy, you won’t let unholy things come out of your mouth. You will be very careful that only that which is true will come from you. What you speak comes from what is in you. You can only be truthful when the Truth lives in you. To lie when Christ is in you is showing Him great disrespect. It is being what He is not. The point that must be learned here is that we CAN control our tongues. We do determine what comes out of our mouths. If we say things we shouldn’t, then we need to confess our sin and ask the Lord to help us.

To fear the Lord also means we turn away from evil and do good. It is easier to turn towards evil than it is away from it. We have to want to not let evil influence us. We have to want to do good. It takes a great determination on our part to overcome evil and we will always have to work hard at it.

To fear the Lord also means we strive to live in peace with others. Not everyone is going to cooperate with us, but as far as we are concerned, we will work hard at it. We will try to be ambassadors for Christ amongst the people we know and live around. Peace will be our primary objective. When peace doesn’t happen, we don’t let it ruin our living. We leave it with the Lord, let Him deal with it, and keep striving to do what we know is right before God.

Are you hearing what the Lord wants you to hear today?

WATCH YOUR TONGUE

 WATCH YOUR TONGUE

Ps. 34:11-14 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD. Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. NLT

If you want to live a life that is long and good, then you have to watch your tongue. This does not mean you are guaranteed a long and good life, but it does mean that you will enhance your chances of living a messed-up life that may be cut short if you don't watch your tongue. It has been said that honesty is the best policy, and it is true.

Lying to others makes you untrustworthy. If others cannot depend on you to be truthful, you will fail to have anyone in life who can depend on you in time of need. You will be lonely and without help in your own times of need.

A much better way to live is to turn away from evil and do good. When you live rightly with God, you can be trusted to tell the truth. God is truth and those who live in Christ will be a people of truth. A person that wants to please God will seek to be truthful in all things, even when it may not be convenient or when it may be costly for him to do so.

We need to work hard at living at peace with others. Truthfulness is absolutely essential for peaceful living. It doesn't come naturally or easily, but with a lot of effort, it can be done. Our commitment to godliness enables us to not be at odds with others because of our untrustworthiness. Peace sometimes eludes us because of the heart issues of others, but as far as it is possible with you, live rightly with God so you can live rightly with others.

Notice that this is doable. We are told to take charge of our tongues, hearts, and living. If it were not possible, God would not tell us to do it. So then, it becomes a matter of the will. If you want to live control your tongue and live peaceably with others, you can if you will but try.

REVERENCE FOR GOD

 REVERENCE FOR GOD

Ps. 34:9-10 Let the LORD's people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good thing. NLT

We are to show the Lord reverence. This means that we are to not dishonor Him by the things we say and do. It means that we take seriously what He teaches us and obey His commandments. It means that we don't take our salvation lightly. It means that we purposely seek out His best for us, which is holy living.

If our conduct and conversations do not show reverence for the Lord, we cannot expect the Lord to help us. So often, people treat the Lord as one who is at their beckon and call. He is expected to deliver without regard for how we live. So many get the idea that we don't have any role to play in our relationship with the Lord.

Many professing believers do not strive to become holy because they fail to see it as a necessity. The belief is that once one is saved, then they can go on with their lives, forgetting about growing in faith. There is a satisfaction with a profession of faith and little interest in pursuing holy living. Such thinking does not honor the Lord. We cannot be true to the Lord and honor Him without a commitment to holiness in our lives. We are made holy by how we live. We cannot separate holiness from living in Christ.

Those who trust in the Lord will have all they need in life. We trust Him for our salvation and holiness. We immerse ourselves in Him and when we do, we will lack no good thing. We may lack some things, but never that which is necessary and good for us. Always remember, what is good for us are those things which help us to be prepared for heaven. Good things are those things that help us to be holy. Good things are those things that draw us close to God and help us stay there.

TASTE AND SEE

 TASTE AND SEE

Ps. 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him! NLT

Open your mouth and fill it with the things of God. Chew on the riches of His grace. Feast on the love He has for you. Let Him fill you up with His righteousness and holiness. Let the Lord be your nourishment. Taste and you will see that the Lord is good.

The Lord is good completely. There is nothing about the Lord that is bad. He is incapable of doing anything to you and for you that is not good. He will always do good through you if you will let Him. Don’t deprive yourself of a good life. Feast on the Lord. Learn His ways and do them. Trust in Him alone for your living. If you do these things, you too will know the joys of living.

The joy of the Lord is unspeakable and full of glory. It is not something that we can easily describe. It is a deep and abiding confidence in Him. It is the assurance of soul that you are in God’s favor. It is the sense that everything is as God says it is. We are children of God and someday we will be with Him for all eternity. The joy of the Lord is being deeply rooted in Christ. It is found only in those who put the Lord first in all of their living.

You cannot know true joy apart from a personal relationship with Christ. Joy comes from knowing your sins are forgiven and Jesus is your life. Is Jesus your Savior today?

Do you trust the Lord in all things in your life? Do you have that total dependence on Him for all things? Do you have an unshakable and immovable confidence in the Lord? Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!

 GUARDED AND RESCUED

Ps. 34: 7 For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear him, and he rescues them. NLT

In the previous verses, the Psalmist reminds us that when we are focused on Christ we will not focus on our fears. Staying in close fellowship with Christ makes us feel safe and secure, free from fear. David continues his thoughts here by telling us that the angel of the LORD guards all who fear Him.

There is a sense in which we ought to fear God. We need to respect who He is in His holiness. God is certainly love, but His love is a holy love. He does not, He cannot, He will not, overlook sin. He will never tolerate sin in His presence and the sooner we accept this powerful truth, the better off we will be. We dare not take lightly that which God takes very seriously. Hell exists for those who live and die in their sin.

When we have a proper sense of fear of God, He keeps us safe. He watches over us and keeps us out of harm's way. Satan cannot fill a soul full of sin who is focused on the Lord. Satan may harass us but that is all he can do to us. When we live with a guarded soul against sin, we cannot be held captive by sin and its influences. When we sin, we immediately flee to our ark of safety, Calvary, and ask the Lord to forgive us, and He does.

The Lord rescues us from all that would destroy us. He rescues us from Satan and his demonic forces and he rescues us from our own tendencies to wander away from God. We are kept safe in the arms of Jesus when our hearts stay focused on Him.

The angel of the Lord is not described here, but often when the angel of the Lord is referred to, it is referring to the pre-incarnate Christ. While we cannot say for absolute certain that the Psalmist is referring to Christ here, the text seems to suggest he is. It is the Lord who watches over us and rescues us as we face opposition in our walk of faith.

The Lord is watching over those who fear Him, to stand guard over them, and to rescue them. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

HE SET ME FREE

 HE SET ME FREE

Ps. 34:5-6 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow will darken their faces. I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. NLT

Let's face it; we don't always look to the Lord for help when we need it. We tend to try other things first. When they fail us, then we turn to the Lord. We can spare ourselves a lot of frustrations, stresses, and problems by turning first to the Lord in our times of need.

Don't you just love to be around people who radiate with joy? Some people are so miserable within that they can't stand to be around those who aren't, but most people find being around joyful people picks them up, inspires, and encourages them. People with real joy just shine. It shows in their faces and there is just something about the way they handle themselves that attracts us.

True joy comes from living in Christ in the present. Life is a celebration because Christ is in it. It is knowing that the Lord is always with us and will never let us down. It is knowing that when we cry out to the Lord He hears us. It is being set free from all our fears. It is being able to rest peacefully in the Lord's presence knowing that all things are under His control and that all is well with our souls.

We can have great joy in our souls, no matter how much we may have to suffer. We can rejoice knowing that we are not forsaken or forgotten. The Lord is with us and He will help us. When we call upon Him, it's not a waste of our time. He hears our cries and sets us free from all our fears. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The Lord does not want us to go through life miserable; He came to set us free and give us life more abundantly. Isn’t it about time for you to give the Lord all that is weighing you down and live in the joy of your salvation?  

RADIANT WITH JOY

 RADIANT WITH JOY

Ps. 34:5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy, no shadow or shame will darken their faces. NLT

If you are struggling with sin and it is weighing you down to the point where there isn’t much joy in your life, there is hope and help for you in Christ. No matter how much of a hold a particular sin may have on you, Christ can help you. If you keep doing the same thing over and over again, it’s simply because you haven’t really dealt with it properly in Christ.

Confession is good for the soul, but it is not enough. True repentance affects the will as well. There needs to be the determination to let the Lord change your desires from wanting to sin to not wanting to sin. There must be a willingness to let go of your sinful desires and habits so that you can do what is pleasing to God and not you. When godly change begins to happen, we begin to radiate with joy because we know that at last we have found victory over our sins. No more shame will darken our faces. No more sadness will plague our souls.

Are you radiating with joy? Can people see in you your peace with God? Do people enjoy being around you because of your obvious love relationship with God? Do you see in the mirror someone who is at peace with God? Does it really show? Does it?

If you are walking around with unconfessed sin because of something you have done, said, or a wrong spirit towards someone, you will never radiate with joy. How about it, are there things you need to get out in the open before the Lord and surrender to Him? Joy unspeakable and full of glory awaits you when you once you do. Do it now, while the Lord is speaking to you.  

FREED FROM ALL FEARS

 FREED FROM ALL FEARS

Ps. 34:4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. NLT

Evidently, the Psalmist, David, was going through a time of fear. He wasn't any different than we are. He was fearful for his life. He was in the presence of a king whom he did not trust. He was sure that his life was on the line. It is good to know that we are not alone. Faith does not eliminate our fears. We do get afraid of those who would cause us harm. We do get afraid when we are faced with the reality of potential death. We do fear the unknown. We do fear illnesses and their effect on us. We do fear growing old and the uncertainties that come with it. We do fear for our future and whether or not we will be equipped to handle it. Fear is natural and there are a lot of them. How we handle our fears is what is important. We can let our fears cripple us and keep us from living, or we can follow David's example and give them all to the Lord.

When we take our fears to the Lord and let Him handle them, amazing things begin to happen within us. The Lord wants us to give Him our fears. He wants us to be honest enough to admit to Him that we have them. He wants us to trust Him with them. He wants to free us from them. He wants us to know the peace of heart that comes from living without fear. He wants us to be able to keep on living no matter what may frighten us. He wants us to know that He is with us and will help us be overcomers.

Just like David, if you take your fears to the Lord and give them to Him, He will free you from them. You do not need to be a prisoner to your fears. You do not need to stop living because of them. The Lord will set you free from all your fears if you will but pray and give them over to Him. Wait on the Lord and He will give you the strength of heart to carry on. Rest in the Lord, and everything will be alright. You will be able to boldly face your fears with confidence and conquer them when you trust in the Lord.

Don't get me wrong; it is good to fear some things. It helps us to stay away from potential harm and danger. We should pay attention to our fears and be cautious, but we should not let them cripple us and keep us from living. Let the Lord have His way with you and He will help you overcome your fears.

COME, TELL, EXALT

 COME, TELL, EXALT

Ps. 34:3 Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together. NLT

This verse is dear to my heart. It is the verse I used when I proposed to my wife. She got the message right away and it has forever changed my life.

One of the fond memories I have growing up is testimony time in church services. There were frequently times set aside for people to tell what the Lord had been doing for them during the week. I know that many churches still include testimony time in their services, but for many, it has gone by the wayside. It is always good for people to hear what the Lord is doing in others' lives and to share what is going on in one's own life. It helps to re-enforce the reality that God meets with us outside the church walls and impacts our lives in very personal and profound ways. It's good to hear about God answering prayers, His faithfulness, and His goodness.

Saying that God is great and knowing it from personal experience is two totally different things. Everything about God is great and we need to often remind ourselves of that. It honors the Lord and blesses our souls when we come together and praise the Lord. It ought to be the goal of all our worship services to lift up the name of the Lord in praise and thanksgiving. We praise Him in song and through sharing together what He is doing in our lives. It is good to learn together about the Lord through our classes and sermons, but it is equally as important to sing forth His praises for He is worthy; He is Savior and Lord of the Church.

What a blessing it is to tell others what the Lord is doing in our lives and to hear as well what He is doing in other people’s lives.

BOAST IN THE LORD

 BOAST IN THE LORD

Ps. 34:2 I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged take heart. NLT

Boasting, we like to do it, don't we? We boast about a lot of things. We boast about our achievements. We boast when someone we love accomplishes something special. We boast about our careers, jobs, possessions, and even our spirituality. It is just ingrained in us to want to draw attention to ourselves, or those we are connected with when accomplishments are achieved. We all know grandmothers who brag about their grandkids. Many carry around pictures to share at the drop of a hat. Guys brag about their cars, guns, physique, jobs, etc. There is no end to the things we brag about.

There was a lot that King David could boast about. He was king, a mighty warrior, a prolific writer, wealthy, a spiritual icon in his day, and was very popular in his world. He could have pointed out any number of things to boast about, but he didn't. David determined in his heart that he would only boast about one thing, the Lord.

David was only willing to boast about who the Lord is, what He had done, what He was doing for him now, and what He would do in the future. David loved the Lord so much that he only wanted to draw attention to Him, not himself. He understood that only in the Lord could we find encouragement for our living. It is only in the Lord that we find help for living. It is only in the Lord that we find purpose and meaning in the things we do and accomplish. It is only by living by faith in the Lord that we will ever see God.

The next time you are tempted to pat yourself on the back and draw attention to yourself, remember what David said, "I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged take heart."

CONSTANTLY PRAISE THE LORD

 CONSTANTLY PRAISE THE LORD

Ps. 34:1 I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly sing his praises. NLT

Dear friend, determine in your heart today that you will praise the Lord at all times. Our willingness and ability to praise the Lord should never be determined by our circumstances of life. Yes, life does get messy. Things aren't always pleasant. We sometimes are heavy-burdened and distraught over what is happening in our lives. We get to the point where our faith is weak and we tend to crumble underneath the load. We are often deeply affected by the things that go wrong in our lives and do not feel like praising the Lord. We do tend to become more consumed by our circumstances than we are by the Lord. Yet, we are to praise the Lord.

Singing God's praises is good for the soul. It takes our attention away from us and life and puts it where it should be, on the Lord. When we praise the Lord we are reminded of who He is, what He has done, and what He promises to do. We are reminded that life's circumstances do not define who we are. We are reminded that God is our Redeemer and friend, that He has not forsaken us and will be with us each step we take. When we praise the Lord we are declaring He is worthy to be praised and our confidence is in Him.

Make a commitment today to praise the Lord, to continually sing forth His praises at all times, and you will know the joys of your salvation no matter what life may bring your way. Praise Him for the small things of life. Praise Him for the big things of life. Praise Him for life itself. Praise Him for eternal life. Praise Him for His promises and the hope we have in Him. In all things and at all times, let praise flow from your heart to His heart. Praise the Lord.  

SEARCH ME, O GOD

 SEARCH ME, O GOD

Ps. 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. NLT

I dare you to pray this prayer from your heart today. I dare you to let the Lord search out your heart and reveal to you what He finds there. Do you have the guts to let the Lord have access to your thought life? What do you think about that you don’t want others to know about? God knows all that you think about. What kind of thoughts do you have for those who wrong you? God knows what you are thinking. What do you think about when things don’t go your way and things begin to fall apart in your life? God knows what you are thinking.

Do you have the guts to ask the Lord to point out anything He finds that offends Him? Think about it. In light of what you understand from the Word, is there anything going on in your head or heart that you know offends God? Be honest with yourself. You know there are things that God is not pleased with. We all have the same problem. We all sin against God. What is He pointing out to you today?

What are you going to do about it? Are you going to continue on as if it doesn’t matter what the Lord finds, or are you going to confess it and seek the Lord’s forgiveness? You will do one or the other. If you don’t seek the Lord’s forgiveness, you won’t have His peace overshadowing your life until you do. You will not enjoy the presence of God until you do. It’s your choice.

Do you want the Lord to lead you along the path of everlasting life? He wants to do that for you, but He won’t drag you along. He will gladly lead you if you are willing to follow. He will show you how to live a life that pleases Him. He will show you what you need to get rid of in your heart and the changes you need to make. He will not mess around. He will lead you directly on the path of righteousness. He will not take any side trips. The way to heaven is a narrow path and you must stay behind the Lord at all times if you are going to safely make it home.

Do you dare to follow in the footsteps of Jesus today by letting him have his way with you?

OKAY TO HATE?

 OKAY TO HATE?

Ps. 139:19-21 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life you murderers! They blaspheme you; your enemies take your name in vain. O LORD, shouldn't I hate those who hate you? Shouldn't I despise those who resist you? Yes, I hate them with complete hatred, for your enemies are my enemies. NLT

Wait a minute! How can it be that it is okay to hate? Aren't we supposed to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us? What is going on? Is the Psalmist just trying to justify himself instead of doing the hard stuff, like loving those who are wicked and hate him?

The Psalmist uses some strong language here. He suggests to God that He take matters in His own hands and destroy the wicked. He is fed up with those who want to do him harm. He reminds the Lord of what they are doing. He then asks the Lord to agree with Him in his hatred. He sees himself as justified in his hatred because they hate God himself.

There are some good things about the Psalmist's thinking. The enemies of God are our enemies. We should not buddy up to the wicked in heart and spend our lives with them. We should not cater to their whims or participate in their evil. We should speak out against them and not back down. We should expose them for who they are and not have anything to do with their lifestyle. We should despise the evil they live by and try to shove down everyone's throat.

Jesus told us to love and pray for the wicked, our enemies. Pray for those who despise you and hate you. Pray for those who despise and hate God. We don't like what they do and we do all we can to keep them from doing it or letting it affect our lives. We hate their actions, but we do remember their souls. Jesus died for them just as much as He did for you and me. He loves them and longs for a relationship with them. We, too, should long for them to be saved. We should pray for them and commit them to the Lord. What they then do with the Lord is between them and Him. With the Lord’s help, we can love them and yet hate what they do.

 GOD’S THOUGHTS ABOUT ME

Ps. 139: 17-18 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me! NLT

I can't think of anything more comforting than to know God is thinking about me. Not only does God think about us, but His thoughts also cannot be counted! This tells me that we are never out of God's thoughts. And, His thoughts about us are good. He thinks about us from the context of His love. He loves us, His children, and is always thinking of ways to bless us and help us in our faith walk. How great is our God!!

When we get up in the morning to begin our day, the Lord is thinking about us. Each step we take throughout our day, He is thinking about us. When we lay our heads down to sleep at night, He thinks about us. Isn't that awesome! Oh, how precious are God's thoughts about me! He looks down upon His children and takes delight in them. He tenderly looks upon us through His eyes of love. He sees us for what we can be, not just as who we are. He sees our good, and not just our bad. He sees our strengths and not just our weaknesses. He sees good things for us as we live by faith in Him.

God sees us and still chooses to take us by the hand and walk with us. He sees us deeper than anyone else ever can, and still walks with us. He sees us as a loving father sees his children, warts and all, and still walks with us. He sees us not who we were, but who we are, His children. Hallelujah, what a Savior!!

ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE

 ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE

Ps. 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. NLT

This is one of the most wondrous verses of the Bible. The Psalmist tells us that God saw us before we were ever born and He saw just how long we would live. In fact, every day was laid out for us before we had even lived a single day on earth.

How in the world can God know the length of our lives? It seems impossible to believe that God is capable of knowing each one of us personally, let alone from conception to the grave. Yet, He does. God's knowledge far exceeds anything we can ever imagine. So, how is it that we actually question His ability to help us or keep His word to us?

No one lives beyond the number of days God allots for us. He knows exactly how long we will live. No one's death catches Him by surprise. No matter the method of death, God knows when, where, how, and why we will die. We can only see ourselves in the moment we are in and nothing more. We have no clue what lies before us, but God does. Only God knows why He allows life, death, and circumstances to go on as they do. All we can do is place our lives in His hands and prepare ourselves for that day in which He does call us home.

Because we don't know when we will die, it behooves us to prepare the best we know how for that day. We take out insurance policies to provide for our loved ones. We try to amass income for them to live on. We try to keep our lives in order so that our families do not have to try and straighten up our messes after we are gone. Yet, tragically, most fail to take care of the most important detail of their preparation for their death, their soul. Are you ready to face God when you die? You will die, you know, whether you like it or not. "Seek the Lord now while He may be found."

GOD DESIGNED YOU

 GOD DESIGNED YOU

Ps. 139:15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. NLT

God designed you. He carefully put you together. He watched carefully as each detail came together. He, in His infinite knowledge and understanding, allowed you to be made just the way you are. If you don't measure up to others' expectations of the way you should look, don't pay any attention to them. God made you and He declares you to be very good.

God made you when there was no one else around. He made you in the darkness of your mother's womb. He brought together what you needed from your father's sperm and combined it with what you needed from your mother's egg and made you. It doesn't matter the circumstances surrounding your conception. God put you together for a much higher purpose than just your existence. He made you to have fellowship with Him and serve Him in ways no one else can.

Not all who are born are born whole or put together like we might want or expect them to be. Some are born with the inability to live what we perceive to be “normal” lives. Are they flawed, a mistake, a “freak of nature”? Absolutely not. They are precious lives made by God and it is good. He knows the worth of each soul. He knows the purpose for each life. He loves each one just as much as He does you and me. He entrusts them to those who will provide for them the love and care they need for their lives. No life is an accident.

If you don't look like others, think like others, feel like others, or act like others, it doesn't matter. Thank the Lord for you; you are special, the apple of God's eyes. God knows who you are and longs to pour out His love on you. He has plans for you that no one else can fulfill. He has His eyes on you and is calling you to His warm embrace. Oh, dear friend, let God have you, all of you. You will be so glad you did. You will find then, and only then, why God made you, you.

GOD'S WORKMANSHIP

 GOD’S WORKMANSHIP

Ps. 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. NLT

The only proper response to observing and knowing how wonderfully complex God has made us is to just thank Him. No one but God could ever make us the way we are. No two of us are exactly the same. We are uniquely made according to God's blueprint for us. When He made us, He threw away the plans. There will never be another you or me. How wonderful is that?!! "Thank you, Lord, for making me, me."

God's workmanship is unlike any other. No one can duplicate what God has done. No one will be just like you. Embrace just how wonderfully made you are. God made you just you so that you would serve Him in your own unique way. We are all different because our role in God's kingdom is different for each one of us. God made no mistake when He made you, you. You are a marvelous wonder, God's masterpiece.

Don’t believe what others may say about you. Don’t believe for a second the lie that you aren’t someone special. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter, that you are worthless. Instead, believe what God says about you.

Oh, dear friend, bask in the glow of your Heavenly Father who has made you. Thank Him today for making you, you. Thank Him for how wonderfully complex you are. Thank Him for His workmanship and His wondrous plans for you. Bow before Him and worship Him. Let Him fill your soul to overflowing with His love for you. Praise Him for what He has done, is now doing in you, and for what is yet to come for you.  

YOU MADE ME!

 YOU MADE ME!

Ps. 139: 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. NLT

I am not a doctor, but I do wonder how one could be one without being in awe of how the Lord made us. Many study the human body and do not acknowledge at all God as the one who designed and created it. It simply is amazing how we are made. Think about it. We are far more than just skin and bones, as intriguing as they are.

We have millions of cells, multiple organs, miles of veins and arteries, a very complex command center we call our brains, various sensory organs that enable us to relate to the world around us, and blood that flow through us and sustains our lives. All the various parts of our bodies are designed to work differently, yet in perfect harmony. We have the ability to think and reason. We can subconsciously command a part of our body to move and it does: our hands, feet, arms, legs, mouth, nose, etc. are at our command. We have warning mechanisms in us to tell us when things are not going as they should. We feel pain, hunger, and thirst. We have emotions that impact how we react to our surroundings and other people. We are just amazing from the inside out. Why? Because we are created by the master designer of the universe, God. We have a conscience that enables us to determine right from wrong and a soul that convicts us of wronging doing when we do it.

We are not a freak of nature. We are not an accident. We are special creations of God's mind and heart. He made each of us as we are for His special purposes. We are very complex and a wonder to behold and appreciate. We are spiritual beings encased in an amazing and complex body, made in the image of God.

"Thank you, Lord, for making me just the way I am."

CAN'T GET AWAY!

 CAN’T GET AWAY!

Ps. 139:7 I can never escape your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! NLT

The Psalmist just reminded us that the Lord is all around us. He has us covered from all sides. He is with us each step we take so we are never out of His sight. He goes on to say that we can never escape from His Spirit. God is a spiritual being and reassures us of His presence with us at all times.

What this tells me is that even if we choose to wander away from Him, we can't escape from Him. He is always at work to draw us to Him. We may choose to reject His love and protective care, but He chooses to still watch over us and call us back to Him. We may be like Jonah and try to run away from God, but God always comes chasing after us.

We must never forget, no matter where we go, the Lord is already there. He is everywhere all the time. It is impossible for us to run away and hide from Him. We may not even recognize or acknowledge His presence, but He is where we are at. He loves us and will always try to get us to love Him and live in fellowship with Him. We can never get away from God's presence so we should just spare ourselves a lot of grief and just surrender to Him. Life is at its best when we let Him be our Lord.

Even if we choose to never turn to Him and give Him our hearts, we can’t get away from Him. He will always remind us of His love for us and our need for Him. You can’t ever get away from God. He has revealed himself through His handiwork and people so clearly that no one has an excuse for not knowing God. He loves you and longs to show you just how much. Will you let Him be your Savior and Lord today?  

ALL AROUND ME!

 ALL AROUND ME!

Ps. 139:5-6 You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know. NLT

God is all around you. He has your back covered, your front covered, and He walks beside you each step you take. Wow! What a wondrous truth this is. God is before us to lead us on the right path. God is behind us to cover our tracks. And, He is beside us to hold us steady along the pathway of life. How can we not make it home to heaven?

When the Lord is leading the way, we won't get lost and we won't wander into our enemy's territory. When He walks behind us, He stands between us and our past. When God sees us, He sees Christ standing there clothing us in His righteousness. When we let Him lead us, we can rest in Him as we travel. It's a win-win situation. Relax and let the Lord take care of you. He even puts His hand of blessings on our heads as we rest in Him!

Satan wants you to see your old self. He wants to remind you of how bad of a person you were. He doesn’t want you to forget and will do all he can to keep you from seeing who are now in Christ. Whenever he brings up your past, bring up your present. Tell him that is not who you are now. Tell Him that Jesus has made you a child of God, that He has set you free from your ugly past. Whenever he tries to drag you down, take the hand of Jesus and let Him lift you up. Claim what is yours in Christ: righteousness, holiness, citizenship in heaven, peace, joy, victory, love, grace, goodness, and eternal life with God.

It is so amazing what the Lord does for us as we live out our faith in Him. It is so wonderful that we can scarcely take it in. We have no idea what all the Lord does before and behind us to keep us steady on our feet. All we know is that the Lord is always with us and is watching out for us protecting us from our past and preparing us for our future as we let Him have control of us. "O Lord, my God, how great thou art!!"

CONTROL MY LIPS, LORD

 CONTROL MY LIPS, LORD

Ps. 139:4; 141:3 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed. NLT

The Lord knows what we are going to say even before we say it! He knows the heart and it is out of the heart that we speak. Think about it, the Lord knows everything we are going to say. He even knows what we want to say and don’t say. Are you comfortable with what God knows about you? Does it frighten you that you may say something you don’t want the Lord to hear?

Let’s be honest; when we don't control what we say we often say the wrong things. We say things that we regret saying. We say things in ways that are hurtful. We say things that we don’t really mean. We say things for selfish reasons; things that make us come across in a better way than we really are. We say things that are self-promoting and defensive. When we are in control of what we say, we lack the wisdom of God to say helpful, encouraging, and edifying things.

The only way that we can speak in ways that please the Lord is to let Him control our hearts. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks; what is in the heart is what comes out of our mouths. Only if the character of our heart is godly can we say things that are God-honoring and helpful to others.

It is far better to keep our mouths shut if the Lord is not in control of our hearts. No one needs what comes out of a sinful heart. Ask the Lord faithfully to purify your heart and you will then be safe to speak. The Lord knows what is in your heart. He knows what you are capable of saying. We cannot hide from God what comes out of the heart. It is imperative, therefore, to keep our souls pure. The Lord holds us accountable for what we say, how we say it, and why we say what we do.

“Lord, James tells us how powerful the tongue is. He reminds us of how much power it has to destroy or to do good. Help us, Lord. We ask that You take control of our tongues so that what comes out of them will be good and not bad, that what we say will build up and not tear down. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

GOD KNOWS WHERE I AM AT

 GOD KNOWS WHERE I AM AT

Ps. 139:3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. NLT

The Psalmist is speaking from one who is in tune with God. His heart is the Lord's. His life is the Lord's. He is affirming God's guiding hand on His life.

God charts out our paths when we are totally yielded to Him. When we let the Lord be our life, we can be assured that the Lord will guide us where we need to be. He leads us to the task we are to do and He leads us to those places where we need to stop for rest. No matter who you are, there are times in when you need to stop for rest. No matter how much good you do for the Lord, you need times of rest. The Lord knows that and lovingly provides places of rest for us. Now, if we stubbornly refuse to stop and rest, we have no one to blame but ourselves if we break down or wear out.

God knows where we are at every moment of our lives. You are not just a number. You are not lost in the masses. You are not forsaken or forgotten. God knows who you are, where you are, what you are doing, even what you are thinking. Just think, you are one out of billions of people, yet God has an intimate knowledge of you. God, the creator and sustainer of all things, has His eyes on YOU. You are on His radar of love. Think about this. God knows where He is leading you, He knows when and where to give you rest, and He knows where you are at every moment of your life.

In the 23rd Psalm David tells us that the Lord, our shepherd, leads us to the green pastures and still waters, a place of true tranquility where we can rest. When we do rest, the Lord is with us to watch over us so that we are kept safe in His love and awesome presence. And all the while we are resting, He is feeding us as we hover close to Him.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Give Him thanks today for caring so much for you.

THE LORD KNOWS MY THOUGHTS

 THE LORD KNOWS MY THOUGHTS

Ps. 139:2 You know when I sit down and stand up. You know my every thought when far away. NLT

Now, knowing what God knows about us can either be a comfort for us or cause us great concern. If we are living rightly with the Lord, it is comforting news. If, however, we are not living a godly life, it can really be a problem for us.

Because He is all-knowing, there is nothing that escapes His notice. How can God know where every one of His children is at all times is beyond comprehension, but He does. He never has to send out a search party to find us. He knows our comings and goings, when we sit down and when we stand up. We will never get lost in the crowd. We will never be forgotten. We will never be a nobody because God always has His eyes on us.

But, there is more. God knows our every thought. Wait a minute. God knows our every thought? Yes, He does. What do you think about? Do you ever think about things that are unholy? Do you ever think about some people in a negative way? Do you have doubts about your faith at times? Do not ever doubt God? God knows your every thought.

What do we do with this, knowing we can't think about anything without God knowing about it? We need to discipline our minds by being careful what we put into them. We don't let unholy thoughts linger. We redirect our thoughts to wholesome things when our minds begin to dwell on that which is unholy. We take control of what we entertain ourselves with. We feed our souls with wholesome and godly things. We ask the Lord to help us be masters of our thought life. Will we perfectly keep our thoughts where they need to be? No. But, when we stray we can turn to the Lord, ask for forgiveness, and with His help try again.

We cannot stop everything that comes into our minds, but we can choose whether or not we will let it stay there for us to dwell on. Remember, the mind is the gateway to the soul.