THE LORD EXAMINES US

 THE LORD EXAMINES US

Ps. 139:1 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. NLT

How does this truth make you feel? Are you okay knowing the Lord has examined your heart and knows everything there is to know about you? There are things that we can effectively hide from others, but not God. There are things that we allow to enter into our minds and dwell on that no one knows about, but God knows. There are things we do that no one knows about, but God knows. There are things that we do with less than honorable intentions, but God knows. We can’t hide anything from God.

The Lord knows everything about me. He knows my weaknesses as well as my strengths. We often portray our strengths but try to keep hidden our weaknesses. The Lord knows where we are vulnerable, and that is good news. He knows our fears and our doubts. He knows our needs, even better than we do. He knows how to minister to each one of our needs. He knows and works to help us become stronger in our character, one weakness at a time.

The Lord’s scrutiny does one of two things for us. It causes us to become very uncomfortable in His presence, or it causes us to have peace and joy knowing that He won’t find anything there that displeases Him. If we are pursuing the Lord as we ought to be, we will have nothing to fear. There is calm assurance for those who are letting the Lord be the Lord of their life.

The Lord is examining your heart right now. If you are uneasy at the thought of it, you need to bow before Him in repentance and let Him restore unto you the peace that only He can give. 

I WILL PRAISE THE LORD

 I WILL PRAISE THE LORD

Ps. 103:22 Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everywhere in his kingdom. As for me—I too, will praise the LORD. NLT

Everything that God has created sings forth His praises. The Psalmist declares that the heavens declare His praises. The majesty and magnitude of what we can see declares that God is and are an anthem of praise to Him. The smallest of those things we can see declare that God is and sing forth His praises. The ocean depths and all that is in them declare that God is and sing forth His praises. The order of all that is sings forth His praises. The laws that govern creation sing forth His praises. The way that God provides food for all living things sing forth His praises.

Everything in His kingdom sings forth His praises. The angels—cherubim and seraphim, and all of heaven's choir sing forth His praises. God's plan of redemption conceived in His heart and carried out by Christ sings forth His praises. God's grace and mercy extended to the heart of man sing forth His praises. God's blessings bestowed upon His children sing forth His praises. Everything everywhere in His kingdom sings forth the praises of God.

As for me, I too will sing forth His praises. I praise Him for I know Him and will be with Him forever and ever. I praise Him for His constant companionship. I praise Him for all He is doing in my life to make and keep me holy before Him. I praise Him for the work He is doing through me and for the rewards awaiting me in heaven someday. I praise Him for He is my Savior, my Lord, and my God, and He alone is worthy to be praised. I praise Him for His loving patience with me on my life journey. I praise Him for He is the certainty of my hope for both now and forever. “Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.”

MINISTERING ANGELS

 MINISTERING ANGELS

Ps. 103:20-21 Praise the LORD, you angels of his, you mighty creatures who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will. NLT

Angels. Much has been said and written about them. Some would deny they even exist, but the Bible is very clear, they do. Angels are ministering servants of God. He created them differently than He created us. They are spiritual beings who often take on human form. They have visited different people on earth over the years. Each believer is assigned an angel to watch over them and help them as they live by faith. They have the ability to think, communicate and act, all under the direction of God.

Angels carry out God's plans. They listen attentively to God and then do His bidding. Sometimes the Scriptures reveal that they carry out judgment on man for his sinfulness. Sometimes they stand in the gap between man and certain destruction or disaster. Whatever they do, they do it under the authority of God and never outside of His will.

It is also noteworthy to know that not all angels are good. The Bible tells us that Satan was an angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven along with a third of the angelic hosts. God gave them the ability to choose whom they would serve, which is interesting. They are spiritual beings without any redemptive hope if they rebel against God.

It is so comforting to know that God assigns angels to watch over us. We don't know exactly what they do most of the time for us. They are agents of God on our behalf, His chosen vessels of ministering to our needs. Whatever they do on a daily basis for the Lord, we ought to thank God for them. God never leaves us or forsakes us. He always provides for His presence with us. We are never alone. God himself and His angels are ever watching over us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

GOD RULES FROM HEAVEN

 GOD RULES FROM HEAVEN

Ps. 103:19 The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. NLT

Look up into the sky. What do you see? Clouds? God is above them. The moon at night? God is above it. The sun? God is above it. The stars at night? God is above all of them. God dwells far beyond anything man can see. In fact, God is the one who made it all from nothing, for there was nothing to make it all from. The heavens are all His throne, declaring His glory and majesty for all to see.

Where is God's throne? No one knows but those who are already there. Wherever it is, it is far beyond in glory anything we can ever imagine. The glory of God fills it. Holiness is the atmosphere in which people dwell.

God is on His throne and rules over everything. He has established the rules that hold creation together. He watches over it all and keeps it running smoothly. He determines the lifespan of all that is. He knows what is going on in those parts of creation where no man can go. He knows all there is to know about what He has created. He rules over all the material and spiritual worlds He has created. He set the boundaries whereby everything exists. He determines when things will change and until He changes things, nothing will go beyond the rules and boundaries God has established for it.

God is on His throne ruling with love and power. God is not beyond our reach for He loves us and sent Jesus to earth who became one of us so He could die for our sins. In all that God created, we alone can have a relationship with Him. Jesus did what could not be done; He made it possible for sinful man to actually be made holy and acceptable to God. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

OUR DAYS ARE LIKE GRASS

 OUR DAYS ARE LIKE GRASS

Ps. 103:15-17 Our days on earth are like grass, like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. NLT

Look around you. People are dying every day. We are not invincible. We, like them, are going to die, too. Life goes by so quickly. I look back over my life and I can’t believe that so many years have gone by now. I can still remember some of the living I did as a child growing up. I can remember some of the seemingly insurmountable circumstances of my life. I can remember my struggles with faith over the years. I can remember some of my doubts and fears. Many of the things that seemed so important to me in the past are long done and over with. I have done so much living and I scarcely have realized it.

Life does not stand still for anyone. We are born, live, and then die. What we do while we are living is soon forgotten. Our names may linger, but soon no one knows who we really are. We try to live in such a way that we are appreciated and remembered, but to no avail. Our names etched on a tombstone are the only reminder that we have lived. We become nothing more than a note in our family genealogy record.

When we live for earthly recognition or achievements, life indeed seems so futile. If life is nothing more than a name to be written down somewhere for others to note, then Solomon is right, “Vanity of vanities, life is but vanity.”

But, when our names are written down in God’s Book of Life, life is not vain. Life does have purpose and meaning. We are not soon forgotten. God etches His name on our hearts and we forever will be known as a child of God. We are not just a memory, we become a legacy. Because of our living in Christ, we impact people for generations to come. We let our lights shine and many will come to the Light because of us. We do not die and are soon forgotten. We live and are forever known by God and His children as we live forever with Him.

The Lord gives us this life so that we can prepare for the life to come. We can spend our days squandering our opportunities and wasting our lives away, or we can live in Christ and impact our world for all of eternity. The Lord has given you a chance to bring many others to heaven with you when you die. You will do it if you live in obedience to Him each day of your life. You may not know who all will be in heaven because of the life you live, but someday you will.

Seize the day of opportunity while you have it, because soon it will be gone. We have but one opportunity to live in Christ and prepare for eternity. Don’t waste it. It goes by way too quickly. Today is the day of our salvation, not tomorrow; tomorrow may never come our way. Give yourself completely to Christ today and live for Him. You will be glad you did.

TEH LORD, OUR FATHER

 THE LORD, OUR FATHER

Ps. 103:13-14 The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. NLT

Dear child of God, are you acting like a child? By that I mean, are you simply trusting in the Lord to take care of you? We are prone to want to take care of ourselves. We often don’t take advantage of the Lord’s provisions and instead, we strive to provide for our own needs. We often don’t turn to the Lord for advice before we make decisions in life. We often don’t take the time to come before Him and let Him lavish His love on us. We often don’t appreciate what He is doing for us. We often take advantage of our relationship with Him and do what we want to do and not what He commands us to do. We often act like spoiled brats who don’t appreciate what it means to be a child of God. We often don’t show our Father the love and respect He deserves. So often, it is difficult for others to even know that we are God’s children.

On the other hand, our Father is tender and compassionate towards those who fear Him, towards those who respect Him as their Father and honor Him in their lives. Like any loving father, God has nothing but good in mind for us. He wants nothing but what is best for us and He knows what that is. Our Father is patient and kind towards us because He knows how weak and fragile we are. He knows we will stumble and fall, and He is there to pick us up, dust us off, and help us on our way. He understands our weakest points and strives to help us avoid them. He understands what it takes to raise a child and lovingly stays with us all through the process, no matter how exasperating we may be to Him.

“Thank you, O Lord, for indeed, you are our Father in heaven. Thank You for all you do for us and your patience towards us. Thank You for loving us as you do. Forgive us for when we act like spoiled brats who don’t appreciate your loving care. Forgive us for when we shame Your name. Forgive us for all those times in which we stray from Your loving care. And, we know You do. And, we thank You for it and praise you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”  

EAST FROM THE WEST

 EAST FROM THE WEST

Ps. 103:12 He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. NLT

How can it be? How can God take our sins away from us and cast them away from himself and us as far as the east is from the west? How is it possible for God to look upon us in a different light, as if we had never sinned? For us, it is impossible. We cannot forget many of the things we have done, even after we know we have been forgiven. We have flashbacks and our hearts are grieved because we did some of the things we have done. There are many, many things I don't remember, but there are some things I do. Each time they come back to haunt me, I am grieved in my spirit. I know I am forgiven by Christ and the Spirit helps me to then rest in His forgiveness and grace. I can’t undo the past, but I can live in the present and future in the knowledge that I am forgiven.

Sometimes we can go to people we have hurt and seek forgiveness from them, but sometimes we can’t. When we can, we get a sense of closure, even if others do not forgive us. When we can’t do anything about what we have done, we cling to our forgiveness in Christ and strive to sin no more.

God is able to forgive and forget because when we are forgiven the righteousness of Christ stands between God and us. God sees Jesus instead of us, and all is well with our souls. God never looks beyond the sacrificial death of Christ. He only sees the present and not the past.

“Thank you, Jesus, for keeping God from looking into our past to see our sins. Thank you, Jesus, for purifying our hearts and pouring into us your righteousness so that God will see you in us instead of our sin. Thank you, Lord, for saving our souls and making us whole. When we remember what we did, help us to flee to Calvary and rest underneath Your shed blood. Help us to know that You have done the impossible. You have forgiven us of all our sins and cast them from us as far as the east is from the west. In Your precious name we pray and give you the glory. Amen.”