#Psalm 130:7-8

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Sálmarnir 130:7-8 Ó Ísrael, bíð þú Drottins, því að hjá Drottni er miskunn, og hjá honum er gnægð lausnar. Hann mun leysa Ísrael frá öllum misgjörðum hans.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. — Psalms 130:7-8 | Icelandic Bible (ICELAND) and English Standard Version (ESV) The Icelandic Bible by Icelandic Bible Society and The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Cross References: 2 Samuel 24:14; 1 Chronicles 21:13; Psalm 25;22; Luke 1:68; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 2:14

[ad-lucem-et-amor]

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

[solidrockistand]

Praise of God's Law pt 17

129. Your statutes are wonderful therefor I obey them. (Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Psalms 119:22 ESV)

(Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool! Psalms 39.8 ESV)

(Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. Psalms 6:4 ESV)

130. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7 ESV)

(But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his laws, he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:2 ESV)

(Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! Psalms 112:1 ESV)

131. I open my mouth and pant longing for your commands. (As a deer pants for flowing stream, so pants my soul for you, God. Psalms 42:1 ESV)

(He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. Psalms 18:33 ESV)

(Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6 ESV)

132. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. (Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. Psalms 6:4 ESV)

(Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Psalms 25:16 ESV)

(The Lord makes his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25 ESV)

133. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. (How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalms 119:9 NIV)

(May my cry come before you, O Lord, giving me understanding according to your word. Psalms 119:169 NIV)

(O Earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place. Job 16:8 ESV)

134. Redee me from the oppression of men that I may obey your precepts. (Ensure your servants well-being. Let not the arrogant oppress me. Psalms 119:122 NIV)

(Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. Psalms 106:42 ESV)

(Then the people of Israel cried out of the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron, and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. Judges 4:3 ESV)

135. Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees. (There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us O Lord!)

(The Lord makes his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25 ESV)

136. Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed. (I am worn out from groaning all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Psalms 6:6 NIV)

(So, he said to the men of Succoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian. Judges 8:5 ESV)

Psalms 119:129-136 NIV

[pugzman3]

Psalms chapter 130

1 (A Song of degrees.) Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

[shammah8]

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

                                  SATURDAY 14

UNDERSTANDING HELPS YOU APPLY THE WORD CORRECTLY

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📖 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart (Proverbs 8:5). 

Pastor Chris Says

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Understanding God's Word is crucial to applying it effectively in our lives. The Bible says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). The Lord Jesus Himself emphasized the significance of understanding in Matthew 13:3-8 when He told the parable of the sower.

In His illustration, He explained that as the sower went forth to sow his seeds, they fell into different grounds. Some fell by the wayside and the birds of the air came and picked them up, and they had no chance to grow. The Lord Jesus however highlighted the problem of this group of people to be their lack of understanding of the Word they heard: “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side” (Matthew 13:19).

The practical application of God's Word hinges on your understanding of it. You can't put to work God's Word that you don't understand. Without understanding, it becomes challenging to implement biblical principles and teachings effectively in your daily life.

It’s one of the reasons we encourage people to study this devotional, Rhapsody of Realities, every day. It serves as a powerful tool for enhancing your understanding of God's Word. In it, we present biblical truths in simple and clear communication, making it easier for readers to not only comprehend but also apply God’s truths in practical ways. By breaking down scriptural thoughts into understandable terms, Rhapsody of Realities equips you to live out your faith confidently and purposefully each day.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth" (AMPC). Prioritize understanding God's Word so that you may confidently and faithfully apply it in your life, knowing that through understanding, you can fully embrace and act upon the truths of Scripture.

         🙏 P R A Y E R

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Dear Father, thank you for the wisdom and understanding you grant me through your Word. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who grants me deep insight into the truths and mysteries of the Kingdom. Thank you for granting me a discerning heart to comprehend and rightly apply the principles of the Kingdom in my daily life, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

        📖 FURTHER STUDY:

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Psalm 119:130; The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.

James 1:22-25; But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

[24] for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

[25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

2 Timothy 2:15; Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Proverbs 4:7; Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.

[psalmonesermons]

Finding the will of God for your life Part 4/8

Is it an event or a lifestyle?

Lifestyle Versus Event

Today's society is very event led; life seems quite dull unless we are doing something. Recent politics have emphasised performance related pay. At the same time many modern churches have a stringent programme of activity. The result of this can inadvertently lead to a person’s worth being measured by what they do. It can also make us believe that God is ‘programme-based’ in his love for us. We often associate God’s will as an event, i.e. doing this or that, going here or there, apply for this job, marry that person and so on... ‘God’s will’ can include specific instruction, but more often it is to do with relationship, lifestyle, and nurture.

Relationship

It is God’s will for us to have an intimate and close relationship with him.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Jeremiah 30:21 I will bring him near, and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the LORD.

Knowing God’s will does not necessarily equate with activity. Sometimes God withholds his plans from us so that we will master the art of waiting. Waiting on God is an essential ingredient to knowing God’s will. Many people want to bypass the waiting and get straight into the doing. For some people, doing nothing is a waste of time, for God our inactivity is a vital element in getting to know him.

Psalm 119:166 I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands.

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Activity without intimacy is of little importance. It’s not uncommon for people to want to know God’s will more than they actually want to know God! Activity is an event; relationship is a process. We cannot effectively hear God’s voice or do God’s will unless we have first learned the art of knowing God. It’s like having the benefits of sexual pleasure without the security of a loving relationship, or like a farmer reaping a great harvest without first labouring over the crop.

Knowing God’s requires intimacy, time, and commitment. There are no shortcuts to doing God’s will. Many Christians fall away because they have become bored, impatient, or distracted. Others spend so much time trying ‘to do’ God’s will that they simply burn themselves out.

Isaiah 40: 29 He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD, shall renew their strength.

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Lifestyle

Doing the will of God is much more about being the right person rather than doing the right things. People often focus on life-events rather than the process of a sanctified life. God is much more interested in ‘who we are’ than he is in ‘what we do’. It’s easy to get caught up with Christian activity and neglect the importance of Christian character.

It is God’s clear will that we:

Be financially responsible (Luke 12:21)

Live by faith, not by sight (Rom 1:17)

Live a life of sacrifice and service (Rom 12:1)

Renew our minds (Rom12:2)

Transform the way we live (Rom12:2)

Fellowship with other believers (Rom 15:32)

Give ourselves fully to God (2 Cor 8:5)

Do the best job for our employer (Eph 6:6)

Stand firm, and remain standing (Col 4:12, Eph 6:13)

Mature into strong believers (Col 4:12)

Have a servant attitude (Phil 2:5)

Avoid sexual immorality (1 Thes. 4:3)

Live a pure life (1 Thes. 4:3)

Rejoice in every circumstance (1 Thes 5:18)

Keep our eyes on Jesus – the perfect example (Heb 10:7, 12:2)

Persevere in the work (Heb 10:36)

Do good to all men (1 Peter 2:15)

Understand that God’s will includes suffering (1 Peter 4:19)

Be faithful in prayer (1 John 5:16)

Most of these verses are direct references to the ‘will of God.’ There are, however, simply hundreds of other commandments on how we should live our lives. It is God’s will that we honour our parents, tell the truth; that we should be kind, generous, and gentle. We should be calm, temperate, and full of compassion. The list goes on and on.

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It is clear that our attention needs to be on our character and personal development rather than ‘activity or events.’ It is God’s will, first and foremost, that we live a life that is a true reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God wants us first of all to be pure, blameless, and holy.

Amen

Personal Prayer

In Part 5 we see the need to be nurtured in discipleship.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

9th June >> Mass Readings (USA)

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading Genesis 3:9–15 I will put enmity between your offspring and her offspring.

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 130:1–2, 3��4, 5–6, 7–8

R/ With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.

R/ With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.

R/ With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD.

R/ With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

R/ With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1 We too believe and therefore we speak.

Brothers and sisters: Since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore we speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation John 12:31b-32

Alleluia, alleluia. Now the ruler of this world will be driven out, says the Lord; and when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 3:20–35 It is the end of Satan.

Jesus came home with his disciples. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder the house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[coolksaposts]

New International Version Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. New Living Translation Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

King James Bible Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Job 17:9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 34. - Wait on the lord (comp. vers. 2, 5, 7; and Psalm 27:14; Psalm 62:5; Psalm 130:5; Proverbs 20:22). The injunction is repeated so often because of man's extreme impatience and unwillingness to "tarry the Lord's leisure" (Prayer-book Version of Psalm 27:16) trustfully and confidently. And keep his way. The way in which he would have them walk - the way of righteousness (comp. ver. 3). And he shall exalt thee to inherit the land (see ver. 29, and the comment ad loc.). When the ungodly are cut off, thou shalt see it (comp. Psalm 52:5, 6; Psalm 91:8). Doubtless with some satisfaction. As the "ungodly" spoken of are employed in watching for an occasion to "slay" the righteous (ver. 32), these last can scarcely witness their removal from the world by God's providence without a feeling of relief.

[justana0kguy]

2023 OCTOBER 10 Tuesday

"If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, But with you is forgiveness, For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities."

~ Psalms 130:3-4ab,7-8

[thegospelofstjohn]

"The Party." From the Gospel of Saint John, 21: 1-5.

We begin our concluding remarks of a Gospel that argues a very wise and friendly Spirit entered the creation for the purposes of life on earth. This He did with a week long pass over the waters of the Deep and the creation of a complex word problem called the Torah. The answer to its calculus is in this Book. The Catch continues. To solve the puzzle we need to peer into the Sea called Galilee which contains all that man has learned, done and left undone. To fathom it we need Simon Peter, Thomas Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee.

This forms a Mishnah which reads: "See for oneself the Self, manage what God has given with honesty in the column of the mind, be my golden hands."

To this end, Jesus says "go fish."

Now this does not mean scream about Lord Jesus at the top of one's lungs over the Irish radio over and over till someone wants to fishbone you. It means 670, ם‎ע‎, learn: "Who is Adam, Who is God?"

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 

3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

The end point of the Gospel of John is found in my Gemara above about fishing. One learn how to inquire properly into the answers of who is Adam what is Yah, but the response is not a single statement or experience it is the state one finds oneself in at the end of the Gospel such as I have begun to reveal it.

God is too pervasive to be known except as He is, as the Formless. Words do not contain Him in any way under any circumstances, neither can we explain why we feel, think, intellect, emote or spirit in the way we do. All of it seems to come out of nowhere. The Gospel says one must be at the mouth or the eye of the fountain of infinity, absolutely still and quiet if one is to catch the fish called God.

The Values in Gemaria are:

v. 1-2: Afterward, Jesus appeared again. The Number is 9805, טףה, taipei, "this is the key to opening the doorway."

I have said we are supposed to be in a locked room, and for awhile this is true. Now Jesus said stick the key into the lock of the door on the other side of it:

The masculine noun פתח (petah), meaning opening or doorway (Genesis 18:1, Psalm 24:7).

The similar masculine noun פתח (petah), meaning opening (Psalm 119:130 only, used figuratively in the sense of unfolding).

The masculine noun פתון (pithon), meaning opening (Ezekiel 16:63 and 29:21 only).

The feminine noun פתיחה (petiha), denoting a drawn sword. The edge of a sword was known as the "mouth" of it (Proverbs 5:4), so exposing the sword was known as "opening its mouth". This noun is used in Psalm 55:22, 37:14 and Ezekiel 21:28 only.

The masculine noun מפתח (miptah), meaning opening, utterance (Proverbs 8:6 only).

The similar masculine noun מפתח (mapteah), meaning key (an instrument to open something with; Judges 3:25, 1 Chronicles 9:27 and Isaiah 22:22 only)."

v. 3: Simon Peter said I'm going out to fish. We must go out and find other people to tune into and touch others so we know life on earth is not all a huge pack of lies. On the other side of the Second Door, my friends, is Porky's 2.

To enjoy the Second Part, the Other Side, just like on Porky's, one must board a boat.

The Number is 9358, טשןח‎, tashenech, "Don't be a snot. What is your name?"

After you figure out who and what you are, volunteer your name to another. Ask them to do the same. Who knows what might happen next?

Tash= hurry

Enoch= use understanding and the mouth to hook one's prey.

v. 4-5: Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore. The Number is 11194, קיאץד‎, kiatzed, "now party."

[mrlnsfrt]

Powerful Prayers: A Guide to Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. — Psalm 27:10 NKJV

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. —Psalm 84:11 New American Standard Bible

Throughout the Sermon on The Mount Jesus sets a high standard for His followers. How can we possibly reach the high standard Jesus has set for us?

Prayer.

Prayer is fundamental to living the life Jesus calls us to live. Jesus has talked about prayer earlier (Matthew 6:5-15 Principles for Powerful Prayers Part 1 and Part 2)

Prayer is not about us manipulating God, but rather about strengthening a personal relationship, among other things. Jesus's key point in this portion of the Sermon on The Mount is that prayer to a loving Father is effective.

Unlocking the Power of Prayer: Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. — Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV

Jesus presents no requirements for us to come before Him except that we experience a need, a hunger, and a thirst for His mercy, His help, and His counsel. Our asking signifies that we recognize our need, so we ask in faith, believing that He hears and answers. Jesus does not lie, His promises never fail. We should not be shy about asking for what He has promised us. God is merciful and compassionate, if we feel our need of Him that is sufficient grounds to come before Him. You do not have to be holy, you only need to desire to be purified by Him and cleansed from all iniquity.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9 NKJV

However, we should understand that Jesus’ promises are not presented in a vacuum. Jesus’s original audience would recall his teaching in the Model Prayer (Principles for Powerful Prayers - Part 2) in which one insists that God’s will be done (Matthew 6:10).

Often our prayers are not answered as originally desired because we do not share God’s perspective in knowing what is ultimately a good gift for us. We are especially tempted to think of the values of this world (e.g., health and wealth) rather than spiritual values. — Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 130.

The “good gifts” God gives include everything pertaining to seeking his kingdom and its righteousness (Matthew 6:33 Navigating Anxiety: Unpacking Jesus' Message on Worry). They do not necessarily correspond to everything we ask for. This is important to highlight because when we seek God’s will it does not necessarily make life easier.

If we want God’s best for ourselves and others, but others resist God’s will, then they will oppose us. We are salt, and salt stings the open wound. We are light, and light exposes dirt. —Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 30.

When God gives you victory over sin, setting you free from previous addictions and harmful habits you might find yourself alone. If your circle of friends is made up of people who partake in self-destructive behavior you may no longer have much in common with them. Some of them might resent you since your new behavior shines a light on their poor behavior and selfish choices. You will find that friendship with God is enmity with this world, remember that the world also hated Jesus (John 15:18-25).

A Closer Look at The Text

The commands of Matthew 7:7–8 are in the present tense, suggesting persistent prayer over a period of time. In other words, keep asking and it shall be given. Keep seeking and you shall find. Keep knocking and it will be opened. The tense used speaks of continual action. When you don’t know what to do, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. (Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 42.)

“It” in v. 7 is somewhat misleading. The word does not refer to any particular thing requested but forms part of a divine passive construction that means ask and God will give you [what he deems best]. (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 130.)

Notice also that Jesus says “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Jesus does not say lent you, not sold you, but given you; and what is more free than gift? Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, whatever you ask, shall be given to you. As I clarified above, you will receive the answer if/when God sees it fit for you to have it. What else could you possibly want? I guess you could want what God does not want you to have, but do you want what God does not want you to have?

Remember Genesis 3 (Paradise Lost Part 1)? The world was perfect, and Adam and Eve lived in paradise. God withheld from them the knowledge of evil. They did not know pain, shame, or death… When they ate the forbidden fruit, they experienced what God did not want them to. This is important for us to remember. We should never desire what God has not seen fit to give us. 

We do not have to worry about bothering God by our asking because He is the one telling us to ask!

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. — James 4:2-3 BKJV (bold mine)

 Jesus invites us to ask, to seek, and to knock! This should be a way of life. As we long to live better lives, help others, and be a blessing, we recognize we cannot do it on our own. So we turn to God and ask Him to bless us for His honor and glory. God says that He will be found by us, and if we have God, what else could we possibly need?

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

We should not seek only blessings, we should be seeking God. The great news is that God is also seeking us. Do you desire a blessing? Seek God, and refuse to give up. You know that it is His will for you to find Him and to receive His blessings.

‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. — Ezekiel 34:11 NKJV

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. — John 10:27 NKJV

The Love of a Parent

9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! — Matthew 7:9-11 NKJV

God’s love, tenderness, and goodness, far exceed that of any human parent.

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. — Psalm 27:10 NKJV

Story Time

My father was walking down a busy street on a warm day. He was away from home, traveling for business. It was lunchtime, and he was looking for a place to eat. He found a restaurant and sat down to eat. There was no a/c in the restaurant, but it had big doors that remained open and ceiling fans. My father sat close to where the street was. His food came, and as he ate, he noticed a street dog that was skin and bones sitting watching my father eat his food. As he ate, he felt compassion for the dog. He finished eating a chicken leg and there was still a little bit of meat left along with the nerves attached to the bone, so my father decided to throw it to the street dog.

To my father’s surprise, a little boy smacked the bone in the air hitting towards the ground. He picked it up and brought it to his mouth before the dog could get to it. A waiter came by to yell at the boy and my father stood up and asked the boy if he would like to eat. He brought the boy in and set him at his table and ordered him as much food as he could eat and then some extra for him to take to his family.

Although this young boy was not my father’s son, my father was moved with compassion for him. I imagine that all of you reading this would have reacted similarly. You would not have gotten angry at the boy for being hungry and needing help. Even though we are sinful and selfish, we help those in need, especially children, especially our own children. So, how can we doubt God’s willingness to help us?

Easy! (you say to the computer screen as you read this) Perhaps you can easily begin to rattle off all those who are suffering, family members, co-workers, friends, not to mention strangers. You can point to some who passed away recently and those who continue to struggle with disease or relationship challenges, mental health difficulties, or challenges finding appropriate employment. Globally you can point to those affected by wars, hurricanes, fires, diseases…

So how can both be true?

I do not have enough time to tackle this topic, but if you want to explore it further, I recommend two books: Theodicy of Love and Why We Pray. Both were written by John C. Peckham, who does a much better job of tackling these topics.

Here goes my attempt at a short answer. Regarding those we were praying for healing but they died.

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”” — Revelation 14:13 NKJV

The dead are no longer suffering. Can we trust God to know the best time for someone to rest in the sleep of death as they await His return in the clouds? We suffer as we miss our loved ones, and I do not want to downplay anyone’s grief. What I want to point out is that the person who died is resting and no longer suffering.

What about those struggling while praying for God to help? I recently wrote about Elizabeth (God’s Unexpected Ways) who waited a lifetime for God to answer her prayer. We also have Abraham and Sarah (A Promise Fulfilled) who had a similar experience. Not to mention David who was anointed king but did not have a smooth path to becoming king (Of Kings and Men). Then there’s Elijah who asked God to take his life (The Depressed Prophet), God did not allow Elijah to die and 2 Kings 2:11 tells us that God took him to heaven alive. Talk about getting a “NO” for an answer. Even Jesus Himself prayed and received a “NO” for an answer.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 6:39 NKJV

We know the story, Jesus died a horrible death. Jesus suffered a lot! It was not because God was upset with Him, not because Jesus had done anything wrong. But because Jesus went through all that we can now have the assurance of salvation and eternal life. We now better understand the heart of God. Reflecting on the cross the Apostle Paul wrote the following words:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? — Romans 8:32 NKJV

In summary. I don’t always understand what God is doing. I don’t know why He answers some prayers with a “yes” and others with a “no,” but I recognize that I am not God and I am humble enough to accept that I do not always know what is best for me and for those around me. Therefore I come to God trusting that He will answer my prayers. I come to God regularly, daily, and I trust Him to answer according to His will. He decides how and when He will answer my prayers. But I trust that He will answer and I continually come to Him asking, seeking, and knocking. This is how I navigate life.

We often ask that of God which would do us harm if we had it; he knows this, and therefore does not give it to us. Denials in love are better than grants in anger; we should have been undone ere this if we had had all we desired. —Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1644.

I believe that prayer is God’s appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the instructions He gave us, some of which are so disagreeable to flesh and blood.

Here’s how Matthew Henry interprets Jesus’ words:

Ask, as a beggar asks alms.” Those that would be rich in grace, must betake themselves to the poor trade of begging, and they shall find it a thriving trade.

“Ask; represent your wants and burdens to God, and refer yourselves to him for support and supply, according to his promise.

Ask as a traveler asks the way; to pray is to enquire of God (Eze. 36:37).

Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost, or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls.

Seek by prayer, (Dan. 9:3).

Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door.” We would be admitted to converse with God, would be taken into his love, and favor, and kingdom; sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer, we knock; Lord, Lord, open to us.

Christ knocks at our door (Rev. 3:20); and allows us to knock at his, which is a favor we do not allow to common beggars.

Seeking and knocking imply something more than asking and praying.

We must not only ask, but knock; we must come to God’s door, must ask importunately; not only pray, but plead and wrestle with God; we must seek diligently; we must continue knocking; must persevere in prayer, and in the use of means; must endure to the end in the duty. (Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1644. (Paraphrased))

"Where God finds a praying heart, he will be found a prayer-hearing God;"  -- Matthew Henry

Luke also recorded Jesus’ words regarding prayer and if you wish to go deeper I strongly suggest studying Luke 11:1-13. In Luke’s record of Jesus’ words “good gifts” ir replaced with “the Holy Spirit.” Since there is no better gift we can receive from heaven.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” — Luke 11:13 NKJV

I would like to close with the words of a devotional called Lift Him Up.

Jesus has said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

… Be sincere; be relentless. Present the promise of God, and then believe without a doubt. Do not wait to feel special emotions before you think the Lord answers.

Do not mark out some particular way that the Lord must work for you before you believe you receive the things you ask of Him; but trust His word, and leave the whole matter in the hands of the Lord, with full faith that your prayer will be honored, and the answer will come at the very time and in the very way your heavenly Father sees is for your good; and then live out your prayers.

Walk humbly and keep moving forward.

— Lift Him Up (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988), 129. (paraphrased)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Daily Light on the Daily Path by Samuel Bagster

Daily Reading for October 19th

Proverbs 3:26 For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.

Psalm 76:10 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself.

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Psalm 130:5,6 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. • My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, 'Destroy!'

Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

[theprayerfulword]

December 01

James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

Psalm 130:6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Psalm 3:2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

May you always remember that the Lord is holy and He calls His people to be holy, for God will cleanse His house of rebellion even though doing so appears to wipe out all that is called by His name, allowing truth, for a time, to be thrown to the ground. Daniel 8

May you be comforted that the Lord will always have a remnant, and desire to be numbered therein, for just as He did with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, and many others through history, God will raise up a people of faith and an army of believers; they will walk in obedience, humility, and holiness before Him, showing His mercy, His love, His grace, and His righteous judgment, in strength and power, to comfort the poor, care for the homeless, lift up the downtrodden, and defend the defenseless. Daniel 8

May you seek to draw nearer to the Lord each day for when the enemy starts coming in as a flood, that is when the Lord will show Himself strong by lifting His banner and raising His standard through His people. Daniel 8

May you know that if you sin, you have One Who speaks to the Father in your defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, for He is the atoning sacrifice for your sins, and not only for yours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2

May you have the daily assurance that if you continually bear in mind, observe, and practice the teachings and commandments of Christ, then you have truly come to perceive, recognize, and become better, more intimately, acquainted with Him. 1 John 2

May you grasp the fact that if you treasure and obey His word, observing His message in its entirety, God's love has truly been perfected, completed, and reached maturity in you, for whoever claims to live in Him must, as a personal debt, walk and conduct himself as Jesus did. 1 John 2

May you understand that if you love your brother, you live and abide in the light, and there is nothing in you to cause you to stumble, but anyone who detests or despises his brother is in darkness and straying, not knowing where he is going, for he has been blinded. 1 John 2

May you not love or cherish the world, or anything in the world, for then you will not be able to love, cherish, and obey the Father – remember, the world and its desires will pass away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2

There is much for you to be, My child, in order to do all you have been assigned. You must be bold in approaching My throne and presenting your petitions. You must be strong in the faith when standing on My Word to claim the promises you have been given. You must be violent when taking the kingdom. You must be gentle when applying balm to My wounded sheep. You must be seen as foolish in the sight of man in order to confound the wise of this world when I speak through you. You must accept being weak when I call for you to do great exploits, lest men honor you. You must become as a child to be drawn into My embrace and be blessed. You must be diligent in searching out My truth with your whole heart. Learn of Me, My dear one, and seek My wisdom which has been hidden - not from you, but for you.

May you call on the Lord in your distress, for He answers your cry and will save you from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. Psalm 120

May you understand that the deceitful tongue will be punished by the Lord with the sharp arrows of a mighty warrior and the glowing-hot, long-lasting coals of His anger. Psalm 120

May you not willingly dwell with and abide among those who continually hate peace and stir up wrath, ever arguing and always ready to fight, but find your comfort in the Lord and renew your strength in fellowship with His people, granting and receiving the balm of the oil of the Spirit which brings peace and soothing calm to your troubled heart, rest and reassurance to the turmoil of your mind. Psalm 120

May you trust in and solely rely on the Lord for you will prosper as He abundantly blesses you and enriches your life, but the greedy and arrogant person who provokes conflict, stirs up dissension, causing strife and fighting, will gain nothing. Proverbs 28:25

May you walk in skillful and godly wisdom for the Lord will keep you safe, but the one who leans on, trusts in, and is confident in his own heart and mind is a fool and walks in constant danger. Proverbs 28:26

[revdavidbsmith]

Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

[humbleservantprayerwall]

Daily Devotionals 10-19-2024

(Reading Your Bible Daily Is Fundamental) Verses of the Day: 1 Corinthians 3:1/1 Thessalonians 4:14-18/1 John 3:18/2 Corinthians 1:3-4/2 Corinthians 8:1-7/2 Peter 1:16/Deuteronomy 33:27/Exodus 32:32/Galatians 5:25/Hebrews 11:1/Hebrews 10:22-25/John 14:1-6/Jeremiah 17:7/Job 35:10/John 14:16,26/Job 14:1-2/Leviticus 23:3/Luke 6:38/Matthew 5:21-24/Matthew 7:24-26/Micah 6:8/Psalm 130:5-6/Philippians…

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE BOOK OF GOD

Old Testament

Psalm 130

My Soul Waits for the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2     O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive     to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,     O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness,     that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,     and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord     more than watchmen for the morning,     more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!     For with the Lord there is steadfast love,     and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel     from all his iniquities.

Psalm 130

Diane Beauford