Category: Psalms Meditation

Psalm 25 — Show Me The Right Path

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , , , , , ,
Psalm 25 — Show Me The Right Path

I don’t always know the right path. David humbly asked God for help. “Show me the right path, O LORD,” he prayed. Frequently, I have felt more than a little hesitation, not knowing for certain which path to take. Sometimes the decisions were weighty and at other times they were small. I, like David, have often sought God’s direction for both.

My husband and I recently walked the nature trails close to our city. I admire those who hike mountains. That’s not us! We are flatlanders — prairie people. Frequent guide posts reassured us that we were still on the right path.

Don’t you wish life was that easy? Clear markings at every intersection. Visible arrows pointing out landmarks, hazards, and even the easiest route. Unfortunately, most paths are more ambiguous. Just like the nature trails, however, only when one willingly obeys the signs does navigating the terrain lead to the right destination.

Many of our life decisions bear very little consequence; others become life-altering.

But, oh, that we would all obtain a similar attitude to David in this psalm.

“O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!”
Psalm 25:1-2a

What a wonderful way to begin any decision-making process. “I give it all to You, Lord. I place my whole trust in You.”

Show Me the Right Path

David gave the purpose behind his request. He had lived long enough and witnessed enough to know that wrong decisions give the enemy an advantage over our lives and may ultimately lead to personal disgrace (vs2b).

He’s right! Either God will get the glory from our successes or the devil will laugh at our failures. Though we would all prefer the first option, most if not all of us have experienced them both.

David continued his prayer:

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
Psalm 25:4-5

Here comes another confession. I find it much easier to pray than to follow God’s direction. What if the path He shows is the hard path, the rocky way, the dangerous mountain trail where lions and bears roam? Will I follow when I know how hard the path will truly become?

David confessed even more. “Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD” (Psalm 25:7).

This whole psalm speaks life and hope to me. Yes, I haven’t always obeyed God’s direction, but oh His mercy is great! Oh, His love immeasurable. Again and again, we return, “Lord, show me the right path. Lead me and teach me.”

“The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”
Psalm 25:8-10

Knowing God First

Oh, the beauty and wonder of these verses. When we experience the love and faithfulness of God we truly say, “LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!” In His goodness and faithfulness, angst fades and obedience become easy.

It takes humility, doesn’t it — humility and a teachable spirit to walk in His ways? Stubbornness and rebellion may produce fleeting rewards but inevitably lead to trouble further down the road.

Here is the promise David witnessed in his own life:

“Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.”
Psalm 25:12-14

When we ask God to show us the way — to help us make the right choices — He hears and answers. “He will show them the path!” No, it won’t always be written clearly across the sky, but He will make His way known. Then, Holy Spirit witnesses it to our spirit. Usually, He confirms it through His Word. Often, the counsel from godly, trusted mentors and friends becomes additional guideposts, confirming whether we are heading in the right direction.

How reassuring! When we seek Him, commit ourselves to follow Him, and maintain a teachable spirit, He will lead us!

Confidence

Others had already gone ahead of us, clearing the nature trails we walked that day. Fallen trees had been pushed aside. The grass had recently been cut and wood chips or gravel filled small potholes.

Life isn’t always so kind. In seventy-two of the one hundred and fifty psalms, the psalmists mention enemies and the things that oppose us. Satan and his cohorts stand as our greatest enemies, using money, success, prestige and lust as vices. Despite David’s confidence in following God, he knew he would continue to encounter challenges and temptations.

I love David’s honesty as he closes the psalm:

“…I am alone and in deep distress … my problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble … See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me … Protect me! Rescue my life from them!”
Psalm 25:16-20a

True hikers remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. As Christians, we too, must be alert. “In order that Satan might not outwit us … we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

When we obey the signs, God keeps us safe. We can walk with confidence no matter how difficult the challenges we face.

David ends the psalm as he began, “May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put me hope in you” (Psalm 25:21). From start to finish, “Lord, we trust you! You will show (us) the path (we) should follow. You will teach (us) the way to go. For that, (we) give you thanks.”

(I encourage you to take a few moments this week to read this beautiful psalm for yourself. Let me know if it inspires you as much as it has for me. Blessings!)

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Every Moment: An Act of Worship

MaryAnn Ward 2 Comments Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , ,
Every Moment: An Act of Worship

Early this morning during my prayer and devotion time, I became increasingly aware that every moment can become an act of worship. Sometimes, I too easily believe that only intentional times of God-focused adoration encompass worship. Nothing could be further from the truth. The ultimate purpose for each of our lives is to worship God and bring Him glory. Even in seemingly uneventful moments we may accomplish that divine intention.

Do you ever sense what I sometimes call a “God-wink?” The moment when heaven somehow touches earth with grace, beauty, and truth? When you feel God’s presence or delight? Is it in the face of a child or the color of a sunset? Do you feel it as stars boast in the blanket of night? Maybe the gentle purr of kitten or the wet kiss of a dog brings a sense of God’s presence on earth. Perhaps your heart is stirred by artistic excellence.

Was it by accident that God gave Moses such detailed instructions regarding the embellishments of material and design for the tabernacle? Here God himself would come and dwell among His people. Nothing could be too extravagant and yet so amazingly simple. When elements of heaven and earth united, God came. He dwelt.

Worship includes any moment when we recognize and acknowledge God. Even the tiniest of moments may surprise us with His presence.

“My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Ezekiel 37:27

God Comes

Ezekiel speaks of a time when God would no longer choose a tabernacle or temple built with human hands. He would dwell by His Spirit within those who offered themselves as a living habitation. Then every moment would contain the potential of becoming a sacred moment of His presence. A long time ago, God chose a portable “tent.” Then an extravagant temple. Now, He dwells in us. How amazing! God with us!

“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.“
Psalm 139:16

Think about it! Every day of our lives God not only saw but recorded in the books of heaven. Before our first heartbeat, before a breath was on our lips, God “laid out” His perfect plan for our lives. That plan included His holy presence dwelling in us.

In “God-wink” moments, we remember. In “God-wink” moments, we sense His presence in us, with us, and for us, leading us to a place of worship. At any moment, we are drawn into an fresh awareness of His worth-ship — into a holy act of worship.

Beauty

Beauty and color invite us to pause in a “God-wink” moment. The proud prance of a horse, the symphony of bird song, the fleeting flight of a butterfly, the iridescent glow of feathers, all cause us to pause in a moment of worship to the Creator of all things.

Waves crashing against rock, the heart stopping thunder of an imminent storm, majestic mountain peaks piercing the sky all remind us of how small we are and how unimaginably immense God is. And in that moment, we worship. The scent of fresh spring rain or the biting frost of winter, we worship. In the unrestrained laughter of children and the comradery of long-time friends, we worship. Again and again, we are swept into divine acts of worship as God reveals Himself among us.

In these mundane, everyday moments, we pause. Here and there, if but for a millisecond, time seems to stand still. And this becomes in a precious moment — an act of worship.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.” Psalm 139:17

Lead Me

In these unintentional spaces of time, we move away from earth’s clutter and work’s worry to fully appreciate Him who graciously gives life.

In all honesty, I have felt discouraged lately. I have had to withdraw from many activities I once felt were my greatest acts of worship and devotion. The circumstances of life have required that I set aside many areas of service which most people would call active “ministry.” I have adopted a much different focus and pace. Change carries an element of sadness — a mourning of loss and an apprehension of what might await. I struggle to know where or how to fit into God’s present plan.

Perhaps you face similar challenges or face an unknown future. How reassuring! God saw this moment from millennium past. He has prepared us for this new now in time. So, we capture the moments of today as an act of worship to the One who knows all, and sees all, and has a perfect plan for us all. Today, it is enough to rest and to be still (Psalm 46:10).

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24

In the resting and stillness, in the knowing that He will ever be God, all anxious thoughts fade as He leads us into HIs everlasting way.

Prayer

Father, forgive my anxious thoughts. May I rest in this moment as my true act of worship. I release false and unrealistic expectations of what I should be or ought to be doing. May my heart delight in the faint whispers of heaven rising above the clamor of lesser things. May I delight in knowing that You have given every moment as a precious gift — a gift that causes my thoughts to soar heavenward and my heart to rest in the framework of Your love. Yes, Lord, take my hand and lead me in the way everlasting. Lord, may I sense Your presence today in the fragments of time. You delight to reveal yourself in unexpected and life-giving ways. “There (and here) your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:10).
Amen.

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Psalm 145 — The Lord is Good to All!

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , , , , , ,
Psalm 145 — The Lord is Good to All!

Whether we walk with ease along mountain-top experiences or tread dark valleys, we could all use the reminder that the Lord is good to all. How reassuring that inclusive word “all” has become. No one left out. No one ignored, abandoned, or too far from His reach. God is good. Always good. Out of the abundance of His goodness, He extends His best to all those who trust in Him.

Honestly, I spent far too much of my life trying to run from God and everything He represented. No wonder I felt completely abandoned and outside the realm of His blessings. My temporary condition could never change His infinite goodness.

Psalm 23:6 sounds far too passive in many Bible translations. The Passion Translation perhaps captures the true essence more clearly:

 “…Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life.”
Psalm 23:6

The Message Bible says, “Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.” God pursues us, chasing after us with His love.

Back then, I was like a little child, trying to outrun my Father. No one, not even I, could escape the truth of God’s Word and the faithfulness of His character.

He pursues us — all of us — every day, all the days of our lives. So, for those who are still running from God, maybe it’s time to slow down and take a second look at how good He is.

All

Fourteen times, God uses the word “all” in Psalm 145.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
Psalm 145:8-9

The Lord is! Not might be. Not sometimes is. The Lord is! He was in the past and He will forever be good. His every intention for us is for our good and for the good of future generations.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.”
Psalm 145:13

No matter how hard we might look, we will find very few reliable things these days. In every generation, God proves He is both trustworthy and faithful. In the Message Bible, this verse reads, “God always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does.”

What does He say? What is His promise? The promise that He is good — incredibly good, consistently good, incomparably good. Yes, the Lord is good to all!

There is More

“The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.“
Psalm 145:14-15

We all fail, fall, and feel burdened at times. While some bend low in shame, others feel “down on their luck.” But God! But God holds us and lifts us all. No matter how low our low may become, God makes Himself available to lift us up, taking us to new levels and places we could never imagine.

May we begin to look to Him with expectancy, knowing and trusting in His goodness toward us all.

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.”
Psalm 145:17

God stands alone as entirely righteous, faithful, and good in every dimension. The Lord is good to all!

The Lord is Near

For too many years, I felt God was distant. In reality, He was just a breath away.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18

In your own simple way, call on Him. Sincerity of heart, rather than eloquence of words, matters most when we talk to God. He hears and responds to both the smallest child and the master orator. When times get rough, we might believe that He only hears some people or other people. May we remember that wonderful little word again — “all”! The Lord is near to all!

Oh, my beautiful friends, may we grab hold of His Word with fresh faith.

“The Lord watches over all who love him…”
Psalm 145:20

Yes, the verse goes on to say, “but all the wicked He will destroy.” When left to ourselves, our quick judgements diminish the fullness of God’s grace. He knows those who genuine seek Him.

No matter where we find yourself now and no matter what we have done in the past, God’s goodness reaches to us. He is closer than we think and more loving than we could imagine — to us all.

Words of Promise

May these words of promise capture our hearts. May hope in the goodness of God fill the broken and empty chasms of pain and longing. We stand secure in the “all” to whom God speaks. He waits, willing to rush to our aid and ready to come to us in unexpected ways.

The Lord is good to all.

Dear friends, may we have eyes to see Him and hearts to believe.

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Psalm 46:10 — Be Still and Know

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , , , , ,
Psalm 46:10 — Be Still and Know

To be still perhaps ranks as my least favorite and most difficult of God’s commands. Stillness remains absent from my genetic makeup. I don’t think I’m alone. Maybe at some level, we all resist the essential quality of stillness before God. Before and with God is critical the key. Far from idleness, stillness contains divine intention and purpose.

Many of us, through our frantic efforts, exhibit more than a few frayed edges. We continuously multi-task and intensively goal set for a multitude of reasons. We are far too busy to notice, however. Fortunately, other people see through our fast-paced, dust-stirring activity and help bring us to a halt — if even for a few moments — to consider our frazzled behavior. For these people, I am thankful.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10

Be Still, and Know

Stillness literally means to desist. I would far rather assist than desist. But neither God nor anyone else need assistance — least of all from me!

Stillness becomes possible through “knowing” that God is: that God is sovereign, that God loves us, that God always has our best in mind, and that all God does is good. The more we “know” Him and understand His ways, the more easily we desist from self-effort and striving. Rest flows out of this holy knowing. With and in Him, peace prevails over pursuing.

Oh, may we all receive God’s invitation to stop, lay down our busyness, and draw into a deeper knowing of Him.

  • to know that regardless of circumstances or current events God is on His throne (Psalm 47:8)
  • to know we can wait in stillness and trust in His faithfulness to all He has promised (Hebrews 10:23)
  • to know that He possesses all power and authority (Matthew 28:18)
  • to know His plans will be fulfilled in each of our lives (Jeremiah 29:11)
  • to know that ultimately, He will be glorified among all nations. (Psalm 86:9)

Only when we become intentional will we be able to gain a quiet heart before Him — to be still and know Him more personally. The word still also means to sink in and relax. Now, isn’t that a welcome invitation? So rather than burden you with my rambling thoughts, may you be encouraged by His Word. May these timeless truths cause a confident hope to rise within you, replacing all angst to strive. or do. or be anything more than His desire for you.

Prayer

Lord, may we willingly abandon the stress of striving and welcome Your peace and rest. Renew and strengthen us, Lord, in the place of quiet trust. May Your Word settle deep within us, producing a gentle, sweet communion of fellowship with You.
For too long, we have struggled to conform to the patterns of world. For too long, we have accepted the standards of others. Forgive us, Lord. In this moment of quiet consideration, we turn to You, purposefully abandoning our former ways. Today, we place our confidence in Your goodness, learning to walk at the pace of Your grace.
With our whole being, we respond to Your invitation to put everything else aside. In quietness and trust, we embrace Your stillness, surrender to Your timing, and release every source of worry to You. Oh, Lord, how perfect is Your peace. How beautiful is Your design and plan for our lives. We step away from our frazzled efforts and wait patiently in Your Presence.
Speak Lord. Speak to our damaged hearts and wounded emotions, aligning and reforming us to Your flawless design. May we discover You more fully in the stillness of Your love.
Amen.

Psalm 23:1 — The Lord is My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment God & Bible, Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , , , ,
Psalm 23:1 — The Lord is My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want

Most people who are familiar with the Bible have read or heard about this popular verse: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” These nine little words have taken on greater meaning for me lately.

Although my husband and I farmed and ranched for many years, we had no practical experience as shepherds. It didn’t take us long, however, to understand that the animals we owned needed consistent care. Food, water, medical attention, as well as protection from predators and severe weather presented their primary needs. We tried to make sure all their needs were met throughout the seasons.

Psalm 23:1 in the Passion Translations reads, “I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.” While the New American Standard Version says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I will not be in need,” implying both present and future provision.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
Psalm 23:1

Sometimes simple, uncomplicated words speak the loudest. Each word has an opportunity to settle within our hearts in a powerful way.

The Who

The who behind any statement gives it credibility. The solid ground for this verse comes from non other than Yahweh, Jehovah God. Every name God reveals expresses an attribute of His character and nature. The LORD, Jehovah, speaks of God as the unchanging, eternal. self-existent God — the “I AM THAT I AM.” He loves completely and unforsakingly, loving in virtue of His relationship with His people.

He comes to us far more than “a” shepherd. He announces to everyone and anyone His desire to become our Shepherd — even “my” Shepherd.” Right here I stop in amazement! The all-surpassing God, exalted and glorified, has become “my” Shepherd, taking responsibility to meet all and every need.

Let’s wait in that exquisite thought — resting in it.

Do you know Jehovah God in that way? Do you daily experience Him as your Shepherd — not just of your souls but One who is concerned about every aspect of who He created you to be? I hope so. If not, you can.

Although we provided well for our livestock, inevitably there would be that one “fence-jumper.” A cow that decided another field or pasture looked better than the one we offered. Because fence-jumpers create so many problems, It would quickly be sent to market before it had an opportunity to influence the rest of the herd in their vices. Fence-jumpers want things their way, in their time, refusing to respect boundaries or receive what is provided.

In a similar way, people struggle with surrendering to God’s agenda and insist on doing things their way. This propensity becomes one of the greatest hindrances to receiving Jesus as their personal Shepherd. When we choose to submit to Him and confess Him as our Shepherd, allowing Him to direct our lives, we receive the full benefit of an unending relationship with the One who loves us the best and most.

My Shepherd

The Good Shepherd lives with the sheep and knows each one individually. He notices a tilt of an ear, a slight limp, or an individual isolated from the flock. He sees and understands when one of His sheep acts out of character or responds in unusual ways. Quickly, He comes beside little lambs or aged rams to bring aid.

By continuously watching over my cattle, I also knew each one’s personality. Some were aggressive, while others were more compliant. I knew each one’s history and why they responded in the herd certain ways. I knew the “easy keepers” and those that were more demanding. When one was acting out of character, I knew they were in trouble and needed help.

Relationship! We thrive within loving, trusting relationship.

For so many years, I believed God was distant and disconnected from humanity — from me. I believed He existed, but His existence played no relevance to my life. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
Psalm 24:1

Everything and everyone already belong to God. However, only when we come into a personal relationship with Him, receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior, will we experience that reality.

“My Shepherd!” What comforting words! Trusting in Him, we find “a resting place … in his luxurious love.“ Here’s another thought worth thinking. God loves you with luxurious love — right where you are, even in your messy life situation.

I Shall Not Want

Oh, Lord! Too often we fence-jumping people come with our long list of demands, stating our dissatisfactions and selfish desires. But if we will for a moment stop and rest in God’s luxurious love, we will find that He has already provided everything we need. And more!

Love breeds contentment. Contentment births peace. Peace matures into sincere gratitude.

 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:11-13

“I shall not want,” becomes both our present reality and future confidence. I appreciate the author’s transparency here. Contentment was something he learned. Contentment didn’t come naturally for him or for us. We are a wanting people. But as we settle and rest in the Shepherd’s love, everything (even a little) becomes more than enough to satisfy.

I find that the more I verbally declare God’s Word, the more it becomes my living reality, aligning my heart and desire to His. These words, “I shall not want,” have become a solid foundation for me in times of distress. As I speak these words, the Holy Spirit seals them within my heart as foundational truth — a truth I can always rely upon. May they become the same for you.

Prayer

Oh, Lord, thank You for the simplicity of this truth. You are my Shepherd (our Shepherd) — the One who has brought us into covenant relationship with Yourself as Your children, the sheep of Your flock. Lord, You care for each one of us deeply and intimately. You promise to provide for our every need. Thank You, for Your grace — for healing our brokenness and pouring Your salve into our wounds. May faith arise to believe that You are more than enough. You are the Bread of Life that sustains us, the Living Water that refreshes us, and our shelter from the fiercest storm. You stand between us and our enemies, defending, protecting, and constantly on guard around us.
Lord, help us to know Your voice as You speak to us in ways that we can understand, inviting us to draw closer in relationship with You. You do not hide Your face from us but reveal Yourself to us, showing us your luxurious love. May we be sensitive and responsive to You, our Shepherd. Remove our fence-jumping ways of rebellion and obstinance. May we be quick to respond, receiving Your love and provision. May the declaration of our lips ever be, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
Oh, wonderful Shepherd, we also ask that You would continue to draw others into Your fold — that they, too, may experience the wonder of Your love and fullness of Your grace. There is always room for more! More than enough for all!

Here is further reading on the names of God:
The LORD of Hosts: Jehovah Sabaoth
The Lord is Peace — Jehovah Shalom 
Adonai Jehovah – The Giver – The One Who Pours Out

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The Lord is With Me!

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment God & Bible, Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , , , ,
The Lord is With Me!

In the center chapter of the Bible, we find this reminder of the central theme scribed throughout Scripture, “The Lord is with me!” What a profound thought! Is there adversity? Yes! Are there challenges? Continually! Here is the great “but” — but the LORD is with me. What a comforting declaration!

I stop to consider again these words of hope and encouragement. The King of all kings, and Lord of all lords, the exalted God of the universe (Ruler, Deliverer, Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Healer …) chooses to be with us. He bends toward us and whispers, “You are not alone. I AM with you.” Who can comprehend anything so amazing? Certainly not I!

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.”
Psalm 118:6-7

No matter what has happened in the past or what the future may hold, one thing we know with certainty — the Lord is with me, with you, and with us.

God’s Goodness

Before the crescendo of instruments rose in acclamation, the psalmist makes one thing quite clear: no meritorious conduct on our part deserves such honor.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1

Humble gratitude becomes us. Out of God’s goodness and unfailing love, He bends oh so low to meet us. We understand love in part; but divine love will always remain beyond what our finite minds can fathom. His goodness, perhaps, is more difficult to articulate.

So, I turn to the theologian, A.W. Tozer, for clarity.

The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly … Divine goodness is self-caused, infinite, perfect, and eternal.

and

Nobody ever got anything from God on the ground that he deserved it. Having fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it’s because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That’s the source of everything.

God demonstrate sympathetic compassion toward us. Sym means “together; while pathy comes from pathos, meaning “feeling or suffering often.” Sympathy, then, is God feeling and suffering along with us — demonstrating in tangible ways His goodness and love.

God is Good

God is good — infinitely good. Allow these passages to affirm such courage-inspiring truth:

  • “You (God) are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees” (Psalm 119:68).
  • “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8)
  • “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34)!
  • “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing'” (Psalm 16:2).
  • “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men” (Psalm 31:19)!

Is God’s goodness beginning to resonate with you? Do you feel the assurance of His infinite goodness, just as the long-ago shepherd psalmist did?

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:6

The word translated as “follow” literally means to pursue and chase down. Can we rightly envision God’s goodness and mercy literally pursuing and chasing us down, to capture and wrap us within it? Or do we wrongly think of God passively looking down from heavenly realms indifferent toward us?

Assurance

Because of nothing more, or less, than His goodness we can be assured that “the Lord is with me!” The Holy Spirit captivated me by these words, as I read and mediated on them this morning. Again and again, I allowed this simple phrase to settle within me, until it bubbled over in childlike worship.

The writers of Scripture were acutely aware of God’s abiding presence. They sensed Him — seeing His hand at work over and in their lives, feeling the power of His Presence, hearing His instruction through audible words, dreams, and visions, touching the hem of His garment for deliverance and healing, and tasting of His merciful goodness. They continually confessed, “The Lord is with me!”

Again, I turn to Tozer:

This idea that God is an absentee engineer running His universe by remote control is all wrong. He is present in perpetual and continuous eagerness, with all the fervor of rapturous love pressing His holy designs.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

Only God can fulfil such a divine declaration! The goodness of God can and will work all things together for our good. We stand unshakeable upon that solid and reliable truth. Any doubt stems from an incomplete understanding of the perfection of God and His limitless goodness toward us. His goodness is just one of the many unchanging attributes which identify Him as God.

Prayer

Oh Father, forgive us for doubting You … for doubting Your goodness. May a settledness come upon us dispelling all loneliness or sense of abandonment. Fill us with the assurance that You are, and will always be, with us. May we breech the gap between frail faith and spiritual strength, knowing that You, O Lord, draw near to all who call upon You with believing hearts. Awaken our spiritual senses to see, hear, touch, taste, and feel Your nearness.
Every blessing we have comes from You. All You have given to us flows out of the deep well of Your abundant goodness. May that reality become the central theme of every aspect of our lives. May we sing with the psalmists of old, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
O gracious, loving Savior, we will not fear, because You are with us. We will triumph through every circumstance, because You, O Lord, are with us.
With joy, we celebrate Your goodness, O Lord!

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(A.W. Tozer references from “The Knowledge of the Holy, Harper One, 1961, pg 82, 83” and “The Attributes of God; Volume 1; A Journey Into the Father’s Heart, Wing Spread Publishers, 1997, pg 47; 44-45”)

When I Consider the Heavens

MaryAnn Ward 0 Comment God & Bible, Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation , , , , , , ,
When I Consider the Heavens

When I consider the heavens, everything else falls into right perspective — as the smallness of me shadows against the greatness of God. I find comfort and peace considering the grandness of all He is.

My husband and I live in a small, fourth-floor condo. We look out at the vast, ever-changing prairie skies ascending high above our city. Each moment, God paints a new ever-evolving landscape — sometimes in dreary tones, other times alive with vibrant hues. Day or night, gazing into the heavens causes me to rest in awe of the One who spoke everything into existence.

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8:3-6

What impressions stir your heart as you watch lightning flash beneath fierce, dark clouds, or stand amid open skies while aurora borealis dance overhead in glowing garments of green, blue, and crimson?

Consider the Heavens

The ancient scribes of Scripture viewed only as much of the universe visible to the natural eye. Human eyesight perceives only about 2.4 billion light years into the heavens. With the help of modern technology, we now visually explore approximately 46 billion light years of outer space. But even then, the true vastness of God’s handiwork remains beyond our scope.

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Psalm 19:1

When I think of “handiwork,” I remember my mother sitting with knitting needles clanking, as she turned wool into garments and blankets. The entirety of the heavens and the intricacy of how they move and flow in complete unison and harmony are but visible threads woven in a majestic tapestry, declaring His glory. Each star resonates light and sound to God’s magnificent glory!

We loosely use the word awesome to define many things — from a sleek new automobile, to a successful sports play, or a gift gratefully received. Is anything truly awesome but God?

The shepherd psalmist, David, wrote both these psalms, after spending considerable time beneath the vastness of the open heavens. Perhaps, such a secluded occupation led him to acknowledge the smallness of himself just as heaven’s broad expanse does to me. Certainly, working and sleeping under the stars drew him into a reverent awe of awesome God.

Praise Him

Another psalm fittingly voices the shout of our hearts as we consider the heavens.

“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Psalm 150

May we look past the daily drudgery, temporary troubles, and the confines of earthly constraints. May you, and I, consider the heavens, and see within the elegance of their design the magnificence of the Great Designer — the hand of infinite, unfathomable God. Today, we see only a tiny fragment of His handiwork!

Somehow, in considering these things, even the pressing problems come into perspective. Is anything too hard for God? After all, hard and easy only apply to limited humanity, not to Almighty God! Everything pales in comparison to who He is and what He can and will do for those who call upon Him.

May our voices join with the accolades of heaven, resounding the praises of the One who is worthy. May faith rise within us to believe beyond doubt, as we align our hearts with the magnificence of who He is and give Him glory.

Prayer

Lord, since the beginning of creation, Your invincible qualities — your eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (Romans 1:20). May my eyes be open to see You and my heart respond to Your goodness as I experience You through creation. By faith, we understand that the universe was formed at Your command, so that what is seen was not made from what was visible (Hebrews 11:3).
Who is like You, O God? Who compares to You?
Beneath the vastness of Your domain, I stand ashamed of small-minded concepts of who You are. May faith rise and hope soar in the awakened awareness of Your grandeur. How many are Your works, Lord? In wisdom You made them all (Psalm 104:24). We lift our eyes and look to the heavens which You have created. You bring out the starry host one by one and call each of them by name. Because of Your great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing (Isaiah 40:26).
Yet, too often, I hesitate, questioning Your love and faithfulness. O Lord, forgive my foolish thoughts. I will not fear, for You are with me. You promise to strengthen and help me, holding me in Your loving arms (Isaiah 41:10).
When I consider the heavens and the work of Your hands, they stand as a reminder of both the awesomeness of Your power and consistency of Your love. What can I do but thank You? What can I do but praise Your Name? Great are you, O Lord, and worthy of all praise. Your greatness no one can fathom (Psalm 145:3).

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Psalm 20:4 — May God Grant Your Heart’s Desires

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Inspirational Blog, Psalms Meditation, Purpose and Calling , , , , , , , ,
Psalm 20:4 — May God Grant Your Heart’s Desires

The other morning, I read, “May he (God) grant your heart’s desires.” Scribbled in the margin was a date, “Nov 9/2014.” I paused for a moment, considering why I found this verse significant a decade earlier. In the subsequent years, many areas of my life have dramatically changed. What caused me to highlight the verse? What desires were stirring in my heart at that time?

I honestly couldn’t remember, and the notation revealed no clues. The verse stood alone. It needed no additional merit.

“May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.”
Psalm 20:4

For much of my Christian life, I subconsciously included any fleeting desires of the moment. Good health, peace-filled home, and loving relationships usually topped the list. Periodically, new things would move to the forefront, but these remained.

https://pixabay.com/photos/candy-sweetmeats-jar-candy-jar-1961538/

The Desires of Your Heart

Perhaps more often than I’d like to admit, my desires might resemble a young child in a candy shop — fleeting from one colorful treat to another. I find it interesting that in the original Hebrew the reference to “desires” is completely absent. Perhaps, the verse might more accurately be translated as, “May he (God) make your “inner man, mind, will, and heart full.”

What truly fills our inner man? What is it that makes our hearts “full”?

Years later, I realize that by removing the “me, myself, and I” from the quotation and replacing it with “Him and His,” my heart is more apt to become full in every sense.

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
Psalm 37:4

In turning our focus and attention to Him, our heart’s desires are fulfilled.

https://pixabay.com/photos/candies-jars-candy-jars-539695/

Your Plans Succeed

The scope of my plans on “Nov 9/2014” included very little of what I am experiencing today. My limited vision couldn’t see the things that are bringing the most success and fulfillment now.

Consider how your life has changed in the last decade. Are you livng the plan you formed ten years ago? Or have you, like me, experienced radical and unexpected shifts?

I am discovering that my greatest pleasure comes from a well within — set in place by the Master Craftsman, God Himself. Before I was born, He planted within my “inner man, mind, will, and heart” longings I have been largely unaware of. Only as they come to pass do I finally realize how intrinsic they are to living a satisfying and full life — not through “my” plans or “my” desires but His.

Only when our hearts become united with God, and we adopt His desires as our own may we enjoy the fullness of what we were created to be and to do. Until then, we experience a faint shadow of what could be.

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed … We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”
Proverbs 16:3,9

https://pixabay.com/photos/cake-pops-pastries-food-dessert-693645/

Heart’s Desires

The seeds of unknown desire
lay buried in each heart —
hidden in sacred seclusion.
Until He breathes each into existence,
reviving what we deemed dead,
restoring what we thought lost.
Gift, upon gift, upon gift,
until hearts sing and
joy leaps upon the
hills of desire,
meeting, at last, the Sower
of sacred seed..
The union of Creator with created
to the tune of heart’s desires,
blending color and dimension
inviting to dream, believe,
and trust in the Maker
of all things good.

https://pixabay.com/photos/sweets-heart-heart-candy-yummy-2087625/

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4 Promises from Psalm 34 — Tell of the Lord’s Greatness

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Psalms Meditation , , , , , , ,
MaryAnn Ward, Blog, Tell of the Lord's Greatness, Psalm 34

Those who love God have one common goal, desire, and purpose — to tell of the Lord’s greatness through our words and actions. The pre-empt to Psalm 34 tells us a lot, “A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.”

Though everyone experiences difficult times, few people relate to the desperate situation David encountered. Escaping to enemy territory to seek protection, his only means of survival was to fake insanity. But even then, David’s consistent pattern of worshiping God grounded and sustained him.

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.“
Psalm 34:1-3

Whether on the hillside watching over sheep, playing his harp before a crazed king, or on the battlefield, David discovered the open door to God’s blessing through praise and worship. He would not allow his circumstances to control him. Ironically, God often reveals the richness of His goodness most clearly in desperate seasons.

MaryAnn Ward, Blog, Evangelism

Free from Fear

David exhibited one response to trouble. He “sought” the Lord. The Hebrew word translated as “sought” means to tread, frequent, follow, seek, ask, and worship. We find the fullness of this comprehensive seeking through a personal relationship with God, following His ways and engaging in worship.

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.“
Psalm 34:4-6

Even as fear taunted and troubles tormented, David chose to tell of the Lord’s greatness. As a result, He experienced God’s promises.

“For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.”
Psalm 34:7

David discovered the protection and defense found in God alone.

MaryAnn Ward, Blog Post

Lack No Good Thing

We may be tempted to praise God only when times are good but doubt Him during struggle. David recognized the goodness of God while in enemy territory — escaping death moment-by-moment.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.”
Psalm 34:9-10

Here we find the second promise in Psalm 34 — having all we need and lacking no good thing. Without knowing where he would sleep that night or if there would be food that day, David looked to God as his only source and resource. God never failed him; He proved Himself faithful.

MaryAnn Ward, Abundance

The Lord is Close

Before I knew the Lord, I doubted His existence. I could only imagine Him as distant, looking down upon earthlings with judgment. But then I discovered that He is intimately close — even residing within us and watching over us.

“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”
Psalm 34:17-19

As a Father watches over His children, He comes close to rescue and deliver us. His ears are tuned to our cries for help. He knows the many troubles we face and comes to our rescue. How amazing!

MaryAnn Ward, Blog, Rescue

Free and Innocent

The final promise of Psalm 34 reaches beyond the here-and-now help God provides. He redeems all those who serve and trust Him.

“But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”
Psalm 34:22

The Passion Translation says, “He will declare them free and innocent when they turn to hide themselves in him.” If we assumed such things, it would be heresy! But when God declares them over us, what joy!

We daily discover endless reasons to tell of the Lord’s greatness. Like David, may we seek the Lord — doing life with Him, following His ways, praying and worshiping Him. May His praise flood from grateful hearts in unhindered praise.

MaryAnn Ward, Blog, Innocent

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Psalm 84 — When All Else Fails God Doesn’t

MaryAnn Ward 1 Comment Psalms Meditation , , , , , , ,
Psalm 84 — When All Else Fails God Doesn’t

People fail, economies collapse, and nations fall, but when all else fails God never will. He remains constant through everything. How comforting to know that there is One who will never be shaken, who remains consistent and faithful. Jesus spoke of a time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Perhaps, He was describing our incredibly insecure global climate.

A few months ago, I felt a “call” from God to write things which I never intended to permanently set in ink. I wept and struggled as I felt the shaking of my comfortable rhythm. His ask meant opening the gates of my heart in incredibly vulnerable ways. Then I turned to Psalm 84,

“LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”
Psalm 84:12

Only one path leads to His blessing — the path of humble obedience and radical trust. The Amplified Bible verbalizes this trust as “leaning and believing on (God), committing and confidently looking to (God) without fear or misgiving.” I’m leaning and believing as I commit myself to trust Him in a new way. It would be a stretch to say that my obedience came without fear or misgiving, however.

In these moments, we discover in greater measure that when all else fails God doesn’t!

LORD of Angel Armies

In Psalm 84, the psalmist appeals to the LORD Almighty or the LORD of Angel Armies, just one of many names for God we find within the Scriptures. This name, however, stood apart from the others in that it was understood most deeply when God’s people had fallen away from Him and failed to stand strong in faith.

“In a word, we do not know this name, the ‘LORD of Hosts,’ till we have learnt the Church’s fall … are bitterly divided and destroying one another. But though (we) fail, God ever remains … when His elect have no other helper … God is and must be ever sufficient, for a ruined church as for a ruined world.”
– Andrew Jukes1

“What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.”
Psalm 84:5-7

We each know valleys of pain and tears. When our trust is in the LORD of Hosts, or the LORD of Angel Armies, those valleys become pools of refreshing, not just to us but to others who follow the same path.

When all else fails God doesn’t!

During our hardest times, God promises to take us from “strength to strength” (NIV) or “increasing in victorious power” (AMP). Only by trusting God in the valley of weeping does the fulfillment of this promise come true. Strength to strength! Increasing in victorious power!

God’s Presence

The writer of Psalm 84 expresses His constant desire to be in God’s Presence.

“I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Psalm 84:2

Or,

“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.“
Psalm 84:10

Do these words reflect my heart when I feel the conflicting emotions of weeping in the valley and shouting joyfully in His Presence? How clearly do I recognize my weakness apart from God? Do I long to be close to Him more than anything else — forfeiting everything for even one moment with Him? Or have I grown complacent and indifferent to the open door of access to the Father which Jesus provided?

One Step

The LORD of Angel Armies stands ready to receive us. No matter how far we have fallen or how great our failure, He welcomes us into into His courts, into His house, and into His arms of grace and mercy. One step takes us from where we are to where we could be with Him. We are only one step away!

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; He [presents] grace and favor and [future] glory, honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss; no good thing will He withhold …”
Psalm 84:11

When all else fails God doesn’t! His promise to us stands firm!

As we take that one step toward Him in obedience and trust, He carries us the rest of the distance. Our fears of being rejected or falling short dissolve in His love and grace. Even our flawed efforts become radiant with His glorious touch over our lives.

If we choose to trust Him, my story, your story, all our stories become testimonies for the LORD of Angel Armies. He is the Lord Almighty who saves and restores the undeserving.

Your present point of trust may far surpass mine and your valley deeper and darker. But let’s move together in our fragile trusting, moving closer to our God who never fails.

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  1. The Names of God: Discovering God as He Desires to be Known, Andrew Jukes, (Kregel,Grand Rapids, 1967), pg 157 ↩︎