Monday, April 18, 2011

Shalom,


Psalm 108 is a compilation of verses taken from Psalms 57 and 60. I kind of think of it as taking  notes from one teaching and adding them to the notes from another teaching and having a new outlook that is appropriate for the situation! If it's God's Word, it's ALL good and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16)! Psalm 108:1:


1 O GOD, my heart is fixed (steadfast, in the confidence of faith); I will sing, yes, I will sing praises, even with my glory [all the faculties and powers of one created in Your image]!


The word "fixed" is the Hebrew word "kuwn", which means: to be firm, to be stable, to be established, to be securely determined, to be prepared, to be steadfast, to make ready, to direct toward, to be directed aright. A person with their heart "fixed" like that will not be easily swayed by situations and circumstances! Part of the preparation needful to get into this position is found in verses 2-3:


2 Awake, harp and lyre; I myself will wake very early -- I will waken the dawn! 3 I will praise and give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples; and I will sing praises unto You among the nations.


Beginning EVERY day with praise, thanksgiving and worship will prepare your heart to receive the necessary instruction from the Word of God, and direction from the Spirit of God, so that you will BE steadfast, immovable, and a force to be reckoned with by the enemy! They WILL NOT know what to do with you! Keep them on the run! AMEN! And remember verse 13:


13 Through and with our God we shall do valiantly, for He it is Who shall tread down our adversaries.


"Valiantly" is the Hebrew word "chayil", which means: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, ability, force, an army. We SHALL BE like the army that ALWAYS wins! UNDEFEATED in THIS war against the forces of darkness! GLORY TO GOD! I LIKE doing things HIS way! Here is Hillsong's How Great Is Our God:




In Luke 20 we see the chief priests, the scribes and the elders (members of the Sanhedrin) coming with questions for the purpose of tricking and tripping up Jesus. They did NOT succeed! Instead, HE tripped THEM up with His own return questions! As you know by now, that always thrills me when Jesus leaves them speechless!  One of my favorite verses is verse 40:


40 For they did not dare to questions Him further. 


He will do the same for us if we will stay filled with the Spirit and filled with His Word!


Deuteronomy 23-24 continue with instructions for the new nation. Every time I read through these books of the Law I am increasingly thankful to have been born in this Age of Grace! We are blessed beyond measure to have as our commandments to love the Lord our God with our entire being and to love each other as HE loves us! Meditating every day on His love for us makes it very doable to walk in love with others! Also, remembering the Law of sowing and reaping gives added incentive! Allow the Spirit of God too minister to you individually from these books so that you, too, can develop a DAILY "Attitude of Gratitude"! Remember 1 Corinthians 13:8a:


8a Lover never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].


Shalom in Him!