The writer of Psalm 102 is not known, but you can really tell that he was under attack! The sub-heading for this Psalm says this:
A prayer of the afflicted; when he is overwhelmed and faint and pours out his complaint to God.
On those occasional days when you happen to be under attack and it SEEMS to be overwhelming, turn to Psalm 102 and read! I don't know about you, but I have NEVER had my "days consume away like smoke"; nor "my bones burn like a firebrand"; nor "my flesh cleave to my bones"; nor had anyone "use my name as a curse"; nor have I "eaten the ashes in which I sat", nor been cast away by God; nor been "withered like grass"; nor have I EVER felt like a "melancholy pelican"! Remind yourself that God is Good, ALL THE TIME! Verses 25-28:
25 At the beginning You existed and laid the foundations of the earth; the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They shall perish, but You shall remain and endure; yes, all of them shall wear out and become old like a garment. Like clothing you shall change them, and they shall be changed and pass away. 27 But You remain the same, and Your years shall have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall dwell safely and continue, and their descendants shall be established before You.
Allow the Holy Spirit to show you what little adjustments you may need to make in YOUR life so that you can stay in deep, intimate fellowship with HIM! THAT is the place of God's protection, provision and safety; blessing, anointing and power! AMEN!
Again in Luke 14 Jesus is posing questions to the Pharisees that they DARE not answer! If they answer TRUTHFULLY, then they will have to admit that He IS exactly Who He says He is! I LOVE it! Then He instructs us to NOT exalt ourselves, but rather allow Him to use others to exalt us! Then He says this in verse 26:
26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters -- [yes] and even his own life also -- he cannot be My disciple.
He is saying here that He MUST be the #1 priority in our lives! We have always said that if couples would each love the LORD their God with their entire being, they will have more than enough love to love their spouses AND their children better than ever before! There would never be a need for marriage counseling, or any other counseling, if every believer would make that simple adjustment!
In Deuteronomy 11-12 Moses is STILL instructing the Israelites about their lives in the new land that God has ordained and provided for them. Deuteronomy 11:8-9:
8 Therefore you shall keep all the commandments which I command you today, that you may be strong and go in and possess the land which you go across [the Jordan] to possess, 9 And that you may live long in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
And verses 11-15:
11 But the land which you enter to possess is a land of hills and valleys which drinks water of the rain of the heavens, 12 A land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. 13 And if you will diligently heed My commandments which I command you this day -- to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your [mind and ] heart and with your entire being -- 14 I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 and I will give grass in your fields for you cattle, that you, may eat and be full.
And then Deuteronomy 12:32 says this:
32 Whatever I command you, be watchful to do it; you shall not add to it or diminish it.
The 12 spies SAW that the land was just as God had told them it was! The produce of the land was extraordinary! They were a wonderfully prosperous nation as long as they obeyed His Word. When they stopped, they chose cursing INSTEAD of the blessing of God! Then they were taken captive, and, when they had rejected the ONE sent, they were dispersed to the ends of the earth! BUT, God's promises are without repentance! He promised that they would return and they have! Their produce is again amazing and what we were able to sample on our trip last year was excellent! I hope you get an opportunity to visit the land! Until then, bless Israel and BE blessed! Here is a picture taken of our entire group from the tour:
Shalom in Him!
