Category: QuietTimes

(Day 37) “The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.  Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!  My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.  God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.” Psalms 7:8-11 [ESV]

Good day Gents!  I just wanted to tell you again how much I love your posts everyday.  I don’t know about you but I am not only getting into a groove, I sense the leading of the Holy Spirit in my heart and mind both during my reading and a closeness throughout the day.  There is a clarity of mind that I have received through this; a patient heart and mind that looks at challenges with a spiritually appropriate heart and mindset.  In my reading in  Psalms 7 today I am again taken-aback by David looping himself in when asking God to judge.  He does not make this request from a lofty place; in fact he makes from a lowly place.  He says ‘let the evil come to an end’….including his own, that God might establish HIS righteousness.  God tests our hearts and minds — our good and honorable actions mean nothing without a heart and mind tuned to the grace and forgiveness of a Holy God.  I LOVE the Psalms!!

(Day 36) “O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, If I have paid back with evil him who was at peace with me or without cause have robbed him who was my enemy, Let the enemy pursue my life and take it; yes, let him trample my life to the ground and lay my honor in the dust.” Psalms 7:3-5

I am convicted by today’s Psalm.  Just before this David secures himself in the refuge that is the Lord and asks God to save him from his adversaries who seek to ‘tear his life from his body like a lion’…but then he follows up with this ‘Oath of Innocence’.  David says this, remember, from his refuge in the Lord.  There is a conviction in integrity that that he has not performed the three dishonorable acts he mentions.  Do I have this same conviction?  Can I make these same statements without fear of bringing upon myself what David suggests above?  Today, I take stock of my ‘above reproach-ness’ (yep, just made a new word) and pray that the Lord would reveal anything to me that could fall into these categories.

(Day 35) “Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.  The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord receives my prayer.  Let all my enemies be ashamed and sorely troubled; let them turn back and be put to shame suddenly.” Psalms 6:8-10

I love the confidence David has here in his resolve that the Lord has his back in his situation. I think the ‘be put to shame suddenly’ is more about the swiftness of Gods vindication versus the suddenness that something might happen (like being surprised by it). I have been riveted to my TV up here in our bedroom with all the ladies downstairs but I have peace and comfort in my heart that the Lord is in control. No matter what happens, it will be His will. It is God Himself who puts kings, leaders, and rulers in place. Whoever becomes president will be deliberately put in place to perform what the Lord has already predetermined. It will only play a part in producing a coming on our Lord Jesus Christ!!!

(Day 34) “For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” Psalms 5:12

Finished chapter 5 today. This verse was such an encouragement to me as I desire to be seen by my God as righteous…so what is righteous?  Being righteous is so reveling in my security IN Christ that I entirely surrender all that I do and every achievement to be defined by God’s purpose in my life and the ministry He has called me to. I have so far to go in my sanctification and I am so thankful for the grace and mercy that God provides me every morning when I have failed so bitterly the day before.

(Day 33) “But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.” Psalms 5:7-8

Verse 4 says “evil may not dwell with you” so it is only through an abundance of steadfast love that I am able to enter God’s house.  It is only because of Christ and my justification through His purchase that this is possible.  David calling on God to lead him because of the vigilance of David’s enemies really helped me see the plight that is before us Christians today as well – we have a vigilant enemy in our adversaries.  We need the leading of God’s hands to be successful in negotiating our way to safety.  I love how the sentiment here is recalled in Proverbs 3:6, Proverbs 4:25, and Isaiah 42:16.

Day 32! “Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.” Psalms 5:2

Today was a packed day so my QT slipped to this evening. The things about this verse in Chap 5 is that David puts his own place in kingship under the right context of God his King. I love this. Even though David was himself a king he surrendered his kingship before his one true King, God the Father. Do I lay down my kingdom before my King and Savior? Am I quick to walk away from the self-reliance of my own rule? This was a great reminder that even a king like David himself understood the sovereignty of our heavenly King.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8 -> me: Today I finished Psalm 4.  This verse stood out to me because it reminded me of Bella’s life verse Psalms 27:4-5 where in verse 5 it says “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.”  It is only by God’s mercy and blessing are we kept safe from evil.  God’s protection is over our soul is complete and unwavering.  Nothing can pluck me out of the hand of God.  This earthly body may be subject to pain and I might endure hardship, illness, and persecution…but my everlasting soul is in the shelter of His sacred tent.  That aspect of my Salvation is what provides HOPE; it is also the simple fact that here on earth God gives me the peace and trust in His promises to carry me through the rest.

“O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?  How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?  But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;  the LORD hears when I call to him.” Psalms 4:2-3 [ESV] -> me: I am really liking moving through the Psalms from front to back.  I have referenced the Psalms so many times but getting a feel of how David rolls these out is a whole new look.  Verse 2 here sounds a lot like Malachi 1:6 (to long to type out here but check it out!).  Here we are Halloween and if you have brothers or sisters, do you remember sorting through your candy and trading?  Remember setting aside those special ones that were your favorite so that you could relish in them?  Well, isn’t that what David is tell us about what God does for those who are godly?  I want the Lord to chose me; what’s crazy is that he already has!  My godliness is attained through being IN Christ.  So, shouldn’t my life reflect what Jesus died to give me?  I already have a secured place in Jesus’ inheritance, but oh how I want to emulate that which I have received!  God help me to have the strength to turn away from earthly pursuits and only seek You in Your temple, to gaze upon your beauty!

“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Psalms 3:5-6 [ESV] -> me: Today I start my morning Quiet Times!  I finished Chapter 3 of Psalms and feel like the message today is so appropriate for where we are in this world that is turning against God more and more.  The voice of biblical morality and truth is being ‘canceled’ at every turn.  However, just like David, I must realize that I am sustained by the One True God; knowing that everything that is happening is part of His plan to crush the head of the evil one and his followers once and for all.  The takeaway for me today is complementary to Pastor Jeff’s message on Patience this Sunday – ‘Not being afraid means to walk into the mess that is where people find themselves today.’  Yesterday David talked about the Lord as a shield about him – bring able to operate in obedience knowing that whatever happens, is by the supporting hand of the Lord; very comforting.  So, today I will meditate on these verses, asking God to give me a strong heart and open ear and eye in supporting those around me who are hurting.  At the same time leading my family in a way that is honoring to the only One that matters.

”But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.” Psalms 3:3-4 [ESV] – 2 small verses give a day In the life of leaning entirely on the Lord. 1) God is my protector. When I am following Him and leaning into His will for my life; I know I have Him as a shield around me. 2) I am not my glory; God is my glory. As I work to emulate Christ, I become alive in Him and He in me – all glory is His glory. 3) God is my encouragement. Through His word and Holy Spirit He reminds me of His promises and in His strength is produced comfort and peace. 4) I am not alone – Although my King sits in Heaven, He is very involved in all my situations. His hand stands ready to move when my prayer divinely is in tempo with His plans and will.