Strength and peace

Psa 29:11  The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

 This verse concludes the 29th Psalm which extols God’s great power over all the forces of nature.  This Psalm exhorts us to praise our mighty God.  This promise is a fitting conclusion.  Our God is a mighty God and He will give us the strength that we stand in need of for every situation in life.   God will also bless His children with peace, an inward peace that comes from the assurance of His power and care. 

Satisfied

Jer 31:14  And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

 This verse appears in the context of the promise of the captives returning from Babylonian captivity.  The preceding verses speak of the restored blessings and joy that would accompany that redemption.  This verse concludes with the satisfaction that both priest and people would enjoy.  When we return fully to the Lord and are revived again, God’s people will enjoy His goodness.  His goodness brings a deep satisfaction.  May we continue to pray and work toward that reviving in our day.

Renewed day by day

2 Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

 Growing old is one of the curses of sin on this present creation.  Though our present body may grow old and fail, we need not despair. Our inner person, our spirit and soul, can be continually refreshed and renewed in this present life, while we await our eternal body.

Surely there is an end

Pro 23:17  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.  Pro 23:18  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

 We are reminded that this life is not all there is to our existence.  We can be tempted to look around at those who don’t know God, those who live as if there is no God.  We can look at these and envy what they have, or what they enjoy.  We are reminded to keep our reverence for the Lord and continue faithful.  There is an end.  There is a reckoning.  A great and happy future awaits the faithful.  Press on.

God takes note of the poor

Psa 9:18  For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

 Too often, the poor and the needy are overlooked in our world.  But here is a promise for those who may be struggling with needs:  God takes note of you.  God takes special interest in the poor and this world.  Let’s take hold of this promise and look to God for His help.

Courage for the future

Jos 1:5  There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 There are times I wish some of the heroes of the faith from times gone by were still with us.  Yet, as God reminds Joshua in this passage, our God remains the same.  He will be with us, as He was with those great spiritual leaders who have gone before us.  He will not fail in our generation, He will not fail, He will prove faithful just as He has in the past.  With God, we can face the future with courage. 

Make His goodness known

Psa 105:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people

 Our God is good, perfectly good, all the time.  We who have experienced His love and goodness owe Him thanks.  We are also responsible to let those around us know of His great goodness. Our gratitude should overflow in such a way that our thanks and praise flows out to God, and our testimony lets those around us know of our great God.

Pursuing the good life

Psa 34:12  What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Psa 34:13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Psa 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Who wants a good long life?  Here is the path:  stay away from evil and do good.  Watch your talk.  Doing good always involves keeping away from evil speaking, gossip and any malicious talk.  Having a good life requires seeking peace, actively making the effort to live in peace. 

Delivered from fear

Psa 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 We all have fears…fears about our health, fears about our finances, fears about the future, fears about many things.  There is a place of calm, a place of peace, a place of safety and security.  It is found in the presence of God.  When we seek Him, He hears and delivers.  Don’t allow Satan to cause you to live in fear and anxiety.  Seek your heavenly Father for His assurance and deliverance.

Trust and obey

Psa 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

 Here is the key to a good life: do good and trust God, or as the song says “trust and obey”.  God has promised to provide for those who do good, live righteously, and trust Him.  God has promised deep satisfaction to those who find their deepest joy in Him. 

Don't lose your life

Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  Joh 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 To be a disciple of Christ means to be willing to live as He lived.  This includes living a life of holiness, but it also includes being willing to suffer with Him.  It means being willing to sacrifice the pursuits of this life, if necessary, to be faithful to Him. This seems a price too high for many, but the reward of eternal life far outweighs the cost in this present world. 

Freely

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 Here is an open invitation to come and find eternal life.  Salvation is freely offered.  Eternal life is extended to all who truly desire it. What a shame that so many are missing the most important thing in life when it is so readily available.  Let’s do our part to echo the call “Come, take of the water of life”

Thou shalt not covet

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 Very, very few people today are content.  Very, very few professed Christians are content.  Our society is saturated with a culture of covetousness.  We are instructed to seek our contentment in the security of knowing that God is faithful.  If God is watching over us and has promised to take care of us, what more is there to be desired?  I pray God help us to find a greater satisfaction in Him, a greater trust in Him.  I know of no greater witness to our generation.

Our help and confidence

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

I am thankful that we are not left alone in this world.  God knows how to take us safely through temptations, trials and difficulties.  God also is aware of those who do evil.  No one will get away with anything.  Our God is merciful, but He is also fair and just.  

The seal

2 Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

In a time of great confusion as to what it means to be a Christian, the seal, or stamp of God’s ownership remains the same.  First, God knows His own.  He is not confused or deceived by anyone.  Secondly, true children of God depart from iniquity.  True children of God live with a purpose to do right all the time, in every situation. Don't be deceived.

Deliverance

Joel 2:32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

 Joel affirms that our God is the great deliverer.  Notice that whosoever calls on the Lord shall be delivered.  God is fair, impartial.  You are not too insignificant to be seen and heard by God.  In the city of God, in the home of His family, there is deliverance. God has promised, and He is faithful.

He is our rock

Psa 62:1  Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. Psa 62:2  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

 There is only one source of help.  In all of our problems, in all of our difficulties, there is only one to whom we should look for our deliverance.  Our God is faithful and true.  He is a rock, solid, stable, unmoved by the storms of life.  He is our defender, He is our hope; therefore, we can stay steady, waiting and trusting.  He will deliver.

Keep sowing

Psa 126:5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

 There is sowing before and reaping can be done.  Sowing involves work, but it also involves risk.  We are investing our lives in sowing for good, without the ability to bring a harvest.  I am thankful that we serve the God of the harvest who is faithful to bring the increase.  It is only after a period of faithful sowing that we will see the faithfulness of God, and our joy will be overflowing.

He satisfies

Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

 There is a longing that only God can fill. Those who hunger and thirst after God and His way will be blessed.  People chase after all kinds of things seeking to be satisfied….it is only those who long for God that really find a place of satisfaction. 

Long life

Pro 10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Satan will always tell us that we are the loser for living right.  The opposite is true.  A reverence and respect for God that results in an obedient life tends to a long and full life.  It tends to happiness, lower anxiety, health and prosperity.  The disobedient, the wicked, are the ones who really lose, both in this life and the life to come.