In You I Trust
Psalms 25:1-6 Psalm 25
Of David.
1 In you, LORD my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
It is good in times of trouble to remember that David, too, had good times and bad. This is one of the reasons that we rely on the psalms to guide us through our lives. Just as David reminded God of His great works, he also humbled himself before God.
Why did David trust God? Because they had a track record together. David knew that God loved him and wanted the best for him. We, too, can know that God is our constant helper in times of need if we will stay in communion with Him
It is that constant relationship with God that builds a firm foundation upon which we can rely. And it is our willingness to ask God’s help and remind Him of His mercy and hope toward us that keeps us on the right path.
May we take the time each day to thank our Father for all He has done and ask him to remember us as we live our lives for Him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Speak the Name of Jesus
1. Philippians 2:9 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
2. Ephesians 1:21 – Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
3. Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
4. Colossians 3:17 – And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
5. Philippians 2:10 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
6. John 14:13 – And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 7. Psalm 148:13 – Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
8. Psalm 8:1 – O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
9. Psalm 113:3 – From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
10. Psalm 111:9 – He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
11. Psalm 145:1 – I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
12. Psalm 86:9 – All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
Have you ever been in a situation where the only thing you could do, the only name you could say, was “Jesus?” Did you feel helpless at that moment? Can I tell you as long as you can speak the name of Jesus, or even think of His name, you are not helpless, you are not alone. And truly, when we are in Christ, and the Holy Spirit resides within us, whether we are asleep or awake, conscious or unconscious, we are not alone. Isn’t that wonderful?
All who know me know that I hold the old songs of the church dear to my heart. But occasionally there will be a contemporary song that grabs hold of me and I would like to share some of the lyrics of one of these songs with you now.
I Just Wanna Speak the Name of Jesus
By Jesse Reeves, Dustin Smith, Abby Benton, Kristen Dutton, Carlene Prince, Raina Pratt
I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus
‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire
I recently experienced my fifth heart attack in twenty-five years. I liken it to Paul’s thorn in the flesh, except Paul was able to preach, teach and write letters until God called him home. I miss preaching—spending hours praying, studying, and then delivering the message on Sunday mornings. But more than anything, I miss taking care of the people in my charge—praying over them, calling them, laughing with them and crying with them.
I want to encourage you today that whatever season you are in, continue to speak the name of Jesus. May we know, believe and understand that we are never alone for Jesus is by our side.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
James 1:16-26 Act on What You Hear
19-21 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
22-24 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
26-27 Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Do you find yourself being led by the Holy Spirit toward certain themes in the Word? For instance, around twenty years ago I began to focus intently upon seeking holiness. I recognized that holiness was foreign to this world, yet it is vital to the body of Christ.
Just last year I began to be impressed with the need to ask daily for our needs: bread, love for others, grace, mercy— it is all about that daily relationship with God. From that foundational relationship springs our relationship wth others.
Recently my focus has been on not just reading the Word, but upon doing. Acting upon the living Word, giving breath to what I read, both in thought, word, and deed. And I see that these three themes are threaded together like a fine tapestry woven in love and in service to Jesus my Lord
May we examine our lives and indeed our actions so that all that we say and do reflects Christ, speaks love, mercy and grace, and we do this daily.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I Am Not Afraid
Psalms 23 (MSG) 1-3 GOD, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of GOD
for the rest of my life.
If I ask fifty Christians to tell me their favorite verse of the Bible, a good many of them will respond with Psalm 23. When further queried, there will be several reasons for this choice:
- The imagery of the Good Shepherd is comforting
- TRUE TO YOUR WORD you let me catch my breath
- You have proven trustworthy
- You do not rush me
- Death does not frighten me,
- You walk in front of me to guide me.
- You walk beside me to protect me
- You give abundantly without reservation
- You lift up my head
- I’m drinking from the saucer since my cup has overflowed
- And I love this part—your beauty and love chase after me. Yes!!! I cannot escape my Father’s love and protection, nor can I outrun the beauty that wants to envelop me
We cannot out sin His mercy nor outrun His grace. I am ready to live out my God called purpose, according to His will. How about you?
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
It is a wonderful thing not to fear God
Isaiah 25:1 1 LORD, you are my God.
I honor you and praise you,
because you have done amazing things.
You have always done what you said you would do;
you have done what you planned long ago
Psalms 63:3-8 3 Because your love is better than life,
I will praise you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live.
I will lift up my hands in prayer to your name.
5 I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods.
My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you.
6 I remember you while I’m lying in bed;
I think about you through the night.
7 You are my help.
Because of your protection, I sing.
8 I stay close to you;
you support me with your right hand.
Have you ever been so weak all you could do was say, “Jesus?” I just survived my fifth heart attack. It is a wonderful thing when you face death to have the praises of God on your lips, and it is more than wonderful to be unafraid.
Why would I be afraid even as death lingered at my door? Because I know the thoughts and plans he has for me, plans for good and not for evil, to give me hope in my final outcome. Jer 29;11.
How do I know this to be true? Because I have a relationship with my Father. I don’t just know about Him, I know Him.
If you have never met my Jesus, today is the day to do so. Repent, be redeemed, and be saved. Find a Bible believing church and be baptized. Surround yourself with other Christ followers who will lift you up and praise Him with all that is within you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 