Whetstone Ministries » Daily Encouragements

An Answering God – Psalm 20

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:42:22 +0000

Do you believe God hears you when you call?

Some people seem to have “selective hearing.” For example, children may pretend not to hear their mom or dad when they think they are going to be disciplined or when they think they are going to have to do something they do not want to do. Even adults are sometimes accused of doing this!

You may know someone who has a hearing problem and wears hearing aids. If they do not respond when you say something, it could be because they do not have their hearing aids in their ears, their battery might be exhausted, or your speech pattern may be difficult for them to understand. Surely they do not intentionally ignore you when you talk to them!

You can be confident that God hears you when you call to Him. He will “hear thee in the day of trouble; . . . defend thee; Send thee help . . . strengthen thee . . . fulfil all thy petitions” (vv. 1, 2, 5). Your love-relationship with the Lord began when He saved you; “Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed” (v. 6). God not only gave you eternal life, but He will continue to “hear [you] from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand” (v. 6).

David was called “a friend after God’s own heart.” He may have had a closer relationship with the Lord than you think you do, and he may have experienced salvation from many impossible situations in his life. But, when he wrote this psalm, he was able to totally trust the Lord, and he wanted people yet to be born, such as you, to be able to do the same. He was praying for you when he wrote, “[The Lord] Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill all thy counsel” (v. 4). Trust the Lord, call out to Him, and tell Him your desires. He will hear you, because He always listens to His children.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (v. 7).

An Awesome God – Psalm 18

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 16:35:12 +0000

Have you told God that you love Him?
A man walked into a florist shop and said, “I need something to give to my wife for Valentines Day.” The florist, trying to be helpful, asked, “Would you like flowers, balloons, or a stuffed animal? We have a lot of choices.” He said, “Oh, I don’t know, just give me something.” She replied, “What do you think she would like?” He said, “I don’t know, just deliver something to the house that you think she will like.”
Obviously this was a man who did not know how to express love to his wife. Do you know how to express your love to God? It is easy to say words such as, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. . . . my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, . . . my buckler, . . . and my high tower” (vv. 1, 2). These are all true, but He is such an awesome God that these do not adequately describe Him. How can you really say, “God, I love you”?
Love depends upon relationships. They usually become stronger during difficult times. This is especially true of a relationship with God. David wrote, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me” (vv. 4, 5). You may never have difficulties as bad as David did, but there will be times when you have no option other than crying out to the Lord. He is pleased when you cry out to him because it acknowledges His desire for an intimate relationship with you.
Try writing out a prayer something like the following to express your love to God. “Lord, you know my heart better than I do. Please accept my love and gratefulness to you. Thank you for the difficult times that you have allowed to come into my life, because every one of them has caused me to love you more. You have been so good to me during my lifetime. I cannot imagine what it will be like to be with you forever. I am overwhelmed by the thought of it. Father, thank you for loving me, even during those times in my life when I have not been very lovable. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
<strong>“The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD . . . and sing praises unto thy name” (vv. 46, 49).

A Listening God – Psalm 17

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 16:33:07 +0000

What if you think no one is listening to you?
A patient with a very common illness told the hospital chaplain, “If I just had a doctor who knew what to do about my problem, everything would be fine.” Her husband said, “She has a good doctor, but he needs someone to give him some lessons on ‘bedside manners.’” She needed someone who would listen to her questions and talk to her with a loving attitude.
It is awful to be in a situation where you do not feel like anyone is listening. When you have a problem or a need, you may feel that no one has time to show you that they really care about you. People offer all kinds of services, but it may seem that they are only doing their “job.” You may feel that people want to tell you what you need, instead of allowing you to describe what you think your needs are.
The good news is . . . someone is listening—someone who knows more about your needs than you know about yourself. The Lord is listening. Have you taken the time to get to know Him? How often do you cry out to Him when you have a need? David describes his experiences with the Lord, “I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God; incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest . . . them which put their trust in thee” (vv. 6, 7).
Are there times in your life when you do not cry out for help because you are not sure anyone is listening? Does it seem like your world is falling apart? There is another option. Believe in the Lord and trust Him to take care of your needs. He has not promised to arrange all circumstances in your life so that everything will be the way you want it. However, He has promised to always be with you and to provide what He knows you really need. It is up to you to trust Him.
Have confidence in the Lord and learn to enjoy life as He provides for you. There is nothing wrong with asking Him to change some circumstances in your life. However, learn to be satisfied with the life He gives you and thank Him for it.
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness” (v. 15).

A Preserving God – Psalm 16

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 16:30:12 +0000

Where do you seek for help?
A church was meeting in a tent while they were rebuilding after a fire. One Sunday morning all of the younger children were on the platform singing. A thunderstorm came up suddenly. It began raining and the wind suddenly lifted the front part of the tent up and collapsed it between the children and the adults. This was very frightening to a ten-year-old boy, and he tried to crawl back under the tent so he would not get wet. However, instead of being safe, this would have been dangerous. As he started to crawl under the wet canvas, his father came running, grabbed him by his belt, and pulled him back out. Then he picked him up in his arms and took him to a safe place. The boy was too young to understand, but his father knew where he would be safe and out of danger.
People all over the world are suffering from tragedies such as: wars, earthquakes, starvation, and disease. Some of them are receiving help, but many are not. There are millions of people in the world who are in danger of suffering the eternal consequences of sin, and they desperately need someone to “pull them to safety.” It is tragic that they are relying upon other gods to help them. “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god” (v. 4).
If you face a situation where you cannot help yourself, what do you do? Sometimes a friend can help, but there are many times when no one can help. What do you do? This is the time to cry out to God. David did, “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust” (v. 1). God has promised that He will eternally preserve all who will trust in Him. David also wrote, “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9). You can always have complete confidence in Him. You will never regret having the Lord as the source of your eternal preservation.
Are these verses true for you? “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope” (vv. 8, 9).

A Righteous God – Psalm 15

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:26:50 +0000

What qualifies you to enter God’s presence?
In Japan, many people have idols in their houses. A missionary once asked a woman, “Why do you have these things in your house? Why do you place gifts of rice, fruit, or other things before them?” She replied that it was to avoid making the gods angry and to prevent bad things from happening to her family.
You don’t have such superstitious practices, do you? However, do you have certain traditions that you hope will make you more acceptable to God? King David asked two important questions: “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (v. 1). If you are wise, you will seek the answers to these questions for yourself.
This Psalm next lists eleven specific qualities to describe a person who will be allowed to enter God’s presence. Read the list and you will see that it is impossible to qualify. It simply says that you must be upright and righteous (v. 2). However, the Bible also says that “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Too bad! You do not qualify. However, there is hope! Your hope can only be in the Lord Jesus Christ. God has provided a way for you to meet His standard. “For he hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).
David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:7, 8). This passage quotes Psalm 32:1, 2 and is a wonderful assurance that God will receive you into His presence if you accept His offer of forgiveness and allow Him to make you righteous. You should have the correct answer now. Have you personally trusted in Him?
“He that doeth these things shall never be moved” (v. 5).

A Longsuffering God – Psalm 14

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:21:54 +0000

Do you see potential or a problem?
Do you have someone in your family who is mentally or physically handicapped? How do you treat them? Do you treat them differently than you do those who are not handicapped?
Some children are born with birth defects that prevent them from maturing physically; others will never mature mentally. I have seen mothers in both situations take special care of their children, even though they will always be a great burden to them. This is because the mother who gave them life loves them with an unconditional love. This enables the mother to “go the second mile.”
God created this earth and everyone who lives in it. Each of us is part of His creation, and He loves us more than any mother could ever love her own children. Consider what the Lord sees when He looks at His creation. “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God” (v. 2). He sees people like the fool that said, “There is no God,” “none that doeth good,” and those who were “all together become filthy.”
In our world today there are many people who do not understand that all people are special to God. Those who deny that God cares for every person want to judge the potential of unborn babies.
God’s perspective and man’s perspective are very different in many ways. God sees potential in every person. Godless men do not see potential; they only see problems. However, the greatest difference is that God is longsuffering! For example, very few people trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior the first time they understand that they should. I delayed making this decision for over two years after I realized that I should trust Him. I am certainly glad that He was longsuffering with me! In what other ways has the Lord been longsuffering towards you? Have you thanked Him?

A Bountiful God – Psalm 13

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 16:20:03 +0000

Is life always fair?
A family with nine children had an interesting way of trying to keep things fair. If something (such as a piece of cake) was to be divided, one would cut the pieces and another one got first choice of the pieces. This helped avoid some arguments.
Have you ever felt that you were treated unfairly because someone else got the largest piece of cake? Have you been upset because someone else received a position, promotion, or recognition that you thought you should have received? These things happen and life is not always fair.
God often will teach you a lesson and then immediately test you to reinforce that lesson. For example, have you made a commitment to trust the Lord—no matter how unfair you think you are treated? If so, then why do you sometimes have thoughts like David did when he cried, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” (v. 1). God has not forgotten you. Be confident that He will never do this, regardless of what you do. Even when life does not seem to be fair, the Lord is always a bountiful God.
There were two brothers who were arguing over a doughnut. The older one pretended to solve the problem by promising to give the “hole” to his much younger brother after he ate the doughnut which surrounded the “hole.” The younger brother was very trusting and agreed. However, he became upset and began crying when he learned that the “hole” was nothing. However, that evening at the supper table, Mother had the last word. She served a plate full of “doughnut holes” to the younger brother that she had prepared just for him.
Remember that God always writes the last chapter. Believe that He is a bountiful God, and He will deal bountifully with you!
“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (vv. 5, 6).

A Friend of Friends – Psalm 12

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:16:25 +0000

Going down for the last time?
What did it feel like to be in a situation that was desperate and you thought you were going to die? The situation may have been physical, emotional, or spiritual. How do you describe your gratefulness for someone who came alongside and helped you out of the situation? If you have never had such an experience, imagine what it would be like.
I was a freshman at the University and not much of a swimmer, but I decided to go swimming with my friends. Everyone else was enjoying the water so I gathered my courage and jumped into the water. It was so cold that I could not swim at all. Before I knew what was happening, I was going down for the third time. I thought I was going to die, but a friend grabbed me and pulled me back to the bank, saving my life.
At one time in his life, King David felt like he was “going down for the last time.” He cried out, “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth” (v. 1). David must have thought that he was going to die. However, he also thought he was “going down for the last time” emotionally and spiritually.
It is possible to become so troubled that it seems there is no hope. You can begin thinking that no one cares, that no one can help, and that it would be better to die. Hopefully, you have never been in this kind of situation, but what if life should become this unbearable? Should you just give up? Never!
Instead of giving up, trust the Lord! “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1, 2). If you feel like you are “going down for the last time,” allow Jesus, the Friend of Friends, to help you. He will lift you up and put you on safe ground again. Rely on Him instead of on your own strength or abilities.
“Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (v. 7).

A Trustworthy God – Psalm 11

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:08:31 +0000

Is your confidence increasing every day?
You may have never met me, but do you trust me? Do you trust me enough to allow me to blindfold you and then follow my directions, even if you can’t see where you are going? The commands may be easy or they may be difficult. They may lead you on a shaky path or on a solid one. Either way, will you believe my assurance that I will not allow you to be hurt during your “faith walk” and follow directions, even in darkness?
Do you trust the Lord in all circumstances? David wrote, “In the LORD put I my trust” (v. 1). He was tempted to run away, “Flee as a bird to your mountain,” but he refused and continued trusting the Lord.
Genuine trust in the Lord gives confidence enough to clearly believe that, “The LORD is in His holy temple . . . his eyes behold” (v. 4). God is never surprised by anything that happens. He actually knows all about it, even before it happens. He knows all about you and about your needs. Since He loves you with an “everlasting love,” He is a good source of refuge.
The Lord also “trieth [tests] the righteous” (v. 5). He allows things to happen that will “stretch” your faith. These things are designed to strengthen and build your trust in Him. Just as parents are excited to see their children maturing, God is pleased to see you gain more confidence in Him. Experience is a wonderful teacher in life.
It really does not matter whether you understand what is happening or what is about to happen. If you know that the Lord loves you, and if you love Him with all your heart, your confidence will increase every day.
“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (v. 7).

A Forgiving God – Psalm 10

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 16:03:15 +0000

Is God always close to you?
During halftime at a college basketball game, a man was given the chance to win $10,000 by making a basket from center court. He tried to prepare himself mentally, got set, and threw the ball toward the goal. The ball swished through the net, and the spectators went wild with excitement. The announcer interrupted the crowd’s excitement with an announcement, “Unfortunately, the shooter stepped on the line so the shot will not be accepted.” The crowd immediately changed their applause to boos. How could such a thing happen? It seemed unfair to lose $10,000 just because he stepped on the line.
Do you ever feel that God has been unfair to you? Have you thought that He deserted you just when you really needed Him? David had thoughts like these and wrote, “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (v. 1).
David had some reasons why he thought God had forsaken him and was treating him unfairly. You may think God is unfair to you or has forgotten about you. Is this because He does not always meet your expectations? Don’t be deceived. He has not forgotten about you.
God has a purpose in all He does. He may have allowed you to have some difficult experiences because He wants you to learn to totally trust Him. God wants you to learn to trust Him in all things, even when you do not feel that He is near you. He wants you to totally trust Him, even if things do not seem fair and you are discouraged!
Do you remember the man who almost won $10,000? Later in the game another announcement was made, “The Company that sponsored this contest feels that, even though the contestant was disqualified for stepping on the line, they do not want negative publicity for their company. Therefore they are going to ignore the disqualification and award the $10,000 to the contestant.”
How do you suppose the crowd reacted? How do you suppose you will feel when you see the Lord and realize that He was always close to you and watching over you? Remember, God always writes the final chapter.

A Praiseworthy God – Psalm 8

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:01:24 +0000

Would you rather be criticized or praised?
Is it easier for you to criticize others or to praise them? Evaluate yourself! Which do you do most often? Have you been guilty of criticizing God? Do you praise Him often? These questions are not pleasant to answer, but they are important.
There are some important lessons to be learned from reading through the book of Numbers. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God called Moses to lead them out of bondage and into the land He had promised to give to them. As you read, ask yourself, “Did they know God?” They did not act like they knew Him because they constantly criticized Moses, the man God sent to lead them to freedom. They were guilty of complaining many times, but there does not seem to be even one time when they praised Moses. Neither did they have an attitude of praise toward God, even though He miraculously provided all they needed.
Think about writing your life history. You could probably make a list of places you have been, things you have done, and people you have met. However, as you think about your past, remember the Lord’s goodness to you. How often have you praised Him for His goodness to you? Hopefully you have never had a critical attitude toward the Lord, but have you praised Him?
What kind of history can you write about how He has blessed you? It is so easy to take God for granted. No one should ever be guilty of doing this! If you would like to leave a heritage that will bless others in the years to come, write about God’s goodness in all of the experiences you have had. Write about your spiritual journey. As you write, your heart will surely be filled with praise to the Lord and thankfulness for other people who have helped you in your spiritual journey. This will not leave you any time for criticism of others.
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (v. 9).

A Righteous God – Psalm 7

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:59:15 +0000

Can you trust his judgments?
Have you ever been involved in what might be called a “miscarriage of justice”? Were you accused of doing something you did not do? Or, has someone else received the blame for what you did? These were unrighteous judgments.
Once I was on a jury where we heard the case against a young man who was accused of breaking and entering, as well as stealing a small amount of money. We listened to the evidence and then went into the jury room. It did not take us long to decide that the defendant was guilty. We gave the verdict to the judge, and then he ordered us to determine the sentence. We were shocked to learn that, since he was a repeat offender, the minimum sentence was ten years in prison. We were convinced he was guilty, but we did not think the crime was serious enough to deserve such a sentence. With this new information, the jury talked for a long time, asking ourselves, “Were we sure he was really guilty?”
It is not always easy for us to judge others righteously, because we do not know people’s hearts. However, God is a righteous judge. He judges both the actions and the motives of our hearts. “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins” (v. 9).
Another time I was on jury duty, the prosecutor stated, “The state only has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this person did commit the crime of which he is charged. We do not have to demonstrate the motive for his crime.” Then he asked, “Are you comfortable with this? Can you find the defendant guilty, even though you do not know why he did it?”
I continue to learn more every day about the Lord, a righteous God. I can trust Him to always make righteous judgments. “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart” (v. 10). Do you often wonder why people do some of the things they do? I sometimes wonder why I do some of the things I do. It is comforting to know that the Lord is my righteous judge!
“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high” (v. 17).

A Merciful God – Psalm 6

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 15:56:38 +0000

How do you overcome impatience?
Do you sometimes become impatient because God does not answer your prayers as soon as you pray or the way you pray?
A man diagnosed with cancer had to make some medical decisions. He and his wife evaluated a lot of information and decided to proceed with radiation therapy. Before the therapy could begin, he received a hormone shot and had to wait three months. One of the side effects of this shot was “hot flashes.” He woke up three or four times every night very hot and sweating for about ten minutes.
This gave him a lot of time for self examination, and many times he asked, “Lord, is there sin in my life that I have not confessed?” He did not receive a specific answer, but he began praying, “O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure” (v. 1). During this time he learned a lot of patience, but he still had thoughts such as, “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears” (v. 6).
The cancer patient was confident the Lord heard his prayers, but he still became impatient at times and his attitude was, “My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?” (v. 3).
The patient continued to learn a lesson more important than patience. He learned about God’s mercy! He learned to cry out to the Lord in weakness, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed” (v. 2). There is nothing you or I can do to deserve God’s mercy. As long as we try to earn something from Him, we will not receive it. God wants you to trust Him and allow Him to work in His way. It is exciting to trust God and experience His mercy in your heart and life!
“The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer” (v. 9).

A God for Every Day – Psalm 5

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:54:25 +0000

Do you wake up with eagerness or dread?
As a man woke up, his first thoughts were, “This is the day I go back to the doctor and get the results of my tests. Will he tell me it is cancer? If it is cancer, what will I do? How long will I have to live?”
The doctor gave the diagnosis of cancer and treatment began. This man’s prayers were not for healing, but for wisdom to make the right medical decisions. “Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face” (v. 8). As you trust the Lord and allow Him to lead, you will be filled with peace that only the Lord can give.
This was not the man’s favorite day of the year, but from that day on, God continued to strengthen his faith. The following words became much more meaningful, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that takes pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee” (vv. 3, 4).
It is easy to allow negative circumstances to determine your attitude about the day or about your life. Instead of allowing this to happen, let your trust in the Lord to determine your attitude. Make a commitment to begin every day with the thought, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; [I] will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
This man didn’t think he was a good example of one who totally trusted the Lord. However, He was excited because the Lord gave opportunities every day to learn more about trusting Him. The more you learn to trust Him in everything, the more exciting every day will become. You cannot know what will happen during the day, but you can choose to trust that the Lord is in control!
“Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee” (v. 11).

A Prayer-Answering God – Psalm 4

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:52:40 +0000

To whom do you pray?
When you were small, did you learn to pray the common child’s prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take”? Did you know what you were praying? Did you believe God would protect you while you slept?
When we lived in Japan, my wife and I saw many people going to visit Shinto shrines. I once asked a well-educated friend, whose husband was a doctor, “When you go to the shrine, to whom do you pray? What is behind the curtains?” She said, “I don’t know.” I asked, “Then why do you go there to pray? Do you think it does any good?” She answered, “I don’t know. I am so desperate, and I hope it will help some way.”
This lady was seeking help from delusions and hoping that a false god would help her. Several years later she finally trusted in Jesus Christ as her Savior. She learned to pray, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer” (v. 1). She learned to trust God and believe that He would answer her prayers.
I have, no doubt, been guilty of taking God for granted. I have been taught about the Lord since I was born. I cannot remember the first time I began learning about Him. However, I clearly remember when I first understood that it was important for me to trust in Him. I have learned that He is always faithful to hear and answer my prayers. I have learned that I can trust Him in every situation. Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Are you able to trust Him in all situations?
Since I have learned to trust Him, I have become more grateful to Him. The better I know Him, the more grateful I become, and the less I take Him for granted. I praise Him that no matter what is happening in the world or around me, I can lie down at night with peace in my heart and confidence that He will take care of me. If I should die before I awaken, I am confident that He will take me to be with Himself!
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (v. 8).

A God in Time of Trouble – Psalm 3

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 15:45:13 +0000

More troubles than you think you can bear?
Have you ever had trouble that you thought was more than you could bear? Did other troubles seem to increase while you were trying to resolve that one? Do you ever wonder why so many troubles seem to happen at the same time? Did you answer, “Yes” to all three of these questions? If so, continue reading carefully.
It happened at a summer church camp. A college student struck out during a softball game. This upset him, so he hit the ground and broke the bat. Becoming more upset, he stalked off the field. In a fit of anger, he jumped up and grabbed a low limb on a tree. It broke, and he fell, skinning his knee. He became even angrier, jumped on his motorbike, and immediately hit a ditch, bending the front wheel so much that he could not use it. He probably wanted to shout, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me” (v. 1).
Sometime later the same young man stormed into the church one night. It must have been a bad day because he slammed the door, noisily jerked out a chair, flopped down, and slammed his Bible on the table. A missionary who really cared for him, looked at him and said, “Why don’t you leave your Bible here and go home? If you don’t believe that what the Bible says is good every day, in every situation, throw it away and quit coming to church! He calmed down and did not leave church that night. Instead, he learned to say, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me . . . and the lifter up of mine head” (v. 3). This was true for an angry young man, and it is true for you and for me. “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill” (v. 4).
The angry young man matured, and God has taught him a lot of important lessons. He is now married, has three children, and is serving the Lord. It is amazing what the Lord will do in the hearts and lives of those who will accept His love!
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (v. 5).

A God of All People – Psalm 2

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 12:34:46 +0000

How does a “teacher’s pet” feel?
Were you ever a “teacher’s pet”? Have you ever been in a situation where you received special attention from the person in charge? Did it make you feel good to get special attention from the person in charge? How did you feel when they started to give the special attention to someone else? Did you get upset? Were you jealous?
The good news is that God does not have “pets.” A basic principle of the Bible is “God so loved the world.” There are people in many parts of the world that do not know God, but He still loves them. The heathen may do many ungodly things, but this is because they do not know or love God. They do not know that He loves them, but He wants you to help tell them about His love.
The Lord emphasized this while He was here on the earth. In Mark 16:15 He commanded, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” You may become so concerned about how God treats you that you ignore those who do not know Him. If you do, this indicates that you really do not understand much about God’s love.
Never be guilty of wanting to enjoy God’s love for yourself and ignoring those who do not know about His love. Be thankful someone told you about His love, and be eager to help others learn that He loves them. God said, “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (v. 8 ).
If you really want to be a happy, become involved in praying and helping other people learn about the Lord. Be willing to become a servant, and allow God to use you to lead others to Him, the “God of All People,” because He loves them as much as He loves you.
“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling . . . Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (vv. 11, 12).

A Delightful God – Psalm 1:2

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 12:30:52 +0000

Where is your delight?
God created you and me to enjoy a happy life. He intended for us to continually experience happiness through an intimate relationship with Him. “Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15).
He has done His part, and now He wants us to do our part. A simple way to paraphrase Psalm 1:1, 2 would be, “How happy are those people who delight in the Lord!” How much of the time do you delight in Him?
Delighting in the Lord is not the result of intellectually learning about Him. Instead, it is the result of a continual, growing relationship with Him. What kind of relationship do you intend to have with Him this year? You and I have the opportunity to make this decision for ourselves.
The apostle Paul said, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10). No doubt, he would encourage you and me to make this same decision.
Carefully reread this verse and remember that the Lord desires a relationship with each of us. The right kinds of relationships become stronger through difficulties.
Neither you nor I can imagine what will happen in our lives during the coming year, but we can be confident that as we delight in the Lord our relationship with Him will become stronger and stronger. How happy are those people who delight in the Lord!
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD” (v. 2).

The Way to be Happiest – Psalm 1:2

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 12:29:13 +0000

Are you still wondering how to be happy?
The local Christian bookstore has a book describing 101 ways for a husband to make his wife happy. Do we need a similar book to help us to be happy? God has already given us instructions for our happiness. The final conclusion is given in Psalm 1:2. “His delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.”
Meditation is not some kind of ritual to perform in order to be happy. It is a condition of our hearts. The Lord chose to use the relationship between a husband and wife to illustrate His relationship with His people. After being married for over 47 years, I have learned that the happiest times in our marriage have been when my goal was to please my wife, rather than expecting her to please me.
This has especially been true when I returned from a trip. I was thinking about how I could please her when I got home (roses, candy, etc.). However, when I returned, I discovered she had been having similar thoughts and had prepared a special meal. We both had a desire to please each other, and this gave both of us great happiness.
The Lord is constantly aware of us and our needs. He came to this earth and died that we might be filled with happiness through an intimate relationship with Him. If you want to experience the happiness that the Lord has prepared for you, meditate (continually think about Him and about His desires for you). The more we think about ourselves and the more we live for ourselves, the less happiness we will experience. However, the more we think about Him and about His desires for us, the more happiness we will experience.
“The life which I now live in the flesh I lie by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Happiness is an Attitude – Psalm 1:1

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 12:27:21 +0000

Do you think you will ever be really happy?
Don’t give up! You may be tempted to have a “pity party,” feel sorry for yourself, and begin thinking that everyone is happy except you. This is not true. Many people give the appearance of being happy but are miserable in their hearts. Some of the happiest people in the world are living in the most miserable circumstances. It is vital to remember that happiness is not determined by circumstances but is an attitude.
A patient in the hospital said to a chaplain, “I am an atheist. My father was a pastor, and I was saved when I was nine years old. But nothing changed, and I became an atheist two or three years later.” Even though this man was smiling and friendly while he was talking, he had a major attitude problem. His belief was confused, and he had made a deliberate decision to turn away from God and to deny His existence.
Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man that . . . sitteth [not] in the seat of the scornful.” Why do people become scorners and scoffers? At some point in their life something happened, and they made a tragic decision which caused them to become scoffers.
If you are seeking happiness, you need to also make a choice. Choose to reject anyone or anything that scoffs at God and His Word. Do not allow the attitude of the world to have any influence on you, and determine that you are going to trust Him in every circumstance (whether good or bad). Jesus came to the earth to give us an abundant life. This is a life of genuine happiness!