Learning how to pray the psalms has changed my prayer life from rowing upstream to catching the wind of His Spirit. We’re going to look at just four verses from Psalm 119 that are filled with power. It was my husband Steve who first discovered this passage. When he found Integrity had set it to music he was thrilled and we knew it had to go into A Woman of Worship. I think it is the most beautiful song on the CD and you can hear the beginning of it by clicking
The phrase “Remember the Word to your servant” is the psalmist reminding God of His promises. Charles Spurgeon says that God loves it when His children remind Him of His Word, because it shows they know and trust it. It’s the way a parent feels when his child repeats back to him something that he’s wanted him to believe and understand, but wasn’t sure he did.
For example, when Steve thought he might be dying, he was so concerned about his three youngest children — all daughters. So He reminded God of one of His promises — to be a Father to the fatherless. He asked God to remember this promise. Then Steve also asked, knowing God might have a different way of fulfilling this promise, but still submitting this request: “Would you give each of my daughters a godly husband who has a godly father? And could that father love my daughter should You be calling me home?” In the three years after Steve’s death, each of his daughters married a godly man — and each man was the son of a godly pastor. Steve certainly caught the wind of God’s Spirit.
I am also seeing how often I pray for God’s gifts instead of my character and the character of those I love. But there are so many promises that have to do with our character or with experiencing the presence of God, which is key to everything else: our character, our contentment. There are many promises right within Psalm 119, that if we prayed them, would help us catch the wind of the Spirit. What if we regularly prayed Psalm 119:18 (Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law) or Psalm 119:37-38? (Turn my eyes away from worthless things…)
Wouldn’t you like to catch the wind of His Spirit?
Let’s go sailing together!
1. Write out Psalm 119:49-50 in a version that you particularly like. Why do you like it?
2. Meditate on “Remember your Word to your servant.”
A. Why is the psalmist reminding God of His promises? Has God forgotten? Then, why?
B. Why are God’s promises more powerful than ours?
One commentator from the 1800’s put it like this: “Sue God on His Word, for His Word is His bond.” (That’s a lawsuit
you’ll never win!)
3. Meditate on “Upon which You caused me to hope” List three promises of God that could give you hope — look especially
for promises that would help you with things you tend to be anxious about or with your character.
4. Meditate on “This is my comfort in my affliction, for your Word has given me life.” Take one of the above promises and
explain why it comforts you.
5. Now, take this promise and pray it, making it yours. (I want to caution you that we can’t use these promises to
arm-wrestle God, making Him do what we want, but we can ask Him to fulfil His promise to us. For example, in the story
above, God may have chosen to have our daughters be single, but still have been a Father to them in a different way.) Find a promise to pray back, perhaps one in Psalm 119, and do it here. You can do this throughout the week with various promises.
Write your prayer here:
6. In the song on the CD, they drop down to Psalm 119:147 and sing that. Contemplate that verse as well as Psalm 119:148 and share what you see.
7. Here’s a challenge question: Find examples in Psalm 119 where the psalmist almost seems to be worshiping the word, the law, the precepts. We know we shouldn’t “worship” anything or anyone other than the LORD – so what is going on here?
8. What will you remember from this week?
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This morning I have two prayer requests I’d love to give this group — and I’m going to use Psalm 119 to help us catch the wind of the Spirit in praying them.
My daughter Anne will be going into labor any day — her firstborn. She’s been troubled with a cyst near her tailbone — right now it is draining, and we are thankful — but would be so hard if it was there in labor. I’m praying Psalm 119:153 for her: “Look upon my suffering and deliver me.”
Zondervan is meeting today to discuss if The God of All Comfort should be brought out in paperback. It hasn’t done particularly well, and seems to be pegged as a gift book for widows, when I know the scope is broader and it could be done in any small group. But they must decide and I do know only God knows best. I’m praying Psalm 119:19 for the people at Zondervan. “We are strangers on earth, do not hide Your commands from us.” Please give them Your wisdom, Lord, and help me trust.
Thanks, Sisters!
Father, Thank you for the child you have put in Anne’s womb and thank you for the plan you have already laid out for that precious child. I ask for your deliverance for Anne from the cyst and that it would be gone by the time her little one is to be born. Calm her heart in this time of uncertainty and give her strength in knowing you are there and that she can trust you in this. Today give her your peace Lord that goes beyond her circumstances-beyond her understanding as it comes from you. Remind her that you know exactly how she feels and of her fears-you are here and you are fully aware of it. Help her to place it in your hands today.
Give Zondervan wisdom in making the right decision with God of all Comfort today. Move in their hearts and stir them to do what you want them to do. Lord you know whose hearts you want to touch with it so I just ask that you would hold back any darts Satan might be trying to shoot in regard to halting getting this important truth out to women in any stage of life. Give them a broader perspective-your persective regarding this decision and we are going to trust that you will move in this and guide it in the direction you want it to go. Help Dee to trust you today.
Thanks so much, Rebecca! Good prayers and caring.
Lord thank You for Your blessing on this family. How wonderful that these sisters will have children the same age, and all girls too. Family gatherings will be so fun! But Lord Anne is suffering right now and probably fearful of what her delivery will be like with this cyst. I ask Lord that You look on her suffering and deliver her. Give her peace and comfort. I know that wounds like this tend to become less sensitive with time and I pray that You will speed up that process for her. May she be comfortable and well rested in the days following her delivery. Please bring this child safely into this world and may Your peace be over her. Again we thank You for this great blessing.
I also ask for wisdom for Zondervan as to how to market this book for You know that we are strangers on this earth. Please do not hide Your commands from us. Bring it into the hands of those to whom it will minister. I thank You for it and for Your leading to it, for I almost missed it too.
I pray that You will continue to be with Dee as she follows You in the writing of Every Love Story Whispers His Name. Quicken her with the ability to express herself and with understanding and knowledge of Your love. May this book help Your bride to understand Your great love for her.
For the last airing of The God of All Comfort I ask that You will bring many people to listen. Quicken Dee with the ability to impart Your love and the moderator with the right questions. Help Dee to keep her eyes on You as she ministers in her calling. Encourage her even when she can’t see the fruit of her labor.
I think also of the study for the woman’s prison. May it bring these women into Your presence. This must be a place of so much pain. I can’t even imagine. May their pain bring repentance and salvation.
These things we ask in Jesus’ precious name, Amen
Oh, Father, thank you for Dee, Ann, and Zondervan (hey, that rhymes 🙂 )
Thank you that your are intimately acquainted with all our ways. (Ps. 139:3 NASB) So, you are well aware of Anne’s suffering these days, and Dee’s concern that the God of All Comfort reach those it could help.
Please may Anne’s cyst not be a problem during her labor. And may Zondervan make your decision about that book.
You are the God of all Comfort. Please may Anne be wrapped in your comfort like a cooling cloth on her forehead during labor.
And help her to be tough, tough, tough.
Please may Dee feel your comfort deep in her soul today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I think it’s funny that one of the two verses Dee put at the end of her blog entry was turn my eyes away from worthless things because my roommate is in the same room as I am right now and she’s watching the View…talk about worthless things…
But, moving on: 1. Write out Psalm 119:49-50 in a version that you particularly like. Why do you like it?
Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. This [is] my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
That’s the NKJV version. I like it because, quite frankly, I am a word nerd. I like that NKJV uses intelligent language, but I can understand it without having to read it multiple times. Language like this makes my heart happy. 🙂
I agree with you about the words Liz. I have an old version of Pilgrim’s Progress and it seems so nerdy but I love it! The English is old and the verses are probably King James.
I’ve never actually read Pilgrim’s Progress!!! Is that terrible? I feel like it’s terrible. I am officially putting it on my “high priority reading list.” 🙂 I know the story, I’ve heard a bunch of different versions of it, and Adventures in Odyssey did an acted out version of it forever ago. 🙂
I was referring to a film also but it was an old and grainy cartoon. It is a great story no matter how it is told.
Liz, lol on the first paragraph! I agree. “The View” is a perfect show to use as an example. 🙂
Ever since I read the worthless things verse Dee put up I have been thinking about and asking God to turn my eyes away from worthless things. It is amazing what worthless things he has brought to my attention.
As I read this comment I was watching Castle with my younger brother. It is a VERY entertaining murder mystery show. I love murder mysteries. But I was kind of poked that it was worthless both by your comment and my mom calling out from the kitchen that she hates those kind of shows and we should either watch Dirty Jobs or turn the TV off. 🙂
Liz, I have to admit I love stuff like Forensic files-watching how they solve murders. I haven’t heard of Castle. I tend to gravitate toward the documentary type shows which can be just as bad. I love your mom!! ;p
1. As I was looking for promises for #3 I got out my old NAS Bible and found that I like a lot of verses out of that version. So I have picked it for #1. The reasons are possibly sentimental but also, in the last part it says that he was revived by God’s word. The Holman says ‘given me life’ instead and I have found it to be the most consistently accurate translation because it goes back to the original language but I was so blessed by my old Bible.
Remember the word to Thy servant, in which Thou hast made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me. NASB
2a. God has not forgotten His promises. The psalmist is the one who needs to remember God’s promises because they encourage him and give him hope.
2b. God’s promises are more powerful than ours because of His name. He cannot lie. We can lie and may or may not keep promises.
3. My favorite part was finding these promises. I only found 2 so far but I love them.
1) For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
This one tells me that His word is powerful and will not fail. It accomplishes His purposes, which may not always be mine when I lack understanding. I love the picture of the rain bringing forth fruit from the earth as His word will bear fruit. As we pray the word we will see beautiful fruit.
2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2
This one assures me that He will be with me as I go through trials. It also assures me that I will go through trials. I see that as gold cannot be purified without heat, I can’t grow without trials. How will I know what He can do if I never have to trust Him.
Caleb, my 13, year old grandson, was with my husband when he had the heart attack and died. Tim was helping Caleb with a school project. This happened on Jan.26 of this year. For Christmas I had given Caleb a Bible and the vs. I wrote in the front was Isaiah 43:2.
I love those verses.
Oh, Father, I pray Caleb will have that as his heart’s decree all his life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1. Remember what you said to me, your servant-
I hang on to these words for dear life!
These words hold me up in bad times;
yes, your promises rejuvenate me.
Ps 119:49-50 The Message
I have a copy of the Message that does not contain verse numbers, so its like reading a regular book. Enthuiasm just seems to ooze off the pages. Like Liz, I use the NKJV translation as my primary bible. I like the Message because everytime I read it its like having a conversation with a friend.
Lord, thank you for caring for Dee’s Anne today. I ask that she be able to get a restful night of sleep. I am grateful to be part of such a loving community of sisters. Give the decision makers at Zondervan your wisdom to follow as they ponder what to do with your book God Of All Comfort. Give Dee your peace as she waits to hear the decision. Thank you for the privilege to intercede for her.
As we ponder the words of the psalmist this week God, let it be with us just as you say in the scripture we read. What a Mighty God you are!! In Jesus name. Amen.
1. I had never heard of Young’s Literal Translation before, but I copied it below because it has Dee’s “quicken” word! I thought that was pretty cool 🙂
49[Zain.] Remember the word to Thy servant, On which Thou hast caused me to hope.
50This [is] my comfort in mine affliction, That Thy saying hath quickened me.
I like the NASB because so often I need to be revived from being half-dead. I was confused by the “Z Zayin.” I learned that it is a letter of the Hebrew alphabet and every verse in that section begins with it. Wish I could comprehend Hebrew, so that I could appreciate the use of the Hebrew alphabet throughout Psalm 119.
Z Zayin.
49Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.
50This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.
2. Meditate on “Remember your Word to your servant.”
A. Why is the psalmist reminding God of His promises? Has God forgotten? Then, why?
Maybe because he is reminding himself at the same time?? By talking to God about His promises, the psalmist is claiming his hope in God.
B. Why are God’s promises more powerful than ours?
Because He always keeps His promises 🙂 Because God is the source of his words, his words have power (not sure how to state that clearly).
3. Promises
1st one: Sometimes I compare myself to others and come to the conclusion that I’m not “good enough.” Because I have been reconciled to God through Jesus, I will be presented holy and blameless before Him. Because of Jesus, I am “good” (not just good enough!). From Col. 1:
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Our Father, I pray that You will be with Ann during this time and grant her physical health, spiritual health and emotional health. I know that this is painful for I have experienced it but not while giving birth, so let her enter labor healthy and prepared. Father, I know that you led me to Dee’s book because I needed to read it. I put it down and walked away and than returned and picked it back up. It was just what I needed at this time and contained comfort and encouragement for me. Please make sure that each person who needs this book will be able to obtain it.
A. God does not forget His promises, the psalmest is reminding himself of these promises.God forgets nothing but He likes to know that we remember what He has promised.
B. God has the power to keep His promises, we don’t always have that power.God can see the results of His promises we cannot always see the results of ours. Our promises are based on possibilaties, God’s promises are based on certainties. Certainty does not lay within our power. If I tell my 5 year old grandson I will take him swimming on Friday I mean it but I do not know the events which might intervene, God does.
Promises of God: 1. Strength in or sorrow.Psalm 119:28.
2.To preserve our life. I believe this is our eternal life rather than our physical, earthly life.3.To grant us salvation through His unfailing love.
God’s most important promise to me at the present is that He will strengthen me in my sorrow.As I travel through the grief process following the death of my husband I need all the strength God can grant me. Tim’s absence doubled my decisions and responsibilites. Where there were two if I did not have God there would be only one.My children are eager and willing to help but they have their own responsibilites which they must fulfil.I can also see the sorrow and grief the children and grandchildren are experiencing and I need strength to offer comfort.They frequently look to me for help and advice with their own children. I work full time as a counselor, mostly with grief cases.God led me to this field after the death of our son.I need strength to continue the mission I know He is still calling me to do. God gives me strength in my sorrow but when I remove my eyes from Him I can feel myself began to flounder.
1. Psalm 119: 49-50 “Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” (NLT)
It was a toss up between NASB and NLT. I normally prefer NASB, but Both NLT and NASB use ‘revive’.. I LOVE that word in this verse. I picked NLT because I like the way it expresses this passage. God’s promise revives and comforts him in all of his troubles.
I think ‘revive’ expresses to me more of a necessary almost life and death thing. His soul was sinking-he was down and afflicted by his troubles-at the bottom. Nothing on Earth could bring him hope only God’s promise-the wind wasn’t blowing in his sails perhaps and God’s promise is the fresh wind he needed in order to reach forward and press on or sail on!
2a. God doesn’t forget His promises so I think this was an expression of desperation for God and was more him pouring his heart out to God-a dialogue. He knew God wouldn’t forget his promises. He is fully aware of God’s holiness and that he is a 100% keeper of His word. I think it portrays a beautiful relationship. It was more for him than for God, but it was sweet to God’s ears nevertheless.
2b. God is 100% perfection and can’t lie. We do.
I just finished reading and praying in agreement with all of your prayers for Anne and Zondervan. What a privilege to take these requests into the throne room of God!
Heavenly Father, Anne is Your daughter, and we know, with confidence, that You see her affliction, and that You care. Your eyes also are upon this child, as yet unseen by any human eye, but Your eyes see. Because of your lovingkindness and mercy, may You rescue and deliver Anne in this situation, and bring healing for this cyst. We know that with just a word from You, it may be done. May You protect both mother and baby during the time of labor.
And Lord, please help the people at Zondervan make a wise decision regarding Dee’s book, The God of All Comfort. Let this book be used according to Your will and Your plan.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
For me, I feel like I worked through alot of my grief for my nephew right here, with all of you, as we went through the book. Even though the book described Dee’s loss of her husband, I could very much relate to the emotions described and the spiritual issues that one goes through when death happens; doubting God, questioning God, and the study helped me to move toward God instead of away from Him.
It was like a lifeline thrown out to me during that time.
Oh, and Tammy, I know you said you put a note on your ‘fridge to pray for my family on the one year anniversary of my nephew’s death, and I think I typed the wrong date on a previous post (?) but it is July 31st.
Susan
Thanks for letting me know the correct date. My church is having a special 24 hour prayer vigil for our building project that same week-end (we are building a new educational facility debt free), so it’s no coincidence that I signed up to pray from 9 am to 10 am July 31st. Your family will be right at the top of my prayer list that hour.
Tammy, this has just blessed me so much and touched my heart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
1. Write out Psalm 119:49-50 in a version that you particularly like.
Why do you like it?
I also like the NASB
Remember the word to Thy servant,
In which Thou hast made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Thy word has revived me.
(in sidebar, literal translation for “revived me” is “That Thy word has preserved me alive”.)
I also like the Amplified Bible version:
Remember (fervently) the word and promise to Your servant,
In which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction:
That Your word has revived me and given me life.
I do so like the word pictures here of being revived and preserved alive; during times of grief and suffering I often feel an actual feeling of heaviness, of weight, of kind of feeling dead on the inside, lifeless, depressed. I need to be revived by hope. Or I have these feelings that what is going on in my life or in the world around me is just wrong, and frankly, frightening. I may feel afraid and hopeless, and even have thoughts that it would be better to just not be here anymore. That’s why I like the picture of God’s Word “preserving me alive”.
We’re catching the wind! How I love the translation Renee found that said “quickened,” and the “revived” translation too. Isn’t that just it — what the Word can do in our hearts?
Amen!
2.A. The psalmist is reminding God of His promises not because God has forgotten, but to remind himself of the promises God made to him. I have a picture in mind of a green (my fave color-symbolizes life) post-it note on my forehead. Or maybe my forehead could be a green billboard with God’s promise to me written in bold letters. Either way, God’s word would be sure to stick (pun intended) with me!!LOL
B. God’s promises are more powerful than man’s promises because God never breaks His word. Man’s broken promises often lead to broken hearts. In my Streams in the Desert devotional the March 8 entry shares that every one of God’s promises are built on four pillars. The first two are His justice and holiness, which will never allow Him to deceive us. The third is His grace or goodness, which will not allow Him to forget. And the fourth is His truth, which will not allow Him to change, which enables Him to accomplish what He has promised.
Father I thank you that I have a High Priest who sypmathizes with me in my humanity. When I am tired Jesus knows how I feel. When I get frustrated Jesus can relate. When I wrestle with my flesh Jesus is cheering my spirit on to overcome. I pray that my actions and words will bring honor to Your Name today. As I meditate upon your word today may I be diligent in keeping the junk heap of thoughts from gaining a foothold. Thank you for giving us all strength to accomplish our tasks for you today. Amen.
Tammy, thanks for sharing the 4 pillars analogy.
Gals, I had to share this with you in the few seconds I have before I need to run some errands, but I am catching the wind ladies and it is quite the ride! The past month or so God has revived me with His word and I am finding myself more and more with my mind staid on him-dialoguing with Him as I walk and as I go along the way. I want my heart to be like this Psalmists’ heart where He is emptying himself, or at the end of himself and is desperate for God. May I not get too comfortable to lose that desperate heart for Him. I want it on a daily basis. I don’t like drudging around in ‘desert’ seasons.
There is much more, but I will end up writing a book so I will stop for now. Just wanted to share how God is impacting my life through this study as well as how He is using my study in Philippians. I am thankful for each of you ladies and for the deep insight God has given Dee to pass on to us. ♥
That is wonderful Rebecca! Lord help us each to pray without ceasing.
Yayyy! Oh, may we all have minds and hearts “staid” on Thee, Father!
2. Meditate on “Remember Your word to Your servant.”
A. Why is the psalmist reminding God of His promises? Has God forgotten? Then, why?
I also like Tammy’s The Message translation of this: “Remember what You said to me, Your servant”. I think this is a dialogue with God; no, God has not forgotten what He has promised, but the psalmist is entering into dialogue with Him.
Earlier this year, I was reading through Genesis, and in Genesis 32, there is a section from verses 9-12 where Jacob prays to the Lord for deliverance, because Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob believed that Esau was coming to finally exact his revenge upon Jacob for the time when Jacob cheated him out of their father’s blessing by impersonating Esau. I found a model of prayer in this passage, and in verse 12, Jacob says,
“For Thou didst say, ‘I will surely prosper you, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude'”.
Here is Jacob, “greatly afraid and distressed” (v. 7), making preparations for the attack, and then he prays and reminds God that He said He would do these things for him.
I think there are times in life when what we need is courage, courage to face the unthinkable, courage to face death and loss; we need to take heart when our hearts are failing within us, and this passage can help us to begin talking to God and saying, “God, remember……. remember what You said, what You promised.”
There was also another meaning which came to my mind as I meditated on this passage; thinking of two people together, close friends or family, talking together, remembering times past, remembering conversations and shared experiences. So too with God, as each of us has a “history” with Him, and can think back and remember prayer-conversations with Him and time in His Word when He especially spoke to us.
B. Why are God’s promises more powerful than ours?
Our promises are often based on good intentions, we mean to keep them, but then circumstances arise and we can’t or we even forget!
God’s promises are not based on good intentions, His promises are His will and plan, and He always does what He says He will do.
3. Meditate on “Upon which You caused me to hope”. List three promises of God that could give you hope – look especially for promises that would help you with things you tend to be anxious about or with your character.
I find it intriguing that it says “caused” or “made”. God is doing the action here. It doesn’t say (remember Your word to Your servant) upon which I am hoping. We aren’t doing the hoping. It says that it is God who has caused us, or made us, to hope in His word. I don’t take this as a “puppet on a string” that God makes us do this, but rather a supernatural stirring within us that turns our hearts back toward Him and His promises when we wouldn’t be able to do it on our own. Just like our faith in Him is a gift – no one seeks after God on his own – so, too, this causing us to hope is also a gift.
Three promises that come to mind this morning –
“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)
I know God used this verse with my dad, when he accepted Christ. He humbly asked Jesus to receive him into His house. Visiting with my dad yesterday, the sorrow is palpable over our Thomas, my nephew and his grandson, and we are all, in a way, reliving his death again this month. My dad said, “He would’ve been out of school by now…” And he just kept saying that he still asks why, why, why. I try to think of heaven where we will all be together again. Jesus said if this were not really true, He would have told me.
“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you'”. (Isaiah 41:13)
There was a time in my life where I clung tightly to that verse, and literally imagined God walking with me, holding my hand. He promises to help me. I’m not sure is this is the meaning, but I imagine when I’m stumbling along, spiritually, He takes hold of me and keeps me from falling down.
” that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
God started something when He saved me, and He doesn’t leave any project unfinished.
4. Meditate on “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” Take one of the above promises and explain why it comforts you.
I think I answered this in the above, with the promise found in John 14:2-3. I know this life we live here includes painful loss and separation from those we love. We long to see the face of one we love, to touch them, hug them, hear the sound of their voice. It’s hard for me to watch my mom and dad age. My dad’s having alot of trouble with his legs, neuropathy and weakness that he never had before. Mom is just never at peace, but she doesn’t yet know Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Other relationships with family and friends seem so often to be distorted by misunderstandings, hurt feelings.
In my Father’s house, with Jesus there, all of this life’s hurts will be done away with. Even the longing for a God we cannot see here, because we will see Him.
5. Pray your promise back
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know YOu are in Your Father’s house right now, and that there is room enough for all who believe and trust in You. Thank You for telling me plainly that if this weren’t true, You would have told me. I know You wouldn’t give me false hope or lie to me. You are preparing my place, and my dad’s place, and my family who did trust in You are already there, waiting. Thomas and his dad, my brother in law Jeff, are there. Thank You for promising me that You will take me to be with You, too. Thank you that You want me to be with You. Please let YOur promise sustain me and revive me when I’m sad, and give me hope. Help me to put all my hope in You, Jesus. Amen.
Love this prayer, you breathing the truth to your soul, your praying the promises back.
Amen!
Soon and very soon, we will all be together in our Father’s house!
We are back from vacation. Now I know why we don’t ever go anywhere. It was terrible. Kendra fell & broke 3 bones in her foot & has a cast on up to her knee & suppose to keep it up as much as possible & is using a wheelchair for 6 weeks. My husband has diabetes & about went into shock and my cousin (we were at their house visiting them)in Montana…she had a heart attack & my husband gave her CPR but by the time the ambulance got there she was gone. Kendra seen it all right in front of her on the floor. We are still realing from it. My cousin’s husband has had Cerebral Palsy like Kendra since birth but not mentally challenged or seizures like Kendra. He has worked hard all his life & is disabled & walks with a cane & won’t use a walker. He falls down everyday & just gets up & keeps trying. It was his wife that died. She was in bad health & he has his disablity & they took care of each other. I got a picture of them at the table holding hands & later kissing each other. These pictures are comforting him now. She was 75 & he will be 65 next week & they were married 36 years. He has her 3 kids (they raised together after divorcing a husband that beat her AND the kids). Earlier the day she died, someone ask him of their plans for that day & he said “The Lord had different plans for them today”. He was refering to something else at the time of course but that really stuck me. Also at the beginning of that day (the 16th)I woke up singing Psalms 5 to myself like I do alot now & wrote down on a small piece of paper Psalms 91:1&2 as I was trying to memorize it, & stuck it in my purse. My cousin that died was telling us(earlier that day) about when she died 9 years ago & was brought back to life. Knowing they loved the Lord I ask her if she had a experience then. She said she seen her mamma standing by a fence & trees waiting for her with her hands out for her. She said her mamma looked just like she did before she died. But then her mamma said to go back…that it wasn’t time for her to come yet. And she came back to life. This is her true story she told so now I know she is with Jesus & her mamma. I’m trying to catch up with all this post & part of the last one. I’m praying for Anne, Dee & for the decision on your book. Please pray for Robert…my cousin all alone now with her ashes in a urn on the shelf there. He doesn’t know yet if he will even be able to stay in their home as they were both on fixed incomes & now her income is gone also. I missed all of you, my christian lady friends. May God Bless you.
Joyce, I am so sorry. Thank you for also telling of her previous experience when she died. What wonderful hope in the midst of a terrible vacation. Even though it was awful, how much worse for her husband if you had not been there.
Lord, we hurt for Joyce and for her cousin’s family. I pray for Your comforting presence with them right now. I can’t imagine and don’t really know how to pray. Help each one to come near to You during this time of shock and grief. May each one work through their grief in a way that is healthy. Make Yourself known to each one right now in a way that will speak love to his or her heart. We ask for Your provision for this family as an act of Your great love. We pray also for healing for Kendra not only for her foot but also for her heart as she has been traumatized by this event. In the love of Christ, we stand together. Amen
Joyce
My heart is broken for you and your family. No wonder your name crossed my mind so much last week. When your name comes to mind I always ask our Heavenly Father to give you strength to face your day. I am glad you and your family are home safe.
Oh Father, words fail me. How I wish I could be near Joyce to help her. Give her your strength to take care of Kendra and her husband. Thank you that she and her family knows Robert’s wife is with you. What a comfort it is to have your peace. I thank you also for Anne reminding us that we stand together in the love of Christ. Amen.
Dear Joyce,
I, too, am so, so sorry to hear all you and your family have been through, and how beautiful to read how you were hiding God’s Word in your heart, with Psalms 5 and 91.
Heavenly Father, please be near to Robert, as You promise to be close to the brokenhearted, and give him Your comfort and strength and courage in the midst of his grief. Thank you for the assurance he has that his wife is with You, safely home. I also pray for healing for Kendra’s broken bones, that You will mend them strong together again, and give Joyce the strength and endurance she needs to care for Kendra with the cast and wheelchair. Please help Joyce’s husband’s diabetes be under control, and safeguard his health, too.
And Father, please bless Joyce as she continues to hold onto Your Word; “Remember the word to Thy servant Joyce, upon which Thou hast made her hope. Let Your Word be her comfort in her affliction, and may Your word revive her.” (Psalm 119:49-50)
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Oh Joyce — I am so sad to read all of this.
Lord, I come to You. Remember how Your said You would be near to the broken-hearted. I am asking that for Robert. And I know Your heart is for the weak, the humble, and the hurting — all of which Joyce, her husband, and Kendra represent. Please be there O Lord and surprise them with blessings in this time of sorrow and challenge.
In Jesus Name.
I’ll keep praying.
Dee
Joyce I am so sorry! It looks like you have a mountain on your shoulders right now.
Jesus thank you that you are here with Joyce right now and long to Wrap your loving wings around her where she can take refuge from this storm. quicken her spirit and revive her today.
Lord you are close to the broken hearted so I know you are close to Robert today. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to us and that we can count on you 100% to follow through with your promises. We can trust you completely and we can put our issues in your hands and trust you to work it out in our hearts. Lord, hold Robert as he is grieving today-hold him close and make him so aware of your presence as you comfort him.
3. List three promises of God that could give you hope…
I’ve thinking about my favorite promises and was all set to share the three I had selected but at the last minute God’s Spirit brought a new one into the mix. It is one He spoke to me on three separate occasions last year. I have a sense it will be a promise I well refer to quite often over the course of my lifetime.
My character promise is James 4:7
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.
Hebrews 13:5 is one I think on alot.
“Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you”.
Both of these verses cause me to keep my focus on God and not myself. When I do that I am not so prone to get caught up in a woe is me attitude which is where the devil would have me be. In our society learning to be content is not so easy sometimes but it is doable. I have learned the secret to contentment is to express gratitude to God on a regular basis. I don’t know if anyone else thinks this but there are times I look into my cabinets and closet and think ‘I have way more than I need’. (except in the area of books-I can never have too many of them)
My third promise is the one God’s Spirit brought to mind. I have this verse taped inside the front of my 2009 prayer and sermon journal with the three specific dates I read the verse written beside it.
“…I created you and have cared for you since before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime-until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:3-4
4. Isaiah 46:3-4 were verses that became my ‘friends’ during the second half of last year. Everytime I opened my journal I read those verses and planted them deep into my heart. Just a few years ago, my mother shared with me how I tried to enter the world when she was seven months along with me. It was the mid-sixities and she had access to good care, but the doctor told her had I been born I would not have made it. I’ve thought about that much since, especially after reading the first line in v. 3. Now, I don’t take this promise to mean I will live to be an old lady, only God knows the number of my years. (if I do live to be an elderly lady, I will call my hair color Artic Blonde =) I take comfort in this verse because God tells me He is caring for me. I no longer have a husband and I have no children to take care of me should I reach old age. My blood relatives live in other states and my mother is the only one who stays in regular contact. I do have a wonderful church family. But, when it comes down to it, God is the only one in my life I can totally depend on and He has proved it over and over these past two most difficult years of my life. I don’t sit around in fear over my future. I know God has ordained my days and I get to live them one at a time. Just knowing I have Jesus as my Eternal Husband is a comfort that I can’t put into words.
A couple of blogs back everyone shared which state they reside in. My current prayer journal has a map of the US in the back and I have written your names across your respective states. I sense a closer connection to each of you now that I know where ya’ll are.
Just in case anyone was wondering why I posted twice 2 blogs back, it was because I thought the first post had been deleted for it did not show up after I submitted it. Computers are great but I still say they have a mind of their own because they don’t always cooperate!! Have a blessed evening.
Tammy,
I love this -My character promise is James 4:7
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.
SO TRUE. It is awesome when we see God work this out in our lives.
6. Contemplate Psalm 119:147-148. Share what you see.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Thy words.
My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Thy word.
I see a cyclical theme here, the sun rising in the morning and the psalmist talking to God, giving Him his concerns and requests, and as the sun sets and nighttime comes, he anticipates, not sleep, but the quiet time to meditate on God’s word.
How many times do I go to bed with a mind full of anxieties, cares, and worries? Or unresolved hurts and anger and unforgiveness? Then, the night becomes an unpleasant, never-ending trial to be endured.
How much better to look forward to the night as a time to push the garbage out of my mind and meditate on God and His Word?
5. Take this promise and pray-making it yours…
Gracious God
As you were knitting me together in my mother’s womb, you knew my future for you had already written my ordained days down in your book. As I grew up, you placed your people in my path who taught me about Jesus and who demonstrated his love toward me. Unfortunately, I took the wrong path for a long time but you pursued me until I turned around and returned to the path of rest. Now I am a middle-aged woman with no husband or children and no prospect of remarriage, but I know I am not alone. You, my sweet, too wonderful for words Eternal Husband is taking care me. You meet my daily needs and from time to time surprise me with delightful gifts. You have promised me that you will carry me to the end of my days here on this earth and when those days are done, I will be with you forever. What more could a girl want?!!!
I love you Lord and I honor you for all you have done, are doing, and will do in the future.
One more thing, Lord. This community of sisters is one of the most delightful gifts you have ever given me. Thank You, Thank You for Dee-our precious mentor, Joyce, Anne, Susan, Renee, Amber, Rebecca, Judy, Gloris, Liz, and all the silent brothers and sisters. May we never fail to stand in the love of Christ for one another. Amen.
My Eternal Husband. Beautiful Tammy.
What a beautiful prayer, Tammy. It inspires me to want to have a more intimate relationship with Jesus.
I am having trouble focusing right now. God is doing some wonderful things here and I don’t want to miss any morsel. I will try to get down to business with questions this evening.
For some time I have been chewing on the idea of pillars in God’s temple. Somewhere I read a verse with the promise of daughters being pillars in the temple and it stuck in my mind. Tammy mentioned them yesterday and this morning I was reading 2 Chronicles 3 where it named the pillars on either side of Solomon’s temple Jachin an the right and Boaz on the left. When I looked for meaning I found that the name meanings together read from right to left as Hebrew is read mean “He shall establish…in His strength”.
I am off until next Thursday and wanted to do something with Joey. Does anyone know anything about the Rebelution tour for teens and parents? It looks like something we could do this weekend but all I know about it is from an add in World magazine.
Love this, Anne! I’m going to copy/paste it into a word document to always remember.
About the Rebelution tour. Did you find out about it? The young twins who started it, Alex and Bret Harris, are the sons of a pillar, speaking of pillars, in the national homeschool movement, Gregg Harris.
Here’s their Rebelution blog: http://www.therebelution.com/blog/
3.
Psalm 37:23-24 NASB “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”
Whenever I am struggling with a selfish heart that causes me to want to just give up on serving everyone around me because I don’t have one ounce of strength left mentally or physically, I know I won’t be hurled headlong and destroyed because Jesus is holding my hand. He will patiently bring to the surface this yuk and He will then strengthen me and will straighten out my attitude and put me back on my feet again. I can trust He will do that.
Praying for your strength Rebecca. It is so hard to be “on” all the time.
Anne, NO DOUBT!! =) YES I covet your prayers sister!
Just remember the Jachin and Boaz pillars, Rebecca, that Anne mentioned above — “He will establish [Rebecc]in His strength.” We ARE the temple of God now. Those are OUR pillars. 🙂
3.- Cont.
Proverbs 15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
God is showing me that I need to listen to Him and obey in regard to being slow to anger when my boys stretch me beyond what I can bear. I find myself stopping and praying when I feel like exploding. 🙂
#3. cont.
John 16:33 (KJV) “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace; in the world you have tribulation, but take courage I have overcome the world.”
God put it in my heart to love what is right and true. I hate injustice and oppression. It is getting to the point where I can’t watch the news at night for very long without switching it off. Everything is upside down. Good is evil and evil is good. The truth seems to be no where to be found but only in a few places.
I am glad some pastors are addressing this as Charles Stanley did on July 4th. He had a powerful message about what is going on on You Tube.
I am not saying I should tuck my head in the sand, but God has me here at home right now so I can be responsible by voting.
Most important though, the best thing I can do is keep my mind staid on Jesus-he has overcome the world and He will give me His peace even in the midst of this mess, and he has.
I think things could possibly get worse before they get better and I want my armor on so I can be salt and light rather than fall prey to Satan who seeks to devour me with anger, worry, etc…
2. Meditate on “Remember your Word to your servant.”
A. Why is the psalmist reminding God of His promises? Has God forgotten? Then, why?
I’m sure he knows God hasn’t forgotten, but he just feels like He has. It kind of reminds me of when I had to remind mom that she said I could double pierce my ears when I turned 16. (although, in my mom’s case, she HAD forgotten…or at least she CLAIMED she had. *grin*) “heeeeey…so remember what you said? Cause it feels like you forgot.” That’s how it hits me.
B. Why are God’s promises more powerful than ours?
We are capable of forgetting things (like letting your daughter double pierce her ears!!! Although, we did get around to it after I got back from China.) and breaking promises. God can’t forget and doesn’t break a promise. It feels like it sometimes, but only because he doesn’t always answer or fulfill His promise on OUR time table. He does it on His. 🙂
3. Meditate on “Upon which You caused me to hope” List three promises of God that could give you hope — look especially for promises that would help you with things you tend to be anxious about or with your character.
He will ALWAYS be with me. As I’ve stated before, I struggle with feeling alone. But I shouldn’t because no matter where I am, I am never alone. The room may be empty, but I’m not the only one there. And, really, His companionship is better than any human’s companionship. 🙂 Most, if not all, of the major mistakes I have made in the past year have been because I can’t accept that He is enough. That is the BIGGEST thing I have to work on. Because I know that, if God is my portion, nothing else matters.
He will ALWAYS hear me when I call. Even if all the “calling” consists of is being curled up on the couch sobbing in His direction after a long day and a stressful phone call from my landlord.
He gives me cause to hope. That is huge. I realized something while hiking with my dad the other day. We were going up a HUGE hill and I was dyyyyyyyinnnnggg. The top was SO far away. But then I just started watching the spot of ground right in front of me. Which was the same thing I had done to get up the 70, or so, super steep steps that were right in a row on the Great Wall. Just watch the next step. Make the next step. Don’t think about the end, or it’s overwhelming. Just glance every so often so you know you’re still on the path. And, if you don’t glance up too often, but just often enough, the end is closer every time you look. This is kind of my picture of hope. I don’t focus on the end of my “path” or it’s too overwhelming. I try to focus on the next step, and glance at the end every so often. I see it is closer, and that now I’m on the right path, and the climb suddenly feels easier, because I have more than a desperate, ragged hope that I will make it. I have an assured hope, because I can see the path. 🙂
Gosh, Liz. Sorry about the earrings. But, I agree that while people can and do forget, God NEVER will.
p.s. I DID, however, arrange for you to go to China, so that’s got to make up for something, even if you did go with only one hole per ear. 🙂
#4. It might be obvious that John 16:33 really spoke to me. I find comfort knowing Jesus has overcome the world. Not just politically but also the pressure we have around us from those who want to add to the gospel like the Pharisees would do. This is another thing that can quickly tempt me to fret or feel frustrated. He has overcome it and He will serve out Justice in the end. Every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! I can be confident of that and I need to live as if I am confident of it. I want to finish strong!
Another wonderful promise is Isaiah 55:10-11
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Heavenly Father,
May Your Word come down from heaven to each one of us and richly water the soil of our hearts and minds, causing our lives to bear fruit, and planting seeds in the lives of others. Lord, You have promised that Your Word shall not return to You empty; accomplish in us Your will for our lives. Lord, I saw with my own eyes how Your Word accomplished salvation for my dad, and I pray for my mom, and Rebecca’s dad, and for the people in all of our lives who we know need to know Jesus as their Savior, that the Holy Spirit will change their hearts through the hearing of Your Word. Lord, I believe that You sent Your Word to us so that we could know You and how to be made right with You through Jesus Christ. Let it open up hearts to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Susan, THANKS! Such a beautiful prayer.
Amen. I agree Susan. Beautiful prayer!
#5 Praying back God’s promise in Psalm 119:33-35:
“Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.”
Lord, I love your word and you say that those who love you obey you and abide in you, Lord you are the giver of a teachable spirit. Keep me from an arrogant heart.
Your word is worth more than anything on this Earth-it is better than the worlds most rare Diamond, or anything the world deems rare and wraps in boxes and secures under lock and key. Your word is your very breath-it is alive and living and it pierces my soul in the deepest places..Lord you are the one who gives me understanding and your word makes my heart jump, and here is where I find satisfaction. You are my cold drink of water in a desolate, lonely scary desert. You are my portion-nothing else satisfies. I long to spend time with you because you speak to me and give me understanding as I breathe in your word.
4. Meditate on “This is my comfort in my affliction, for your Word has given me life.” Take one of the above promises and explain why it comforts you.
My promises were he will always be with me, he will always hear me, he gives me cause to hope.
I’ll go with the always with me one. That is the one I struggle with the most. I feel so alone most of the time, it’s crazy to think that I’m not. That, even though my house is empty right now (except for my cat *grin*), I’m not alone. When I’m in the car driving to work, I’m not alone. When I’m running at the gym, I’m not alone. When the cute guy at the end of the aisle notices me, and no one is around to see if I flirt back, He is there. It’s a two fold, it’s a comfort and a reminder. When I feel lonely, I’m not alone. When I’m tempted to do something I shouldn’t because “no one will know” I’m not alone. He is always there with me. 🙂
Liz
“Always with me”. These words gave me much encouragemnet this afternoon. Thanks for sharing them.
One of God’s promises that has always comforted me is Isaiah 41:10. Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Thank you for all your precious prayers. We are doing fine. Dear Lord I pray for Anne as her time of delivery is getting closer & closer. Please make the cyst go away & for her to have a easy birth with no problems & a beautiful perfect baby in every way. And also for Beth & Julie? coming up soon. Please bless all my sisters in the Lord here on this blog. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Thanks so much, Joyce. Anne’s cyst has drained, and I’m so thankful. They will induce her Thursday if she hasn’t gone and I’ll be praying and pacing at Good Samaritan!
wonderful!
Praise God! That is so awesome that it drained and all is good to go! Keep us posted. We will keep praying!
Sorry I’ve been so late in getting these answers posted. It’s been a long week and I’ve not felt too well so everything has gotten behind.
1. Write out Psalm 119:49-50 in a version that you particularly like. Why do you like it?
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
2. Meditate on “Remember your Word to your servant.”
A. Why is the psalmist reminding God of His promises? Has God forgotten? Then, why?
God has not forgotten; our hearts have at various occasions. So we must remind ourselves to make ourselves remember when times are tough.
B. Why are God’s promises more powerful than ours?
God is perfect; we are not. Our promises and intentions can fail; His will not.
One commentator from the 1800’s put it like this: “Sue God on His Word, for His Word is His bond.” (That’s a lawsuit
you’ll never win!)
3. Meditate on “Upon which You caused me to hope” List three promises of God that could give you hope — look especially
for promises that would help you with things you tend to be anxious about or with your character.
#1 God is always with me. (Matthew 28:20)
#2 He has saved me from my sins and will provide for me even in Heaven. (John 14)
#3 He will take my worries and bear them Himself. (Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7)
4. Meditate on “This is my comfort in my affliction, for your Word has given me life.” Take one of the above promises and
explain why it comforts you.
#2 == No matter what I face here on earth there is Heaven to look forward to, where I will be with God Himself. He knows me more than I know myself and gives me what I need even now based on that knowledge.
5. Now, take this promise and pray it, making it yours. (I want to caution you that we can’t use these promises to
arm-wrestle God, making Him do what we want, but we can ask Him to fulfil His promise to us. For example, in the story
above, God may have chosen to have our daughters be single, but still have been a Father to them in a different way.) Find a promise to pray back, perhaps one in Psalm 119, and do it here. You can do this throughout the week with various promises.
Write your prayer here:
Christ,
Thank You that Your promise preserves my life. Even when things are going badly, Your preservation cannot fail. That is because it is built on You and Who You Are — not upon me. I am Your child and I know I am safe and loved. Thank You for Your promises and sustaining power. I love You!
In Christ’s Name,
Amen.
6. In the song on the CD, they drop down to Psalm 119:147 and sing that. Contemplate that verse as well as Psalm 119:148 and share what you see.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.
148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.
I see the constancy of God in these verses. He is there even in the darkness of night, so the Psalmist keeps his eyes open all night, seeing Who God is through His promises. He is always there and wants us to talk to Him and lay our hearts out before Him.
This is something I occasionally forget; I think and act as if I am bothering God to cry out to Him, or feel that He will not accept me if I am hurting as if prayer had a prerequisite attitude to bring in order to be effective or pleasing to Him. But I see in these verses that I can come before Him in prayer exactly as I am, unashamed, asking my Father to provide for me.
7. Here’s a challenge question: Find examples in Psalm 119 where the psalmist almost seems to be worshiping the word, the law, the precepts. We know we shouldn’t “worship” anything or anyone other than the LORD – so what is going on here?
I the verses in the previous question show the psalmist comign close to worshipping these things. John 1 says that the Word is God, so the psalmist is worshipping God!
8. What will you remember from this week?
God’s promises are perfect and trustworthy!
6. In the song on the CD, they drop down to Psalm 119:147 and sing that. Contemplate that verse as well as Psalm 119:148 and share what you see.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Your words.
My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
I see this as David catching the wind and when we do this we will catch the wind! David puts prayer and the word of God above anything else including sleep. He put God first in the morning before any of the days thoughts could start creeping in. He looked forward to it more than sleeping. He loved the word of God because he meditated on it. Meditating is deeper than just a casual read through, it involves praying for understanding of the passage as well and the Holy Spirit really works at solidifying it in our hearts and minds when we do that. It can really pierce our souls and divide the bone and marrow. He looked forward to the night watches SO THAT he could pray and meditate on the word of God. He longed to be with God.
7. He is the word, when we worship His word we worship Him!
8. Several things I will remember from this week. One seems to pop up a lot and that is taking my eyes off worthless things. God has used that in my life a lot this week. Enough for me to change some things.
Also, Question 6 is what I will take with me. I want David’s kind of fire for God. He got up before the night watch time approached which was three times in the middle of the night because he couldn’t wait to meditate on the word of God and spend time in prayer. What a deep love he had for God!
I woke up thinking I would need to give some hints for the challenge question, but I see Tracy and Rebecca have it.
I find it exciting that the Word is Jesus, for that’s why the Word quickens me.
I’ve memorized another psalm that exalts God’s Word (Psalm 19) using T. M. Moore’s paraphrase that puts it to music — and all through you can see the Word is Jesus —
the Word that created the world — the Word that was with God and is God — here’s one of the verses that you can sing to the melody of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”
The heaven declares God’s glory, the sky his works proclaim
From day to day and night to night they shout His holy name
No words, no verse, no speech is heard, yet all through the earth
The lines of His all-present Word declare His holy worth
I’m so appreciating your sharing and your good promise filled prayers
Hi, girls! Sorry to be a johny-come-lately, but my face-to-face group is doing the book and between keeping up with that and my Gloriadelia blog and blah,blah,blah I’ve been too busy to chime in.
But my husband, son (15), and I are relaxing in our family room doing the blog together this Saturday morning. We just read #3 about listing promises. I remembered my son had a verse list to memorize for his summer camp (he’s a junior counselor). I asked him to read them to us, and here’s a powerful promise that has to do with our character:
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~~ Philippians 1:6
it’s true, they are. I called a little bit ago and as Andy (the 15 year old) handed mom the phone she was reading one of the comments out loud. 🙂
And, also, while I’m in the commenting mode, that is an awesome verse and exactly what I needed to hear today!!!!!
That is one of my favorite verses and promises.
I’m going to jump to question 8 right now, the one about what will we remember this week.
I am going to remember several things, and not all of them I got just from this study. First, though, I am going to remember that it’s good to look at back at His promises in the word. Obviously, growing up in the church, I am aware of them. I know them. But I don’t KNOW them…ya know? 🙂 It’s so awesome to refresh my memory and make them more than just head knowledge, but heart knowledge. I think that’s the problem with the church today, and why 80-90% of college students walk away from their faith after their first year of school. We all have head knowledge. We know WHAT we believe, but we don’t know WHY we believe. For example, those promises I’ve listed. I knew about them. I knew they existed, I could tell you all of them if you asked me. But they meant nothing to me. It was just what I had grown up learning. They didn’t mean anything to me specifically. Kids in highschool need to be asked WHY they believe, not just WHAT they believe, and by a non-hostile party. Because as soon as they get to college, they WILL be asked that. Very point blank. By someone who has figured out why they believe what they believe a long time ago.
But, now that I’ve gotten off topic, back to the things I will remember!! I will also remember that I am a bold warrior for Christ. I was told at my college group on Sunday, and then once or twice this week when talking to the leader of my college group, that I am a warrior. That was so weird to hear, I don’t feel bold, I don’t feel heroic. I feel tiny, weak, and scared. But it’s not by my strength (or the lack there of) that I do things. It’s by God’s strength, I just need to let Him be my portion and my strength. So, that’s the main things I’m remembering this week: when God is my portion, I never go hungry. 🙂
Liz said: “It’s by God’s strength, I just need to let Him be my portion and my strength.”
Amen!!! And “portion control” is not something we want to practice with God. We need to eat Him up!
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8
signed, your mom 🙂
“5. Now, take this promise and pray it, making it yours.”
I’m going to pray my promise from above for our blog group. Here’s the promise:
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~~ Philippians 1:6
Oh, Father, You are and You are a Rewarder of them that earnestly seek you. (Hebrews 11:6)
I’m earnestly seeking you now on behalf of our group.
We’re from all parts of the country, different nationalities, young, and old, BUT we have this in common:
You began a good work in each one of us and you WILL carry it on to the completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
You won’t give up on us.
Give us wisdom to not give up on You!
Thank you for Your Word, and for sending that Word, Your Son, to be flesh and dwell among us for awhile (John 1).
So, you know our weaknesseses. And we know that YOU ARE OUR STRENGTH!
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27) and those two arms are the pillars that hold us up [referring to Anne’s comment above] that will “establish” us “in Your strength” and that will drive out our enemy before us (the second half of Deut. 33:27) saying, “Destroy him!” In Jesus’ name, Amen!!!
Good prayer for group for Gloriadelia!
Eager to hear what you learned this week — I’ll read tonight and post a new post in the morning.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Dee
I’m still trying to catch up this week and I’ve learned alot but question 7, the challenge question really hit me. Thank you, Tracy & Rebecca for finding it. I love that the word is God & when we worship the word we worship him and thats why the word quickens me. Thank you, Dee
6. The psalmist is looking forward to getting up before the sun rises because he desperately needs to talk to God about his life situation. After he shares his heart with God, he goes about the business of his day waiting to hear from God. He is looking forward to the end of the day when all activities have ceased so he can turn over in his mind what God commanded him to do.
7. As I read through Psalm 119, I saw vv.47,48,57,92,135,167 seem to imply worship of the law. But, I also saw the truth in v. 38, that the psalmist, by keeping the law, is expressing his true devotion to the God who wrote the law: Establish Your word to Your servant who is devoted to fearing You.
8. What will I remember from this week?
First of all, I will remember that Dee cried Help me! (just like the psalmaist in 119:86) when she asked us to pray for her precious daughter to be given relief from the cyst on her tailbone.
Second, I will remember that this was the week that God confirmed His word in Is 46:3-4, the promise I prayed. I first shared it with you all on Wd. then prayed the promise on Th. Well, when I checked my news feed on facebook, Is. 46:3-4 was shared with me by two friends on two different days. The third confirmation came by email from a blog I suscribe to. The verse was shared at the end of the blog message. Three times the Lord told me, ‘Tammy I am going to take care of you each remaining day of your life on this earth. When it’s time for you to come home, I will come and get you.’
I end my post with sad news. A couple of months ago I asked for prayer for a client who had been diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer. Susan stepped into eternity yesterday afternoon. She had never married but was a beloved aunt, daughter and friend. Please pray for the Bonds family in Alabama and her church family and coworkers here in Georgia. She’s really going to be missed by all who knew her.
Tammy, I’m so sorry about susan. Lord please bless all who loved her & will miss her so much….the Bond family in Alabama & her church family & co-workers in Georgia…help them all in this difficult time. My maiden name is Bond & my family in Montana are Bond’s that are grieving also. Small world. May the Lord comfort you also, Tammy
Joyce
Thank you for praying for my comfort. It is indeed a small world. How I am grateful God brought us together on this blog. I prayed for you and your family this morning. I hope you have a blessed week.
Thank you so much Tammy.
Ladies, Would you all pray for us to know which church home God has for us? We have been to several and we are narrowing it down but aren’t quite ready to decide which to start attending. There is a new church plant opening up in September and the Pastor sat under John Macarthur. It is 30 minutes away, but we really want to check it out before we make a decision. We would like to know by the Fall so we can get our boys enrolled in Awana’s or any other children’s program they have.
Thanks sweet sisters!
Lord, You promised to reward any who earnestly seek you (Heb. 11:6). AND you said, through James, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
So, I ask for wisdom for Rebecca and her husband, wisdom from above that is first pure, then reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17 NASB) In Jesus’ BIG, POWERFUL, AWESOME, LOVING Name, Amen!
Glori,
You nailed it. You knew how to pray for us. Thanks!
Praying for all of you. Thanks for blessing me through all you have posted. I don’t “really” have Internet access right now, but if I balance the computer next to a door with one arm, I can type with one hand and catch a Wi-Fi signal 🙂 Works well to refresh a page (so I keep this one open), but not as well to type!
Renee, be sure your virus and spyware definitions are up to date you are picking up signal from an unsecured network. Webroot makes the 2 in one program.
Thanks! Will check.
Joey and I are just back from Altanta! 7hrs 1 way. I can get so crazy sometimes. But it was great because we have family there that we should have visited long ago and we went to see Rebelution. It was extremely good and I believe God put it before my eyes at the right time. The whole weekend was just so, so good.
Now I have some catching up to do…
Haven’t posted much but have kept up and am praying for all of you. My youngest daughter, Shannon, had a fire at her house which started during the night on Tuesday night. She woke up because she dreamed her Dad called her on the phone and when she woke up she smelled smoke. I am so grateful to God because the firemen said if it had gone ten more minutes it would have reached the attic and would have been a disaster. We were all awed by the fact that God woke her. I asked for strength as my prayer for the week and I believe that God is providing this through the events we have had. I know that there has been a lot going on with this entire group and I will continue to hold all of us in my prayers.
Lord, thank Your for waking Shannon. For rescuing her life. Please be with her now too, as I know You will be, seeing what You just did. But keep reminding herYou are at her side as she deals with the damage.
In Jesus Name
Judy, I am in awe of how God is so close to you and your family right now. What encouragement to all of us! I know you have suffered great loss in all of these events and I pray the Lord will restore to you tenfold.
5. My prayer is based on Isaiah 43:2. Lord, You are with us always, even to the end of this age. We walk by faith, not by sight and this is not of ourselves but of Your mighty power, living in us. Great is our rejoicing. We do have affliction but You are with us as You promised. When we pass through the waters You are with us and when we walk through fire we are not burned. Lord give us the full measure of faith in You so that as we are not burned or drowned in our trials, others will see and believe. You have promised us peace that passes all understanding. May our peace be salt and light to the world around us. May it be visible and palpable. I think of a lesbian couple I met this weekend at my brother-in-law’s house, Jill and Debbie. What deep insecurity and pain I sensed in these 2 women. I ask that they would find no relief until they are surrendered to Jesus and redeemed by His blood. Move off of them the mountain of sin and lies under which they are buried. Bring Christians across their paths that would bring testimony of Your love. Speak to each one in ways they can not deny. Break their chains in Jesus’ name. Amen
6. Many nights are sleepless, awake before dawn or unable to sleep at night. So what do we do? In the year following my surgery I went through extended periods of time with nights like this and I remember that the Lord was with me. I was able to be comforted in His presence and I am sure that was not of my own will or strength. This is the time for the Word remembered, and promises remembered and prayed back to Him. It was a difficult time but also very sweet because of His nearness.
7. In verse 48 he said he lifts up his hands to His commands and loves them. Verse 81, 114 and 147 say that he hopes in His word. In verse 96 he calls the word perfect. In verse 127 and 140 he loves the commands. In 131 he longs for God’s commands, panting with open mouth (when have I done that?). These feelings and actions are directed only toward God.
This has been well answered I would also reference to John 1:1 which states that Jesus is the Word and that He is God, therefore worthy of worship.
8. From this week I will remember to remind myself of God’s promises because they are my treasure. I will look for them as I do my daily reading and make a list of as many as I can find. I will remind myself that He who began a good work in me with complete it.