The Friday Update--January 23

Good morning, 

This week I have a couple more Psalms that I would like to read. Two of them deal with a “downcast soul”. Having a ‘heavy heart’ is not a new reality. God’s Word has much to say to the downtrodden. Here are a few thoughts from the Psalter. 

First, we must note that he talked to himself asking questions of his ‘mental state?’ “Why are you cast down, O my soul?’ (Psalm 42:5, 43:5) So often there is no good reason for our anxiety or sadness—or it is unbelief taking hold of our thoughts. 

We need to talk to ourselves and use the Power of God’s Word to strengthen us. In Matthew 6 the Lord Jesus told His disciples, “Do not be anxious about your life”. 

Why did He tell us this? Because He wanted us to know that He cares for us. The birds don’t worry, but they trust in God to care for them. He gives them food, water, and shelter. Our Lord says, “Are you not more valuable than they are?” 

If He cares for the birds, how much more will He not care for you? The answer … He absolutely does care more for us—so we must trust Him! Jesus then says, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

There are many things we cannot control; worrying about them does not change things. Late in Matthew 6 Jesus tells us, “Why do you worry about what you will eat or drink … your heavenly Father knows you need these things.” We must trust Him. 

Secondly the Psalmist keeps talking to Himself about WHO his God is. He passionately declares, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him” (Verse 5). In other words, we need to focus more on the Greatness of God and less on our troubles.

We need to ponder that God is our Creator … He is our life Sustainer Who gives us breath each day … He is our Redeemer. The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to die so that we might live. Therefore, if He did all of this for our salvation, how much more can we rely on Him for everything else.  

Lastly the Psalmist ponders the Love of God IN Christ Jesus. He says, “By day the LORD commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me” (Verse 8). If we knew just how much God loved us in Christ, so much would change in our lives.

Here are the final words of Psalm 42, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God” (Verse 11). In other words if we think less of our troubles and more on our God, so much of our anxiety will melt away.

You must know how to talk to ‘yourself’, instead of letting ‘yourself’ talk to you. This is what the Psalmist did. 

May God bless your Bible reading this week.

Steve 

PS There will be no Friday Update next week. I will be on vacation. 😊 

Bible Reading Plan—Week 20 

DAY 1—Psalm 42:1-5

DAY 2—Psalm 42:6-11

DAY 3—Psalm 43:1-5

DAY 4—Psalm 46:1-7 (This Psalm describes the Great God we serve!)

DAY 5—Psalm 46:8-11

Good morning,

This week I would like to look at Psalm 16. This Psalm talks about coming into the presence of God. “In Your presence is fullness of joy…” (Psalm 16:11(b)). It reveals that this is a very Joyful place to be … in His Presence. 

David repeats this thought again in Psalm 21:6. “You make him glad with the joy of Your presence.” God has communicated realities of Himself to us through His Word. He has also enabled us access to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

We can know Him by reading His Word. Yet we are not just to have knowledge of Him—far more we are to have a relationship with Him. 

The Son of God came to earth to bring us to Himself by His death on the cross. Even more by His resurrection and ascension to Heaven, He created a pathway of communion with His People. 

We can have personal fellowship with Him in prayer—ponder that reality! In Matthew 6 Jesus taught us about prayer. He said, “And when you pray …”. This tells us that prayer is possible and that we should be consistently praying to God.

He furthermore taught us how to pray. “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in Heaven …” God is our Father and we are to know Him this way. He is not some distant god or unknowable being. No, He is our God and our Father.  

He is the infinite, all knowing, all powerful, good, and just God. He has created us for Himself … bought us with the blood of His Son and desires communion with us. There is no greater privilege or honor given to any created being in the universe. The awesomeness of this truth will never be fully known this side of heaven. 

Private prayer, in a quiet place, enables us to meet with our Father in heaven. This must be your expectation for prayer or else it can be just talking to yourself. Prayer also establishes and builds our relationship to the Father.

The greater that you know your Father in heaven the more passionate you will be to have fellowship with Him. 

May God bless your Bible reading and prayer time this week. 

Steve 

PS Starting January 15 I will be starting a study of prayer called, ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ It will be on Thursdays from 4-5 in the Walb Hideout. I hope to see you there. If you would like more details, you can text me at (260) 241-0241.

Bible Reading Plan—Week 19

DAY 1—Psalm 16:1-6

DAY 2—Psalm 16:7-11

DAY 3—Psalm 21:1-7

DAY 4—Psalm 21:8-13

DAY 5—Psalm 23:1-6