Take Time To Actually Pray

"The great people of the earth today are the people who pray!  I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. That something else is important, very important and pressing, but still, less important and pressing than prayer. There are people who put prayer first, and group the other items in life's schedule around and after prayer. These are the people today who are doing the most for God in winning souls, in solving problems, in awakening churches, in supplying both men and money for mission posts, in keeping fresh and strong their lives far off in sacrificial service on the foreign field, where the thickest fighting is going on, and in keeping the old earth sweet a little while longer."  S.D. Gordon

A few years ago I discovered the place where persistent prayer took place and yielded results. I learned to pray Scriptures and to pray based on the word of God. I learned to pray specifically, and to pray about everything. I also learned that my prayer could be as effective on the days I didn't 'feel' like praying or when I was more easily distracted. The deciding factor was my choice to separate myself from the other things I could be doing and go pray anyway. Sometimes it was very difficult to get started but I would ask the Holy Spirit to help me, and He would. In those days I found myself spending as much as three to four hours at a time in prayer and intercession. And that time became precious.

Tremendous changes began taking place in me, and by explicit answers to my prayers. I remember thinking that if I had known it could be like this, I would have spent so many hours (which had been previously wasted) in prayer instead. I was truly filled with regret over all the time I could not get back to pray, and all the times I had worried myself into a frenzy instead of putting that energy towards praying about things. If there is a secret to the overcoming Christian life, my experience taught me that it must be spending time getting to know God by studying His word, and then praying according to it.


Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. 
Colossians 4: 2 (AMP)


A few years ago I did a blog series on praying effectively. You can find it here (this link is based on the label applied; be sure to start from the bottom when reading because it does follow an order to be most useful to you).

New Growth Will Lead To New Things

Happy New Year!

May this year be for each of you a year of growth; going from glory to glory, and faith to faith!

There is a fresh stirring in my heart to delve more deeply into studying the Word of God this year. This didn't occur to me just this morning because it's New Year's Day. I've felt like a new wind of grace has blown over me during the past week in particular. I know this is a work of God in me, and I am determined to cooperate with Him to work it out practically. So, although I did not make New Year Resolutions, I did have to make some New Year Decisions. (I make a distinction because 'resolution' seems to refer to something more whimsical, based on feeling or a burst of positivity; whereas, a 'decision' reminds me that choice and responsibility sit squarely on my shoulders).

I realize that I am going to have to make trade-offs and changes in my daily schedule to spend more time in study that's deeper than daily Bible reading. It's not going to be easy amidst a busy schedule (nothing worth it ever is) but the rewards are the kind that profit a person now, and for eternity. I also know my personal gains will equip me to better serve all those God has put in my sphere, both offline and online.

How about you? I know that God is also at work in you. Will you take this journey with me this year?

I believe it's best to pray about what I should blog here (especially when I'm discussing something that turns out to be more of a mini Bible study), so there's no telling what will come up. Needless to say, the unchanging focus will be on a closer relationship with God, and with others. This always calls for discussing how to live in the light of God's word, in practical ways.


I would love to hear what's on your heart and mind. Join me at Facebook, Google Plus or Twitter. If you have a testimony of praise, or a prayer request, feel free to send it to me at fotshepherd[at]gmail[dot][com]

Blessings of love, strength, and peace to you in Jesus.

35 Reasons Not to Sin

A list of sobering truths by Jim Elliff

1. Because a little sin leads to more sin
2. Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
3. Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
4. Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
5. Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
6. Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
7. Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
8. Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
9. Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
10. Because my sin saddens the godly.
11. Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
12. Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
13. Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
14. Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
15. Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
16. Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
17. Because my sin may influence others to sin.
18. Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
19. Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
20. Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
21. Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
22. Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
23. Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
24. Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
25. Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
26. Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
27. Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
28. Because my sin is adultery with the world.
29. Because I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
30. Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
31. Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
32. Because to sin is not to love Christ.
33. Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to  believe.
34. Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it, never because it is worth anything on its own.
35. Because I promised God He would be Lord of my life.

Cool Stats On Topical Teachings of Jesus

View at Amazon.com

Teachings of Jesus in the Gospels
Did you know? There are...

- 323 verses on the topic of last days and judgment
- 198 verses on sin and forgiveness
- 123 verses on the kingdom of God
- 52 verses on money and treasure
- 44 verses on marriage and family
- 34 verses on Jesus' death and resurrection
- 25 verses on the deity of Jesus
- 717 verses on spiritual life

— Infographic from the NIV Quick View Bible
http://thequickviewbible.com/

I found the above infographic snippet and stats at the NIV Bible’s Facebook Page. This type of additional information interests me and I know a lot of others would think it worth knowing as well. It makes me wonder what kind of other cool stuff is in that Bible. I may have to get one!

Are You All In?

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 12:42-43

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?...You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James 2:14, 19

We can get really comfortable with our mental beliefs about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. We can say 'Amen' to the next Scripture tweeted into the world wide web, or 'like and share' the next cute faith-based post we see on Facebook. We can agree with the preachers and teachers of our Sunday morning services, or our favorite webcasts and podcasts. But we may not always be walking in a faith that satisfies God's demands about belief in Himself. Every now and then we need to take a deep look at these verses and then examine ourselves to see if we are (still) really "in the faith" (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). Do we really believe what we think we believe? Does our faith in God lead to a significant change in the way we live our life? Does our belief in God ever cost us any actual change? Because true faith would.

True faith would set us on a path of internal transformation, external action, and require us to surrender our will for God's will at every point of the journey. God requires us to have a faith that follows Him. It's not always easy, but it's both the doorway and the highway to knowing God more and more, and to entering into His promises. There's believing...and then there's believing. Are you all in?

Because You Say So

He [Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken
Luke 5:4-9

Has God told you to do something that seems to go against obvious indicators for success, or maybe you just don't see how it could ever work?

When God challenges us to trust His word to undertake something, even when it fails a feasibility assessment from a human perspective, He is allowing us to discover more and more of His personality and power. Peter had only recently met Jesus when He had the experience described above. This show of Christ's wisdom and power to pull off the most successful fishing expedition ever, without hardly trying, brought a holy fear upon Peter. He realized he was in the presence of no ordinary man, and saw himself in stark contrast, as he really was. In the same way, God wants us to know Him. In continually acting upon His word we will become increasingly confident that His plan always works. Peter had the opportunity to see an immediate reward in taking Jesus at His word despite the 'facts' that surrounded his situation. In our own lives we may have to wait a little while depending on the situation, but whatever God asks us to do is always for our own good ultimately. As Christians we soon realize that the Lord will continually require us to trust and obey Him; and that our peace, joy, and success depends upon it.

Just like Peter dared to be in the Bible snippet above, let's make a decision to become people who always say to God "because You say so, I will."

“Whatever He says to you, do it.”

~ John 2:5

How Will Deliverance Come?

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." ~ Psalm 50:15
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." ~ Psalm 34:19

We have numerous promises from our God that whenever we call upon Him for help, for rescue, for deliverance in the time of trouble, He will answer. That's an astounding promise if we think about it. The God who always prevails, who is the terror of His enemies, who is mightier than all, guaranteeing us with the bond of His word to show up and deliver us.

I haven't discovered any incident in the entire Bible where someone walking with the LORD ever called upon Him and was not answered. There is the case of the rebellious king Saul seeking God for help near the end of his life, and God was silent to him. But Saul was not walking with God and not at all repentant - just very afraid of the enemy that was coming against him and his armies. On the contrary, even the most vile and evil kings of Israel, such as Manasseh, obtained mercy from the LORD and help against enemies when they called upon Him in true repentance. God's word certainly stands, and how much more for His own children who call upon Him in the day of trouble!

But how does deliverance come? What is our part in a battle that we are facing?
In Scripture there are two main patterns we see: God fights for us and we sit back and watch His work OR God fights for us and we fight. In either case victory is assured.

We have examples of God protecting and defending Daniel in the lion's den - Daniel just waited there (Daniel 6); God leading Israel out of Egypt by terrifying signs and wonders and destroying Pharaoh's armies in the middle of the sea - Israel just kept walking forward (Exodus 14); God defeating Jehoshaphat's enemy by causing the enemy alliance to become so confused that they slaughtered one another till no one was left - Judah just marched out singing praises to the LORD (2 Chronicles 20).

On the other hand, we have numerous examples of God 'giving an enemy into the hand of' the armies of Israel and Judah but they were required to send their men out to battle. In cases where they fully obeyed God, not even a single man of their armies was killed. King David habitually took every battle to God in prayer, whether he should go to war or not, and this is also when he would get strategy from God. There is no biblical record or David ever losing a battle in decades of fighting! Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and many of the judges and kings of Israel and Judah were given great deliverances from enemies in this way. They conquered entire nations in battle - nations far mightier and greater in number - because God had given them His help, but they were required to face the enemy with their weapons.

Perhaps most of us want our deliverance to come while we watch and wait, not having to make any move of our own, not having to commit to any strategy, not even having to seek God desperately in prayer and fasting. It seems far easier. But I would point out that the biblical instances of deliverance coming in the supernatural-no-humans-involved way are far less than the number of battles that had to actually be fought.

We do not determine which way deliverance will come. But we have many, many promises from God that it will come. He will come. Until we're safely out of harm's way and trouble's surge we have in God Himself a hiding place, a rock of refuge, comfort and a shield. We stay close to Him in prayer, in praise and worship, and by filling ourselves with the wisdom of His word. Our part in the day of trouble is to call upon the Lord, trust Him implicitly, and obey whatever He says to do.

Too Little, Too Late - The Danger of Unbelief

God will always forgive the repentant sinner. But there are consequences to sin that we sometimes cannot wheedle ourselves out of, or make up for. Similarly, at times our disobedience and lack of faith will cause us to miss a God-thing and no amount of crying, pleading, begging God will move Him to give us a 'second chance'. We've essentially missed the time of our visitation, or missed an appointed time. A Bible example of this is evident in the account of the Israelite nation after they were led out of Egypt and being prepared to enter their Promised Land.

In Numbers 13 we are told how a representative group of twelve chief men were sent to spy out the land they were to enter and possess, and were charged with bringing back a report of the territory, including details of the agricultural produce and the people occupying the land. Ten of the men returned and because they lacked faith in God, shared a discouraging report with the thousands of Israelites - from their skewed perspective. Their unbelieving report struck terror into their hearts of the people who then denounced Moses and the God who had led them out of Egypt with unprecedented signs and wonders. They refused to enter Canaan and to do battle with the people living there although God promised to give it to them. They set their hearts to choose another leader and make their way back to Egypt where they had been slaves. But God interrupted their uprising.

After Moses interceded for them, God quickly decided to pardon them. Nevertheless, there would be severe consequences. Pronouncing judgment upon them based on the words of their own mouth, God informed Moses that none of those people twenty years and older, who had rebelled against God would ever see the Promised Land. They would wander for forty years, each year representative of each day that the unbelieving Israelite spies had been viewing Canaan. The whole group would occupy the wilderness till the time of the death of the rebels, and finally, those who were then children would be allowed to enter the Land promised.

After Moses shared the judgment determined for Israel the group was terrified and remorseful. They finally decided they would believe and obey God. By that time, it was too little and too late.

Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned! And Moses said, Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed from the camp.Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah (Numbers 14:39-45).

Notice the line that says 'they presumed...' - even after being warned by Moses that they would not be successful. In the same way, we can't presume to continually, deliberately, do our own thing and then just pick up where we left off in obeying God when we feel like it, or when we see the avalanche of consequences coming our way. There may be a high price to our waywardness. Sometimes, we are forgiven and able to continue without life-altering repercussions; sometimes (though forgiven) we are not. And we can really never tell which it is going to be.

The sin of the rebellious Israelites was clearly diagnosed in Hebrews 3:12 as an "evil heart of unbelief" that led to their departure from God. God is merciful, but let's be reminded from this account that both disbelief, and subsequently disobedience, are sins against God. Mercy keeps us standing in grace, but mercy does not necessarily trump the negative consequences, delays, and detours caused by unbelief along the narrow path we are traveling. Instead, let's make use of the grace of God which will enable us to lead obedient lives, and conduct us safely into His promises to us.

I Knew What I Was Getting Into - All Men Are Broken

I feel strongly that somebody needs to hear this.
Please listen this to the end. Ponder it. Take it to prayer. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you.
Believe.
Let God love you.

Put God's Name On Yourself

This morning while spending some time with God I found myself overcome with emotion, with awe, and gratitude as I thought of one of my very favorite readings in the Old Testament:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27 (emphasis mine)

Amazing. Utterly amazing. That God who made the heavens and the earth and all that fill them would teach us to ask for His blessing. There could be no way to measure the value of a blessing from an Everlasting God, an Almighty Creator, a Holy God. There is nothing greater that can be bestowed on us apart from His name. For His name embodies all He is. For some time now I've loved this prayer that Moses was taught by the LORD, and commanded to teach to those charged with the priestly ministry of that day. I especially love to hear it prayed in the original Hebrew language. It's a prayer for leaders before the LORD in their God-given sphere...congregations and families...to put the name of the LORD on His people. But make no mistake about it. You, Christian, are now a member of a holy priesthood and royal nation unto God through Christ. You can pray this blessing over yourself. You can ask God to bless you, keep you, shine on you, be gracious to you, favor you, and grant you His peace. You have this privilege to put His name on yourself. And He has already promised His blessing.

Finishing Well

I remember my latter high school years. Night after night of hearing the muffled sounds of the TV as all my family watched sitcoms and movies, while I sat at my desk pouring over text books, and resisting the temptation to join everyone else. Over a couple years I lost track of what was new at the cinema, or the latest at the top of the adult contemporary charts on radio. I had to forego the novels that caught my attention at the library. I made an actual list of movies and books I decided I would have to go find after I graduated, when studies were out of the way. Yes, I determined I would catch up with it all later on, but that my studies were my priority at that moment in time. I disciplined myself in practical ways, using schedules, methods, rest periods and intermittent rewards to achieve my goal. It was hard, but every round of examination met in this way, did not find me with regrets when results came out.

I believe that this willingness to weigh present perks against future rewards, and to choose with the long term in mind, is one of our greatest daily struggles in keeping first things first. Yes, it is a daily uphill climb. It's known as discipline. And its rewards come in no other way. In a Christian's life enduring to the end and finishing well requires a lifestyle of temperance.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-3

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

How important is discipline in the Christian life? Even Paul who lived a set-apart life to God, knew that the consequences of losing vigilance, diligence, and discipline could be deadly to his chances in the race of faith.

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27

The thing about disqualification, as everyone knows, is that nothing achieved before that point is rewarded. Neither is there an 'honorable mention' given to a disqualified participant. What do you need to lay aside and get out of the way to keep growing in God? What good thing do you need to delay to make time for what's better? What temporary pleasure do you need to forego for what will last forever? It costs something to finish well. If your heart is determined, God's grace will enable you to pay what it costs ... The truth is I never got around to catching up with that list of movies and books I made all those years ago. I still don't know who's singing what out on most of the secular radio stations. But I no longer have that gnawing sense of 'missing out', and the temptations to let myself indulge complacency are tempered by greater understanding and experience. I keep before me the truth that at my last breath in this age, before seeing the face of my Redeemer, I won't be thinking of a movie, book, or popular song. No, I won't even care if I had never known what those were. With fear and awe I know I'll wish I'd spent more time getting to know Him and being transformed into the image of Christ, so that I lived this life fully pleasing to Him. I believe you would too.

The God of Wonders At Work: Functional and Beautiful

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8

I watched a documentary video called God of Wonders several months ago that examined various facets of creation, with commentary from intellectuals relating everything directly to the God who made it all, and what it tells us about Himself - His love for us, and His care for all He has made. I was at a place of trial in my life and started to watch this video as mere distraction when I found myself being ministered to by the Holy Spirit. As I watched the vastness and intelligent design of the cosmos being expounded; the detailed mechanics of the skeleton, wing and lungs of birds; the care of God in giving us an innumerable species of plants and herbs for food, medicine, and sheer enjoyment; and the incredible and unmatched design of the human body and DNA, one of the biggest realizations I came away with was that God is not merely about functionality, but He is a God of beauty. He didn't just give us an Earth to live on with the things necessary for our physical sustenance, no, He also added color, fragrance, things for our enjoyment. Functionality and beauty. I serve a God of wonders. I trust a God of wonders. I came away being refreshed and having my faith stoked to continue waiting and trusting God to work out the details of my life.

Our God is a God who defines beauty, who creates beauty, who enjoys beauty. He really does all things well. As my mind turned to the awesome works of the Creator, a truth sank down into my heart: How God works in the things that are seen is not more awesome than how he works in the abstract, unseen, or intangible issues of life. He will take a bleak situation and not only work it out your survival, but give you joy and gladness. Functionality and beauty. I see this principle in the lives of the Old Testament saints that we get glimpses of such as Ruth and Joseph. Functionality and beauty are interwoven in the outcome God worked for their lives.

Ruth turned her back on the grief of the death of a spouse. She was childless and penniless and in a strange land.  She trusted the God of Israel as her refuge and at the appointed time didn't just get a place to live, or a husband for practical purposes. Instead, she got a God-planned outcome, an honorable, kind husband, a child in the lineage of the Messiah, a good reputation among an entire town, and no doubt, much gladness that her history could not predict.

Similarly, Joseph's dark years of betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment ended with not just a deliverance for Israel from famine by his gifts of wisdom and interpreting dreams; but God also granted him personal wealth and honor; a family of his own and a dramatic reunion with his beloved father followed by gladness and peace.

These two lives display what we may say are storybook endings but this is just how our God works. He loves us and He does all things well! Trials will come, great storms will assail, but the life that is built on the Rock - the life that turns to be obedient to God's word and to believe Him in every season of life - will always be triumphant. I have no doubt that, in Eternity, if those who have so trusted God should review the lives they lived on the earth in this age, they will see not just functional deliverances and provisions accomplished by the LORD on their behalf, but also the God-kind of beauty in the way He worked things out because they steadfastly clung to Him.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

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Bubble Forth!

Psalm 145 is all about the splendor, greatness, power, and majesty of God. It shows how that knowledge turns into the only reasonable response of praise to God. I love this Psalm. The last time I read it recently, I read it three times back to back, just trying to soak it in better, and more and more. One little verse especially thrills me when I think of the part I get to play in making His greatness known:

Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 145:7-8

In verse 8 above, the phrase translated 'utter' (some translations include 'abundantly utter' or 'eagerly utter') literally means to "bubble forth" the memory of God's great goodness. I just love that. I see that. It fits perfectly.

It's the picture of an excited kid coming home from school and practically gushing all the exciting tale of the day's events to a parent. It's a girl talking to her best friend on the phone after a particularly thrilling experience and leaving none of the details out. It's an intimate and detailed heart to heart with your special someone when things are finally falling into place and plans you've made are shaping up.

Walking with God through the thick and thin, we have opportunity after opportunity to experience His greatness and His power to deliver, to heal, to save, to comfort, to guide, to provide and more. We are to keep the memories of these events fresh in our mind and be ready to bubble forth all that He has done. It brings glory to God, it refreshes your intimacy with Him, and it adds grace to the hearer!

Bubble forth!

Psalm 145

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,

And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

And on Your wondrous works.

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,

And I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,

And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all,

And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,

And Your saints shall bless You.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

And talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholds all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh shall bless His holy name

Forever and ever.

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"Therefore I Felt Compelled"

When a decision needs to be made and circumstances are such that it needs to be made now, we find ourselves under incredible pressure. Human reasoning often gets the best of us at these times. We know we really should pray about it, but we don't have time. We know we have prayed for God's leading, but His answer hasn't come at our deadline. We know we should find out what God would want us to do at that moment, but we feel compelled to meet the expectations of people who are demanding a response. We've all been there. However, now as Christians, we need to break away, violently, from this need to respond now, without waiting and diligently following God's leading.

Acting when we feel compelled without waiting upon the LORD is one trait which will cause us not only to detour widely from God's will for our lives, but also to fall into His great disfavor. At the heart of acting because we feel compelled, is a lack of fear of the LORD and instead, the fear of man; as well as a lack of dependence upon God and a presumptuous, rebellious heart. It can lead to nothing but disobedience and irreverence towards God. King Saul, who started out well with the LORD, soon came to a pathetic end because He disobeyed God, for this very reason, on more than one occasion. I would ask you to take the time to study 1 Samuel Chapters 9 to 14 about his appointment to the throne of Israel as it's first king, and his downfall - a case study God has provided us as both an example and warning. Here is a snippet of just one such instance in Saul's life, taken from 1 Samuel 13:

Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
And Samuel said, “What have you done?”
Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
1 Samuel 13:8-14

Not long after Saul was strongly rebuked as you read above, his hasty decision-making again proved that he was more driven by a fear of man (that is, a regard for pleasing people and meeting the expectations of what others wanted and expected) and that he did not know his great need for the LORD. He was too self-dependent. The situation I am referring to from 1 Samuel 14 is even more telling of the true state of his heart.

And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
1 Samuel 14:18-20

Notice that on this occasion he went so far as to command the priest to bring the ark of the LORD for inquiring of the LORD, however as the noise of the approaching Philistines increased, he commanded the priest to halt and instead went out with his own battle strategy. At a critical moment he stopped a priest from getting God's wisdom and instruction because he felt compelled. Is it any wonder that "there was very great confusion"?

Many times when our actions imitate what Saul did, we think of it too lightly, reasoning and excusing, deceiving ourselves that God will understand and accommodate our haste. However, the biblical records prove that this is not so. We cannot please God without faith in Him. It is simply impossible (Hebrews 11:6). At these moments when pressure mounts and we feel compelled to take action, we must have our faith in God alone and cast care of needing to act upon Him. Your present circumstances can be no more dire than Saul's was, with a vast murderous enemy army ("people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude") mounting against him and his people, and all awaiting his orders.

There is another young man in Scripture who also proves that true, trusting, humble dependence upon God is all the more earnest when we find ourselves at these critical moments of decision-making. David the young fugitive, unjustly hunted and accused of treason by king Saul, was the one anointed to fill Saul's place on the throne and he was tested by severe trials. He made his home with the Philistines for a length of time and in one instance, upon returning to his city Ziklag with his relatively small group of men, they found that all their possessions, wives and children had been taken captive by an Amalekite army. David's men turned their anger against David for what had befallen them while they were away, willing to fight with the Philistine army on his behalf. After they had "lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep", they were soon speaking of stoning him! Pressure was at an all time high for David. All were tired, hungry, and had lost their families and all their earthly possessions. His own life was on the line by those who had fought alongside him. What would David do? David "encouraged himself in the LORD", and then he called for the priest to bring the ephod that he might inquire of the LORD if they should pursue the army and if He would give them success (1 Samuel 30:6-8).

David's response is in stark contrast to that of king Saul. David did not assume he had God's mind on the matter. He did not reason with human reasoning. He did not even respond in haste to protect his own life. David needed God. And he knew it. He depended on God, feared God, loved God, and trusted God. And that's why He always inquired of the LORD. Note well: In all the records of Scripture, David never lost a battle to any army. I am convinced that His constant humility and dependence upon God has everything to do with His might as a warrior. It is now up to us to learn from the lives of these two men, King Saul and King David. Will we continue to be compelled, or will we trust and obey?


You may like to read these past posts related to today's blog entry:
Passing or Failing God's Tests
Forgetting God and Forging Ahead
Waiting On God Well

The End Intended By The Lord

We don't often understand God's timing when we are crying out for help, healing, or deliverance from some situation and nothing seems to change quickly. It is just one more area where His ways are higher than our way and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (see Isaiah 55:9). While there are many times when prayer is manifestly answered in a short space of time, and even times when God's answer comes while we're still speaking and making that request, many more times it seems that waiting is required. I have found that it makes all the difference in the midst of trials and uncertainty to know that God is good, and to be convinced by His word that in the life of those whose hearts are set upon Him nothing is sent or permitted without His redeeming purpose. Indeed He has promised to cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). Nothing could be more sure.

Below are some snippets to encourage you to continue to call upon the Lord and to wait on Him, eagerly expecting His promise to be fulfilled in your life.

Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."
Genesis 50:19-20

Joseph was cruelly betrayed by his brothers, separated from his father as a teenager, sold into slavery, falsely accused by an adulterous woman, imprisoned in a dungeon, forgotten by those he helped - until God's time arrived to place Joseph in a position of great power and authority that was the means of preserving the entire nation of Israel. His godly love forgiveness, and tenderness of heart towards his brothers upon the revelation of his true identity many years later only served to prove that his heart and emotions had also been healed from all he had suffered. His recorded life after that point showed how God had recompensed him for enduring years of trial with reunion with his father and family, a household of his own, and great authority, wealth, and favor with God and with man for all the remainder of his days.

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:11

Job was an upright man who diligently obeyed the Lord and revered Him in His holiness, even making sacrifices for the atonement of his children's sins 'just in case' they had sinned in their house parties. He was generous to the poor and to his friends, and full of wisdom. Then satan was granted permission to tempt him, bringing staggering disaster, death, and sickness to Job's life. Yet Job did not sin against God. He wrestled with understanding the ways of God but when God did answer, Job was awed by a fuller understanding of the greatness of His God. And God used him as a vessel for mercy to his friends who had not spoken what was right about the Lord. The remainder of Job's days were days of restored happiness, family, and even greater wealth than he had ever had before. God's intended end for Job certainly touched more lives than ever before by his testimony in the land of Ur among strangers, his friends and family, and to all who gain comfort from this portion of the Scriptures all these thousands of years later.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."
John 9:1-3

All sin has consequences, and sometimes that includes physical afflictions (see John 5:13-15), yet not all afflictions are the result of sin. This man born blind from birth was marvelously healed (and saved from sin!) by his encounter with Jesus at the point of his need, and became an undeniable example of the power and grace of God to the people and Pharisees. In the same way, God will allow or prepare situations through which He will display Himself to you and others in ways that bring Him glory, and accomplish good for you.

Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
John 11:3-7,14

Bad things do happen to good people. But just as in this case with Lazarus' illness and subsequent death, which Jesus even wept over openly, having to endure suffering does not mean that God does not love us. When God's power was displayed in raising Lazarus from the dead after four days of burial, He became an irrefutable witness that Jesus Christ had power and authority from God even over death, to give life. This act not only caused many other lives to be saved, but would have sealed the truths about resurrection and hope that Jesus had taught to many of his disciples up to that point - comfort which would have been needed during this time which was only shortly before His own death and resurrection.

Be encouraged! If you love God and have set your heart and hope upon Him, every trial which you have not been quickly rescued from will also serve a higher purpose for God's glory and your good. Remain steadfast and immovable upon His word. When your help, deliverance, and restoration comes, the pain of the present days will no more be felt - only remembered in such a way that your heart rejoices with gratitude and awe towards the LORD.  Facebook
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God Does All Things Well

'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.' ~ Jeremiah 32:17

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
John 2:1-10

I have struggled with many fundamental truths about God's nature, particularly having to do with God's specific, individual, love and care for me. It doesn't make any sense to me right now that I ever doubted that His intentions towards me were for good and not for evil (even after I knew the popular Bible verse recorded in Jeremiah 29:11-13), but because I didn't know Him much at all, it all boiled down to a lack of trust in Him. From this single deficit, almost every other aspect of my life has at some time been negatively influenced because of poor decisions I made while trying to figure out what was best for myself. And this was despite some prayers, and despite some knowledge of Scripture. Until I really came to believe that God was for me and not against me; that God wanted the best for me and cared about the details of my life; and that God really is a good God, I continued to say I trusted God with many things but never totally released them to Him or accepted His will.

The popular story of Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee took on whole new meaning for me recently when the Holy Spirit illuminated a single simple truth as a reminder that God can be trusted to act on our behalf. So perfect are His works, and so high above our ways are His ways, that the wine He makes from only water makes man's best appear to be nothing more than inferior, cheap wine!

This marvelous truth reminded me of another Scripture verse which says that "The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Is it any wonder then that those who wait for God don't ever wind up ashamed (see Psalms 25:3; Isaiah 49:23; Psalm 37)?

What are you hoping in God for? What are you waiting on God for? Let God be the One who determines the path you should take and trust His timing. Just like Mary exhorted the servants, and just as they also did, only be diligent to do whatever the Lord says to you. His heart is for you, He does all things well, and His ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30; Deut. 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31)!

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

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When You Have To Start Over

Many who will read this are in the process of having to start over right now. Not the kind of fresh start where you step out toward dreams bright eyed and full of wonder, but you are starting over because life has taken an unexpected turn and you must start over. Things haven't turned out as you planned. The ending was wrong, or it was too soon. A life-changing diagnosis or disability, the death of a spouse or child, the loss of a career; the end of a friendship or relationship. The things that provoke "Why?" and "Why me?" questions, and almost never have answers. Starting over is necessary in these cases, but it is left up to each person how they will start over. Your responses, reactions, and your trust in God make all the difference at this point. You can become bitter and disillusioned, or you can decide to trust God one step at a time, grieving, healing, and hoping in Him.

Every Christian will encounter a lot of hardship and trials in this life. Your actions and attitudes must be deeply rooted upon the commands and promises of the word of God so as not to be overcome by the storms that will beat against you. Jesus said,

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:47-49

The Christian who has experienced the sudden, the unthinkable, the crushing of hopes and plans and dreams, is in a position to grasp that there is nothing lasting outside of a relationship with God. The failure of our best plans can move us to radically surrender our lives with total abandon to whatever the will of God will decide next. It is for times like these that the promises of God are given to you as a life buoy:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35,37-39, NLT

The promises are given, and they are sure. But we must believe them if we are to start over well, and see God do what is impossible for us, bringing victory out of trial. Even in hardships permitted, there is an end intended by the Lord. He has a plan to turn that thing for His glory and your good. If you will trust Him and continue to obey, He will make the whole of your life bring praise to the glory of His grace. Job's excruciating trial detailed in 42 chapters let us know that God is not unfeeling towards the suffering of His servants. This trial was not the end of his story but brought a new start. It brought renown to God, a witness to others from Job's life more than ever before, and deepened Job's knowledge, fear, and love of God.

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:10-11

The Scriptures record outlines of various lives that were thrust into a whirlwind of the unplanned and unexpected. Take courage from the word of God as you read these stories including that of Noah, Job, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Esther, Daniel and others.

All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come. If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:11-13,GNT

God is not finished with you. Go to His word and get new strength and vision. Trust in Him who loves you.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me? 

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him 

For the help of His countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me;

Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, 

And from the heights of Hermon, 

From the Hill Mizar.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me— 

A prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:5-8

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Jesus Is (Still) Willing

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
Mark 1:40-42

In the times of the Bible being pronounced as a leper was a life changing event, for the worse. Apart from the physical affliction, degeneration, and handicap that could result, one would be cut off immediately from one's family and friends, from making a living in society, from attending public worship gatherings and any other vestige of a once-normal life [see here for a synopsis of this topic in the bible; see here for a few pictures - may be graphic]. One was even required to cry out, 'Unclean, unclean' when approached by anyone (Lev. 13:45). Many scholars now believe that biblical leprosy comprised a variety of contagious infections, but whatever the case, it is clear that at that time no cure could be provided by man. The lot of the leper was generally that of perpetual rejection, ostracism, and shame.

The plight of this leper recorded in the gospel of Mark was dire. He was afflicted with something that no man could cure. He had heard of a man who preached and taught with authority, commanded demons, and healed various diseases. And perhaps he had even heard of the disposition of this Man, that He was humble, compassionate, patient, upright, not reproaching the sinner or scornful. And the leper put his faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

The leper came with humility (imploring, kneeling, saying if You are willing) and faith (You can make me clean). Jesus was moved with compassion. How often in the gospels we see (and read) that Jesus was moved with compassion at the need and weakness of man. I imagine Christ's heart was broken by this man's plight. Jesus who perceived the heart and thoughts of the wicked Scribes and Pharisees, must have also perceived the record of rejection, abandonment, pain and loss in this leper's life, and the near hopelessness of being bound by an infirmity for which he could not obtain a cure.

Read that Scripture again and notice the order of events. Jesus met the leper's humility and faith with a heart of compassion. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him. Then Jesus spoke a word of reassurance (I am willing), and a word of command (be cleansed). And "as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed" (vs. 42).

Jesus Christ, "the same yesterday, and today, and for ever", has not changed (Heb. 13:8). Jesus' heart is still filled with compassion towards the person who is suffering under the bondage of sin, or its effects. And He is not afraid to touch you whatever the disease or fallout looks like. He is still willing. And he will still heal those who come with humility and faith.

Many give up or stop short if their miracle is not immediate. We do not often consider how many prayers this leper must have prayed before today...The same can be said of the woman with the issue of blood for twelve long years, who only worsened. Or the man in the synagogue with the withered hand. Or the man born blind. Or the paralytic on the mat who had already been that way a long time. Or the daughter of Abraham who had been bound by a spirit by infirmity that caused her body to be doubled over for many years. Or the deaf and dumb mutes and the many demon-possessed...The disciples' gospels hint at their stories. These all suffered for various lengths of time. I am certain that prayer would have been offered to God on their behalf by family members, and some would have made supplications to God many times for themselves - long before Jesus of Nazareth appeared, teaching, preaching, and healing.

What is the lesson for us? If you are afflicted by a disease of the body, soul, or spirit; if you need transformation from the inside out; and if you still have a will to be free, a desire to be cleansed, Jesus is still willing. He is the only One who can cure your condition and make you free indeed (John 8:36). Do not cease to "cry out all the more" as blind Bartimaeus did, (although many rebuked him and warned him to be quiet [Mark 10:46-52]). Jesus Christ still has a heart of compassion for you. Remain humble, persistent, and nurture your faith in Him.

Because It's Valentine's Day

Many people celebrate Valentine's Day as a day for showing appreciation and love for family, friends and significant others. Whether or not it's a big occasion on your agenda, no one can argue that true love is a wonderful thing - not often easy, but always wonderful!

In the contemporary culture of mixed messages, where whimsical emotion or lust is often mistaken for love, and where relationships are rife with superficiality, flattery, insincerity, or built on the shaky foundation of individual brokenness and misplaced neediness, it is important for Christians to be intimately acquainted with the true God-kind of love. Several months ago I did a series on Loving with God's Love by taking a look at God's definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. I hope that you will be inspired to read this chapter of Scripture again, and I invite you to peruse the series by using the links below!

1st - Love is patient
2nd - Love is kind
3rd - Love does not envy
4th - Love does not boast; it is not arrogant or rude
5th - Love does not insist on its own way
6th - Love is not irritable
7th - Love is not resentful
8th - Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth
9th - Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures, all things

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love God! 

Love somebody with God's love!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

Keep Listening

"Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge."

Proverbs 19:27

We live in an information age. There is Scripture and Bible commentary available locally in churches (for most in the Western world), on TV, on the Internet, on Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, in book stores, and of course, in our very own bibles. But it's very easy for knowledge and information accumulation to take the place of the real listening which the Scripture above refers to.

Several years ago when Christ had laid hold of me, I quickly fell in love with His word and fed on it voraciously. Then I entered a new phase whereby I looked forward to my Bible reading times with a pen and notebook in hand - but in a whole new way. It was so subtle I wouldn't have noticed on my own. That is to say, if the Holy Spirit hadn't brought it to my attention, I wouldn't have seen that I had made a shift towards merely enjoying the intellectual pursuit of my Bible studies. I loved seeing patterns, trends, understanding, referencing, note-taking...studying. It is not a bad thing in itself, but I had quickly shifted from being excited about getting to know God from His word, to just enjoying studying - taking very little conscious thought to the ultimate purpose of my studies. By the grace of God, I was able to repent, and make my Bible reading more intentional by asking myself what I had learned about God's ways and character. Coupled with obedience, I believe this is the beginning of sincere listening, and in straying from it we may eventually accumulate knowledge that will not profit us. After all, knowledge resides in the mind, but it does a hardened heart no good.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV

Listening and learning never ends. Now that I know that the Word of God is essential to every facet of my life, and although I have accumulated some knowledge of God's ways and His will, I must not cease from listening. Even now, if I were to choose to starve myself of the Word of God and forgo fellowship with Him, I would find deception, idolatry and other sin increasingly, and easily taking its place. The same would be true of you. That's what the Word of God says. "Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge." And many lives have illustrated its truth.

Life-sustaining, overcoming 'listening' must be rooted in an ever-increasing dependent and intimate relationship with God and His Word. Those who are listening prove it by their obedience. We must keep listening!

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold; 

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11