Verse of the Day 3/31

Verse of the Day 3/31

Psalm 56:3-4

English Standard Version

3 When I am afraid,

    I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

    What can flesh do to me?

Today's verses came up in my daily reader in the Psalms.  Many of you are probably like me in this sense, I tend to worry too much, at least more than I need to.  I know many verses and passages that tell me not to including Psalm 37 which repeatedly says "fret not".  The key to being able to putting worry aside is to trust, not blindly or just wishful thinking but reading; knowing; believing and trusting in God's Word and put it into action,

Reading these verses brought to mind a hymn written from Psalm 119:105 which says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path".  What reminded me of the song was not these words but the refrain:

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path

Refrain:
When I feel afraid, think I've lost my way
Still You're there right beside me
Nothing will I fear as long as you are near
Please be near me to the end


I will not forget your love for me
And yet my heart forever is wandering
Jesus be my guide, hold me to Your side
And I will love You to the end

We can have that faith knowing that He is near, right there beside us.  Better yet, the Holy Spirit is in us, guiding us if we will allow Him to.  Read the Psalm below to the end which reads in verse 13 "that I may walk before God in the light of life."  I'm guessing that another hymn may just come to mind.  You choose.  Sing it in praise to God.  Let Him lead you today.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Psalm 56

English Standard Version

In God I Trust

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam[a] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they injure my cause;[b]
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You have kept count of my tossings;[c]
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that[d] God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
    I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

Verse of the Day 3/29

Verse of the Day 3/29

Proverbs 18:10-11

English Standard Version

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

    the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.

Today's verses came up in my daily readings in Solomon's "wisdom" literature.  Every time I read these verses, the words come to me in the form of a song that we used to sing in the choir back at Elgiin Evangilical Free Church, "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord".

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved

The name of the Lord found here stands for all of the perfections that He has displayed in His Word and for His people in history.  They include His faithfulness, power, mercy and wisdom whcih those who are in right standing with Him can turn to in times of trouble. In society the rich man turns to his wealth.  But as we've seen with bank failures, market crashes; like the walls of Jericho; they can come tumbling down.  God's strong towerr will never fail, when we go to Him, thrust in Him we can and will be safe.

Where is your trust today?  May you trust in the name of the Lord above all worldly possessions.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Proverbs 18:10-16

English Standard Version

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

    the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.

Verse of the Day 3/28

Verse of the Day 3/28

Psalm 54:4

English Standard Version

4 Behold, God is my helper;

    the Lord is the upholder of my life.

I finished yesterday's post with the hymn "All the Way My Savior Leads Me", the last line was "Jesus led me all the way".  Today's verse came up in my daily reading in the Psalms.  This one, written by David expresses the same kind of emotion and gratitude to God.  Reading it we can reflect on David's life, all the ups and downs, the battles, physical and spiritual but looking back David realizes that God had been his helper, holder and sustainer in life.

Think of these two statements, first, God "is" my helper.  Not jus was or has been but is. God is always with him and will be with him to the end.  Thne "the Lord is the upholder of my life."  Same thing.  Not just was, but is and will continue to be my "upholder".  The One that keeps my going, keeps me afloat as it were, lifts me up when I can't pick myself off of the ground.  He upholds everything in my life, from the sun and stars to the challenges of daily life.

These thoughts led me to another old hymn, "O Worship the King all Glorious Above", in particular the lines "your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end, or Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.

1. Oh, worship the King, all-glorious above,
   Oh, gratefully sing His pow'r and His love;
   Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
   Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
2. Oh, tell of His might, oh, sing of His grace,
   Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
   His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
   And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
3. Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
   It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
   It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
   And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
4. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
   In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
   Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
   Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

Knowing that God is your helper and the upholder of your life should cause you to want to sing out in praise to Him.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Psalm 54

English Standard Version

The Lord Upholds My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil[a] of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, "Is not David hiding among us?"

54 O God, save me by your name,
    and vindicate me by your might.
2 O God, hear my prayer;
    give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers

have risen against me;

    ruthless men seek my life;
    they do not set God before themselves. Selah

4 Behold, God is my helper;
    the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
    in your faithfulness put an end to them.

6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
    I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Verse of the Day 3/27

Verse of the Day 3/27

2 Corinthians 9:8

New King James Version

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Recently, in 1 Peter we considered how we will face "various trials" but we are enabled to overcome them by God's "varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10).  In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that He came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  For me, today's verse in 2 Corinthians brings these thoughts together.  He gives us grace that we may abound, live abundantly, overflowing into the lives of others as we serve Him.

James Smith writes:

All grace dwells in God, and flows freely from Him. He is glorified in the communications of His grace to the most unworthy. You have received a little--He is able to make all of His grace abound toward you. The aboundings of His grace will produce . . .

  strong faith,

  great patience,

  deep humility,

  holy contentment,

  ardent love,

  joyful hope,

  warm zeal,

  Scriptural courage,

  and spiritual fortitude.

Jehovah is emphatically called . . .

  the God of all grace,

  the Father of mercies,

  the God of all comfort,

  the God of peace,

  the God of hope,

  the God of salvation.

All of these titles are full of comfort, and are calculated to inspire our souls with love, gratitude, and pleasure.

How is your spiritual fortitude today?  May God provide the varied grace that you need to face the challenges of the day, week and beyond.

1 All the way my Savior leads me–
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

2 All the way my Savior leads me–
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for ev'ry trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

3 All the way my Savior leads me–
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

New King James Version

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

"He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever."

Verse of the Day 3/23

Verse of the Day 3/23

Romans 15:13

English Standard Version

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

I love spring.  After a dreary winter the warmth of the spring sun, the sound of the birds singing joyfully, all the plants putting on a display give you hope for warmer, longer, sunnier days ahead.  We've heard it said that hope springs eternal.  For the Christian, even in our darkest days there remains a hope, if not realized today we trust in an eternity based on hope realized.

Today's verse is one of my favoritie ones on the subject of hope, especially to "abound" in hope.  It is a hope not just for ourselves, but it is a hope that overflows from our lives into the lives of others.  We proclaim it and let it be known where hope is to be found, in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Any time that I hear or read the word hope from the Bible, i cannot help but think of our son Jeff's quote.  Being disabled and suffering from a traumatic brain injury has not impeded his ability to have hope and to share it with others, he has coined the phrase "hope is my favorite thing to have' and he has the peace that passes understanding.

John Piper writes, "The people who enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all understanding are those who in everything by prayer and supplication let their requests be made known to God....The key that unlocks the treasure chest of God's peace is faith in the promises of God. So Paul prays, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." And when we do trust the promises of God and have joy and peace and love, then God is glorified."

May hope be your favorite thing to have and bring you the peace that passes understanding.

Philippians 4:7

English Standard Version

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Romans 15:8-13

English Standard Version

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name."

10 And again it is said,

"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."

11 And again,

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him."

12 And again Isaiah says,

"The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope."

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.