The Unique Psalms

The Psalms are unique treasures of scripture that connect a weavers head and heart in a rich in the vivid way. While most scripture delivers words from God to man, the psalms provide man’s spirit-inspired words to pray and sing to God.

The format and diversity of the Psalms allow them to be used in a number of powerful ways individually and corporately – Almost like a Swiss Army knife or our spiritual lives.

Here are some ways to use the Psalms:

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Godly Prayer Life

Have you ever not knowing what to pray? The Psalms give believers the right words to pray with no words come to mind.

The Psalms Teach the importance of being honest with God and that it’s okay to ask, Why? and How long? When we learned the necessity I’m submitting to him and difficult times and that we have an approaching him when we contemplate His greatness. Following the Psalm’s prayer patterns will enrich our prayers, making our substance fuller and more God centered.

How did Moses respond to God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt? He sang a song (Exodus 15). How did David respond to the Lord’s deliverance from his enemies and Saul? He wrote him praise (2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18). How did Asaph cure his envy of the wicked? He worshiped God, learned of their fate, and recorded his story of trust in Psalm 73.

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Life Of Worship

Singing the Psalms allows us to proclaim God’s words and let us dwell richly within us (Colossians 3:16). In doing so, we will be keeping our lives according to God’s Word and making and making worship aThe default setting on our hearts will move more focused on Waze than on things like worry, our lives and ourselves. more natural part of our lives. The default setting on our hearts will move more focused on praise than on things like worry, our lives and ourselves.

How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts! My soul longs, and even paint for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalms 84:1-2

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Culture Of Worship At Your Church

The book of Psalms is a hymnal filled with songs for God’s people. Many of the Psalms are intended for corporate worship, with some being directed to the Choirmaster and prescribing specific instruments for accompaniment (for example Psalms 51-61).

Reading or singing the Psalms corporately will shape individual hearts and minds in the congregation and help your church pursue a culture of worship.

Many churches use them at the start of the service as a call to worship, for responsive readings, or as a response to a sermon. The rich imagery of scripture speaks to our daily lives and experiences and it will make our heart sing.

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Deep Hunger For God

The Psalms are a mirror to our soul that reveals our deepest longings. The word paper hearts by connecting with the Psalmists in a deep and emotional way:

One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O’ God (Psalm 42:1).

O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water

Psalm 63:1

As you read this Psalms and make them your prayer. God will work in you and change your desires to be more like His. You will be delighting in the Lord and receive the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance. – C.S. Lewis

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Godly Emotional Life

Everyone faces emotional ups and downs. That goes for even the most even-keeled saints Because even our Lord Himself went through emotional trauma and turmoil The Psalms provide a faithful roadmap to follow in the world of emotions – triumph and turmoil, and everything in between. C. John Collins put it this way: “The Psalms simply do not simply express emotions: when sung in faith they actually shape the emotions of the godly,”

How do we respond to deep sadness? Look in Psalm 43, which says, “Why are you cash down O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”

How do we respond when the wicked prosper? Look in Psalm 37:7, which says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospered into his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

How do you thank the Lord for such a great salvation? “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of Thanksgiving and tell of His deeds and songs of joy!” (Psalm 107:21-22).

Using the Psalms for a biblical outlook on emotions will tune the strings of our hearts to God’s perfect pitch.

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Thankful Heart

God desires us to be thankful – in fact, thankfulness is His will for us (Thessalonians 5:18). Cultivating a thankful heart is especially important in a culture that focuses on the gifts God gives instead of being thankful for what he already has given us in Christ Jesus. Thanking God put us in a proper place as humble creatures dependent on and abundantly gracious Creator.

The Psalms of Thanksgiving celebrate God’s works and goodness to us. Like the Psalmist, we can remember God‘s goodness across all of history (Psalm 105) and also His goodness to us personally (Psalm 40).

When God has turned our morning into dancing (Psalm 30:11), given us a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:1-2), and been our rock and salvation (Psalm 62:1), how can we keep our heart from giving thanks?

Use The Psalms To Cultivate A Deeper Understanding Of A Godly Life

The Psalms will shatter to pieces any ideas at being a Christian is a walk in the park. The Psalms show us a wide spectrum of the Christian life, from the mountaintop experiences to walking in the valley of the shadow of death,

We can hide from our enemy in a cave with David (Psalm 57), or cry out to God because of injustice with Asaph (Psalm 82), contemplate the shortness of life and the greatness of God with Moses (Psalm 90), and enter into the abandonment of our Savior (Psalm 22). The Psalms will teach us how to live wisely in difficult times.

As you read this Psalms With your Christian experience in mind. God will humble you, refine your expectations about life, and show you His faithfulness and steadfast love,

Use The Psalms To Behold The Savior

We see Jesus’s own words and His disciples that the Psalms find their ultimate fulfillment and Him: “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:22). Are you read through the Psalms keep a close ion the New Testament brush references that quote the Psalms in reference to Christ. Also keep an ion the references to the gospel themes or characteristics of Christ.

Here are a few highlights of Christ in the Psalms:

  • Psalm 102:25-29 Describes Christ as the eternal Creator (Cross Reference Hebrews 1:10-12).
  • Psalm 16 Describes the resurrection and full glory of Christ.
  • Psalm 110 Describes the dominion of Christ and His future judgment

Look for a Christ, and then quickly moving to the next thing God wants us to encounter the living Christ and find life in His name. He wants to transform our hearts and minds to love Him and glorify Him as he did with this Psalmists.

What’s Satan Up To?

Pretend for a moment that you believe both in God and Satan are real beings. And that God is omnipresent, while Satan isa fallen angel who can only be in one place at a time. God of course being the Creator,andSatan being a created being.

Ok next. Pretend that Satan’s heart became proud and he tried to usurpGod’s authority, and was quickly kicked out of heaven. This would have made him angry and confused, but certainly very focused. Pretend his hatred drives him to oppose the purposes of God.

Next pretend that man, like Satan has fallen from a place of safety in God’s kingdom. And that man needs the blood which the Son of God comes to shed on a cross for the sins of the world. Pretend it’s the only way for man to be forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Got it? Great.

Now in that scenario, what strategies might an intelligent evil angel devise to assail God’s purposes and oppose His kingdom? Imagine Satan coming up with a worldwide plot, and utilizing other fallen angels who now serve him and his diabolical purposes. Imagine each of them being assigned a geographical territory in which to carry out their master’s orders.

Can you picture it? Well then, just imagine Satan giving the following instructions to his army of fallen angels.

Strategy # 1

Convince man he is his own god. Trick man into believing he is not accountable to a Creator. In other words, get man to think the world evolves around him. Make man think others are either extremely impressed with him; or they think he is a loser. But either way, it must be all about man. We must turn his eyes inward rather then outward.

Strategy # 2

Raise up a bevy of falafel prophets who proposes a variety of alternatives religions. Any religion is okay, as long as it’s not Christianity. Any religious practices are fine, as long as they don’t involve trusting Jesus and following His as Lord of all. In fact, use false religion as a weapon against Christianity by convincing man that as long as the religion box is checks in his life, it will turn out just fine in the end.

Strategy # 3

Fan into flame man’s sinful desires. Tempt him to give into those desires. Tempt him to give into those desires so that these habits become addictions driving man further from God. Place things in man)# path which prompt him to compromise any allegiance to God’s Word, and any commitment to holy living. Get man to hate others, hold grudges, and live with bitterness and resentment. Use, lust, greed, jealousy, and every other weapon at your disposal. Hold nothing back. And realize that your greatest opportunities will occur then moment man steps across anyone of God’s boundary lines.

Strategy # 4

Speak of God’s Word, do whatever it takes to convince man that Scripture is nothing but a bunch of myths. It is not to be taken literally. Convince man that only “fundamentalists” are naïve enough to believe such a thing. Since pride is our speciality, use it to incite man to think highly of his knowledge, as long as it doesn’t involve thru knowledge of Chrysler, and a reliance upon God’s Word. We must undermine any confidence man places in the Word of God,

Strategy # 5

Use science against man. Lead man to think science provides all the answers he needs in life, and to reject any believe in the supernatural. This includes rejecting that the notion of Satan, angels, miracles, and even God Himself.

Strategy # 6

Convince man that no one can really know whether or not there is life after death. Keep man so busy with activities in this world that he barely has time to think about deeper issues, such as eternity, and the immortality of the soul. Get man to view himself that way he views animals. He lives, and dies, and that’s it,

Strategy # 7

Realize that many human beings will choose to believe heaven and hell exist. For those people do anything necessary to convince them they must earn their way into heaven. Above all else, distract man from considering the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. No matter what, man must not hear that message. Do anything which distracts believers from spreading the message of salvation in your territory.

Well there you have it. Can you imagine Satan devising such a plan? This is, if he is real, and God is real, and the cross is man’s only hope for salvation. It seems like it would be a effective plan. Many human being would become ensnared by such enticing distractions.

If such strategies were actually being carried out, there would be plenty of evidence right before our eyes, Right? Well, look carefully in the world today. What does the evidence suggest to you? Are these 7 strategies for distraction just a. Imaginable myth, or reality?

If you are too blind to see the Savior today, you probably don’t even recognize the very things which are being used to confuse and distract you. Such is the nature of spiritual warfare.

Or did you think the devil was going to show up in a red suit with a pitchfork?

Open And Closed Doors

People tend to believe subconsciously that they are faithful and obey God’s commandments their path to heaven is paved. However, this is not what Scripture has promised us. Nothing that is attempted or God will go unchallenged. Satan wants to disrupt and destroy us. Especially when it comes to pursuing opening doors, and dealing with the disappointment of a close one’s.

Revelation 3:7 tells us that God opens doors that I human can close, and when God closes a door, no one can reopen it. Therefore, when we hear ‘no’ or encounter unanswered prayers, what we perceive to be God’s objection to our plea may be in fact be His divine protection covering our request. A closed door does not have to a deep disappointment, it can be a doorway to His divine will unfolding in His way, and according h to His timing.

Even though this does feel good at the moment, and isn’t always easy, we can look at life with a new lens when things don’t go our way.

God has spoken to me, that’s it’s time for me to end a 13 year journey of volunteering. While my heart is heavy, because I’ve met some amazing people along the way. It is God will that I stop. I’m sure God has another journey waiting for me. I don’t know what it will be, but I’m okay with that.

God loves us so much that He wants us to experience His plans and purposes for our lives. Even if it involves shutting some doors we believe He should keep open and opening some doors we ourselves would like to keep open. Sometimes we instinctively pass by open doors because we are too busy trying to keep old doors open.

We must remember that Christ’s divine protection over us will always override our own wants and desires for our life. Our best intentions are pale in comparison to God initiating His will for our lives.

Again and again in the scriptures, God promises not to withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. We can be blessed when we trust in God’s will and His ways. Always seek God’s will in the waiting and know that His presence is readily available, and His provision is more than enough in every area of our lives.

If God has closed a door for that you would have chosen to keep open, that door may have been a distraction. He wants your devotion and intimacy when you are confused. He welcomes your questioning. He isn’t intimidated by your requests. He only asks that eventuality your demands give way to His sovereignty. We can trust in His ability to act in His way and according to His timing.

Your calling is irrevocable. Whatever door God opens cannot be closed by others. His plans for you will always succeed and His promises will stand firm forever.

Thank God for the doors He is clearly opening and praise Him by faith for the doors He has chosen to shut. God is not getting in your way. God is not trying to make you miserable. God is protecting you and creating a beautiful future for you

Helping Others

I few things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Helping someone in need is born of kindness and good will, and friends as well as strangers truly love help.

2. Don’t wait to be asked, if you see someone in need, help them if you can. You can’t imagine the difference you might make.

3. If you’re the one in need, don’t find it embarrassing or demeaning to ask for help. Your selling others short and in reality sometimes it’s required.

People are wonderful, it makes them feel good to help someone. So help others and ask for help. Its what makes the world go around.

When God’s Plan Is Scary And Hard

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I see the familiar phrase said in graduation commencement speeches. I’ve read it it personal notes from friends when there starting a new job or moving away from their home town.

But, that fact is there will always be unwelcoming circumstances, when hope feels like a distant dream. Sometimes we ask God “how can this be happening?” And then we push this verse aside and look for a different answer. Dread can find it’s way into our thoughts and we may feel like we’re constantly fighting against it. God is always with us in the middle of our fears, but sometimes we wonder if the trials we go through really be part of God’s plan for us.

If you’ve struggled to trust God (I’m sure most of us have) through life’s hardest times, we need to take heart. Many people throughout history have walked this road and discovered what it truly means to trust God.

Let’s look at Hagar. Through her seemingly impossible situation, she learned a life-changing lesson in trust. Her story gives us hope today as we face life’s battles.

So, what can we learn from Hagar about trusting God when our plan for us is scary and hard?

Here Are 5 Things

1. God has a plan when we don’t know which way to go.

Hagar lived in the shadow of Sarah, a well respected and honored woman. The stained relationship between the two women resulted in Hagar making two trips into the desert. The first time, he chose to leave on her own, but the second time, Abraham sent her away at Sarah‘s request. “So she turned to Abraham and demanded, get rid of that slave woman and her son…” (Genesis 21:10). Her circumstances were beyond her control.

When things happen we cannot control, we feel powerless. While there’s no paved road and all you can see is vastness surrounding you. And sometimes there’s no one to offer a helpful word of advise. Like Hagar, we can end up roaming around in the wilderness, without knowing what to do. All we can do is follow God’s plan. (Genesis 21:14).

Emptiness can be scary. It reveals our insecurities, telling us we are alone and validates our fears. (With Satan’s help). But with God, emptiness does equal loneliness. During those times when we don’t have a clue which direction to go, we can let the stillness push away all the distractions so we sense God’s presence more than ever. He will calm our anxious thoughts and give us the direction we seem. “Your own eats will hear Him. Right within a voice with say, “ This is the way you should go, either to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

2. Releasing control draws us into a deeper place of trust

We can tell from Hagar’s mom instincts that her greatest love on earth was her son, Ishmael. Hagar wanted the vest for him, so why would Abraham send them away like this? Ishmael was Abraham’s first born. How could he condemn his own son to death. Hagar reached her breaking point, so she made Ishmael as comfortable as possible, and walked away. “When the water was gone, she put Ishmael in the shade of the bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about 100 yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die, she said as she burst into tears.” (Genesis 21:15-16).

Nothing tests a mother’s Faith like watching her child hurt. Our children will face uncomfortable pain in their lifetimes. Sickness, harsh words, self-destructive choices, and more. If our children are in pain, the hardest things to do is release control of the outcome. Yet, God asks us to put them in His care. Their are times in our lives when we will feel the weight that Hagar felt as she laid Ishmael by the tree. We won’t have The answers, but God promises to be with us. We will sense the overwhelming comfort of His peace as we release control to our Lord.

3. What matters to us, matters even more to God

Maybe your in a place right now. You may feel helpless as you watch a loved one struggling . It’s difficult to imagine that anyone can love your loved ones more than you do, but God does. God tells us in Genesis 27:16 that Hagar cried, but God didn’t respond to her tears. He came when He heard Ishmael. “God heard the boy crying, and a angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there” (Genesis 21:17).

God’s care for is defies limitations. He sent His son to earth to experience our joys and sorrows, happy moments and heartache. He understands the depth of our love, because He loves us even more than we can imagine. Matthew 7:11 says, “So if sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him. Be encouraged by this promise every day. As we cry out to God with our cares, we will know He watches over every detail of our lives. What’s important toys is important to God.

4. God’s promises endure through even the toughest trials

When hardships come, it’s easy to slip back into our familiar patterns of “what if’s.” “What if it doesn’t work r? What if God doesn’t answer my prayer?” Our need to know the outcome takes over. And we can come face to face with the unknown, and start panicking. And we forget God’s promises never change.

In Hagar’s first trip to the desert, God made a profound promise. One she could hold onto if she ever felt herself slipping into that place of doubt. The second time, He told Hagar what to do and reminded her of this assurance. “Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.” He promised to give Ishmael “hope and a future,” just like Jeremiah 29:11 says. Had Hagar forgotten God’s promise? She said she didn’t want to watch her boy die. Had she let despair cause her to question God’s plan?

If you have children it’s easy to understand Hagar’s hurt. I’ve been there, May you have been too. Discouragement can chase away our hope, but God’s unending mercy shows up that His promises don’t expire. They are yes and Amen. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken y us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

5. God is always with us

Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness.

Genesis 21:19-20

Through all my difficult days, I have to say I’m the happiest now, because I know I will never be alone and that God always has my back. No matter how difficult things get in the future I know God is always by my side with a plan for the future.

When you feel stuck, trust that God has a plan and He will never leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Not only did God provide just what Hagar needed in her darkest moments, He also stayed with her and Ishmael as they moved into the next chapter of their lives. He will do the same for us and work it all together for our good,