Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Oh Friends, it’s a beautiful morning, let’s go outside for a walk and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature nuh! Hn, hn! I guess many of us won’t be doing any walking today, but merely dragging our rear ends around the office or home, singing the Monday morning blues, from too much partying over the weekend. However, if we’d done as ordered; rested, fellowshipped, worshipped and rejuvenated our bodies and spirits, then we’d now be fresh and bubbling, ready to run a marathon, or scale some snow-capped mountain. (smile) But yuh know what? To conquer that bleary-eyed, hung over feeling, I have a little friendly advice for us. It comes in the form of a Yiddish Proverb: ‘He that can’t endure the bad, will not live to see the good.’ Yes my people, it sounds simple, but it’s very logical and actually quite profound. If we can’t withstand the rough, tough going, then we’ll never live to see the tables turn; when the going gets good and easy. Remember now, that life and most things in it move in cycles; hence the sagely saying, ‘what goes around, comes around.’ Therefore, if we can survive the difficult parts of the cycle, then we’ll certainly be around to enjoy the prosperous ones. And Friends, that’s exactly what we’re going through now; a hard, spirit breaking, bone crushing period of life’s never ending cycle. Remember a few years ago when prosperity was rampant, though false, when everybody was living high on the hog, though we never truly earned it? Back then no one complained, or sang dirges, and unfortunately neither did we save for a rainy day. Well my people, those rainy days are here now, but because we were so involved in living above our means, only for today, it’s sadly turned into a drought. In those heady, prosperous times we became lazy, slothful, ‘gravelicious’ and greedy, selfish and uncaring, sinful, wicked and ungodly, foolishly thinking that the gravy train would last forever. But Friends, unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, except the Most High God Jehovah. And in our very flawed thinking, we overlooked two very salient points. The first is we can’t continue eating of the pie without replenishing it, for at some stage it’s going to run out. Just like if there are no snow capped mountains to melt in the spring thaw to replenish the dry, thirsty rivers, the land will become barren and drought filled. And the second and more important point Friends is that we reckoned without our God. Did we really expect, or think He’d just sit quietly by and allow us to go along rejoicing on our sinful, greedy, wicked, ungodly path? Not a chance Friends! It’s never happened, as History has so often proven, and it will never happen as long as He is in control of the universe. The time span between interventions might differ, but you can bet your bottom dollar He will eventually show up and rectify matters to his satisfaction, just like he’s doing now. So now that we’ve brought all this evil on ourselves, yes, we’re our own worse enemy, let’s grow up, be mature and accept the fact that good and bad are sometimes intertwined, and as Job says, you can’t expect one without the other. (Job 2:10) And having endured that tongue lashing, (smile) let’s see how we can reverse the cycle, or move it forward as quickly as possible. What’s the antidote for our poisoned souls? The title of Psalm 4: ‘An evening prayer of trust in God.’ Yes my people, that’s the antidote for our problems; trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Until we return to His fold, our lives will be miserable and unhappy. The first step is to cry out to God in sincerity, like Bruh David did. ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’ (Ps.4:1) We know that we’ve been ungodly, so we need to ask for mercy and forgiveness we don’t really deserve, but which the Lord, in His kind-heartedness will grant if He sees that our hearts are sincere. Then the Psalmist blasts the wrongdoers. ‘O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity (worthlessness) and seek after leasing (falsehood)? Selah. (Ps.4:2) Now those are very good questions mih breddren, which each person has to answer for them self. No one else can do it for us. Bruh David then offers encouraging words. ‘But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.’ (Ps.4:3) Yes my people, all those who turn to the Lord in faith, trust and sincere surrender are set apart from the ungodly. We are viewed as His special people, His chosen ones, and consequently when we call out to Him, He will answer our call. Therefore Friends, we need to ‘Stand in awe, and sin not.’ Yes, look upon His royal, righteous majesty and tremble with fear and reverence considering all the wrong we’ve done, then sin no more. ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ (Ps.119:11) And that other man of great faith, Bruh Paul said: ‘Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.’ (Eph.4:26-27) And it does help my people, if before we go to bed at nights, we cleanse our souls and hearts of all the anger and evil that’s accumulated there during the day, by saying a prayer, releasing the tension and the negativity so that we won’t be troubled by it during our sleep, which is meant to be refreshing, filled with sweet dreams, not nightmares. That’s why the Psalmist advises: ‘commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.’ Oh Friends, that’s some of the best advice we can ever take to heart and practice! As Bruh David says elsewhere: ‘I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search (pondered diligently) (Ps.77:6) Yes my people, before we go to God, we first have to examine, deal with our hearts and souls, make peace there, then turn to our Heavenly Father in grateful acknowledgement and faithfully say: ‘I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ (Ps.4:8) Oh Friends, I surely hope this all makes sense, and does inspire and encourage us, but it’s just the way the Spirit led me. Till tomorrow then, the Lord willing: Much LOVE!…no need for doubt…take everything to God in prayer…
Oh Friends, it’s a beautiful morning, let’s go outside for a walk and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature nuh! Hn, hn! I guess many of us won’t be doing any walking today, but merely dragging our rear ends around the office or home, singing the Monday morning blues, from too much partying over the weekend. However, if we’d done as ordered; rested, fellowshipped, worshipped and rejuvenated our bodies and spirits, then we’d now be fresh and bubbling, ready to run a marathon, or scale some snow-capped mountain. (smile) But yuh know what? To conquer that bleary-eyed, hung over feeling, I have a little friendly advice for us. It comes in the form of a Yiddish Proverb: ‘He that can’t endure the bad, will not live to see the good.’ Yes my people, it sounds simple, but it’s very logical and actually quite profound. If we can’t withstand the rough, tough going, then we’ll never live to see the tables turn; when the going gets good and easy. Remember now, that life and most things in it move in cycles; hence the sagely saying, ‘what goes around, comes around.’ Therefore, if we can survive the difficult parts of the cycle, then we’ll certainly be around to enjoy the prosperous ones. And Friends, that’s exactly what we’re going through now; a hard, spirit breaking, bone crushing period of life’s never ending cycle. Remember a few years ago when prosperity was rampant, though false, when everybody was living high on the hog, though we never truly earned it? Back then no one complained, or sang dirges, and unfortunately neither did we save for a rainy day. Well my people, those rainy days are here now, but because we were so involved in living above our means, only for today, it’s sadly turned into a drought. In those heady, prosperous times we became lazy, slothful, ‘gravelicious’ and greedy, selfish and uncaring, sinful, wicked and ungodly, foolishly thinking that the gravy train would last forever. But Friends, unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, except the Most High God Jehovah. And in our very flawed thinking, we overlooked two very salient points. The first is we can’t continue eating of the pie without replenishing it, for at some stage it’s going to run out. Just like if there are no snow capped mountains to melt in the spring thaw to replenish the dry, thirsty rivers, the land will become barren and drought filled. And the second and more important point Friends is that we reckoned without our God. Did we really expect, or think He’d just sit quietly by and allow us to go along rejoicing on our sinful, greedy, wicked, ungodly path? Not a chance Friends! It’s never happened, as History has so often proven, and it will never happen as long as He is in control of the universe. The time span between interventions might differ, but you can bet your bottom dollar He will eventually show up and rectify matters to his satisfaction, just like he’s doing now. So now that we’ve brought all this evil on ourselves, yes, we’re our own worse enemy, let’s grow up, be mature and accept the fact that good and bad are sometimes intertwined, and as Job says, you can’t expect one without the other. (Job 2:10) And having endured that tongue lashing, (smile) let’s see how we can reverse the cycle, or move it forward as quickly as possible. What’s the antidote for our poisoned souls? The title of Psalm 4: ‘An evening prayer of trust in God.’ Yes my people, that’s the antidote for our problems; trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Until we return to His fold, our lives will be miserable and unhappy. The first step is to cry out to God in sincerity, like Bruh David did. ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’ (Ps.4:1) We know that we’ve been ungodly, so we need to ask for mercy and forgiveness we don’t really deserve, but which the Lord, in His kind-heartedness will grant if He sees that our hearts are sincere. Then the Psalmist blasts the wrongdoers. ‘O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity (worthlessness) and seek after leasing (falsehood)? Selah. (Ps.4:2) Now those are very good questions mih breddren, which each person has to answer for them self. No one else can do it for us. Bruh David then offers encouraging words. ‘But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.’ (Ps.4:3) Yes my people, all those who turn to the Lord in faith, trust and sincere surrender are set apart from the ungodly. We are viewed as His special people, His chosen ones, and consequently when we call out to Him, He will answer our call. Therefore Friends, we need to ‘Stand in awe, and sin not.’ Yes, look upon His royal, righteous majesty and tremble with fear and reverence considering all the wrong we’ve done, then sin no more. ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ (Ps.119:11) And that other man of great faith, Bruh Paul said: ‘Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.’ (Eph.4:26-27) And it does help my people, if before we go to bed at nights, we cleanse our souls and hearts of all the anger and evil that’s accumulated there during the day, by saying a prayer, releasing the tension and the negativity so that we won’t be troubled by it during our sleep, which is meant to be refreshing, filled with sweet dreams, not nightmares. That’s why the Psalmist advises: ‘commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.’ Oh Friends, that’s some of the best advice we can ever take to heart and practice! As Bruh David says elsewhere: ‘I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search (pondered diligently) (Ps.77:6) Yes my people, before we go to God, we first have to examine, deal with our hearts and souls, make peace there, then turn to our Heavenly Father in grateful acknowledgement and faithfully say: ‘I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ (Ps.4:8) Oh Friends, I surely hope this all makes sense, and does inspire and encourage us, but it’s just the way the Spirit led me. Till tomorrow then, the Lord willing: Much LOVE!…no need for doubt…take everything to God in prayer…
SCRIP-BITS 