Psalm 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing: I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Ah Friends, the last couple days in my area, we’ve experienced mostly rainy, dreary, inclement weather. The sun hasn’t shown itself much at all, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s just like when we don’t see our God in certain situations, it doesn’t mean He’s not there, but more like He’s just not ready to show His hand. In this case I guess He’s probably testing us a bit, to see our reaction to the downside, after the wonderful sunshine and balmy temps we’ve had the last couple weeks. Yes my people, the Lord God is continually testing us, for one reason or another; whether it’s to see if we’re ready for promotion, or just to test the strength of our faith, to see if we can walk our talk. But like it or not, we’re always in test mode. With the Lord there’s no standing still. He expects us to keep improving, maturing, becoming more like His wonderful Son, Jesus, every day. That’s the terminal position He’s seeking; that all His children shall be wrought in the image, likeness, attitude and temperament of His number one Son. That’s why Bruh David could plead in Psalm 17, A prayer for protection against oppressors: ‘Hear the right (a just cause), O Lord, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned (deceitful) lips. Let my sentence (vindication) come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal (upright).’ (Ps.17:1-2) Oh Friends, I know that sometimes the testing seems rough and unnecessary. Then sometimes you don’t even know or understand why you’re being tested, because you haven’t asked for, or expecting anything. Those are possibly when we’re satisfied, or rather too satisfied with our lot, and we’re becoming too comfortable and complacent, so the Lord uses those tests to get us out of our safety zone, for we can only improve, mature and serve Him better when some risk is involved in our lives; when we’re right out there on the edge, so that we can prove all His promises and understand some more about the great, wonderful, magnificent and LOVING God that He truly is. Bruh David was certainly being tested when he wrote this psalm; his enemies were getting a little too close for comfort. And after crying out for the Lord’s attention in verses 1-2, he begins to plead his case; self-defence, Your honour. (smile) He opens up by telling the Lord; ‘thou hast proved mine heart.’ He has tested his heart. ‘Thou hast visited me in the night.’ He has searched his heart, soul, body and mind during his sleeping hours. ‘Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing.’ The Lord’s examination of his conscience and spirit will find no evil within him. Why Friends? ‘For I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.’ Oh mih people, can we make those definitive statements that Bruh David’s making? I surely hope so, because as true believers and followers of Christ, that’s how the state of our liver should be; as clean and impeccable as possible. That brings us to the words and sentiments of another man who went through terrible testing, Job. Despite his undeserved and unwarranted misfortune, he was still strong and committed enough to the God of his fathers to unequivocally declare: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot had held (fast to) his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed (treasured) the words of his mouth more than my necessary food (appointed portion).’ (Job 23:10-12) And all God’s people said, ‘Wow!’ Yes Friends, not very many of us can suffer such dramatic, heart-breaking, heart-rending loss and still cling to the righteousness and faith in Almighty God. But that’s when He’s able to separate the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats, those who truly believe and are willing to abide by His will come what may, and those who are just along for the ride. Mih breddren, lemme give us a li’l bit of chupid advice nuh, and this from hard experience: Don’t, I beg oonoo, don’t ever ask our God for anything of great magnitude unless you’re fully prepared and willing to endure the hard work, pain and suffering it will inevitably involve, because He will joyfully set it in motion, then watch you bear the test. Of course if you’re sincere, He’ll help you, but as He says in His Word: ‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.’ (Luke 12:48) Jesus’ words Friends, and it doesn’t take a brainy person to figure that out. Both with men and God, much is asked to whom much is given. So if you can’t handle the heat, yuh better stay out of the kitchen. (smile) Now that doesn’t mean if you haven’t asked for great things the Lord will shun you or anything of the sort. But please be careful of what you ask for, because we have this bad habit of asking for much more than we can handle. That’s usually the lust for worldly things working in us to our eventual pain and displeasure. Oh Friends, our God and His Holy Spirit are truly something else yes! As usual, they have me chuckling, because I’ve only written half of what I’d planned to, and already time and space are up. But I’m not complaining, for I’ve surrendered to them, and the paths, the directions that the Spirit leads me on and in, do bear good fruit. So we’ll continue this topic tomorrow, God willing of course. Till then, let’s stand strong and steadfast in the Lord. Like Bruh David, let’s try and ace all the tests our God gives us, so we can mature, become more like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and thus glorify our Father in heaven. Much LOVE!…though He tests us often…He never leaves us to go it alone…He’s always right beside us…just waiting to lend a hand…if we stumble or fall…
Ah Friends, the last couple days in my area, we’ve experienced mostly rainy, dreary, inclement weather. The sun hasn’t shown itself much at all, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s just like when we don’t see our God in certain situations, it doesn’t mean He’s not there, but more like He’s just not ready to show His hand. In this case I guess He’s probably testing us a bit, to see our reaction to the downside, after the wonderful sunshine and balmy temps we’ve had the last couple weeks. Yes my people, the Lord God is continually testing us, for one reason or another; whether it’s to see if we’re ready for promotion, or just to test the strength of our faith, to see if we can walk our talk. But like it or not, we’re always in test mode. With the Lord there’s no standing still. He expects us to keep improving, maturing, becoming more like His wonderful Son, Jesus, every day. That’s the terminal position He’s seeking; that all His children shall be wrought in the image, likeness, attitude and temperament of His number one Son. That’s why Bruh David could plead in Psalm 17, A prayer for protection against oppressors: ‘Hear the right (a just cause), O Lord, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned (deceitful) lips. Let my sentence (vindication) come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal (upright).’ (Ps.17:1-2) Oh Friends, I know that sometimes the testing seems rough and unnecessary. Then sometimes you don’t even know or understand why you’re being tested, because you haven’t asked for, or expecting anything. Those are possibly when we’re satisfied, or rather too satisfied with our lot, and we’re becoming too comfortable and complacent, so the Lord uses those tests to get us out of our safety zone, for we can only improve, mature and serve Him better when some risk is involved in our lives; when we’re right out there on the edge, so that we can prove all His promises and understand some more about the great, wonderful, magnificent and LOVING God that He truly is. Bruh David was certainly being tested when he wrote this psalm; his enemies were getting a little too close for comfort. And after crying out for the Lord’s attention in verses 1-2, he begins to plead his case; self-defence, Your honour. (smile) He opens up by telling the Lord; ‘thou hast proved mine heart.’ He has tested his heart. ‘Thou hast visited me in the night.’ He has searched his heart, soul, body and mind during his sleeping hours. ‘Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing.’ The Lord’s examination of his conscience and spirit will find no evil within him. Why Friends? ‘For I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.’ Oh mih people, can we make those definitive statements that Bruh David’s making? I surely hope so, because as true believers and followers of Christ, that’s how the state of our liver should be; as clean and impeccable as possible. That brings us to the words and sentiments of another man who went through terrible testing, Job. Despite his undeserved and unwarranted misfortune, he was still strong and committed enough to the God of his fathers to unequivocally declare: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot had held (fast to) his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed (treasured) the words of his mouth more than my necessary food (appointed portion).’ (Job 23:10-12) And all God’s people said, ‘Wow!’ Yes Friends, not very many of us can suffer such dramatic, heart-breaking, heart-rending loss and still cling to the righteousness and faith in Almighty God. But that’s when He’s able to separate the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats, those who truly believe and are willing to abide by His will come what may, and those who are just along for the ride. Mih breddren, lemme give us a li’l bit of chupid advice nuh, and this from hard experience: Don’t, I beg oonoo, don’t ever ask our God for anything of great magnitude unless you’re fully prepared and willing to endure the hard work, pain and suffering it will inevitably involve, because He will joyfully set it in motion, then watch you bear the test. Of course if you’re sincere, He’ll help you, but as He says in His Word: ‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.’ (Luke 12:48) Jesus’ words Friends, and it doesn’t take a brainy person to figure that out. Both with men and God, much is asked to whom much is given. So if you can’t handle the heat, yuh better stay out of the kitchen. (smile) Now that doesn’t mean if you haven’t asked for great things the Lord will shun you or anything of the sort. But please be careful of what you ask for, because we have this bad habit of asking for much more than we can handle. That’s usually the lust for worldly things working in us to our eventual pain and displeasure. Oh Friends, our God and His Holy Spirit are truly something else yes! As usual, they have me chuckling, because I’ve only written half of what I’d planned to, and already time and space are up. But I’m not complaining, for I’ve surrendered to them, and the paths, the directions that the Spirit leads me on and in, do bear good fruit. So we’ll continue this topic tomorrow, God willing of course. Till then, let’s stand strong and steadfast in the Lord. Like Bruh David, let’s try and ace all the tests our God gives us, so we can mature, become more like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and thus glorify our Father in heaven. Much LOVE!…though He tests us often…He never leaves us to go it alone…He’s always right beside us…just waiting to lend a hand…if we stumble or fall…
SCRIP-BITS 