Today’s Scrip-Bit   4 May 2024 Matthew 6:31.

04 May 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 6:31.        Therefore take no thought (do not worry), saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

And what a beautiful springtime, lazy-day Saturday it is in my neighbourhood! The sun’s shining brightly, not a dark cloud in the sky, with temps in the high teens, with the birds singing their morning praise to their heavenly Father who looks after them with such tender, LOVING care that they want for nothing! Oh how I wish that we could be as grateful and give the plentiful amount of thanks that they give to the same heavenly Father who also takes of our every need! For He’s a Creator who LOVES, understands and looks after His creations. 

How did Jesus put it in His Sermon on the Mount, in his teaching on worry? ‘Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for (do not worry about) your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat (food), and the body more than raiment (clothing)? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

Which of you by taking thought (worrying) can add one cubit unto his stature (height)? And why take ye thought for (worry about? raiment (clothes)? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (clothed) like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe (clothes) the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?’ (Matt. 6:25-30) 

Ah friends, in His usual forthright manner, Christ hit the proverbial nail right on the head! Our great God is not a wishy-washy, fly-by-night operator. No! He is a serious and concerned Creator, who looks after His creations like the wonderful Father He is. And if you dissect Jesus’ words, you’ll find that they are indeed the gospel truth. The birds neither sow nor reap, but they don’t ever go hungry, and they always seem to be happy, singing and dancing. Likewise the flora of the field all look beautiful in their time, more beautiful than Cousin Sol in all his finery, without either sowing or reaping. 

And the lilies do look loverly, as I can attest to because a few have grown up in the duchess’ front garden without help from her or anyone else…and they are indeed loverly shades of red and yellow. So, if the lower rungs of creation can find food, raiment and satisfaction from God, why can’t we eh, His most important creation? Because as Jesus said, our faith is small. 

Then I like how He puts the finishing touches to His argument. ‘Therefore take no thought (do not worry), saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:31-33) 

Yes mih bredrin, Jesus tells it like it is! If you claim to believe in God, then your priority must be seeking Him and His will above all else in this world. It’s as simple as that. It’s just like being a member of any earthly organization: you can’t claim to be a true member unless you follow the rules, go to the meetings and do what the organization is set up to do. Likewise you can’t be a true member of Christ’s church and not follow it’s rules and regulations and do the work it was set up to do. 

And if you so do, then your needs will be met by the heavenly Father. It’s a promise made by Christ and fleshed out by Bruh Paul, when he writes to the Philippians: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) And if we stand on that promise, then we can take Jesus’ next words with full belief. ‘Take therefore no thought for (do not worry about) the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the (trouble) evil thereof.’ (Matt. 6:34) 

Yes friends all of what we’ve read simply means that the first thing we need to do is to seek the righteousness of God’s kingdom, and then continue seeking it. We can’t ever stop. And if we seek the spiritual aspect of God’s kingdom, then He will provide the material aspects we need. As the scholars tell us: ‘When our priority is spiritual, God will take care of the material, for where God guides, He provides. We need not even worry about tomorrow, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. This means that each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about the hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.’ 

Unfortunately though, especially in these uncertain and troubled times, too many of us still worry about what could happen tomorrow. And yes, we must make some provision and take some thought for the morrow, but not to the extent that so many of us do. And if you’ll think back through the years, I’m sure you’ll realize that many of the hypothetical problems that we’ve outlined for the morrow, either never happened, or not to the extent or degree that we supposed. And worst of all, when we worry about the past or the future, we end up not enjoying the present as we should. 

Remember today only lasts for today! And it’s a gift that we ought to enjoy to the fullest.  That’s why the psalmist wrote these most meaningful words: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24) And you cannot do that if you’re worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. So let’s wake up and smell the roses and do as Jesus says nuh; stop worrying, for worrying improves nothing. And no, I have not forgotten our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, it just seemed more appropriate for the end today. (smile) 

So let’s offer it up in all sincerity and truth. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And if your words were heartfelt, then I know that you will enjoy a peaceful and relaxing lazy-day Saturday, for the Lord always answers prayers that seek Him and His righteousness! Much LOVE!

…God doesn’t cause worry…worry is fear invoked by the devil…

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ

Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 March 2024 Philippians 4:7.

02 Mar 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Philippians 4:7.        And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Well friends, this lazy-day Saturday looks like it’s going to be wet and cloudy, but with decent temperatures. So it’s up to us to make the best of it, either by cuddling up under the covers and enjoying some more sleep time, or getting up and just generally lazing around, after a hard week’s work. (smile) But before you do either of those things, let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, in all sincerity and truth. 

As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Now how can we ever go wrong with a sincere prayer like that eh? And you know friends, sometimes these kinds of wet and cloudy days are the best kind to cozy up, to cuddle up to our wonderful God, in the sense that it’s a quiet and dark time, and when we are surrounded by darkness, there’s a powerful sensation that keeps drawing us to light; hopefully the fulfilling and eternal light of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So now might just be the ideal time to get involved in reading and studying the Lord’s Word, listening to it, or even just spending some quiet time conversing with Him. I’m sure our spirits will be lifted and our souls rest quietly in His peace. 

And there’s no greater consolation we can ever have down here on this turbulent and eccentric earth than the peace of Christ. Please note His two famous speeches on peace; His peace in particular. When speaking to the disciples about the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, He tells them: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) 

Yes my fellow believers, Jesus’ peace is a different kind of peace to what the world offers. As Bruh Paul writes to the church at Philippi: ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:7) Oh how wonderful that is, Jesus’ peace surpasses all human understanding! 

The scholars tell us: ‘The peace of God is that tranquility of mind freeing the believer from fear and worry. “Peace” which passeth all understanding means (1) peace divinely bestowed in times of anxiety, so wonderful that it exceeds one’s ability to understand it; and (2) God’s peace far surpassing one’s own understanding of the problem, and His ability to cope with and solve it. Shall keep means “shall guard.” This is a military term for a sentinel standing guard duty. As Philippi was guarded by a Roman garrison, and its citizens were accustomed to seeing soldiers protecting the city, this word would be especially appreciated by the readers.’ 

So you see the power and compassion with God’s peace, guarding us from all worry and anxiety, even in the most difficult and overwhelming times in our lives! And it’s not that Jesus didn’t know we’d face tough times, for He spoke of it in His second message on peace to the disciples. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) And I like how Jesus talks about the trials and tribulations we will find in the world, but there’s no need to be worried or afraid of them because He has already overcome the world! 

Wow! What assurance my people! And remember in the first speech on peace, He also warned us not to be troubled or afraid. That’s the beauty of being in fellowship with Jesus; though we might face tough times, we don’t have to worry or be afraid, because we have His omnipotent power, LOVE, grace and mercy surrounding us all the time! 

But we need to sincerely believe it, if we expect to see and feel His peace. And that’s where so many of us are lacking. We talk about it, but when those tough times come, we apparently forget Christ’s words, or our faith just isn’t strong enough to put them into action, and thus quell what ever worry or fear that’s in our spirit. And remember that in Isaiah’s famous verse on Jesus’ birth, one of His many titles was ‘The Prince of Peace.’ (Is. 9:6) So Peace is definitely one of His strongpoints! 

Remember also that Jesus’ greeting to the disciples after His resurrection, was ‘Peace be unto you.’ He said it to them three times, twice when He appeared unto them without warning. (John 20:19, 21, 26). And why did He greet them thus. I like this commentary on the subject. ‘The reason Jesus said ‘peace be with you’ as more than a platitude, was because he had to settle and calm all the emotions that were raging inside of them. He had to speak rest to their souls and peace of mind to their hearts. He also had to do this more than once.’ 

And it’s the same way with us today my fellow saints. Jesus needs to quiet our worried and anxious souls, in these times of excessive strife and confusion in our world. That’s why He keeps saying to us: ‘Peace be unto you,’ whenever He sees us frustrated and lacking in the faith that we need to overcome our many earthly problems. But as always, we need to pay serious attention to His still, small voice emanating from the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, if we are to find that peace that passes all human understanding. And remember too that since the Holy Spirit doesn’t shout, we need to be listening very closely, if we want to hear His words of wisdom and godly advice. 

Now, hopefully, all that we’ve said today will stir us up, motivate us to be better, stronger and more faithful believers in Christ Jesus, so that we can get out into the evil and ungodly world and be the good ambassadors He desires us to be! Much LOVE!

…greater is he that is in you…than he that is in the world… (1 John 4:4)

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   14 October 2023 Genesis 49:33.

14 Oct 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Genesis 49:33.       …he gathered up (drew up) his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (breathed his last), and was gathered unto his people.

Well, it’s a fine ole lazy-day Saturday in my area; cloudy and rainy. Just perfect for the lazing around, do nothing kind of day we want. Unfortunately though, I could not lie abed and enjoy it for as long as I desired because my back and neck would not work together and find a comfortable position for me to lie in. So, I decided I might as well get up and be about my Father’s business. And the first item on our agenda, as always, is to say our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

Together then, let’s offer up a sincere, heartfelt prayer. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And in the quiet of the morning, our prayer floats up to heaven, then an overwhelming peace, with God’s silent presence fills our souls and bodies, and opens us up to a new dimension of grace in this earthly realm. Oh, the power of sincere prayer my people! If we could only exercise more of it, our lives would be ever so much more fruitful! Now let’s turn to that mighty story of Bruh Joseph and see how it’s progressing. (smile) 

Yesterday, we reached the point where Jacob (Israel) blessed his eleven sons. The Bible then tells us: ‘And he (Jacob) charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite. In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah (his first wife). The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.’ (Gen. 49:29-32) 

I like how Jacob demanded or insisted that they bury him in the family’s burying place in Canaan. And I do want to be buried in my homeland of Tobago, but unlike Jacob, I don’t have a burial spot at this time. But yuh know what, anywhere in Tobago will suit me fine, just as long as by bones rest for eternity in God’s li’l acre, that sweet land of Robinson Crusoe! (smile) 

Don’t know if I’ll be able to do like Jacob in this respect either. The Good Library continues thus: ‘And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up (drew up) his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (breathed his last), and was gathered unto his people.’ (Gen. 49:33) 

Ah friends, many of us don’t get to go over to the other side so easily; we are wracked with pain, even unconsciousness, and have no inkling of what’s happening around us. That’s why we ought always to be prepared, to have our house in order, for we know not if and/or when we’ll be suddenly called to the other side of the Jordan. 

Then, after Jacob’s death, the Bible informs us: ‘And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.’ (Gen: 50:1-3) I guess that goes to show how revered both Joseph and his father were in the eyes of the Egyptians. 

Now, here’s some interesting information from the scholars. They say: ‘Jacob was embalmed and Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians to do the work. Medicine and the embalming were two distinct professions. He may have employed the physicians so as to avoid the magic and mysticism of the embalmer and priests. The threescore and ten days for mourning accord with the traditional period for mummification and mourning. The various internal viscera (organs) were removed and placed in canopic jars of natron (a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate), causing rapid dehydration and preventing decomposition of the body.’ 

And that’s today’s lesson 101 in Mummification! (smile) It’s interesting though,that back then they went to such lengths to save the actual body for reuse in the afterlife. Meanwhile, today we don’t need to do that, for with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we’ve been promised a renewed body in the next life. And I’ll use this excerpt from an article by Matt Perman on whether we receive the same body we had on earth during the resurrection. 

He writes: ‘Philippians 3:20-21 says that our earthly body is transformed into conformity with Christ’s body in the resurrection, not that God creates a new body from scratch: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” 

That means our bodies will be glorified, made like Christ’s when He rose from the grave. And we saw that it was the same basic outer shell, with the scars in his hands and side, but it was all glorified both internally and externally; heightened, transformed from perishable or human to imperishable or immortal. 

As Bruh Paul says, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible (imperishable), and we shall be changed. For this corruptible (perishable) must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible (perishable) shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.’ (1 Cor. 15:51-54) 

Yes friends, we don’t need to worry about our mortal bodies for when Jesus comes for His church in the Rapture our mortal and perishable bodies will become imperishable and immortal just like Christ’s. Now isn’t that something to look forward to? Of course! So, let’s get serious and truly live this life for Christ nuh. Much LOVE!

…Christianity is the only belief system…that guarantees immortality… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ          

Today’s Scrip-Bit    30 September 2023 Genesis 45:8a.

30 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Genesis 45:8a.       So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God:

I can’t believe it nuh, but this lazy-day Saturday, the last day of September 2023, is shaping up to be another glorious day of sunshine and fairly warm temps in my area! The nice summer-like weather just keeps rolling on in these early days of autumn! And who’s to complain eh? Nobody! Not until the other half of the situation hits us, which won’t be as nice. (smile) But chuh! Whenever that comes, we’ll handle it like the victors in Christ that we are! 

Now, let’s get ourselves together and say our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. As one voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Oh mih people, there’s something about that simple prayer that just reaches out and touches me every time we pray it. I guess after a hard week’s work and finally a day of peace and quiet, when we don’t have as many worldly distractions hitting on us, it just brings us closer to God, where we can truly feel His presence. But whatever the reason, it just sets a nice relaxing tone for my Saturday morning. Glory be! 

And now it’s time to continue with the climax of Bruh Joseph’s story, where he finally reveals his true identity to his brothers. And after trying to ease their guilt and uneasiness by telling them: ‘And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity (remnant) in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God:’ ( Gen. 45:7-8) I don’t know how much that really eased their guilt and fear, but Bruh Joseph didn’t give them much time to think on it either. He said to them: ‘Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith my son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not (don’t delay).’ (Gen. 45:9) 

Wow! We’re now beginning to see the real Bruh Joseph, where all the pent-up memories of his family are finally coming out, and his soul is being set free from any resentment and anger he had hitherto borne towards them. Renewed relationships with family can do a lot to free us my brethren, so please, as much as we can, let’s look to renewing some of our own negative family relationships nuh. 

And the good sentiments just keep flowing out from Bruh Joseph’s spirit, as he tells them. ‘And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou and thy children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast. And there will I nourish (provide for) thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.’ (Gen. 45:10-11) 

Now that’s the way family should be concerned about each other! Not the travesty or caricature that passes for familial relations nowadays, where, as Jesus so prophetically proclaimed. ‘And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.’ (Matt. 10:21) 

Yes friends, such is the terrible state of the family nowadays, that’s where it exists, since, with the new-fangled lifestyle of today, families are no longer the most important group of the society, where you are nurtured and LOVED for an entire lifetime. Unfortunately, we have developed an antipathy, an antagonism or dislike for the family, just like our current antipathy to God. Heaven help us yes! 

Anyway, Bruh Joseph in a display of true family relations, continues to his brothers. ‘And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.’ (Gen. 45:12-15) 

Oh, how beautiful reunions can be, especially those amongst family! But that wasn’t the best part of the situation, for when our God showers blessings on us, He doesn’t do it stingily, or grudgingly, but lavishly, in abundance, according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. And the Bible tells it thus: ‘And the fame (report) thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade (load) your beasts, and go, get you into the land of Canaan; And take (bring) your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat (best) of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father and come. Also regard not your stuff (do not be concerned about your things); for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ (Gen. 45:16-20) 

Mama oh Mama! Yes mih people, when the Lord pours out His favour on you, it’s not done piecemeal, but lavishly. Only our great God could cause a foreign, idol worshipping king to make such a generous and welcoming offer to a bunch of Hebrews who were generally an abomination to his nation! And we’ll close with this explanation from the scholars, re the land of Goshen, which Bruh Joseph promised to his brothers. 

The scholars say, ‘The land of Goshen was an Egyptian region (47:6, 27) in the eastern delta area (47:11) not far from the court at Memphis. It was in the area around the Wadi Tumilat, a valley that was about 40 miles long. It was highly suitable for cattle (47:4-6), but hated by the Egyptians (46:34); thus it provided good seclusion. This isolation would provide for Israel’s distinctive cultural preservation under conditions favourable to their growth and unity.’ 

And who says our great God doesn’t know what He’s doing eh? Ah my fellow saints, there couldn’t be a more encouraging story in the Bible showing how the Lord prepares for and looks after His people. He set them up in a fertile, secluded part of Egypt where they could grow and become the people He desired them to be. What more can we ask of Him eh, for He does the same for each one of us who sincerely calls upon His name! 

But we need to believe, as Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, whose daughter He was on the way to heal, when his family brought word that she was dead. Jesus overheard the news but said to him: ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ (Mark 5:36) And that’s exactly what we need to do in these trying and very difficult times my brethren: ‘Be not afraid, only believe!’ Much LOVE!

…for he that cometh to God…must BELIEVE that He is… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ   

Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 August 2023   1 Samuel 2:1a.

12 Aug 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1 Samuel 2:1a.       And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn (strength) is exalted in the Lord:

Oh my people, it’s a classic lazy-day Saturday in my area. It’s dark and cloudy, windy with sprinkles of rain. Ideal for just sitting or lying down and lazing away the day. But, unfortunately, I’ve already had my morning lazy time, so let’s turn to the Father’s business. And we’ll begin by saying our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer…but not in a lazy manner though. We have to pull ourselves up and be sincere and serious, if we want to receive a positive response. 

So, as one sincere voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And it’s amazing how that simple, soul-searching prayer always affects me more than I expect. I guess because it opens up my spirit to the true nearness of God, and shows how easy it is to connect with Him if we truly desire to do so. And since it seems like God spared our lives, (smile) today we’ll continue talking about the prophet Samuel, the first of the great Hebrew prophets, after Moses, and the last judge of Israel, for after him, kings reigned over Israel, starting with Saul, whom Samuel anointed. 

Now, yesterday we saw how Samuel’s mother, barren and socially despised for her unfortunate condition, sincerely prayed to God, ‘with bitterness of soul and sore weeping’ for a man child, whom she promised would be the Lord’s servant all his life. And the Lord granted her petition not only with Samuel, but with three sons and two daughters. That’s the overwhelming generosity of our great God. And Hannah kept het vow to God, for when Samuel was about three years old, she went to Eli the priest with a sacrificial bullock and gave him into the Lord’s service. 

‘And she said (to Eli), Oh my lord, as my soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent (granted) him to the Lord, as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.’ (1 Sam. 1:26-28) 

Now that was an incredibly brave and faithful move by Hannah, for she had promised that if God gave her a son, she would place him in the Lord’s service for all his life. And she faithfully kept that vow, unlike so many of us who plead with God to do stuff for us and make all sorts of promises, but then never follow through with our promises. Remember though, as Cousin Sol says in Ecclesiastes, the Lord has no pleasure in fools, or those who don’t keep their promises. Better not to promise, than to promise and not pay. (Eccl. 5:4-5) 

But yuh know something friends, we hear a whole lot about Samuel and his great work in God’s service, but I don’t think we hear enough about his mother Hannah, who in his very early years inculcated God’s goodness and mercy into her son, just like Mary, Jesus’ mother disappeared from view for most of his later life, but was very instrumental in raising Him to be the man He became. 

And just like Mary, Jesus’ mother waxed poetic and emotional in song (the Magnificat) after hearing about her impending pregnancy with the Messiah, the Son of God, (Luke 1:-56), likewise Hannah raised up her voice in praise and thanksgiving with this song after God’s miraculous gift of motherhood. 

‘And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn (strength) is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over (smiles at) mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation- There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceedingly proudly; let not arrogancy (arrogance) come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased (ceased to hunger): so that the barren hath born seven; (cf. Ps. 113:9) and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lords, and he hath set the world upon them. 

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn (strength) of his anointed.’ (1 Sam. 2:1-10) 

Oh my brethren, another great song and poetic masterpiece to be found in the Bible, God’s everlasting Word! That’s why it’s the most important and bestselling Book in the universe! And the scholars explain that ‘Hannah owes her strength and newly found success to the Lord’s provision for her. Her psalm (vs. 1-10) praises the Lord for giving her victory in the issues of life.’ 

Now friends, how many of us sincerely praise the Lord when He gives us obvious victory in the issues of our lives eh? Not enough of us, because we have become so accustomed to His largesse, we start taking it for granted and don’t appreciate it as much as we ought to. But we have to change that entitled, unappreciative attitude, especially in these trying and troubled times when we need Almighty God so much more in our lives! And I know Hannah’s song is one many of us didn’t know about until now. 

But that’s why it’s so important to study the Bible, for there are so many hidden gems contained therein. And the beauty of it all is that they all speak to us in different ways, as the Lord sees fit to direct us. So what might pertain specifically to you at one stage of your life, might not pertain to me, and vice versa. And what’s truly amazing is that you can read a passage of scripture several times and get a different perspective on each reading. That’s because it’s God’s inerrant and irreversible truth, written to give us direction in all aspects and situations of life. 

Now, on this cold, dark, rainy lazy-day Saturday, let’s spend some of our lazy time perusing God’s Word and/or simple talking to Him nuh, opening up our hearts and souls to Him like Hannah did; first with sincere prayer over her serious situation, then with praise and rejoicing after He had given her victory. That’s all our God really expects of us yes; to communicate seriously and sincerely with him. Let’s do just that today nuh. It will make a whole lotta difference in our lives! Much LOVE!

…there’s no greater peace, joy and victory to be had…than in sincere communication with our Maker… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ         

Today’s Scrip-Bit   24 June 2023 Psalm 69:32b.

24 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 69:32b.     …and your heart shall live that seek God.

And after a somewhat drizzly Friday evening, we’ve ended up with a cloudy lazy-day Saturday. But nothing’s wrong with that, because it’s the kind of weather that induces laziness. (smile) Sadly though, I’ve used up my share of laziness, so let’s get to the Father’s business and begin with our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

As one lazy, but sincere voice:  ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Oh friends, how I do LOVE that prayer! LOVE the eloquence within its simplicity! It doesn’t get hifalutin, but it does say a lot, and a lot of the right things in ordinary everyday language. And that’s how we truly ought to pray; with simple words that come from the very depths of our hearts, for that’s the kind of communication I believe our God favours. And in my search for today’s topic, the Good Library just opened unto the book of Psalms, Psalm 69 in particular, Bruh David’s cry to his God for help. 

And the scholars have a most interesting explanation on it. They say, ‘This psalm gives extensive expression to one of the major themes of the psalms: undeserved suffering. In this case, the suffering has come largely from the psalmist’s steadfastness in his commitment to the Lord. Because of this popular and needed motif, the psalm became a favourite of the New Testament writers who quote it frequently: verse 4 (John 15:25), verse 9 (John 2:17; Rom. 15:3), verses 22-23 (Rom. 11:9-10), verse 25 Acts 1:20).’ 

Wow! It must have been a real popular psalm to be found so often in the New Testament writings. And I’ll suggest you check out those references yourselves, I just did, and they are interesting, showing just how important the Old Testament was to the New Testament. And the scholars continue their explanation thus: ‘The content of the psalm may best be viewed topically. It contains David’s lament (vs. 1-4, 10-12, 19-21), his protestation of innocence (vs, 5-9), his petition (vs. 13-18, 22-29), and his vow of thanksgiving to be offered upon deliverance (vs. 30-36).’ 

And now that we have some idea of what the psalm is about, let’s check out some of Bruh David’s actual words. (smile) And he opens the psalm thus: ‘Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul (neck). I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away (did not steal).’ (Ps. 69:1-4) 

Now that seems like a lament many of us today can make, but whether it’s through our steadfastness to God or because of our own unfaithfulness, that’s another question. Many of us though are in the mire of evil and darkness that’s clouding our world so deep, right up to our very necks, a moment away from drowning, that the only person who can truly help us is Almighty God. But for whatever reason(s), we stubbornly refuse to cry out to Him for help. Why? I don’t really know. But these words of Bruh David ought to wake us up to the reality of the situation. ‘O God, thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from thee.’ (Ps. 69:5) 

And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! Then why are we still so reluctant to cry out to our heavenly Father for help, when He is the ONLY ONE who has the power, grace and mercy to raise up out of the mire in which we’ve unfortunately found ourselves? It amazes and mystifies me when we refuse to ask for help when our own efforts are insufficient to get us out of our problems. There’s no help to be had from the evil one because his objective is for us to sink deeper and deeper into the morass of sin and darkness. 

So who are we going to cry out to for help eh? ‘Ghostbusters’, as the popular song of yesteryear says. (smile) Definitely not! But to Jehovah God, our Creator and Controller, our Provider and Source of Refuge! That’s whom! But we first have to swallow our foolish pride and realize that without Jesus Christ, we’re at Satan’s mercy, and that’s not a very good place to be. And these words of Bruh David when he petitions the Lord to draw nigh and redeem his soul, ought to be helpful in our predicament. 

‘But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters….Hear me, O Lord; for thy LOVING-kindness is good: turn unto me according to thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily (quickly). Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.’ (Ps. 69:13-14, 16-18) 

Oh friends, those are words that ought to resonate powerfully within our souls and bodies in these difficult and dangerous times! And we’ll bypass Bruh David’s petition for the fate of his enemies, and go straight to his promise of thanksgiving and praise. 

‘But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed (descendants) also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that LOVE his name shall dwell therein.’ (Ps. 69:29-36) 

And there we go from lamentation to triumph, when we call upon the Lord our God! And possibly the most important phrase in that whole psalm are these few words of our Bit: ‘…and your heart shall live that seek God.’ Please friends, let’s not forget them, let’s write them indelibly in our hearts, minds, souls and bodies, as they are the very reason for our living, for our earthly existence! Much LOVE!

…only by seeking God…can our souls be saved… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ