Magnificent morning. Positive day. Peaceful night.

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 92. Here is what I learned.

It is good to ·tell of [proclaim] your ·love [loyalty] in the morning and of your ·loyalty [faithfulness] at night. Psalm 92:2 (EXB)

It is good to announce your mercy in the morning and your faithfulness in the evening. Psalm 92:2 (GW)

To speak of Your unfailing love in the morning and rehearse Your faithfulness as night begins to fall. Psalm 92:2 (VOICE)

Morning: dawn, the beginning of the day

Night: end of the day, darkness

Mornings can be mayhem, mishmash, monstrosity or magnificent, marvelous--depending on how I choose to START my day.

On March 23, 2013, my Ponder Morsel from Psalm 57:8, was Waking up with Great Anticipation! “Psalm 57:8 expresses the same thrill of anticipation concerning praising God. The very thought of praising and giving thanks to God, wakes me up rejoicing! Literally, waking singing a song! ” Waking up with Great Anticipation!

If I want to have a magnificent, marvelous morning, it HAS to start with praising and honoring God! That’s the ONLY way to start my day on a positive note! I’ve learned that when I START my day praising God, I have a “better” day. No, praising God doesn’t guarantee that everything will go smoothly. But, rather I have a “better” day because I have God’s perspective on the day. 

Uneasy, unpeaceful, unquiet, unrestful—.uncertainty, uneasiness producing a restless and nightmarish night OR unafraid, unnervous, unworried—unbend, unlax, unwind and drift off into a peaceful sleep. Which night sounds magnificent and marvelous? I’ll pick the unafraid, unnervous, unworried—unbend, unlax, unwind and drift off into a peaceful sleep.

I’ve endured those unrestful, nightmarish nights mostly due to my pain medications. However, I have learned that even in the midst of those unrestful nights, if my focus changes from the pain and uneasiness, to praising God and His faithfulness, I am overcome with peace. 

If I want a magnificent, marvelous morning make my day awesome, the moment I awake, I need to praise God for His lovingkindness. And if I want to enjoy a night, unafraid, unnervous, unworried—and drift off into a peaceful sleep, I need to end my day praising God for His faithfulness! Praising God changes a magnificent morning into a positive day and creates a peaceful night. 

A magnificent, marvelous morning, a positive day, and an unafraid, unnervous, unworried—peaceful night is possible, if I only take the time to praise and honor my amazing and wonderful God. 

My God!

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twenty-ninth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 91. Here's what Treasure I found today.

I will say to the Lord, “You are my ·place of safety [refuge] and ·protection [fortress]. You are my God and I ·trust [have confidence in] you.” Psalm 91:2 (EXB)

This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:2 (AMP)

"My refuge, my fortress, my God." "My refuge." God is our "refuge." He who avails himself of a refuge is one who is forced to fly. It is a quiet retreat from a pursuing enemy. And there are trials, and temptations, and enemies, from which the Christian does best to fly. He cannot resist them. They are too strong for him. His wisdom is to fly into the refuge of the secret place of his God - to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. His "strength is to sit still" there. Isaiah 30:7. "My fortress." The Psalmist says, moreover, that God is his "fortress." Here - the idea is changed - no longer a peaceful, quiet hiding-place, but a tower of defence - strong, manifest, ready to meet the attacks of all enemies, ready and able to resist them all. God is a Friend who meets every want in our nature, who can supply every need. So when we are weak and fainting, and unable to meet the brunt of battle, and striving against sin and sorrow and the wrath of man, he is our safe, quiet resting-place - our fortress also where no harm can reach us, no attack injure us. "My God." Now the Psalmist, as a summing up of all his praises, says "I will say of him, He is ... my God!" Is there anything omitted in the former part of his declaration? Everything is here - all possible ascription Of honour, and glory, and power to him "as God" - "God over all, blessed for ever," and of love, reverence, trust, obedience, and filial relation towards him on the part of the Psalmist, as My God ... when reflecting on the refuge and strength which the Lord has always been to him, and recalling his blessed experiences of sweet communion with God - words fail him. He can only say (but oh, with what expression!) My God! Mary B. M. Duncan 

As if it were not enough to call the Lord his refuge and fortress, he adds, "My God I in him will I trust." Now he can say no more; "my God" means all, and more than all, that heart can conceive by way of security. It was most meet that he should say "in him will I trust," since to deny faith to such a one were wilful wickedness and wanton insult. He who dwells in an impregnable fortress, naturally trusts in it; and shall not he who dwells in God feel himself well at ease, and repose his soul in safety? O that we more fully carried out the Psalmist's resolve! We have trusted in God let us trust him still. He has never failed us, why then should we suspect him? To trust in man is natural to fallen nature, to trust in God should be as natural to regenerated nature. Where there is every reason and warrant for faith, we ought to place our confidence without hesitancy or wavering. Dear reader, pray for grace to say, "In him will I trust." The Treasury of David

My God. Since He really is MY God, that fact should impact my life in an amazing way. My God, means a personal, real, intimate relationship with God Almighty. And if the fact that He is “My God” isn’t impacting my life, than I have a problem. The problem with not fully realizing that God is “My God”, is that I think I’m not only in control of my life, but that I can “do it alone”, and therefore, I ignore God’s direction. When I ignore God and head out on my own, I usually find myself floundering, and wondering how I got into the mess I find myself.

“My God” is more than just a “place” to run and hide when I’m afraid, but “My God” is a companion Who wants to be a part of my life—each and every day. “My God” is not a saying, or feeling, rather “My God” is a personal relationship with the Almighty Creator, who I should not only respect, but love and obey and realize that He is “mine”. My God, is worthy of honor, glory, praise, and trust.

To create a positive day, the fact that God is really “My God” needs to impact my life—He wants to be a part of my day, it’s up to me whether I truly allow Him to be “My God”. 

Praise Looks Good on You

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 33. Here is what I learned.

Sing, ye righteous, in Jehovah, For upright ones praise [is] comely. Psalm 33:1 (YLT)

·Sing [Shout for joy] to the Lord, you ·who do what is right [righteous ones]; ·honest people should praise him [praise is fitting from the upright/virtuous]. Psalm 33:1 (EXB)

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous." Exult, ye righteous, in Jehovah! The Hebrew verb originally means to dance for joy, and is therefore a very strong expression for the liveliest exultation. J. A. Alexander. 

"Rejoice in the Lord." Joy is the soul of praise. To delight ourselves in God is most truly to extol him, even if we let no notes of song proceed from our lips. That God is, and that he is such a God, and our God, ours for ever and ever, should wake within us an unceasing and overflowing joy. The Treasury of David

What does God think of a true expression for the liveliest exultation. He likes it! Praise looks good on those who love God! 

Praise Looks Good on You 

Don Moen

When you lift Your hands up high 

And you sing a song of praise to Me

It brings Me great delight 

Such a lovely sight 

And yes it is true 

Praise looks good on you

Morning night and noon 

Your praise ascends to heaven 

Like the smell sweet perfume

Filling every room

And yes it is true

Praise looks good on you

Chorus:

You bring your sacrifices

And you offer up your praise

You lift your voice with singing

But your heart seems far away

More than a sacrifice

I am looking for your life

Holy and acceptable

And pleasing in my sight

Verse 2:

So offer up your lives

Holy and acceptable

A willing sacrifice

Precious in my sight

But in all that you do

Remember all I want is you

(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3:

So lift your hands up high

And worship Him before the altar 

Consecrate your life

A willing sacrifice

But in all that you do

Remember all He wants is you

And yes it is true

Praise looks good on you

To create a positive day, I need to show God a true expression of the liveliest exultation—for God is worthy of praise, and it looks good on me! 

Praise Looks Good on You. Don Moen

My Knight in Shining Armor

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twenty-fifth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 121. Here's what Treasure I found today.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield]. Psalm 121:5 (AMP)

The Lord is your guardian. The Lord is the shade over your right hand. Psalm 121:5 (GW)

The Lord ·guards [watches] you. The Lord is the shade ·that protects you from the sun [at your hand, your right hand]. Psalm 121:5 (EXB)

Keeper: A primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc. -- beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). 

God is my keeper, my protector, my guard! He’s my rescuing knight! 

God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. 2 Samuel 22:2, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 144:2 (MSG) 

Knight: champion, hero, supporter, paladin, savior, cavalier, champion, chevalier, companion, gallant.

I have a “knight in shining armor”—really something MUCH better—I have a GOD who guards me! The God who created all, the Almighty One, the all-knowing, all-powerful God is protecting me, watching over me, is guarding me. WOW! 

To create a positive day, I only need to realize that my “knight in shining armor,” my God, is standing guard! 

And It Starts Today

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 96. Here is what I learned.

Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2 (AMB)

Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Psalm 96:2 (NLT)

Sing to the Lord! Praise his name! Day after day announce that the Lord saves his people. Psalm 96:2 (GW)

Day-to-Day 

Adj.

1. of or belonging to or occurring every day; "daily routine"; "a daily paper"

Synonyms: everyday, regular, usual, routine, accustomed, customary, habitual, constantly.

Habitual: means made a norm or custom or habit or fixed practice.

Customary: means in accordance with convention or custom.

Usual: means commonly or normally encountered, experienced, or observed.

Habitual. Customary. Usual.

Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex. Norman Vincent Peale 

I am to make it a fixed practice, a daily custom, a normal experience to proclaim the good news of God’s saving grace. Proclaiming, talking about God is to be an automatic reflex. But, why is talking about God’s amazing saving grace so hard? It is the most precious wonderful gift, yet I am hesitant to discuss it. 

Habitual. Customary. Usual. It doesn’t happen all at once. It’s “day-to-day”.  I need to create a habit of proclaiming God’s amazing grace to those around me—and it starts today. Then, when tomorrow comes, I’ll make it a point to do it again. Day-to-day. It’s not yesterday, then next week. It’s the “here and now”. Today. 

To create a positive day, I need to create a habit of sharing God’s amazing saving grace with those around me, and it starts today.

Possession—it’s Mine, but do I keep it in Storage?

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twenty-fifth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 62. Here's what Treasure I found today.

He is my rock and my ·salvation [victory]. He is my ·defender [fortress]; I will not be ·defeated [shaken]. Psalm 62:2 (EXB)

He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:2 (NLV)

Possession: custody, dominion, hold, occupancy, occupation, possessorship, proprietary, proprietary rights, proprietorship, retention, tenancy, tenure, title.

When I look around my apartment, I am thankful that God has supplied me with several nice things. Some, I was able to buy new, others I bought at yard sales. And each day I make good use of my possessions. Whether it’s reclining on the Daybed working on the laptop, or watching TV, or making a meal in the kitchen using pots and pans, I avail myself of my possessions. 

But every now and then, I need to get something out of my storage unit, and I’m reminded of things that I have stored away. Some of those stored items I use once a year, like the Christmas decorations. But there are other items that I haven’t used for years, but they are still mine, but I don’t avail myself of my possessions. 

Psalm 62:2 lists several characteristics of God, that ARE MINE, but do I avail myself of them, or do I keep them in storage? When I place my possessions in storage, they are not readily available, and often I forget what I own! Out of sight, out of mind is true. If I keep the truths about God in storage, and don’t actually believe them and act on them, I’m not availing myself of the possessions that God has given me. That’s pretty sad if I ignore the gifts God has given me and put them in storage. And it sure makes it harder to get through each day, when I don't use what God has given me. 

God is my rock. Security. 

God is my victory. Salvation.

God is my fortress. Strong place.

If I truly avail myself of my possessions, than I will not be defeated! I will have victory. It’s only a matter of getting the truths out of storage, and availing myself of God!

To create a positive day, I need to grasp the truth of my possession—it’s MINE, and make sure I’m not keeping it in storage and going it on my own. 

Stormy Waters

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 61. Here is what I learned.

From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 (ASV)

When I’m far from anywhere, down to my last gasp, I call out, “Guide me up High Rock Mountain!” Psalm 61:2 (MSG)

"When my heart is overwhelmed." Troubles are of various kinds; some are provoking, some are gnawing, some are perplexing, and some are overwhelming; but whatever form they assume, they are troubles, and are part of the wear and tear of life.... Overwhelming troubles are such as sweep over a man, just as the mighty billows of the ocean sweep over and submerge the sands. These are troubles which struggle with us, as it were, for life and death; troubles which would leave us helpless wrecks; troubles which enter into conflict with us in our prime, which grapple with us in our health and strength, and threaten to conquer us by sheer force, no matter how bravely we may contend. Such trouble the Psalmist knew. - Philip Bennett Power, in "The 'I wills' of the Psalms," 1861.

"Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." The language is very remarkable. It gives us the idea of a man suffering shipwreck. The vessel in which he has been sailing has sunk. He has been plunged into the mighty ocean; and there he is buffeting the waves, struggling for life, panting for breath, and just about to give up all for lost. Suddenly he discovers a rock towering above him. If he can but climb up to the top of it, and get sure footing upon it, the billows will not be able to reach him, and he will be safe. Now, the prayer in our text is the cry of that poor wretch for help. He is so spent and exhausted, that he cannot reach the rock himself. He shouts aloud for the friendly hand of some one stronger than himself, or for a rope that may be flung to him by those who are already safe on the rock, if by these helps he may gain it. "Lead me to the rock," cries the poor perishing wretch. "O, lead me, guide me, direct me to it; for I am so worn and spent, that I cannot reach it otherwise. I am at the point to die; and I must sink, and be no more seen for ever, if there is none to help me." Thus he calls for some one to rescue him from the deep, and to place him on the "rock," But what rock? He knows that unless the rock be a high one, he will not be in safety, though he should be on it. "The rock," he says, "must be higher than I, or the waves will reach me, and wash me off again." It is not a rock, the top of which just shows itself above the sea, no higher than a man's own body, that will save the life of a shipwrecked mariner. Such a rock may occasion the wreck, but it will not afford any help to the sufferers afterwards; it is a rock to split upon for destruction, not to stand upon for safety. "Lead me to the rock," or as it is in the Prayer-book version, "Set me upon the rock, that is higher than I!"... The text having shown us the danger of sin, does not leave us comfortless; it shows us the security of the refuge. We have before remarked, that the prayer of David, as a shipwrecked man, is, to be "led to," and set upon, a "rock," that is higher than himself. The expression seems to imply much. The rock that is higher than he, must be higher than any man; for David was a mighty monarch. He implies, therefore, that the refuge he seeks must be more than any "arm of flesh" can afford him; it must be therefore divine. - Condensed from a Sermon by Fountain Elwin, 1842.

So overwhelmed that I fell like I’m drowning in the stormy waters, and too weak to even grasp the life preserver. Yet, all I need to do is cry out to God and He will lift me up. No matter my troubles, no matter the depths of my despair, God in His mercy is ready to rescue me. 

To create a positive day, it’s not about me doing it on my own, especially when the stormy waters are swirling around me, rather, it’s about crying out to God and simply trust Him to lift me up.