Psalm - Psalm 1

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog. I've been posting on Facebook, and sorry to say, I've forgotten to post the information here. 

Today, I'm starting a new Bible Study. I'm going to pick out one verse from each Psalm on which to focus. 

Psalm 1

Psalm 1:2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Delight: things desired, purpose
Meditates: to ponder, contemplate, talk it over with oneself

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 (AMP)

They ·love [delight in] the Lord’s ·teachings [laws; instructions], and they ·think about [meditate on] those ·teachings [laws; instructions] day and night. Psalm 1:2 (EXB)

I like that word in the Amplified Version - Habitually. It's important to create a habit of thinking about God's Word. If I habitually ponder what God's Word has to say, the greater impact it will have in my life. 

Psalm 1:2 - Habitually Meditate! 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:24

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 24: Provides Wisdom

Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. Psalm 119:24

Delight:  enjoyment, pleasure
Counselors: prudence, advice, purpose

He sought direction and advice from them as from a friend who would give him counsel. He looked to the revealed law of God to ascertain what was right; to know how he should act in the emergencies of life. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)

What should I do? How should I act? What should I say? Questions we all ask ourselves. The true answer is actually simple — do, act and say — exactly as God would. And we learn the specifics from His Word. 

Wisdom. Everyday practical wisdom. Available from the One who created us. The question comes down to — will I follow the advice of God Almighty? 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:16

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)

God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)
Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 16: Provides Position

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Psalm 119:16

Delight: to look upon with complacency (a feeling of quiet pleasure or security)

Statutes: something prescribed; phrases of obedience

Forget: to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

Not: ignorant, worthless

Word: spoken, advice, commandment, communication, reason, request, speech

A few weeks ago, a Catagory 2 Hurricane came through my area. The wind and rain were intense and it was pitch black as the electricity had gone out. As the storm raged, I felt such peace. And it wasn't because of the safety of the Castle.

The peace and safety weren't because I knew what would happen as the storm continued to slowly pass by. I felt peace and safe because I knew that no matter what happened, my God was ultimately in control. If the trees that were cracking and breaking outside landed on the Castle, then God would take care of the fixing of it all. If the roof shingles blew off, then once again, God would take care of the repairs. How? I had no idea. But I did know that God controls the wind. I do know that God cares for me. I do know that no matter what happened, God would remain faithful to who He is! God is never-changing and faithful. 

When I place my security in God's Word and I remember who God is and all that He says, it is then that I live in the position of safety and peace. 

Full effect being complete and inferior to none. (James)

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4

Let:  comprise, involve, possessed with

Patience: steadfastness, constancy, endurance (the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings)

Perfect: brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness

Work: an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opposed to that which is less than work

Entire: complete in all its parts, in no part lacking or unsound

Wanting: to lag, be inferior

Nothing: none, not

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/james/1-4.htm

Be possessed with steadfastness, constancy, and endurance so that I'll know the full effect being complete and inferior to none. 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

There is a progression in these verses, with a purpose! But it's not a "once and I'm done", idea. It's a constant and ongoing process. It ALL begins with choosing the MAXIMUM Calm Delight!

MAXIMUM Calm Delight! (James)

Continuing my study in James. 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; James 1:2

Brethren: a fellow-Christian

Count: (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think

All: the highest degree, the maximum

Joy: the cause or occasion of joy, calm delight, gladness

Fall into: so to fall into as to be encompassed by

Divers: variegated, various in character, diverse

Temptations: adversity, affliction, trouble (cf. our trial), sent by God and serving to test or prove one's faith, holiness, character, a putting to proof

Make the determination (rule over/have the power) to choose maximum calm delight when I am encompasses by a wide variety of trouble as God works to prove me faithful! (Rhonda's paraphrase)

Choose MAXIMUM Calm Delight! 

A Continual Christmas

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

White Christmas, Jingle Bells, Rudolph
All I Want For Christmas,
Let It Snow, Silver Bells,
The sounds of Christmas add delight
But do we remember that holy night? 

Silent Night, Noel, Oh Holy Night!,
Away in the Manger, What Child Is This,
This Holiday, on the Who and why reflect
And lift up our voices in honor and respect!

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend
To Thee our praise should never end!
- Rhonda Sawtelle

Christmas Wish Lists

Something to think about as you make your Christmas Wish Lists. 

Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Delight: make soft, pliable, live or spend in enjoyment; take exquisite delight

Lord: deity Yahweh

Give: grant a request

Desire: desire, petition, request

Heart: seat of the emotions and passions of joy and gladness

When one is willing to be molded to God's will and takes exquisite delight in the Lord God, then the heart's desire will be in line with God's will and wisdom. 

That should put a new perspective on what you put on your Christmas Wish List. 

Proverbs 11:17-21 Can't go wrong with mercy & integrity!

The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh. The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight. Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs 11:17-21

"The merciful man does good for his own soul." Proverbs 11:17a

Merciful: kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable)

Does good: accomplish, be beautiful, goodly

Soul: that which breathes, the inner being of man

"The blameless in their ways are His delight." Proverbs 11:20b

Blameless: sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

Delight: be acceptable, desire, favor, good pleasure

Mercy. Integrity. 

Mercy produces a godly response. 

Integrity produces good pleasure. 

Mercy and Integrity — both are results of a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

Simply put, mercy makes you personally happy and blameless makes God happy. You can't go wrong with mercy and integrity!

Take Delight

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 1. Here is what I learned.

But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely. Psalm 1:2 (TLB)

They ·love [delight in] the Lord’s ·teachings [laws; instructions], and they ·think about [meditate on] those ·teachings [laws; instructions] day and night. Psalm 1:2 (EXB)

Doing everything God wants them to......... that word EVERYTHING encompasses so much! There are some things that are fun to do... those are easy to accomplish. BUT...... everything God wants me to do.... that’s a bit harder. 

Such as:

But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44 (TLB)

How can I do that? The only way is to love God, and take delight in obeying Him. When I focus on Who God is, and what He wants me to do... then obeying Him is easier. When we love someone, we don’t mind doing what they ask... even if we think the task is unpleasant. 

If I’m finding it hard to do everything God wants... and taking delight in obeying God, then I need to spend time in deepening my relationship with Him. For out of love comes obedience. 

To create a positive day, I need to take delight and enjoy obeying God..... and if I’m not, than I need to spend time with Him deepening my relationship.