Psalm - Psalm 6

Psalm 6:9The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

Heard: to hear intelligently, listen, understand
Supplication: petition for graciousness
Receive: take = carry off, seize
Prayer: intercession

To be heard. Often we just want someone to listen. Just by hearing us, our fears are calmed and are sadness is lessened. 

God Almighty is listening and is HEARING intelligently! Even our thoughts and jumbles words are understood by God! He will take what we say (and think) and seize it so that He can respond in accordance to His Will. 

Psalm 6:9 - I'm being Heard Intelligently! 

Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:7

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. 7, 8: Provides Results

I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:7

Praise: give thanks, laud
Uprightness: honest, integrity
Heart: specific reference to moral character
Learn: instruct, skillful, to exercise in
Righteous: justice
Judgments: divine law, ordinance

When I learn and "exercise" God's Word, there should be a direct result — praise! Giving thanks should be an outpouring of love and appreciation for who God is, and all He does. 

The more I know about God, the more I should be in awe of Him. But the key to this verse is "when I learn". Learning takes effort. Learning takes time. Learning is vital to growing and understanding more about who God is. And when I gain a greater understanding of God, then praise will flow from my heart! 

As the state of Florida prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Irma, many wonder, "Why would God allow such a storm, that brings death and destruction?" To be honest, I don't know. But I do know that even the winds and sea obey Him. He has the power to stop Irma in her tracks. However, even if He doesn't, that doesn't make Him any less God. God doesn't owe us any explanation of why He does what He does. God doesn't owe us anything! 

It is only by His grace and mercy that He loves us, and loves us so much that He paid the sacrifice for our sins! (John 3:16) God, the creator of all — including us — doesn't need to act in the way we think best. God acts in ways that are beyond our understanding. God acts in ways that get people's attention and draw them near to Him. God acts in ways that demonstrate His power, His justice, and His sovereignty. 

Who is God? He is too big for me to comprehend everything about Him. But I do know that God loves me! And that is cause for great praise! 

Proverbs 1:6: Understand the Words of the Wise

To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. Proverbs 1:6

The verb "to Understand" means be intelligent, discreet, discerning, perceive, have understanding.

Proverb: sentences of ethical wisdom

Enigma: satire, a mocking poem

Words: saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

Wise: principles and collections of wisdom

Riddles: allegorical and figurative sayings, perplexing saying or question

Know. Receive. Give. Hear. Increase Learning. Attain. All results in Understanding. 

Proverbs 1:2-6 (NKJV)

2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

In Proverbs 1:6, notice whose words you are to understand—The WISE. That is key. For if one listens to the unwise or fools, that will lead to—destruction (Proverbs 1:32). 

How does one differentiate from wise and fools; for often the fools speak with "flowering words" or words that sound wonderful. First of all, one must develop a heart with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). That opens the heart to knowing, receiving, hearing, increasing in learning, and attaining. And that leads to fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7), but that verse will study next time.

Enjoy with Confidence

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.

How great are Your doings, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep. Psalm 92:5 (AMP)

Your works are marvelous, O Eternal One! Your thoughts are unfathomable. Psalm 92:5 (VOICE)

"Thy thoughts." The plural of מחשׁבת, from the verb חשׁב, to meditate, to count, to weave; and this last word gives a good idea of what is here made the subject of admiration and praise, the wonderful intricacy and contrivance with which the Divine Mind designs and executes his plans, till at length the result is seen in a beautifully woven tissue of many delicately mingled and colored threads.  Christopher Wordsworth

"O Lord, how great are thy works!" He is lost in wonder. He utters an exclamation of amazement. How vast! How stupendous are the doings of Jehovah! Great for number, extent, and glory and design are all the creations of the Infinite One. "And thy thoughts are very deep." The Lord's plans are as marvellous as his acts; his designs are as profound as his doings are vast. Creation is immeasurable, and the wisdom displayed in it unsearchable. Some men think but cannot work, and others are mere drudges working without thought; in the Eternal the conception and the execution go together. Providence is inexhaustible, and the divine decrees which originate it are inscrutable. Redemption is grand beyond conception, and the thoughts of love which planned it are infinite. Man is superficial, God is inscrutable; man is shallow, God is deep. Dive as we may we shall never fathom the mysterious plan, or exhaust the boundless wisdom of the all-comprehending mind of the Lord. We stand by the fathomless sea of divine wisdom, and exclaim with holy awe, "O the depth!" The Treasury of David

God owes us no explanation of why He does what He does. He is God. Even if I can’t figure out or even imagine what God is doing, or why He allows what He does, I do know that God is God and He has purpose that is far greater than anything I could imagine. 

I often wonder, why I think I can figure out what God is doing. I can’t even grasp the beauty of a sunrise, or understand how a bird can fly. So, why do I even begin to think I know what God is doing... or why He’s doing it? 

To create a positive day, I only have to enjoy with confidence that God’s way are much greater than mine, and trust Him as He accomplishes His plan. 

No Miscommunication

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.

O God, you have heard my vows. You have given me the inheritance that belongs to those who fear your name. Psalm 61:5 (GW)

For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear, revere, and honor Your name. Psalm 61:5 (AMP)

"For thou, O God, hast heard my vows." Proofs of divine faithfulness are to be had in remembrance, and to be mentioned to the Lord's honour. The prayer of Psalm 61:1 is certain of an answer because of the experience of Psalm 61:5, since we deal with an immutable God. "Vows" may rightly be joined with prayers when they are lawful, well-considered, and truly for God's glory. It is great mercy on God's part to take any notice of the vows and promises of such faithless and deceitful creatures as we are. What we promise him is his due already, and yet he deigns to accept our vows as if we were not so much his servants as his free suitors who could give or withhold at pleasure. The Treasury of David

Often I think I hear what someone is saying, but I don’t really hear them, because I’m thinking of my answer, or my mind as wandered elsewhere, or I’m distracted. 

The word, “heard” in Psalm 61:5 means “to hear intelligently”. God not only HEARS, He understands and grasps exactly what I’m saying. There is no miscommunication between what I say and what God hears. He is listening!

Since there is no miscommunication between me and God, I need to make sure that any vows I do make are such that I will fulfill them. Taking with God is a privilege and yet there is also responsibility in prayer. God graciously allows me to come before Him and talk about anything, that is a great comfort. I also need to remember that God is not just my Father, but He is God Almighty! He is loving and caring, but also Holy. God is listening... what exactly is it that I’m saying?  God is listening.... is what I’m saying worth His time? 

To create a positive day, I need to communicate with God, knowing that there will be no miscommunication.

Intimate Understanding

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 ninth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 100. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock. Psalm 100:3 (GNT)

Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 (AMP)

Realize that the Lord alone is God. He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care. Psalm 100:3 (GW)

Know: comprehend, consider, discern, discover, perceive, have respect, understand, be aware.

Know ye what God is in himself, and what he is to you. Know it; consider and apply it, then you will be more close and constant, more inward and serious, in his worship. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Know God. How do I get to know God almighty? One place to begin is Proverbs 6:16-19., it tells me what the Lord hates. He hates these things because they are against His very nature, His character, who He is. 

There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: • A proud look, • a lying tongue, • hands that kill innocent people, • a mind that thinks up wicked plans, • feet that hurry off to do evil, • a witness who tells one lie after another, • and someone who stirs up trouble among friends.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (GNT)

Knowing God means that I not only learn who He is, but act on that knowledge. The more I get to know God, the richer my life will be. For as I get to know God, that knowledge (should) will change my heart, my mind, my attitude, and my actions. “Knowledge has power.” But more than that knowledge produces an intimate understanding of an Almighty God. 

Getting to know God, understanding who He is, creates a deeper love and respect for Him, and that intimate understanding of who God is creates a positive day!

Thing Joy

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 27. Here is what I learned.

I truly believe I will see the Lord’s goodness ·during my life [in the land of the living]. Psalm 27:13 (EXB)

Believe: assurance, believe, bring up, establish, steadfast, be firm or faithful, to trust to be permanent or quiet.

See: advise self, appear, approve, behold, consider, discern, have experience, gaze, take heed, perceive.

Lord: deity Yahweh.

Goodness: good things of/as given by God, thing joy, beauty, gladness, welfare.

Land: country, earth, field, world nations.

Living: age, alive, appetite, wild beast, company, congregation, lifetime, lively.

Thing Joy

by Rhonda Sawtelle

As I look around what do I see?

Sadness, despair, pain, and calamity.

As I look up what do I see?

Happiness, hope, comfort and prosperity.

Perception changes seeing as God’s sees.

And trusting that God has perfect strategies,

To accomplish His will through me and teach me,

In the midst of pain will come amazing beauty.

As I look around what do I see?

God is at work—and working mightily.

God’s ‘Thing Joy’ is surrounding me—

As through His eyes the world I perceive.

“Thing Joy”—goodness beyond reality.

Given by God, it can be an actuality.

“Thing Joy” produces life full of vitality.

Sadness or joy—the choice is up to me.

As I look around what do I see?

The choice is mine, to see God’s goodness and  hope and see Him accomplishing His plan, or see the world through my eyes without hope. To create a positive day, I have to see as God sees and understand that God provides “Thing Joy”—even in a world that seems to be full of despair.