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? 

Why would I doubt? (James)

For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. James 1:7

For: indeed (a conjunc. used to express cause, explanation, or continuation); take note of what came before (James 1:6)

Not: where one is bidden to cease from something already begun, or repeated, or continued

Think: suppose, imagine

Receive: to gain, get, obtain, to get hold of

Anything: some or any object

From: the side or the vicinity of one, or from one's sphere of power, or from one's wealth or store

Lord: a person exercising absolute ownership rights; denotes an owner (master) exercising full rights 

Why would I ask something of God, knowing that He has FULL OWNERSHIP of everything, only to doubt that He could supply? (James 1:6- Seasick). Asking in faith, doesn't mean that God will automatically give me everything I ask for— rather it means that I will trust God to supply what's BEST for me. 

And remember what James is discussing here, it's not our "wants" in general. Rather, the emphasis is on WISDOM! We are asking God for wisdom, "the art of USING wisdom", so that we can live a godly life that honors and brings glory to Him. 

God is the only source of true wisdom. And if we want wisdom, all we need to do is ask God believing that we will receive wisdom. But often we become "seasick" as we don't trust God to give us what we asked. 

👉👉👉 Perhaps we don't care for the answer wisdom offers. We'd rather go it on our own—since we know better — (we may think that, but NO, we don't). 

👉👉👉 Perhaps we don't really want wisdom, as we know that we would have to change our attitude, actions, and thoughts. 

👉👉👉 Perhaps we don't really want wisdom, for if we USE wisdom, we may have to make lifestyle changes. 

So, if I want to put into practice the art of using wisdom, I need to ask God believing that He will give it to me — knowing that He is fully capable of doing so, as God is the source of wisdom. 

Why would I doubt knowing that I'd receive nothing? Ask in full confidence knowing that God is the source and will give wisdom—and be ready to put that wisdom to good use!

Pre-determined Responses

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 28. Here is what I learned.

Unto You do I cry, O Lord my Rock, be not deaf and silent to me, lest, if You be silent to me, I become like those going down to the pit [the grave]. Psalm 28:1 (AMP)

Don’t turn a deaf ear when I call you, God. If all I get from you is deafening silence, I’d be better off in the Black Hole. Psalm 28:1 (MSG)

When I pray do I turn off my ears? Think about it. How often do we ask God for something, but we have a pre-determined response which we want. And if we don’t get the specific response, we figure that God didn’t hear us. So we repeat the request over and over.... waiting for our pre-determined response. 

Yet, God hasn’t turned a deaf ear to us.... rather we have “turned off our ears” to hearing and receiving the response that God has chosen as the best. 

“The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.” Oswald Chambers

When I change my prayers from “all about me” to “all about God”, then my pre-determined responses are discarded and I’m open to receiving God’s amazing blessings that will accomplish His will and purpose. 

“I want to tell you a growing conviction with me, and that is that as we obey the leadings of the Spirit of God, we enable God to answer the prayers of other people. I mean that our lives, my life, is the answer to someone’s prayer, prayed perhaps centuries ago.

It is more and more impossible to me to have programmes and plans because God alone has the plan, and our plans are only apt to hinder Him, and make it necessary for Him to break them up. I have the unspeakable knowledge that my life is the answer to prayers, and that God is blessing me and making me a blessing entirely of His sovereign grace and nothing to do with my merits, saving as I am bold enough to trust His leading and not the dictates of my own wisdom and common sense.” Oswald Chambers

To create a positive day, I need to discard my pre-determined responses and listen to God as He responds to my prayers... and changes me and my heart to accomplish His will. 

Hear and Listen

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 29. Here is what I learned.

The voice of the Lord makes the wilderness tremble; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. Psalm 29:8 (AMP)

The Lord’s voice shakes the ·desert [wilderness]; the Lord shakes the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Kadesh. Psalm 29:8 (EXB)

As the storm travelled, it burst over the desert. "The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh." God courts not the applause of men - his grandest deeds are wrought where man's inquisitive glance is all unknown. Where no sound of man was heard, the voice of God was terribly distinct. The vast and silent plains trembled with affright. Silence did homage to the Almighty voice. Low lying plains must hear the voice of God as well as lofty mountains; the poor as well as the mighty must acknowledge the glory of the Lord. Solitary and barren places are to be gladdened by the gospel's heavenly sound. What a shaking and overturning power there is in the word of God! even the conservative desert quivers into progress when God decrees it. The Treasury of David

Sometimes I sit listening intently for God’s answer to my prayers. The silence is so overwhelming. Then I realize that God is SHOUTING His answer, only I don’t hear it because I’m waiting for the answer I want to hear. 

God wants my attention and yet, I’m not hearing or noticing Him. I often wonder if He’s standing there waving His arms, jumping up and down, shouting at me to get my attention... only I am blind and deaf because of my own desires. 

When I finally notice and hear God, and listen to Him, His answer to my prayers are so much better than I could imagine. His plans are so much more thought out than mine. His plans take into consideration all aspects of the now and future, where my plans are short-sighted and are adequate for only the here and now. 

To create a positive day, I have to hear and listen to what God is saying. I may not always understand or agree, but God does has a plan and purpose! 

Strength to My Soul

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 138. Here is what I learned.

When I called, you answered me. You made me bold by strengthening my soul. Psalm 138:3 (GW) 

On the day I ·called [prayed] to you, you answered me. You ·made me strong and brave [have emboldened/encouraged my soul with strength]. Psalm 138:3 (EXB)

On the day I needed You, I called, and You responded and infused my soul with strength. Psalm 138:3 (VOICE)

"And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul." This was a true answer to his prayer. If the burden was not removed, yet strength was given wherewith to bear it, and this is an equally effective method of help. It may not be best for us that the trial should come to an end; it may be far more to our advantage that by its pressure we should learn patience. Sweet are the uses of adversity, and our prudent Father in heaven will not deprive us of those benefits. Strength imparted to the soul is an inestimable boon; it means courage, fortitude, assurance, heroism. By his word and Spirit the Lord can make the trembler brave, the sick whole, the weary bright. This soul-might will continue: the man having been strengthened for one emergency remains vigorous for life, and is prepared for all future labours and sufferings; unless, indeed, he throw away his force by unbelief, or pride, or some other sin. When God strengthens, none can weaken. Then is our soul strong indeed when the Lord infuses might into us. The Treasury of David

Today, I had a great example of this truth. When I got up this morning, I was discouraged. My pain level has been “too high” since surgery, and it was taking its toll on my spirit. When I got up this morning and checked Twitter, I saw that Patsy Clairmont was going to be speaking and the church was showing it online, live! God knew that the joy that Patsy would share would not only lift my spirits, but the truth she’d share would be just what “God ordered” for my soul. 

I think one of the points that stood out to me the most was the concept of “hearing aids for the heart”. So often we don’t hear what God is saying because we aren’t listening and we allow so much noise to block God’s voice. Listening to Patsy Clairmont this morning, strengthened my soul and God knew exactly what I needed, so He made sure I saw the tweet, so I could enjoy His message send via Patsy.

To create a positive day, I only have to ask God and He will answer me giving strength to my soul!