Stay Put

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 91. Here is what I learned.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. Psalm 91:1 (AMP)

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” Psalm 91:1 (EXB)

He who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually, Psalm 91:1 (YLT)

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High." Note, he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High is not he that conjures up one or two slight and fleeting acts of hope in him, but the man that places in him an assiduous and constant confidence. In this way he establishes for himself in God by that full trust, a home, a dwelling-place, a mansion,... The Hebrew for he that dwelleth, is ישׁן, that is, dwelling in quietude, and resting, enduring and remaining with constancy.  Le Blanc

The truth is that I need to be dwelling in that secret place long before “trouble” comes. How many times have I forgotten God in my daily life to remember Him when trouble appears? 

When I’m sitting down—staying put—in the secret place... during the “good times”, I not only enjoy God’s presence, but I learn more about God and am already safe when troubles come. 

Job, was a man who was dwelling in the secret place BEFORE he lost his family, riches, etc. He had already taken the time to know God BEFORE anything ‘bad’ happened. And since Job knew God was worthy of praise and honor, simply because HE was GOD—Job was confident that no matter what bad things happened, God would remain God! 

Resting, staying put, in the presence of God should be a  constant—during good times, so when the bad times come, I already am safe in secure knowing that God is still God, worthy of praise and honor. 

To create a positive day, I must first stay put in God’s presence, and take the time to get to know God—that will prepare me for whatever may come on any given day. 

Complete Protection

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 121. Here is what I learned.

The Lord will ·guard [watch] you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:8 (EXB)

He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always. Psalm 121:8 (MSG)

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:8 (AMP)

“Thy going out and thy coming in," marks the completeness of the protection, extending to all that the man is and that he does. J. J. Stewart Perowne

Many insurance companies use phrases such as ”like a good neighbor.. is there” or “you’re in goo hands” to signify that they will be there when you need them. However, if you’ve had to deal with insurance companies, often you are “put on hold” or they don’t seem to there when you do need them. 

However, God provides COMPLETE PROTECTION. God is really there 24/7. He never leaves and is  EVER-PRESENT. 

Think about that concept... COMPLETE PROTECTION. That is a very assuring concept. That doesn’t mean that “bad things won’t happen” rather, that God only allows things to happen to further His gospel and He is right there to provide the support and whatever help we need. Nothing that happens to us surprises God... He knows all. 

To create a positive day, I only have to rest in the Complete Protection that God provides and realize that when things seem to be going wrong, remember that God is at work and that God has a perfect plan. 

Great Privileges

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 117. Here is what I learned.

Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people! His love has taken over our lives; God’s faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah! Psalm 117 (MSG)

The privilege of these servants: that, as to the Jews, so also to the Gentiles, who know and serve God the Saviour, eternal life and blessedness are brought, assured in this life, and prepared in heaven. Mollerus

I can’t even fathom the great goodness of God. How do I begin to understand Who God is and what He has done and has planned for me? 

Perhaps you are thinking, “But wait, you live in chronic pain... how can you say that God is good?” Because God’s goodness isn’t based on me, or my life on earth. Rather His goodness is based on Him and His plan of eternity. 

If I look at things from my perspective of only wanting to feel good and do things I enjoy... well that’s not even reality. There are things we must do each and every day that we don’t necessarily enjoy. Maybe you don’t like vacuuming, or dusting. Or maybe going to work each day is drudgery. But you still do those things, knowing that it is all necessary. There are times when God allows “bad things” to happen in our lives so that His ultimate will and purpose can be accomplished. But from God’s perspective, they are not “bad things” rather they are only necessary to bring glory and honor to Him, and share His news of salvation. 

Sometimes, God allows things in our lives so that we first of all will recognize God for Who He is–God Almighty. Then we will realize that we are not in control of things, rather He is. And lastly, realize that His purpose and plan is based on eternal outcomes, not just “feeling good” right now. 

Privilege of knowing God.

Privilege of experiencing God’s blessings.

Privilege of serving God.

Privilege of spending eternity with God.

Each of those privileges in and of itself should produce praise to God. And if I consider them altogether, I should be bursting with praise for God Almighty. 

To create a positive day, it’s all about realizing the great privileges that are mine because of God Almighty’s love. 

Recognize True Goodness

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.

The Lord is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on. Psalm 100:5 (NCV)

Good: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, fine, glad, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, the best, precious.

"For the Lord is good." This sums up his character and contains a mass of reasons for praise. He is good, gracious, kind, bountiful, loving; yea, God is love. He who does not praise the good is not good himself. The kind of praise inculcated in the Psalm, viz. that of joy and gladness, is most fitly urged upon us by an argument from the goodness of God. The Treasury of David

Goodness is a very comprehensive quality. It is love, kindness, benevolence, that which leads you to wish well and to do good to those around you; and the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, because it is so full of his works and ways, which are the fruits and manifestations of his goodness. Pulpit Commentary Homiletics

God is good. God Himself is good. He is not only full of goodness, He is good. Because He is good, He does good things. However, His goodness is not based on what He does, rather what He does is because He is good. 

We often measure of the ‘goodness’ of people by how generous they are, how much they give or do for others. Yet, just because someone DOES something good, does not make them “good”.  Their motives could be very wrong.—like trying to buy favor or a position, etc. 

Yet, because God is good—first and foremost—He graciously does good. His character is that of goodness and that produces kindness. In God we can recognize true goodness!

But if God is good, why do bad things happen? The ultimate answer to that is “sin”. God gave us free-will, to make choices. And sin has consequences. When God allows bad things to happen, it could be for several reasons: 1. to judge, or bring punishment for disobedience  2. to bring glory to Himself 3. to get our attention, so that we acknowledge Who God is.  Also remember, that God may have reasons which we cannot understand.

Think of a parent/child relationship.  Many times the parent does something which the child sees as “not good” but in reality the parent knows that it is “very good”. The parent‘s action or lack of action, might be for protection, teaching, discipline, or the timing. The same is true of God, our Father. What we may think is “good” is not good at all, and what we think of as “bad” may be the best!    

God is good. That is a truth based upon God Almighty Himself. He can not change, therefore, He was, He is, and always will be good. And because He is good, He does good things for us.

What good things has God done for you lately? He’s done so much for me! 1. He provided a beautiful sunrise this morning. 2. He sent birds to sing to me this morning. 3. He made me laugh as the silly squirrels played “tag” through the snow this morning. Those are just a few things that God in His goodness, gave to me this morning. 

To create a positive day, I need to stop and recognize true goodness—God Himself; then praise God because He is good; then, I need to stop and thank God for sharing His goodness with me.