On Guard Duty!

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.

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. Psalm 91:11 (AMP)

He has ·put his angels in charge of [commanded his angels/messengers concerning] you to ·watch over [keep; guard] ·you wherever you go [all your ways]. Psalm 91:11 (EXB)

Guard: keep, preserve, protect.

Guard: protector Synonyms: bouncer, chaperon, chaperone, defender, escort, guardian, lookout, sentinel, sentry,  shield, ward, watch, watchperson, escort, superintend, supervise, tend, keeper, watchdog.

The Ministry of Angels as employed by God.

1. Official: "he shall give," etc.

2. Personal: "over thee."

3. Constant, "in all thy ways."

The Treasury of David

We have the safeguard of the empire; not only the protection of the King, from which the wicked as outlaws are secluded; but also the keeping of angels, to whom he hath given a charge over us, to keep us in all his ways. So nearly we participate of his divine things, that we have his own guard royal to attend us.  Thomas Adams. 

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee." Not one guardian angel, as some fondly dream, but all the angels are here alluded to. They are the bodyguard of the princes of the blood imperial of heaven, and they have received commission from their Lord and ours to watch carefully over all the interests of the faithful. When men have a charge they become doubly careful, and therefore the angels are represented as bidden by God himself to see to it that the elect are secured. It is down in the marching orders of the hosts of heaven that they take special note of the people who dwell in God. It is not to be wondered at that the servants are bidden to be careful of the comfort of their Master's guests; and we may be quite sure that when they are specially charged by the Lord himself they will carefully discharge the duty imposed upon them. "To keep thee in all thy ways." To be a body-guard, a garrison to the body, soul, and spirit of the saint. The limit of this protection "in all thy ways" is yet no limit to the heart which is right with God. It is not the way of the believer to go out of his way. He keeps in the way, and then the angels keep him. The protection here promised is exceeding broad as to place, for it refers to all our ways, and what do we wish for more? How angels thus keep us we cannot tell. Whether they repel demons, counteract spiritual plots, or even ward off the subtler physical forces of disease, we do not know. Perhaps we shall one day stand amazed at the multiplied services which the unseen bands have rendered to us. The Treasury of David

As I have surgery today, what an awesome comfort to know that I have God’s angels standing guard! WOW! What an amazing thought. Not only is God on watch (Psalm 121), and God is noticing me (Psalm 33), but God has give His angels charge over me—they are on guard duty!

To create a positive day, I only need to be doing what God wants me to do... and rest in the fact that God’s angels will be on guard duty!

Taken Notice of Me!

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.

The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone. Psalm 33:13 (HCSB)

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. Psalm 33:13 (NLT)

"The Lord looketh from heaven." The Lord is represented as dwelling above and looking down below; seeing all things, but peculiarly observing and caring for those who trust in him. It is one of our choicest privileges to be always under our Father's eye, to be never out of sight of our best Friend. The Treasury of David

“Look at me! Look at me!” Remember as kids we wanted the attention of our parents, teachers, etc. We’d do what we could to get their attention, and then we felt so cool, and awesome that they noticed us... or we “made them notice us”. Now as adults, we often think it awesome, when a celebrity, or sport’s star looks our way or gives us an autograph. Guess we really all like to be noticed sometimes. 

Psalm 33:13 tells us that God notices us, and we don’t have to jump up and down or wave our arms or shout... He simply looks and sees us. 

Lord willing tomorrow, I’ll have my broken spinal stimulator removed. I’ll be the ‘center of attention’ tomorrow. The Nurses, Doctors, and staff will be focused on me! The sad part is most of the time, I won’t be aware of their attention as I’ll be asleep. But I’m thankful that they will be “looking down and seeing me”. 

Yet, better than being seen my the Medical staff, I’m being seen by God! He is carefully watching over me and is aware of all the details happening around me. He is “peculiarly observing and caring for me... and I’m never out of sight of my Best Friend!”  Even when I am unaware of what is happening, I can enjoy peace because God is watching!

To create a positive day, I only need to take a moment to remember, God has taken notice of me!

God is on Watch!

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.

Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4 (AMP)

Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. Psalm 121:4 (MSG)

The sense then is, that as God never slumbers even in the smallest degree, we need not be afraid of any harm befalling us while he is asleep. John Calvin 

God is never exhausted, is never weary, is never inattentive. He never closes his eyes on the condition of his people, on the wants of the world. Albert Barnes

Sleepy: asleep,  comatose, dopey, dozy, draggy, drowsy, heavy, hypnotic, inactive, lethargic, listless, out of it, quiet, sleeping, sleepyhead, slow, sluggish, slumberous, slumbersome, snoozy, yawning.

I don’t sleep as much as I’d like. Pain usually wakes me up several times throughout the night, and often I can’t fall back alseep.  When I get none or very little sleep, it causes me to be very sleepy and slow moving the next day. 

God doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t even close His eyes to ‘rest a moment’. Yet, He is also never tried, or sleep deprived. He’s not inactive. He’s not sluggish. He’s always vigilant and diligent. 

As a human, I can’t comprehend that God never sleeps, dozes, or rests His eyes for a moment. But He is God Almighty and is greater than I could ever imagine. 

I find it a great comfort to know that God is alert and watching over me 24/7. To create a positive day, I only need to rest in peace, knowing that God is on watch!

Directed to SOMEONE, not a Nothing!

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.

For all the gods of the nations are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Psalm 96:5 (AMP)

For all human-made, lifeless gods are worthless idols, but the Eternal plotted the vast heavens, shaped every last detail. Psalm 96:5 (VOICE)

Nothings, nonentities.

The Hebrew word 'ĕlı̂yl - means properly "of nothing, nought, empty, vain." The meaning here is, that they were mere nothings; they had no real existence; they were the creations of the imagination; they could not in any sense be regarded as what it was pretended they were; they had no claim to reverence and worship as gods. Of most of them it was a fact that they had no existence at all, but were mere creatures of fancy. Of those that did really exist, as the sun, moon, stars, animals, or the spirits of departed people, though it was true that they had an actual existence, yet it was also true that they had no existence "as gods," or as entitled to worship; and hence, it was also true that the worship offered to them was as vain as that which was offered to mere beings of the imagination. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Idol noun

1. an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.
2. Bible: an image of a deity other than God.
3. any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.
4. a mere image or semblance of something, visible but without substance, as a phantom.
5. a figment of the mind; fantasy.

“Any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.” I often find it interesting how people can say they “love” a celebrity. How can you love someone you actually know so little about? Why do you blindly give devotion to someone who has no clue about you, and doesn’t care about you? 

Nothings. Empty. Am I giving my attention to idols, empty people, or things, rather than God? I can know who God is by studying His Word and seeing His work in Creation. I know that God loves me and cares, because He has demonstrated it over and over. 

My praise and adoration need to be given to a very specific someone—God, Almighty—not a person, or thing that is empty and is a nothing. To create a positive day, I need to make sure my adoration is directed to SOMEONE, not a Nothing! 

Shut Up!

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 62. Here is what I learned.

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. Psalm 62:5 (AMP)

God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? Psalm 62:5 (MSG)

I ·find rest [wait quietly] in God; ·only he gives me hope [for my hope is in him]. Psalm 62:5 (EXB)

Wait: be still (opposed to both speech and motion); be silent, hold peace, quiet self, rest, keep (put to) silence.

Wait, to put it in one term, “Shut Up!” 

Be still silent, O my soul! submit thyself completely, trust immovably, wait patiently. Let none of thy enemies' imaginings, consultings, flatteries, or maledictions cause thee to break the King's peace. Unmingled faith is undismayed. The Treasury of David

One definition of “wait” is to be available or in readiness. If I’m in a constant state of motion and noise (talking), than I am not available or in readiness. For, if I’m talking, I can’t hear the instructions from God! 

I’ve never really enjoyed silence. I like to have the radio on, or CDs playing, or the TV on... just for noise. Yet, in the silence I hear subtle sounds which I miss amidst the noise. If I really want to know what God wants me to do.... I need to “shut up” and listen! 

I’ve noticed that often when I’m nervous, I tend to talk, often faster and louder. Yet, God wants to give me peace, and that comes as I WAIT... yes, “shut up” just be still. 

Only when I “Shut Up”, will I be able to find peace and know what God wants me to do next. Trust in God, and what He is doing and stop making noises that are just jibber-jabber. 

To create a positive day, I need to “shut up” and listen to God, for then and only then will I enjoy the peace that calms my soul.