Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel! For when the Lord restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice. Psalm 14: 7 NLT
Name one thing that could happen in your life at this very moment that would restore you to good health, good credit/finance or good relationships.
If that happened, how would you feel? What would be your immediate response? Who would you tell?
Would you be truly happy or would you then want something else to happen to another area of your life?
All that God's people want is to be be restored to Mount Zion. All God's people want is to be saved. When that happens, the people will rejoice. When that occurs, the people will shout with joy. There is no other response, no higher wish, no deeper desire than to be restored not to a place but to God. For Mount Zion is where God dwells for the people of the Old Testament. When one is restored to God, one has true joy. Everything else in life pales in comparison.
How is your current relationship with God? Hanging on by a thread? Or tightly woven? If you could restore your relationship with God this very moment, how would you feel? How would you respond? Who would you tell?
Would restoring your relationship with God change the answer to the very first question we asked ourselves today?
God, restore us to you. Bring us your salvation. Deepen our relationship with you, the Divine. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label Psalm 14. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 14. Show all posts
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Will They Ever Learn?
Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread; they wouldn't think of praying to the Lord. Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him. The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed but the Lord will protect his people. Psalm 14: 4-6 NLT
This verse makes me think of two occurrences in the Old Testament. The first is when the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt. When Moses starts coming to Pharaoh, Pharaoh does not let God's people go but increases their work. The Egyptians seem to be eating the Israelites like bread.
The second occasion that I am thinking of is when the Israelites are sent into exile and Jerusalem is destroyed. The glory of the Lord has left God's chosen people and they are forced to work and life in Babylon, far from God. The wicked have frustrated the plans of the oppressed but God remains with God's people, no matter how far from home they are.
When in your life have you been in slavery? I don't mean literally sold on the block but when have you felt as though you were a slave to someone else's desires and commands? Did you feel like you were being gobbled up like a hot Krispy Kreme donut?
When in your life have you felt in exile? Were you truly far from home? Or did you just feel cut off from everything familiar, including the Lord? Did you feel like your plans were being frustrated?
God is with those who obey him. God is going to protect God's people. You may feel swallowed up or oppressed but God has not forgotten you.
God, thank you for always knowing where we are and what we are facing in life. Even when we don't feel your presence, help us to remember you are still with us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
This verse makes me think of two occurrences in the Old Testament. The first is when the Israelites were in slavery in Egypt. When Moses starts coming to Pharaoh, Pharaoh does not let God's people go but increases their work. The Egyptians seem to be eating the Israelites like bread.
The second occasion that I am thinking of is when the Israelites are sent into exile and Jerusalem is destroyed. The glory of the Lord has left God's chosen people and they are forced to work and life in Babylon, far from God. The wicked have frustrated the plans of the oppressed but God remains with God's people, no matter how far from home they are.
When in your life have you been in slavery? I don't mean literally sold on the block but when have you felt as though you were a slave to someone else's desires and commands? Did you feel like you were being gobbled up like a hot Krispy Kreme donut?
When in your life have you felt in exile? Were you truly far from home? Or did you just feel cut off from everything familiar, including the Lord? Did you feel like your plans were being frustrated?
God is with those who obey him. God is going to protect God's people. You may feel swallowed up or oppressed but God has not forgotten you.
God, thank you for always knowing where we are and what we are facing in life. Even when we don't feel your presence, help us to remember you are still with us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Seek Understanding. Find God.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one! Psalm 14 2-3 NLT
There are times in our lives when the whole world does seem corrupt. We look at all the misery, suffering, debauchery, crime, hatred and violence around the world and it simply seems hopeless. Why bother at all? Why even try to do anything for anyone? Just take care of yourself and pray nothing worse happens to you.
But God is looking for one with real understanding.
God does want someone seeking God.
There is some action on the part of the human race that God is seeking. We are not to turn inward. We are to try to come to grasp with all the poverty, disease and sin. We are to ask why. We are to seek wisdom. We are to wrestle with the hard questions.
We are to seek God.
For it is not in receiving answers that we find peace and hope. It is in the act of trying to understand that we find God and turn to actively pursue God's will.
We don't get answers. We get God.
That's even better.
God, look down on the entire human race. See if there is one with real understanding. See if there is one who has not turned away from you. See if there is one who seeks your face. And may that someone be each of us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
There are times in our lives when the whole world does seem corrupt. We look at all the misery, suffering, debauchery, crime, hatred and violence around the world and it simply seems hopeless. Why bother at all? Why even try to do anything for anyone? Just take care of yourself and pray nothing worse happens to you.
But God is looking for one with real understanding.
God does want someone seeking God.
There is some action on the part of the human race that God is seeking. We are not to turn inward. We are to try to come to grasp with all the poverty, disease and sin. We are to ask why. We are to seek wisdom. We are to wrestle with the hard questions.
We are to seek God.
For it is not in receiving answers that we find peace and hope. It is in the act of trying to understand that we find God and turn to actively pursue God's will.
We don't get answers. We get God.
That's even better.
God, look down on the entire human race. See if there is one with real understanding. See if there is one who has not turned away from you. See if there is one who seeks your face. And may that someone be each of us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
Praying for our Leaders
Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good! Psalm 14: 1 NLT
There are a lot of people in this modern world that say in their hearts,"There is no God." The problem then is that they tend to make themselves into a god. Once you take God out of your heart, you have no compass, no real moral stance and often no accountability. I have said on more than one occasion that I would rather have a President who is of another religion rather than one who is atheist. Those that call themselves Christian, no matter what party they are affiliated with, already tend to lose touch with God in their hearts. I always say I am going to pray for each president, but I often just end up criticizing them throughout their term. If there is anyone who needs prayer, it is the leader of our country!
If we are truly wanting a leader who is not a fool, who has a hedge of protection around them to prevent corruption, and whose actions are not evil but good, then we need a leader who says, "There is a God!" in their heart of hearts. Will you commit with me to pray for your leaders - local, statewide and of your country?
Let us pray:
God, I lift up to you all who hold leadership positions in our nation:
I lift up to you all who hold leadership positions in our state or providence:
I lift up to you all who hold leadership positions in my local town/village or city:
I especially pray that they hold you in their hearts, that you grant them wisdom and that you help them to do the most good for the people they lead. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
There are a lot of people in this modern world that say in their hearts,"There is no God." The problem then is that they tend to make themselves into a god. Once you take God out of your heart, you have no compass, no real moral stance and often no accountability. I have said on more than one occasion that I would rather have a President who is of another religion rather than one who is atheist. Those that call themselves Christian, no matter what party they are affiliated with, already tend to lose touch with God in their hearts. I always say I am going to pray for each president, but I often just end up criticizing them throughout their term. If there is anyone who needs prayer, it is the leader of our country!
If we are truly wanting a leader who is not a fool, who has a hedge of protection around them to prevent corruption, and whose actions are not evil but good, then we need a leader who says, "There is a God!" in their heart of hearts. Will you commit with me to pray for your leaders - local, statewide and of your country?
Let us pray:
God, I lift up to you all who hold leadership positions in our nation:
I lift up to you all who hold leadership positions in our state or providence:
I lift up to you all who hold leadership positions in my local town/village or city:
I especially pray that they hold you in their hearts, that you grant them wisdom and that you help them to do the most good for the people they lead. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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