Oh, that we would listen to God!

“Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” Psalm 81: 13-16 NLT

We know the cost of not listening to God.

But what happens when we do listen and follow God?

God would quickly subdue our enemies.

God would place God's hands upon our foes.

God would doom those who hated the Lord forever.

God would feed us the finest food.

God would satisfy us with the sweetest of the sweet.

Oh, that we would listen to you, God. Oh that we would follow you. We pray to be those who walk in your path. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

Living according to your own ideas?

“But no, my people wouldn't listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.” Psalm 81: 11-12 NLT

Well, the cost of not listening just went up.

In fact, God says not only do God's people refuse to listen, they didn't want God around in the first place. So, God lets them live according to their own ideas.

You know how that turns out, right?

How often have you lived according to your own ideas rather than God's commands?

Did that work out well for you? Or did you find yourself asking for God to get you out of that mess before it was all over with?

I know I am bad about doing things my way. I get so caught up in my own thoughts and ideas that I don't give God the time to say anything differently. I just go full steam ahead.

The key here is to listen. Listen to God by simply being in silence, in God's presence each day. Listen to God by reading God's word – not for a Bible study or a sermon or any other reason that to hear what God is trying to say to you. Listen to your Christian brothers and sisters. What do they have to say to you? Are you willing to hear it?

For our prayer today, take a minute to clear you mind, invite God in and just listen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

Open up and listen

“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” Psalm 81: 8-10 NLT

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it with good things. I could really use some good things today as I am having a very bad day. At this point I am so stuck in my pity party, I am not sure what those good things would be.

What I do know is that God wants to give us good stuff but we don't listen. We don't open our ears to God's word and we don't hear what God has to say to us. Forget the opening of the mouth – we won't ever do that because we aren't listening to God in the first place.

I like to think I am a good listener. But the One to whom I listen to least is God. I am too busy planning, writing, thinking, answering to hear what God has to say to me. With other people I often find myself preparing what I want to say in response. I don't even give God the time to say anything to me: I am too busy!

What prevents you from listening to God? How wide is your mouth open?

God, help us to listen to you and to be open to all the good you want to bless us with. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

Take a Load Off

I heard an unknown voice say, “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hand from their heavy tasks. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.” Psalm 81: 5b-7 NLT

Now I will take the load from your shoulders.

Take a minute right now to picture the load that you are carrying on your shoulders. Visualize it as though it is physically on either side of your neck. Feel the weight it adds to your body. How big is it? Does it have a color? Does your head feel like it is bending down because of this tremendous weight?

Now visualize the hands of God. They are reaching down from heaven and lifting that load off of your shoulders. Feel your body release that burden. See it being taken away from you. Don't you feel a hundred pounds lighter? Are you not sitting up taller?

God says that God will free you from your heavy tasks and lift the load from your shoulders.

God, we want to believe that you are lifting the weight from our shoulders. Help our unbelief and our stubbornness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

Celebrate!

Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram's horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. Psalm 81: 1-5a NLT

Have a party!

Celebrate!

Take off and enjoy the holiday!

God commands it!

Sing!

Play the percussion instruments, the stringed instruments, any instrument!

Toot your horn for the God who requires that we take time to have a festival.

God has truly set us free.

Now we can celebrate!

God, we sing praises to you. You are our strength. We give you praise and glory! In Jesus

name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims