First Response to Trouble
Psalm 59
Building a Community centered on Love
This blog is where I do a Bible Reading. I read a passage from the Bible and then I write down my own thoughts on what I read. I would love to know your thoughts as well!
Showing posts with label Psalm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 April 2016
Bible Reading #167 - First Response to Trouble
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Bible Reading with DragoNate #159
Make Known What God has Done
Psalm 105
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 1) "Give thanks to the LORD. Call on him. Make known among the nations what he has done." (v. 5) "Remember the miracles he performed, the amazing things he did, and the judgments he pronounced,"
Sunday, 21 February 2016
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #152
A Downcast Soul
Psalm 42
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 2) "My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When may I come to see God's face?" (v.11) "Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God."
My Thoughts
What do you do when you are downcast or discouraged? Look up to God of course. God is our Rock and we can stand firm in Him. Let God encourage you again. Whenever you are feeling discouraged, just talk to God. Give it to Him and ask for courage.
There have been many times I feel discouraged about things. I always talk to God. He helps me to feel better. Not always to I feel better about the specific situation, but I definitely feel better in general. Just ask God to pour over you His grace and His peace. You may be surprised how much better you feel after.
Of course, you can always talk to a good friend, mentor or family member, whether or not you've talked to God already. Talk to God before if you want and you'll feel a bit better for when you talk to whoever else. If you talk to them first, they'll probably pray with you anyway.
This feeling doesn't last forever, unless you let it. It does get better. Feelings of discouragement or anything else for that matter--depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, or any other negative feelings. They don't last forever. The sooner you deal with them, the better it will be and the less time they will last.
Whenever you have strong feelings, you should share it with someone. Positive or negative feelings, you should share it. Especially negative, so that it can be dealt with. Don't forget to talk to God though. Share your positive and negative feelings with God as well!
There have been many times I feel discouraged about things. I always talk to God. He helps me to feel better. Not always to I feel better about the specific situation, but I definitely feel better in general. Just ask God to pour over you His grace and His peace. You may be surprised how much better you feel after.
Of course, you can always talk to a good friend, mentor or family member, whether or not you've talked to God already. Talk to God before if you want and you'll feel a bit better for when you talk to whoever else. If you talk to them first, they'll probably pray with you anyway.
This feeling doesn't last forever, unless you let it. It does get better. Feelings of discouragement or anything else for that matter--depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, or any other negative feelings. They don't last forever. The sooner you deal with them, the better it will be and the less time they will last.
Whenever you have strong feelings, you should share it with someone. Positive or negative feelings, you should share it. Especially negative, so that it can be dealt with. Don't forget to talk to God though. Share your positive and negative feelings with God as well!
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #148
Hate Evil
Psalm 97
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 10) "Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked."
My Thoughts
If you love God, you will hate evil. Not all people who don't believe in or follow God are evil or wicked. Sometimes it may seem like that's what is being said, but is not. The wicked are against God and against love and good. God is good and God is love, so if you are against either of those or you are against God, that what qualifies as wicked.
Unfortunately though, no matter how good a person you are, if you deny that God exists or decide not to follow Him. In other words, if you are unfaithful to God, how can you expect God to be faithful to you? If you don't believe in Him and don't accept Him, He will not accept you into heaven.
Now when the Bible says to hate evil, it does not mean to hate evil people or to hate any person at all. 'Hate the sin, not the sinner.' That's what this is about. We are called to love people, including our enemies, and to hate evil. You love a person, but you do not have to love what they do or have done.
I have many different friends that are of different faiths and beliefs and that like different things and that have done certain things. I love all of my friends the same. I don't agree with certain things some have done, and I don't agree with certain things some do or think. That doesn't mean I hate them for it, it just means that I don't like or agree with certain things.
The bad things that people do, I hate. The bad things I have done, I hate. When someone does something bad, especially if it is really bad, you do get a different perspective of them, whether you haven't known them long or you've known them forever. Don't lose love for them as a person. You don't have to love them enough to invite them into your home, but love them as a person.
Hate the evil that someone does, but do not hate the person. People can change. The evil things someone has done can be stopped and they can turn around from it. That's what matters and that is why we can't hate the person, because they can become good.
Unfortunately though, no matter how good a person you are, if you deny that God exists or decide not to follow Him. In other words, if you are unfaithful to God, how can you expect God to be faithful to you? If you don't believe in Him and don't accept Him, He will not accept you into heaven.
Now when the Bible says to hate evil, it does not mean to hate evil people or to hate any person at all. 'Hate the sin, not the sinner.' That's what this is about. We are called to love people, including our enemies, and to hate evil. You love a person, but you do not have to love what they do or have done.
I have many different friends that are of different faiths and beliefs and that like different things and that have done certain things. I love all of my friends the same. I don't agree with certain things some have done, and I don't agree with certain things some do or think. That doesn't mean I hate them for it, it just means that I don't like or agree with certain things.
The bad things that people do, I hate. The bad things I have done, I hate. When someone does something bad, especially if it is really bad, you do get a different perspective of them, whether you haven't known them long or you've known them forever. Don't lose love for them as a person. You don't have to love them enough to invite them into your home, but love them as a person.
Hate the evil that someone does, but do not hate the person. People can change. The evil things someone has done can be stopped and they can turn around from it. That's what matters and that is why we can't hate the person, because they can become good.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #126
Confession
Psalm 51
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 4) "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." (v. 10) "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (v. 12) "Restore me to the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
My Thoughts
David sinned against God by taking Bathsheba for himself and having her husband killed so that he could. Even David, who was a man after God's own heart,sinned. We all do. David acknowledged his sin though and gave it to God. He still had consequences, like losing his son who he had with Bathsheba. God restored David though, because he sincerely confessed his sin.
When you sin and you re overcome with guilt and you face the consequences of it, you need to forgive yourself and ten ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive you, you need only ask sincerely. If your heart is in the right place, then rest assured that God has forgiven you. Ask Him to restore you as well, and He will most definitely do that.
When David confessed, he did so publicly, I believe mainly because everyone knew about it. What he did affected may people, not just himself or a couple people. When you confess your sin, I don't believe you need to do so publicly. If it something just between you and God, you need only confess it to God. If your sin affected others, then it may be wise to confess to them as well and let them know that you are truly sorry for it and that you have given it to God. Even then, the most important thing is that you forgive yourself and confess it to God.
Confessing your sins is an important part of healing. If you keep it covered up or try to ignore it or pretend it didn't happen, you are lying to yourself and to God and to whoever else it affects. That is like keeping anger or a grudge or sadness bottled up inside. It will wreck you in the meantime and eventually it will erupt. When that happens, it will not be good at all.
To avoid all this, release yourself from sin's grasp and Satan's clutches by forgiving yourself and confessing to God. You really will feel so much better after doing so.
When you sin and you re overcome with guilt and you face the consequences of it, you need to forgive yourself and ten ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive you, you need only ask sincerely. If your heart is in the right place, then rest assured that God has forgiven you. Ask Him to restore you as well, and He will most definitely do that.
When David confessed, he did so publicly, I believe mainly because everyone knew about it. What he did affected may people, not just himself or a couple people. When you confess your sin, I don't believe you need to do so publicly. If it something just between you and God, you need only confess it to God. If your sin affected others, then it may be wise to confess to them as well and let them know that you are truly sorry for it and that you have given it to God. Even then, the most important thing is that you forgive yourself and confess it to God.
Confessing your sins is an important part of healing. If you keep it covered up or try to ignore it or pretend it didn't happen, you are lying to yourself and to God and to whoever else it affects. That is like keeping anger or a grudge or sadness bottled up inside. It will wreck you in the meantime and eventually it will erupt. When that happens, it will not be good at all.
To avoid all this, release yourself from sin's grasp and Satan's clutches by forgiving yourself and confessing to God. You really will feel so much better after doing so.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Thursday, 7 January 2016
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #107
Envious of the Wicked
Psalm 73
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 2-3) "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." (v. 12) "This is what the wicked are like--always carefree, they increase in wealth." (v. 27-28) "Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of your deeds."
My Thoughts
This post will tie in very well with my post on Why Do the Wicked Prosper? It is very similar, but focusing on a different angle. This post is about others' feelings on why this is this way.
The wicked live to have the good life, and that's just what they achieve. They become rich, yet selfish, hoarding possessions. Famous, yet alone. Powerful, yet corrupt. Everything the wicked gain will ultimately be lost. They rely on all they have and all they can do and who they know, instead of relying on God. What happens when they lose one of those things? Their life completely falls apart.
The righteous live to have the God life, and that's just what they achieve. They become rich, yet selfless, without the need or possessions. Not famous, but well known on a personal level. Powerful through God, having influence with wisdom. Everything they lose will ultimately be gained. They rely on God and not on themselves. Their losses don't matter much because they cannot lose God and God holds their lives together so they don't fall apart.
Which is better in your opinion? To have everything you ever wanted, only to lose it all in the end? Or to have few possessions, but much deeper things and to gain more in the end? I would choose to have little now, and much later, than to have everything now, and nothing later. When later comes, eternity follows. Why have lots for while and none for eternity, when you can have little for a while and much for eternity?
The wicked live to have the good life, and that's just what they achieve. They become rich, yet selfish, hoarding possessions. Famous, yet alone. Powerful, yet corrupt. Everything the wicked gain will ultimately be lost. They rely on all they have and all they can do and who they know, instead of relying on God. What happens when they lose one of those things? Their life completely falls apart.
The righteous live to have the God life, and that's just what they achieve. They become rich, yet selfless, without the need or possessions. Not famous, but well known on a personal level. Powerful through God, having influence with wisdom. Everything they lose will ultimately be gained. They rely on God and not on themselves. Their losses don't matter much because they cannot lose God and God holds their lives together so they don't fall apart.
Which is better in your opinion? To have everything you ever wanted, only to lose it all in the end? Or to have few possessions, but much deeper things and to gain more in the end? I would choose to have little now, and much later, than to have everything now, and nothing later. When later comes, eternity follows. Why have lots for while and none for eternity, when you can have little for a while and much for eternity?
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Saturday, 26 December 2015
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #95
Protection From God
Psalm 91
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 4-6) "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday." (v. 9-10) "If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the Lord, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent."
My Thoughts
What do you think of when you think of protection? I think of exactly what verse 10 says: "no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near you." We have to know, though, that God never says this. This is the Psalmist saying this. It is not false either. God will protect us, and He does protect us, but He does not make it so nothing will ever harm us.
Look at what verse 5 says at the very beginning. "You will not fear..." See, God does allow bad things to happen. He does not cause them, but He does allow them. Sometimes He does actually protect us from harm, just not always. Mainly, His protection takes a different form. It has to do with our spirit rather than our physical selves.
God's protection for us is from fears and even other things that may harm us spiritually. Fear is something that can keep us from God. Fear is what Satan wants us to live in constantly so that he has some kind of control over us. If we are fearful of things that we have no need to fear, that makes us paranoid. When you are living like that, you are living in constant fear of things that may or may not happen and that keeps you from living in God's grace.
See, when you make your dwelling in God and you are truly dwelling in Him, you will not fear these kinds of things. Mind you, if you do, that does not mean that you are a hypocrite or that you are not truly in God or something. It just means that you have may need some kind of help and you need to become stronger in God. The biggest thing is that you will not have any need to fear those things.
Why you will not have any need to fear those things is because, if you are in God, those things cannot truly harm you. Even if something does happen to you, it cannot take you away from God. We have no need to fear anything because, no matter what happens, nothing can ever take us away from God. That is what is important to remember.
Look at what verse 5 says at the very beginning. "You will not fear..." See, God does allow bad things to happen. He does not cause them, but He does allow them. Sometimes He does actually protect us from harm, just not always. Mainly, His protection takes a different form. It has to do with our spirit rather than our physical selves.
God's protection for us is from fears and even other things that may harm us spiritually. Fear is something that can keep us from God. Fear is what Satan wants us to live in constantly so that he has some kind of control over us. If we are fearful of things that we have no need to fear, that makes us paranoid. When you are living like that, you are living in constant fear of things that may or may not happen and that keeps you from living in God's grace.
See, when you make your dwelling in God and you are truly dwelling in Him, you will not fear these kinds of things. Mind you, if you do, that does not mean that you are a hypocrite or that you are not truly in God or something. It just means that you have may need some kind of help and you need to become stronger in God. The biggest thing is that you will not have any need to fear those things.
Why you will not have any need to fear those things is because, if you are in God, those things cannot truly harm you. Even if something does happen to you, it cannot take you away from God. We have no need to fear anything because, no matter what happens, nothing can ever take us away from God. That is what is important to remember.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #87
Pray for Your Enemies
Psalm 35
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 27) "May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, 'The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.' "
My Thoughts
Okay, I have to be honest here. When I first read this, I chose this verse because I, for some reason thought the word 'vindication' had something to do with being attacked or oppressed. David seems to be praying against his enemies in this whole Psalm, saying things like "May those who seek my life be put to shame..." and to ruin and disgrace. I was obviously wrong about the word 'vindication' because it means to have your name cleared.
The title of this post still stands and still works perfectly fine. If David was saying these things against his enemies, that's fine, but we can still do the opposite and pray for our enemies. Why would you want to pray for your enemies? Well, we are supposed to love them as well, right? We usually pray for those we love, however it is that we love them.
We should never have malicious thoughts for our enemies because, whether they deserve it or not, whether we feel that way or not, whether we are justified in feeling that way or not, they are still evil thoughts. Evil thoughts are never appreciated by God and never something that He wants from us. God is the one who ultimately gives punishment anyway, and His punishment is ultimate. Nothing we could ever think of could ever come close to what God could do. People are not always mean to others by malicious choice. Sometimes that is all they know because that is all they got, or sometimes it's because of things that have happened to them. You never know what could have happened in someone else's life.
It is very difficult to let go of what someone has done to you sometimes. The worse their deed, the harder it is usually. It may take some time, and that is perfectly alright. Once you are able to forgive and move past it, you can't hold a grudge. Holding a grudge is not letting go. If you never want anything to do with them again, that's fine, but how would it be if you could bless them?
If you could bless those who hurt you in return for their deeds, or even pray positively for them, you would have the ultimate comeback! People love to one-up each other, and if you blessed in return for a curse, that would be the best thing you could possibly do. Do that, give a blessing to those who hurt you from now on. You don't have to do it to their face, you can just talk to God. If you cannot think of a way to bless them, ask God to bless them however He chooses to. After all, God does know best.
If you are unable to give a blessing to them, then try praying positive things for them. If the person stole from you, pray that they would realize stealing is wrong. If they hurt you with words, pray that they would realize how hurtful their words are. Pray that they would change from these things. That's still a positive request. The next time someone hurts you, give yourself time to cool down from how you feel about it, then pray for them, and if you can, bless them.
The title of this post still stands and still works perfectly fine. If David was saying these things against his enemies, that's fine, but we can still do the opposite and pray for our enemies. Why would you want to pray for your enemies? Well, we are supposed to love them as well, right? We usually pray for those we love, however it is that we love them.
We should never have malicious thoughts for our enemies because, whether they deserve it or not, whether we feel that way or not, whether we are justified in feeling that way or not, they are still evil thoughts. Evil thoughts are never appreciated by God and never something that He wants from us. God is the one who ultimately gives punishment anyway, and His punishment is ultimate. Nothing we could ever think of could ever come close to what God could do. People are not always mean to others by malicious choice. Sometimes that is all they know because that is all they got, or sometimes it's because of things that have happened to them. You never know what could have happened in someone else's life.
It is very difficult to let go of what someone has done to you sometimes. The worse their deed, the harder it is usually. It may take some time, and that is perfectly alright. Once you are able to forgive and move past it, you can't hold a grudge. Holding a grudge is not letting go. If you never want anything to do with them again, that's fine, but how would it be if you could bless them?
If you could bless those who hurt you in return for their deeds, or even pray positively for them, you would have the ultimate comeback! People love to one-up each other, and if you blessed in return for a curse, that would be the best thing you could possibly do. Do that, give a blessing to those who hurt you from now on. You don't have to do it to their face, you can just talk to God. If you cannot think of a way to bless them, ask God to bless them however He chooses to. After all, God does know best.
If you are unable to give a blessing to them, then try praying positive things for them. If the person stole from you, pray that they would realize stealing is wrong. If they hurt you with words, pray that they would realize how hurtful their words are. Pray that they would change from these things. That's still a positive request. The next time someone hurts you, give yourself time to cool down from how you feel about it, then pray for them, and if you can, bless them.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #81
Rejoice in the Lord
Psalm 149
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 2) "Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King." (v. 4) "For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation."
My Thoughts
Rejoice in the Lord! God is so good, isn't He? Sometimes we forget to praise God, and we never should because He is our Maker! God is the one who created us, by His own hand, each of us unique in our own way and hand crafted specifically in such a way that no one else could ever compare to another.
It is good and important for us to remember to praise God, in fact, He is the only one we should ever praise. In this case, I mean praise as in worship. You can praise your child or pet without worshiping them. Even if you 'don't have time' to praise God, you really do. Your mind is never totally blank, you're probably always thinking about something.
You can take the time to say thank you to God. That's all it takes, and it isn't much, but it means a lot. God delights in us, and the salvation that He crowns us with comes from His Son, Jesus. Throughout your day, when good things happen, you can just quickly say "Thank you, Father, for..." because all good things come from Him. Even the bad, God can bring good out of. He is so amazing!
That's another way: you see something beautiful in nature, or wherever really, and you can say, "Father, you are amazing!" Doesn't have to be nature, really, God can use a painting or a sculpture or a building or even a car to send us a message or to encourage us. That's the beauty of Him; God can use anything to do anything He wants!
If you can remember to just say "Thank you" to God every once in a while, I guarantee you will have even a little bit more joy in your life. It makes God so happy when we thank Him, and it will make us happy when we do as well.
It is good and important for us to remember to praise God, in fact, He is the only one we should ever praise. In this case, I mean praise as in worship. You can praise your child or pet without worshiping them. Even if you 'don't have time' to praise God, you really do. Your mind is never totally blank, you're probably always thinking about something.
You can take the time to say thank you to God. That's all it takes, and it isn't much, but it means a lot. God delights in us, and the salvation that He crowns us with comes from His Son, Jesus. Throughout your day, when good things happen, you can just quickly say "Thank you, Father, for..." because all good things come from Him. Even the bad, God can bring good out of. He is so amazing!
That's another way: you see something beautiful in nature, or wherever really, and you can say, "Father, you are amazing!" Doesn't have to be nature, really, God can use a painting or a sculpture or a building or even a car to send us a message or to encourage us. That's the beauty of Him; God can use anything to do anything He wants!
If you can remember to just say "Thank you" to God every once in a while, I guarantee you will have even a little bit more joy in your life. It makes God so happy when we thank Him, and it will make us happy when we do as well.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #37
Refuge and Strong Tower
Psalm 60-61
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(60 v. 11-12) "Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory and He will trample down our enemies." (61 v. 3) "For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."
My Thoughts
A refuge is a place where you can escape harm and ind safety. There are lots of refugees coming to Canada and the United States these days. They come because they want the freedom that is offered in these countries, which they don't have in their own countries. Some come because they are oppressed in their country. People everywhere seek refuge for different things.
When we are troubled, we should seek God first. When we seek God first, He give us comfort and guidance. Our heavenly Father is our refuge. He will guide us on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. God gave His people victory time and again throughout history. On their way to the land God had promised to them, they had to fight quite a few battles, then also they had to drive out the nations living in their land as well. God gave victory in so many battles. Those battles are not all with the sword.
We all have battles sometimes. Sometimes it actually is a real fight with another person or group. Other times, it's an illness, a habit, a hurt, or some kind of struggle. Maybe a bad marriage or a divorce or a job loss. God is our refuge in these times and all. Seek Him first, God will give you the victory. Sometimes the victory won't be how you expect it to be, and that's alright.
As a strong tower, God is our protection. He is our protection from the enemy. The enemy is Satan and as long as God is on our side, there is nothing Satan can do to harm us. Unless we let him. Satan may cause bad times for us, but if we stay close to God, none of his tactics will prevail. He will be crushed underneath our feet and we will be victorious in Christ.
Father God is always there for us, He never leaves us or forsakes us. Keep your focus on God and you will prevail over every ploy from Satan. Stay focused always on God so that when you do go through a hard time, you don't lose sight of God or His plan for you in your life. Starting this week, talk to God about any problems you have, any hurt you feel, anyone whom you may be quarreling with or anything else. Talk to God and ask Him what He wants from you in those situations, how He wants you to act. Then listen to His voice and be obedient. If you don't hear anything, that's alright, God will tell you or show you when the time is right.
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When we are troubled, we should seek God first. When we seek God first, He give us comfort and guidance. Our heavenly Father is our refuge. He will guide us on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. God gave His people victory time and again throughout history. On their way to the land God had promised to them, they had to fight quite a few battles, then also they had to drive out the nations living in their land as well. God gave victory in so many battles. Those battles are not all with the sword.
We all have battles sometimes. Sometimes it actually is a real fight with another person or group. Other times, it's an illness, a habit, a hurt, or some kind of struggle. Maybe a bad marriage or a divorce or a job loss. God is our refuge in these times and all. Seek Him first, God will give you the victory. Sometimes the victory won't be how you expect it to be, and that's alright.
As a strong tower, God is our protection. He is our protection from the enemy. The enemy is Satan and as long as God is on our side, there is nothing Satan can do to harm us. Unless we let him. Satan may cause bad times for us, but if we stay close to God, none of his tactics will prevail. He will be crushed underneath our feet and we will be victorious in Christ.
Father God is always there for us, He never leaves us or forsakes us. Keep your focus on God and you will prevail over every ploy from Satan. Stay focused always on God so that when you do go through a hard time, you don't lose sight of God or His plan for you in your life. Starting this week, talk to God about any problems you have, any hurt you feel, anyone whom you may be quarreling with or anything else. Talk to God and ask Him what He wants from you in those situations, how He wants you to act. Then listen to His voice and be obedient. If you don't hear anything, that's alright, God will tell you or show you when the time is right.
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Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Daily Bible Reading with DragoNate #31
Don't Forget God
Psalm 106
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 7) "When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses..." (v.8) "Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known." (v. 13) "But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel." (v. 21) "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt," (v.44-45) "But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented."
My Thoughts
Man, the Israelites were just totally bent on rebellion. Many times over, they disobeyed God and forgot Him. They did whatever they wanted and that was it. Psalm 106 tells us of some of things that God had done for the Israelites, and of how the Israelites continued to leave God and disobey Him, despite what He had done and continued to do.
God even gave the Israelites the things that they wanted. They wanted a king to rule over them like all the other nations had, God gave them what they wanted, with a warning. When the Israelites fell on hard times and they were taken captive, that is when they decided to cry out to God and say that they would do anything if God just saved them. God, out of His great love, saves them only for them to turn away from God yet again. Lather, rinse and repeat.
Please don't follow the example of the Israelites here. It is good for us to follow God, but it is wrong of us to follow Him only on our terms. That's not how God works. If you are not walking with God and you only cry out to Him when you are going through rough times, then sooner or later, God isn't going to help you anymore. God knows your heart and He knows if you are going to turn away from Him again and again. He will give you the chance to change a few times, but eventually He will say enough is enough. That is, unless you truly turn back to Him for good.
We can't live always expecting God to be there for us when we live choosing to ignore God until we desperately need Him. Would that work with anyone else? Your parents, your friends, your aunts and uncles? More than likely not. We need to live according to God's Word and what God wants for us, and we need to live fully for Him alone. We cannot stray from the path that God has set before us and still expect that He will be there for us. God is different than other people though. Other people may give you only one or two chances and no more. God will give you until the day you die to repent, but that doesn't mean that He will answer your call if you won't answer His.
Please don't ever forget about God or what He has done for you or given you or even done through you. You are so important to God, no matter what you have done. Nothing you could ever do can ever take away His love for you or even make Him love you less. God can only ever love you more. Even if we make Him angry with us, that doesn't mean that His love is diminished. Always remember Him because He will always remember you, without fail.
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God even gave the Israelites the things that they wanted. They wanted a king to rule over them like all the other nations had, God gave them what they wanted, with a warning. When the Israelites fell on hard times and they were taken captive, that is when they decided to cry out to God and say that they would do anything if God just saved them. God, out of His great love, saves them only for them to turn away from God yet again. Lather, rinse and repeat.
Please don't follow the example of the Israelites here. It is good for us to follow God, but it is wrong of us to follow Him only on our terms. That's not how God works. If you are not walking with God and you only cry out to Him when you are going through rough times, then sooner or later, God isn't going to help you anymore. God knows your heart and He knows if you are going to turn away from Him again and again. He will give you the chance to change a few times, but eventually He will say enough is enough. That is, unless you truly turn back to Him for good.
We can't live always expecting God to be there for us when we live choosing to ignore God until we desperately need Him. Would that work with anyone else? Your parents, your friends, your aunts and uncles? More than likely not. We need to live according to God's Word and what God wants for us, and we need to live fully for Him alone. We cannot stray from the path that God has set before us and still expect that He will be there for us. God is different than other people though. Other people may give you only one or two chances and no more. God will give you until the day you die to repent, but that doesn't mean that He will answer your call if you won't answer His.
Please don't ever forget about God or what He has done for you or given you or even done through you. You are so important to God, no matter what you have done. Nothing you could ever do can ever take away His love for you or even make Him love you less. God can only ever love you more. Even if we make Him angry with us, that doesn't mean that His love is diminished. Always remember Him because He will always remember you, without fail.
Previous PostNext Post
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
