Tag Archives: Inspirational

Psalms 32:10-11 Surrounded by Love

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psalms 32:10

“Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:10-11‬ ‭NLT

What a wonderful reminder in scriptures, that God’s love, which NEVER fails, surrounds those who trust Him. Sorrow may follow those who do evil, but as we trust in the Lord, He surrounds with steadfast love. Trusting in God is built by relationship. The more we consistently come to Him, He is able to prove His faithfulness again and again. We can trust even if we don’t have all the answers because we know that God is there watching over us as He reminds us is vs 9.

As Proverbs 3:5-6 exhorts, we should trust in the Lord with all of our heart and don’t lean to your own understanding or wisdom( which many times is limited & can’t see the big picture. As we acknowledge God is all of our plans, ways, thoughts, He will direct us. That is a promise!

We can and should rejoice in this knowledge that God has our back! That as we follow Him, He surrounds us with love, His perfect love that casts out all fear, all anxiety. As we rejoice, we become stronger in Him because the joy of the Lord is our Strength!

During this week, as we remember all that Jesus endured so that we may have this vibrant, victorious relationship with Him on this earth and eternally, may your joy overflow and permeate all that you do. May that joy strengthen you, even as it did when Paul and Silas praised the Lord in their chains, breaking the hold of those chains on them and everyone else in that prison! We are surrounded by God’s unfailing love which is always with us! That is Good News!

Psalm 32:9 Don’t Resist

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Ps 32:9

“Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In Ps 32:8 God tells us He will teach and guide us in the path we need to go. In this verse 9, we are encouraged to be willing participants in this process and not be dragged into following Gods instruction. The analogy is that of a stubborn horse, who has no understanding and therefore must be harnessed to be directed. The key words are the lack of understanding! When we understand God’s great love for us and His intention to restore and empower us to live in our purpose, we will gladly receive His instruction.

This is why there are so many references in the scripture to “opening” “eyes”, so that we fully see and know God’s heart, His protection, His plans, and His promises. We are encouraged to study and learn God’s principles so that we gain wisdom, discernment and understanding of how to make good decisions. We should be willing students! I love how Job explained it(Job 42:3-5) “surely I spoke of things I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me to know– my ears had only heard of you but now my eyes have seen!”

Lord, help us to not resist Your instruction or Your presence. Continue to open our eyes that we can clearly see You in all of Your glory, and understand Your heart for us. May we abide in You, keep our eyes on You, as we are being transformed in this process. Search us and bring light to those areas where we may be resistant, stubborn and unwilling and lead us. Help us to yield to you in every part of our lives in Jesus name.

Psalms 32:1-2 Have JOY today!

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Ps 32:1-2

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” Psalms‬ ‭32:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is great joy in having our transgressions/disobedience forgiven – our sin is put out of sight or covered. They are not only covered but removed! Ps 103: 12 says “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” We are blessed indeed!


Ps 32:2 continues that the blessing and joy is not only because we have been forgiven, but the Lord also removes the guilt and shame associated with our sin/ transgression AND we can live our lives in complete honesty and transparency- free of deceit! Our records are wiped clean. That sounds a lot like freedom to me!

I am reminded of when you have been given an expensive parking or camera ticket and you are driving around fearful or dreading another one. But when that ticket has been paid or has been thrown out, you are not only elated that it is gone, you move about with greater freedom because it’s no longer hanging over your head.

Lord, I thank You for the joy You bring in forgiving my transgressions and covering and delivering me from sin! Thank You also for the joy and blessing of wiping our records free from the guilt of sin and allowing us to live without deceit, in complete honesty! We declare victory over every intrusive thought that tries to make us relive the guilt and shame associated with the transgression. We are forgiven, Hallelujah! Help us walk boldly and freely in victory in Jesus name.

Morning meditation: Galatians 5:25 Keep in Step!

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Galatians 5:25

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Throughout Galatians 5, we really learn the freedom and liberty that walking/ living in the Spirit brings. We can be free from unruly emotions, bad habits and other outside challenges that seek to distract or derail us from the abundant life that God wants for us.

This verse says that since you are living by the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit or follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. The visual I received was of a dance partners in ballroom dancing /hand dancing, which requires a lead partner who, with a nudge from their hand at the back, determines the direction, pace and flow of the dance. There must be close proximity and lots of practice to understand what the nudges mean to keep in step with the lead partner. But as we see in those dance competitions, the results are flawless, seamless and extraordinary execution. I love dance!

Sometimes we may want to lead or not move at all, and that can get us out of alignment with the flow of the Spirit. I took ballroom dance lessons with my son for a program he was in, and it took a lot of practice to learn the steps and to follow his lead. Even when we messed up because I followed him it wasn’t too bad because we were in alignment.

God wants us to keep close to Him, allow His Spirit to lead us, match our pace to His because His timing is always perfect, His direction sure and His execution is flawless! #KeepinStep #HolySpirit #LiveintheSpirit

Morning Meditation: Galatians 5:24 Intention

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Galatians 5:24

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am so thankful that I don’t have to deal with my wayward tendencies – sinful nature on my own. I bring them to the cross and nail them there, because He alone endured the cross and was crucified for our sins. My job is to make sure that they are nailed on that cross.

It can be so hard to to let go of behaviors that may be comfortable, but harmful or detrimental to our growth. But we can bring them to Christ who carries that burden for us.

Nailing things down has a sense of permanence, a long-term resolute intention compared to simply casting off, or even tacking them down. When we nail the sinful nature, we are saying good riddance- it is a permanent separation from that former life.

It may feel like you are giving things up, but you are really setting yourself free from things that were weighing you down. Putting aside those “weights and the sin” that try to encumber us as we run this race.

Paul said, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
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Lord , help us to nail our sinful nature, desires, bad habits etc to your cross and leave them there in Your capable hands. We want to be free in You and walk/ run unhindered in the life that comes by abiding in Your presence.

Psalm 92: 9-11 Declaration of Power- Anointed to Serve

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Psalm 92:9-11

“For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.” Psalm‬ ‭92:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This passage begins with The Psalmist reminding us that the Lord’s enemies ( evildoers) will perish and be scattered in comparison with the previous verse exalting the Lord as the Most High! We should never be confused about what will happen to those who do evil – their end is certain.

Then the Psalmist declares how God has strengthened him and anointed him! The Amplified version makes it even more clear, saying,
“But my horn [my emblem of strength and power] You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil [for Your service].”

The wild ox has not been domesticated, and so it has unharnessed power and strength. Likewise, the psalmist declares the Lord has empowered us in the same way, and He has anointed us with FRESH OIL. This is a renewed anointing and consecration to serve the Lord. The Lord gives power and strength to DO something – to fulfill the purposes and plans He has given us to accomplish!

And in vs 11, the Lord allows us to see the downfall of those things sent to distract, disrupt, undermine or destroy us. We can’t always see it every time, but it is always a blessing to experience triumphant victory over challenges.

Thank you Lord for empowering us to do what we have been called to do with renewed passion and anointing! Thank you for your Holy Spirit and grace which causes us to overcome challenges and persevere through our own limitations!

#anointing #freshoil #victory

Psalm 92:8 The Most High

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Psalm 92:8

“But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Several versions say You, O Lord are On High forever. The lord Most High is one of the names of God, Elyon in Hebrew.

This middle verse directs our attention back to God who is above all. He dwells and reigns in the highest, in all His majesty and splendor. He reigns on High forever even as other rise and fall. Glory to God! Glory to God in the Highest!

Lord we exalt You and praise Your name! You alone are worthy of our worship and praise! You are our Eternal Lord, from everlasting to everlasting. Be glorified. #TheMostHigh #Elyon #BeExalted

Psalms 92:6-7 Don’t be Stupid

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“Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this: Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This first made me laugh because my mother used the word “simpleton”. Don’t let this be you. lol!

In this passage, the Psalmist takes a brief detour for a brief PSA to say- Don’t be stupid! He has harsh words when we take our eyes off of the glory and majesty of God and start looking at why bad people seem to get ahead. He makes it plain: only those of low intelligence or foolish/ unwise would not know that the wicked will be cut down forever, even though it seems that they are prospering now. Don’t fall into that trap!

Now more than ever, this timely & relevant reminder to keep our attention on the Lord resonates. Evil is all around and so many terrible cruel people seem to be getting away with it. But God doesn’t want us to be concerned with this. He tells us in Romans 12:19, “…Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” We are to keep our hearts and mind focused on the goodness and omnipotence of God, trusting that He will take care of us and them.

Reflections on Psalm 92:1-3 It is Good

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Psalm 92:1-2

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.” Psalms‬ ‭92:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was originally drawn to this Psalm because it was a song of praise immediately following Psalms 91 which proclaims the Lord’s divine protection. Then I noticed the heading was directing it to be sung on the Sabbath day. How appropriate that we give praise and worship to God at this time.

The first two verses start off with “it is good” or “a good thing” which has the same connotation in Geneisis when God saw that His creation was good. It is not only right but good. Already, there is a feeling that something creative if going on!

First, it is good to GIVE THANKS unto the Lord. One of the first things we learned as children is to say thank you when we are given something. It is important to express gratitude acknowledging others benevolence, assistance and or responsiveness to a need or desire. We give thanks to God for the things He has done: His graciousness, His tender mercies and great love.

Secondly, It is also good to SING PRAISES to the Most High! We sing praises to extol and magnify God for who He is, His omniscience, to honor Him for His majesty, greatness, and power.

Verse 2 is illustrative, moving closer in, speaking directly to God. It is good to “proclaim Your lovingkindness (steadfast love) in the morning and faithfulness every night” All day our hearts are toward God, from sunrise to sunset we are to worship God acknowledging His chief virtues of love that never fails and His consistent faithfulness.

And as we give thanks, sing praises and proclaim His goodness we should be “accompanied” by musicians with instrumentation. We can’t do this by ourselves. On this day of rest, the Sabbath, we are to join others in making a beautiful expression of corporate worship to God in a variety of expressions, truly creating an atmosphere for God to inhabit the praises of His people. In His presence there is fulness of joy, light and life.

Wisdom Fruit: Journey in Proverbs 3- Delightful Paths

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Proverbs 3:17-18

“Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:17-18‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://www.bible.com/8/pro.3.17-18.ampc

On my morning walks or on road trips, I am often delightfully surprised by what I see & experience along the way. Wisdom provides direction and guidance to “delightful” paths or as the amplified version says, “highways of pleasantness” and satisfying peace. The process of gaining wisdom/ understanding is not drudgery, but it guides us to pleasant, delightful & peaceful paths. In fact, wisdom illuminates those paths like a lamp/ flashlight in the dark.

Wisdom is the tree of life to those who embrace her. We are plugged in to the eternal wellspring of joy, happiness when we hold on, and blessed when we cling tightly. An embrace is warm close hug normally with a loved one or someone you care about. But when you give or get a little squeeze with that hug, you feel the flood of well-being, love and happiness in knowing how much you are cared for. That flood of blessing and happiness is what happens when we cling to wisdom. As the Amplified version says, we are blessed, fortunate, to be envied.

What wonderful imagery Solomon paints of wisdom. The gospel is relational, personal and requires close proximity to God, His principals and God’s people.

#wisdom #blessed #happy #embrace