Women in the Word

Eager Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:58:36 +0000

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭13‬ ‭

Imagine going to the market to buy provisions for your family to clothe them with. When you get there, however, there is no selection of garments hanging on racks or folded in bins. There is not even cloth to cut and sew. Instead, you are picking out wool and flax.

Wool and flax are raw materials. They require multiple, labor intensive steps to produce usable products from. Flax is used to make breathable, lightweight, durable clothing and bedding. It requires using a flax break tool that breaks the outer covering, a scutching board and knife that removes the outer covering that sticks to the inner fibers, and a hackle comb that separates the long fibers from the short, fluffy tow. Wool is used to make durable, insulating, flame resistant clothing. It requires tedious cleaning and carding steps. Once these raw materials are prepared, the wool and flax then have to be spun into thread and the thread has to be weaved into cloth.

The Proverbs 31 woman performed all of these mundane, time consuming tasks as a labor of love. She worked with eager hands which meant she was dedicated and perhaps even enthusiastic. Her focus was on the end result and being able to provide what her family needed through the varying seasons.

Reflection:

How do you view the daily, mundane tasks that you have to perform to provide for your family’s needs? Do you see them as labors of love or do you resent the energy and time they require of you?
Do you consider that all you do is to be done as to the Lord and He is with you even in the midst of tedious tasks? Do you work with eager hands?

Prayer: Father, how grateful we are that we have the ability to do the tasks required to provide for our family and their needs. Thank you for modern conveniences that we often take for granted that make our lives easier. Help us to have the motivation and the right mindset to succeed in the tasks you have entrusted us with, especially the tedious, mundane duties that we may struggle to achieve. Help us to honor and serve You with eager hands as we perform these labors of love.

Rejoice In The Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 22:30:00 +0000

Paul wrote the book of Phillipians, thanking this church for their help and concern for him while imprisoned in Rome. He also focused on uplifting and encouraging them in their faith. In this final chapter of his letter to them, he gave them some vital keys to his own ability to have a positive mindset and strong faith even though his circumstances were far from desirable.

He started with an attitude, a deliberate approach to his day: He told them to rejoice….not because of the circumstances but because of their focus on the Lord. And he reminded them the Lord was near. Paul knew that even though he was in chains and confined to a prison, he was not alone. God was with Him and this gave him hope, confidence and a cause to rejoice.

He gave them an action plan “for every situation”. Instead of being anxious and feeling powerless, he urged them “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (v6)

He gave them a focus for their thoughts: “..whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (v8)

Life certainly has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, and its unexpected pitfalls. In fact, the weight of circumstances can feel like a crushing, smothering burden you can’t escape. If we let our difficult circumstances set the tone, we are doomed. But if we follow Paul’s example, we have an action plan and a focus that can set the right attitude for our day. Because of Christ, Paul could encourage us to “Rejoice”.

Prayer: Father, this Thanksgiving week is a special time to celebrate and rejoice as we count the abundance of your blessings. But, Lord, we ask that you instill within us the strength and grace to find daily gratitude and peace. No matter our circumstances, may we be empowered by Your Spirit to rise up each morning with a heart that exclaims to the world…Rejoice!

Stepping in Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:30:00 +0000

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭

I used to look for signs that God was there, something tangible that I could see and point to and show myself and others as proof that God had heard my prayer and He had given me clear direction. But that’s not living by faith. That’s living by sight. God doesn’t always give us a sign or that miracle we prayed for. There’s not always a clearly marked path. And this becomes the ultimate stretching of our faith. Is God there when I can’t see Him at work, or when I can’t hear His voice, or I don’t get that sign, or life seems messy and doesn’t make sense? How do I take that next step when I am not sure? That can be a place where doubts and fears want to unsettle us and distract us. But it’s ok if we are battling doubts and fears. We don’t have to have all of the answers or a deep understanding. We just have to have a relationship with the One who does. We have to cling to the truths of His Word -“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭

How grateful I am for His Word. It is the map for my life and the Holy Spirit is my experienced guide. My duty is not to have full knowledge of the journey but to trust that God desires for me to move forward. Faith is an action. If my heart wants to move closer to God and spiritual maturity, then that becomes my destination. I have to surrender my ideas of what that journey should look like and trust Him.

”Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step." - Joni Erickson Tada

Prayer: May God grant you the courage and strength to be willing to take the next step, and the next, and the next. Praise be to God who promises to guide us and never leave us alone. “I can feel His hand in mine, that’s all I need to know.”

Wednesday- Strength For The Weary

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 22:00:00 +0000

The world tries to promote self love and self reliance. The Bible paints a much different picture ( just read the rest of Isaiah 40). The world tries to tell us that we can be enough all on our own merit and effort. The Bible tells us we can never be enough and we don’t have to be. All we have to recognize is that Jesus is enough. And because He is enough, we have all the resources we need: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28‬ ‭

We are not meant to be the source of our strength. God is meant to be the source. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬. What is our part? TO HOPE.

This is not the kind of hope that is a feeling or mere wishful thinking. This is a hope that is anchored to something or someone. Isaiah 40:31 tells us the Source of our hope is the Lord. It also tells us that we are going to need something from that source. We will need renewal. Just like our electronic devices have to be plugged in to a source of electricity to recharge and be effective, we have to plug into our source. We are meant to have a relationship with God where we draw from His strength, His love, And His overflowing wisdom and grace.

Recognizing that we will never be enough no matter how hard we try or how many self help books we read, is an important first step to understanding how desperately we need God. From that awareness of a deep seated need comes the natural flowing gratitude that we should approach Him with. It is a gratitude that is thankful that every time we fail and every time we falter, and every time we think we are at rock bottom, we can come to the Source of life itself and be renewed. Then, and only then can we soar.

Prayer: Father, how grateful we are that we have a source of comfort and love to run to when we are tired and weary and worn down. We are grateful that we don’t have to be enough because You are enough. May we learn to rest and be restored as we anchor our hope in You!

How has God given you strength when you felt weak?

Give Thanks In Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:06:00 +0000

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭

The Christian life is meant to be lived in accordance with God’s will. The Holy Spirit works within us to help us transform into being more and more like Christ but we have to cooperate with that process through obedience. It is being in God’s will that we yield the most fruit. This verse gives us a clear and practical directive of His will: to give thanks. This is something anyone can apply to their life. Notice it doesn’t say we are to give thanks “for” all circumstances but to give thanks “in” all circumstances. I keep a gratitude journal. It’s a discipline I have found helpful in practicing gratitude. Even in my darkest and hardest days, I can find things to be grateful for. If earthly circumstances are hard, I focus on eternal circumstances and promises. I also look to those who were able to endure suffering and remain faithful and they were always able to give thanks in their circumstances. Examples include Joseph and the apostle Paul, Corey Ten Boom and Anne Frank.

I love this quote from Anne:

“I lie in bed at night, after ending my prayers with the words 'Ich danke dir für all das Gute und Liebe und Schöne.' (Thank you, God, for all that is good and dear and beautiful.)” - Anne Frank

Prayer: May gratitude shift your focus from the pain and suffering of a broken world to the love of your Heavenly Father. May the Holy Spirit reveal to you what is good and dear and beautiful.

Please write a couple of lines of Thanksgiving in the comments.

Thursday Sept. 14th-Doers of the Word

noreply@blogger.com (Lyn) — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Thursday Sept. 14th

Doers of the Word

Read-James 1

I love the book of James. I often go here when I am struggling and need to get back on track with the Lord.

Are we hearers and doers of His Word? One who is not a doer is compared to looking at themselves in a mirror and then walking away forgetting what they look like.

There are two ways of looking at ourselves in a mirror.

1-looks and immediately forgets what he looks like, what kind of person he is-it does not penetrate the heart.

2- looks and hears with a genuine faith- alert and eager to learn from God's message and obeys.

When we spend time in His word with Him I believe that we are having a conversation together with Him. Sometimes I am listening more than asking and sometimes I have lots of questions and need His insight in what this means for my life. I take what I have read and throughout the day I meditate on that and what I need to do about it. I would like to say that I am always successful but I am not. Last week I talked about Jesus being our cornerstone in whom we should measure everything that we do. When we get into His word we should be looking to being in alignment with Him.

James chapter 1 is full of what we should and should not be doing.

⦁ Do we consider it all joy when we are going through trials and temptations? We should because it tests our faith and leads us to endurance making us complete and perfect lacking nothing. One who perseveres has been approved and will receive the crown of life, a promise from the Lord.

⦁ Do we run to Him for wisdom? He gives it to us generously. But are we asking doubting that He hears and answers. Did we forget the last trial or temptation and what He did for us and how it grew our faith in Him?

⦁ Do we have a tendency to always be questioning ourselves if it is the right thing to do and cannot make a decision? A double-minded person is unstable in all his way.

⦁ Don't think your temptation came from the Lord, because He cannot be tempted and He tempts no one. We are tempted by our own lusts and desires and if we let it get the best of us it leads to death.

⦁ Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.

⦁ Put aside filthiness and wickedness

⦁ In humility receive the word implanted which saves your soul. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

⦁ Prove yourself doers of the word not merely hearers deceiving yourselves. “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 Read-Matt 7:24-27

⦁ Bridle (restrain) your tongue-I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.” Psalms 39:1

⦁ Keep oneself unstained by the world. God's word changes the heart and it manifests a change of behavior.

What is your time like? How do you spend your days? Are you spending time in His word each day and meditating on His word that you read for that day? Or do we forget what we read and just go about our day in our own strength?

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:2

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Luke 11:28

Father, help us to be doers of Your word. I ask You for an open heart that is listening and eager to obey You. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer. Help us to take all of our thoughts to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Amen

How can we pray for you?

Lyn

Thursday Sept. 7th-Jesus our Cornerstone!

noreply@blogger.com (Lyn) — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Thursday Sept. 7th

Read Ephesians 2 Jesus our cornerstone!

Since ancient times, builders have used cornerstones in their construction projects. A cornerstone was the principal stone, usually placed at the corner of an edifice, to guide the workers in their course. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice. The Bible describes Jesus as the cornerstone that His church would be built upon. He is foundational. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it. As the cornerstone of the building of the church, Jesus is our standard of measure and alignment. [qot questions]

Did you know that you are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them? vs.10

Every one born into this world comes not knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It does not matter what your nationality is or what family you are born into. He created you! He knit you together in your mother's womb. You will have the opportunity in your life time to hear about Jesus and make a choice to receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

It is because of God's rich mercy-tenderness of heart that He overlooks injuries, and treats an offender better than he deserves and His great love for us that we are made alive in Christ Jesus.

How are we saved? We are saved by faith not because of anything that we can do or work for. It is a GIFT from God. If we could do it on our own we would not need Jesus to save us.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER STONE,

AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 1 Peter 2:4-6

I ask you, do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If so is He your cornerstone upon which you are living your life? What is your foundation and how are you building upon it? Do you run to Him only when you are in trouble? Are you spending time with Him daily in His word? Think about this: living with someone on a day to day basis we get to know them very well. Sometimes we can even know what they will do or say before they do. Do you have that relationship with Jesus? Do you spend everyday with Him in His Word? Is He your cornerstone upon which you are building? Or do you only think that you know Him?

If you do not know Him, would you accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life today, right now at this moment?

Jesus is the cornerstone for all who believe in Him. We are not alone, we are fellow citizens of God's household. Christ Jesus, Himself is our corner stone in whom we are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Father, thank You for Jesus, whom You sent to save us from our sins and that we have eternal life in Him. Thank you also for when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit now lives in us, to help, teach, and intercedes for us. Father help us to remember that Jesus is our cornerstone and that we learn from Him how to walk this journey heavenward. I thank You for my precious sisters, may they hunger and thirst after Your righteousness and spend time each day with You. In Jesus name, amen!

How can we pray for you?

Lyn

WitW 2023 Fall Study

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Moore) — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:09:00 +0000

Are you hungry for more of God's truth and wisdom in your life? Then join us this fall starting Sept. 4th for our online Bible study called A.C.T. (Absorb, Contemplate, and Transform) Together we’ll dig into God’s Word and fill our souls with the transforming messages of the Lord that only the Bible can provide. So if you’re looking for a convenient and engaging platform for you to deepen your faith, share insights, and build lifelong friendships with like-minded women, look no further! Grab your Bibles, tell your friends, and get ready for God to move mightily in your life! And don’t forget to head over to Facebook to our WitW group and join in on the discussion! https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2

Women in the Word 2023 Fall Study

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Moore) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Attention, women seeking spiritual nourishment and transformation! We here at Women in the Word personally invite you to join us this fall for an exciting new study called ACT. (Absorb, Contemplate, and Transform) A 16 week life changing adventure designed to deepen your faith, provide spiritual encouragement, and ignite a passion for Christ within you. On Monday through Thursday we’ll be studying the Bible together. Friday will be left open for prayer, and Saturday the reading schedule for the upcoming week will be published. Each day our writers will post their thoughts on the daily scripture. And we encourage you to join in on the discussion, and complete the worksheet which will be made available. So grab your Bibles, tell your friends, and together let us absorb, contemplate, and transform as we embark on this beautiful journey of spiritual growth and discovery. And be sure to head over to Facebook and join the WitW group to study along. Just click on the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2

Lemonade Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Moore) — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 09:22:00 +0000

Lemonade Pie

1 pkg. (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

3/4 cup thawed lemonade concentrate

1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Yellow food coloring, optional

1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)

2 tsp. lemon juice (optional)

1 9-inch graham cracker crust

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Beat in lemonade concentrate. Fold in whipped topping and, if desired, food coloring, lemon zest,many lemon juice. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate until set. (I always stick mine in the freezer to quicken the setting time)

Pecan Pie Squares

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Moore) — Sat, 13 May 2023 09:58:00 +0000

Pecan Pie Squares

Crust:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off

1/4 cup corn starch

1/2 cup Confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

Filling

12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Generous pinch salt

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

3 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Cover a 9-inch square baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil. Push foil neatly into corners and up sides of the pan, using two pieces if necessary to ensure it overlaps all edges (the overhang will help removal from pan). Spray foiled pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the flour, corn starch, confectioners sugar and salt in a bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with pea-size clumps of butter within. Also can be made with a pastry cutter or two forks. Dump mixture into prepared pan and press firmly with your fingers into an even layer over the bottom. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. While the crust is in the refrigerator, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the crust until crust is set but not browned, about 17 minutes. Set on rack to cool. Leave oven on. In a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine butter, brown sugar, honey, vanilla and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves. Turn up the heat and boil gently for 3 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and chopped pecans. Pour pecan mixture over crust (it's fine if crust is still warm). Bake until filling is bubbling and caramel in color, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on rack. To cut, use the foil overhang to lift baked square out of pan and onto cutting board. Loosen the foil from the edges, then cut with a sharp knife into 2-inch squares. Store finished pecan squares in air-tight container and serve at room temperature.

Scripture Saturday ~ "Becoming A Woman After God's Own Heart - A Journey Through The Psalms"

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 06 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:6)

Knowing that God is my Creator, the giver of my breath shows me that He is worthy of my praise every moment, every day for ever more!

Well ladies, this is the last of our Scripture Saturday in our study of the Psalms. And what a way to end! This verse is an amazing ending to this psalm and to the entire book of Psalms. Everything that breathes should give its praise to the One who gave it breath. Every breath is the gift of God and praise is the worthy response we should make for this gift.

And not just while we walk on this earth…

And I heard every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying…”To Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)

Praise the LORD! Hallelujah! Yahweh is to be praised and honored, and will be among His people and all creation.

As the summer season draws closer, keep this verse in mind as you look at the renewal of creation around you. As you wake each morning praise God for the day you have been given - the breath that He has gifted you with. Only He is worthy of such praise!

Here is the link to our study on Facebook...WitW Facebook Page

Don't forget to share with us the attribute of God that most spoke to you this week!

Have a blessed summer break!

Sandra

Friday May 5th-psalm 150-Praise! Praise! Praise!

noreply@blogger.com (Lyn) — Thu, 04 May 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Friday May 5th, Psalm 150, Isaiah 40:25-29, Eph. 4:4-8

Wow! What an amazing journey we have been on through the psalms. Psalms is where I go to when I want comfort, direction, spiritual warfare and praises! I love this verse let everything that has breath praise the Lord! I imagine the day when Christ will return and we will be praising Him forever.

Matthew Henry- "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Such is the very suitable end of a book inspired by the Spirit of God, written for the work of praise; a book which has supplied the songs of the church for more than three thousand years; a book which is quoted more frequently than any other by Christ and his apostles; a book which presents the loftiest ideas of God and his government, which is fitted to every state of human life, which sets forth every state of religious experience, and which bears simple and clear marks of its Divine origin."

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever. Psalms 145:21

"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12 This verse is the motto of the camp I work at. I have to tell you that when the groups come and they are all varied groups...it is such a joy to hear them praising the Lord! I have heard them praising Him in many different languages and it is such beautiful music to my ears. I have even heard them call the people with a shofar [which can also be called trumpet]. When I first heard the shofar I stopped and remembered that when Jesus returns He will be calling us with the shofar/trumpet.

I encourage you to go to the psalms often and find rest for your souls.

Are you in His Word daily? Do you praise the Lord in everything? Do you sing and dance before the Lord?

Father, we come humbly before You and want to give you praise and thanksgiving in everything. For it is You who works out all things for our good because we love You and are called according to Your purpose. Speak to us through Your Word. Bring joy, peace and comfort as we praise You! We long for and look and listen for Your return. Thank you for these precious sisters that we have journeyed with through the psalms. Keep them in Your care and bless them abundantly beyond what they ask for. Put a song in our hearts of praise to You! Help us to keep our focus on You, Jesus and look forward to His return for us. Amen!

Lyn

Praising Our God with a New Song! -Psalm 149, 2 Corinthians 5:21

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Sandoval) — Thu, 04 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Today’s reading: Psalm 149, 2 Corinthians 5:21

I am so grateful for the opportunity we’ve had to study the Psalms together! I have to agree with my sisters: it’s been a great journey and we’ve learned so much and our faith has grown too! So let us join David praising our God for blessing us through His word!

And in today’s psalm David invites us to:

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and praise Him in the congregation of His godly ones (believers).” (V.1)

Yes, there is so much we should praise our God for, but in this first verse we are encouraged to sing to Him a new song! This takes me back to Psalm 40.

“I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord;

And He inclined to me and heard my cry. ²He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.

³He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear [with great reverence]

And will trust confidently in the Lord.” (40:1-3)

I remember in my first days as a Christian, we would sing these first verses at Church. There was a sister who was gifted in music, ant the Lord would literally give her the music to different psalms, and she would share them with the congregation and we would cheerfully praise our Abba along with her! These first verses of Psalm 40 made a great impact in my heart, for it clearly reflected who I was and where I was before surrendering my life to Jesus, and the amazing transformation His Holy Spirit made in me… I became a new person that wanted more of Him, and less of me through the power of His Loving and Saving Grace! This is so humbling, for I did not deserve anything!! I believe this is what the next verses in psalm 149 declare:

“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let Zion’s children rejoice in their King.

³Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre. ⁴For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.” (149:2-4)

Only a new person, a transformed person can with His Spirit, now sing a new song. A song that comes from a transformed and grateful heart! From someone who wants the whole world to know that he/she was saved! (2 Corinthians 5:17) And this is pleasing to our God: he beautifies us with His Saving Grace! (1 Peter 5:5)

In the next and final verses, David declares the importance of praising our God day and night, for this will keep us focused and empowered in Him!

^“5Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds.⁶Let the high praises of God be in their throats, and a two-edged sword in their hands," (149:5-6)

With His Word hidden in our hearts, we will be able to stand firm in Him:

“It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ]. ¹²The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. ¹³Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.” (Romans 13:11-14 Emphasis mine)

His precious and powerful Word is like a two-edged sword:

¹²For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged ^[^b^]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the ^[^c^]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.“ (Heb. 4:12)

Jesus is the Word: “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (^[^a^]Christ), and the Word was with God, and ^[^b^]the Word was God Himself.” (John 1:1-3,14), And so only He can be able:

“To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples, ⁸To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron, ⁹To execute on them the judgment written. This is the honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)”

Yes, now we through Jesus’ Saving Grace are honored to be seated in the heavenly places

^“4But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). ⁶And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, ⁷[and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Thank you Heavenly Father for the honor you have given us as Your children, to be able to praise You with a grateful and joyful heart. It is such a great honor not a duty, not an imposition… It is such a blessing from You Lord, that we can come together as Your people to sing of Your wonders and the riches of Your Grace toward us! May we lift our hands and sing a new song to You! May we praise You with our lives, with our lips, with our hearts, and all our being, because You our Lord "love Your people", and are Worthy of all the Honor and the Glory! Hallelujah!!

Mari

Praise His Name

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Tue, 02 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Our Reading: Psalm 148 & Ephesians 4:4-8

This final week of studying the Psalms is all about praise and this Psalm declares universal praise for the name of the Lord. It has a beautiful connection to the creation account of Genesis. God first created the heavenly places to include the heavenly lights. In v 1-6, we see a call for praise from these heavenly dwellings to include the angels, the Sun, moon, and stars. The heavenly realm and it’s angelic hosts are present because God created them. With precision and cosmic fine tuning, he keeps all the galaxies, including our solar system in perfect harmonious order. “Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.” Psalm‬ ‭148‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭

Next God created the features of the landscape of earth and its mighty oceans and filled it with living creatures. He established the weather patterns and ecosystems that could sustain life. Verses 7-10 bid praise from the elements, the creatures of land, sea, and air.

And finally, he created mankind and bid all people to praise Him from every walk of life, race, sex and generation. “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.” Psalm‬ ‭148‬:‭13‬ ‭

Not only did He create every physical element necessary for life but He created and sustains all of the vast components and systems necessary to preserve life. Not only did He create it but He rules over it, having a vast passion to connect to mankind, whom He so lovingly placed here to be in relationship with.

“Therefore ought the Lord to be praised because he is Preserver as well as Creator, Ruler as well as Maker.” (Spurgeon)

The peaceful, harmonious, and intimate relationship man first enjoyed in the Garden of Eden was destroyed when man decided to embrace sin and to put self on the throne of his heart. But, God, in His abundant mercy and passionate concern for man’s spiritual well-being, provided a promise of coming salvation for his people to hope in.

“He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!” Psalm‬ ‭148‬:‭14‬ ‭

The raised horn refers to a bull raising its horns after a victory and biblically is connected to victory, especially from oppression. Jesus was the promised raised horn. God, graciously stepped down from His exalted position to clothe himself in the humble cloak of human flesh. He willingly endured first hand the experience of being like us so that He could ultimately connect to us and save us. There is no greater act of mercy, compassion, or love! When we meditate on this, the awe of God and His love for each of us should bid our praise.

“He is himself the crown of all things, the excellency of the creation. There is more glory in him personally than in all his works united. It is not possible for us to exceed and become extravagant in the Lord’s praise: his own natural glory is infinitely greater than any glory which we can render to him.” (Spurgeon)

As we have studied the Psalms together, I hope that you have been able to grow in your knowledge and personal connection with God. I hope that you have developed an ever expanding awe and admiration for the One who made you and the world that sustains life for you. I hope that from a heart surrendered to God, you find praise and worship freely flowing,extending out to touch those you encounter and rising to the heavenly realm in prayerful paise and jubilant exaltation. May your life be a continual act of bidding Him praise.!

The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.-John Piper

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the amazing world that You have created and how it reflects Your wisdom, Your sovereignty, and Your majestic power. We thank You for not only creating us and sustaining us, but for sending your beloved Son, Jesus, to be our raised horn of salvation from the oppression of sin. May praise become a genuine outpouring from the depths of our hearts.

The Power of Praise ~ Psalm 147

noreply@blogger.com (sue) — Mon, 01 May 2023 08:30:00 +0000

Scripture for today: Psalm 147 & Isaiah 40:25-29

We did it, Girls! We've read and studied every psalm, or will have on Friday! Have we become women after God's own heart? I believe so! I know my faith has grown tremendously through this study; far more than in any other study we've done over the past ten years! And how fitting to end our study focused on praising our amazing Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Before we begin, let me ask you, how easy do praises roll off your lips?

Psalm 147 begins, "Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!" (147:1)

I thought the choice of words the psalmist uses to encourage us was interesting - "pleasant and fitting to praise Him." for not everything that is fitting is pleasant.

Forgiving an offender is fitting, but may not always be pleasant, particularly if the offense is often repeated, or the offender isn't sorry. Giving and receiving discipline is fitting, but it may not be pleasant at the moment (Hebrews 12:11).

BUT Psalm 147 tells us that praise is both pleasant, fitting and good! “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”

So, I've decided to go on a quest today to discover why!

There are many good things to do in life, but praising God is man’s highest good. There is nothing more rewarding, more beautiful, and more beneficial than to praise the Lord of the universe and to appreciate His works.

Praise Invites the Presence of God

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3 KJV emphasis mine)

".. —indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:

“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever,”

that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. " (1 Chronicles 5:13-14)

Praise Guarantees Victory

2 Chronicles 20:15-20 tells a story of King Jehoshaphat and his army, "rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the Lord,
For His mercy endures forever.”

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated..."

Praise Delivers Us From Our Enemies

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:3)

Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2)

Praise Drives Out Depression

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)

Praise Satisfies our Souls

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. (Psalm 63:1-5)

Praise Brings Joy!

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4)

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 116:7)

Praise Strengthens our Faith!

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God … (Romans 4:20)

He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The Lord sustains the humble (Psalm 147:4-6a)

And Praise Draws Others to Him!

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself. (John 12:32)

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23)

In short, praise lifts our spirit. Praise restores our hope. Praise rids us of our uncertainty and celebrates God’s victories. Praise glorifies our God and magnifies our Savior. No wonder praise is pleasant, good and fitting!

Bottom line, there are many good things to do in life, but praising God is man’s highest good. There is nothing more rewarding, more beautiful, and more noble than to lift up our hearts and voices to praise the Creator of this universe and to appreciate all He has done for each of us.

So, let me ask you:

What thoughts fill your mind when you sing songs of praise at church? Where is your focus usually?
How often do you sing your thanks and love to God? Or verbalize your praise to God and others?
What can you do to enhance and motivate your heart to praise Him?
What in your life can you replace with singing or listening to worship music so that you remember to worship more often?

Let's Pray:

O God, You are my God! Let all that I am praise You, Lord. May I never forget the good things You have done for me. May I make the You my shelter, and may I tell everyone about the beautiful things you do. Please, I pray, let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about Your glorious acts always.

Blessings & have a wonderful summer!

Sue

Giving God The Glory (letet kavod le'Elohim) - Psalm 146

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Moore) — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Psalm 146, Romans 8:32

What a journey it’s been going through these songs of David. And there’s no better way to end our study than with these final Psalms of praise. Many are the reasons to give God the glory. Creator and Ruler of all things, He champions the weak, fathers the orphans, heals the afflicted, and blesses all who put their hope in Him. Everyday there are reasons to give thanks to the Lord. And God covets the praise of His people. But not for His benefit. For ours.

Why does God tell us to give Him thanks in all things? (1 Thess. 5:18) In memory of Dr. Charles Stanley, I’d like to share some of his wisdom on the subject. “It’s because praise is the clearest and most direct means by which you declare your dependence on God. It repeats your trust in Him in the midst of darkness. It confesses your allegiance and devotion to the One who was crucified for you and to whom you are eternally joined.”

For me, no matter how low I feel or bad the circumstance, nothing soothes my soul like giving glory to God. It brings peace to my troubled mind. Joy to my hurting heart. And brings me close to my Abba, Father, who welcomes me with open arms of love. Most of all praising the Lord humbles me. For it reminds me of how much I fail God daily and still somehow, He wants me anyway. How could such an amazing and unmerited love not make my heart burst with songs of worship and thanksgiving!

There’s no quicker way to grow in our walk with God than to live a life of praise. Because it motivates us to live the way Jesus teaches, makes us desire to put Him first in our lives, and soothes even the deepest of hurts. David was considered a man after God’s own heart because of His devotion to God. In good times and bad, peace and turmoil, sorrow and joy, the first thing David did was seek God. When we too seek God first with everything we have and are, have absolute, unwavering faith, and follow Him joyfully, we will be counted as women after God’s own heart.

Pause and Reflect -

Why do you praise God? How does praising God help us focus on Him instead of our circumstances? How can praising God help us in times of difficulty or suffering?

Let’s Pray Together,

Our dearest Father in heaven above, Ruler and Creator of all things, hallowed be Thy name. Father, we come before You with humble hearts, recognizing Your greatness and majesty. We thank You for Your faithfulness and goodness, and are grateful for all that You have done for us. Father we praise You for Your infinite wisdom and power, and for Your unfailing love and grace. You are the Creator of the universe, and yet You care for each one of us with a tender and compassionate heart. Finally Father may our hearts overflow with gratitude as we reflect on all that You bless us with, and may our lives be a reflection of Your love and grace. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.

Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💖 Lisa

Scripture Saturday ~ "Becoming A Woman After God's Own Heart - A Journey Through The Psalms"

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:2,3)

“…who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40:28)

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and inscrutable His ways!” (Romans 11:33)

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (Eph 3:8)

Knowing that God is incomprehensible/unsearchable shows me that He is worthy of my praise forever and ever, even though I can never understand fully Who He is.

He is incomprehensible: God is beyond our understanding. We can comprehend Him in part but not in whole.

As we near the end of our time in the Psalms I hope you all were blessed with our Scripture Saturday assignment. God has revealed much of Himself to us as we read the words of the Psalmists. I know that God’s character is so much greater than what I was able to find in the Psalms, but just because I am not able to comprehend Him fully, I know that I was created to glorify and praise Him everyday for what I do know about Him. So let us live our lives here on earth as David says at the end of Psalm 145, “I will praise the LORD, and may everyone on earth bless His holy name forever and ever.” (v. 21)

Here is this coming week’s schedule of readings…

Seeing Jesus/Going beyond God’s attribute(s)

that I found in the

Psalm

Monday 5/1 Psalm 146 Romans 8:32

Tuesday 5/2 Psalm 147 Isaiah 40:25-29

Wednesday 5/3 Psalm 148 Eph 4:4-8

Thursday 5/4 Psalm 149 Isaiah 40:25-29 and

Eph 4:4-8 again

Friday 5/5 Psalm 150 Isaiah 40:25-29 and

Eph 4:4-8 again

*Knowing that God is _____________ shows me that _________________________________.

Here is the link to our study on Facebook...WitW Facebook Page

Don't forget to share with us the attribute of God that most spoke to you this week!

Have a blessed week everyone!

Sandra

*from Jen Wilkin’s book, Women of the Word.

Friday April 28th- How great Thou art! - Psalm 145

noreply@blogger.com (Lyn) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Friday April 28th - How great Thou Art! Psalm 145

Psalm 145, Exodus 15:18

When I wake up in the morning I am thankful that His mercies are new and great is His faithfulness. This psalm tells us of His goodness and gives us reasons to worship and praise Him. How great is our God!

He is gracious and merciful

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Psalms 103:8

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hands and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Psalms 145:15-16

He is righteous

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate. Psalms 116:5

Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments. You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness. Psalms 119:137-138

His kingdom is everlasting and endures forever

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17

Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Revelation 15:3

He is righteous in all His ways

For the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done Daniel 9:14

He is near to all who call upon Him in truth

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Deuteronomy 4:7

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him

Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalms 37:4-5

He keeps all who love Him

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.” Psalms 91:14-16

One generation shall praise Thy works to another and shall declare Thy mighty acts.

Posterity will serve Him; it will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. They will come and will declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has performed it. Psalms 22:30-31

Matthew Henry says it so well. Those who, under troubles and temptations, abound in fervent prayer, shall in due season abound in grateful praise, which is the true language of holy joy. Especially we should speak of God’s wondrous work of redemption, while we declare his greatness. For no deliverance of the Israelites, nor the punishment of sinners, so clearly proclaims the justice of God, as the cross of Christ exhibits it to the enlightened mind. It may be truly said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that his words are words of goodness and grace; his works are works of goodness and grace. He is full of compassion; hence he came into the world to save sinners. When on earth, he showed his compassion both to the bodies and souls of men, by healing the one, and making wise the other. He is of great mercy, a merciful High Priest, through whom God is merciful to sinners. Many children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. May we then love his name, and walk in his ways, while we desire that all flesh should bless his holy name for ever and ever.

I know for me that I love to tell others what He is doing in my life. How He has healed my broken heart, how He has provided for me in all my needs. How He strengthens me when I cannot possibly do it on my own. How His peace that passes all understanding flows through me. In reflecting what He has done in my life shows me how to pray for others that are experiencing the same things that I have been through.

Do you know Him?

What is He doing in your life?

Do you keep it to yourself or are you sharing with others?

Father, we give you all the honor, glory and praise. Every day we will bless You and praise Your name forever. You have raised us up when we are bowed down. You sustain us when we fall. You are righteous in all Your ways and kind in all Your deeds. Lord, You are good to all and Your mercies are over all Your works. Your kingdom lasts forever. You have done mighty acts in our lives and let us not keep it to ourselves. That our mouths will speak the praise of You Lord. For You are worthy! Amen!

Lyn

Our Rock and Our Great Strength- Psalm 144, 2 Corinthians 5:21

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Sandoval) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Today’s reading: Psalm 144, 2 Corinthians 5:21

It is believed that this psalm was written by David after he was recognized as King of Israel. He praises God with thankfulness, bringing to memory all the years of persecution and battles he had to endure to fulfill God’s purpose to govern His people! (2 Samuel 5:1-5)

“ Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my great strength,Who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle; ²My [steadfast] lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my rescuer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.” (144:1-2)

David was amazed that God would have set His eyes on him for such a great responsibility, and humbly recognizes it was God who protected and saved his life from his enemies throughout all those years, for a time like this:

“Lord, what is man that You take notice of him? Or the son of man that You think of him? ⁴Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a shadow that passes away.” (144:3-4)

As Christians we also have to encounter many challenges and fight spiritual battles (Eph. 6.12) in order to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, but just as David, we must also acknowledge Who is for us, and that through our Lord’s Jesus Sacrifice we are overcomers! We too can praise our God for His continual care and protection over our lives!

“The Lord thinks much of man, and in connection with redeeming love makes a great figure of him: this can be believed, but it cannot be explained.” (Spurgeon)

Yes, He loves us so much and it is so difficult for us to understand this, and even to explain it! Although our lives may continue to drift from battles to victories, we like David can be assured He will never leave us nor forsake us! We are so privileged to have His Word and His Holy Spirit which help us and empower us when we faint or want to give up!

^“26In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. ²⁷And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of ^[^c^]God’s people in accordance with God’s will. ²⁸And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. “(Romans 8:26-28)

In the next verses (v. 5-8) David realized the great challenge it was to preserve his kingdom in the midst of all his enemies, so he cries out to the Lord for protection….Then as he remembers God’s faithfulness in the past, he praises God with thankfulness:

⁹I will sing a new song to You, O God; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,¹⁰Who gives salvation to kings, Who sets David His servant free from the evil sword.” (v.9-10)

It never ceases to amaze me David’s boldness, faith and trust as he directs his prayer and praise to the Lord! No wonder he was considered a man after God’s own heart!

Finally David prays for blessings for God’s people, now under his government. (v.12-15).

That they would be blessed:

· With children in their homes.

· Blessed in the work of their hands.

· Blessed with safety and peace in their city.

But in the last verse of this psalm, David then realizes something more important than what he previously prayed for:

“How blessed and favored are the people in such circumstance; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored] are the people whose God is the Lord!”

“Happy are the people that are in such a case; those are blessed that prosper in the world. But he immediately corrects himself: Yea, rather, happy are the people whose God is the Lord, who have his favour, and love, and grace, according to the tenour of the covenant, though they have not abundance of this world's goods. As all this, and much more, cannot make us happy, unless the Lord be our God, so, if he be, the want of this, the loss of this, nay, the reverse of this, cannot make us miserable.” (Matthew Henry)

Yes, what is the case of having prosperity and other material goods if we do not have God reigning in our lives? (Matt. 6:25, 33)

There are still so many people around us longing and holding on to material things, making these a purpose for their lives, but they don’t’ want to realize how much they lose out!

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. ²⁵For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. ²⁶For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:24-26)

Heavenly Father: I humbly come to You offering my love and praise, for You have been my Rock and my Strength throughout all the days of my life! May I continue to grow in faith and trusting You more and more each day! May one day I too can become a woman after your own Heart, my dear Lord! Thank you for rescuing me and setting me free from my sins and giving me a new life in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior! I pray for my family and friends: ________; who are still lost…. Wandering like sheep without a pastor! They might have many material possessions and be blinded by them, but they do not have You in their lives! May the eyes of their hearts be opened, that they may repent and receive Your Salvation, through Jesus’ Saving Grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

Mari

Connecting To The Father

noreply@blogger.com (Becky Austin) — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Our Reading: Psalm 143 & Isaiah 57:16

David shows us that even back in the OT days, God was a righteous God who also exercised forbearance (patient self-control, restraint, and tolerance). David understood his sinful condition and the sinful condition of all of mankind. He understood his own guilt and inability to save himself. It was with this humility that he approached God and asked for His mercy.

“Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.” (v2)

This is the understanding that we have to approach God with in order to be shown His mercy and forgiveness. We have to be aware of our sinful nature and that we are not capable of being righteous in our own endeavors.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭

We must realize that we are 100% dependent on Christ for our righteousness and his sacrificial love that provides for our salvation.

“as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬, ‭23‬-‭25‬

No matter if our circumstances are going well or, as David faced in this Psalm, not so well, God is an ever present need in our lives. He doesn’t just want to be the One we call upon when we have crisis needs but the One we call upon for our deepest, daily spiritual needs. David longed for connection with God and considered it his most vital need. Like deep rooted relationships, he had history with God to reflect upon.

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah” (v5-6)

David’s relationship with God was built on his willingness to perform 2 important actions

Trust: He trusted that God loved him and would direct him. “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (v8)
Obey: He was humble and teachable, willing to yield to God’s instruction. “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” (v10)

It sounds simple to just trust and obey but it can be a daily challenge to do so. That’s why it is so important to stay connected to Him and grounded in His Word. It’s not enough to know about Him but we have to get to personally know Him by spending time with Him and yielding our heart to His discipline and love. Each of us will have different experiences and opportunities. As we grow closer to Him, we have more history with Him to draw strength from and more wisdom from Him to share with others. We only get one life to live. Each day we decide if we will journey alone or journey with Him.

You will not obey Him, if you do not believe Him and trust Him. You cannot believe Him if you do not love Him. You cannot love Him unless you know Him. - Henry Blackaby

Reflection:

Have you taken that step of recognizing your absolute need for atonement because of your sinful state and accepted the complete unmerited salvation provided by Christ alone?
How well do you know your Savior? How well do you want to know Him?

Prayer: Father, how grateful we are that You are so patient and forbearing, and have provided a way for us to connect to You. Forgive us when we take that for granted and do not make the wise choice of seeking You and growing in our walk with You. Help us to know You more intimately and to be able to trust and cherish You as the vital source of spiritual life that we so desperately need.

Prisoner's Praise ~ Psalm 142

noreply@blogger.com (sue) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Scripture for Today: Psalm 142 & Prov 27:5-6 and John 17:17-19 again

How do you pray when you're in trouble; when trapped and feel there is no way out and no one who will support you?

David was trapped in a cave; hiding from King Saul, who sought his life. His life was being threatened and he didn't know who he could trust, for men had betrayed him to Saul in the past. So, David turns to the only One he knew for certain would not abandon him.

I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.

I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.

When my spirit grows faint within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
    no one cares for my life. (142:1-4)

Can you feel his anguish and total dependence upon the Lord? It seems he has looked around him for help but there was none. He has longed for someone to care but he is all alone. So, he turns to God and finds help in his time of need and comfort from the God of all comforts. He is not alone! God is with him.

I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need;

rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me. (142:5-6)

But it was David's last words that grabbed my attention today.

David’s prison was a cave. He hid in a hole in the rocks to save his life from the hostile King Saul, but I believe each of us can relate. Our prisons may not come in the form of a cave or bars, but I believe there are times in each of our lives that we feel alone, abandoned; feeling that no one cares about our plight, or that nobody understands how we truly feel.

So often,

When someone is grieving the loss of a loved one, after a few days and everyone else has gone back to their lives, they feel lost and alone.
When one is diagnosed with a terrible disease, they are flooded with well wishers but after a few days they are left alone to face the reality of it all.
When we keep trying to gain the victory over an addiction or habit, but fail, and those close to us may be tempted to give up on us.

But God is always there.

We may be facing some great temptation in our life that has us so discouraged. We may feel we have lost the battle and are overwhelmed because once again we have given in to that which we know to be wrong. How do we tend to deal with life when we are all alone and there seems to be no help?

If I could speak to the lonely heart that is ready to give up and in; the heart who feels it will never end, I believe I'd say:

Just like David, we need to turn to God.

You may have heard the saying that no matter how far you are away from God, we only have to turn around. He is always right there! He is our Creator and Friend. He knows exactly what is needed if we will only give it all to Him! And rest in His abilities.

We can go boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in our time of need. Isn't that amazing? God's grace does not depend on you!

And, if you lack wisdom, James tells us, "you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6)

His grace is always sufficient for every need.

AND then we can use our victory in Jesus to share His grace and help others in need.

Let's pray:

O Father, I thank you for your wonderful love, your matchless grace and your infinite mercy toward me. Thank You for always being here with me to help in my time of need. Thank You for helping me through so many things in my life already and for giving me comfort when I have been distressed, health when I have been sick, material things when I was without and love and companionship when I felt all alone. Help me use all I have and am to help others. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Blessings,

Sue

I Call To You, Lord - Psalm 141

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Moore) — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Psalm 141, John 17:17-19

One of the things I love most about the Psalms is the beautiful imagery David uses to express his feelings about God. And there isn’t a more glorious picture he paints then our arms raised to the sky in worship. And our prayers ascending to heaven in the cool of the evening, rising like a sweet-smelling fragrance to our Heavenly Father. David knew that prayer is a powerful tool to connect us to God. To bring about change in our lives, and to receive God’s blessings, love, grace, and guidance. But more than just the beauty and power of prayer, this Psalm also has wisdom we can apply to our daily lives.

1. Our dependence on God - Not a single second of a single day goes by where we don’t need God in our lives. We are weak and vulnerable, and apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) And so humbly and thankfully, we need to acknowledge the Lord as Sovereign in our lives and turn to Him in times of trouble.

2. The danger of temptation - Even the strongest Christian can fall to the lure of sin. That’s why we need to be vigilant about recognizing and resisting temptation in our own lives. And when we feel the pull of sin taking hold, ask God to help us. For He will provide all we need to endure, overcome, and escape. (1 Cor. 10:13)

3. Trust in God's justice - It’s frustrating to see the wicked prosper. But we serve a just God. (2 Thess. 1:6) And we can trust that in His perfect timing He will bring about perfect justice to punish the wicked. And one day very soon, God will ultimately set all things right and bring about a world of peace and righteousness.

The days are growing darker. And as the time hastens until the soon return of the Lord, we need now more than ever to draw near to God. To lead dedicated prayer lives, have eyes open to the evil around us, and to trust the Lord completely in times of trouble.

Pause and Reflect -

How can I deepen my prayer life and connect more deeply with God? What are the areas of my life where I am most vulnerable to temptation, and how can I seek God's help in resisting these temptations?

Lets pray together,

Our dearest Father in heaven above, Ruler and Creator of all things, hallowed be Thy name. Father we come before you in humility, recognizing our need for Your help and protection. We ask that You would hear our prayers and guide us in our journey of faith. Father help us to resist temptation and to stay on the path of righteousness. Protect us from the lure of sin and help us to remain vigilant in our walk with You. Above all, Father we ask that You would draw us closer to You. And may we always turn to You in times of trouble, trusting in Your perfect justice and mercy. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💖 Lisa

Scripture Saturday ~ "Becoming A Woman After God's Own Heart - A Journey Through The Psalms"

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8)

Knowing that God is Sovereign and Loving shows me that I am to be confident, trusting that all that God places in my life is the best and is to perfect and prepare me for being in His presence now and for all eternity.

Fulfill = complete = to perfect.

This should be the reality of my life in God. Paul writes to the Philippians, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns" (Phil. 1:6). This is the truth. He will work out His plans for me.

But there are times, ladies, when troubles come my way, that I am not so sure. I wonder. I am anxious and worry. I doubt. But this verse encourages me to bring all these thoughts to Him, and lay them down at His feet, and to remember that He will work all things for my good (Romans 8:28) and He has a perfect plan for my life. I have to remember that His timetable is not mine. I have to remember that He sees more than I can. He will make changes happen in me. He will put me through things that make me different, and I know, will strengthen me as He walks alongside me.

I found this quote by Spurgeon…

“But this is my confidence, the Lord that began will perfect. He has done it all, must do it all, He will do it all. My confidence must not be in what I can do, or in what I have resolved to do, but entirely in what the Lord will do. ‘The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.’”

https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/faith-in-perfection/#flipbook/

So I pray…

O Sovereign, Loving God, You have been amazingly good to me. You have answered my prayers, again and again. You have proven your care for me over and over. May I grow in my trust in you. May I know more deeply that you will work out your plans for my life. May I stop worrying and live each day with greater and more joyful confidence in you. Thank you for loving me and promising to walk beside me every step of my life.

Here is this coming week’s schedule of readings…

Seeing Jesus/Going beyond God’s attribute(s)

that I found in the

Psalm

Monday 4/24 Psalm 141 John 17:17-19

Tuesday 4/25 Psalm 142 Prov 27:5-6 and

John 17:17-19 again

Wednesday 4/26 Psalm 143 Isaiah 57:16

Thursday 4/27 Psalm 144 2 Cor 5:21

Friday 4/28 Psalm 145 Exodus 15:18

*Knowing that God is _____________ shows me that _________________________________.

Here is the link to our study on Facebook...WitW Facebook Page

Don't forget to share with us the attribute of God that most spoke to you this week!

Have a blessed week everyone!

Sandra

*from Jen Wilkin’s book, Women of the Word.

Friday April 21st-Psalm 140-Prayer Protection!

noreply@blogger.com (Lyn) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Psalm 140, Proverbs 27:5-6

Years ago I had and still have a dear friend who was in trouble with family members wanting more than their fair share of the family estate after her husband passed away suddenly. I asked the Lord to give me something to pray to help her in this situation. He did, this psalm! At first I thought can I really pray this? Yes I can! I believe that we are praying against the enemy who uses people, devising evil things in their hearts, who continually sharpen their tongues as a viper, they are violent and wicked. We see this all too much these days.

In the darkest of times, in the heat of the battles, in the struggles and hardships of life, we can find great reassurance and powerful reminders through the book of Psalms of who God is. He alone is the One who can deliver and set us free from our troubles. So often we run everywhere else for help, but turning to His words of truth first is the best place to go. Praying God’s words back to Him aligns our hearts with His, brings peace to our spirits and reminds us that He’s at work on our behalf. It brings us comfort to know we’re never alone, and we can find refuge in Him and strength for our days. [I believe]

David knows what the enemy is up to. That they are evil, violent and devising evil things in their hearts, continually stir up wars, purposely tripping up his feet, setting snares and traps for him.

Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men who devise evil things in their hearts; they continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men who have purposed to trip up my feet. The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set snares for me. Selah. Psalms 140:1-5

David knows who He is God is! He knows the One he can trust! I said to the LORD, “You are my God; give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications. “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Psalms 140:6-7

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. Psalms 31:14-15

David knows how to pray for them!

As for the head of those who surround me, may the mischief of their lips cover them. “May burning coals fall upon them; may they be cast into the fire, into deep pits from which they cannot rise. “May a slanderer not be established in the earth; may evil hunt the violent man speedily.” Psalms 140:9-11

David knows that he and those who call out to Him will be thankful, praising Him!

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the poor. Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence. Psalms 140:12-13

Here are some good scriptures to help you in your times of troubles.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Hebrews 4:12-13

Are you in a battle? What are your weapons? What scriptures has the Lord given you to fight the battle you are in?

Father, we come before You, asking You for help in our time of need. The enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy but You have come to give us life abundantly. We will praise You in this trial knowing that we will grow in our faith. We lay before You_________ and ask that You intercede for us. Rescue us from the schemes of the evil one. We will praise Your name and give You the honor and the glory. Blessed be Your name, Amen

Lyn