Our Reading: Psalm 83 and Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 2:13-17

Have you ever felt hemmed in all sides by forces that conspired against you, by people who plotted your demise? This is what Asaph felt as the Israelites found themselves surrounded by people who did not serve God and wanted to wipe the Israelite nation from the face of Earth. Even in the world today, there are many nations and even groups within our own countries who wish to conspire against Christianity and wipe Christians from the face of the Earth. Our fears and anxieties may rise but we should take the example of Asaph and take our concerns to God and ask for His intervention:

“O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.” Psalm‬ ‭83‬:‭1‬-‭2‬

Asaph knew what God was capable of. He knew the historical proof that God could defeat and destroy the plans and resources of the enemy. 

“O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!” Psalm‬ ‭83‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭

We can relate to wanting those who wish us harm to be defeated but can we relate to the very special request that Asaph makes on behalf of those enemies?

“Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord.” Psalm‬ ‭83‬:‭16‬ 

He doesn’t just want them annihilated, but he wants them to be humbled and realize their need for God as their Savior. “Shame has often weaned men from their idols, and set them upon seeking the Lord.” (Spurgeon)

This is important for us to understand. God often has to break a man’s proud and self serving spirit before he realizes his need for God and desires to seek God. All hateful, vindictive, manipulative and power seeking behavior as well as self destructive behavior reflects a soul that is yielded to selfish focus. God has to bring a person to the end of themselves before they realize their need for Him and will be willing to repent. This is something God must do in a person’s life and we can interfere with that when we try to take matters into our own hands by attacking, defending, or just enabling. We should seek the counsel of God and what He wants us to do vs not do and we should patiently allow God to intervene. 

This is a hard truth to put into application and we must have God’s help to do so. We must remember:

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. Proverbs 28:5 

Even on the cross, Jesus referred to this: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Perhaps this is why God asks us to have a gracious heart toward our enemies and pray for them.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21

I am not advocating for someone to be a doormat for abuse or to ignore the wrong behaviors of others. I am just advocating for us to examine our own hearts and attitudes towards others. We should aim to keep the right perspective and to choose carefully our actions and responses so that we would honor God, including taking a stand to uphold his values, but also show Christian love toward our oppressors. 

Even as we seek justice and desire for God to intervene, we must have the same goal as Asaph in wanting God to stir up mighty action and opposition against those who practice evil: “that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm‬ ‭83‬:‭18‬ ‭

Reflection: 

1. How do you view the difficult people in your life and do you consider your actions and reactions in the context of honoring God?
2. How do you view those who are against your Christian values? Do you pray for them?
3. Do you pray for God to do whatever it takes to bring the unsaved or the prodigal to a place of humility and realization of their need for Him? 

Prayer: Father, may we always seek to honor you, even when we have to deal with difficult people who rise up in opposition against us and against You. May we seek Your wisdom and intervention instead of just recklessly taking matters into our own hands. Help us to see our enemy as You see Him..lost and desperately in need of You. May our hearts long for You to intervene in a way that declares You to be the most high God. 

 Today’s Scripture is Psalm 82 & 1 Peter2:13-17

Good morning, Beloved!

In this psalm, “God takes his place in the divine council” (82:1). I had to wonder just who He is addressing here. Jesus, in John 10:34, refers to this psalm to explain how strange it is for the Jews of His day to find it incredible that he could claim not to be one of the “gods” but to be the Lord God himself. Here, in John chapter 10, Jesus says that He "called them gods to whom the word of God came.” Therefore, it is believed that these “gods” are religious leaders, rulers, and divinely appointed officials.

God is calling them to justice: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?” (82:2) I immediately thought of this passage in James as I read verse 2, 

"For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?" (James 2:2-6)

If we're honest, most, if not all of us, have shown some sort of favoritism over time. I think of our country's passion with actors and musical artists who entertain us, yet our military, police and firefighters, who work to protect us never have to worry about the paparazzi, though we know God word tells us, He never shows favoritism and is now calling us out. 

I'm thankful God doesn't show favoritism and is always looking out for the "little guy", aren't you? In fact, I tried researching all the verses in the Bible that refer to taking care of the poor, widows, orphans and refugees and I easily found over one hundred. Here's just a few examples,

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? (1 John 3:17)

It is imperative that we as well as our religious leaders use the "talents" we've been given to care for our brothers and not show special favors for ourselves or others. We should defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy and deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (82:3-4)

It is easy for those in leadership situations to think of the interests of the powerful, for if they were to become upset, they could damage the organization as a whole. But the role of a servant leader should be to look after the interests of all and speak up for those who have no voice.

Jesus modeled this so perfectly for us throughout the gospels. It's clear this is huge in our Father's heart and I know He will help us to love all and help those in need. 

Pause & Reflect:

Can you think of a time when someone favored another over you, or a loved one for the wrong reasons?

Would you ask God to show you today what He wants you to do to help?

Ask Him to show you any area where you have shown, or are showing favoritism?

Let's Pray:

O Father, I am so thankful You clearly don't show favoritism, for You love all and look on the hearts of men and not their outward appearances. We long to be more like You in this area. Please give us a heart that loves deeply and compassionately. Please reveal to us any areas where we have failed in this area. Help us to forgive and build up our brothers, for this is Your will for Your people. Amen

Blessings, 

Sue

Psalm 81, Hebrews 1:3

We all know the truth that hindsight is 20/20. Because there isn’t a single person who hasn’t looked back at past mistakes and uttered the words, “If only”. If only I had heeded another’s warning. If only I had trusted my gut instincts. If only I had made a different choice. Regret is a powerful emotion. One that keeps us in bondage and stuck in the past. That’s why our Heavenly Father cries out, “Oh that My people would listen to Me!” (vs. 13)

As Christian’s our greatest goal is to walk hand in hand with God. To have a close, personal, relationship with the One who knows us best. But to walk with God, we have to listen to God. For as Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Our God is not silent. He speaks to us in a way that we can hear Him, receive His message, and obey Him. He is infinite, fully capable of communicating with each of us right where we are.” All we need do is listen. But how do hear from God?

One of the greatest ways God speaks is through His Word. When we study the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit points us to truths that come directly from God. Other times God speaks to us through teachers or fellow believers. It may a pastor’s sermon, a Bible study, or a Christian friend’s advice. We even hear from God through worship. Because worship allows God to penetrate our minds and hearts. And He inhabits the praise of His people. (Ps. 22:3)

Many are the ways in which God speaks. Which is why it’s so important to listen for and obey His voice. Israel learned the hard way the pain of regret. And from her mistakes, can we save ourselves the pain of, “If only.” And in the process receive some amazing promises. For those who listen to God can expect an abundance of blessings, their foes subdued before them, and to be fed only the finest of wheat and honey!  (vs. 10, 14,16) 

Pause and Reflect -

Did you know the word listen contains the same letters as silent? After you finish talking to God do you give Him a chance to reply, or do you just go about your day? Israel didn’t hear from God because they were living in disobedience. Is there anything in your life standing before God? Are there areas in which you need to submit to His will?

Finally, let’s pray together,

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be Thy name. Father we sing aloud to You. For You alone are our strength, our joy, and our inheritance. May we have ears set to listen to your still, small, voice. And may Your Holy Spirit speak to us as we wait for wisdom, insight, and direction. Father whatever You show us, or direct us to do, may we obey quickly, trusting in Your perfect will. For Father we long to draw near to You, so help us sense your loving presence and to listen as you speak. In Jesus's 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

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will ponder all Your work, and meditate on Your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:11-13)

Knowing that God is all He says He is shows me that I can pray to God with confidence and expectation because of who He is and what He has done for me in the past.

When reading Psalm 77 we see the psalmist crying out to God about his troubles, his weariness. He knows that God hears his moans, but begins to doubt if God has “forgotten to be gracious?” It is when we read verse 11 that we see a change in the psalmist’s attitude. The psalmist turns his thoughts to remembering and praising God for who He is and for what He has done in the past. He becomes confident that God will answer His prayer in His time.

And so, verses 11 and 12 made me pause because they remind me that when I approach God’s throne in prayer, focusing first on His character and praising Him for who He is, on the wonders He has done in my past, I am confident that when I lift up my petitions I can be at peace knowing full well that He can do it all. 

Here is this coming week’s schedule of readings…

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

                                that I found in the

                                  Psalm

Monday 1/30    Psalm 81    Hebrews 1:3

Tuesday 1/31    Psalm 82    1 Peter 2:13-17

Wednesday 2/1  Psalm 83    Heb 1:3; 1 Peter 2:13-17 again

Thursday 2/2    Psalm 84    John 2:19-21

Friday 2/3    Psalm 85    Rev 15:3-4

*Knowing that God is _____________ shows me that _________________________________.

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

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

Have a blessed week everyone!

Sandra

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

                                                Restoration and Salvation!

Today's Scriptures: Psalm 80 & John 15:1-11

Lord, we Your children acknowledge You as Lord of our lives.  We know of Your mighty power and the works that You have done in our lives and in the lives of others.  Yet there are times of doing things in our own strength and we wonder why our prayers are not being answered?  You are the vine and only abiding in You will we will produce fruit.

How is your prayer life?  Do you spend time in prayer with Him, acknowledging Him as God?  Do you pray His will be done in your life?   Do you just quickly say a prayer half-heartedly and expect that He will answer? When you say you are going to pray for someone, do you? When telling someone you are going to pray for them, stop right then and there and pray with them and also ask the Lord to remind you to pray for them, because we often get busy and forget.  Sometimes He has to get our attention and I think He often uses our lack of time spent in prayer with Him to do just that. 

 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. ⁶  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

When we pray and make our requests known to Him with thanksgiving, He gives us His peace that will guard our hearts and minds in Him.  So when our requests keep coming to mind let us continue to thank Him for the answers that are on the way.  

Vs. 17-19. The Messiah, the Protector and Savior of the church, is the Man of God’s right hand; he is the Arm of the Lord, for all power is given to him. In him is our strength, by which we are enabled to persevere to the end. The vine, therefore, cannot be ruined, nor can any fruitful branch perish; but the unfruitful will be cut off and cast into the fire. The end of our redemption is, that we should serve Him who hath redeemed us, and not go back to our old sins. Psalms 80:17 [Matthew Henry]

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides- To continue permanently or in the same state; to be firm and immovable. in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Pause & Reflect:

Where are you abiding these days?  

What gets you through the trials and temptations of life? 

Let's Pray:

This is a psalm by Asaph and it was clearly written after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian armies.

In the first 4 verses he cries out his lamentation for such terrible suffering and all the images he and his people had witnessed from this destruction… the horrific scenes described in this psalm… such images his mind could not fanthom!

These same images of horror and cruelty have been a reality for so many people in this world whose countries are burdened with war and famine: for example, the people of Ukraine who for the last 10 months have suffered from the war caused by the Russian invasion!

Asaph after pouring out his heart out to God with cry and lamentation then focused his attention on His Might, Mercies, and Faithfulness in this beautiful prayer:

 “How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy [which cannot endure a divided allegiance] burn like fire? ⁶ Pour out Your wrath on the [Gentile] nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. ⁷ For they have devoured Jacob and made his pasture desolate.⁸ O do not remember against us the sins and guilt of our forefathers. Let Your compassion and mercy come quickly to meet us, For we have been brought very low. ⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; Rescue us, forgive us our sins for Your name’s sake. ¹⁰ Why should the [Gentile] nations say, “Where is their God?” Let there be known [without delay] among the nations in our sight [and to this generation], Your vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been poured out.¹¹ Let the groaning and sighing of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your power keep safe those who are doomed to die. ¹² And return into the lap of our neighbors sevenfold the taunts with which they have taunted You, O Lord.” (verses 5-12 AMP emphasis mine).

 

Verse 11 stood out to me, reminding me that before I surrendered my life to Jesus I was also a prisoner of my sins: sighing for all the weight of the burdens I carried in my heart, walking in the direction of eternal doom! What would have been of my life without His Saving Grace? Now I have Life and Purpose as Paul vividly wrote in Romans 6:17-19:

 

^“But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. ¹⁸ And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose]. ¹⁹ I am speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness, leading to ^[d]sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose].”

 

Yes, we’ve been set apart for a divine and eternal Purpose!

“How consoling is it to desponding believers to reflect that God can preserve even those who bear the sentence of death in themselves. Men and devils may consign us to perdition, while sickness drags us to the grave, and sorrow sinks us in the dust; but, there is One who can keep our soul alive, ay, and bring it up again from the depths of despair. A lamb shall live between the lion's jaws if the Lord wills it. Even in the charnel, life shall vanquish death if God be near.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Many of us have had very difficult seasons in our lives. Many have felt these seasons have been of some kind of captivity or oppression. We -as Asaph’s community- also have also dealt with a ferocious enemy, as Jesus warned us in John 10:10a -“ The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.”

Yes, Satan will always find the opportunity to have us fall in some kind of bondage, by stealing our peace, killing our faith and even destroying our lives and families, if we let him!  This world is so filled with temptations and in some point of our lives we can turn away from His paths and fall in the trap of some kind of bondage:

-Bondage of fear; bound by health issues; by finances; by oppression; by pain from the past; obsessions; people pleasing; bound by any kind of addictions and even by the circumstances we might facing at the time! Satan will try to keep God’s people in bondage, as much as he has kept those who do not know God!

But Jesus gave us the solution: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29)

Again Paul exhorts us to: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1)

Paul also reminds us of the spiritual battles we continually face, and the importance to put on His Armor ( Ephesians 6:1-18); and Peter exhorts to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8) 

We must wholly surrender our lives to Him and always follow Him as our Good Pastor, declaring just as Asaph did, in the last verse of this psalm:

^“So we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; We will declare and publish Your praise from generation to generation.” (verse 13)

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the amazing love you have lavished over us by the Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus! Thank you for delivering us from eternal death and giving us a new life in Jesus! Please Lord, set the captives free! I pray for: _________.Thank you for being our Good Pastor: one who will guide us, protect us, provide for us and carry us through in whatever circumstance we may face while we live on this earth, until You take us home! May we declare with our lips to our generations that You Live and are Worthy of All Honor and Glory!! Amen!

Blessings,

Mari

Our Reading: Psalm 78 and  Deut.6:6-9; Matt. 13:34-35               

The Bible is full of wonderful stories and rich history. These stories have survived for thousands of generations and they serve to teach us about a God who remains faithful and merciful even when His people doubt and rebel against Him. “Psalm 78 is the longest of the historical psalms. Its lesson is that history must not repeat itself. The people must never again be unbelieving.” (James Montgomery Boice)

The Bible is meant to be shared, and it’s truths passed on from one generation to the next. God entrusts parents to pass on to their children a knowledge of the Bible but more importantly an understanding of the lessons of the Bible so that they will trust God and place their faith in Him. 

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.”  Psalm‬ ‭78‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭

Through the historical accounts of this Psalm, we see over and over again how God worked in miraculous ways to provide for the needs of His people and yet they still struggled with doubt and unbelief? “In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.” Psalm‬ ‭78‬:‭32‬ ‭ “Israel had seen the wonderful works of God, cleaving the sea, lighting the night, and giving water from rocks. Yet they questioned God’s ability to give bread, and to spread out a table in the wilderness.” (Meyer)

Not only were they full of unbelief and complaints, but they also chose to dishonor God through disobedience and raise other idols up to displace His importance in their lives.

“Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.”  Psalm‬ ‭78‬:‭56‬-‭58‬

These are the oft repeated sins of the generations which have preceded us. 

1. Tendency to complain about what or how God provides
2. Tendency to doubt God’s abilities and faithfulness.

“Nothing is more provoking to God, than our quarrelling with our allotment, and indulging the desires of the flesh.” (Henry, cited in Spurgeon)

How important it is to ground ourselves and each other in the truths of God. The Bible is testimony to a God who loves us, is patient and merciful to us, and longs to provide what we need.  He is always at work and we have to be patient and trusting, especially if it is difficult to see Him at work. Even after all their disobedience and rebellion, God remained faithful to His promises and His plan was not deterred.  He chose the young boy David and prepared him to be a King of his time, and the forerunner of the King of Kings…Jesus. 

 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭78‬:‭70‬-‭72‬ ‭

Reflection: 

1. Are you prone to grumbling, complaining and impatience with God or do you try to remain grateful and expectant that He is at work, and will reveal His will, in His time? 
2. Do you spend time in His Word, learning the valuable lessons He has provided and sharing those treasured findings with others? Do you bless future generations with the example of living a godly life?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the lessons and wisdom that we find in the Bible. We thank you that you are patient and merciful when we fail you. Help us to trust in Your love, Your provision, Your guidance, and Your timing. Help us to be an example to future generations who desperately need to know your truths.