The situations we face in today's world, brings disquiet, fear and turmoil within us. It is nothing but natural if the God of peace is not in us.
I wondered how to keep the peace within us . The Lord reminded me of a verse from the Bible.
" Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."[Ph.4:6]
If we just give the matter that worried us to God in prayer and in faith thank Him for what He is going to do about it, He will take the responsibility of guarding our hearts and minds. Then we will be free from panic or worry even in very bad circumstances. We ourselves will wonder at the God given peace. It is a peace that passes all understanding and all misunderstandings. It comes by handing the matter into God's hand , leaving it with Him and praising Him in faith that He knows to handle it .
It is the God of peace or His presence with us that gives us this kind of peace.
The bible also tells us how to keep the God of peace with us: " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."[Ph.4:8]
If the God of peace is with us, we will be in peace with God and others, have peace in every situation at all times and promote and spread peace.
God of peace help us to have you always with us, is my prayer.
Showing posts with label Praise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Praise. Show all posts
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Weighed And Found Wanting
"Weighed and found wanting" is a sad and hopeless pronouncement to be heard from heaven.
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon lacked nothing. He had health, wealth and happiness. While having a great feast, he forgot the creator God and praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, he was terrified to see the fingers of a human hand appear and write something on a wall. None of the sooth sayers could explain it. Only Daniel, who served the living God, was able to read and give the meaning of the writing. [Daniel 5:1-10]
"Mene, mene, Tekel, Parsin.", were the words of the writing. Daniel read them and gave the meaning: He said, God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end; you have been weighed on the scale and found wanting; Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Those things did happen. It was because he forgot to humble himself and give glory to the living God, who had done a great miracle in his family. Knowing God's greatness, he did not honor Him.
I pondered over the words, "Weighed and found wanting". We are also weighed by the same God all the time. The standard weight on the scale is Jesus. Any other will be counted as false weight and will not be accepted.
We are called to reach the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. [Ephesians 4:13]
As the measuring is done some things have to be taken off and some must be added.
All the necessary instructions are given in God's word. If we take heed and observe them, we will hear the praise, "well done", instead of "found wanting".
I lifted a simple prayer: "Lord teach me your ways and help me obey."
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon lacked nothing. He had health, wealth and happiness. While having a great feast, he forgot the creator God and praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, he was terrified to see the fingers of a human hand appear and write something on a wall. None of the sooth sayers could explain it. Only Daniel, who served the living God, was able to read and give the meaning of the writing. [Daniel 5:1-10]
"Mene, mene, Tekel, Parsin.", were the words of the writing. Daniel read them and gave the meaning: He said, God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end; you have been weighed on the scale and found wanting; Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Those things did happen. It was because he forgot to humble himself and give glory to the living God, who had done a great miracle in his family. Knowing God's greatness, he did not honor Him.
I pondered over the words, "Weighed and found wanting". We are also weighed by the same God all the time. The standard weight on the scale is Jesus. Any other will be counted as false weight and will not be accepted.
We are called to reach the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. [Ephesians 4:13]
As the measuring is done some things have to be taken off and some must be added.
All the necessary instructions are given in God's word. If we take heed and observe them, we will hear the praise, "well done", instead of "found wanting".
I lifted a simple prayer: "Lord teach me your ways and help me obey."
Monday, April 21, 2008
Dancing in True Worship
We had a beautiful service on Sunday with songs, lifting up of hands, rejoicing and dancing, which was Biblical [Ps149:3; 150:4; Ex.15:20; 11Sam.6:14]. While most of the people were dancing, there were a few who were quietly praising and singing, even raising their hands but not dancing. I was one of them.
Why did the few not join in the dancing? Were they shy? Or think it was unholy? A cultural difference perhaps? As for me, I am not used to dancing. In my days and culture, dancing was not part of worship. I was also wondering if all those who danced so joyfully, were doing it in the spirit: In every party they dance. Dancing is part of the culture of Canada and the west. Was their worship genuine? In the presence of God, the attitude should be Holy. The critical thoughts of those who refrained from dancing may have polluted the Holy atmosphere and the presence of God would have been hindered! There would not have been perfect unity in the worship! Somehow the enemy wants to spoil the true worship of our great God!
The Lord led me to read Psalms 95 the next morning. It was a call to worship. The last verse speaks of hardening of the heart. A hardened heart will be a thankless, complaining heart. It will not be able to worship the Holy God. The Lord loves genuine, holy, joyful, worship from humble hearts.
Our heart could become hardened because of unanswered prayer, pride, criticism, stubbornness, ungratefulness and a lack of humility. Hardening the heart is dangerous. We will not be able to enter into the rest. [Heb.3:13] I recalled the warning given in Hebrews 4:4-11.
I prayed that whichever way we worship, help us to be genuine in seeking the presence of the Holy God in humility and be blessed by Him to be a blessing to others.
Why did the few not join in the dancing? Were they shy? Or think it was unholy? A cultural difference perhaps? As for me, I am not used to dancing. In my days and culture, dancing was not part of worship. I was also wondering if all those who danced so joyfully, were doing it in the spirit: In every party they dance. Dancing is part of the culture of Canada and the west. Was their worship genuine? In the presence of God, the attitude should be Holy. The critical thoughts of those who refrained from dancing may have polluted the Holy atmosphere and the presence of God would have been hindered! There would not have been perfect unity in the worship! Somehow the enemy wants to spoil the true worship of our great God!
The Lord led me to read Psalms 95 the next morning. It was a call to worship. The last verse speaks of hardening of the heart. A hardened heart will be a thankless, complaining heart. It will not be able to worship the Holy God. The Lord loves genuine, holy, joyful, worship from humble hearts.
Our heart could become hardened because of unanswered prayer, pride, criticism, stubbornness, ungratefulness and a lack of humility. Hardening the heart is dangerous. We will not be able to enter into the rest. [Heb.3:13] I recalled the warning given in Hebrews 4:4-11.
I prayed that whichever way we worship, help us to be genuine in seeking the presence of the Holy God in humility and be blessed by Him to be a blessing to others.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Praise Casts Out The Spirit of Heaviness
Praise is the antidote for being depressed and heavy. How to praise and for what to praise, when you are sad, you may wonder. This morning, I was in very low spirits. People's actions, words, attitudes, disapproval, rejections and disappointments can easily be joy killers. I am glad our Lord does not want us to remain in that state. This is how I got over it:
First, I tried to read the Bible and pray but my mind revolved around things that happened and were going to happen. Remembering a Sunday school song, "Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right!", I told Jesus all that I felt. He reminded me of a verse from Isaiah 61:3. I read it a few times:
"To appoint unto those who mourn in Zion to give beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified."
God's word combined with prayer worked a miracle. The Lord, within minutes, took my heaviness completely from me. I was able to praise Jesus for what He did on the cross for me, to make me accepted by God. If the Almighty God loves and accepts me what does it matter if others consider me not worthy enough to be in their function? All the feeling of hurt left me. I sang I am free. Thank you Jesus you have done it all for me.
I was able to pray the following for the wedding party with sincere love:
First, I tried to read the Bible and pray but my mind revolved around things that happened and were going to happen. Remembering a Sunday school song, "Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right!", I told Jesus all that I felt. He reminded me of a verse from Isaiah 61:3. I read it a few times:
"To appoint unto those who mourn in Zion to give beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified."
God's word combined with prayer worked a miracle. The Lord, within minutes, took my heaviness completely from me. I was able to praise Jesus for what He did on the cross for me, to make me accepted by God. If the Almighty God loves and accepts me what does it matter if others consider me not worthy enough to be in their function? All the feeling of hurt left me. I sang I am free. Thank you Jesus you have done it all for me.
I was able to pray the following for the wedding party with sincere love:
Lord, bless the couple, embarking the new boat, in the sea of life today, starting a a new family, keep them under the shadow of your wings. Protect them from every storm and strife of tongues, as they busy them selves in your service. Help them discern what is right.
May love for You and for each other fill their hearts. May they understand others' views. Use them to bring healing to hurting hearts.
Bless the Pastor who is uniting them. May his heart be free from hurts and offenses, so that your blessings flow from his prayers to the trusting couple.
Bless the loving, trusting, followers as they sing your praises to bless the couple this morning.
Amen.
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