Psalm 103

P 2916 Value His Presence.

/ DVH

This is a very special privileged place. It cost our heavenly Father everything to give it to us. His Presence is our treasure. So it is important for us to value and prioritise our relationship with the Holy Spirit. The way we can daily live walking with Him. This comes from an intimate understanding of His Ways – what He likes, what He doesn’t. I think it is a mistake to write out, or adhere to rules etc. regarding this relationship. And the Spirit’s virtually unseen contribution into our lives is about keeping those relationships flourishing with the joy of knowing and serving Them.

Because of the Holy Spirit and His help and influence, we can cultivate the utter freedom to love and serve others no matter how difficult they are. Love conquers all, and it will pay any price to do it. However, sin and rules will quite simply block our spiritual ears and eyes and muddy our understanding of Him. That’s when our focus shifts from Them … to me.

We need the Spirit’s Presence and wisdom permeating our lives, constantly, because His influence will build our faith in our Father’s loving kindness and goodness. He equips us to do His work for God’s kingdom to flourish through us. The Holy Spirit will not take over, but He loves to strengthen us so we can choose the good and be delighted in, and for, Father God Himself.

To get this place of safety, we must continually renew our minds so that we know, that we know, that without Him we can do nothing. By ourselves we can’t ever meet God’s standard of selflessness, purity and holiness, that’s why Jesus came and died in our place. He gave us His right-standing with our Father. When we live like Jesus would, we are living under His cleansing blood. Just look at the Lord’s confidence in His place in His Father’s eyes, as He prays outside Lazarus’ tomb:  “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.”John 11:41&42.

Now let’s be clear, without His Presence we can rocket from one giant mess to another … which is actually the kind of ‘nothing happening here’ stuff that lasts … and, over time it will get worse!! We can however, live our lives repenting from the things that distract us daily, plus the occasional things that are exposed which have held us captive so far. We can live this way because we have already been given His strength, so we can forgive any perpetrators, as well ourselves – and that stops that dumb unfruitful dance from continuing. 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” We can also confess our faults to one another, and dig into His Word until we hear His voice through what is written. This a reliable pathway back into living for His kingdom. Now our task is to believe and act upon what God said to us, personally. Our King is extremely humble. When we follow Him, that means we will also live humble lives, acknowledging we are not there yet.

Moving on … … for too long we have tried to serve God … AND… insert-something-in-here-that-you-are-unwilling-or-afraid-to-give-up! The solution for that is to tell the Lord the truth. Tell Him you don’t want to stop whatever it is that He has put His finger on, but you will – simply because it is important to HIM. That’s God’s love language – our response to His generosity and beauty – especially when we die to self for the sake of His kingdom coming. 

Then we ask for His help and exercise self-control. This fruit of the Spirit grows and flourishes in an environment of transparency, honesty and humility. Almighty God is a jealous God, He doesn’t like sharing US – we are His chosen family. That’s why He sent Jesus to save us. He will share His love, and He will shower us with mercy and grace … but He does not like a divided heart. Matthew 6:24; Psalms 86:11-17.

We need to remember that He wants us for Himself and there is no greater honour. “When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence.”Psalms 91:1-2 TPT.

The bible tells us not to forget all of God’s benefits in Psalm 103 – but we need to know that His benefits are bigger than just the stuff that suits me! His benefits are there for you too, through me! When we act under His instructions, like the Sons and Daughters of God, we destroy the works of the evil one.“But as for me, Your strength shall be my song of joy. At each and every sunrise, my lyrics of Your love will fill the air! For You have been my glory-fortress, a stronghold in my day of distress.” Psalms 59:16 TPT.

He wants to be our hiding place, our strong deliverer, our healer, our redeemer, our joy and our song – so we need to learn to not abuse what He has given us. We are the people who value even the Shadow of His Presence. Amen. 🙏

“My true life is the Anointed One, and dying means gaining more of Him.” Philippians 1:21 TPT.

P 2782 We are people of HIS Grace.

/ DVH

The glory of God is more important than our perceived welfare… you might want to sit and think on that sentence for a while. 🤔 I know I did! I have no desire to criticise the church or her servants, whether they are pastors, preachers, prophets etc. But in the last 40 years many Christians have gone right away from our main focus – the Lord Himself. It seems we need to seriously take note of satan’s sin… pride. Our focus needs to be clearly centred around us being God’s servants. It was not above the Lord Jesus Himself to regard Himself as a servant, and He is God’s only Begotten Son! 

I know that the Lord regards each one of us as His brothers and sisters, the bible says so, but that is because even Christ Himself would never dream of elevating His own status above His Beloved Father. Jesus perfectly illustrates that love lifts up its beloved, and has no concern for its own position. Read Song of Solomon and you will perfectly see how love, the Shepherd, treats the Bride – us!

Because of what Christ did and the way He regarded us, we are incredibly precious in His sight, but that is Jesus’ Grace and generosity, flowing toward us,not our right. Our God is mighty, awesome, and above all we can think or imagine. He is the One True Almighty Everlasting God, who made heaven and earth and created everything we can see … …and a whole lotta stuff we can’t! He existed before we did, and eternity will not be long enough for us to plumb the depths of how wonderful, glorious, and how precious our Heavenly Father is! I did not have a father present in my life, so there are days when I am totally wrecked by the fact that God Himself has claimed me.

Unfortunately Father God has been poorly represented in my opinion. He is not some easily fooled fun-loving Grandpa who indulges His children! Many people over recent years, have walked away from their faith, because their faith was in a Santa Claus figure – not Almighty God Himself!  So they quit! Disappointment grabbed them by the throat and choked out whatever faith they had. Presumption is such an ugly condition. It robs us of what His Grace has done for us. 

This meant that when bad things happened in life, and that happens to all of us, these poor souls fell away, wondering why they hadn’t qualified for the benefits advertised! Praise Him, the Old Testament is filled with stories of God Himself making beauty out of ashes. He took inadequate men and women and blessed them with His wisdom and purposes. He is still doing that today, with you and I.

Many preachers still tell us that that was then, and now – we are under a New Covenant. Yes, we are, and praise God for it. But that New Covenant frees us to choose Him for Who He is  … not just for the benefits He lovingly bestows upon His people, day by day. He blesses us, but that is a testament to His goodness … not our entitlement or faith! The bible exhorts us in Psalm 103  “…to forget not all His benefits.”And then that Psalm goes on to list them, one by one. This Psalm reminds us that we can praise and thank Him as the Author of whatever goodness, forgiveness, and mercy that has come our way. And because we know His heart through His book, we can also praise Him for what is still to come.

This Psalm is not a free pass to demand whatever we think we need. It is God Who supplies our needs, and my advice is to have a conversation with Him first. The Psalm is simply telling us where good things come from. Listen to James 1:17. He tells us clearly where blessings come from.“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” If we get so focussed on the gifts and not the Giver we have missed the main event! God is revealing Himself to us, He’s saying when good things happen to you and I —- ITS HIM!

Just yesterday, at our house, there was an incredibly fierce storm. The lightning and thunder were right over our house and the hail was pelting down and I am ashamed to admit that I was afraid. But suddenly, peace swept over me like a river … fear didn’t leave, it simply melted as His greater Grace helped me. I didn’t even ask for it. It just came upon me because God is so kind and good. A gift comes from the Giver’s heart.

We need to stop reading the bible simply to grab at promises that we think He should honour, because we know how good He is. Instead, we are a privileged people who know what they have been given and we are grateful. A people of His Grace. That Grace comes in, and it flows out toward others. Our Heavenly Father is more than just a provider, much much more. He is the love in each one of our hearts, especially when life tests us. Bye. 👋