Break-It-Down [said with attitude and three snaps in Z-formation]!
No: nothing.
Good thing: the ability to worship God even in exile; to be who we're meant to be.
Upright walk: trying to remain upright though the winds of the world wage war against us.
Why is this so hard for me to believe? Because heretics and many televangelists have taken this scripture and used is for financial gain. Charlatans have twisted this scripture to fill their pockets while unsuspecting victims believe good things come in the form of health and wealth, a Porsche and a hot spouse, a mansion and a million bucks.
But this text in context is a beautiful song written by Korahites, the temple keepers, who speak about a longing to dwell with God, to yearn for God, to find protection and strength in God. In conclusion (v11-12), because of all the things the Lord provides (v1-10), we have all good things when we walk uprightly. For some, good things are a Porsche and large bank account. For others it's cancer and the ability draw people to the Lord. In either situation, we are truly blessed because the Lord is our shield (protection) and our sun (light) (84:11a).
How is the Lord your shield today? Have you been given light in a dark time in your life? What are the good things the Lord has given you while you've walked uprightly? Sing loud, sing proud, blessed in the person who trust in you (84:12).
8 comments:
WOW! I never knew this about this text.
My good things are my husband, my health, and my (rented) home. I'm trying to walk uprightly!
Thanks for this today!
Awesome.
Last night I read card after card that my teens wrote about what they were thankful for. And what they asked of God.
Great reminders.
you know we've been having some hard times this last year...but i want to say in the last few months..I have drawn so close to God...it is so true that hard times brings us to our knees and closer to Him...and when we finally give in and rely solely on Him...He takes care of us...i know we all know this...i know I knew this, but now I REALLY know it...in my heart as well as my mind...not to say i don't struggle, but now i know I NEED Him not only WANT Him...
btw...can u peek back into the last blog postings comments and give me some thoughts...pretty please:)
LOVE THIS. I need to read more in Psalms. God provides me with so much... A wonderful husband, our own home, a job that includes paying tuition in FULL for both my husband and I to finish our bachelor's degrees. God also steered us to an awesome church family and the best small/home/life group ever. We are so, so blessed.
isn't the one year Bible great? Its so cool to be encouraged by the same verses at the same time as so many others around the world.
Mmm...I needed to be reminded of that today...so reminded. This year has been a year of "stripping" - stripping down who I am (dying to self), turning my life upside, leaving behind what I was carnally passionate about to be a better mom and a better wife and a better daughter of the King. But with that came/comes much sacrifice. We are holding on to our home by a thread, we are holding on to our cars by a thread, all the material things and yet today, more than any day in a long time, I have the peace and comfort and joy that God is in control. He will not withold any good thing from me. Wow. Wow. Wow.
And so, I must, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer as Paul tells us in Romans 12:12. I am holding on!!!
P.S. I just learned this...hope in hebrew is "tikvah" whose root word is literally a cord...so I guess I am holding on by a thread to hope. Which is a cord I know will never break.
Thank you!!! :)
The Lord has truly blessed me! I rededicated my life to the Lord in April and gave up the life I knew to follow Him. It was one of the hardest times; I had a live in boyfriend that I had to say good bye to and I know that the only way I was able to stay stong and make it through that was by the grace of God.
I then decided to do a one year intership at my church without knowing how I was going to pay for it. I sold my car, moved in with my parents, and prayed that God would provide someway somehow and boy did He ever. My mom (who is not yet saved) blessed me by offering to pay for half of the cost!!! It's amazing how the Lord can use saved and unsaved to bless those He wants to bless!
Thank you for your blog! It gives me continued inspiration. God is doing amazing things through you.
mmm!! AMEN, AMEN!! That reminder came at just the right time!! ;) Love it!
-j
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