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Psalm 100:2: Know that the Lord is God; it is he that has made us and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Of all the things in the world we should be remembering, keeping our Lord as Lord indeed should be foremost.
Too many times we take other things and even share them as the goal in life instead of the simple goal of loving God and sharing his word.
He is our creator and he alone is our God. We need to show others this is our position in life and one they should be aiming for too.
What it is not about is shunning people ro the things they do because they do not agree with your way of thinking. WE are all Gods creation!
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Psalm 33:13: The Lord looks down from heaven and beholds all the children of earth.
One of the things we have to remember is that God does not turn his back on us because we are not Jewish, or because we are the wrong race, sex or any other reason! We are all his people!
Any one of us can call upon God for help at any time. He listens to us all and he will answer us all - if we would but listen to his voice.
Much of the time we shout out a prayer and then forget about it because we get caught up in what we are doing or saying to other people. God would probably very much like it is we were to sit quietly and wait to hear from him.
I am here in a quiet church, sitting, reading, waiting, listening and then writing down what I think God wants me to... and then suddenly my phone blurts out that my blood glucose level is too low!
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Psalm 103:12: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he set our sins from us.
I have always love this verse because of the logic - I'm one of those people who loves things to be logical!
If we go North or South we will continue to go that direction until we reach the North or South pole, then we change direction...
But is we go East or West, we can continue going in that direction without end even though we may be covering the same ground over and over again, there is no end.
So when God said our sins would be separated as far as the East and the West, he meant a very long way! Take comfort...
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Psalm 20:7: Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will call only on the name of the Lord our God.
What are the things you cling to when everything is falling apart around you? Who are the people you reach out to to get comfort and strength?
If we reach out to people, then the most we can get is words of comfort or friendly companionship.
If we reach out to earthly things, then the most we can get is earthly answers and worldly comforts.
But if we reach out to God, there is no limit of the love, joy, peace and comfort we can gain because he is above all and in all and the creator of everything!
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Psalm 19:1: The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
After the rains in our drought stricken corner of the world, we see the grass beginning to sprout green shoots, we see signs of life when before we saw none.
God has made this earth to be resilient and has allowed us to be guardians. We must look after what he has given us and try to do our best.
That way people will marvel at what they see and may start searching for this higher power which has control over all things.
They may marvel at how nature seems to spring back - we can tell them of the God who is behind this all!
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Psalm 139:1: O Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
One of the things I am most comforted by is that God actually knows me, probably better than I do!
He has a watchful eye over me at all times and when I sense danger I know I can call out to him, not just for comfort but for protection.
Most often than not he has already done something before I call out to him and that is what sets our God apart from all the other things people call gods.
God is not a tyrant ruling with an iron fist and beating us into submission; but a loving God watching out for us to keep us as safe as we allow him to!
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Psalm 119:10: With my whole heart have I sought you; O let me not go astray from your commandments.
One of the bad things about living in a bad area or amongst bad people is that you get exposed to so many bad things that you begin to accept certain things as being normal.
I use 'bad' in a very broad way because we all have different definitions of what bad is - because we all grow up in different areas and are exposed to different things!
God wants us to realise we can get carried away with the things going on around us, so the easiest way to not get involved is to stay away from those things...
But that is not so easy because we live in a world where there are so many different things and experiences.
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Psalm 6:4: Turn again, O Lord, and deliver my soul; save me for your loving mercy’s sake.
One thing we do need to remember is the food that we get for our souls is not coming because we are righteous or holy, but because God loves us!
When we feel apart from God we often think of it as God turning away from us because of our sin or because we have done something wrong.
God does not turn his back on us unless we continually reject him; then we are not giving him a choice but to turn away from us.
Even if we have a glimmer of doubt, God will wait for us to turn back to him.
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Psalm 5:8: Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness, because of my enemies; make your way straight before my face.
What is the best way to make something you have never made before? Is it not to follow the instructions of someone who has made that before?
Recipe books are there so others can learn how to make or cook new foods. Medical journals are there for doctors and nurses to be able to help more sick people.
The bible is here for us to learn from and to follow. All of the above are not just suggestions of how to do things but instruction methods for us to get it right!
It is up to you whether you follow the instruction of those who have gone before us or make things up for yourself.
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Isaiah 55:12: For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
If these words seem familiar, then try to think of the song which uses these words!
Sometimes we just have to put aside the things we are doing for the sake of doing them and start to find a way we can praise God or the people around us instead.
God wants us to be a people who work together, who love each other, who look out for each other, who treat each other like we want to be treated!
It is no wonder Jesus said the heart of the law of God is love. It must be the centre of our lives in order to be more like Jesus...
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Psalm 145:8: The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving in all his works.
How many times have you been shocked at how someone has acted simply because you have never seen them act in that manner before.
In many ways, the key to getting people to like or respect you is to make sure you are always consistent in the way you are with them - don't keep chopping and changing to match your mood!
People like consistency and they can object to change when it comes at an unexpected time - so try not to give them an opportunity to dislike the way you are... unless change is required!
God is consistent. God will always be the same. God has always been the same. We have grown to depend on that!
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Psalm 144:3: O Lord, what are mortals that you should consider them; mere human beings, that you should take thought for them?
How good did you used to feel when the teacher picked you out for doing something good! Maybe it did not happen much because, like me, you were a bit wayward!
God loves each one of us and thinks of us even when we have gone off the rails and think we are in the deepest pit of despair - he still thinks of us!
We don't have to look at the universe and compare us to the universe to consider this question being asked. We just have to think of us and what we do and believe God is still thinking of us.
When we come to hte realisation he does, we can move forward with confidence in our prayers and requests to him!
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Psalm 143:6: I stretch out my hands to you; my soul gasps for you like a thirsty land.
After a rather extended dry spell here in the East of England, we are finally having some rain showers to quench the thirst of this dry land.
I could imaging the land crying out for rain and after reading this verse, began to muse over whether we do cry out for God's word enough in our lives or whether we stumble along looking more and more parched until God sends us something to remind us of our needs.
I fear the answer is far too often that we do not cry out to God asking him for help as much as we should. Yes he sees all and knows all, but unless we lift up our requests to him, we are not exercising our faith in all reality.
Think about it...
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Psalm 119:156: Great is your compassion, O Lord; give me life, according to your judgements.
What do you think God's role looks like in your life? Is he the person in charge, or is he more than that?
If we simply call God the boss and do not act like he is actually in charge, then we are not really calling him the boss in spirit, just in word!
Do not forget that God knows what you are doing and thinking about even before you get round to doing the things you may have promised...
God looks for those who work for and with him in their hearts and not just from the words coming from their mouths!
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Psalm 145:11: They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your mighty power
I would like us to stop and think for a bit - not about Jesus, or God, or the Holy Spirit, but rather about "why do you do the things you do?"
I have been thinking about this for a week now and I have to admit I do do some things because I think it makes me look better or feel better in some way!
This psalm talks about the real reason we should be doing things, not to build up ourselves or to bring recognition to ourselves, but to be a better servant of God!
That does not mean we give up on personal dreams, it should mean we take Christ with us every step of the way as we try to give glory where and to whom it is due!
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Psalm 125:4: Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are true of heart.
Well, today was a day when I lost track of time and we spent the whole day doing stuff in the church! So forgive me for bringing this late in the day to you...
Sunday was a very busy day too so I clean forgot to write these devotionals to be ready for first thing today - but now it is almost last thing today!
As I read through some of the verses today I was almost disappointed to find so many talking about the old Israel and times before Jesus; but we should not forget these words were written hundreds of years before Jesus came to live amongst us.
So, let us settle for asking God to lift up and bless people who deserve it; I know it says 'those who are good' but in my eyes this is those people who are willing to listen to God's requests from them!
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Psalm 26:2: Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my mind.
Are you willing to allow God to judge you? Think about it before you answer; think about all the things you do, think and say, and then think about the question again!
It takes a brave soul to give over judgement to God and allow him to test you and to try you - he knows your weak points better than you do and you may not like the consequences.
Sometimes we do have to stop doing things for ourselves, stop doing things to make others think better of you and start doing things for God and to give him the glory.
Once we can let go of our self-importance and realise just how much we owe to God, life will start to change as you act on that!
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Acts 10:28: and he said to them, ‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.
One of the big things I have against some 'churches' is their willingness to lift themselves up above the people who do not come to that 'church.'
This is not what God has taught us. Yes, he chose the Jews to be his people. Yes, he did things for them above others. But that was all to try and show them just how much God can do for us when we believe and trust in him.
Paul was taught by God to share the gospel with EVERYONE, no matter the background or whether they were Jews or not. That is what God continues to want from each one of us.
The time for a global church is now. The time to share the gospel globally is now. God wants us all to trust him...
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1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
How long does it take before you get weary of that 'friend' who always takes and never gives back?
When we always take from God and never give him back the praise, glory and honour he deserves, it does become one sided.
Now, surprisingly, God is always ready to listen and answer, no matter what circumstances we have in our lives and no matter how far away we walk from his will; he is always ready to listen!
Building up a relationship is always a two way thing, don't continually take without giving - that is not a relationship!
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Psalm 145:2: Every day I will bless you and praise your name for ever and ever.
Just read that sentence slowly and think about your relationship with Christ...
How much time do you allocate during your day to thanking God for all he does for you and for the people around you. We all shoot up prayers when we need something, but how often do we lift up our prayers as in thanking God or blessing him?
Jesus made sure he spent time with God at every occasion he could,thanking him, praising him, listening to him and obeying him.
Instead of spending half an hour browsing through meaningless stuff on social media, why not spend even half that time just talking to God...