"But I will hope continually,
and will yet praise Thee
more and more."
(Psalm 71:14)
Even when everyone
seems against me. Even in dark, discouraging days. Even when this world is
turning to satan. Even . . . in all situations. Nothing should lessen my hope
and praise of God.
Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you'd like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!
12 comments:
Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
"Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness."
I know that except for that first phrase, this is kind of a 'negative' verse, but still that initial phrase stood out to me this morning as simple as it was and as much as I've heard it in my life. Sometimes when I see or hear "Give glory to the Lord" or something similar, I automatically think it means verbally, but that's only part of it. The biggest way we can give glory to God is to live each day as unto Him, and be a "reflection of His Holiness" to borrow a Rebecca phrase (even though I know she didn't originate that phrase, I still always think of her along with it :-).
Love you, and can't wait to see you in just a few days Lord willing!!
~Janell
Thank you for sharing this wonderful verse, Amanda!! When I read it one of the passages of that instantly came to mind was Habakkuk 3:17-19. It's one of those verses that the Holy Spirit brings to my attention often, and it is a convicting reminder that rejoicing in the Lord is more a matter of the will instead of the emotions.
" Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." Habakkuk 3:17-19
~Kenzi
Let's say it's a "late" Wednesday post. I've been meaning to share some verses lately but kept on postponing for one reason or another. Now finally I am!
I started the book of Thessalonians recently, but I went back today and re-read Colossians because it had many encouraging verses. I'll just list them and comment...
"That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God ;strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power..." (Col 1:9-11). I love that in Colossians and Philippians it is often repeated that we should grow in wisdom and the knowledge of the Word.
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col 2:9-10).
I love the statement that were complete in Christ! Today we're constantly bombarded on every side to become "better" to strive to better ourselves in every aspect of life, and looking around at others who seem to have their lives all in "order" can leave you feeling discouraged and low- but as believers we have EVERYTHING! We are Complete in Christ! I love that!
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another (Col 3:12,13). This is a good reminder.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Col 3:15,16). Again, I see the thought that we should let God's Word infuse our lives and grow in the wisdom and knowledge of Him.
So those are my thoughts for this Wednesday...better late than never right?
Thank you for the post, Amanda; it was a blessing to me. :) May we praise the Lord in every circumstance of our lives!
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." - Hosea 6:7
"And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD." - Psalm 27:6
Love you!
-Patience
As I was musing over the verses I shared with you earlier and what I wrote, I realized I probably didn't properly expand on all my thoughts there, especially on the verse that we are "Complete in Christ". Firstly, I know I took it a bit out of context, since the context of the verse refers to "be not carried away by any wind of philosophy" (to paraphrase), but I know that being complete in Christ also has a broader sense. So I wanted to emphasize what it meant for me then- when I read it.
One more thought I wanted to clarify. When I stated that we often strive to "get better" at different things in life, but that we should remember we are "Complete in Him", I didn't mean we should stop trying to grow in all aspects of life and become better at things- on contrary. I was guess I was trying to refer to how (I personally) tend to compare my progress with others around me, and get discouraged and down, and that Christ tells me to stop fretting and dwell in the fact that I am His child and in Him I am complete.
I hope I was able to clarify those thoughts properly now. :)
Sorry for the lengthy comments.
Wow girls! I am blown away with your comments. Thank you all so much for sharing! I wish I had time to respond to each of you, but as we are in them middle of two camps and moving, there just isn't time. Thank you all so very, very much for sharing your verses and thoughts! If I am able to find time in the future, I will try my hardest to reply -- at least with a personal email. :) I really appreciate it and it blessed me greatly.
Love you girls!
~Amanda
"Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 17:17
@ Sarah -
Thank you so much for sharing your verses. What a lovely reminder that we MUST seek God EARNESTLY (and not half-heartedly).
~Amanda
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
@ Janell -
Amen; it is so easy to say, "Oh, praise God" with our lips, but our hearts do not follow. How true that our lives should be that which glorifies God -- how sobering that so often we fall into the pit of glorifying our fleshly selves when it is God Who has given us all things and it is to Him that all glory belongs! Thank you for the reminder.
~Amanda
"But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22
@ Kenzi
Thank you for the reminder. What a beautiful passage -- I know that often, I'm tempted to "overlook" the beauties in the minor prophets.
A very good point: "rejoicing in the Lord is more a matter of the WILL instead of the emotions." I think that many Christians overlook that simple truth.
~Amanda
"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15
@ Rebekah -
Late is better than never, for sure! :) I enjoyed reading your verses and thoughts.
One common thread that ran through your comment which I appreciate is how God's Word should be more and more manifested in our hearts and lives -- as you put it, God's Word should infuse our lives.
Thanks for your clarification. :) But I was right along with you. :) We so often lose the simplicity of being in Christ -- even this week, I notice areas in my heart where I'm trying to compare with others or measure up my life by my failures (or victories). The bottom line is that when God sees us, He sees us through the precious blood of His Son -- COMPLETE! As you said, this does not exempt us from living a holy, set-apart life, but the emphasis is that it is always Christ's work in and through us that is important.
Hopefully I'm not missing thorough explanation by trying to be brief . . . but thank you for your comments and for sharing all of the verses! I love Paul's letters and find them so helpful to my every day living.
~Amanda
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
@ Patience -
Thank you for sharing your verses. The on from Hosea, especially, struck as a good reminder for me. In a way, it makes me think of how often we strive to "do, do, do" with our works when God is simply asking us to manifest the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24).
~Amanda
"But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him." Psalms 4:3
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