27. CAN GOD HEAR YOU?

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

                                                         

Who is the one that set me free, 

And gave this hope I hold?

He is the very Son of God, 

He’s so perfect to behold.

A new cleansed heart, with ears that hear,

And eyes that now can see.

He promised never to leave nor forsake, 

How much better could life be?

The peace and relief that comes to the believer from understanding that The Just and Righteous God is hearing every petition we make, is just amazing. Understanding God hears brings peace, even when we are still in the midst of the battle. Knowing God is personal brings a special kind of satisfaction. A Satisfaction only found in His Son. The reality of the living God is the fulfillment of peace and joy.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

26. HE DELIVERED

“Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.”  Psalm 3:8

Christ filtered my sinful heart,

And He made it perfectly clean.

He wiped away my grief,   

My soul He did redeem!

 

He took this broken life,

He wiped away the sin.

He took the unrighteousness,

To make me whole again.

 

He gave me a reason to live,

He put hope where sorrow was.

He took away the doubt,

He wiped away the flaws.

 

It’s hard to comprehend,

The grace which He bestows.

Those that put faith in Him,

Their faith continually grows.

 

It seems impossible for me to explain the changes Jesus has made in my life.  It is just too enormous for my limited vocabulary to articulate.  Of course, I believe anyone who has truly experienced real life in Christ, no matter how large their vocabulary, would have a problem expressing the Glory of it.

 

My prayer is that my life will show the Glory that lives within me.  There are many things I am thankful for but none of them can compare to the change that came the very moment I asked the LORD to help me. 

 

It was a simple act of faith.  No hocus pocus, no thunder-n-lightning and no angels coming to my side.  No church or religion, I saw myself and I didn’t like what I saw.  I read God’s Word and saw my need.  I bowed before Him and He delivered!  

“The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.”  Psalm 37:39

25. SAVE ME, O MY GOD

“Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.” Psalm 3:7

I have come to the conclusion, at least in my own life that I have needlessly tried to fight for myself when I should have trusted God for His promise of protection.  In the end when all else has failed, I turn to God where I should have been in the first place.

Is it because we feel weak if we can’t take care of things on our own?  Or is it a pride problem?  The fact is we need to understand our weaknesses and kiss our pride good-bye.

I understand this problem, for those that aren't believers in Christ, they have nowhere else to go but to themselves or a friend.  But for the Christian to depend on self or others to fight their battles instead of Christ it is a failure of the faith they should have in Him and the final disposition of this lack of faith is sin.

 

Arise, my Father, I cry out to thee.

My troubles are many, come close and see.

 

No other can help me or understand my fright.

You alone are able to win this fight.

 

I've tried other avenues, and all were a botch.

I’ll lean on you Jesus. I’ll sit back and watch.

 

I know You’ll fulfill, the promises you gave.

I’ll trust you Dear Jesus, I’ll not be afraid!

 

I’ll give you, this battle. It’s Yours it’s not mine.

My life I give You, my life I consign.

 

“Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.” 2 Chronicles 20:15b

 

 

24. UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ALMIGHTY

“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”  Psalm 3:6

There are many trials in this life.  Some of you are facing things now that seem unbearable.  Fear can overtake you if you allow it.  But, with CHRIST you can be relieved from “all” your misery.  There has never been a fear or a sorrow that GOD can’t take care of.  His love is greater than any fear, any pain or any sorrow that besets those that “trust” Him.

 

Lift your eyes toward Heaven.

Allow your heart to see.

The protection, from the Father,

He has for you and me.

 

Not a hair can be taken. 

Not from your head or mine.

If we’ll place our trust in Jesus, 

Everything will be just fine.

 

 Fear is not a mindset,  

That comes from the Lord.

His power alone will save you. 

His Spirit is on us poured.

 

God surrounds us with His love and protection. There’s a wall set around us, we are in the “Sheepfold” where the “Good Shepherd” is also the “Door”. In the night hours He lays across the entrance, He knows our every move.   Separation from His love and protection is impossible, it cannot be done. No one or anything can separate us from His promise,” never to leave or forsake us.” Today if you belong to Him, you have no worries and should have no fear. He is The LORD, GOD Omnipotent!

 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

23. Pillow Talk

“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.”  Psalm 3:5

Only GOD has the ability to cause wonderful, peaceful sleep when you are surrounded by troubles on every side. 

I recall the day I gave myself to the Savior,

When I placed my trust in Him.

I was overcome by peace and contentment.

Oh, sweet sleep, it came from Him. 

The restless night it had vanished.

All my fear had left my side. 

When I laid my head upon the pillow,

The love of God was solidified. 

When I awoke, He hadn’t left me.

To my side He came to stay.

Precious Jesus is my Savior

Through His grace, He’d heard me pray.

Jesus wipes away the guilt of a sinful heart.  He restores the mind by His perfect Word.  He tosses fear out and brings in peace.  He changes a stumbling step to a circumspect walk.  He pulls the shade on darkness and turns on the Light.  He heals the brokenhearted and sadness is replaced with joy.  He takes the hate of the wicked heart and buries it in the depths of hell and replaces it with a kind, loving and caring heart.

It always bothers me when someone tells me that I am good or kind as if I am something special.  There is no good in me.  I am just a sinner saved by grace, changed by Christ.  Nothing on my own.  The fact is, any good you see in me, is not me but the LORD that lives within me.

Can I be bold in saying, if you haven't experienced these things; you need to check your status with the Lord.  

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”  Isaiah 26:3 

22. AND HE HEARD ME

“I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.”  Psalm 3:4

How awful not to have anyone to hear you.

Someone to answer with careful intercession.

How thankful I am to be able call on my LORD,

And have His full and complete attention.

Christ is the one that hears all my petitions.

His answers satisfy, beyond my imagination.

My heart is lifted, His Glory fills my soul.

And this my friend, is not an exaggeration.

The Bible says, “God is no respecter of persons.”

Therefore, you too can have these expectations.

Turn to Him, He will hear your earnest plea.  

He’ll answer now and with no hesitations.  

As Christians we are so used to having God to ask for our needs, we forget those that have no one to go to. Yes, perhaps a friend that may or may not be able to satisfy what is on their heart with an answer that has no guarantee it will help.  I remember those days of heartache; I remember the fear and the anxiety.  Then I met Jesus. “And He heard me.”

There is no feeling of the heart as powerful as when we hear from God and He is clearly answering our cry for help.  There is not a stress reliever available that has the power and peace received when God is answering our prayers.  “And He heard me”.

Even when the slightest most insignificant prayer is answered, it is apparent it had to be from the Lord. It brings joy unspeakable. This is the personal relationship God has with His children.  Our faith is rewarded with the presence of God. “And He heard me.”

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”  Jeremiah 29:12

21. The Shield of Life

“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3

I had a shield made of skin to give myself some cover.

If I held it right I just might, my enemies would smother.

But I could fall by their spear, and I would never recover.

I needed a shield better than mine; in CHRIST I did discover.

Now I’m safe with His shield, His Glory it does hover.

Never to fall, He is my all, and there is never another.

I will always acknowledge my weakness.  My own shield is feeble and worn out and no one fears it at all. There is no power of my own to protect me.  “But thou, O LORD”, art my power and strength, the protector of my soul.

I will acknowledge within myself there is no beauty, brilliance or magnificence.  All my goodness is shame and wickedness.  “But thou, O LORD”, art my glory. YOU alone are the brightness of my life.  YOU are the “Loving Potter” that shapes my way. 

I will acknowledge, on my own there is only shame and guilt, my head is hung low.  My heart is heavy, I’m unable to lift my head. “But thou O LORD”, will place Your hand under my chin and gently lift it.  As I look into Your Word, I feel Your touch, I am raised to a place that cannot properly described.  It is You “O LORD” and You alone!

“Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”  Revelation 14:7

20. The Invincible Life

“Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.”  Psalm 3:2

There was a day when they would say,

That GOD could never use me.

Others said, you are a lost cause,

There is nothing that could improve me.

A foolish whim that came from them,

For with Christ nothing is unfeasible.

He will take your sin, you’ll change within,

And He'll make your life invincible.

Now it’s not by me that this took place.

It is all to Christ I owe.

Without Him my life would be in vain.

For I had nothing at all to show.

The fact is that there has never been a person born that is too corrupt for Christ to change.  He makes the vilest sinner clean.  He changes the repulsive to delightful and the diabolical to gentle. He takes ugly and changes it to lovely.

If He could take a person such as I whom others gave up on and said there was no hope. He can take you and make what seems impossible, possible. There is no one anymore sinful than me and yet Jesus made me whole!

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22

19. Sit On The Bank With JESUS

“A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.”  Psalm 3:1

Ever had too much on your plate?  Does it seem as though your troubles have gained strength?  Did they start as an overflowing stream and now they are a raging river out of control? 

Come sit on the bank of the River,

Where worry and pain don’t exist.

Drift off in peaceful slumber,

With dreams of quiet bliss.

Come sit on the bank with Jesus,

He’ll take all your worry away.

He’ll scatter your enemies far from you,

And you’ll find peace, that’s here to stay.

Christ is the answer to all your worries.

There is nothing that’s impossible for Him.

If you will look to Jesus for your deliverance,

You’ll find all the peace you need from within.

"Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High." Psalm 46:3-4

18. KISS THE SON

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”  Psalm 2:12

Why would anyone turn down such an invitation? Right now, the LORD is offering peace, blessing and the forgiveness of sin. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” You make the choice.  GOD will not hold them guiltless that refuse His SON! 

  

How much better it is to be blessed, 

Then to see the wrath of the LORD. 

How sweet it is to know the SAVIOR, 

And to have your life restored. 

 

I kissed the SON in the morning. 

Now I am locked within His care. 

Never worried about tomorrow. 

He is with me everywhere. 

 

Kiss the SON, while He is waiting. 

His waiting will someday end. 

Kiss the SON! For you He is pleading, 

And forgiveness, He will extend.

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6

17 Reverence Makes it Possible

“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”  Psalm 2:11

Isn’t it something how it seems so impossible to do the things GOD calls us to do? There is a reason we feel that way. GOD selects the impossible for us.

 

If we try to do these things on our own, we will never have the success GOD wants for us. Education is a wonderful asset, but it does not take the place of GOD. Having a good business mind is helpful but without God it is wasted. 

 

Once we give GOD the reverence, He deserves the impossible is made possible. When we understand we cannot do what He has called us to do we have taken the first step.  

 

Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”  He is a Comforter, Teacher, and a Guide. Giving Him the reverence He deserves is essential in doing what God has called you to do. 

  

When I think of the task, 

God has called me to do. 

I am shaken with the thought of it. 

And, I have not got a clue. 

 

As Moses was on Sinai that day, 

I know just how he felt. 

I cannot go; it is impossible for me. 

My knees begin to melt. 

 

But now I am rejoicing!  

I can see all that God can do. 

Without my help, He did it all! 

And He will do the same for you.  

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31