Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

His Unfailing LOVE

Scripture: Psalm 119:73-80 / SOAP verses 75-79

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
78 Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
79 Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
80 May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Psalm 119:73-80 NLT

Today’s Post is by Joy, a member of the LGG Team

We are in verses Psalm 119:73-80 today, and there is so much richness in these verses. I’m not going to be able to cover all of them, so I want to camp on just a few.

Verses 76-77 say this: “Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me that I may live. For your law is my delight.”

The Psalmist is crying out to God for His favor. As we saw in verse 75, he owned God’s justice for his affliction – which is a big deal – and is now asking God for His mercy.

God’s steadfast love is a comfort. It is THE comfort {verse 76}. As the Matthew Henry commentary says, “Gracious souls fetch all their comfort from a gracious God, as the fountain of all happiness and joy.”

I love the word comfort!

Then it goes on… “For your law is my delight.” God’s word becomes a delight- a comfort to our souls.

So let me ask you:

Where are you turning for comfort? Is it giving you lasting and true satisfaction? Or, as Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that workin’ for ya?”

My challenge for this week is this: Turn your heart back to the Lord and His steadfast love. Ask Him for His blessed mercy and experience His steadfast love as you read and meditate on His Word. 

With Love From Uganda,

joy signature

Week 4 Challenge:
Turn your heart back to the Lord and His steadfast love. Ask Him for His blessed mercy and experience His steadfast love as you read and meditate on His Word.

WK4MV

Week 4 Memory Verse

The More You Know

For the full post, including video and reading plan click here

Posted in From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The New Has Come!

This is my life verse and a great reminder of TRUTH to start the first day of the New Year with! How wonderful is it to know that as believers, we can purpose to live every day of 2024 with the awareness that we belong to God – and are made new in Christ! The baggage of the past is gone … and while we may not know what 2024 holds – God does and He has given us everything we need to live a godly life regardless of what each day brings. His mercies will be new every morning … His grace will be all-sufficient … we will see that His power is made perfect in weakness … His love will never fail … His forgiveness is guaranteed … His peace will pass all understanding … His comfort will be present in troubles … when we listen we will hear His “still-small-voice”, and when we look – we will see His finger-printswhen we commit our words and thoughts to Him He will make them pleasing and acceptable to Him – and He will use them and us as salt and light in this unsavory and dark world. May 2024 be a year blessed with an awareness of Him and of the New Creations we are in Him!

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Comfort in Trouble

Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In God’s Character
Today’s Reading /Psalm 119:49-64 / SOAP Psalm 119:49-50

Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 This is what comforts me in my trouble,
for your promise revives me.

Psalm 119:49-50
Notes:
Verse 49:
  • God does not forget His Word
  • God’s faithfulness is known and not doubted
  • God’s Word give the Psalmist/us HOPE
  • The Psalmist honors God with and through a servant’s attitude
Verse 50:
  • God’s Word is powerful – it comforts and revives us when we need it
    • consider this: revive means to regain life, consciousness, or strength
    • give new strength or energy to.
  • We can/should use it to comfort and revive others

It is obvious that the Psalmist puts much weight into God’s Word. He has a personal relationship with God since he alludes to the fact that God has spoken to him before. He not only calls God to remember the words He had spoken to His servant, but the Psalmist declares that the words have brought him hope. When he has faced troubles, God’ hope-filled words have brought the Psalmist comfort, because he considers God’s Word to be trustworthy promises that can fill him with strength and life.

Response to God’s Word

Father, Your hope-filled words comfort me when I’m in trouble – I trust in Your Words – I consider them gold, pure gold, sure and TRUE – so they revive me when I’m weak or “fainting” from fear, trouble, doubt , worry, and the like. For this I am most thankful. Help me to use Your Word to comfort others, to help them regain strength and life in times of trouble. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time

“For Such a Time As This”

God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble. For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah) The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the Most High. God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves.The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Selah) Come, Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth. He brings an end to wars throughout the earth.
He shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God. I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our stronghold!  (Selah)

Psalm 46

How appropriately timed is this passage for the current events and conditions of our nation? An unprecedented time of great proportions – with the ongoing pandemic and its ensuing rivalries and the unprecedented political unrest – both amid the growing social unrest of riots and killings. When I read today’s passage I couldn’t help but think of Mordecai’s words, “For such a time as this”, in the book of Esther.

Embattled in a seemingly, unending pandemic that continues to claim lives and somehow disrupt unity – and the political and social unrest that disrupts peace it seems fitting to be reminded to “Stop striving”. I find it good and comforting to be reminded – “For such a time as this”, to recognize that HE IS GOD! He declared, “I WILL BE EXALTED over the nations! I WILL BE EXALTED over the earth!” If I believe this declaration, and I do – should I not also live in peace KNOWING that He truly is my helper in these unprecedented times of trouble? Should I not rest in the TRUTH that The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on my side and the God of Jacob is my stronghold? Should I not rise up with the Psalmist and say – “For this reason I do not fear because my God WILL BE EXALTED?” He wins, and He alone will bring peace in His perfect timing over this pandemic and racism and brutality and political unrest! For He is God!

“For such a time as this” – in the midst of the turmoil of our day let us remember to take comfort and strength and find courage and joy in knowing that He is on our side! He is our stronghold!

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. It was tempting for the nation of Israel to align with foreign powers, and God reminds them that ultimately He is exalted! God wins, and He will bring peace. During Isaiah’s time, Judah looked for help from the Egyptians, even though God warned against it. Judah did not need Egyptian might; they needed reliance on the Lord: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

When we are still and surrendered to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall (verse 2), or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall (verse 6). When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in the earth. Be still and know that He is God.

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