Date: Saturday,
June 13, 2015
Chapters: Psalms
30-34
Message Title: Courage To Stay
Faithful

Hello My Friend,

I do not know
about you, but I hate the news anymore, people going crazy,
Christians being killed for their faith, war everywhere, and there is
no such thing as agreeing to disagree. We are in the midst a wicked
world that, quite frankly, will be the death of our nations. Nations
that once stood by the principles of God are literally throwing God
to the curb for the sake of a few rebellious people with big mouths
and lots of money. One day, Jesus will return, and when that happens
it will be over. As Christians, it's our job to be the ones with the
courage to stand up for our right to be a Christian. “Seek
ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah
55:6-9.

While David recognized that his belief in the Lord
was the only thing saving his soul from hell, that did not stop him
from seeking to follow God's commands, even as king. He reflects on
the mercies of God in his life, even during the times that he sinned.
“O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou
hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave:
thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing
unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance
of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour
is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.”
- Psalms 30:2-6.

God chastens His faithful more than those
who are not. Why? We know better. In the end, we will be better for
it, and even be blessed for enduring the punishment. “Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch
as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Yet if any
man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must
begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - 1
Peter 4:12,13,16,17.

We
may not always see God, but we can know His presence is always with
those who love Him. David recalls God's goodness, even when he didn't
see Him. “Into thine hand I commit my spirit:
thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. I have hated them that
regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and
rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast
known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand
of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. Have mercy upon
me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief,
yea, my soul and my belly. Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me
his marvellous kindness in a strong city. For I said in my haste, I
am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the
voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. O love the LORD,
all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and
plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he
shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
- Psalms 31:5-9,21-24.

David committed his fair share of
sins, and he and his family suffered for them. David praises God's
forgiveness and reminds us all that our sins are covered and washed
away, once we confess them to God. “I
acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I
said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou
forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one
that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:
surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto
him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will
instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will
guide thee with mine eye.” - Psalms 32:5-8.

No
sin is committed in secret, God knows what we have done, a probably a
few others that we are not aware of. Since God does know what we have
done, it's wise to confess, not to remind Him of what we have done,
but to remind ourselves that hidden sin destroys us. The guilt and
shame alone destroy us, and that is why telling God covers our sin
and washes us. God doesn't remember our sins when we confess them, He
forgives us, it is the devil who remembers them, and keeps us in
bondage to our past. “Even the righteousness
of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them
that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans
3:22-24.

The most important thing we need to remember is
that everything God says goes, whatever He promises, that He will do,
whatever He commands, that we are to do. The key phrase we need to
remember is, “Fear God.” If we want to break the chain of doubt
we need to fear God. “Come, ye children,
hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is
he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart
from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the
LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the
remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD
heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is
nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a
contrite spirit.” - Psalms 34:11-18.

Today's
Prayer: God, You want all You children to be honest,
faithful, and true to You. In a world full of wicked devices it can
be hard to remain faithful to You when faced with so many challenges.
You are our strength to remain faithful when everyone else is against
us. You are our courage to keep going when all we want to do is quit.
You are our power to stand when we cannot stand up any longer. You
are our grace to remember that we are forgiven. Lord, help us to be
faithful to You in all that we do, and be ready for the day Your Son
returns. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am
praying for you,
Christina

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