Psalm 57

Sc‭‭ripture

 

Psalm ‭57:7‬ ‭

 

“My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

It’s hard to imagine, but David is writing this psalm in a cave, hiding from Saul and his men, and fleeing for his life! As David’s enemies are closing in on him, David finds comfort knowing that the God of the universe is on his side AND HIS GOD IS MIGHTY!!! So while most would cower, blame God, or turn their backs to Him, David worships Him and sings His praise.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Life’s storms wearing you down? Lean on God!

 

It could have been so easy for David to point the finger at God, turn His back away from Him, or even just plainly give up in life. I think many of us would under his circumstances. But instead of David having a self-pity attitude, David focuses his thoughts on God. By doing so, his heart begins to shift from being worried and scared, to one of confidence and strength. Because David knows his life is in God’s hands, and there is NOTHING in this world that God cannot handle!

 

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”-‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭32:27‬ ‭

 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”-Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭

 

Life Application

 

Rely on God for everything!

 

What a great reminder for me through this time! I guess you can say it’s a system reboot. But, it’s a great way to deepen my relationship with God and build that type of relationship that David had with Him. To be just as confident in God as David was, knowing no matter what life throws at me, my God will get me through it! Let’s see what God can do not only in our lives, but in our church, city, and nation as we seek Him earnestly!

 

-Moses Gaddi

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Hebrews__12

Scripture

 

Hebrews‬ ‭12:4-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

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Observation-What does it say?

 

The author speaks about perseverance of faith, fixing our eyes on Jesus so that we don’t grow weary and lose heart and the importance of discipline from our Heavenly Father.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Loving discipline doesn’t destroy. It builds up.

 

Perseverance in faith comes through fixing our eyes on Jesus and also training. Part of that training comes in the form of discipline to build our faith and trust in the One who loves us with an everlasting love.

 

Life Application

 

Love is not only in the form of grace. It is also in the form of discipline.

 

I’m sure all of us have heard the quote, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

I like verse 4 that says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” Obviously, that verse is talking about Jesus and being encouraged to persevere because Jesus had to endure so much more for us.

 

I went through a period of my faith where I can confidently say I was undergoing discipline from my Heavenly Father as a result of rebellion. It was so hard, that the sin wasn’t even worth the the cost and the consequences of that rebellion. God was teaching me a lesson. Even though I felt He was really hard on me, I was comforted by the Holy Spirit telling me that God loves me so much and that’s why He’s disciplining me this way. I am His beloved child. He had/has plans for my life that will be hindered if I continue in the path of rebellion.

 

Anyhow, the discipline didn’t pull me away from the Lord. It actually trained me, strengthened my faith and deepened my relationship with Jesus. I learned from it. It’s because of how lovingly He did it. He was with me through it all and I never doubted His love for me.

 

Let’s talk about it in terms of working out. When we are at the gym getting stronger, it hurts at first because we are not used to the discipline and new pressure being put on our bodies and muscles to grow it. BUT, the weights start getting lighter and we are able to lift more because we’ve embraced the pain for a short while and our muscles have developed what they call “muscle memory” to it.

 

If you are currently undergoing discipline from our Heavenly Father, usually in the form of consequences from sin and also testing of character, embrace it! God loves you. If you are a parent or a teacher or responsible for another human being in another form, I don’t have to explain this further. We want the best for our kids and that’s why we discipline them in love.

I’d rather be disciplined by my Heavenly Father than neglected by Him.

 

Thank You Lord that You love us so much that You don’t neglect us and throw us away when we rebel or sin against You. Thank You that You care so much about us that You stay involved as a loving parent. It hurts when we undergo discipline and even testing of character, but I know the end results will “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” as Your Word says. It also produces deeper trust in You as our Heavenly Father. I Love You Jesus. Thank You loving me first though. Amen.

 

-Michelle Gaddi

 

Hebrews_11

Scripture:Hebrews 11:1-3What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. ² Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.³ By faith—by believing God—we know that the world and the stars—in fact, all things—were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen.^[a]Observation:This might be one of my most favorite chapters of the Bible – the nature and power of faith described.Understanding:What a powerful way to start the morning – with the definition of faith, followed by So. Many. Stories. of GREAT faith throughout the Bible.  This is both a reminder and an encouragement. Pastor Levi shared about seasons of doubt yesterday.  We all experience them.  And, I’m sure, many of us are or have experienced those doubts during this pandemic period that we are all in now – whether due to loss of jobs and/or income, loss of access to the things that fill us up and keep us sane, loss of SPACE to think as we are home-bound for days on end. The things that help me in these periods is getting out into nature.  Something about being in God’s creation, recognizing how big and varied our world is, remembering biblical references to the stars in the sky or sands on the beach…it brings me home, it brings me happiness and peace in my heart.  Last night, I had the opportunity to chase down starry night views to catch a glimpse of the Neowise comet – something they say won’t happen again (after the 23^rd) for another SIXTY-EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS!  And as I sat under the dark canyon skies, seeing all the beauty of all the stars above, I was reminded of God’s hand at work.  God has known about this moment in time before any of us were born.  He hasn’t forgotten us, He hasn’t walked away from us.  He is here and active, even now…regardless of what circumstances in your life may show otherwise.     We find here – in Hebrews 11 – a reminder of the many ways faith was rewarded throughout time.  I imagine in each of those stories, the circumstances felt big, impossible, unlikely…yet God “showed up.”Life Application: Let’s take time to build our faith.TODAY: Use the comments below to share your favorite faith story, how/where/when you’ve seen God move.  It can be one from our reading today in Hebrews 11 or one of your own or of someone you know. [Justin’s Miracle Monday’s are a good weekly reminder of this…and, guess what, it’s Monday!  Check out @eaves05 on Instagram.]THIS WEEK:  Let’s borrow the exercise the Pastor Levi shared yesterday.  Every time you think or say something negative, pause and thank God for 3 things.  Gratitude changes things, it reorients our brains…it’s science, it’s biblical and it works!ONGOING:  Let’s look for his fingerprints.  Even when it seems like God may not be working in an area, look for where He is.  He’s ALWAYS in the details. May you be encouraged today.  May we share that encouragement with one another. <3With love,Rei PS I liked this from the Enduring Word website…

1. (1) A definition of faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1. Now faith is the substance: Just as our physical eyesight is the sense that gives us evidence of the material world, faithis the “sense” that gives us evidence of the invisible, spiritual world.
2. Faith has its reasons. The Bible doesn’t recommend a “blind leap” of faith. But the reasons can’t be measured in a laboratory; they have to be understood spiritually.
3. “Faith extends beyond what we learn from our senses, and the author is saying that it has its reasons. Its tests are not those of the senses, which yield uncertainty.” (Morris)

• “Physical eyesight produces a conviction or evidence of visible things; faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible order.” (Bruce)

1. Of things hoped for… of things not seen: If you have the substance before you or if you can see it, there is no use for faith. Faith is needed for what we can’tsee and can’t
2. Faith does not contradict reason, though it may go beyond reason. One may objectively prove the Bible is the most unique book ever published and has impacted society more than any other book. But only faith can provethat the Bible is the Word of God. Therefore, this is a belief beyond reason but not in contradiction to reason or against reason.
3. Faith is the substance… the evidence: Faith is nota bare belief or intellectual understanding. It is a willingness to trust in, to rely on, and to cling to.
4. Faith enabled people in the past to overcome.

For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

1. For by it the elders: The great examples of godliness all had different circumstances and personalities, but they all had one thing in common – faith.
2. Obtained a good testimony: These Jewish Christians were discouraged and thought of giving up on Jesus and a distinctive Christianity. They needed a good testimony, and so they needed these examples of faith to break them out of discouragement.

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/hebrews-11/