Psalm 131-12.8.22

Scripture‬

‬

Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord— now and always.”

Observation-What does it say?

This is a psalm of David. It shows David’s spiritual maturity. David remains humble, knowing that God is sovereign over all. There is no need for him to worry and stress out, because God has everything under control.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Being content in God’s presence.

I like the illustration David gives the reader here regarding the peace, comfort, and hope he has knowing that God is in control. He compares himself to a weaned child, no longer in constant need of his mother’s milk (vs. 2). You see, a child that isn’t weaned, is in constant need of attention. They cry and whine, and they have a sense of insecurity over every little thing. It can really test a parent’s patience. Trust me I know from experience! 😆 But once a child is weaned, they no longer have that need to be constantly held and coddled to. They don’t need their parent to put a bottle in their mouth, or give them their pacifier to calm them down. They don’t need their parent to rock them back and forth, singing them a lullaby to put them at ease. The child is able to find peace just being in their parent’s presence, and knowing that they are loved. It can be a difficult process for a parent to wean their child, but it’s a necessary process for the child’s development and maturity.

The same can be said here with David’s relationship with God, and our relationship with God. God is our Father in Heaven. And we too must be weaned so that we can develop and mature in our faith. There will be difficult situations we face in life that God allows us to go through. But, it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us or care for us. It doesn’t mean that He isn’t there either. But rather God is right there, alongside with us. We need to carry that attitude that David has in this psalm. That is an attitude of contentment no matter what we’re going through because we know we serve the God of the universe. He is a God who is in control over every situation. He is a God who loves us, and will never leave us or forsake us.

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” -Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭14‬ ‭

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. -Deuteronomy ‬31‬:‭6‬ ‭

Life Application

Just do your best and allow God to handle the rest.

It’s a motto or mantra that I live by. It reminds me, (especially in those stressful times in life), that there are going to be some things in life that are beyond my control. All I can do is do is do my best with what I can control, and trust that God will handle the rest. So what can I control? I can control my attitude. I can control my heart from sinning against God. I can give my concerns to Him. I can continue to move forward, doing my best one task at a time, one day at a time. 😊

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”-Psalms‬ ‭55‬:‭22‬ ‭

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”-Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭

-Moses Gaddi

Matthew 14-12.7.22

Scripture

Matthew 14:27-31 NIV

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?””

Observation-What does it say?

The disciples were afraid because they thought it was a ghost walking towards them on the water. However, Jesus told them not to be afraid because it was Him. Peter requested that Jesus call him out into the water if it was truly Him. Jesus did, so Peter got out of the boat, went out to Jesus in the water, and started walking on water! But, when he saw the wind, He took His eyes off of Jesus and started to sink.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Don't take our eyes off of Jesus.

When Peter started focusing on the problem around him, which was the huge wind, he took His eyes off of Jesus, focused on the wind, became afraid and started to sink. How many of us take our focus off of Jesus when problems arise? We become afraid and start seeking help for the problem or issue, instead of putting our faith in Christ knowing that He is more than able to take care of it? I admit I am guilty of this.

At that moment, Peter’s fear wasn’t able to keep Him above water.

Life Application

Keep our focus on Jesus and not on the problem.

Here are some words of a hymn that I love-“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full on His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Just a few days ago, I experienced unrest and a lack of peace because I was focusing on a couple of problems, instead of going to the Lord in prayer. Very long story short, the Lord ended up working it out perfectly in His timing. If I would’ve trusted Him and kept my eyes on Him instead of how I needed to fix the problem, I wouldn’t have started to sink in that place of stress and unrest. I’m thankful that the Lord reached out His hand and caught me, like He did with Peter. It was definitely a great lesson for me in Who I need to keep my focus on.

Dear Lord, I admit that I would have reacted the same way as Peter did in fear because I have done so so many times before, just recently too. Please forgive me for losing my focus on You. I really don’t like the unrest it brings to my spirit. When life's challenges hit, may I seek You first in prayer so that my spirit would be at peace. Instead of meditating on the problem or issue at hand, please help me keep my eyes on You and Who You are. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Matthew 13-12.6.22

Scripture

Matthew 13:3-9

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Observation

Seeds (the Word of God) need healthy soil (your heart) in order to produce crops (grow and multiply).

Understanding

Tips for improving your soil (The Spruce):

1. Test your soil

2. Add organic matter - Adding organic matter is hands-down, without a doubt, the number one way to improve your soil.

3. Adjust your soil’s pH as necessary

4. Don’t compact the soil - One of the main causes of soil compaction: people stepping in the garden beds.

5. Disrupt the soil as little as possible

With these tips, you will see a vast improvement in the quality of your soil, and, therefore, in the health and beauty of your plants. It will take a little time, but your patience will be well rewarded.

Life Application

1. Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

2. Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

3. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

4. Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

5. Mark 4:19 But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

-Debbie Dunn