Praise wins!

 Psalm 149:1–9 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  Sing to the Lord a new song, 

his praise in the assembly of the godly! 

 2  Let Israel be glad in his Maker; 

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 

 3  Let them praise his name with dancing, 

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! 

 4  For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; 

he adorns the humble with salvation. 

 5  Let the godly exult in glory; 

let them sing for joy on their beds. 

 6  Let the high praises of God be in their throats 

and two-edged swords in their hands, 

 7  to execute vengeance on the nations 

and punishments on the peoples, 

 8  to bind their kings with chains 

and their nobles with fetters of iron, 

 9  to execute on them the judgement written! 

This is honour for all his godly ones. 

  Praise the Lord! 

The praise of God should be unrestrained. This psalm encourages us to be unhindered in our praise of God and to express worship wherever we are and whoever we are with. There are many ways we can worship God, and this psalm encourages the use of sung and musical worship as it is an expression of joy. 

When you are happy, you might skip, dance, or sing, as well as when you hear some music that you like. This should be how you respond to God too. For He is worthy and good. He is a great King, a kind Lord and marvellous Maker. Do not hold back your praise, or anyone else's. Instead, allow your joy to overflow whether it be; singing of new songs, using instruments or dancing. 'For the Lord takes pleasure in his people'. What a marvellous thought that as we are enjoying God, God is enjoying seeing our happiness expressed through worship. When you take pleasure in God, God takes pleasure in you. 

Do not limit the use of sung praise to a specific place. You can glorify wherever you are, whether you are amongst other believers or not, and when you are in bed (v5)! There are no restrictions to lifting God up, showing your joy and gratitude in Him. It is good for you to show your appreciation of God, He sees and hears what you do with your mouth and your body, how you use what is in your hands - so use them to glorify Him.

There is an interesting tone change in this psalm when you get to verse 6, ‘Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands’. The worship of God is not an end in itself, although God certainly deserves praise and honour. It is also a humble posture before God, and a preparation for you. It demonstrates your devotion to Him and equips you for the battles to come. God gives you a ‘two-edged sword’ when you devote your life to Him. He empowers you and equips you for the work and battle that is coming. He gives you a powerful weapon to use to vindicate His people and destroy evil. Yet it all starts with praise to Almighty God. As you worship Him and keep Him high in your mind - not the concerns of life or the power of enemies, He gives you not just any old sword, but a double-edged one! Twice the sharpness and power. God equips you and invites you into being a powerful force in His army when you serve and honour Him with your praise. You have an important part to play, so, ‘let the high praises of God’ be found coming from your mouth. This is the way you train for any battle that you face, how you overcome enemies and how you fulfill God’s purposes in your life. If you want to be an effective part of God’s Kingdom - ‘Praise the Lord!’ So, worship Him, unrestrained and honour Him with how you use your body, as you do are are giving pleasure to God, and He is preparing you for victory!

Who does God take pleasure in?

 Psalm 147:1–20 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

  For it is good to sing praises to our God; 

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. 

 2  The Lord builds up Jerusalem; 

he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 

 3  He heals the brokenhearted 

and binds up their wounds. 

 4  He determines the number of the stars; 

he gives to all of them their names. 

 5  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; 

his understanding is beyond measure. 

 6  The Lord lifts up the humble; 

he casts the wicked to the ground. 

 7  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; 

make melody to our God on the lyre! 

 8  He covers the heavens with clouds; 

he prepares rain for the earth; 

he makes grass grow on the hills. 

 9  He gives to the beasts their food, 

and to the young ravens that cry. 

 10  His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 

 11  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, 

in those who hope in his steadfast love. 

 12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! 

Praise your God, O Zion! 

 13  For he strengthens the bars of your gates; 

he blesses your children within you. 

 14  He makes peace in your borders; 

he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 

 15  He sends out his command to the earth; 

his word runs swiftly. 

 16  He gives snow like wool; 

he scatters frost like ashes. 

 17  He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; 

who can stand before his cold? 

 18  He sends out his word, and melts them; 

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 

 19  He declares his word to Jacob, 

his statutes and rules to Israel. 

 20  He has not dealt thus with any other nation; 

they do not know his rules. 

  Praise the Lord! 

God is in control. He knows what He is doing. You cannot see the fullness of His plans, but you can know the truth that God sees, hears and knows what is going on, for He is ‘abundant in power’ and ‘his understanding is beyond measure’. So if you ever feel confused or overwhelmed by what is happening, that is to be expected! You do not have the mind of God and so cannot begin to comprehend the complexities of what He is doing, but, you can learn to trust Him because God is good, powerful, and He cares of His people. 

However God does not admire or appreciate the same things as you do, ‘his delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man’. He is not looking at the same things for beauty and strength. Instead, ‘the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love’. God does not take joy in things that look good to the eye, or even that are useful, but he enjoys people whose hearts are for Him. Those who trust Him even when life is confusing and overwhelming, and when they cannot anticipate the outcome. Those who hope in God, honour and follow Him when a simpler, nicer solution seems to present itself. People like this are who God ‘takes pleasure in’. Is that you?

Are you trusting God and looking for the things that God admires? Or are you busy looking with human eyes for beauty and strength? It is important to think about the things that you get excited about and admire. Do those things turn you towards God the creator, or towards those things? God made them all. If you want God to look at you with pleasure, think about what is capturing your heart and attention. Is it God, or are there other things that captivate you? For me, I love being in nature, being outside, seeing the trees, watching the rabbits and hearing the birds. I love it because it is exciting, I am often surprised by what I experience, and I see so clearly God’s hand in nature and creation. Nature is beautiful and strong, and points to our fascinating, imaginative and powerful Creator. From the magnificence of an ancient tree to the new shoots of spring, gigantic mountains and clear streams. When i see the outside world, i find it easy to see God. For nature, as wonderful and complex as it is, is not something to be worshipped in itself, even the strength of a horse (v10), but it demonstrates the incredible beauty of the One who made it, Almighty God. In the things of this world that you admire, do you look for the hand of the Creator behind them? This is how you can admire and appreciate things of this world, and honour God in doing so, by looking at the One who made them.

God can build and create things, and destroy them in an instant. So in the enjoyment of life, do not cast all of your hope in created things or people as they are temporary, but seek God and ‘hope in his steadfast love’. His love and presence will not fade or change, so put your trust in Him as He is eternal and secure. Do not simply seek the temporal pleasure of earthly things or people, but allow God’s steadfast love, power and delight to be your source of joy and strength. Trust in Him and obey Him for as you do, you can even give joy back to God by becoming one who ‘the Lord takes pleasure in’.

Being real

 Psalm 145:1–21 (ESV):  

1  I will extol you, my God and King, 

and bless your name forever and ever. 

 2  Every day I will bless you 

and praise your name forever and ever. 

 3  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, 

and his greatness is unsearchable. 

 4  One generation shall commend your works to another, 

and shall declare your mighty acts. 

 5  On the glorious splendour of your majesty, 

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 

 6  They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, 

and I will declare your greatness. 

 7  They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness 

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 

 8  The Lord is gracious and merciful, 

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

 9  The Lord is good to all, 

and his mercy is over all that he has made. 

 10  All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, 

and all your saints shall bless you! 

 11  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom 

and tell of your power, 

 12  to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, 

and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. 

 13  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 

and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 

  [The Lord is faithful in all his words 

and kind in all his works.] 

 14  The Lord upholds all who are falling 

and raises up all who are bowed down. 

 15  The eyes of all look to you, 

and you give them their food in due season. 

 16  You open your hand; 

you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

 17  The Lord is righteous in all his ways 

and kind in all his works. 

 18  The Lord is near to all who call on him, 

to all who call on him in truth. 

 19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; 

he also hears their cry and saves them. 

 20  The Lord preserves all who love him, 

but all the wicked he will destroy. 

 21  My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, 

and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. 

This psalm tells us that God; is your King, He is great, deserves praise, He is unsearchable, has done great things, He is known from generation to generation for His great deeds. He is glorious and splendid, righteous, gracious and merciful, He is slow to anger and His love is enduring and never-ending. What a Father in Heaven we have! Verse 10 then simply states, ‘All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you’. Everything God has made and done somehow thanks God for His goodness, Jesus declares that 'the very stones would cry out' If his disciples did not rejoice in and praise God (Luke 19:40), isn't that an interesting thought. I wonder what the praise of rocks would be like, or the worship of trees and the songs of the weather. If God's people do not glorify God, then all of God's works will praise Him somehow. So, are you giving thanks to God and blessing Him, or are you leaving it to the stones? 

I know life gets you down at times, and you may struggle to see the positive, but God hasn’t changed. He is still King, He is is still glorious, mighty, merciful, gracious and never-ending in His love for you. You have a duty as His child to show your gratitude, and to, ‘make known to the children of man’ His mighty deeds. Are you? What do others see and hear about God in your life? If you are busy moaning about how tough life is, what are they going to think about God? You can change the way you speak about such times through being grateful that God is sustaining you, and that you have an everlasting hope because of Jesus. Consider what you are sharing with others, it is great to be real about what is going on for you, but what is your overarching story? Is it that God is in control, glorious and powerful, or is it something else? Also, how honest are you with people about your life? Do you really share about what is going on for you, the highs and lows? People need to see that you experience both otherwise they will think a life with God is unreal and unachievable for them. When life is hard, through living your life transparently amongst others you can show that ‘The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down’. If you pretend all is well all of the time, what are they going to think about you and about God? 

You have a duty to demonstrate God's love and power in your life to others - to believers and not-yet-believers. That means being real about the struggles you face and the joys, demonstrating that you have One you are hoping in who is dependable, loving, generous and trustworthy. It is then that others will see the beautiful reality that God is real, relevant and interested in the lives of everyday people. When you lack resources, but are sustained, are you sharing that with others so that they see that God is the one that opens His hands to you and satisfies you? When you get brilliant news, do you share that with others letting them know that God is the source of that blessing? Your life and the way you talk about it should inspire people to believe in Him as you do, to trust Him and make Him their Lord and saviour as you have. So, what do people see of God from the way you live, and the way you talk about your faith in Him? 

Are you glad?

 Psalm 126:1–6 (ESV):  

1  When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, 

we were like those who dream. 

 2  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, 

and our tongue with shouts of joy; 

  then they said among the nations, 

“The Lord has done great things for them.” 

 3  The Lord has done great things for us; 

we are glad. 

 4  Restore our fortunes, O Lord, 

like streams in the Negeb! 

 5  Those who sow in tears 

shall reap with shouts of joy! 

 6  He who goes out weeping, 

bearing the seed for sowing, 

  shall come home with shouts of joy, 

bringing his sheaves with him. 

You can only really appreciate what you have got when you have gone through times where you have suffered. This psalm tells of the dream-like joy the people of Israel felt when they returned to their homeland after being in captivity. They had suffered physically and emotionally, they had been apart from familiarity, their homes and community, their routines disrupted, and faith shaken. Then, God made it possible for them to return - can you begin to imagine the joy?! They laughed and shouted in happiness, acknowledging that ‘The Lord has done great things for us’! Suddenly the joy of reconciliation and restoration outstripped the pain of suffering and exile. This had now been exchanged for the joy of reunion and restoration of their souls, faith and homeland. The Israelites would not have experienced that extent of happiness if there had not been the sowing in tears (v5). The depths of misery that they had known meant they could really appreciate coming ‘home with shouts of joy’. How much more beautiful does home seem when you have been away for a while? Imagine that magnified, due to being forced from home and prevented from returning, having been held captive elsewhere. The Israelites experienced that as a whole nation, imagine the noise of their jubilation; the singing, dancing, laughter, shouts and cries of joy. 

Through this time of great gladness, the people could clearly see the hand of God. They did not just express exuberant joy over the changed circumstances, they also acknowledged and celebrated how the situation had changed. They knew this restoration could not have been possible without God. He had taught them, protected them, favoured them and led them home. Therefore He was at the centre of their celebrations. It was so obvious that God had transformed the circumstances for Israel, as even those ‘among the nations’ declare, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The successful deliverance of Israel had far-reaching impact among nations! The joy, protection, and restoration of God’s people travelled to unnamed nations so that those not of God’s people, those with different faiths and cultures, could see and appreciate that there had to be a God involved in this rescue mission! What an amazing acknowledgement - that things like this do not happen unless there is God involved. Miraculous, unbelievable, unmerited favour and deliverance can only be from the hand of God. This can be seen even by those who do not yet know Him, who seem far off. Yet they are observing the lives of the people of God, and they notice what happens, and how they respond. The Israelites' experience and reaction shows other people outside of the nation that these people - they have the favour of Almighty God with them! What do people notice as they observe your life, attitude and responses? 

Are you telling people the stories from your life that celebrate God’s favour? You have things that you can joyfully tell people, about God's goodness, love, grace and power. There are incredible blessings, times of favour and deliverance you have experienced, so do not be shy about telling others about them. Whether the hearers are believers or not. For your stories could influence others to also see that God is still doing great things for His people, because of the great things He has done for you. 

So, celebrate and allow yourself to be glad, laugh, and cry with joy, for ‘The Lord has done great things for us’. Even when you are in a season of sorrow, lack or difficulty, you can be certain that there is a joy to come. This psalm explains that you will sow tears, lose fortunes, you will weep and mourn. Yet you will also bear fruit, sow seed, shout with joy, laugh and know abundance! All because of the love and favour of God! So, whether your season is one of joy or sorrow, keep your eyes fixed on Him and live to earn His favour. You don’t want to miss out on the shouts of joy, singing, dancing and laughing because life got hard and you turned your back on God, do you? 

Are you a good sheep?

 Psalm 100:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

 2  Serve the Lord with gladness! 

Come into his presence with singing! 

 3  Know that the Lord, he is God! 

It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

 4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, 

and his courts with praise! 

Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

 5  For the Lord is good; 

his steadfast love endures forever, 

and his faithfulness to all generations. 

God is often referred to as Lord because it is a term which indicates to us that He is the one with the right to have authority and power over us due to His superiority. Therefore it is expected that He is served and obeyed. This sounds right when we apply these attributes to God, but is a bit scary when we apply them to humans who also carry this title! I am sure you can think of some lords or leaders who have got the balance of these attributes wrong. Yet, thankfully, there is only One who is The Lord and ‘he is God’. He has superiority over any other lords, and he deserves, not requires, our service. He has authority and power and should be obeyed, yet The Lord Our God should also be enjoyed and served with ‘gladness’ (v2). In life there are those who have more authority than others, so it is necessary to serve or obey them such as politicians, police and parents. It is not always a joy to serve or obey them, but it is required through the laws of the land and the Law of God. Yet, Our Lord, the Lord our God, it is possible to serve Him with gladness! 

Serving God is a form of worship and you can do it whilst making ‘a joyful noise’. Doing what God says should cause you to sing, make happy noises and be glad. If not, then you are not serving right. Maybe your heart isn’t in what you are doing, perhaps you are doing something you have always done but you shouldn’t be doing it any more, or how you are serving God is difficult. Whatever the reason, if you are not enjoying the tasks you do for God, ask yourself why. It may be that you find it tough and you need God’s help, maybe you should give something up, or perhaps you need to recapture God’s heart and passion for what you are tasked with. For the instruction in verse 2 is to ‘Serve the Lord with gladness’.

The Lord our God also takes care of us. We are His; creation, family, people and sheep. He oversees you and protects you because you belong to Him. He spent time designing and building you, and He is happy that He did, so happy in fact that He calls you His child. You are not ornament to look at, but you are a useful being made in His image to demonstrate who He is to the world for you are one of ‘his people’. God has also placed you in His ‘pasture’ where you are protected and safe, so that you know where you belong. You have been designed to be in God’s kingdom, His pasture, for you are one of His sheep. Just like a sheep, you need care, direction, providing for and protection. There are things that you cannot see that could cause you harm. God sees and knows what they are, so keep close to Him and follow Him for He will guard and guide you. When you stay close to God, even if you fall down a ditch, He is close by to help you back up. Another great thing about being a sheep is that you do not have to do much. There’s not a lot of responsibility or busy-ness going on when you look at sheep in a field is there? They might be wandering around, lying down or munching grass, but that is about it. For the sheep rely on a good shepherd to take care of them, to protect them from danger, and get them to the place with the best grass. They just have to stay close and follow. They don’t work hard, they are allowed to just ‘be’ appreciating the life and protection of the shepherd and the boundaries of the pasture. 

Are you a good sheep? Do you allow God to look out for you, lead and guide you without taking control? Are you content living with God, just being with Him and the other sheep? You are one of ‘the sheep of his pasture’. You get to be where the shepherd is, enjoying the land He owns - you have access to all He has got! This is the love, kindness care and protection of the Lord Our God, are you appreciating it?

God, the Lord is someone you can follow who is trustworthy, who knows you intimately for He designed you, He is greater than any other leader, and He invites you close into His presence and even into His kingdom. He will provide for you, care for you, rescue, protect and love you. When you consider Him, surely it is easy to ‘make a joyful noise’, give Him praise and to be grateful to Him! 

Appreciate God. Follow Him and allow yourself to enjoy the beautiful privilege of being His sheep. ‘For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations’!

Sing, Ascribe and let

 Psalm 96:1–13 (ESV): 

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; 

sing to the Lord, all the earth! 

 2  Sing to the Lord, bless his name; 

tell of his salvation from day to day. 

 3  Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous works among all the peoples! 

 4  For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; 

he is to be feared above all gods. 

 5  For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, 

but the Lord made the heavens. 

 6  Splendour and majesty are before him; 

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

 7  Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, 

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 

 8  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 

bring an offering, and come into his courts! 

 9  Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness; 

tremble before him, all the earth! 

 10  Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! 

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; 

he will judge the peoples with equity.” 

 11  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; 

let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

 12  let the field exult, and everything in it! 

  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 

 13  before the Lord, for he comes, 

for he comes to judge the earth. 

  He will judge the world in righteousness, 

and the peoples in his faithfulness. 

There seems to be some repetition in this psalm, with the instructions to ‘sing to the Lord’, then ‘ascribe to the Lord ‘and ‘let’. So we will focus on those three elements today as we study this scripture.

- ‘sing to the Lord’; a new song, all the earth, and bless His name. These are the aspects attached to the action of singing. It is a powerful thing to sing about something. Someone has thought about a tune, instruments and the lyrics and put them together to build something memorable and repeatable. Songs can help us recall things and change our mood, therefore is important to consider what you are singing about. The instruction here is to ‘sing to the Lord’, and you can sing to Him about multiple things; the earth, His qualities and salvation. You will never run out of things to sing about if God is your topic. Singing to God is far more powerful than singing about your favourite team or alongside secular music. The instruction in this psalm is to sing something new to God and to bless Him through song, and the whole earth somehow joins in this celebration of who He is. So, whenever you sing, consider who you are singing for and about, does it do good to God’s ears? Songs are an opportunity to declare God's glory, remind people of His marvellous works and to tell of His salvation. Is that what you do when you sing?

- ‘Ascribe to the Lord’ - ascribe means to regard something as being. When the psalmist says to ascribe to God glory and strength, it is not to say that we need to treat God as if He is glorious and strong, for He is. It is us who struggle to comprehend the reality and extent of His glory and strength. Therefore the encouragement is, even if you don’t feel it or fully believe it, practice thinking of God as glorious and strong. Keep telling yourself the truth that He is even when your circumstances, emotions or thoughts tell you something different. Keep applying the truth about God to your heart, mind and spirit, and inspire others to see it too. None of us will ever know on this Earth the extent of God’s glory and strength, so we need to keep reminding ourselves to 'ascribe' these qualities to God. As you choose to see God as glorious and strong, as verses 8 and 9 suggest, it will lead you to worship through generous giving and joy. Plus your eyes will be opened to see something more of how awesome God is.

‘let’ = allow, permit, give freedom to. The verses that repeat the word ‘let’, v 12-13, talk about allowing the different facets of creation express joy. You may wonder how we can do that, for we ourselves are created and have no control over the seas roaring, trees singing or the fields exulting. So, i think there are two messages in this. One is that when we look at the heavens, seas, fields and the trees, do you look at them and feel happy? Do they remind you of the One who made them? When the natural world looks beautiful or sounds terrifying, do you consider how awesome the One who made them is? That is how we can allow nature to declare it’s joy. By choosing to see God in and through it all and declaring His goodness in it. Take time to allow nature to declare God’s vastness, beauty, creativity and power to you. Do you ever do that? Do you just allow the complexity of a tree show you something of God’s ingenuity? Does the power of the waters signify God’s power to you, or what the roar of His voice must be like? I encourage you, take time to consider what God has made. Even just one flower, rock, or blade of grass. These things declare His joy, glory and strength, so take time to listen to what they can reveal of Our God. The other aspect of allowing nature to bring joy is, do you respect and protect the natural world? Doing your bit to tidy up creation, stop pollution, and not cause damage to what God has made allows these things to continue to bring revelation and joy for generations to come. This is how you can permit the skies, earth and seas continue to display God’s beautiful splendour, by ensuring that you do your part to appreciate and protect them. Allow them continue to show others the joy and beauty of God, for they too were created to worship. So let the trees continue singing, fields exulting and seas roaring, and join in with their praise to the Lord.

worshipping in the worst times

Psalm 71:1–8 (ESV): 

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; 

let me never be put to shame! 

2  In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; 

incline your ear to me, and save me! 

3  Be to me a rock of refuge, 

to which I may continually come; 

you have given the command to save me, 

for you are my rock and my fortress. 

4  Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, 

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 

5  For you, O Lord, are my hope, 

my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 

6  Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; 

you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. 

My praise is continually of you. 

7  I have been as a portent to many, 

but you are my strong refuge. 

8  My mouth is filled with your praise, 

and with your glory all the day. 

9  Do not cast me off in the time of old age; 

forsake me not when my strength is spent. 

10  For my enemies speak concerning me; 

those who watch for my life consult together 

11  and say, “God has forsaken him; 

pursue and seize him, 

for there is none to deliver him.” 

12  O God, be not far from me; 

O my God, make haste to help me! 

13  May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; 

with scorn and disgrace may they be covered 

who seek my hurt. 

14  But I will hope continually 

and will praise you yet more and more. 

15  My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, 

of your deeds of salvation all the day, 

for their number is past my knowledge. 

16  With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; 

I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 

17  O God, from my youth you have taught me, 

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 

18  So even to old age and grey hairs, 

O God, do not forsake me, 

until I proclaim your might to another generation, 

your power to all those to come. 

19  Your righteousness, O God, 

reaches the high heavens. 

You who have done great things, 

O God, who is like you? 

20  You who have made me see many troubles and calamities 

will revive me again; 

from the depths of the earth 

you will bring me up again. 

21  You will increase my greatness 

and comfort me again. 

22  I will also praise you with the harp 

for your faithfulness, O my God; 

I will sing praises to you with the lyre, 

O Holy One of Israel. 

23  My lips will shout for joy, 

when I sing praises to you; 

my soul also, which you have redeemed. 

24  And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, 

for they have been put to shame and disappointed 

who sought to do me hurt. 

Although this psalm does not credit a particular person as the author, both psalm 70 and 71 seem to be similar in content. They both tell of a time that is troubled due to the persecution of others and the writers are asking God to intervene and rescue. When I first read this I thought it was a follow-on psalm from the previous one, however we do not know if David is the writer even though the themes and expressions are similar. As we consider the book of Psalms, there are many with a similar theme; of difficulty, petitioning God and trusting Him. So, whether or not this is written by David doesn’t really matter, as it just shows that we can all have similar struggles, and we need help to overcome them. People of the past as well as the present have encountered hardship and the psalms helpfully show us how to pray through it, trust God in it and worship throughout. 

This psalm then, although about a tough time, focuses on the ‘Holy One of Israel’. The author is continually reminding themselves that they are coming to a loving, mighty God. There is worship from beginning to end.  Most of the verses mention something great about God, so this cry for help and petition is enwrapped in praise - how incredible! The psalmist has come to God for rescue and relief and considers that God is; a refuge, One who does not put to shame, a listener, rock, always available, fortress, rescuer, hope, trust, One you can lean on, One who brings life, strong, glorious, close, a helper, righteous, mighty, bringer of salvation, doer of wondrous deeds, teacher, constant, powerful, reviver, lifter, empowering, comforter, Holy, redeemer. That is a lot of recognition of who God is for someone who is in trouble.When life is difficult and despairing do you pray like that? 

My daughter read something recently that said 'if you don't feel like praying, pray harder, if you don't feel like worshipping, worship harder.' This seems to be what this psalmist does. He petitions and praises God whilst persevering through this trouble. The writer acknowledges God’s active presence from even before he was born up til now, their old age (v17-18), and they know God’s love, comfort and greatness hasn’t finished yet. The same is true for you. No matter your age or experience, God desires to show you His love, comfort and greatness. God has not finished working in your life either.

Thanking and praising God in the midst of hardship takes strength, and doing so builds strength, resilience and faith. It is about looking upwards to God and His kingdom rather than looking around and inward at the trouble, persecution and demoralising activities that can surround you. So, do not focus on the things that get you down and that seem to defeat you. Acknowledge them and put them into prayer, like this psalmist does, so that you are putting them into the hands of the One who can do something about it! 

This psalmist says, ‘my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long’. Is that how you tackle your problems? By remembering God and how awesome He is, thinking about His amazing deeds? Do you make an effort to remind yourself, and others, of where your help comes from? Take inspiration from this person who has lived a life of faith - Practice gratitude when life is troublesome, and praise God through every difficulty. For trouble should not diminish your understanding of the previous works of God, in fact, they should inspire you with the great things God can do now! Hold onto the truth of who God is, His love for you and His strength, then let your ‘lips shout for joy’!

Who are you fighting for?

Today, we are going to begin to look at Psalm 68, it is quite long so we will look at it in 3 parts, here is the first section:

 Psalm 68:1–18 (ESV):  

1  God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; 

and those who hate him shall flee before him! 

2  As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; 

as wax melts before fire, 

so the wicked shall perish before God! 

3  But the righteous shall be glad; 

they shall exult before God; 

they shall be jubilant with joy! 

4  Sing to God, sing praises to his name; 

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; 

his name is the Lord; 

exult before him! 

5  Father of the fatherless and protector of widows 

is God in his holy habitation. 

6  God settles the solitary in a home; 

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, 

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 

7  O God, when you went out before your people, 

when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 

8  the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, 

before God, the One of Sinai, 

before God, the God of Israel. 

9  Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; 

you restored your inheritance as it languished; 

10  your flock found a dwelling in it; 

in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 

11  The Lord gives the word; 

the women who announce the news are a great host: 

12  “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” 

The women at home divide the spoil— 

13  though you men lie among the sheepfolds— 

the wings of a dove covered with silver, 

its pinions with shimmering gold. 

14  When the Almighty scatters kings there, 

let snow fall on Zalmon. 

15  O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; 

O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 

16  Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, 

at the mount that God desired for his abode, 

yes, where the Lord will dwell forever? 

17  The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, 

thousands upon thousands; 

the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 

18  You ascended on high, 

leading a host of captives in your train 

and receiving gifts among men, 

even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. 

In case you are in any doubt, verse 1 tells us that God will win against the enemy. He will cause the wicked to flee, be driven away, melt, and perish (v1-2). So if you are in a battle right now, and you know you are walking and fighting with God, you can know that, ‘as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God’! They will melt, fade away, become useless before God. You just need to be sure - are you fighting with God or against Him? 

If you are with Him, this psalm offers great encouragement - you will succeed as God always triumphs. If you are not fighting with God, but fighting for what you want, or for things God stands against - be warned. For you will know; destruction, running away and defeat. So, when you are struggling for something you need to ask yourself why you are fighting. Is it for your own glory, satisfaction, to redeem yourself? Or are you led into the battle by God? You don't always need to fight, even for good things or for what is right. Exodus 14:4 says, 'The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.' God will ensure that His righteousness is revealed and that His people triumph for He promises that, ‘the righteous shall be glad’. Sometimes, you need to step out of the way so that God can do the fighting instead of you. He wants to make the righteous glad -  These are the ones who are in right standing before God - do you get int he way on occasion by trying to right a wrong or fight a battle God has not asked you to? God will battle for those who live their lives in obedience to Him, and that includes getting involved in the situations He wants them to, not just doing what they think is right or what they want to do or are passionate about. If you want to be glad, ask yourself; Are you fighting battles that God would have you fight?

Think about your motivation and mindset to make sure that your desires and efforts are engaged where God wants them to be. Consider, in your life, what are the things God wants you to fight for and what does He want you to let go? This doesn't mean you assess your own feelings and go by what you feel, God's will is much higher than yours, and our emotions are poor leaders, He is not. Some things may really upset, frustrate and anger you, and there are probably situations you would love to have overturned, uprooted and demolished, but is God leading you into that fight? Ask God to show you how to respond in order for you to for you to see Him succeed, as sometimes you need to gird up and fight, but other times, 'you need only to be still'. Often that is much harder! To do nothing can be really painful as it means putting aside your own desires and emotions to do things God’s way, but no matter how uncomfortable or hard it is, if you are strong enough to do it, 'The Lord will fight for you', and surely you know that is going to bring the best outcome! 

Verse 11 starts, ‘The Lord gives the word’. The women in this verse wait for God to speak, then they act. Are you like that? Do you wait for God’s direction before you do something that greatly impacts yourself or others? These women waited for God’s timing, we do not know why certain things should be done at certain times, often we are impatient to get things going. Yet there is benefit in waiting for God to say ‘go’ - these women had good news to share, even so they waited until God wanted it known. Are you one who waits? Or do you rush into things without waiting for instruction or guidance? Again, knowing your role, what God has called you to, awaiting for Him to give 'the word' will ensure you are entering into the things He has for you rather than whatever you think you can just get on with and do. Ultimately, God wants to see His people glad and 'jubilant with joy', are you allowing yourself to be glad and joyful by stepping into the things God wants you to be in and stepping away from the things He doesn't? For the, 'chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands'. How big is your army?!

Hope in God

 Psalm 42:1–11 (ESV):  

1  As a deer pants for flowing streams, 

so pants my soul for you, O God. 

2  My soul thirsts for God, 

for the living God. 

When shall I come and appear before God? 

3  My tears have been my food 

day and night, 

while they say to me all the day long, 

“Where is your God?” 

4  These things I remember, 

as I pour out my soul: 

how I would go with the throng 

and lead them in procession to the house of God 

with glad shouts and songs of praise, 

a multitude keeping festival. 

5  Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me? 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 

my salvation 6 and my God. 

My soul is cast down within me; 

therefore I remember you 

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, 

from Mount Mizar. 

7  Deep calls to deep 

at the roar of your waterfalls; 

all your breakers and your waves 

have gone over me. 

8  By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, 

and at night his song is with me, 

a prayer to the God of my life. 

9  I say to God, my rock: 

“Why have you forgotten me? 

Why do I go mourning 

because of the oppression of the enemy?” 

10  As with a deadly wound in my bones, 

my adversaries taunt me, 

while they say to me all the day long, 

“Where is your God?” 

11  Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me? 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 

my salvation and my God. 

Can you imagine a time when you are prevented from being in the presence of God and amongst His people? The author of this psalm, likely to be David, has experienced such a time as do many persecuted christians across the world. This writer, whether they are David or not, has been physically prevented from attending the temple. Today, some people may be able to relate as they have restrictions imposed on them which mean that they cannot fully participate in a life of faith as they wish. So they can appreciate this psalmists cries due to the danger of meeting together, the pain of being apart, and being unable to get close to God’s house. Have you ever had such an experience or can you even begin to imagine what it must be like?

The reality is that for us, we find it hard to completely relate even if we live in a country that restricts the celebration of faith, as we know that we can enjoy God’s presence and His people anywhere. No matter if you’re imprisoned, on the run, at work, in hiding or in bed, you can still meet with God and experience the Holy Spirit. However, for those living in Old Testament times, God had promised that He would be present in the holy of holies within the tent of meeting (later the temple). That was the only place the presence of God was known to be. At the time of David, there was a Tabernacle that was set up which contained the Ark of the Covenant signifying the presence of God. A place that caused people to praise and worship God as the Ark signified God's presence, not just in the here and now, but throughout the generations of Israelites since. No wonder this writer wanted to be there - to be inspired and reminded of God's holiness, faithfulness and awesome presence!

I think it is difficult for us to fully understand this longing - the pain of separation from God expressed in this psalm - as we never need be apart from Him. We are privileged to have access to God whenever and wherever because of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we cannot truly appreciate the depth of thirst and hunger that is experienced by this person. Grief over the fact that they cannot go before God, that they cannot be in His presence or amongst those that worship Him, that they have not got access to His word and cannot partake in the celebrations of faith as they once did. Can you even imagine what that must be like? Total separation and disconnection from God. The extent of heartache is well expressed in verses 3-5; tears being food, somehow sustaining this separation. Even the distress is feeding the remembrance of the relationship once enjoyed and so keeps it alive. People taunt at the apparent absence of God’s presence, yet their mocking does not prove the lack of God’s existence, just tugs at the heart even more allowing the writer to recall the joy of being with God. Reminding him to keep trusting in the fact that he always has, ‘Hope in God’. No matter what occurs, no matter what others do or say, no matter how near or far God seems, you can always hope in God! Even when you feel alone, separated and in danger, you can always remind yourself of the former times of joy as they are not just days of old, but the day is approaching when you again will celebrate and join in praise and worship with other God followers. Even if your soul seems 'cast down', consider why your soul is in turmoil. Then consider what the truth really is. For this psalmist the truth was that he was so upset and disturbed because he could not be in God's presence or with His people. It was less to do with the actual situation and danger he was in, it was about the reality of the grief of separation from God. Yet the writer also knew this time of separation was not forever, it would come to an end, and he could look forward in hope to again celebrating in God's presence.

Now consider the privilege you have. Of the opportunities you have to meet with God, to hear and read His Word, to meet with those who love and honour Jesus, plus you can be filled with the Holy Spirit! This writer could not, but you can! Yet sometimes in this privilege do you neglect these things? There are people of the past that have yearned and cried in despair when they have been unable to do so. There are still people in this world that do not have the freedom to meet in God’s name, for whom it would be too dangerous or difficult. Would you still read the Word and meet with believers if you had the threat of imprisonment or death? Would you still hold onto faith, hope and salvation? Many people do in the midst of persecution and restriction. They understand the value of relationship with God and the hope and salvation He gives even when they live through the toughest experiences of life. They understand that having connection with God is of far greater value than any other treasure, any other promise and even greater than freedom and life itself! If you are not in a position where it is difficult or dangerous to worship God, rejoice and keep your hope in Him consider; Are you showing the worth that God has in your life? Are you making the most of the opportunities you have to meet with Him and with others who worship Him? 

You can thank God that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the tearing of the veil, and the pouring out Holy Spirit, that God’s presence is now available to you wherever you are. There is no restriction to the presence of God as to where or how you commune with Him. You can know, appreciate and enjoy His presence right now. So thank God for the freedom He has given you to know Him and His people, and pray for those who have restrictions upon them, asking God to reward their faith.

This psalmist recalls the joyous times when he has been able to worship, lead praise and been amongst others glorifying God. Yet he is disappointed with himself for being disheartened, asking himself, ‘why are you cast down, O my soul’? I think from what has been described we can see why he is ‘cast down’! We can all feel the same at times. Yet this author still sees no reason to be so distressed and disturbed. He knows that God still remains. That God still sustains and cares for Him. So he makes himself remember other times when he has experienced God’s love, His presence and the joy and power of fellowship with other believers. He does not allow his present situation or condition alter the reality that God exists and is good. Some people crumble away in fear and disappointment when bad things happen or when life doesn’t go the way they want or expect it to. This writer does not. They are a great example of the steadfastness of faith and seem to have written this psalm as an encouragement to themselves, to remind them that they have reasons to not be ‘cast down’ as they always have hope and salvation. The author is keen to reinforce this to himself that he repeats this twice (v5 and 11). Even if all of life is turned upside down, you can still hold onto the fact that there is still hope in God, your salvation is secure, God is still good and you can still praise Him as He never changes. Just as this psalmist reminded himself of these things, you can do the same. So take time to remember the goodness of God in your life; the joy of His presence, the joy of worship, the value of the community of believers, the certainty of hope and salvation. Even if you cannot enjoy worshipping with other believers in person right now, let your previous experiences help fuel your faith and instil hope in you for the future.

Is God's presence enough?

23 A Psalm of David. 

1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

2  He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

He leads me beside still waters. 

3  He restores my soul. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness 

for his name’s sake. 

4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, 

they comfort me. 

5  You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies; 

you anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

all the days of my life, 

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord 

forever. 

This psalm has been very relevant for me personally over the past year. As a family we have been journeying through a great tragedy and when it first happened God gave me a picture. The picture was of me in a dark place. It was dark grey, a place where you couldn’t really see what was going on around you or where you were going, but I saw someone there, a distant figure and I knew it was Jesus. The picture reminded me of this psalm as the place in my mind looked to me like a dark valley. Many times over the past 12 months I have had this image and been reassured of God’s presence during the darkest times. 

I had suddenly found myself walking ‘through the valley of the shadow of death’, unsure of how I had got there and no idea how to get out. Yet in the midst of it God kindly showed me that He was present. He had not left me alone, and as long as I kept looking to Him, He would guide me through. I often recalled this picture and would say to God, “Thank you for being with me, I don’t yet feel your comfort, but I know it will come because you are with me”. This is a promise of this psalm and was the assurance God gave me as I had to endure this season. God did not say it was all going be ok, that it would soon be over, or that there was an escape from this turmoil, but His promise was of His presence and that was enough. Is God’s presence sufficient for you? No matter what storms, trials, adventures, triumphs or celebrations you are going through, are you assured of God's presence? This psalm shows how God is alongside you no matter what season of life you are in; a time of rest, one of provision, healing, suffering, death, direction, temptation, abundance or celebration. No matter your situation, God's 'goodness and mercy' are present. They will always be present because He is with you if you choose to live your life with Him.

Being someone that follows God doesn’t mean that your life life is easy. Read this psalm again if you need proof of that! God doesn't promise that He will sort out all of your problems and the issues of life, but He does assure you of His constant presence and His grace and mercy. Sometimes you will have to walk through valleys that you never expected, and at times you are bathing in the sunshine in fields that you never knew could hold such blessing. You experience both because life has twists and turns. You will make mistakes, you live around people that don’t always get it right and there is an enemy. So be prepared for valleys and darkness to come as well as fields, feasts and green pastures. You are not immune to experiencing trouble if you dedicate your life to following God. Yet you do have a mighty, powerful, loving Father that has always got your back. He will always be there with you in whatever you are experiencing. Sometimes you’ll get hurt, sometimes you’ll know relief, sometimes you’ll know comfort, rest and joy, but always you can know His presence.

If you contemplate the truth of God's never-ending presence and support in your life, then your hope, peace, comfort and confidence in every circumstance will grow. No matter what highs or lows you experience, whether you are in the depths of fear and pain or enjoying abundance and provision, God is there with you. He is always looking out over you, leading you, and helping you. His everlasting love is with you and as you learn to apply that truth, hope, peace and comfort will grow in your life.

'Count it all joy'

 2*Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, *3*for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. *4*And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

James 1:2–4.

I find these verses some of the most challenging in Scripture. Whenever I read v2 I wonder how am I ever meant to achieve that - how do you consider trials a joy? I recall what the early christians went through and how they were praising in prison, flogged, beaten, stoned and crucified and I wonder how did they encounter these things with such calm and joy? 

Even in the days we are living in now christians are horrendously persecuted. Some people are tortured and tormented, yet their trust and understanding of God remains, and even strengthens. They go through the pain and discomfort because they know the truth and they, ‘count it all joy’ to be persecuted for Christ. I have not experienced anything like the terrible and terrifying ordeals that some suffer, yet even in my sufferings and trials I struggle to count it a joy. As I write this, I acknowledge that I am currently experiencing, 'trials of various kinds'. I have felt; heartbroken, confused, defeated, loss and numb. I have not been joyful about these things at all and I do not think that James is saying that we need to be full of joy in the trials, but learn to, ‘count’ them a joy. It would be inhuman really to rejoice when pain and suffering come, but that does not mean that we cannot consider that these hardships are actually doing us good in the long-term. I think that this is what James was getting at. When you encounter trials, it is tough and they stretch and challenge us in ways we never expected or wanted. Yet when you and I endure these things continuing to trust in God, although you know that your faith is being tested and that is difficult, you also can know that this is an opportunity to grow steadfast, perfect and content. Who doesn't want that? - this is good news!

There is bad news however, and that is that trials will involve pain, suffering and waiting! In order to achieve these attributes it means that you will have to endure. You have to persevere and be determined to  keep hold of your faith in God and doing what you know is right even if no-one else is. It is hard, and none of us like it, but growing up to become steadfast and complete is the goal. It takes patience, endurance, mistakes and hardship to get there. I think we struggle with this so much today as it is so easy to see that society has grown away from patience and endurance. These are not attributes that many of us have or seek, i mean, who likes waiting for things? The world promotes instant gratification and quick fixes rather than permanent solutions built over time. We have seen an increase of self-serve checkouts, pre-orders, 24hour delivery, all because we want things done and we want it now! We have become a throw away culture; if it doesn’t work, throw it out, get a new one. If it hurts, get some pain relief, if it’s hard, don’t do it. If you have to wait, order it online. If this is our standard - How are you to grow in patience and understanding? 

Nowhere does the Bible teach that instant gratification or relief is a good thing. We actually see the complete opposite. Scripture, teaches instead that; hardship, endurance, suffering, pain and trials are a good thing! Probably not if you look at the here and now whilst in the midst of a trial, but if you take time to consider what it is doing in you long-term, you can see that these tough times do you good. They cause you to evaluate life and yourself in a new way, they can help you grow in empathy, understanding, appreciation and can bring about faith and steadfastness, completeness and contentment. This is what these verses show us as well as the rest of the Bible. James also writes in verse 12, ‘ Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.’ 

What a great promise! 

Yes, trials are tough and they last. The effects of the trials on our emotions, mental and physical health can take its toll, but what do they do for your spiritual health? Even if you are suffering, are you continuing to learn about God, still talking to Him and depending on Him? If so, then you will grow in faith and steadfastness, but it takes time. Faith is only realised when it’s tested. Steadfastness can only grow if you’ve endured through some trials. So, to achieve these things you have to accept the sufferings. You have to allow yourself to patiently go through it knowing that you can grow in character and faith eventually gaining the crown of life as your reward!

How to bring joy to Jesus

 24*Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, *25*to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

Jude 24–25.

These verses are quite a different  tone to the rest of the letter and bring about a positive conclusion. It seems that as Jude is signing off he is reminding his readers exactly why all the other stuff he has written about is important. Keeping away from inaccuracies and sin and ensuring that your mind, heart and flesh are in line with God’s order is in light of who God is. If you can see your life in context, and remember that He is; your Saviour, your sustainer, your help, Lord, glorious, majestic, powerful and ruling for all eternity, then why would you get caught up with anything else? 

Being able to remember that God has a never-ending plan, and that He wants to save, preserve and sustain you even though He is full of glory, majesty and holiness must surely give you enthusiasm to live a life honouring and obeying Him.

This God, this holy, mighty, eternal God is also the God 'who is able to keep you from stumbling’. Quite simply put, God cares enough about you to keep you from stumbling. This incredible, worship-invoking God, also wants to help you out. You don’t have to put up with living a life enshrouded by sin, compromise and temptation - you can be free - because God can steer you away, He can teach you and give you strength to resist. Lets be honest, you do not have the strength or capacity to be able to do it on your own, but God can keep you from stumbling. So why not ask for His help - what will be able to stop you if you trust God to take care of you and help you? Are you willing to ask God for help for the things you struggle with, the big, the small, serious or silly things? God is willing and able - are you willing to ask and trust Him? 

The next part of verse 24 says that Jesus can, ‘present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy’.  So, not only can God prevent you from stumbling, but because of Jesus, you can also be seen as blameless! Isn’t that incredible?! At the very same time you can be forgiven of sin, helped to overcome it and be considered sin-free. 

Then, do you know Jesus' response to be able to do that for you? He considers it a ‘great joy’! Now isn’t that remarkable?! You can be helped to resist temptation, prevented from sinning, forgiven when you do, classed as blameless, helped to overcome, and this all makes Jesus elated! Inviting God to help you in your struggles, and relying on Him to help you overcome them not only gives you freedom and relief, but it causes joy in heaven - what an incredible thought! 

So, today, know that whatever you're struggling with, you can get help. It is freely available, and it’s name is Jesus - you just need to ask. Then he can, ‘keep you from stumbling’ and, ‘present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy’. What a hope and delight to look forward to! 

So, as a response to these verses and these thoughts today, consider if you need to call out to Jesus today for his help - he is only too happy to do so. On the other hand, if these words remind you of what you have been forgiven and helped through - then thank God. Be grateful that you can be forgiven and accepted by God, grateful that by repenting you cause joy in heaven as well as having the opportunity to walk free from what holds you back. 

Thank you Father God for your complete forgiveness, mercy and help. It seems incredible that we can cause joy in heaven by allowing you to help in our difficulties, but it says it right here in your Word! What amazing love and mercy you have for us. Help us never to take it for granted Lord. Also, for those things that we are battling against right now, please give us strength and confidence in you to invite you in. You can change any situation and take away all sin and temptation. Sorry that we so often try to do it on our own and end up in a mess realising that we can’t do it. But you can. So God, help us and strengthen us. Help us avoid the things that tempt us and cause us to go astray and help us to acknowledge and appreciate your forgiveness and joy when we rely and trust in you. You indeed are glorious, magnificent and full of love.

Amen 

Christmas, a time to worship

I was considering which psalm to write about this week as we approach Christmas Day, when I came across psalm 96. A psalm full of praise and wonder at the splendour of God. This seems appropriate to ponder on at this time of year. We can get caught up in; busy-ness, buying presents, attending events, seeing friends and family, food, putting up the decorations. Why not take a break from all that and have a read of this psalm. It may just refresh you and excite you for what Christmas is really all about;

Worship in the Splendour of Holiness

# 96

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 

*2* Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 

*3* Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples! 

*4* For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 

*5* For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 

*6* Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

*7* Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, 

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 

*8* Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 

bring an offering, and come into his courts! 

*9* Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness; 

tremble before him, all the earth! 

*10* Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! 

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; 

he will judge the peoples with equity.” 

*11* Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

*12* let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 

*13* before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. 

I love how this psalm just dives straight in. It shows us the exuberant outpouring of praise of this writer. Does it not inspire you to worship too? 

At this time of year as we consider God becoming man to save us and demonstrate love to us, does that stir up the same excitement, joy and gratitude in you? Us, who live thousands of years after this psalm was written, and thousands of years after the brith of Jesus - We truly DO know His salvation day by day! We have seen and read and heard about the brith of the Son of God, probably in many ways, so we know and experience first-hand God's salvation plan worked out! Isn't that exciting?! And isn't that worth praising God for? 

We can get so distracted by many other things as we approach Christmas and New Year, but don't forget to take time to also get caught up in the wonder, the awe, and beauty of what God achieved by sending his son, Jesus. 

This God who sent His son to us inspires worship. When we take time to consider who He really is, as the psalmist has done, we too can, and should overflow with praise. When we begin to see the marvellous character of God, how can we not glorify Him? In these few verses we are reminded of God’s; greatness, power, creativity, strength, beauty, awesomeness, glory, authority, majesty, power, judgement, holiness, righteousness, splendour, fairness, salvation and faithfulness. 

Surely that is worth singing about as the psalmist suggests?!

The whole Earth has reason to glorify God - Every single part of it! Our duty is to give it. Not to keep the joy inside as a private, personal matter, but to share the stories and the greatness of God with others. We are called to give, sing, declare, tell and worship. God’s magnificence should be expressed joyfully in our lives. We have much to appreciate, and this Christmas seems like is a good time to show and share it.

So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas as you celebrate who God is. Let us all remember to, 'Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name', for then it will truly be a Merry Christmas for us all. 

‘For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; ‘

Days of Remembrance

Do you have special days of remembrance?

The Jews, in Esther, created a new day of remembrance. They decide to set aside the day, every year, to recall the wondrous deliverance that God had brought about for them. A day to celebrate, give gifts and remember the poor. A day to remember that they had been delivered from death and given a new opportunity for life.

The Jews deliberately made an effort from this time forth to celebrate their deliverance from annihilation. Mordecai and Esther even established this holiday through a written letter of encouragement to all the Jews officially dedicating this day as one of celebration known as Purim. This day is an annual recollection, it is still a celebrated feast today. The nation has upheld it’s identity and continues to mark the day of deliverance.
This isn’t the Jews only day of remembrance either, they also have Passover, Hannukah and Yom Kippur to name a few, they have other important times of celebration too. The Jews are very good at celebrating. They are good at remembering, setting aside time to recall major triumphs in faith. They purposefully put dates in their diary to recall the times they have seen God at work in their lives. Do you?

Do you set aside any time in your year when you celebrate what God has done in your life? An annual commemoration? No wonder the Jews are fervent in their faith when they make time to rejoice in the breakthroughs of times past and can relate this to their own lives. They take time out of their busy lives to celebrate, not just what God has done for them personally, but they look wider and further to see what God has always been up to. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. By looking back and commemorating what God has done before brings confidence in what God is doing now and will do in the future.

Do you celebrate? Do you have significant highlights in your life, your town, your church, your nation that you should be commemorating?
How can you set aside time to recollect God’s hand in your life and the life of the church?

As a family, we have a couple of specific days that we celebrate. We set aside time to recall the days when our children became part of our family. We always make a point of doing something different and make sure we; share memories, reflect on how things have changed, discuss the highlights, the adventures, funny things that have happened and even how we ourselves have changed. I love hearing our kids stories and their memories. They are so precious. It helps me know our children better, what they value. It is an important opportunity for us all to talk to each other and acknowledge what we have and how far we have come. It does something to build relationship, and it puts extra joy in our hearts, it raises our hopes and expectations and helps us to see the work God has been doing. As a parent, it does my heart good to all get together and celebrate, as a child don’t you think it raises their hopes? Think about how God feels when we set aside to celebrate Him. As an imperfect parent I value the memories of my children, the strengths and aspirations they share, how much more so would God value the time we choose to spend commemorating Him and all the work He has been up to? Then imagine the faith it will build in yourself.

I think the Jewish customs of celebration, of marking key events in their history is important. It causes them to remember, to realign their vision, to reassess their values and regard the greatness of God, not just in theory, but in reality. How would your faith, your life change if you too set important dates of remembrance in your calendar?

 We all have stories, we all have adventures of faith, we all have breakthroughs. How can you commemorate the successes of your life?

Change of circumstances

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. *2*He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. *3*And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Esther 4:1–3.

15*Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. *16*The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honour. *17*And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Esther 8:15–17.

Grief, lament, bitter cries, mourning, fasting, weeping, sackcloth and ashes transformed into; royal robes, golden crown, shouting, rejoicing, lightness, gladness, joy, honour, feasting, a holiday.

How does that happen?

In the matter of a few months, the lives of the Jewish people was radically transformed. They were awarded life when the previous sentence over them had been death. How did such a complete change of circumstances occur?

Well, let's consider the people concerned - the Jews. Despite the edict of death being pronounced over them, they continued to faithfully live their lives even though stricken by grief. They lived with the perpetual fear of annihilation, yet they lived nobly. They maintained their faith and their culture and they leaned on their God. Eventhough death had been pronounced over the whole people group, they continued to live responsibly and faithfully. They knew their fate was sealed, a kings edict - unrevokable. They knew the future looked like a complete wiping out of their nation. So, what was their response? They lived righteously and they fasted and prayed. They knew they had little power or influence to change the circumstances, so they did the little they could, and they handed their fate and faith over to their God. They poured out their hearts, they appealed to God for rescue, then they got on with life - what else could they do?

Even with a death sentence over their heads, the Jews; went to work, played with their kids, tidied their homes - normal everyday stuff. They got on with living eventhough their hearts were full of grief. They kept going. They did not know how this was going to all work out, they were probably were more certain of their death than deliverance, yet they continued their lives of obedience. They sought God and they carried on.

Do you do the same when you encounter a change of circumstance? when you are faced with paining suffering?

Even when your life is threatened, your situation hopeless, do you hold on to your faith? Do you realise that if all else is against you, there is One who isn’t?  Do you, as the Jews did turn to God, pray, weep and fast?

What is your first response in tragedy?

This year, I want to take a leaf out of the Jews book. Their immediate response to devastating news was to pray and fast. They dint tell all their friends about it, they didn't hide, they faced the situation with the only one who cold have any influence. They had to live in the uncertainty, in the tragedy for a while, but God delivered in a mighty way - look at the celebration, how their mourning was turned into dancing. Times of fasting turned to feasting, mourning turned into shouts of joy. The Jews did not hide from their chase in circumstances, they took into account their emotions, they got on with life and they fell on God, and God provided a greater day of celebration than if the change of circumstances had never occurred. God gave life where there was death pronounced. The Jews had to live through it first though, they demonstrated faith and obedience and trust in God. Do you do the same when your circumstances change?

Count your blessings

Haman recounted to them the splendour of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honoured him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 
Esther 5:11–13.

Oh Haman!

Haman has just had the unrivalled honour of dining with the king and queen of the known world, and he still gets grumpy!
Do you know anyone like that? Someone who has it all, but is still discontented?

Haman has mounds of riches, honour, prestige, a growing family, a job he loves, lots to boast about, yet he can still find something to moan about! Why is he dissatisfied? It seems everything is going his way - he has prestige, power and possessions, he has most things that people would dream of, yet he focuses on the one little thing that outweighs his contentment. Then that one little niggle is so magnified in his view that it destroys his enjoyment of what is pleasing. It tarnishes his perception of his perfect life.
The little niggle that blemishes Haman’s life is the lowly man that is Mordecai. Of all the aspects of life Haman could be consumed by; power, wealth, prestige, gaiety, responsibility, Haman instead focuses on the one thing that bothers him so he fails to fully enjoy or appreciate the great things of life, why? because of a man. Because of Mordecai. It doesn't really make sense does it? Why would a powerful and influential man be upstaged, angered and jealous of the seemingly poor, unimportant, Mordecai

What is it about Mordecai that bothers Haman so much? Mordecai, materially has so very little, he has little family, little power, renknown or responsibility so what is it about Mordecai that Haman hates so much?

Could it be that every time Haman comes across Mordecai, Haman realises that actually his life isn’t fulfilling, that in fact he recognises that there is something missing? Could it be that Mordecai in his seemingly uninfluenttial, insignificant position shows greater joy and contentment in his life than Haman with all his wealth, power and possessions can attain?

I think that might be it. That for Haman, Mordecai is a constant reminder that his life isn’t as perfect and fulfilling as it would appear. That all of his achievements, prowess and power, actually doesn’t increase happiness. Haman is unfulfilled, empty. Yet he sees Mordecai, who is content with the little he has and with who he is. So, whenever Haman encounters him, he sees something lacking within himself. Haman has to acknowledge the lack of contentment everytime he sees his face. Mordecai is a constant reminder of the unattainable joy and peace. Haman has moments of joy, but not the long-lasting, unshakeable type that Mordecai has.

The one thing Mordecai has is greater than the many things Haman owns, and Haman knows it.

No matter how much Haman tries, whatever promotion he gains, honour he receives, he cannot reach the internal satisfaction that Mordecai has. Haman works and works yet still it is not enough to satisfy. He is invited to feasts, triumphant in wars, yet despite the accolade, pomp and ceremony, he knows something is missing. Then, Haman happens upon righteous Mordecai, sitting contentedly at the gate and he is tormented. Seeing this man of little accord satisfied with what he has, with the work he does, even with his limited status breeds contempt. It is a lot easier to despise the one who reminds you of what you're missing rather than consider your own responsibility for inner contentment.

Mordecai is a constant reminder that Haman will never be or have enough. Mordecai has the one thing that matters and whenever he comes across him, Haman sees his inner self more clearly and he doesn’t like it. Mordecai mirrors what he’s missing - inner confidence and satisfaction.
This seems so unachievable for Haman that the feeling of resentment, anger and revenge grows the more he sees Mordecai. As he faces this contented man, he is forced to acknowledge to himself that all of the pomp and ceremony does not actually provide the internal satisfaction that he craves. The pile of possessions, the life and love of family, the responsibility of position matters nothing and never will if you don't first attain satisfaction within. Without that, life will always be lacking, as Haman found, and there will always be something that's a problem which outweighs the great things of life.

Haman, as we have read, is consumed with Mordecai being the problem. He projects his discontent onto him when, in fact, the problem lies within himself. It is far easier to blame our condition, situation and disappointments upon others. Others may well of had an influence in our circumstances, but we are actually responsible for the condition and response of our heart. No-one else can change that. Haman allowed himself to become consumed with anger and resentment because Mordecai represented all that he lacked. Whereas, if Haman had considered his own heart and what he was missing, using Mordecai as a role model, then there could of been contentment for him too.

Considering all this raises a few questions for our own lives;
Do you focus on the problems and annoyances rather than the achievements, success and positive things all around you?
Are you concerned with how much others have compared to you?
Are you one who displays peace and contentment in all circumstances?
Have you ever thought that others may be looking at you and seeing the peace and contentment you enjoy and they are jealous for it?

What does your life display? Do you live in lack or acknowledge your wealth?

Do not underestimate the great value you have and..
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.’