on August 10, 2011
Psalm 119:41-48 – May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.
What power and influence may be found in the unfailing love of God? What strength may we obtain from the truths in His Word? The Psalmist testifies that his WILL to action is fortified by the presence of these elements. His WON’T is overruled! Any tendency he may have for self-pity or making excuses is overcome. When God’s unfailing love and promised salvation are truly experienced, we too may have courage to answer those who challenge our faith. Those who “taunt” do so with the intent to squelch and destroy our freedom to publicly live out our faith in God. But God has made known to us that His love never fails, that His Word may be trusted and that He will never take either one of those precious gifts from us. The result for this man of God is that his WILL is bolstered: “I WILL answer the one who taunts me…”; “I WILL always obey your law…”; I WILL walk about in freedom…”; “I WILL speak of your statutes…”; “I WILL not be put to shame.” In a culture that seems to increasingly find fault with public expressions of Christian faith, we could use a good dose of this same inspiration that bolstered the Psalm writer – a fresh visitation of God’s unfailing love and salvation, and a faith that trusts in His Word (so that we really believe that what we believe is really real), and courage that lives what we believe!
Where did he discover this power and influence that could so impact his will to be bold about his faith? He obtained it as a direct result of taking delight in God’s commands and by loving the purity and righteousness that they represent (the very thing the world despises). Can I get a witness to the awesome greatness of God’s commands? The Psalmist would be the first one with both hands waving in the air saying, “Oh yeah! I love them!” Think about it! The Apostle Paul shared this same delighted love for God’s truth when he declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel…” This is freedom to walk through life demonstrating that we really believe that what we believe is really real! Charles Spurgeon defined this freedom as: “Liberty, which next to life is dearest to all brave men.” And, he promotes being at liberty, “as one who is out of prison, unimpeded by adversaries, unencumbered by burdens, unshackled, allowed a wide range, and roaming without fear. Such liberty would be dangerous if a man were seeking himself or his own lusts; but when the one object sought after is the will of God, there can be no need to restrain the searcher.” May your WILL for God be bolstered and set at liberty today!
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Give thanks for the gift of God’s unfailing love.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Brandon & Sandra Burtner (Eiljah), Jacquie Compagnoni, Greg Conibear.
Saturday:
- Ask God to strengthen your WILL to freely live out and express what you really believe to be true.
Sunday:
- Pray for such an awareness of and confidence in the love and salvation of God that nothing can prohibit your free expression of faith and love for His truth.
- Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.
Monday:
- Pray for fresh revelation and insight into God’s Word. Think about it!
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Ask God to give you wise and effective answers to those who challenge your faith.
Wednesday:
- Pray for awareness of opportunities to freely and effectively express the truths of God’s Word.
Prayer Challenge: Pray that God will grant every believer: a passionate devotion to His Word, a humble recognition that we have much room for growth and improvement, His corrective discipline – that may be painful but produces good fruit, a steadfast courage and strength to endure the arrogance, hostility, ridicule and slander of those who disregard the beauty and authority of God’s Word.