Who's Voice

I can be in a whole crowd of people and the sea of voices will be a din around me when suddenly my ears focus on one familiar voice calling out, "Mom!" or "Cindy!" The din continues, yet I have heard the voice of one that has importance to me, one that my attention is drawn to. All the rest remain unimportant as I tune in.
This is what I think Jesus is refering to when He says, "My sheep listen to my voice..." and "they do not recognize a stranger's voice." The evil one and the world around us make up a sea of voices beckoning us this way and that, to this idea and that, to this love and that, to this pursuit and that, etc. Yet, as sheep of The Good Shepherd, we are to hear only one voice. The voice of our Shepherd who calls us and gives us eternal life (Jn. 10:28).
Who's voice is catching my attention?

Walking Down Abraham's Road

• Face the facts.
• Do not waver in doubt regarding God's promise.
• Be strengthed in your faith.
• Give glory to God.
• Be fully persuaded that God is able to do all He has promised.
• Result: God sees us as righteous.

Who? Those of us who believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead. He was raised for our justification! That's me. Can I walk this road? I am fully persuaded that God is able to do all that He has promised. I will walk this road.

" I see grace grows best in winter." - Samuel Rutherford

I find this so true in my walk with Jesus. I pray so much more diligently during the hard, dark days of my life. Yet when the light of spring and warmth of summer days arrive, when the trials fade into distant memories, I so often loose my driven pursuit of a close relationship with my Lord.

After King David's reign, under the reign of King Solomon, his son, God graciously granted the land of Israel peace and quiet on every side. David orders the leader's of Israel to help his son Solomon in the building of the Temple for the LORD with these words, "Is not the LORD you God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side?...Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD you God..." (1 Chronicles 22: 18,19)

Oh that I might consistently devote my heart and soul to seeking the LORD my God during the times of peace and quite just as I do during the times of trial. God give me that determination.

Steadfast

Steadfast: not changing or moving; firm in purpose; true.

Psalm 112 says that the man is blessed whose heart is steadfast.

Psalm 57 and 108 say that the steadfast heart will sing and make music.

When the storms of life are rocking my boat, often times it feels like they're "tossing" my boat to and fro, my heart is easily rocked or tossed right along with it. There has been a lot of that lately. I am challenged to keep my heart steadfast. I am anchored to the solid rock. "My God is my rock." Psalm 18:2.

Can I sing and make music to my God, my redeemer and friend? Yes, even in pain and troublesome unknowns, when my heart is steadfastly trusting, waiting and hoping, I can make exalt the Lord, sing and make melody from the depths of my soul.

Strike up the band!

Relentless Love, Relented Anger

I found three amazing progressive Psalms this week. Psalm 104 talks about God and creation. Psalm 105 talks about God and Israel formed. Psalm 106 talks about God and Israel's rebellion.
It near the end of this last Psalm where I find encouragement in God's merciful dealings with us, His people.

"Many times he delivered them, but the were bent on rebellion

and they wasted away in their sin.

But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;

for their sake he remembered his covenant

and out of his relentless love he relented his anger."

Oh that we would treasure this relentless love of his, live with thankfullness in this unmerited favor and overflow such character to others whether we feel that it is deserved or not. For that is only when love it truly relentless.

A Scary Place

In reading Psalm 95 this morning my heart was chilled by the time I got to the last verse...
I felt comfortable when I read, "we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
Then the stakes rise a little..."Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..."
This is followed by a quick review of how the children of Israel ignored God and did harden their hearts.
By the last verse God declares, "They shall never enter my rest!" What a scary place to be.
Oh Lord, have mercy on me. Don't let me ignore your voice...as a people of your pasture, I will listen, I will obey. Keep my heart soft so that I will enter your rest.

A Moment of Doubt

Sometimes the road is rough. In Psalm 94 David calls them days of trouble. In a moment of doubt, this morning, I wondered if my prayers weren't getting beyond the ceiling. Then I read:

"Does He who implanted the ear not hear?
Does He who formed the eye not see?"

Cut to the heart of doubt!

I will "tell of His love in the morning and His faithfulness at night." Psalm 92:2