David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.
David is fleeing his city from his son and his men. A man along the way throws rocks at David and his men and yells curses at him. His men want to kill the man, but David has a deep insight into the ways of the Lord God. He understands that the Lord's ways are not our ways. David generally does not do things unless he feels directed by the Lord. He understands that within God's plans and purposes, one day he may be King, the next a pauper. He is merely God's tool. He will not fight for his position unless it is God's will.
Lord, thank you for guiding us and having a plan for us. Please help us to be sensitive to your will and understand what you are guiding us to do. Amen.
Showing posts with label God's purposes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's purposes. Show all posts
Friday, October 13, 2017
Friday, November 18, 2016
Psalm 90:17 - Purpose
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
We all want to know why we are here. What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? I have chased a lot of different kinds of "work" and have never felt like I have known what I was meant to be doing. So today, I pray this prayer, "establish the work of my hands." In the mean time, I will just keep doing what is in front of me as if I am doing it for the Lord.
Lord, thank you for loving each of us. Please establish the work of my hands, I want to do your will and what you intend for me to be doing. Amen.
It also occurred to me this verse might be meaningful for those looking for a job.
Lord, thank you for giving us strong bodies and willing hands. Please bless those looking for a work with a job they will enjoy and which pays well. Amen.
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
We all want to know why we are here. What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? I have chased a lot of different kinds of "work" and have never felt like I have known what I was meant to be doing. So today, I pray this prayer, "establish the work of my hands." In the mean time, I will just keep doing what is in front of me as if I am doing it for the Lord.
Lord, thank you for loving each of us. Please establish the work of my hands, I want to do your will and what you intend for me to be doing. Amen.
It also occurred to me this verse might be meaningful for those looking for a job.
Lord, thank you for giving us strong bodies and willing hands. Please bless those looking for a work with a job they will enjoy and which pays well. Amen.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Psalm 83:18 - The purpose of overcoming enemies
Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
In Psalm 83, David is asking God to defeat his enemies, but I like the last verse the best. If all we do is for the glory of God, then even the defeat of our enemies takes on new meaning. It's not about us and what we want, it's about God, bringing him glory and making his name known.
Lord, thank you for coming to us in our times of need. Please help us to do all things to your glory. Amen,
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
In Psalm 83, David is asking God to defeat his enemies, but I like the last verse the best. If all we do is for the glory of God, then even the defeat of our enemies takes on new meaning. It's not about us and what we want, it's about God, bringing him glory and making his name known.
Lord, thank you for coming to us in our times of need. Please help us to do all things to your glory. Amen,
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Psalm 44:3 -Win or loose, it's in God's hands
It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.
In this verse, David is talking about the success of his ancestors. The majority of Psalm 44 is about how their armies are losing. If we succeed or if we fail is in the hands of the Lord. God's purposes do not always include our success. And just because we fail, doesn't mean we are doing anything wrong or against the Lord. It may feel like God has abandoned us, but he is always there. We can ask God where he is or to wake up and listen to us, David did. He knows what is going on and he continues to love us. Our job isn't to win, it is to put our trust and hope in God.
Lord, thank you for your guidance over our lives. Please help us to put our trust and hope in you, regardless of our successes or failures. Amen.
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.
In this verse, David is talking about the success of his ancestors. The majority of Psalm 44 is about how their armies are losing. If we succeed or if we fail is in the hands of the Lord. God's purposes do not always include our success. And just because we fail, doesn't mean we are doing anything wrong or against the Lord. It may feel like God has abandoned us, but he is always there. We can ask God where he is or to wake up and listen to us, David did. He knows what is going on and he continues to love us. Our job isn't to win, it is to put our trust and hope in God.
Lord, thank you for your guidance over our lives. Please help us to put our trust and hope in you, regardless of our successes or failures. Amen.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Romans 11:33 - God's path
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
God is omnipotent. He sees the big picture, so much more than we could ever see. It is so easy to get caught up in this life and our situation, but our desires are not always part of the Lord's plan, We have to trust God in all things, at all times.
Lord, thank you for being in control. Please help us to accept the path you place us on. Amen.
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
God is omnipotent. He sees the big picture, so much more than we could ever see. It is so easy to get caught up in this life and our situation, but our desires are not always part of the Lord's plan, We have to trust God in all things, at all times.
Lord, thank you for being in control. Please help us to accept the path you place us on. Amen.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Romans 7:24-25b - The purpose of the law
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:7-25 is a passage I have kind of been putting off. It is so confusing to me, but I think the ultimate meaning is in the passage above. We are sinful people and we don't need to blame the law for this. The law revealed sin, not caused it. But, any time we are told not to do something, we want to do it. The law was essential because it made us aware of our sin, death and separation from God. We should be thankful for the law for revealing this to us so we can then connect with God and the only way to do that is through Jesus Christ.
Lord, thank you for your perfect plan, even if it is something we do not always understand. Please help everyone to recognize themselves as sinful and give themselves to your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Romans 7:7-25 is a passage I have kind of been putting off. It is so confusing to me, but I think the ultimate meaning is in the passage above. We are sinful people and we don't need to blame the law for this. The law revealed sin, not caused it. But, any time we are told not to do something, we want to do it. The law was essential because it made us aware of our sin, death and separation from God. We should be thankful for the law for revealing this to us so we can then connect with God and the only way to do that is through Jesus Christ.
Lord, thank you for your perfect plan, even if it is something we do not always understand. Please help everyone to recognize themselves as sinful and give themselves to your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Genesis 50:20 - Transitions
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
God is bigger than us. He can use anything, even mistakes and sin to his purpose. I don't suppose it was God's plan for Joseph to be sold into slavery, but he was able to use this to propel Joseph to Egypt and eventually to Pharaoh. In a Bible class I attend, we have talked about Joseph and his life transitions. How would we have reacted? I expect most of us would have dealt with these transitions kicking an screaming, at the very least we would have assumed God had left us. Transitions are a part of our lives. In the end, we may be able to see the path God intended. Until we are given this clarity, our job is just to trust God and continue to be obedient to him.
Lord, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for using us to your purpose. Please help us to trust you and remain obedient no matter what. Amen.
PS - This verse is similar to one I have already blogged about Genesis 45:5 - Righting a wrong.
God is bigger than us. He can use anything, even mistakes and sin to his purpose. I don't suppose it was God's plan for Joseph to be sold into slavery, but he was able to use this to propel Joseph to Egypt and eventually to Pharaoh. In a Bible class I attend, we have talked about Joseph and his life transitions. How would we have reacted? I expect most of us would have dealt with these transitions kicking an screaming, at the very least we would have assumed God had left us. Transitions are a part of our lives. In the end, we may be able to see the path God intended. Until we are given this clarity, our job is just to trust God and continue to be obedient to him.
Lord, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for using us to your purpose. Please help us to trust you and remain obedient no matter what. Amen.
PS - This verse is similar to one I have already blogged about Genesis 45:5 - Righting a wrong.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Genesis 45:5 - Righting a wrong
And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
Joseph completely had the right to be angry and tell his brothers how horrid they had been, but he doesn't. Not only does he forgive his brothers, he comforts them and tells them how God was using them to his purposes. How do we react when someone had wronged us? What an opportunity Joseph had to shame his brothers! It is easy to take delight in this kind of circumstance.
Lord, thank you for being there to comfort us when we have been wronged. Please help us to react correctly and see your hand in every situation. Amen.
Joseph completely had the right to be angry and tell his brothers how horrid they had been, but he doesn't. Not only does he forgive his brothers, he comforts them and tells them how God was using them to his purposes. How do we react when someone had wronged us? What an opportunity Joseph had to shame his brothers! It is easy to take delight in this kind of circumstance.
Lord, thank you for being there to comfort us when we have been wronged. Please help us to react correctly and see your hand in every situation. Amen.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Genesis 19:31-32
One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”
Lot's daughters thought they knew what was best and proceeded by whatever means necessary to get it. A few years ago I was taught this strategy when making a decision, PMS.
P-Purpose-What do you want?
M-Motivation-Why do you want it?
S-Strategy-How are you going to get it?
Lord, I pray that my ways will be your ways, my thoughts your thought, my path will be your path. Amen.
Lot's daughters thought they knew what was best and proceeded by whatever means necessary to get it. A few years ago I was taught this strategy when making a decision, PMS.
P-Purpose-What do you want?
M-Motivation-Why do you want it?
S-Strategy-How are you going to get it?
Lord, I pray that my ways will be your ways, my thoughts your thought, my path will be your path. Amen.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Genesis 12:20
Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
Abram had acquired a great deal of wealth while he was in Egypt thanks to his deception and his beautiful wife. The fact that he leaves Egypt with all that wealth makes me think God used Abrams folly to provide him with wealth which he would need to build a nation.
Lord, I know that all things work together for good for those that love you. Please use the good and bad in my life to bring about your purposes. Amen.
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