Psalms 62:1-12 & 63:1-11

Psalms is a book written for the songs of David, King of the Israel. This book not only tells us the heart of David, who was said to be a heart after God's heart, but it also tells us here and today that God is closer than we first thought. I've read these two chapters over and over, and each time I've gotten something different out of them. They are my personal cries, they are my personal prayers and my personal songs. For God is the strength we seek, God is the wisdom we need, and God is the refuge when the storms of life come crashing down upon us.
Sounds cliche, but it's true. For when David sang the songs, he trusted that God would save him from his enemies, that God would keep him from harm. Which God did. Because David TRUSTED him to do so. He didn't put God in a box, or make him seem out of reach - these two chapters bring it home to me, I hope they can bring it home to you too.

Lets start with chapter 62...

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Psalms 62

This song speaks to me in such a way that reminds me of my childhood. When I would wait patiently to hear a word from God. That innocent patience with unwavering trust. My soul would always feel refreshed and revived, once I cried out in humble honesty to the Lord. Why? Because God is the salvation of my soul. He refills it with life and living water when it is dying and parched.

People claim that "John 3:16" is the verse that you must remember, I agree - to an extent. Because, before John was born, David spoke of God's salvation, he spoke that God saves those whom trust in him. You see, in John's time, God had come to us in the flesh of Christ - but the knowledge that one must trust and believe in God, was already in the world!

Psalms 62 speaks to me each time, a little differently. Especially verse 8.

"Trust in him at all times, O people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Because I have such trouble with trusting people, this chapter reminds me that God is truly trustworthy, not just because he's our salvation, but because he's also my safe haven when I'm in trouble.

To those of you who live in dangerous parts of the world, a safe haven is important. Well, in times of hardship, struggles, turmoil in your own personal life, God is our safe haven. I would love to sit and say that I trust God all the time and whatnot, but even I am human and fall short of that small simple thing.

Psalms 62 is a great reminder that God is our saviour, refuge, and our everlasting companion and Judge.

Psalms 62:1-12

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering force? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his works.

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Psalms 63:1-11

Psalms 63 keeps in line with the previous chapter. However, this one speaks more of how my soul is satisfied constantly with the Lord's blessing and his merciful love. It's hard at times to think that I'm loved by the Lord of all Creation, but it's true. I'm loved without restraint. Even when I've done wrong, God still loves me, and this chapter reminds me that God is STEADFAST in that love that he gives.

No matter what, as long as I have faith in Him that I can come to him with EVERYTHING and he'll love me through it all. No matter what the issue may be! In God's undying love, he has steadfastly shown me that I am His and he is mine.

No matter what trials or struggles I face, God is my refuge. Not humans. not the world, but rather, God is the safe haven that shields me against the deadliest of the Enemies arrows. I know that, by reading this song of David, that God is close to me, that he's not so far away that he can't be personally involved in my life... I can see, just by reading and listening that God is clearly with me. Psalms 63 is the chapter that brought me back to God when I had fallen astray and had forgotten him in my wanderings.

This chapter showed me just how steadfast, God can be. He loved me when I fell away, he wept when I didn't come home, he helped me EVEN though I refused to acknowledge him, he gave mercy to me when I held no mercy on others, he forgave me when I couldn't forgive him, he gave me grace when I pushed him away... Through all of that, he never left, never turned his back, never walked away... never cursed me though in my heart I cursed myself. When sin held sway completely over me, he loved me through it and brought me closer to him.

All because of the song David sung to him, all those years ago. It became alive in my life, it became a guide in my walk to Christ, it helped me see clearer, listen closer, and understand better - that God is not distant, but close, very close. All I had to do was trust and believe and know that he was there and that he could help me...

But just because I found the starting line to my faith, doesn't mean the struggles to keep it were over with! Far from it! Today, I face greater challenges (because I again fell away from God) and yet, he's never left me. He's picking me up each day, giving me a ray of light and grace and telling me everyday that he still loves me. He revealed my misstep and I repented, I still find myself remembering that misstep and I still repent, but I do not regret anything. Because God has told me to hold on to my faith. To trust him, to thirst for him with my soul of souls. To continue to seek him, with each day I wake and sleep I remember him.

Psalm 63 is very close to my heart. Because in all the wanderings I've had, it reminds me over and over that God is love, and that he's steadfast in it.

Psalm 63:1-11

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

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These statements and opinions are solely my own. I do not pretend to understand or comprehend the bible in it's entirety; these opinions and stories are of my own personal take on the stated above portions of the Written Word.

Yes I wrote this disclaimer so that people would not assume. I do not wish to lead anyone astray because of a misunderstanding on either part. However, I do hope that my opinions and statements will help you in your journey to understanding for yourself what God has for you in each part of the Bible.Thank you and have a great day! 

James 1:2-18

Let me begin from the beginning...

The last few months I have been separated from the Fellowship of the Body of Christ. This is something that has happened before and has caused multiple issues for me. Simply because, I am weak in my faith and the Enemy knows just how to attack me. Alone as I am, without the fellowship and encouragement of my fellow Christians, I struggle each day to make it through. I have been seeking to do right, but finding myself lost in the trials and stumbling blocks of the world around me.
I've even tried to being bible studying on my own, but again, the desires of the flesh grab my attention more and more. Pulling me from the Word like a boat drawn on the rapids. So in order to hold myself accountable, I have decided to study the bible and do it diligently. I'm not a perfect person and don't claim to know ANYTHING about God's Word nor do I claim I can understand it all... This bible study is simply to put my thoughts in order, after reading the Word, and maybe it will help someone else who might be struggling and give them encouragement.

Being social creatures we crave social interaction, but the world has another way of simply isolating us: Technology. I hope that my views help you find your own and that God will also speak through me and help me understand the meaning of His Written Word.

Welcome...

To...

My Bible Study...

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Book/Chapter: James 1:2-18

Thoughts:

A while back, my old pastor spoke about James in the new testament. He said there were 3 kinds of people in the world:

1. People who are going into trials/tribulation

2. People who are going through trials/tribulation

3. People who are coming out of trials/tribulation

Lets focus on the first one...

1. INTO trials/tribulation:

I'm not sure I quite understood my pastor when he spoke of it, but I believe I do now... You see, when my pastor spoke of this I had just started coming OUT of trials... but little did I know that more were around the corner.

I've stated in my introduction that I've been away from the fellowship of other believers for quite some time, this is a perfect example of how the Enemy can bring trouble into our lives. But though that trouble comes to break us and smash us, I've found in James, the solution to overcoming the Enemies plans. Don't worry... it's nothing magical or mystical, it's really quite simply and yet the hardest thing to do in times of trouble... REJOICE!

James states that our trials are for a reason, to test our faith, to build our steadfastness in Christ, and to build ourselves up so we can stand against the Enemy with the Lord's confidence and to give us the courage to know that God loves us even when we fail.

I haven't fully understood this message much, but I have it in my spirit that it is ministering to me. Because I've come into a trial.. One that is breaking and smashing me around. I keep trying to hold my head up, to see the "silver lining" but I forget, I don't "feel" like thanking God for the hardships that I've got to go through because of my own choices. But recently, my spirit has been churning and burning inside me and I've recently discovered that it's God's gentle way of letting me know I need some time with Him. Desperately.

See, I'm entering a trial now. Will I fail? I don't know, but I hope not. Will I be steadfast? I can't say, only that I know that God will catch me should I stumble. Will I come out unscathed? Only if I trust God and praise Him for the testing of my faith!

Because you know what? The Enemy can't harm you, God wont let that happen. As long as we rejoice in our trials and know that He is God. That we live by Faith not just by works, but by believing that the impossible for us, is certainly possible with GOD!

Looking over James, has been a troublesome thing for me, because I hate admitting that I'm going through it, I'm never sure if I'm coming out of or going into... but I'm never through it seems, and James says to count it all JOY!

Lets look at the second one...

2. GOING THROUGH trials

Again, I can relate. My pastor is dead on to me. I can't seem to look past the fact that James - some 2,000 years ago - was dead on to me too! I needed to be reminded that God still loves me, even though I'm struggling in my faith...

As I said before, the Enemy knows exactly where to hit me. So with all his power, he attacks - simply because I'm a daughter of Christ. James tells us that we should boast in our trials, that those who are rich should boast of being made humble, and the poor to boast in Christ's mercy and love. James also tells me that God will give freely, whatever we ask - if asked in truth and faith. Without doubt! A doubting man, according to the book of James, is a double-minded man who can not believe due to the doubts he has. God can't work in my life because I doubt I'll actually get what I've asked for.

Am I double-minded? Do I doubt God? These questions relate to me because... yes, sometimes I doubt if God is really listening, I doubt I'll get anything I've asked for because I've reduced God to a small nothing instead of believing he's bigger and larger and can do anything!

James says to rejoice when we go through trials... I find it hard especially right now with so much going on, but in truth, if I rejoiced instead of complained, the Enemy will have to find another means to drag me down and thus putting him on the defensive! I believe that whole heartedly, that God can do anything - but sometimes my flesh likes to tell me otherwise.

Lets look at the third one...

3. COMING OUT OF trials

When I finally came out of one trial, I was so relieved I thought I was done... but it's a fool who thinks that outside his death bed! My trials continued to come... so again I fell away from God and the Enemy took over. But I still hold fast to my faith. I stumble more than walk, I fall more than stand, I fall behind more than run ahead... but I still hold faithfully to the truth that God is God! The Enemy attacks in other ways, whispering in the ear that will listen... and because I've been away from fellowship and christian friends I've listened several times and always it has lead me to sorrow and pain. When will I learn? James still tells us to have faith, to trust that God will provide. That we are created by His very hand! We, of the Faith, are the first fruits, His!

But another thing James tells me that I must always remember... God doesn't TEMPT us! God TESTS us, but only to make us stronger. Temptations come from our own fleshly desires which give birth to sin and sin to death. But James states that all GOOD gifts; life, salvation, livelihood, etc. Come from God the Father! So do not be thinking that God will tempt you he wont.

Anyway, as I explore the different aspects of my personal trials and tribulations, I see James speaking directly to me about what I should be doing, how I should do it, and how I can overcome those trials simply if I rejoice about them instead of complain...

James 1:2-18

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

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.