More convicting verses

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back." (Prov 29:11)

"Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him." (Prov 29:20)

"A man of wrath stirs up strife,
    and one given to anger causes much transgression." (Prov 29:22)

A three step test for godly speech

From John Piper : "Green light at the lips: 1) good for building up, 2) fits the occasion, 3) gives grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29"

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

If only I only let things out of my mouth that passed this test..

Here's a starting point: 

"Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
  I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Put not your trust in princes,
  in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
  on that very day his plans perish." (Ps 146)

Every time I let my tongue go crazy, I trust in man, in myself and my ability to persuade by nagging (for example). I can only keep my mouth shut and exercise self-control in my speech if I trust in the Lord. 

"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!" Fill my heart with praise for You, and leave no room for thoughts that do not honor you!

 

A watch over my mouth

"Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin" (Prov 13:3)

All these other verses come to mind..

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Psalm 141:3)

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm19:14)

"addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart" (Ephesians 5:19)

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

And, one of the most encouraging ones..

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26)

It will be pleasant..

"Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
  and apply your heart to my knowledge,
for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
  if all of them are ready on your lips.
That your trust may be in the Lord,
  I have made them known to you today, even to you.
Have I not written for you thirty sayings
  of counsel and knowledge,
to make you know what is right and true,
  that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?" (Prov 22)

I want to have a pleasant life. And I want for people to feel it's pleasant to be around me. What a wonderful prospect, if my words would be wise, that instead of nagging, I could say something encouraging. It's overwhelming to think of how much my heart needs to be changed for that to happen. I am so glad that all things are possible with the Lord. And, again, I am thankful for the awareness He gives me of these things. There is nothing worse than when I have a self-righteous attitude. 

I also love the promise that He can make these words known to be that I may be able to trust Him. 

Father, please make these wise words of yours known to be today, that I may fully trust in You and that my heart would overflow with wise words, and that I would be a pleasant and refreshing presence to those around me.

Wisdom brings gladness

"A wise son makes a glad father,
  but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother." (Prov 10:1)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10)

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil." (Prov 8:13)

Our son cannot even begin to have wisdom unless he knows and fears the Lord (since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.). I'm thinking of all the people in the world who are considered "wise", like some famous philosophers and such, but who don't know and fear the Lord. They are not truly wise. 

It also strikes me that true gladness for a parent is to see their child being wise. That, I think, means that they know and apply God's word. What can be more joyful?

Lord, please open the eyes, ears of our son that he may hear your call unto salvation. And please make him wise, so that he may honor You with his life and bring gladness to his parents.

Unanswered Prayer

I found this article very encouraging: http://www.challies.com/christian-living/unanswered-prayer, especially the paragraph:

"What Jesus would accomplish made little sense to [the disciples] when he described it in advance; what he was accomplishing made little sense while he endured it; what he had accomplished became clear only when they could look back on it. They just needed to wait. It all became clear in time." (emphasis mine)

Wisdom

"“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
  and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
  and perverted speech I hate.
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
  I have insight; I have strength.
By me kings reign,
  and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
  and nobles, all who govern justly.
I love those who love me,
  and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
  enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
  and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
  in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
  and filling their treasuries." (Proverbs 8)

Do I really believe that the fruit of wisdom is "better than gold, even fine gold". Gold must have been the most precious thing to people back then. What is my gold? Money? Comfort? Having control over my life? Do I consider having wisdom more valuable than having those things?

One area in my life where I, by God's grace, almost constantly recognize the need for wisdom, is in raising and making decisions for our son. I am so glad and thankful that the Lord has made me aware of that, and so encouraged by God's promise that if we ask for wisdom, He will give it to us (James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."). 

Loving His law

"Oh how I love your law!
  It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
  for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
  for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, 
  for I keep your precepts."(Psalm 119)

Oh Lord, incline my heart to love Your law and meditate on it day and night.. Help me see the truth of the words Jesus used when He was tempted: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God".

He is Risen

Love this song, I know it's not Easter, but it has such good truth that I need to have stuck in my head.. (Also I am obsessed with the (instrumental) intro to this song.. what is it about it?)

Building the temple

"Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished." (1 Chronicles 28)

This verse reminds me of Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

For Solomon, it was building the temple. He was so young and inexperienced, yet the Lord was with him and assisted him as he built it. For me, it's loving and caring for my family, joyfully respecting and enjoying my husband, loving and enjoying my son, even when he wants to be fed and held in the middle of the night. And finishing school, using my time well, and having the self-control to say no to looking at vain things on the internet or procrastination. 

If the Lord can help a young prince build a temple, He can certainly give me the grace and strength I need, not just to barely make it through the day, but to really honor Him with the attitude of my heart, to know that He is the King of the universe and the King of my life, and that He can be trusted to wisely rule over it. That He is the greatest treasure that my heart is longing for, "that all [my] longings have been granted in what He ordaineth".

It may seem just as supernatural as having an awesome temple built, but with God, all things are possible.

Self-control

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."(Prov 25:28)

I really don't have much to say about this verse other than that I feel convicted. I think self-control is something I see most lacking in my life and maybe it's the thing I most wish I had. And it's probably the thing I feel most often guilty about for not having. I too often give into whatever wordly desire I have, or let words come out of my mouth that are not helpful or encouraging, or act according to selfishness, and the list goes on.

The picture about the city that is broken into and unprotected makes so much sense. It seems that the more I give into my wordly desires, the harder it is to resist them, and the more don't restrain my tongue, the more unhelpful are the things that I say and the dumber they are.

Just this morning I said something to my husband that was so dumb I can hardly believe it happened. I know my heart is full of wickedness, but for some reason when something like that comes out, I am always surprised as if I should know/do better. 

I just confessed these things to the Lord and pray that He would build back strong city walls. And I am thankful that I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ, because otherwise I would have to run and hide in shame from God, and how could I ever lift my eyes to Him to pray and ask for forgiveness and grace? 

"Your blood has washed away my sin, Jesus thank you!
The father's wrath completely satisfied, Jesus thank you!
Once your enemy, now seated at your table
Jesus, thank you!"

Will the dust praise You?

"To you, O Lord, I cry,

  and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
“What profit is there in my death,  if I go down to the pit? 
Will the dust praise you?  Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!  O Lord, be my helper!”" (Psalm 30)

The happiest I have ever been has probably been in times when I have worshiped the Lord, when He has softened my heart and made me see Him and enjoy Him. I remember in the beginning days of my faith, listening and singing along "Worthy is the Lamb seated on His throne", with tears rolling down my face. Pure joy (what a paradox). I had learned to expect that every week at church, because every week my heart would melt, and the Lord would give me repentance and faith. And pure joy in His presence. But then something changed, I lost my first love. And then, every once in a while a moment like that would happen again, usually during communion at church. I cherish those moments like nothing else. That pure joy fills my heart and it's all satisfying. 

Life got crazier and it's become harder and harder to focus enough on the truths of the Bible to have such a strong impact on me. Sometimes I am so tired that I think I am not physically able to concentrate and think about those things in a focused enough way for them to have that impact. So I have gotten in the habit of praying for rest so that I would be able to praise Him. I pray for strength so that I would be able to honor Him with my life. I am amazed and thankful that He has shaped my thinking in such a way that I would be lead to pray that.

"Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?"

A new song

"Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
  for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
  have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
  he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
  to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
  the salvation of our God." (Psalm 98)


Although I like to sing, I rarely think about singing to the Lord when I am thankful for what He has done. I sometimes remember to thank Him, but I rarely think about singing to the Lord other than in church.

I once hear somebody say that "a new song" in not necessarily literally a new song, but a song sung out of a new experience of God's goodness and greatness. Which I think can happen every day.

Today, I really praise God for the improvement in my baby's night sleep, and for how wonderfully He has made him, his physical appearance, and his personality, and how He has watched over him and over us ever since the baby was conceived. He really is fearfully and wonderfully made, and seeing him has given me a new appreciation for God's creative power and design. I am also thankful for how He has grown and matured my marriage, and that He keeps working in us, to change and mold us so that our marriage would mirror His relationship with the church. 

Therefore, I will sing this "new" song today..

"I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise
 That spread the lofty seas abroad, and built the lofty skies
 I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
 The moon shines full at God's command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there"

Deliverance

And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said,

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
  my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
  my stronghold and my refuge,
  my savior; you save me from violence.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
  and I am saved from my enemies." (2 Samuel 22)

I'm struck by how well this passage connects to my reading from yesterday. It seems to me that you can truly appreciate the deliverance the Lord provides only if you have waited on Him, and trusted His timing and His provision for strength and endurance. How powerful are these words to somebody who has truly known what it means to be long suffering. And what a blessing to be able to credit God with this deliverance, instead of thinking it came from something you did or deserved.

I want to feel this way, and remember this sweet reward at the end of a time of trial, when I'm in the midst of suffering.

Providentially, last night the baby slept much better and I feel more rested and refreshed. And hopeful. This morning I was able to enjoy him, and be thankful for him.

But I really can't get over the amazing power behind being able to wait on the Lord. And how much it can strengthen our faith. As David puts it later in the chapter..

"“For who is God, but the Lord?
  And who is a rock, except our God?
This God is my strong refuge
  and has made my way blameless.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
  and set me secure on the heights."

Waiting for the Lord

From today's Bible reading:

"But for you, O Lord, do I wait;

  it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer" (Psalm 38)

I was struck by how distraught David is in this Psalm.. Even though I am going through a hard time according to my assessment, it really doesn't even come close to that. But I have been desiring that when the moment comes at night when I am so tired that I can't move, when I feel so nauseous and am afraid to fully wake up because I know I will feel unwell, that I would be content, knowing God has ordained my circumstances with perfect wisdom. 

Even David, in his difficult circumstances can say "for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer." It seems that a big part of trusting in God is waiting for Him. I do want to wait for His perfect timing for the baby to sleep better at night. And for my relationships to be where I would like them to be. And for things to change in my life which I think are important and I have wanted for a long time to change. I can trust Him, I can wait for Him, for He will answer.
O Lord, make me a soft, moldable clay in Your loving, gentle, wise, almighty hands, so I can have the gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of the Lord.