Word for the day "Advent and the Psalms"
Psalm 3:3-4 (MSG) But you, GOD, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to GOD, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.
The reading of the Psalms in this Advent season will be amazing for your life.
It’s impossible to adequately summarize the richness and breadth contained in the book of Psalms. It was Israel’s hymnbook, containing songs of praise to God.It also contains the cries of God’s people in difficult situations. And it was a prayer book for Israel.The psalmists looked to God in moments of private despair, in times of national suffering, and in joyous mountain-top moments.The Psalms are for us right now, today. They are loaded with honest emotion. Through them, you can learn to pour out your anguish and your adoration, your suffering and confession, your hopes and your fears.Through them, you feel safe asking God why he has or hasn’t acted in a certain way. Through others, you might express your pain, heartache, and discouragement.Through others, you may praise God as he frees you from oppression and sin. Each psalm is an expression of the heart.None of them are neat little packages of answers tied up with happy endings always. They are living words, a collection of spiritual diaries from people who honestly sought God’s help and His heart.
The human need for the reading and learning the Psalms is essential to our lives.
I’ve always found it refreshing to set aside time for prayer and the study of the Bible each day.At the same time, I always felt a sense of guilt, a gaping hole, in my prayer life. It’s easy to pick up the Bible to read, but it’s not always easy to know what to say to God.Growing up Pentecostal, I had been taught that prayer needed to be from the heart. In fact, I still believe this is true today for all of us.But what that meant to some of the teachers in my life was that prayer should be disciplined and embraced with my whole heart.But I knew I had to find a way to cultivate more depth to my prayers, and this could only happen as a result of living my life with a praying spirit.I didn’t want just any prayers, but ones soaked in Scripture and ones that stood the test of time.Living my life and the experiences I would have each day, each month, each year, and bathed them in prayers to the Lord.
Point to ponder/Advent season
Do you need spiritual direction or encouragement? The Psalms can function as deterrents to keep you out of trouble, guides to help you through problems, reminders of the one who delivers you, or as reminders of hope to encourage you in perplexing or painful situations. Read the Psalms and be ushered into the very presence of your loving and merciful God. You will be glad you did, have a great day!
Special Thanks!
Our Leadership team is especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of December 2018 by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Cynthia George, Ms. Rita Mcguffin, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Mrs. Cynthia Waiters-Artis, Mr. William Jones and Ms. Gertrude Scott.Thank you for using the Word Cup devotionals brought to you through Grace and Truth Leadership. Why don’t you take the opportunity to write to us on our blog and let us know how we are doing in serving you, Great people.We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry. If you have been touched by these daily devotionals and would like to make a monthly pledge or a special gift of any amount, please use the link below to give as the Lord leads.Follow me on Twitter @James Baker_jr as I endeavor to encourage and empower leaders of today and tomorrow!Kingdom Blessings,Pastor James Baker, Jr.