Praise Him (Psalm 9:1-2)

Psalm 9:1-2

New Living Translation (NLT)



 

¹ I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
² I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.



Praise is expressing to God our appreciation and understanding of His worth. It is saying "thank you" for each aspect of His divine nature. Our inward attitude becomes outward expression. When we praise God, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who He is.




Joe











 

God knows your thoughts. (Psalm 7:9)

Psalm 7:9

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)


 

⁹ God, you always do what is right.
    You look deep down inside the hearts and minds of people.
Bring to an end the terrible things sinful people do.
    Make godly people safe.





God searches minds and hearts . Nothing is hidden from God - this can be either terrifying or comforting. Our thoughts are an open book to Him. Because he knows even our motives, we have no place to hide, no way to pretend we can get away with sin. But that very knowledge also gives us great comfort. We don't have to impress God or put up a false front. Instead, we can trust God to help us work through our weaknesses in order to serve Him as He has planned. When we truly follow God, He rewards our effort.




Joe






















 

Talk to God each morning. (Psalm 5:1-3)

Psalm 5:1-3

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

¹ O Lord, hear me as I pray;
    pay attention to my groaning.
² Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
    for I pray to no one but you.
³ Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
    Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

 

 

 

 

The secret of a close relationship with God is to pray to Him earnestly each morning. In the morning, our minds are more free from problems and then we can commit the whole day to God. Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. We need to communicate with Him daily. Do you have a regular time to pray and read God's Word?

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meditate on God's Word. (Psalm 1:2)

Psalm 1:2

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

 

 

 

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on His Word. Meditating means spending time reading - and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself, how you should change so you're living as God wants. Knowing and meditating on God's Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what He says.

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do your friends help or hinder your faith? (Psalm 1:1)

Psalm 1:1

 

 

¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.

 

 

 

The writer begins his psalm extoling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule Him. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God's will. This attitude is the same as mocking. Do your friends build up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friends should help, not hinder, you to draw closer to God.

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be ready to hear God. (Job 37:2)

Job 37:2

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

² Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
    as it rolls from his mouth.

 

 

 

Nothing can compare to God. His power and presence are awesome, and when He speaks, we must listen. Too often we presume to speak for God, to put words in His mouth, to take Him for granted, or to interpret His silence to mean that He is absent or unconcerned. But God cares. He is in control, and He will speak. Be ready to hear His message - in the Bible, in your life through the Holy Spirit, and through circumstances and relationships.

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you hide your sins? (Job 31:33-34)

Job 31:33-34

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

³³ if I have concealed my sin as people do,
    by hiding my guilt in my heart
³⁴ because I so feared the crowd
    and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
    that I kept silent and would not go outside—

 

 

 

Job declared that he did not try to hide his sin as men often do. The fear that our sins will be discovered leads us to patterns of deception. We cover up with lies so that we will appear good to others. But we cannot hide from God. Do you try to keep people from seeing the real you? When you acknowledge your sins, you free yourself to receive forgiveness and a new life.

 

 

 

 

Joe