If we value Him, we value 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. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:97-104 (ESV)
 
How would I honestly fill in the blank of the phrase: "Oh, how I love ________?" Would I honestly blurt out "Oh, how I love your law?" What would it take for me to have that on my mind when I think of something pleasant? I could see myself blurting out, "Oh, how I love pizza, comfort, or money," but "your law?"
 
We have a relationship with God and His law allows that relationship to flourish. If we value Him, we value His law.

God brings stability to life.

 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.

Psalm 119:41-47 (ESV)
 
God brings stability to life. Without Him, nothing makes sense.
 
Stephen Hawking claimed to believe only in science and firmly believed that there was no God. He died; God remains. Stephen Hawking was constantly trying to discover the final cause, the meaning of it all, and never found it.
 
Smart people start with God and end exalting Him. Stephen Hawking exalted his mind. His life was tough, and his death was tragic, for his opportunities to respond to God were over.

Perhaps we are looking in the wrong pile.

 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways.

Psalm 119:33-37 (ESV)
 
Those who are successful in this life desire to be taught by God with the idea of obeying Him. With this obedience comes understanding. With the understanding comes the valuable guidance that we all want.
 
The obstacle to this is selfishness, and fuel for self is the consumption of insignificant things. We have a culture that indulges in the worthless, hoping to find worth. We look for treasure where there is only waste, and then wonder why we are never satisfied.
 
Perhaps we are looking in the wrong pile. Maybe we need to absorb things of value, God's Word, meditate on them, and see where that takes us.

Saying it Aloud.

 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:17-24 (ESV)

When was the last time you longed for God's Word? I often hear the anticipation of going on a vacation, to a nice restaurant, or the excitement of the latest movie release. However, I seldom hear someone talk excitedly about spending time in God's Word.

Perhaps we have become so warped that a fine vacation, food, or movie is more satisfying to us than God and His Word. Of course, we would not say this aloud, but by our actions, we have said that aloud.

Purity happens by choice.

 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:9-16 (ESV)

Purity happens by choice, not by chance. We guard our ways by allowing God's Word to guide us. Those who let God's Word guide them have God's Word guard them.

We live in a time where there is plenty of fodder for evil. Godless attempts to organize life will end like the tower of Babel ended, in confusion and division.

Without God, only evil exists, just as without light, only darkness exists.

Tomorrow never seems to come.

 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Psalm 119:1-5 (ESV)

Those who walk according to the truth are blameless. They are listening to God. Therefore, God is to blame for all they do.

In order to walk in the law of the Lord, one needs to know the law of the Lord. Knowing God does not happen by accident, but through intentionality. Intentionality is always a part of healthy relationships.

Those waiting for the time to be right to start doing right will wait forever, because Satan is good at getting us in a position that makes it look like getting our lives together tomorrow will work better than today.

Yet, for many, tomorrow never seems to come. The pressures of this day keep us from what we could be, and the hope that we will change seems to be our only hope.

The Only Place Of Peace

 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:8-9 (ESV)

This statement connotes that there will be times when we must choose between taking refuge in the Lord or trusting ourselves, our plans, or our people. It suggests that there are times when we are tempted to trust in our national leaders rather than God, or perhaps our armies or strategic alliances.

Obeying God and trusting Him is the only place of peace and stability. Our many ways of developing things other than God to trust will prove futile.

There are many who have gone before us to give us an example in this life. Some have done it right, and some have been excellent examples of what fools look like. Those who have done it right have one thing in common. They loved and listened to God. Those who love and listen to God will participate with Him in the ultimate victories in life. Those who do not love and listen to God will be used of God to no benefit of their own.

Life Needs Context

 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 (ESV)
This is a wonderful and encouraging passage, except for the Godless nations. God is the only constant in the universe. He is the only one who can put our lives into the context of the universe. Life and death matter in God's context; they are confusing without Him.

When people enjoy God, they enjoy life and are not devastated by death.

Those who want to exclude God from their lives do so at their peril—removing God from life places all the meaning, context, and purpose for life on our shoulders. It makes us the center of the universe, and that causes tremendous confusion.

Instead of seeking the truth, we often seek to substantiate what we believe about the lies we have told ourselves. The more we try to make the lie a truth, the more "Satanic" we become, for his specialty is turning lies into "new truth" that is more believable and understandable.

However…

 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Psalm 116:15 (ESV)

We do all we can to avoid death, something that is precious to God when it happens to one of His saints. To God, the death of a saint is a good thing, and He knows about what He speaks.
Death to us is separation. It seems more like an ending point than a beginning, a loss rather than a gain, a tragedy more than a triumph. Yet, for those who love God, it is a moment of joy, freedom, and the realization of all that could, on this earth, only be imagined.

Psalms 72:14 says this: "From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight." [1] Our removal from a Godless world is not considered a tragedy in God's sight.

Certainly, death is hard to deal with because it represents a temporary separation from those we love. However, for those who are in God's family, in a twinkling of an eye, we, too, will be transported to see our Savior and those who also loved Him who went before us.

Godlessness is costly, devastating, and easily corrected.

 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Psalm 112:1-2 (ESV)
Once again, we are told that the blessed man is the man who fears the Lord. Therefore, as discussed in the previous thought, one who does not fear the Lord (the atheist) cannot be blessed.

This does not mean they cannot be rich, famous, or influential, but it does mean that their riches will not satisfy them, and will one day rot, their fame will be fleeting, and their influence self-serving and manipulative, for the only God they know is themselves.

One who does not fear the Lord cannot delight in His commands, which breathe life into our lives. Those without God are deprived, and their depravity will affect the next generation and the generation after that.

Godlessness is costly, devastating, and easily corrected.

The future generations will curse the Godless, not bless them. For now, the choice is ours.

How many leaders in our nation lead without wisdom?

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111:10 (ESV)
The beginning of wisdom is a reverence for God. Those who do not acknowledge God cannot be wise. Atheists can never be wise.

There is no way to be wise without putting life, death, and all of nature into their proper context, and without God, there is no context.

Therefore, a Godless nation is a foolish nation. A Godless family is a foolish family. A Godless person is a fool.

This would be debatable if it were just me saying it, but God tells us that the fear of Him is the beginning, not the end, but the beginning of wisdom.

How many leaders in our nation lead without wisdom? How many churches are being directed with no understanding? Is it any wonder that many give up and cannot endure in this life?
Those who fear the Lord are positioned correctly, can lead with wisdom and authority, and will be proven wise one day.

Uncomfortable At Times

 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

Psalm 109:26-29 (ESV)

When you aim to show the world who God is, all circumstances that are not sinful are good. God's hand can be seen in the "good" of life, but it is often unmistakable during the rough times. David facing Goliath, Elijah on Mt. Carmel, and Daniel and the boys were all put in uncomfortable situations. Yet, they found themselves in the privileged position of showing the world who God was.

There is no greater honor in the universe than to be a vessel to show who God is and how He works. Those who complain about such opportunities, or pray that they would end, may have lost focus, and will lose hope.
 

Victory In This Life?

 

With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. Psalm 108:13 (ESV) This is a simple statement and applicable to all. Those who are with God shall do valiantly. No enemy can stand toe-to-toe with God. Nothing or no one can challenge God's authority and win. Victory in this life comes to those who walk with God, love God, and obey Him. Those who feel defeated today have their eyes fixed on the wrong solution, for God can't be defeated, and those who submit to Him cannot be defeated. Therefore, defeat is an idea whose time will never come to the submissive child. " I like even the talk of the old Gascon who said, when they asked him, "Can you and your troops get into that fortress? It is impregnable." "Can the sun enter in?" said he. "Yes." "Well, where the sun can go we will enter." Whatever is possible, or whatever is impossible, Christians can do at God's command, for God is with us." (C. H. Spurgeon)

Who Is Wise?

 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 107:43 (ESV)

We are told here to observe. We can do that. However, observation takes effort. Observation is not something that usually happens by accident.

Keeping oneself too busy and too scheduled does not allow one to spend time observing or meditating. Meditation is not the emptying of the mind, but the filling of the mind with thoughts of God, His love, His mercy, His power, His grace, and more.

The wise spend time observing God, meditating on God, and enjoying God. The foolish are consumed with their agendas, plans, purposes, and timelines.

If we feel distant from God, we have not considered or observed Him. If we think we know God and have followed Him, yet feel abandoned, perhaps we have not known Him, and have been observing someone or something else who is not God.

The word "fool" only applies to man, is well-deserved, and is easily changed by those considering God. For now, the choice is yours.

They forgot God!

 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.

Psalm 106:19-24 (ESV)

Exchanging the glory of God for anything is not a good idea. The picture painted here is rather humorous. Not only are we told that man exchanged the glory of God for an ox, but that the ox eats grass. Man could do no better than to make a statue of a grass-eating animal to worship.
The key statement is this: "They forgot God, their Savior…." When we forget God, we create new gods or purposes, life loses its meaning, and we look foolish.
 

Consider God

 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

Psalm 106:7-13 (ESV)

Those who do not take time to consider God's masterful work lose the joy of life and live in discord.

Considering God or thinking of Him and His work, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, and more allows me to have hope in my frailty. What I think about is my choice.

The standard is set!

 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!

Psalm 106:1-3 (ESV)

"Those who do righteousness at all times!" That is a very exclusive group. Can anybody really do that?

The standard is set relatively high, and since it is set high, we need to aim high. We often make excuses about being unable to be perfect, so we cease trying. People are not perfect, and those who love and walk with God continually work on who they could be, rather than who they are.
We need to make the conscious choice to aim at being righteous all the time to be on the right side of history. God understands us and works with us. He knows our hearts, and my heart needs to desire Him and His ways. The rest of life's details will work out as I do that.

God is always at work.

 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

Psalm 105:1-6 (ESV)

Healthy people thank God and make His name known to those with whom they come in contact. When was the last time you were awed by the works of God? If you need to think about it, you have not been paying attention.

God is always at work. Whether you see it or not, it does not and will not affect Him. When you do not see the works of God, you miss out on one of the greatest privileges afforded to mankind.
God does not need us, but He wants us to be included.

God is the creator and sustainer of all!

 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Psalm 104:5-15 (ESV)

God is the creator and sustainer of all. It is a gift to those he created and loves. We would be wise to acknowledge this often.

Flowers

 

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:15-19 (ESV) Flowers are beautiful, a wonder of God's creation. In almost all plants, the flower has a specific function, and when that function is complete, it fades quickly and falls off to provide nutrients for the plants to come. Flowers are vital to the pollination process. They are colorful, fragrant, and attractive to attract someone or something to come and aid in that process. If seeds are not produced and placed in fertile soil, all the sunlight, nutrients, and carbon dioxide a plant absorbs are wasted. Likewise, my life is compared to a flower. I need to absorb that which will give me the ability to produce fruit and be attractive in many ways to reproduce spiritually. I need to think of ways that those who come behind me can have the best opportunity to absorb what is right so they, too, can reproduce spiritually.

Learn

God Is Not Like Us

 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:10-14 (ESV)

There is a great distance between the east and the west. God is not like us, and when He forgives something, it is forgiven and forgotten, and it seems to be like it never happened. God is not a tyrannical God waiting for someone to step out of line so that He can zap them back into place. Rather, He is a loving God who knows us well, understands our frailty, and desires to help us, not harm us.

Those who see God as an angry God waiting to pounce on evil do not know God.
 

Don't forget to remember.

 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

Sometimes, I forget from where all the good in my life comes. I tend to ignore the source when all is well, and blame God when all goes south. Sitting and pondering the many benefits of walking intimately with God is a good thing.

The Scriptures seem to remind us that we often need to be reminded of the most important things in life. We are to pray without ceasing, reminding us that we are always dependent upon God. We are to rejoice in the Lord, always, reminding us that circumstances are a part of life, but they do not control life. Baptism, communion, and the gathering of believers are all important reminders. Don't forget to remember.

Wearing it out is a sign that it was enjoyed.

 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

Psalm 102:25-28 (ESV)
God alone does not change. All other created things, which is all other things, will. The earth, as mentioned here, will wear out like a garment.

Those who want to worship the earth rather than care for it are silly. When I was a boy, I remember going into some homes where they had bought nice furniture. They wanted it to be cared for so much that they did not allow anyone to use it, they covered it with sealed plastic, and they put it in a room with curtains to block direct sunlight. I thought purchasing furniture you would not use was useless.

There have been times at camp when we purchased a new van to transport campers from place to place. After many years, the van wore out. I was thankful for the many years and the memories the van gave us, and realized that its being worn out was a sign of its value.
We are to use what God gave us, and it will wear out. Wearing it out is a sign that it was enjoyed.

We Pray

 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

Psalm 102:1-2 (ESV)
Those who love God will face physical, social, and mental struggles, and right now, God is very busy. Those in His presence are shouting praises at Him, those around the world who are His are crying out to Him, and many are seeking Him. Undoubtedly, He is the most sought-after, wanted, needed, and desired in the universe.
Yet, we, His children, pray, and He hears us. It seems as if this direct and private access pathway to our Heavenly Father allows us immediate and direct access, regardless of the noise that abounds.
Since I cannot handle two people talking to me about different subjects simultaneously, I cannot imagine what it would be like to have millions doing so, and then understand and respond to each one correctly. This idea helps define "Awesome," which only applies to God.
 

Joyful Noises

 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100 (ESV)

Sometimes, I think we try to make the joyful noise to the Lord too professional sounding. The joyful noise line precedes the line about singing. We often laugh at the many sounds young boys make while playing. We affectionately call them "boy noises." It does our heart good to see a young boy play with all his heart, including the noises accompanying the play.
It would be sad to have to organize, refine, and adjust those noises and mix them just right to be acceptable to the public. After hearing him at play, a boy may never be asked to sing in an opera, but he will bring a smile to a parent's heart.
 

God reigns.

 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

Psalm 99:1-5 (ESV)
 
God reigns. Since He reigns, those who think they are in charge will be proven wrong. Both the Old and New Testaments say there can only be one king, one to whom we show loyalty.
We can pervert things and show loyalty to things, ourselves, and our circumstances, or we can show loyalty to the only one who deserves it. For now, the choice is ours.
 
Those who know the King know He is holy or unique among all living and non-living things. There is none like Him. We can try to understand Him, but it would be best to focus on obeying Him, for one who is like Him is beyond our understanding.

Dumb as a human?

 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!

Psalm 97:1-7 (ESV)
 
If the creation speaks of a creator and points to the creator, then sinful man, controlled by the one who hates the creator, will find ways to eliminate such thoughts. Educated people who have tried to destroy God by "logical" explanations have been captivated by the obscure while ignoring the obvious.
Rocks proclaim the glory of God, but so often, man does not. Maybe the saying should be "dumb as a human" rather than "dumb as a rock."

Hope Is Anchored In Reality

 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways." Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."

Psalm 95:10-11 (ESV)
 
Those who do not know God's ways are doomed to failure. This is not something said lightly or judgmentally, but a statement of fact. We are doomed if we live in the context of our false hopes rather than placing our hopes in reality.
 
Real hope is anchored in reality, and all reality starts with the knowledge of God. Those who ignore God live delusional lives where depression, anxiety, anger, and narcissism are the norm rather than the exception.
 
When someone thinks incorrectly, they act incorrectly, and the only way to make their actions right is to make what is wrong normal. They often do this by creating a community that agrees with them. Yet, no matter how many votes "normal" gets, that which is right will continue to be right, even with no votes.

Where do we "park" our hopes and dreams?

 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Psalm 91:9-13 (ESV)
 
Where do we "park" our hopes and dreams? Are they connected to our skills, talents, resources, family, and so on? No matter how valuable our skills are, how reliable our family is, or how many resources we have accumulated, our trust must be in God alone, or we will experience tremendous failure.
 
This Psalm says this: "Because my dwelling place is the Lord, the Most High, who is my refuge, no evil shall be allowed." "Because" is a keyword that makes this passage easy to apply.
What would be considered my dwelling place, where my hope and trust are? The peace or lack of peace will reveal the true answer to this seldom-asked question.

Without God, there is no hope!

 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV)
 
Who or what is our refuge and fortress? There is one who is worthy of our trust, and He will prove that fact in time. Therefore, we can either align our lives with that reality or be frustrated.
Being frustrated at the beginning of a process is not the worst thing that can happen because there is time to adjust. However, being frustrated at the end of a process can be devastating because time has run out.
 
Everyone experiences troubled times, and during those troubled times, we need to know, not feel, wonder, or hope. We need to know that God loves us, that our significance and security are in place because we are walking in His shadow, and that He alone is protecting all things important.
 
Without God, there is no hope, for we all face times that only He can control.

Preparing for the future is not hard.

 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (ESV)
 
We all live a specific number of days. If you are reading this, you do not know your final number, but the evidence of this truth is indisputable. In fact, we will all be "dead" from this life much longer than we are alive, yet we live as if the moment is our eternity.
 
So often, the moment eclipses the reality of the future, and we get lost and live confused lives. Those who do not plan for a future will be frightened by the idea and shocked by its reality.
There will be a future. Your life will not always be the same if you are alive now. What do you need to do to be ready for what will come?
 
Preparing for the future is not hard. We plan for what we know for sure and what is probable while trusting our God for the things we cannot know. If one does not know God, they are their own. Being on your own is scary and unnecessary.

Intentionality

 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!" For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

Psalm 90:1-4 (ESV)
 
In this prayer of Moses, we are reminded of the importance of knowing God and reviewing what we know often. It is easy to review in a way that becomes meaningless, yet the review process is vital.
 
Reviewing something or being reminded of something is the same idea. We are often reminded of things when tragedy strikes. Sometimes, we are reminded of important truths when we observe other people, experience a historical event, or smell something that brings back memories of good or bad days gone by.
 
Whatever our process, we need to be intentional about being reminded regularly of who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.

Like What?

 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?

Psalm 89:5-7 (ESV)
 
There is no one and nothing with whom or to whom we can compare God. God is so unique that any comparison of Him to anyone or anything falls woefully short. God is God. There is no other, will never be another, and never was another.
 
That is why those who know and love Him do not use comparisons to teach who He is. You cannot say God is like a good father because He is a good Father, and good fathers are judged by God's standard, not vice versa.
 
Whenever we hear that God is "like" something (unless it is something He compares Himself to in the Scriptures), we need to mentally adjust by thinking of the truth, or we risk diminishing who God is.

Hearing is not a substitute for doing.

 

A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Psalm 84:10-12 (ESV)   We can sing this song; it would be wonderful if we meant the words we sing. Singing them does not always mean that we mean them. We need to be careful not to get into the habit of saying rote phrases that eventually become meaningless. Our utterances do not mean that we believe or even apply what we are saying to our everyday lives.   Hearing is not a substitute for doing, singing is not a substitute for obedience, and agreeing in concept does not constitute an embrace in real life.   The words that come from our lips to praise God should express what we know.

Learn More at Relate365.com

Listening

 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.

Psalm 81:8-12 (ESV)
 
There are times when God chooses to give us what we deserve. My dad used to tell me to be careful what I prayed for because God might answer it. When I was young, I wondered what he meant. Now that I am not older, I get it.
 
I could pray for comfort; God might grant that, and my comfort might keep me from my purpose. I can pray for peace, and the peace might keep me from pursuing God. I could pray for riches, and the riches might control me. I need to pray that I listen to God.

Examine My Life

 So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.

Psalm 78:33-37 (ESV)
 
A life that vanishes like a breath is tragic. It is likened to a life that has chased the wind and caught it. This thought accompanies a bleak nothingness.
It is easy for mankind to talk of repentance and much harder to repent. So often, we try to play "Let's Make A Deal" with God when, in reality, He has already made the deal.
 
I must examine my life and allow it to tell me what I believe. Talk is easy, cheap, and can be manipulative. Actions can be displayed for the crowd; my heart is deceitful and wicked. I need always to have a way to check what is true.

Recount God’s Faithfulness

 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Psalm 78:1-4 (ESV)
 
It is a generational sin to hide God's glorious deeds from the next generation. Older people need to spend time recounting God's goodness. We need not recount our goodness, for there is nothing to be recounted, but we are responsible for recounting God's goodness.
 
This is what we should talk about on a regular and in a normal basis. It should not be extraordinary that we speak of God, even though we speak of His extraordinary deeds. God alone makes the ordinary extraordinary, and without Him there is nothing remarkable of which to speak. Today I need to think of Him, His glorious deeds, and the wonders He has made.