Tag: Psalms
God’s chosen ones!
Scripture reading for March 9th: Numbers 15-18, Psalm 113, Colossians 3
Colossians 3:12-16 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
As God’s chosen ones, we are chosen by God to be adopted into His forever family. God’s family is marked by peace and love and thankfulness. As direct result of the grace we receive in having our sins forgiven, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit Who brings God’s character into us. The Holy Spirit leads our spirits in thankfulness, forgiveness of others and joyful worship. He binds us together with other members of Christ’s chosen ones and we begin to spread the songs of redemption around the world. From the rising of the sun to its going down, God’s Name is being praised! Jesus Christ stands as the Chosen Authority from God Who is the Prince of Peace. All grumbling ceases and praise rises to bless His Name forevermore!
Psalm 113:1-3 “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the Name of the Lord! Blessed be the Name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Name of the Lord is to be praised!”
Prayer: Father God, I am humbled to be a part of Your ‘chosen ones’ through the gift of eternal life. In receiving the Holy Spirit, I put on the character of Christ Jesus and allow Your love to bind me close to Your heart and closer to each member of this praising company. Use me today to share the song of redemption through my words, attitudes and actions with those still grumbling against God.
Numbers 17:8-10 “On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff. And the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against Me, lest they die.””
The Word Dwells Richly in Me!
Scripture reading for September 10th: Colossians 3, Psalm 31, Proverbs 27
Key Scriptures: Colossians 3:14-17 “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
God is Love. Love is a basic covering for those in Christ Jesus. When we live in love, there is harmony and peace in our hearts and between other believers. Thankfulness and faith go hand in hand and pleases God. We can easily be thankful when we let Christ’s unchanging Word dwell in our hearts and flow through us to inform our actions and to share with others. God’s Word is wisdom, melody of song, and rich instruction for hungry hearts.
Faith Confession: I am clothed with love as I am filled with the Holy Spirit. God’s peace fills my heart and I seek to allow the Word of God to dwell within me and come out of my life and mouth in thanksgiving, praise, and godly instruction in wisdom.
Psalm 31:19 “Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!”
Faith’s Confessions–2019 BibleTrekToday.Com
December 31st, 2018
Dear Friends and Family,
2019 will mark my 11th year for reading through the Bible and writing devotions on each day’s reading. I have used a five-day reading plan for the last several years. This year, I will use one chapter of the New Testament plus daily reading of one chapter of Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs. This takes us through the entire New Testament once, Psalms nearly twice, and Proverbs over eleven times. .
The focus theme will be “Faith’s Confessions” where verses from that day’s New Testament reading will be developed into a faith confession to be spoken over the day. Jesus asked Peter in Matthew 16:15 “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered with a faith confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” I will also occasionally suggest faith “actions” as well.
Please join me reading through the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs and confessing our belief in God’s Word for 2019. Pause each day to read a chapter of each and listen for God’s voice. Faith comes by hearing His Word and leads us to confess the truth we believe. Confession naturally leads us to obedience that will be pleasing our Lord Jesus, who pleased His Own Father by His complete obedience! This is what becoming a disciple of Jesus is all about!
My own written devotions are meant to encourage you to personally read and listen to our Lord each day and apply His truth to your life as you become the disciple He is forming you to be. Your can learn from my walk as well! Please feel free to comment or share your faith confessions and actions as God works, helping me and others who are trekking through the Bible this year.
In His Amazing Love and Grace, Pastor John Morse
Melodies of thankfulness!
Scripture reading for August 29th: Psalm 133-135 and Ephesians 5
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 5:18-21 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence to Christ.”
Hearts that are filled with the Holy Spirit flow with heavenly words and music. There is thankfulness flowing to God and others for what Christ Jesus has done, is doing and will do. There is respect and honor for other members of Christ’s Body, the Church. Saints don’t need wine to give them joy! The Holy Spirit overflows them with His provision!
Psalm 133:1,3 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! . . . .It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forever more.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and songs of joy in my heart. Let that river flow in love and unity for the brothers and sisters and let it reach out to the lost to show them Your glory. Amen.
Thankful for a song in my heart!
Scripture reading for December 6th: Philippians 3-4, Colossians 1-3
Key Scriptures: Colossians 3:15-17 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Paul, writing to the Colossians, reminded this church family of their need to rest in the peace of their Savior, Jesus. This rest would result in a thankful spirit and as the Word of Christ richly indwelt them, they would sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs to God! Their whole life would be a concert of thankful worship through meditation on God’s Word! This would resound into eternity as we live with Christ forever!
Rejoicing in God’s Word: “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. . . Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name.” (Psalm 100:1-2,4)
Singing of our Lord!
Scripture reading for March 30th: 2nd Samuel 21-24, 1st Kings 1
Key Scriptures: 2nd Samuel 22:1-3 “David sang to the Lord the words of this song 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, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock in whom I take refuge, my Shield and the Horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my Refuge and my Savior–“
King David was a psalmist of Israel who loved to sing psalms of praise to His Lord. As David remembered all the times God had delivered him from all his many foes, this song of praise broke forth from his lips! Our Rock is worthy of praise!
Rejoicing in our Savior: The chorus in heaven will resound with song at the victory of the Lamb of God! “In a loud voice they sang, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”” (Revelation 5:12-13)
Living well in evil days!
Scripture reading for December 1st: Ephesians 1-6
Ephesians contains amazing spiritual truth and insight for those in Christ’s church. There is a wealth of encouragement and some fantastic prayers that lift us into the realm of God. The simple Gospel is explained in Ephesians 2:8-11 in an easily understandable form. The church and it’s purposes are laid out in Ephesians 4:1-16. Following that, there are practical instructions for wise living for those in Christ. I have often used these chapters in counseling others over the years I have ministered. The last chapter helps us with spiritual warfare and the armor of God. We are in a battle against wicked forces in the heavenly realm!
“Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20
The only way to live wisely in these evil days is to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit! This is not a one-time experience of speaking in tongues or an emotional high at a Christian meeting. It is a personal relationship with God the Holy Spirit. As we live full of the Holy Spirit, we live a life of worship. We do this when we are alone with God and when we are around others. When we are filled with the Spirit, we speak graciously to others. Our speech is pleasing and in harmony with the Spirit of God.
Our speech is to be filled with thanksgiving to God the Father for everything. We realize that everything we have is from God. Our strength and health, as well as our material possessions, are gifts. We are blessed by our relationship with God and realize all the blessing of being in Christ! (Ephesians 1:3-12) Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs come from our hearts as we are filled with thanksgiving!
Wise Living When Days Are Evil!
Scripture reading for December 1st: Ephesians 1-6
Ephesians is one of my favorite letters from God through Paul. It contains amazing spiritual truth and insight for those in Christ’s church. There is a wealth of encouragement and some fantastic prayers that lift us into the realm of God. The simple Gospel is explained in Ephesians 2:8-11 in an easily understandable form. The church and it’s purposes are laid out in Ephesians 4:1-16. Following that, there are practical instructions for wise living for those in Christ. I have often used these chapters in counseling others over the years I have ministered. The last chapter helps us with spiritual warfare and the armor of God. We are all in a battle against wicked forces in the heavenly realm.
“Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20
The only way to live wisely in these evil days is to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit! This is not a one-time experience of speaking in tongues or an emotional high at a Christian meeting. It is a personal relationship with God the Holy Spirit. As we live full of the Holy Spirit, we live a life of worship. We do this when we are alone with God and when we are around others. When we are filled with the Spirit, we speak graciously to others. Our speech is pleasing and in harmony with the Spirit of God.
Our speech is to be filled with thanksgiving to God the Father for everything. We realize that everything we have is from God. Our strength and health, as well as our material possessions, are gifts. We are blessed by our relationship with God and realize all the blessing of being in Christ! (Ephesians 1:3-12) Christ is the reason for all that we have and we bubble over with thanksgiving and melodious speech. Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs come from our hearts as we are filled with thanksgiving!
This is the secret to wise living in evil days! Ask the Lord to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit today! Begin your day with worship! Read some Psalms like 96-100! Sing a spiritual song of love, thanksgiving to the Lord from your heart! Decide to speak in harmony with the Holy Spirit to everyone you meet today! What a difference! You will make the most of every opportunity! May God unveil all the spiritual blessing that are yours today in Christ Jesus! Let all who are in Christ be “being filled with the Holy Spirit!”