Today I am remembering the life and death of my brother and the celebration of the birth of our lovely first granddaughter. I am launching my newest book: “Life-Changing Water: Chaos to Glory, A Metaphor Study” after two years of study, preparation, pain and pleasure. It includes over 150 original “My Psalms,” Short devotional essays, scripture, prayer, discussion topics, and journal space. I am praying that it blesses many with the story of redemption told through many of the 722 Biblical references to water and lack of water in Scripture, and metaphorical discussions of topics such as sovereignty, promise, deliverance, conflict, materialism,, impatience, addition, loneliness, mortality, refreshment, forgiveness, discipling, hope, and assurance. It will be available in a few days at my website and on Amazon.com.
Here is the entry number 249:
My Psalm 249
Abba, Father in Heaven,
Praised be Your Name in all the earth,
For You are my Creator, Sustainer,
And my reason for being.
Thank You, Almighty God,
For the assurance of my salvation
And for Your encompassing love shown me
Right from the beginning.
Your call on my life has been strong.
Yet I thank You for those who recently came
To know You, to embrace You as Lord and Savior.
To them, I say, “Welcome to the Kingdom!”
If I may be so bold.
From the beginning You have charted my course,
Developed my life-plan, chosen me to be Your child.
I am thankful beyond what words can express.
Thank You for the family You chose for me,
Parents, siblings, grandparents
And Clouds of Witnesses who spoke faith to me,
Praying on my behalf and teaching me to pray.
I thank You for faithful educators
Who developed my talents,
Who gave me confidence to share with others,
And ultimately to teach thousands of children
And influence hundreds of colleagues in a fruitful career.
Thank You for sustaining me in a long marriage,
For the mate You chose for me from the beginning,
A godly man in the model prayer of Ruth Graham[1]
And the children and grandchildren
You provided for us to love and nurture.
I have the blessed assurance that You have protected,
You have guided, and You will be our strength in aging
And guiding us soon to be in Your Eternal Presence.
Your Word contains the wisdom of the ages,
The covenant of grace, Your plan for salvation.
It teaches, refreshes, directs, admonishes,
And provides hope and assurance
That Your guiding Hand brings the best for us.[2]
Through days of comfort, You provide peace.
Through days of conflict, You direct our paths.
Through times of decision, You give insight,
Through times of wandering, You bring us back,
Through days for suffering, You salve with comfort,
Through days of hope, You cause us to shout, “Hallelujah!”
Thank You for being our strength,
Our comfort, our protector, our shield and buckler,
A very present help in times of trouble
And the Rock of our salvation
Our Abba, Father, and our joy. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Scripture
Hebrews 10: 19-26
Joshua chapter 23
Psalm 132
Isaiah chapter 28
Ephesians chapter 5
Hebrews 11: 1
2 Peter chapter 1
Isaiah 58: 11
Isaiah 43: 2
Think About It
When we think about it, many of these scripture passages deal with warnings when we do not listen to God! Only when we walk in His way can we know the abundant life. That means that we must take action once we commit to living for Jesus, to do what He wants us to do, and must pray for the strength to walk in His way.
When God promises to be our God, we must commit to be His children. Every time man has walked away from God’s precepts, His Word warns of impending doom, such as in the Joshua passage. When we doubt God’s power to bring things to pass, He brings us back to His way of living. That means we must be strong in our faith, with the sure knowledge, which is what assurance means, that when we walk according to His laws, in thanksgiving for the merciful salvation provided by Jesus, we can and will know the peace that passes all understanding and we will indeed know His promise of the Abundant Life only His own know this side of heaven.
A piece of advice from our pastor, Ransom Kent. When students ask him how to know what they should do with their lives, what God’s will is for them, his answer is always about their relationship with Jesus, then other things will fall into place.[3]
And speaking of assurance, heaven is the paradise we will share with Him at the end of this life’s journey. We can be sure of that!
Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, perhaps the best fruit of that assurance is that we can call You Heavenly Father, and that You have allowed Your Precious Son Jesus to become a sacrifice so that we can call You Father.
Give us the understanding that in this life we may know the blessings of heaven’s promise, even while we tarry here. Show us Your tender mercy and loving forgiveness, for we acknowledge that we are anything but perfect in Your sight save for the work of Your Son on the cross. Help us to heed the Holy Spirit’s promptings and walk with You closely, that our prayers will be answered because we have left behind the sins that would keep us from honestly petitioning our needs and issues before Your throne. We are assured of Your forgiveness of past, present and future sins, but we need to be vigilant to live the sanctified life we yearn to live.
Keep us in Your word and under preaching of it by those who lead us well. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
DISCUSSION
- Visit this presentation of the hymn “Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine” in a modern context
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYCorJZ-HnE
- Read these passages that relate to low confidence, the opposite of assurance: Deuteronomy 31: 6; Joshua 1:9; 1 Chronicles 19: 13; Psalm 27: 1-4 and 14; Philippians 4: 13
- This is a prayer thought from a favorite book of mine, “The Battle Plan for Prayer.”
“Guide my path to the center of Your plans. And help me pray and live in accordance with Your will. I love You, and I will follow You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” [4]
- Discuss this scripture:
But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, But He frustrates the plans of the wicked.[5]
- Read the prayer Ruth Graham wrote to describe her perfect-choice husband, and which led me to mine.goodreads.com/quotes/32563-dear-god-i-prayed.
Journal: Record your thoughts on this topic, write a “My
Psalm” of your own, draw or attach a picture of something in this lesson, or record your goals for today as a reflection.
[1] www.goodreads.com/quotes/32563-dear-god-i-prayed.
[2] Previously published in “Restore My Soul Psalms: A Lenten Journey,” 2018, revised.
[3] Covenant Presbyterian Church, May 26-27, Psalm 23 sermon.
[4] Kendrick Brothers, LLC. B & H Publishing Group. 2015, p. 135.
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