The Lord of hosts is with us.

Psalm 46 was sent to me this week by a friend and when I read it I just realized how relevant it is for us in this time.  It is so encouraging to know that God is with us in the storm.  To be reminded that He is YHVH Elohe Tsevaot - the Lord of the heavenly armies, The Lord of hosts, is a great encouragement in this time.  

Let us be still and know that He is God  

Even when the world around us is shaken - He is our shelter, He is with us never leaving us nor forsaking us. He is our ever present refuge and strength - Let us not fear! 

Psalm 46

 

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

 

Psalm 46 - Misty Edwards

 

 

 

 

Lord, teach us to pray...

In this past week I have many times felt like I do not really know what and how to pray.  With everything happening in our beloved country from riots and looting to friends being sick with covid and generally the numbers surging overall, I have many times been at a loss for words.  Thankfully I know that Jesus is interceding for us before the Father's throne and His prayers for us are always perfect.  He knows what to pray, but I was also reminded that His disciples once asked Him "Lord, teach us to pray", upon which He then gave them what we call "The Lord's prayer".  Yesterday Ellel Ministries posted their daily devotions with exactly this message, and I thought it is confirmation to revisit this prayer of Our Lord Jesus in this time.  I share their post with you this morning:

Lord, teach us to pray

There are so many beautiful versions of the Lord's prayer but this morning I opt for a more traditional version: 

The Lord's Prayer - Susan Boyle 

Wisdom existed before the beginning...

Listen to the Word of God as Wisdom describes herself:  

Proverbs 8:21-36

²² “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
²³ I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
²⁶ While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
²⁷ When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
³⁰ Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
³¹ Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.

³² “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

Wisdom song

 

Love and Seek Wisdom...

Continuing in Proverbs 8:12-21 lets hear what Wisdom wants to teach us this morning:   

 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
¹³ The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
¹⁴ Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
¹⁵ By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
¹⁶ By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
¹⁷ I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
²⁰ I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
²¹ That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil..... Wisdom love those who love her and those who seek Wisdom diligently will find Wisdom...

Let us hate evil and love Wisdom, Let us fear the Lord and diligently seek Wisdom this week in all that we do.  

 Wisdom (Proverbs 8 in Music)