I'm in the River: 04/01/2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Psalm 101

Based on an acrostic of PSALMS, this devotional is a simple way to make the Psalms personal as you pray and meditate on the Bible. Instructions: Finish the sentence or answer the questions. When you get to the M section, you can choose the option that works for the time you have available.

Praise You, God, for... Thank You, God, for...

Search my heart, God. Do I need to confess something to You?

Act on my behalf, God. I ask You to...

Listen to me, God. This is what is happening in my life...

Move in me, God, as I meditate on Psalm 101.

5 minutes - Read Psalm 101:2. This verse is a declaration of David's choice. He is choosing what kind of life he wants to live. He is declaring the kind of heart he wants to have, knowing it affects the atmosphere of his home. Tell God your choice... I will lead a _________ life. I will have a __________ heart in my home.
10 minutes - Read Psalm 101:1-3, 6-7. Fill in the blanks of this prayer with the words that you want to describe your own life. God, like David, I want to live a _________ life and have a ________ heart. I want my home to have a ___________ atmosphere, therefore, I will keep my eyes on _____________ , I will use my mouth to sing ________, and I will speak __________ words. I will surround myself with people who are ___________________ to be my friends and role-models.
20 minutes - Read entire psalm. By making two columns, write down the words/phrases that describe the way David wants to be (and his household to be) and the way he describes the "ungodly" -- people who are choose to do wrong and want to continue living that way. Note: use positive words for David's column. For example, for verse 3, you could describe David as wanting to look on pure things (rather than describing what he doesn't want to see). Then in your own words, tell God about the life you want to be living: your heart, your character, your home, your eyes, your mouth, your friends and role models.

Selah. God, help me pause and think about what I've read in Psalm 101.

What do you want me to understand about it?
How do you want me to apply it to my life?

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Meditation on Philippians 3:12-14

A simple way to bring God's Word deeper into your heart: re-write a section of Scripture in your own words. This is mine from today...

I have a goal.

I have not reached my goal, I am not yet mature, but I am still in process.

Part of the process is reaching forward
toward the woman I was created to be
and the amazing God who created me.

I am unfinished
-a work in progress-
but even in my weakness, I am beautiful.

I do this one thing over and over:
I let go of my past failures and
run toward the Man of my dreams.

Monday, April 18, 2011

My Meditation on Psalm 100

According to the directions in my previous devotional post, I re-wrote Psalm 100 in my own words speaking it directly to God. This is based on the New International Version of the Bible.

Hey! I will shout to You with joy!
I will acknowledge that You are worthy of worship, and do it with gladness.
I come to You with songs of joy in my heart.
You are God, my God.
You created me and I belong to You.
I open up the doors of my heart to You, celebrating that I can know You and love You!
I come into Your chamber, worshiping You with songs of praise.
Oh, so worthy! Oh, so beautiful!
Oh, so glorious and magnificent God!
Thank You! Thank You!
I will praise You, God. I will exalt the name of Jesus.
You are so good!
Your love endures forever: it never gives up and never lets go of me.
Just as You have been faithful to my parents, and my grandparents,
so are You faithful to me, and my children, and those generations still to come!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Psalm 100 Devotional

5 minutes - Re-write Psalm 100:2 in your own words.
10 minutes - Re-write the first sentence of each verse in Psalm 100:1-4 beginning with the words "I will". For example in verse 1, "I will shout for joy to the Lord."
20 minutes - Read entire psalm. Re-write the key thoughts as if you are speaking them directly to God. For example in verse 5, "You are so good! Your love endures forever." (See next post for my own version based on Psalm 100 in the NIV.)

Selah. God, help me pause and think about what I've read in Psalm 100.

What do you want me to understand about it?
How do you want me to apply it to my life?

Psalm 1 Devotional

5 minutes - Re-write Psalm 1:6 in your own words.
10 minutes - Journal about a key phrase in Psalm 1:1-2.
20 minutes - Read entire psalm. Re-write the key thoughts as if they were written about you. For example, "I will be blessed if I do not listen to bad counsel."

Selah. God, help me pause and think about what I've read in Psalm 1.

What do you want me to understand about it?
How do you want me to apply it to my life?

Friday, April 01, 2011

Lessons from Paul

Friends, I have been studying the book of Philippians for the last month or two. As I was praying about some of my concerns the other day, I found myself having an imaginary conversation with the Apostle Paul. I've read Philippians so many times recently that Paul's answers seemed to come into my mind as soon as I would ask a question. It was a unique experience for me. I share it with you in hopes that it will encourage your own heart as it did mine.

Me: Brother Paul, what do you have to teach me?

Paul: You worry too much about your children.

Me: So true.

Paul: It is not that you should love your children less. I had a great love for the church in Philippi. They were always on my mind and always in my prayers. I would grieve deeply when one became ill or when they weren’t getting along. I didn’t want the Romans to kill me because of the sorrow it would cause the church in Philippi. I’d put so much of myself into them that I didn’t want them to be like sheep without a shepherd. They were like my children and I would have done anything to protect them, comfort them, and teach them.

Me: But Brother Paul, I’m so scared of someone or something hurting my children. They are so little, so fragile, and I feel so protective. I don’t know what to do with the intensity of this mother’s love.

Paul: Beloved, don’t love them less-love Jesus more. The more you love Him, the more you know Him, the more you embrace Him and His Kingdom... the more these things will shift inside you. Lesser things will fade away and important eternal things will be put into their rightful places.

Me: I want everything in my life to be in its rightful place but that kind of peace feels out of reach!

Paul: Beloved, let me give you a simple place to start. Whatever is true and whatever is lovely, think on these things. Take your worries and make them prayers. Ask for the practical wisdom you need. Fill your mind with the One who is real and He will fill you with the peace that you seek.

-Based on Philippians 1:3-4, 7-8, 23-26; 2:16, 19, 23-24, 27-28; 3:7-11; 4:1-3, 6-9 (NIV)

Note: Sometimes worship happens in the secret place. Sometimes it happens in a room full of people. Sometimes it happens with words. Ann Voskamp is a worshiper with words and in deeds. Her blog inspires me and her book challenges me to new levels of maturity in Jesus .

Ann is offering a scholarship opportunity to She Speaks Conference, where women with a heart to serve the Father and His daughters through speaking, writing and leading can grow in their giftings.

Today's Meditation
Get up, God! Stand up and take action. Get your hands dirty.
Please don't lose track of the people who need you!

(klb paraphrase of Psalm 10:12)

Today's Prayer
Lord, we want You to act,
we want to feel You,
know You,
experience You.

And wonder of wonders,
You want to be felt by us,
known by us,
experienced by us.

Jesus, open my eyes
so that I can see You are
a Man of Action
and true to Your every word.
-klb