herbcotton.org

The Word of God says:

Psalm 40:3 (NIV) ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

My reflections on the Word of God:

What a wonderful thing it is to have the joy of the Lord in Your heart, and to be able to sing praises to the Lord our God.

However, the Psalmist did not always have a song flowing from his mouth. Instead, there was a time when he had trouble in his life, and tears in his eyes.

Psalm 40:1-2 (NIV) ¹ I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

The key the psalmist used that unlocked the door to the blessings of God was his trust in the Lord. The psalmist trusted in the Lord. He prayed to the Lord, and he waited patiently for the Lord.

Because the psalmist had the patience to wait on God, he reaped the harvest produced by the work of God.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, I am so grateful that You hear and answer the cries of Your people. Lord, I am so glad for the gift of faith that enables me to put my trust in the Lord.

I love the Lord; he heard my cries,

And pitied every groan;

Long as I live, when troubles rise,

I’ll hasten to his throne.

(By Isaac Watts)

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Tis_So_Sweet.html

The Word of God says:

Psalm 138:8 (NIV) ⁸ The Lord will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever– do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 100:3 (NIV) ³ Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

My reflections on the Word of God:

One of the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith is that God made us, and that He made us for a purpose. We matter to God, and that makes us significant and special in His eyes.

There are times in this life when we will face trouble and difficulties just like the trouble that David faced in His journey through this world.

Psalm 138:7 (NIV) ⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

Let us all take hope today as we begin a new week that the God who made us designed us with a purpose.

Our current predicament and external circumstances will not prevent God from accomplishing His purpose in us.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, I pray that we will take to heart the truth that is contained in the Word that we have meditated upon today.

Father God, I pray that You will give us the daily strength that we need to live for the Lord in spite of the troubles that we encounter in this world.

Psalm 138:1-3 (NIV) ¹ I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.² I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.³ When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.

The Word of God says:

Acts 18:9-11 (NIV) ⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”¹¹ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

My reflections on the Word of God:

The Apostle Paul was accustomed to facing danger and persecution in the ministry that the Lord had given him. However, even this faithful servant was contemplating holding off until the storm of persecution subsided.

Nevertheless, God had another plan. If Paul had any discouragement, it did not last for long because God provided a divine appointment for Paul to show him His faithfulness.

Acts 18:6-8 (NIV) ⁶ But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.⁸ Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

In addition to this divine appointment, God spoke to Paul in a vision and gave him assurance. This assurance is in our focal passage.

In the midst of a difficult situation, the Lord spoke to His servant Paul. The Lord said to Paul these comforting and encouraging words, “I am with you”.

Acts 18:9-10 (ESV) ⁹ And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

God gives to us that same promise as we go forth to proclaim the goodnews of the gospel of Christ to the world.

Matthew 28:20 (NIV) ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that for Your servants who You have called to the ministry of proclaiming Your Word. I pray that You would say to them the words that You spoke to the Apostle Paul when he was facing a difficult situation.

Lord, I pray that every pastor and teacher of the Word would be encouraged by the Word of the Lord saying, “I am with you”. Moreover, hearing they may respond like Paul, “So Paul stayed …. I pray that Your servants will stay where You have planted them until you say go.

A Charge to Keep I Have (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_A_Charge_to_Keep_I_Have.html

The Word of God says:

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) ³ But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today’s focal verse comes at the end of two letters that Paul wrote to this church that he had started on his last missionary journey.

These words of encouragement to the church come near the end of Paul’s journey through this world. Paul would write these last words to them to encourage them to keep the faith, and to endure to the end just as they had seen him do.

Therefore, Paul tells them of the faithfulness of the Lord. In this world, friends may desert you, the devil may come against you, but God will sustain you, and enable you to do what He asks you to do.

What an encouragement it is to know that even though this church was facing persecution, they could look at the message and the messenger and have hope. They could not look at their circumstances and have hope, but they could look to their God and have hope.

They could trust in God and look to Him to strengthen and protect them from the evil one and from evil. God is greater than anything we will face in life and in death.

2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV) ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV) ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the encouraging words that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica.

Lord, those words are an encouragement to my heart when I consider the promise, and the one who will back up the promise. Lord, I know that You alone are able.

Surely, God is Able (Click on link below to watch this video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoAG9qqAVEI&feature=channel

The Word of God says:

John 14:16 (AMP) ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

My reflections on the Word of God:

While we still have fathers on our minds, it is timely to review this scripture. Our focal verse is a reminder of how much our heavenly Father loves, cares, and provides for His children.

There are many lonely people in the world, but God’s children should not be among those who are lonely.

The surprising thing about loneliness is that you can have thousands of fans, but have few friends. Having many people who adore you is not a cure for loneliness.

The cure for loneliness is to have quality relationships. At this point, our heavenly Father has so richly blessed His children who believe in Christ.

Our heavenly Father has given to every believer the eternal presence of the Holy Spirit of God to be our comforter and companion.

It is one thing to contemplate going to heaven, and that will stretch your imagination beyond its capacity. However, there are supernatural blessings to every believer when heaven comes and takes up permanent residence in our heart.

What could be sweeter on this earth than having God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit living in you? Well, that is what you have as a born again child of God.

John 14:23 (NIV) ²³ Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, it amazes me to think about the blessing of having the triune God living in me. Having Your presence in me is the permanent cure for loneliness. Now, I can live with the assurance that whatever comes my way in this life that I am never alone.

Never Alone (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Never_Alone.html

The Word of God says:

Psalm 121:7-8 (NASB) ⁷ The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.⁸ The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.

My reflections on the Word of God:

In this world with all of its trials and troubles, it is a source of comfort in knowing that the Lord will protect His children from all evil, and that He will keep your life.

Psalm 121:7 (AMP) ⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

When faced with tests and difficulties in the world, and you look around and cannot find a way out of your predicament, try taking the upward look.

Isaiah 40:26 (NASB) ²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB) ¹ I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?² My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for who You are, and for what You do for Your people.

Lord, I am so thankful that my God is a faithful God, and that I can look up to You, and know that You are bigger than any problems I will ever face.

Jude 1:24-25 (KJV) ²⁴ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,²⁵ To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

From Every Stormy Wind That Blows (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_From_Every_Stormy_Wind.html

The Word of God says:

Exodus 14:14 (NASB) ¹⁴ “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

My reflections on the Word of God:

Some battles do not belong to us. They belong to Lord, and not to us. The Lord knew the plans of Pharaoh, and God cared for His chosen people.

Just as the Lord took care of the Israelites in that day, He will take care of you today. It is comforting to know that God will take care of us.

When we pray and ask the Lord to deliver us from our problems and our troubles, we need not live in fear. Rather, we should learn from the example of how God has acted in the past towards His people.

Psalm 35:1 (NASB) ¹ Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me.

When fear and doubt come over your soul, remember whose hands you are in, and His promise that He will take care of His children.

Genesis 22:14 (NASB) ¹⁴ Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, I praise and thank You that You are Jehovah-Jireh, which means that You are the Lord who will see to it.

Father God, when I read of how You took care of Moses and the Israelites, of Abraham and David, I am encouraged and have hope that You will take care of me.

God Will Take Care of You (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/w/gwiltake.htm

The Word of God says:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB) ²¹ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

My reflections on the Word of God:

The substitutionary death of Jesus for the sins of the world is a grand design of a holy and compassionate God.

This is the heart and soul of the gospel message. I am so glad that there is a God in heaven, whose very nature is love.

God loves us and our focal verse tells us what He was willing to do to make us fit to live in His presence forever.

The message of the gospel of Christ is the only message that will save us from the penalty of our sinful nature and our sinful life apart from God’s grace. In Christ, we have life. Without Christ, we are spiritual dead and without hope in this world or the world to come.

Romans 3:23-24 (NASB) ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Father God, I praise and thank You for Your amazing love and grace that has provided a way that I don’t have to die for my sins.

Lord, I thank You for the price that Jesus paid when He became sin for us by His death on the cross at Calvary.

Lord, I thank You that, by faith, I turned from my sinful life, turned toward Jesus, and took the step of faith to receive the gift of salvation that He freely offers.

John 3:16 (NASB) ¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Only a Step (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onlystep.htm

The Word of God says:

Proverbs 8:34 (NIV) ³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

My reflections on the Word of God:

There is great value in reading God’s Word daily. In this world we need the wisdom that comes from listening to God speak to us through His Word.

Notice the threefold exhortation to listen, and the blessings that result from listening and keeping God’s Word.

Proverbs 8:32-34 (NIV) ³² “Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Let us look at four blessings that God will give to the person who listens to God, and is a doer of the Word of God.

Proverbs 8:14 (NASB) ¹⁴ “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

Here we see that God will give us counsel, wisdom, understanding, and power. God’s Word will instruct us by telling us what, why, and how to do what God wants us to do. Additionally, He will give us the strength to do it.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, I praise and thank You that I can come to the source of ultimate wisdom, and find all that I need to know and do the will of God.

Lord, these words from Your heart are what I need to hear, and I praise You and thank You for being so good to me.

Wonderful Words of Life (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Wonderful_Words_of_Life.html

The Word of God says:

Psalm 106:1-2 (NIV) ¹ Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.² Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?

My reflections on the Word of God:

This psalm begins with a song of praise to the Lord. The psalmist, like many of us, had his share of trouble and problems.

However, before he looked back at his past failures and circumstances, and around at his current circumstances, he looked up to His God. The psalmist revealed his adoration of God, and he showed he had a thankful heart.

In our focal passage, the psalmist praised and thanked God for His goodness, faithful love, and His almighty power.

Psalm 105:1 (NIV) ¹ Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Psalm 100:5 (NIV) ⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV) ³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, it is a delight and joy for me to exclaim Your name, by giving praise to You, and express my gratitude for Your blessings.

Father God, I delight to add my voice, and from the depths of my heart, agree with the psalmist in giving praise and thanks for Your goodness, faithful love, and almighty power.

God is Good (Click on link below to watch the video of this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl06RN5zRxk