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Searching for "psalms" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "0" to "25". (192 found)

2008-02-23 - Power of Gratitude - Trees, Clap your hands
Cows and birds do a far better job of praising God than most humans - they function the way God wants them to function.

Are at least half our times with God directed toward praise?

Pray though Psalms about praise - Read 1-2 verses at a time
  • Psalms 8, 24, 29, 47, 92, 93, 95, 96, 98, 100, 104, 113, 135, 147, 148
The more we talk about something, the more it becomes reality to us.

2008-03-02 - Power of Gratitude - Making Peace with the Past
Putting the past behind us is very important to maintaining the attitude of gratitude
God is the God of new beginnings
Also also need to put past sucesses behind us - if glory days are in the past, so is our gratitude

Sins in the past - either what someone did to you or what you did to other/God

Dealing with past - goal to find how the past is messing up the present not to live in it

David psalms - he struggled at the beginning of many of the psalms and figured it out at the end during most
Writing feeling to help resolve the past - not new, David did it centuries ago

Forgetting the past was never to be inclusive of past blessings

What were you worry about a year ago? Don't know? God brought us through it!

2008-03-09 - Be Still My Soul - Early Morning Time

Jesus went to God early in the morning
If Jesus needed to do this, how much more should we?

Excuses:

  • I'm not a moring person
  • I have to leave for work early
  • I have to get the kids off to school
  • I don't want to be legalistic

How does spending the early morning with God help build a closer relationship with him?

  • Show the priority of this relationship
  • Our waking thoughts determine the tone and course of our day
  • Quietest times of the day
  • Emotion have had time to recover
  • Able to clear our consciences of guilt
  • Cast our burdens upon the Lord
  • Able to draw from his power for the day ahead (Psalms 5:1-3)

Hard time getting our of bed?

  • Go to bed at a decent hour
  • Set a definite wake up time
  • Be responsible for getting out of bed - your responsibility
  • Do whatever it takes to wake up
  • Take an early morning shower
  • Two clocks, far from bed


2008-03-12 - Be Still My Soul - Time Outdoors

Do you realize that nearly all of the people we read about in the Bible spent most of their time outside?

  • Star-studded evening would tell how many descendants Abraham would have - Genesis 15:5
  • Looking at God's creation - humbled Job's pride - Job 38:4-7

FInd park, trails, and open spaces.
Open your eyes, listen, breath the realivily clear air

When is the last time you:

  • Took in a sunrise or sunset
  • Watched the changing cloud formations
  • Listen to the songs of the birds
  • Strolled through the leaves of fall
  • Listen to the snow fall as they gently fell to earth
  • Took a good look at the flowers of spring
  • Stopped to watch the a powerful thunderstorm
  • Stood in awe of the sparkling  stars

Psalms 19:1-4; Psalms 65:8-13

Time outside with God is just what many of us need and nothing else will suffice



2008-03-17 - Be Still My Soul - Deciding What to Study

How do we decide what to study?

  • How do I need to grow?
  • What is my greatest spiritual need right now?

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Do I need to see Jesus? - Gospels
  • Do I need to be more spiritual? - Sermon of the Mount
  • Do I need more faith?
  • Do I need to learn to others more? - Jesus, John, Peter, Paul examples
  • Do I need to be more grateful? - Psalms/Topical study
  • Do I need to become more evangelistic?
  • Do I need to know God better? - Abraham or Moses
  • Do I need greater assurance of salvation? Grace topical study
  • Do I need to learn how to lead? - Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, David, Timothy/Paul, and Titus
  • Do I need to renew and revived as an older disciple? Hebrews
  • Do I need to a greater conviction of sin? - David's sins account, acts of the sinful nature, the cross
  • Do I need to repent of sin? Godly and worldly repentance, Paul's repentance, David's repentance
  • Do I need a deeper prayer life? Jesus, Moses, Ahraham, Nehemiah, and Daniel
  • Do I need help as a husband, wife, or parent? Ephesians 5:21-6:4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Peter 3:1-7
  • Do I need help in dealing with suffering or persecution? Early church's persecution in Acts
  • Do I need inspiration or encouragement?  Joshua, Joseph, Peter, Elijah, Elisha, and Daniel

Commit passages of scripture to memory



2008-03-18 - Be Still My Soul - How to Study
God intends for every disciple of His to delight in His Word - Psalms 119:18

Ways to study:
  • Study one book of the Bible - Make a simple outline; sometimes we lose patience in our understanding - keep working at it
  • Study a section of a book - ie Sermon of the Mount; Jesus and the disciples in the upper room
  • Study one chapter of the Bible - Hebrews 11, 1 Corinthians 13, and others
  • Study one verse - This is really deep! compare it, cross reference words, look up meanings
  • Study one topic - understand and master; use topical, chain-reference, and concordance
Take notes and review each day

2008-03-20 - Be Still My Soul - Bible Studies That Changed my Life
Author, Sam Laing, describe different times in his life when quiet times were life changing including:
  • Gospel of John - John 13-17
  • As a young ministry intern, Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus
  • As a mature Christians, David and the Psalms
  • After failure, Isaiah 40-66
  • Entering forties with cynicism and anger, Book of Ecclesiastes
  • All the time, study of Jesus
Never tire of reading about Jesus - his words, poise, love, and balanced character

2008-03-23 - Be Still My Soul - Pour Out Your Heart
We can to one of a few things in challenging times:

  • Handle it ourselves
  • Turn to God superficially; mentioning thing to God
  • Turn to God - pouring out our hearts

Pour out your hearts - Psalms 62:8
I pour out my complaint before him  - Psalms 142:2

How can we be close to someone if we have not poured out our hearts

God is all-knowing but unless we tell him our feelings we will never draw close
Everyone has feelings; it may be difficult at first

Jesus: offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears - Hebrews 5:7

Suggestions:
  • Get in the habit of telling God how you feel
  • Be in a private place
  • Take a period of time away
  • Allow yourself to cry - frustration, sorrow, or joy


2008-03-24 - Be Still My Soul - Pray the Psalms
What is meant by "praying through the Psalms"?

Using the Psalms as a guide to expressing your own heart to God

Psalms 25 - wide-ranging; allowing us to confess sin; ask for wisdom
Psalms 86 - we humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness and worship God
Psalms 103 - prayer of praise

Pour out our hearts when weak or discouraged - 45, 46, 57, 62, 63, 141, 118

Teach us how to confess our sins in a heartfelt way - 32, 38, 51

2008-03-28 - Be Still My Soul - Postures
Prayer is not only for our minds and hearts, but our bodies

Types of prayer postures:

Kneeling
  • Elijah - with his face between his knees (1 Kings 18:42)
  • Daniel - knelt in prayer three times a day (Daniel 6:10)
  • Peter - knelt in prayer for the life of Tabitha (Acts 9:40)
Standing - Jesus gave instructions and standing in prayer (Mark 11:25)

Prostrate
  • Moses - for 40 days (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25)
  • Daniel - fell prostrate before the angel Gabriel (Daniel 8:17)
  • Jesus - fell on his face in prayer at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)
Lifting and spreading out hands
  • David - Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 88:9, 119:48, 143:6
  • Ezra - Ezra 9:5
  • Moses - Exodus 9:29
  • Solomon - 1 Kings 8:22
Gazing upward - Jesus looking up to heaven (Matthew 14:19, Mark 6:41, 7:34)

Out loud and silently - Esther 4:1, Hebrews 5:7, James 4:7-9 / 1 Samuel 1:13

If prayers are not offered from a variety of postures then we are not praying as we ought

We can not separate our bodies from our hearts

Author has developed the ability to pray with great concentration and intimacy while running

2008-03-30 - Be Still My Soul - Psalms You Sing
Nothing is quite as effective as music in improving our moods and softening our hearts
  • I will sing and make music - Psalms 57:7
  • I will sing and make music to the Lord - Psalms 27:6
  • Make music to your name - Psalms 92:1
  • Extol him with music and song - Psalms 95:2
  • I will sing and make music with all my soul - Psalms 108:1
  • The Lord is my strength and my song - Psalms 118:14
Use of music in our personal devotions is of utmost importance and is possessed of immense power
Frees us from a mere intellectual approach
Humbles us, especially those of us who are vocally challenged
Get a songbook and start singing during your quiet times

If your relationship with God seems dry and lifeless, music may be the missing element

2008-04-01 - Falling in Love with God - How Bad It Can Get

A mission of Satan is undermine my relationship with our Father

Must ask all the time: How are God and I doing?

Typical doing questions:

  • Am I productive?
  • Have a recently had a victory?
  • How do people around me feel about me?
  • How long has it been since I committed a particular sin?

Relationship questions:

  • Do they feel loved?
  • Are we connected?
  • Have I been sensitive?
  • Am I listening?
  • Will this activity help our relationship?

 When we drift

1. Combative - Psalms 55:20-21
2. Uncaring / Apathy (Harding of our hearts) - Psalms 36:1-4; Esphesians

Presedes sin / sensual gratification

  • "I deserve this"
  • "I am tired"
  • "I am missing out"
  • "I know what I need"

3. Hopeless - Job 3:11-13

Hopelessness is godlessness
If deeply in love with God, whispering to me promise after promise
If walking with him closely, he is meeting my needs for strength and faith



2008-04-16 - Falling in Love with God - Holy Spirit in our lives
Jesus was intimately connected to the Holy Spirit

If we are to fall in love with God, it is only be through the Holy Spirit

Examples of God's spirit involved with restoration of David:
  • David knew he could go nowhere to escape God Spirit - Psalms 139:7
  • Spirit lead David to "level ground" - Psalms 143:10
  • David pleaded for God's Spirit to remain with him - Psalms 51:11
With the Spirit the road becomes impossible to navigate

2008-04-21 - Falling in Love with God - Communication
Talking to God is the best way to break the chains that our hearts captive

Tempted to everything but talk to God

Sometimes we feel that we need to get everything "just perfect" before going to God

God listens to complainers - Job, Jeremiah, Jonah, Abraham, and Moses

God prefers honest agreement to dishonest submission

Psalms 42 - Half of psalms like David telling himself what he should be thinking and feeling

Deepest parts of him longed to connect with what is deepest with God

2008-04-23 - Falling in Love with God - Discerning God's voice
Thought  Worst that
could happen
Truth
Scripture
I'll never change
I could try and fail
God can do anything
Ephesians 3:20
I'm and idiot
I could look foolish
We all look stupid; It won't kill me
Psalms 139:14
How can I help anybody?
Help but nothing changes
God will work one way or another
2 Corinthians 5:20
I don't feel God is with me
Go through a time feeling disconnected
God promised he would never leave
Matthew 28:20
Why would allow this to happen?
I have to experience pain from time to time
God has a great plan for my life
Romans 8:28
You'll never amount to anything
Your expectations don't become a reality
God has a dream for you
Jeremiah 29:11

God's word contains God's voice

2008-04-24 - Falling in Love with God - Heaven in Heaven
Earth has nothing I desire besides you - Psalms 73:25

Jesus taught about Heaven and who lives there - GOD

Heaven is full of angels:  Children and churches have angels
We might even entertain angels not even knowing it

From heaven:
  • Father spoke to Jesus - "who he was well pleased" with
  • Father gave him the Holy Spirit in form of a dove
  • Father gave the authority of both Heaven and Earth
  • Jesus wrote the names in the book of life
  • Jesus begging God on our behalf
  • Jesus directs the spreading of the message
  • Jesus saluted the martyr Stephen
  • Jesus sent light to blind Saul


2008-04-29 - Falling in Love with God - Seeking Only Him

If God's people will humble themselves pray and seek his face, he will hear from heaven and forgive us - 2 Chronicles 7:11-16

Even after the temple was built, God was concerned whether his people will still seek him

God himself was often "felt" but not "found" - He has the same concern today

Difference: being members / having a deep personal and individual relationship with God

In his pride the wicked does not seek him - Psalms 10:1-4

One thing I ask: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, gaze upon the beauty - Psalms 27:1-9

Nothing will satisfy like seeking his face



2008-05-20 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Heaven Can Wait
2 Corinthians 12:2-7 - Paul longed for heaven but was willing to wait in order to fulfill his purpose
Death held no fear for him because heaven was so real

Life goes by so quickly - Psalms 90:10
All are destined to become distance memories for those we leave behind

2 Corinthians 4:16 - we are wasting away outwardly but being renewed day by day

It is far too easy to become attached to this life - hardship changes this.

As beautiful as all of God's creation is, God made it as throwaway
It is destined to be burned up and to pass away - 2 Peter 3:10


2008-05-31 - Purpose Driven Life - What Makes God Smile? (Part 2)
Noah was an example of making God smile (continued):
  1. When we obey him wholeheartedly
    • Noah was given detailed instructions on: size, shape, number of animals, and materials
    • Completely, wholeheartedly, without delay, without explanation, joyfully, with enthusiasm
    • Wholeheartedly = completely and exactly
    • Partial obedience is disobedience
  2. When we praise and thank him continually
    • Noah built an altar to the Lord - Genesis 18:20
    • We are to offer a sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving - Hebrew 13:15; Psalms 116:17
  3. When we use our abilities
    • God enjoys every detail, not just "spiritual" activities - Psalms 37:23
    • Reject yourself, you reject God's wisdom in creating you
    • There are no nonspiritual abilities just misused ones
    • Children do not have to anything special to make their parents happy


2008-06-18 - Purpose Driven Life - Transformed by Trouble

God has a purpose behind every problem

God uses problems to draw you closer to himself
Lord is close to the brokenhearted - Psalms 34:18

God had the ability to kept:

  • Joesph out of jail
  • Daniel out the lion's den
  • Paul from being shipwrecked 3 times
  • Young Hebrew from being thrown in a furance

... but he didn't

Problem force us to look to God and depend on him
None of your problem could happen without God's permission

Romans 8:28-29 (NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.

  • "God causes everything" - God is behind everything
  • "to work together" - work together as part of God's plan
  • "for the good" - the end result is for our hearts to be more like Jesus
  • "of those who love God" - those who are obedient
  • "according to his purpose"  - the purpose is "become like his Son"


2008-06-21 - Purpose Driven Life - Overcoming Temptation
Refuse to be intimidated

You will never outgrow temptation
Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you
Paul says, "WHEN you are tempted..." - 1 Corinthians 10:13
Jesus was tempted, but never sinned - Hebrews 4:15
The closer you grown to God, the more Satan will try to tempt you

Recognize your pattern of temptation

Know what exactly what trips you up - Stay alert, Satan waits til you are napping - Matthew 26:41
  • When am I most tempted?
  • Where am I most tempted?
  • Who is with me went I am tempted?
Don't give the Devil a chance - Ephesians 4:27
Plan carefully what you do... - Proverbs 4:26-27

Request God's Help

Call on God in times of trouble - Psalms 50:15
Jesus is sympathetic; he understands our weakness - Hebrews 4:15
We can be embarrassed to ask God for help after failing over and over again, but let us have confidence when approaching - Hebrews 4:16

2008-07-04 - Purpose Driven Life - Thinking Like a Servant (part 2)

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing

They do not compare, criticize, or compete with other servants; same goal and same team
When you are busy serving, you don't have time to be critical
Our job is not to evaluate - Lord will determine the sucessfulness  of his servant - Romans 14:4

If you serve like Jesus, expect to be criticized
The service of the sinful (pouring perfume on Jesus) was though to be a waste but just though of it as significant - Matthew 26:10

Servants base their identity in Christ

They are loved and accepted by grace, servants don't have to prove their worth
Jesus washing feet - Jesus understood his worth and the task did not threathen his self-image - John 13:3-4

Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear; want others to serve them instead
Only God's approval counts - 2 Corinthians 10:18

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation

Serve the Lord with gladness - Psalms 100:2
The Father rewards anyone who serves him - John 12:26
He will not forget how hard you have worked - Hebrews 6:10

The only really happy people are those who have learned to serve



2008-07-13 - Purpose Driven Life - Sharing Your Message (Lessons)

David - "God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course" - Psalms 119:33
Solomon - gave us books of Proverbs filled with practical lessons

Here are some questions to help you remember the lesson God has taught us:

  1. Taught us through failure
  2. Taught us through a lack of money
  3. Taught us through pain and sorrow
  4. Taught us through waiting
  5. Taught us through illness
  6. Taught us through disappointment
  7. Taught us through people (family, friends, church, critics)

 



2008-07-14 - Purpose Driven Life - Sharing Your Message (Godly Passions)
God passionately loves some things and passionately hates things other thing
The closer you are to God - you will share these view

Jesus - Man's heart determines his speech - Matthew 12:34
David - Zeal for God's work burn within him - Psalms 69:9
Jeremiah - Cannot keep silent - Jeremiah 20:9

Are defend the defenseless, those who can not speak for themselves
Should not expect everyone to have the exact same passion as you

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good - Galatians 4:18

2008-07-16 - Purpose Driven Life - Becoming a World-Class Christian (part 2)
Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking

Stop thinking like children (thinking like only of self), and like like mature people (grown ups) - 1 Corinthians 14:20
Most advertising encourages selfish thinking

To make the paradigm switch to mature thinking - need to dependence of God
God has given us his Spirit so we don't think like the world thinks - 1 Corinthians 2:12


Shift from local thinking to global thinking

God so loved the world... - John 3:16
God made all the nations and where they would be, so we would look for him - Acts 17:26-27

The world already thinks globally: business, competition, and news
If you ask me, I will give you the nations - Psalms 2:8

What should we pray for?
  1. Opportunities to witness - Colossians 4:3
  2. Courage to speak up - Ephesians 6:19
  3. Rapid spread of the gospel - John 17:20
  4. More workers - 2 Thessalonians 3:1


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