Psalm 130-135

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Reading psalm after psalm these days really makes me examine my heart. There is such a sense of urgency in all of these psalms. So much so that they often make me feel ashamed for not doing the same. The writers don't just stay put. They are always seeking God, whether in times or trouble or in times of praise. They are always moving ahead with God with all of their hearts.

I was reminded this morning of the need for this kind of urgency in my life. Because in my walk with Jesus, I'm never really staying put. Either I am seeking God and going forward or I am relying on myself and sliding backwards. There really is no middle ground. And as I look back at this week, this really is the reality. The enemy is, indeed, all around me. There can be no rest in my walk with Jesus. My rest can only come from me seeking and crying out to him.

Let's put our hope in God's word this morning. He really is our only source of hope. Thank you, Jesus:)

Phillipians 4:10-13

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know hat it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

We learned in tonight's bible study about the secret of being content. Content simply means lacking nothing. All of our needs and desires are fulfilled. How do we do that?

Pastor Timothy taught us that we become discontent when we feel we are not in control of our lives. This happens when we are living in subjection to our circumstances. Living by sight instead of by faith.

Here is the 3 criteria to happiness and contentment: 1) Have someone to love and be loved, 2) Have purpose in life, and 3) Have something to look forward to. These three criteria are fully fulfilled in Jesus. In him, we lack absolutely nothing. Let's always remember to remind each other of this fact whenever we find the other being discontent.

Psalm 120-124

If the LORD had not been on our side–let Israel say–if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.

Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Do we believe that God is on our side? We learned last night that when we find ourselves in troubles, it is usually due to our incomplete trust in the Lord. We say we trust God with our lives, but we don't really. Many of us choose to keep certain areas of our lives to ourselves. Why do we do that?

Let's allow God to search our hearts this day for the reason behind our incomplete trust in him. And be reminded as this psalm says that God, indeed, is on our side. He wants us to fully trust him. He wants to be our all. Let's choose this day to let God be our all for he truly cares for his children. Praise God!

Genesis 33-34

So that Esau started on his way back to Seir. Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth.

From the story of Jacob, we learned about the consequence of partial obedience. When we don't completely obey and surrender ourselves to God, God cannot bless us. We always ask for blessings, but we don't realize that God is willing and ready but we are not ready to receive his blessings.

Let's commit to follow and obey God wholeheartedly not because of his blessings, but because we love him.

Psalm 112-118

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. The I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

As I read this psalm, the word "simplehearted" caught my attention. I was reminded of a child's heart. When I was a child, I looked to my father for help in all things. He was the guy that can do everything. I did not doubt. I knew that when I called on him, he will take care of all my needs.

My heart was simpler back then. Now my heart is very complicated. I find it very difficult to take my heavenly father's word just as it is. So much doubt. So much unbelief.

When I think of God changing me, I don't picture myself getting more complicated. I picture God helping me digress my complicated heart to a simple heart. And the amazing thing about God is that as I become more simplehearted and more dependent on him, the stronger I become by his power.

Let's pray for God to make us simplehearted this day. We have a loving heavenly father who wants and desires us to go to him for all things. His love for us endures forever. Praise God:)

Zechariah 11-14

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

We have accepted Jesus as our Lord and savior when we first believed. Since then, a lot of times, I struggle because I try to be the lord of my life instead of letting God reign. This happens when I am proud and in unbelief.

God's been telling me to stop trying to have my way but let him take control because he has a perfect plan for me. I need to hold on to his promise and let his will be done. I am so glad that he wants to be my lord. I don't need to worry. I can lay down all my burdens at his feet, and he will take care of me.

Let's praise God for coming to our life and being our lord. Hallelujah!