Tag: Christianity

Psalms 31-40: Waiting on the Lord

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(31-40) Read 38:15.  Again and again in these psalms, we are encouraged to wait on the Lord.  What do you think that means?  Give an example of when you have had to wait upon the Lord.

For what situations in your life today do you need to wait upon the Lord?

In the following verses, what words further describe what this waiting should look like?  Or not look like?  How do each of these ideas apply to your current life situation?

31:24 –

33:20-22 –

37:7-9, 34 –

39:7 –

40:1 –

(31-40) What are we encouraged to do again and again in these verses: 31:6,14-15;  32:10,  33:21,  37:3,5;  40:3-4?  How is this related to waiting?

(31-40) What incentives does God give us to wait upon Him (33:20, 38:15, 40:1)?

What further incentives do we find in 31:19, 34:8, 36:7-9?

How do these incentives encourage you to wait on the Lord in your current life situation?

(31-40) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

A Simple Way to Pray Every Day – Nick Aufenkamp (DG)
The problem of our prayerlessness is not simply with our smartphones or schedules. The problem is with our hearts. So, if we really want to grow in our prayer life, we must take aim at something much deeper than surface distractions: our most inward affections and desires.

Pride Is Poisoning Your Happiness – Jonathon Woodyard (DG)
But how do we lean away from pride and toward humility? There are a number of strategies for the fight, but let me focus on just one: consider fighting pride with pleasure.

How Much Entertainment Is Too Much? – Tim Challies
It is good for us to consider the place of entertainment in the Christian life. What is the purpose of entertainment? How much is enough? How much is too much?

Boring Church Services Changed My Life – Daniel Darling  (CT)
Because somewhere in your congregation are children singing words they don’t know, listening to Scripture they don’t understand, and fighting sleep during a sermon that doesn’t hold their interest. They don’t realize it yet, but the Spirit of God is pressing the gospel message, through yet another “boring” church service, deep within their hearts.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Sermon Songs: Mark 2:13-17

On By BrianIn Mark Hymns

MusicNotes

See Jesus teaching by the sea
Calling Levi to follow
See Levi throwing a party
So Jesus his friends will know
See Jesus with sinners eating
And hear the proud Pharisees
Hear Jesus to sinners calling
Sinners just like you and me
Tell me the story of Jesus
Write on my heart ev’ry word
Tell me the story most precious
That I might live what I’ve heard

 (Some words by Fanny Crosby, to the tune of “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”)

Reflections on Psalms 26-30

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • Glorious God – God is full of glory (29:1-2,9). He is full of power and majesty and beauty (29:3-4; 27:4).  He is enthroned as king (29:10).  How does David respond?  David desires to gaze upon God’s beauty (27:4).  He wants to seek God (27:4,8).  He desires to praise God (29:2).  Consider the glory of God.  How do you need to respond to God?
  • Strength – God is David’s strength and shield (28:7). God is the stronghold of his life so he doesn’t need to fear (27:1).  What situations are you facing that bring fear or worry?  Will you look to God for your strength?

Reflections on Psalms 21-25

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today?  Use those words to talk to the Lord.

  • Trust – Again and again, David speaks of trusting God (21:7, 22:4-9, 25:2). Psalm 23 is a psalm expressing his trust in God.  In what situations do you need to trust God today?  How might the words of Psalm 23 help you?
  • Forgiveness and Instruction – David seeks God’s mercy, asking God not remember his past sins (25:6-7). He asks God to pardon his guilt (25:11) and forgive his sins (25:18).  But he goes further.  He also wants God to instruct him in God’s ways, in God’s truth, in what is right (25:4-5, 8-9).  For what sins do you need to seek forgiveness?  Will you then seek God’s help to overcome those sins in the future that you might follow God’s ways?

Psalms 21-30: Different Types of Psalms

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(28) What is David doing in v1-2? How might you use these verses in your trials?

What trial is David facing according to v3-5?  What trials are you facing?

How does the psalm change in v6-9?  Have you experienced this change in your prayers?

(23) Why do you think this psalm is so popular?

How does it specifically encourage you right now?

(30) What is David doing in this psalm?

For what recent event in your own life could you use this psalm as your own prayer?

(29) For what does David praise the Lord in this psalm?

How might this psalm help you to praise the Lord?

(22) How does this psalm point to Jesus (see especially v1, 16, 18)?

How might it have helped Jesus?  How might it help you?

(21-30) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

What A Wonder – Tim Challies
You, Christian, are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God makes his habitation within you. He has joyfully, willingly, come to you so you can be near to him. This knowledge, this wonder, has powerful consequences…

Give Yourself to Constant & Committed Prayer! – Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Every Christian has at his disposal the most mind-boggling wonder. The weakest saint can come before the throne of Almighty God in heaven in simple prayer.

From Flight to Fight: How Christians Struggle with Sin – Greg Morse (DG)
The paths we take from various temptations will differ, but the principle is the same: seek to find refuge in Christ. Passivity will not keep us from tasting the forbidden fruit. So we actively flee to Christ through well-worn paths such as prayer, Bible intake, camaraderie with fellow soldiers, confession, repentance, accountability, and private and corporate worship.

God Knows What You Need in Worship – Nick Roen (DG)
We come together each week — this multifaceted mosaic called the body of Christ — and somehow, God meets us where we are.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping the Lord with your local church!