Tag Archives: psalm 107

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Importance of a Sincere Testimony

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 78:1-7

What is a testimony? Some believers think that it’s just a brief account of the way God has worked in their life. While that may be true, our testimony is much more than simply a short story.

One important aspect of our testimony is our character, which should include a spirit of obedience. Do we follow God’s instruction on occasion but ignore Him the rest of the time? An obedient spirit follows His guidance, no matter what. At times our actions may outwardly display obedience, but nobody except God knows what lies within our heart. He sees our true character, and it should line up with the story we tell others to glorify Him.

Our conduct—in other words, what we do—is another facet of our testimony. If what we say conflicts with our behavior, then we cloud our witness, and unbelievers may consider us hypocritical or doubt the genuineness of our faith. The way we act should confirm who we are in Christ.

Finally, a third part of our testimony is our conversation. As Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” This gives us an opportunity to tell others what God is doing in our lives. Our words can be significant to an unbeliever who doubts the existence of God or the divinity of Christ.

When our character, conduct, and conversation fail to match who we are in Christ, we hamper our ability to reach others with the gospel. A testimony can make the difference between doubt and faith in the life of an unbeliever. How authentic is your personal testimony?

 

 

 

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Too Blessed

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Our Daily Bread

Psalm 107:1-8

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! —Psalm 107:8

On my daily commute to and from the office, I have plenty of time for reading—bumper stickers on cars, that is. Some are surly, others clever, and still others downright distasteful. One bumper sticker I saw recently, however, gently challenged my heart about the way I often engage life. The sticker simply said, “Too blessed to complain.”

I must confess that I felt convicted as I pondered those words. Too often I find myself lamenting moments in life that don’t go my way, rather than focusing on the wonderful gifts my heavenly Father has given me. Reading that simple message that day brought me a renewed commitment to be more actively and intentionally grateful because my God has been good to me in more ways than I could ever count.

Psalm 107 is a song that seeks to rectify thankless thinking. The psalmist (who many think was King David) makes a plea to hearts grown cold with ingratitude, repeating four times, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (vv.8,15,21,31). Even in the worst of times, we have much to be thankful for. May we learn to thank God for His goodness to us! —Bill Crowder

Count your blessings—name them one by one;

Count your blessings—see what God hath done;

Count your blessings—name them one by one;

Count your many blessings—see what God hath done. —Oatman

We don’t need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful.

Bible in a year: Psalms 35-36; Acts 25

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – The Glory of God

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Alistair Begg

The Lord our God has shown us his glory.  Deuteronomy 5:24

God’s great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this would be unworthy of Himself.

But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single in its focus; he always has a side glance toward his own honor, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted. And this is the reason why He often brings His people into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying and hence but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks know but little of the God of tempests; but they who are “doing business on the great waters”1 see “his wondrous works in the deep.”2 Among the huge waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: It is this that has given you your experience of God’s greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: Your trials have been the crevice of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance that continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction you have been qualified for the outshinings of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.

1 – Psalm 107:23

2 – Psalm 107:24

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – The Sacrifice of Praise

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John MacArthur

“Offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).

“Praise the Lord” is a common expression today. Some see it as a catchy slogan, others commercialize it, still others reduce it to nothing more than “P.T.L.” But despite such attempts to trivialize it, praising the Lord remains the believer’s expression of love and gratitude to a God who has been abundantly gracious to him. That was the cry of David’s heart when he said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps. 34:1-3). That will be the song of believers for time and eternity!

God desires and deserves your praise. That’s why Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through [Christ] . . . let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” But what is praise? Is it merely saying “praise the Lord” over and over again, or is there more to it?

Two aspects of praise are obvious in Scripture. First is reciting God’s attributes. That was the typical means of praise in the Old Testament. For example, Psalm 104 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Thyself with light as with a cloak” (vv. 1-2).

The second aspect of praise is reciting God’s works. Psalm 107:21-22 says, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing.”

Praise involves reciting God’s attributes from a heart of love, giving Him honor and reverence for who He is. It also involves reciting what He has done on behalf of His people. Your praise should follow the same pattern so it will be an acceptable spiritual sacrifice to your loving God.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Read Psalm 103 as a prayer of praise to God.

For Further Study:

Scripture mentions other spiritual sacrifices that believers should offer. Read Romans 15:16, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 4:10-18, Hebrews 13:16, and Revelation 8:3, noting what those sacrifices are.

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – Saturated Hearts

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It might be a toss-up on a hot, summer day to know which would be better: cold water or good news from a far country. In today’s verse, Solomon gives them equal due.

Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Proverbs 25:25

Good news from a far country can come in many forms. During Jacob’s life, in a period of famine in his country, word came that there was plenty of food in Egypt. In times of weather-related disasters, kinfolk in other regions impatiently await reports of their family’s well-being. Today’s military serve on the other side of the world; their loved ones eagerly await a call to know of their safety.

Good news from afar can be as invigorating as water to a dehydrated man. And though Solomon may not have been thinking of it, there is no better news for the lost sinner than the salvation story…cold water for a thirsty soul. Heaven was far away but God sent His Son to bring you closer to Him.

In America today, some will reject Jesus and refuse to acknowledge the longing in their soul. They are thirsty but reject God’s gift of living water. Pray for them…that the Holy Spirit will overcome their objections and saturate their hearts with His love.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 107:1-9

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Our Daily Bread — Navigating The Storm

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Psalm 107:23-32

He commands and raises the stormy wind, . . . and He brings them out of their distresses. —Psalm 107:25,28

The ancient people of the nation of Axum (located on the Red Sea in modern Ethiopia) discovered that the stormy winds of the monsoon season could be harnessed by sail for speedy navigation. Rather than dreading the high winds and rains, they learned how to navigate their way through the storm.

Psalm 107 provides a wonderful word picture of how God allows storms to come our way, and then provides help for us to navigate through them. “He commands and raises the stormy wind, . . . and He brings them out of their distresses” (Ps. 107:25,28).

Trusting God for guidance in troubled times is a biblical theme. Hebrews 11 lists many who used their problems as an opportunity to exercise faith and to experience God’s grace, provision, and deliverance: “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, [and] out of weakness were made strong” (vv.33-34).

Stormy circumstances are inevitable. Although our first reaction may be to run from the problem, we can instead ask God to teach us how to trust Him to navigate us through the storm. —Dennis Fisher

When life feels like a storm-tossed sea

With crashing waves of pain and grief,

Turn to the Lord and trust in Him,

He’ll give you peace and bring relief. —Sper

Better to go through the storm with Christ than to have smooth sailing without Him.

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Alistair Begg – Asking “Why?”

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He led them by a straight way.  Psalm 107:7

Changing circumstances often causes the anxious believer to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” I looked for light, but darkness came; for peace, but faced trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain stands firm, I shall never be moved. Lord, You hide Your face, and I am troubled. Only yesterday I could read my title clearly; but today my evidences are blurred, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I could climb the mountain and view the landscape and rejoice with confidence in my future inheritance; today my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but great distress. Is this part of God’s plan for me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?

Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope–all these things are just parts of God’s method of making you ready for the great inheritance, which you will soon enjoy. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith–they are waves that wash you further upon the rock–they are winds that steer your ship more quickly toward the desired haven. What David wrote then will be true of you: “he brought them to their desired haven” (verse 30). By honor and dishonor, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace–by all these things your spiritual life is maintained, and by each of these you are helped on your way.

Do not think, believer, that your sorrows are out of God’s plan; they are necessary parts of it. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom.”1 Learn, then, to “count it all joy . . . when you meet trials of various kinds.”2

O let my trembling soul be still,

And trust Thy wise, Thy holy will!

I cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see,

Yet all is well since ruled by Thee.

1 – Acts 14:22

2 – James 1:2