Psalm 93:1 (NIV), Psalm 93:2 (NIV), Psalm 93:3 (NIV), Psalm 93:4 (NIV), Psalm 93:5 (NIV), Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

I wonder today what noise are you listening too? It is all to easy in today’s age to focus on that which breeds insecurity – for example, wars in the middle east, the fear of a nuclear attack followed by mass retalliation – or perhaps just the day to day work life security or lack of it!

Consider v3: floods and waves in a storm they are really flippen loud! And it can be quite fearful! What is the noise going on in your life right now that is causing you to fear? Perhaps its job insecurity, family upset, awareness of the insecurity of world economies or fear of world war?

Ok. Now consider God where is he in all this? The end of verse 1 says just as the Lord is clothed in majesty and in strength and power so it is with the world it is, “firmly established and cannot be moved”! And in v4 the Lord is mightier than the noise of the many waters!

Take heart! The noise you hear around you which is giving rise to insecurity know that the Lord is greater!

But how do we get that revelation into our heart?
v5 holds the key:
The testimony of what God has done and is doing not just in your life but the lives of people around you and in history!
Amplified adds, ‘separation from sin, simple trust and hearty obedience’
Know today as the scripture says that you overcome by the blood of the lamb (freedom from sin), and the word of your testimony (continued hearty obedience) why because God loves you so much he always desires the best for you. Today if you hear the noise go back to God and allow his love surround you and keep you and then the noise, well it’ll fade imto insignificance!

Psalm 92:1 (NLT), Psalm 92:2 (NLT), Psalm 92:4 (NLT), Psalm 92:10 (NLT), Psalm 92:14 (NLT), Psalm 92:15 (NLT)

What kind of persn are you in the morning?
Do you wake up and say to yourself, “OMG! It’s morning already” or do you jump up and exclaim with great joy, “Thank God it’s morning!” in an attitude of worship and thanksgiving.

For me I’d probably say that many a time it’s a mixture of the too if I’m totally honest – you know the mind doesn’t do what the heart responds!

This psalm opens as a song to be sung on the last day of the week exclaiming thanks to God for the good things he’s done!
Give thanks for:
v1 – who he is (most high God)
v2 – his character – he’s faitful and loves you continually
v5 – what he has done and is going to do – you know he’s thinking of you, his Church in the world and the impact it should be having in the world!

Consider your response:
v4 – “You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” When was the last time you exclaimed a joyous thril for what he has done for you? a thril to me is like going to a fairground ride or your best moment in that sporting moment where you scored, or reached the highest peak – you shout out a loud shrill as the moment enthrills you!!
v10 – know this! you are strong! you are anointed! not with any old anointing – but only the best!

Today as you go about your day look for the joy, see the thrills that the Lord is smiling over you – and go on, shout out a thrilling sound of joy in thanks to God!

Psalm 90:1 (NIV), Psalm 90:12 (NIV), Psalm 90:14 (NIV), Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

Life is short. Yet we will always make time for that which we value!

This psalm declares to be of Moses. Consider for a moment just how Moses saw many generations some of which held fast to the promises of God whilst others wandered from it! How frustrating Moses must of been yet also encouraged at seeing how faithful God remains to each generation!

Give some consideration to where you are today with God! Don’t be a generation that wanders but instead be certain of the hope and destiny you hace in Him!

V1 – a call to your generation to stay faithful
V11 – appreciate the days you have! You are alive today because you have something someone else needs to hear! Understand that life is fragile get wisdom in how to live? Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. – that is a healthy respect, reverence.
V14 – start each day being satisfied with God’s unfailing love this will set you up for the day!
V17 – know success in your life as you walk in the destiny and plan he has for you!

How does what you value today encourage you to live as a generation set apart for the things of God?
What is the Lord calling you to be successful in and how might you change the way you do things to honour the Lord and others in your life?
In what ways can you experience God’s unfailing live today so that you may walk out in Joy!

Psalm 90:12 (NIV), Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

Life is fragile. We see evidence of this everyday, only yesterday the news reported the loss of 22 children killed in a bus crash in switzerland – such a tragedy and I’m sure all of us feel the grief and pain of the parents hurting with this loss.

Learn to appreciate the life that you have today!

Psalm 90 v 12 says to, “teach us to number our days…” (NIV) the NLT puts it like this, “teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” or in the message, “Oh! teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”

The title of this psalm says, “of Moses, man of God” consider Moses life for a moment – all that he saw, the mistakes, the pain, the rejection of God by the people, for one Moses for sure new the ‘brevity or folley”of life particuarly when we don’t consider God and his plan and purpose for our lives!

Two things in this psalm to focus:
1. Get wisdom for life, consider your days – make the most of every opportunity you have (v12)

Psalm 89:32 (NLT), Psalm 89:33 (NLT), Psalm 89:34 (NLT), Psalm 89:52 (NLT)

How are you at keeping promises? Most likely many of us have been rubbish at keeping our promises even when many promises are conditional to certain events.

Consider the promise in this psalm. Is there a condition and to what extent is the promise lost if the condition is broken?

Interesting to note in this psalm we see a glowing account of the faithful promises of almighty God paralelled to the failings of the people to live up to those promises! We see too that it is not that God has neglected the promise he made but as a consequence to sin there is a failure to receive God’s promise of life and how its intended to be!

The amazing fact of almight God he never forgets the promise he has made!
(v4) in v31-32 we read “if they do not keep my decrees… …then i will punish their sin…” in other words it is a consequence of turning away from Father God we find ourselves punished as it were – separated from God he doesnt listen to our selfish cries!

However and this is the amazing bit, despite our disobediance the promise still stands! (v33-34) “But, i will never stop loving them… Nor fail to keep my promise… (or) will i break my covenant… Or take back a single word I have said”

Wow! Amazing God’s promise still stands today! He is waiting, longing for people to return to live according to his ways – in loving friendship with Almight God – Wow! All that is needed is to turn back, say sorry and choose this day to live in the promises that God has intended for you!

Psalm 88:1 (NLT), Psalm 88:2 (NLT), Psalm 88:3 (NLT), Psalm 88:11 (NLT), Psalm 88:12 (NLT), Psalm 88:13 (NLT), Psalm 88:14 (NLT), Psalm 88:15 (NLT), Psalm 88:16 (NLT), Psalm 88:17 (NLT), Psalm 88:18 (NLT)

Consider for a moment what it means to be depressed:

Focusing on an aspect of life, your situation where hope is seemingly lost.

This psalm we see the cry of the someone in despair:
- friends abandoned, even no longer alive!
- enemies around taunting
- sickness since youth

Look at the rhetorical statements in vv10-12 begs the question that wallowing or allowing your focus to be on the dark times is totally pointless – its even self-destructive!

Instead:-

1/ CRY OUT TO GOD vv 1-2, 13 when all else fails the only thing to do is utterly cry out to God – receive his Life, his love even admidst the dark times and allow his light to flood in!

2/ BE REAL – vv 3-7, 14-18 whatever situation you find yourself in, be real with God! Allow him to lift your head!

So that YOU may REFOCUS ON THE WONDERFUL THINGS GOD IS DOING – learn a grater dependancy on Him!

The devil will try to keep you FOCUSED on the darkness – dont let him destroy your peace!

TODAY get lifes lows in there correct context! In the face of eternity its temporary for those who believe and trust in Jesus!

Psalm 87:2 (NLT), Psalm 87:4 (NLT), Psalm 87:5 (NLT), Psalm 87:6 (NLT), Psalm 87:7 (NLT)

As I reflect on this psalm this morning I’m reminded of Paul’s letter to the Romans, Ëveryone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved”and simularly we see here just how much it is God’s desire that people are part of His kingdom!

Consider for a moment some privaleges of being a citizen of God’s city:
- Your place is secured! God loves the place! (v1-2)
- people willl be there that you least expect! (v4)
- the city is famous amongst the nations (v3)
- Everyone is welcome, “this one and that one were born in zion… (5)
- the source of life to the nations (7)

In this passage we find not such an individual citizenship and listing those rights as is customary in today’s world – instead the focus is upon the nations! A corporate identity of whole nations enjoying the citizenship of heaven – Jerusalem!

Where are you today? Where is your citizenship? Do you know you are able Today to enter into the citizenship of heaven?

Jesus said that he has come to give you Life in all its fullness – that is the hope, real hope found only in the joy of belonging as a citizen of heaven!

Do you know today you can be born into God’s city and become a citizen of his kingdom today! Where are you today – inside or on the outside?

Jesus went to the cross to secure a place for you in this city so that you can become a citizen of heaven! It takes a big man or women to admitt they need God – today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart as you did in rebellous times…

Dear Lord,
I’m truly sorry for living selfishly for just me. Thank you Jesus for dieing for me on the cross, I receive your forgiveness and a clean start that you may help me today to live as a citizen of heaven. Show me Lord Jesus how much you love me today, soften my heart that I may truly get to know you. teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth. Thank you Jesus for loving me. –Amen.

Psalm 86:8 (NLT), Psalm 86:9 (NLT), Psalm 86:10 (NLT)

What is a pagan god in modern life? How do they compare with the one true God today?

Many things today fight or compete for our attention. We are also in the midst of a battle for our attention!

I’ve been reflecting recently for lent on Jesus being pushed out into the wilderness where satan tried with all is effort to win Jesus over to worshp him – in other words become the authority in Jesus life. And of course we know it didn’t work, satan failed miserably – giving us an example that in Christ we have authority over satan giving us the power to resist attemting to gain authority on our lives!

In a simular way today satan uses all kinds of distractions to become the focus of our attention away from God! It’s not so obvious as pagan gods or idols but subtle, perhaps too busy, TV, sport even friends really anything that takes our time away from knowing our Heavenly Father in an intimate way.

And what of the comparison to those distractions that replace God?

Can these things heal the sick, raise the dead, forgive sins or drawer is into the loving presence of God? No of course not!!!

Instead consider today the distractions of life drawing you away from a relationship with your heeavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heed the words of James, “Drawer near to God and he will drawer near to you, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Psalm 84:2-5 (NLT), Psalm 84:7 (NLT), Psalm 84:10 (NLT)

After a long day at work, school or college there is something refreshing about coming home! Get the picture?

In the psalm today we read of joy in the house! Do you long to get into that place, that presence you can call home?

There is a real joy, refreshing, peace and strength renewed coming back into the presence of God – its like your spiritual home!

V2 & 10 – Where would you rather be? do you long to make your home with Father God? Imagine you have had a long tiring day and you just want to come home get refreshed, renew your strength! Do you know the Lord desires for you to make HIM your home where your strength is renewed and real joy will be experienced!

Compare where you’re spending your ‘home’ time today? Is it leading you into the joy of the Lord? Here is some of the characteristics of Joy:
Blessed (v4-5)
Peace (v6) even through troubled times
Strength renewed & growing (v5 & 7)
Wow factor (natural shouts of joy bursting out) (v2)
Refreshed (v6)
Set your minds on the things of God (v5)
Presence of God, appreciate and need more (v1 & v3b)

Spend some time hanging out with Father God today, make him YOUR HOME the place you run too! Ask Him to fill you with real JOY!

Reflections based on Psalm 82:5 (NLT)

Darkness is the absence of light!
Injustice is the absence of justice!
Injustice is a lack of respect for others!
Judgement is a consequence of sin!
Judgement is the absence of righteousness!
Righteousness is living daily out of a respect for God!

Consider the lack of respect there is for Creator God in the world! We hear daily in the news of nations oppressing their people – this WILL lead to divine judgement. Yet! God’s grace and mercy always triumphs first – the very nature of God is that He doesnt desir to bring judgement and destruction for the injustices of humankind but instead WAIT patiently for as many as possible to turn from rebellion, ignorance or wickedness to CHANGE hearts and live in RENEWED relationship with Father God! After all did not Jesus at the cross receive judgement that he didnt deserve for our rebellion ONCE & FOR ALL TIME so that through the cross we may know forgiveness and live CLEAN before Father Creator God!!!

STOP living in darkness ask FATHER GOD to forgive your rebellion, ignorance and see that JESUS took the judgement you deserve away at the CROSS so that you CAN start LIVING RIGHT with God TODAY!

If you not part of a CHRISTIAN church already find one they will help you grow in the things of God!