Psalms of Discipleship, Principle #22 (Grace) June 9, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Have you ever felt like you were grasping onto the last straw and when it breaks (and it most likely will) you will fall into an abyss of hopelessness and despair? If that resonates with you, you are not alone. Many believers today are facing challenging circumstances with frayed relationships, uncertain financial times, and an unending assault upon the truth. What is a disciple of Jesus to do? We can look to the example of the Psalmist and refocus our mind upon the Good Shepherd of the Psalms.

Clinging to Him,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #22

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 7 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6-8

Core Value: Grace

One of the greatest challenges that face the disciple of Jesus is the battle that lies in the mind. It is in the mind where spiritual battles are either won or lost. There is always the constant tension to believe the truth and live it out or to embrace the lie and be bound up in it.

The best way, the only way, to win the battle for the mind is to focus it upon the Lord. This does not come easily. It takes a strong will. It requires a choice. But when we do make the choice to focus our thoughts upon the Lord, the truth of His promise becomes crystal clear: We see that He is our help. We will have a song of joy. And we will cling to Him as He holds us up.

Principle #22 & Personal Application: Quality disciples experience the mysterious tension of doing their part as God does His.

• Disciples of Jesus are to keep their focus upon the Lord: “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches”

• Disciples of Jesus are to remember the faithfulness of God: “For You have been my help”

• Disciples of Jesus are to experience His presence and respond with joy: “And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy”

• Disciples of Jesus do their part and Jesus does His: “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What kinds of spiritual disciplines (habits) I can practice that will cultivate a more focused meditation upon the Lord?

What circumstance am I facing today where I sense my soul is clinging to the Lord? How does this Scripture describe God’s part in helping me cope with my circumstance?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may You always remind me of Your faithfulness to me. Help me remember those sweet times of when I experienced Your touch. May I always remember that You have been my help, even during the dark times. May I always be comforted by Your presence as I sing for joy to You. And may I remember to do my part (cling to You, by grace) as I behold Your keeping power of Your right hand.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Postscript:

I am genuinely excited for the opportunity of doing things that I have only dreamed about previously. By God’s grace I hope to build a leadership coaching and speaking business and impact the market place for Jesus. My business is a RELATIONSHIP business, so as you pray for me ask the Lord for KEY contacts that will lead me to KEY people in KEY organizations. In your own circle of influence, do you know anyone who desires to grow in leadership? I’d love to meet them.

In order to gain a better understanding of what I am offering, you can check out my website at

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #15 (Prayer). April 21, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Warm, grace-driven greetings to each of you. Like you, I am always grateful for grace. When it is rightly applied it draws us closer to the Lord in prayer. This week's Psalms of Discipleship is a wonderful illustration of the tension we experience between spiritual victory and spiritual defeat. In order to consistently win this battle, we need to learn the art of surrender . . . to the Lord.

The lyrics of this classic hymn remind us that surrender is always a choice.

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Learning to surrender,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #15

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 11 O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries. Psalm 60:11-12

Core Value: Prayer

One of the greatest challenges that disciples of Jesus face is a strong tendency of misplaced trust. We tend to trust in the “tangible” (what is seen) instead of the tried and true (often unseen). We often default to our own strength and even the strength of others instead of resting in the strength of our God. We look to other people and other things to deliver us from trouble instead of fixing our gaze upon the only One who can deliver us. There are many life principles that we can learn and apply from the Psalmist. This principle is critical: before we can win, we must surrender to the Lord.

Principle #15 & Personal Application: Quality disciples live in the on-going tension between spiritual defeat and spiritual victory, knowing only a complete surrender to God will produce a great victory.

Some background: In this psalm David has responded in prayer after his nation has been attacked by the Edomites who inflicted great damage. This temporary setback is a lesson in perseverance and in prayer. For the disciple of Jesus there are many spiritual battles that must be fought, and some of these we will lose. The key is to learn from defeat and set out to win the next victory. This is done when we believe and turn to God. After a defeat . . .

• We need to cry out to God for help against our adversary.

• The worst place we can place our trust is in other people.

• We need to believe that through God we will do valiantly (mighty things).

• We need to yield our will to His will for it is God, and only God, who will defeat our foes.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I lose a spiritual battle what kind of steps do I take in order to fight another day?

The Bible teaches that “Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.” There is a part for me to play and there is a part that only God can play. What is my role and what is His promise to me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, remind me to cry out to You when I find myself on the losing end of a spiritual battle. I look to You for help against my adversary. I know that looking to other people instead of You will never produce a good outcome for me. I thank You that through You I will do mighty things as I testify of Your deliverance of my life.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Are you interested in going deeper in your walk with Jesus? Check out my website for a list of resources that will help you become "A Quality Disciple."

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

This week's featured resource!

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