Hello
my dear friends! I trust that your soul is resting in the bosom of its
greatest lover: the Lord Jesus. We live in a day and time where the
distractions to our spiritual growth is challenged by lots of noise and
chaotic circumstances. It is natural to be anxious, to be fearful, to be
doubtful in the world in which we live. Because of grace, we can live a
super-natural life that will free our soul from the things that seek to
enslave our soul. The psalmist addresses the goal for the soul of the
disciple of Jesus. May His grace grant us peace as we learn to teach our
soul to "wait in silence" for God.
Learning with you,
Denny
P.S. Last week I took a week's vacation to restore my soul. For the
most part, it worked. Now, back to writing. This week's Psalms of
Discipleship includes TWO devotions (last week and this week). Thanks to
all of you who take time to read Psalms of Discipleship and respond in
faith to what the Lord impresses you to do as you follow the Shepherd of
the Psalms.
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #18
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my
salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall
not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:1-2
Core Value: Grace
There comes a desperate time in the life journey of the disciple of
Jesus that enough is enough. For some, it seems that the harder we work
for those pockets of solitude, the harder the work becomes. For some of
us, an inner chaos within the soul has become the spiritual drug of
choice. If rest, a quiet silence in the soul stared us in the face, we
might not know what to do with it.
This is where grace comes
in. Rightly applied, grace allows us to do something we cannot do in our
own strength: to wait in silence for God only. Grace allows us to
trust, to wait, to be filled with hope and to be empowered by His
strength.
Principle #18 & Personal Application: Quality disciples seek to rest in the finished work of Christ.
• Grace allows a weary soul to wait in silence for God only. Grace
helps us take a deep breath and rest in Him. “My soul waits in silence
for God only.”
• Grace allows a weary soul to experience God’s
salvation. Grace points us to the source of our salvation. “From Him is
my salvation.”
• Grace allows a weary soul to confess God as
one’s Rock and one’s salvation. Grace fills our heart with the uplifting
truth that God is our rock and our salvation. “He only is my rock and
my salvation.”
• Grace allows a weary soul to find in God a
stronghold, a place of security. Grace leads us to His protection. “My
stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When my life becomes rushed and filled with anxiety, what kinds of promises can I glean from this Psalm?
According to this passage of Scripture, how does a proper understanding
of grace help me to live my life as a quality disciple of Jesus?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You that my soul can wait in silence for God and
for Him alone. I thank You that You are the source of my salvation, and
no other. I thank You for being my rock and my salvation. I am grateful
to You that because You are my stronghold, I will not be greatly shaken.
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.
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #19
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is
from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall
not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my
strength, my refuge is in God. Psalm 62:5-7
Core Value: Grace
Here it is again: the theme of waiting in silence for God only. Those
of us who are disciples of Jesus know most of the “right” answers but
may find the practical application of the truth to be a constant
frustration. In this case, the right answer is to have a soul that is
not a slave to chaotic circumstances. It is to have a soul that is well
trained and not allow anyone or anything to dampen its focus upon God
and Him alone. This sounds wonderful, but how?
Once again,
grace is the key that gives our soul its proper maintenance. Grace opens
up the eyes of the soul to behold the Lord’s gracious provision for us.
Because of grace we see hope, we see the Rock of our salvation and our
strength, we see our Stronghold who keeps us from being shaken, we see
our Refuge. The better we can see through the lens of grace, the easier
it becomes to have our soul wait in silence for God only.
Principle #19 & Personal Application: Quality disciples have learned
the art of soul care by slowing down the hectic pace of life and
finding the spiritual rhythms of life.
• Grace applied allows us to slow down the hurry of the heart and lets the soul wait in silence for God only.
• Grace applied allows us to experience hope from the Lord.
• Grace applied allows us to experience God as our rock and our salvation.
• Grace applied allows us to experience God as our stronghold, the rock of our strength, and our refuge.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I feel hurried in my soul, what can I do to slow down and rest in God?
According to the Psalm, what characteristics of God can I meditate on when I feel uneasy and restless?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by faith and by Your grace, may my soul rest in silence
for You. My hope is from You. You only are my rock and my salvation. You
are my stronghold and I will never be shaken. On You my salvation and
my glory rest. You are the rock of my strength. My refuge is in You.
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/
Are you looking for a way to grow in your leadership skills? I'd love
to have that conversation with you. For more information on how I can
help you go to the next level, check out this website!
http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates
Hello
my dear friends! Do you ever feel stuck no matter how hard you are
trying to get "unstuck" and move into a new-found freedom? People are
stuck in challenging careers, stuck in habitual sin, stuck in harmful
relationships. Today's Psalms of Discipleship addresses what we are to
do when we are stuck. We are to pray.
Stuck to Him,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #16
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2 From the
end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the
rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2
Core Value: Prayer
Do you ever feel “stuck?” No matter how hard to you try to change your
circumstances, no matter how much you read your Bible, and no matter how
many hours you pray, it may seem that you are no further down the path
of progress than you were when you first sensed the need to change. Far
too many times disciples of Jesus hoist the white flag of surrender and
give up on God right before a prayer breakthrough invades our
challenging situation. When we come to the place I call, “Wits Inn,” it
is where we come to the end of our resources and begin to tap into His.
The Psalmist was weary, but not too weary to give up on prayer.
May His grace lead us to the rock that is higher, much “higher than I.”
We all need to get a front row seat in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). For
when we get stuck there, we gain a much better view of the world around
us.
Principle #16 & Personal Application: Quality
disciples believe that the ear of God is within reach, no matter how
difficult life may be.
• Prayer is the resource we use when our hearts are full and we cry out to God.
• Prayer is the resource we use when we need an answer from God.
• Prayer is the resource we use when we come to the end of our rope.
• Prayer is the resource we use when we need a higher perspective.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
According to this passage of Scripture, what promises can I rest in when I come to the end of my rope?
Am I willing to be led by the Good Shepherd? Am I willing to follow Him “to the rock that is higher than I”?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for allowing me to cry out to You when my
heart is full. Thank You for giving heed to my prayer. When I am at the
ends of the earth (at the end of my rope) and feel like passing out, I
rest in Your goodness to lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
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!
One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Book of Psalms. For me, it
is a never-ending wellspring of inspiration and encouragement. If you
are a lover of the Psalms too, check out this link to A One Year Journey
With The Shepherd and order your copy today. Now available in e-book
format for only $9.99!
Why A One Year Journey With The Shepherd May Be A Great Resource For You!
You are invited to spend some time reading and reflecting upon “Psalms
of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd,” a simple, easy
to use, devotional experience. By spending five minutes or fifty-five
minutes on the weekly devotion and Bible study, you will be afforded the
opportunity to enhance your spiritual growth. This unique devotional
consists of fifty-two practical lessons designed for small group or
individual study.
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html
