Hello
my dear friends! I hope you are finding the joy of the Lord to be your
strength today. His joy is the juice that fuels our soul when we become
weary in the journey. I've had a week like that. I'm walking through the
churned up waters of career transition but here is what I have
discovered to be true: I can trust in Him at all times. I can pour out
my heart before Him. He is a refuge for me. . . . and if you are a
disciple of Jesus, the same rings true with you too.
Learning to abide in His presence and care,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #20
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8
Core Value: Prayer
What comes first? Is it the chicken or the egg?
This saying has puzzled many for a long, long time. In the final
analysis, does it really matter? Both the chicken and the egg are
forever intertwined. Next question: what comes first? prayer to the Lord
or trust in the Lord? In order for us to have meaningful times of
prayer to the Lord, we must trust in Him too. And in order for us to
place our trust in Him, we need to be about the business of prayer. Both
trust and prayer are essential for the disciple of Jesus.
Wherever one starts, prayer and trust lead to the same destination: a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus.
Principle #20 & Personal Application: Quality disciples trust in the Lord at all times.
• Prayer is the way we can place our trust in the Lord. “Trust in Him at all times, O people.”
• Prayer is the way we can make a full commitment to the Lord. “Pour out your heart before Him.”
• Prayer is the way where we can find that safe place that is found only in the Lord. “God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What kinds of promises does this verse have for the person who feels anxious?
If I really applied the truths behind this scripture, how would it impact the way I pray?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by Your grace, help me to place my trust in You at all
times. May I have the freedom to pour out my heart before You. Thank You
that in You I can find a refuge, a place of safety.
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.
As a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Teacher and Speaker, I can offer you
workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching, aiding your
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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! Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a timely reminder of
how important the choices are that we make every day. Good choices most
always lead to a good outcome. Poor choices usually produce the kind of
result that leads to regret.
Do you feel any kind of undue
pressure to make good choices all of the time? Perhaps, the grace of God
will help you do the best you can and then leave the results to His
Sovereign love and care for you.
Growing in grace,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #17
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 3 For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength
against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take
refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. Psalm 61:3-4
Core Value: Grace
Choices. We make them (or don’t make them) every day. Some of the
choices we make are founded upon a solid confidence that we are making
the right choice at the right time and in the right way. These are the
choices of confidence or courage.
On the other hand we may
make choices that are based upon a paralyzing fear: “What if it is the
wrong choice? What if I cannot control the consequences of my choice?
What if . . .” These are the choices of doubt and fear. The person who
has cultivated a habit of making choices based upon fear have set in
motion a way of life where is no protection and no peace. Consequently,
this person becomes a victim of their choices.
In contrast,
because of grace that is applied, the Quality Disciple of Jesus chooses
to throw his or her full weight upon the Lord’s ability (and promise) to
care for them.
Principle #17 & Personal Application: Quality disciples find a safe refuge in the Lord.
Because of the grace of God, the disciple can experience the Lord’s protection and care, and say . . .
• The Lord has been a refuge for me.
• The Lord has been a tower of strength against the enemy.
• The Lord allows me to dwell in His tent forever.
• The Lord allows me to take refuge in the shelter of His wings.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What does it “feel” like when I sense the Lord’s protection upon my
life? What kinds of emotions fill my heart when I feel safe?
How does the grace of God remind me of the love of God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are a refuge for me. You are a tower of strength
against the enemies of my soul. My heart cry is that You will allow me
to dwell in Your tent forever. My desire is that You will allow me to
take refuge and find protection and care in the shelter of Your wings.
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!
