Psalms of Discipleship (Grace) Principles #18 & #19. May 19, 2012

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/

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