BLESSED PSALMS

I am in Psalms again today.  I read from chapter 32 to chapter 53 this morning, and here are a few of the many things I wrote down in my Bible margin: 1) GOD SPOKE- Psalms 33:6 says:  "By the word of the LORD were the heaven made:  and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."  In Genesis one, we see the phrase over and over:  "and God said".  God created all by speaking it into existence, and that is not all.  God's Word not only says that God created all things by His Word, but that He sustains them today by the Word of His Power.  Notice these two verses as well:  Hebrews 11:3  "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."   Hebrews 1:3  "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"   God spoke... and all were created.  Now, there is power in the spoken word of God and the written Word of God.  Don't take for granted either of them!  His creation (spoken Word) and His Revelation (written Word) to us. 2) DELIGHT FIRST; DESIRES SECOND!  I love Psalms 37:4  "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he has give thee the desires of thine heart."  If we DELIGHT in God, then He gives us the DESIRES of our hearts!  But, the delight comes first and the desires come second.  Focus on the Delight, and you will find that God will shape the DESIRES to be pleasing to Him, and He will be glad to grant them.  Let us all work on the DELIGHT ing of ourselves in the LORD! 3) SPIRITUAL PEP TALK- I'm glad David needed these because I find myself from time to time needing to give myself a spiritual pep talk.  David did it three times in two chapters, and they say just what needs to be said.  Psalms 42:5  "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."   Psalms 42:11  "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."   Psalms 43:5  "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."    Here is David's admonition to himself:  "Hope thou in God!"  And here is his confidence in God's willingness to help him:  "I shall yet praise Him!".  And here is his source of joy in the future:  "Who is the health of my countenance!".   Countenance is facial expression.  In other words.... God will bring back a smile into my life again!  When you are down, as every Christian tends to get from time to time, let this pep talk of David's become yours.  It works!  It did for David, it has for me, and it will for you! Well, I've got to get busy today.  I've enjoyed my time in God's Word and writing down some of my thoughts.  I hope it helps someone to read, but it helps me to write.  May God bless!   Pastor Mike Mutchler