Table of Contents Table of Contents
Previous Page  9 / 16 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 9 / 16 Next Page
Page Background

The Amish Voice 9

Read Psalm

119:1-8, 20-24

God wants us to

experience His pleasure

in us and His smile on us. He is not a

God who is sitting there with a stick,

waiting for us to mess up, but is rather a

loving Father who finds great pleasure in

His children turning to Him.

He has certain precepts or principles in

place, that when followed, bring blessing

into our lives. When we function outside

of those precepts, we often experience

shame.

He tells us in Psalm 119 that those whose

ways are blameless are blessed. He tells

us that if we keep His statutes and seek

Him with all our hearts we will be

blessed. If we walk in His ways He will

bless us. God WANTS to bless His

children, but so often, our ways prevent

Him from being able to do all He would

like to do in our lives.

In verse 5, the Psalmist expresses regret

in that his ways are not always conducive

to God's blessing and that he had

experienced shame when he did not

consider all of the Lord's commands.

This does not mean that we will come to

shame every time we mess up. God is not

that kind of parent, but one who sees our

hearts;

but as we look to Him with a desire to

learn His ways, and as we obey His

commands, our hearts are upright, and

He delights in us.

As our hearts are consumed with desire

for our Maker and His desires for us, as

our hearts delight in obeying our Father,

as He desires for us, His laws for us

become our delight to obey, and God

redeems us from the curse of the enemy.

It is when we are too proud to consider

His ways for us that we run into trouble.

When we are arrogant, we stray from His

commands and attract curses instead of

blessings.

As we delight in the Lord and what He

wants for us, we can find security in that

and do not need to worry about what

others may say about us or what plans are

made for our demise. If we know our

hearts are right, what others think or say

should not matter. We have peace in our

position with the Father.

I am far from perfect in both obedience

and in not worrying about the opinions of

others, but I find peace in seeking refuge

in my Father's heart, His laws for me,

and the refuge He offers.

END

Delightful Obedience

—By Norma Miller

Three sisters age 92,

94, and 96 live in a

house together. One

night the 96-year old

draws a bath, puts her

foot in and pauses.

She yells down the

stairs, "Was I getting

in or out of the bath?"

The 94-year old yells

back, "I don't know,

I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses,

then she yells, "Was I going up the stairs or coming

down?"

The 92-year old was sitting at the kitchen table having

tea, listening to her sisters. She shakes her head

and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful."

She knocks on wood for good measure. She

then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you

as soon as I see who's at the door."

Three Sisters Getting Older

people. We are laborers together with God (1 Cor. 3:9). We are

ambassadors (representatives) for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).

The Word of God says, "...greater is He that is in you, than he that is

in the world" (1 John 4:4). Let us, therefore, take God at His Word,

and rise up and defeat the enemy, using the delegated authority which

God has given us, in effective wrestling against the powers of

darkness (Eph. 6:10-20). "Behold," Jesus says, "I give unto you

power [authority] …over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19).

This is a true Word, but it must be put into execution by God’s

people.

It is the wicked spirits behind the scenes, the "rulers of the darkness

of this world" (Eph. 6:12), that are causing the confusion today, and

we, taking the whole armor of God, are set to wrestle effectively

against these evil spirits by using the delegated authority which Christ

has given us over all their power, "praying always" (Eph. 6:18).

Oh, to focus, to concentrate, to unite in calling on God, in faith, to

revive us again! (Psa. 85:6). Let us unitedly, in Jesus’ name, resist the

devil till he flees from us (Jas. 4:7). Fritter not away your time in self-

indulgence, in useless chatter and gossip, in non-essentials, but rather

"seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He

is near" (Isa. 55:6). Start now! Cry unto God! Press on in

the battle of prayer. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).

God’s Remedy, Continued (from Back Page)

END