Daryl Pint – Page 242

Test Me

“Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.”

Psalms 17:3
You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Zechariah 13:9
They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

1 Corinthians 4:4
For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

1 Peter 1:7
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 26:2
Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

Saying our heart and mind are given to humbly serving, honoring and glorifying God is one thing but committing to doing it is another. We fight our sinful nature all the time when it is telling us it is all about me, myself and I. How easy is it to lose sight of God in our lives? It is very easy if His word is not feeding our soul every day. Our prayer each day should start with search me, try me and see if there is anything offensive to you God, and lead me on paths that bring your honor and glory.

Call on Him

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”

Psalms 17:1
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

Psalms 86:1
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psalms 142:1
With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.

Psalms 43:1
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!

Psalms 140:12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

Psalms 61:1
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;

Nehemiah 1:6
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.

Hear these heart cries from men of God who did not think it shameful or weak to run to God for help. These cries are heart deep because there is something in their heart, mind and soul that places God first and their life dedicated to being a humble servant with a desire to worship, honor and glorify God. Note in contrast what Jesus said about those whose hearts were not – “this people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” How easy is it to give lip service to being a follower of God while our heart is so far away from living each moment of every day in His presence. God hears our cries for strength and protection but should that be the only time we turn our heart, mind and soul to Him. No it is not. Live each day with Him on your mind, in your heart flooding your soul.

Chosen Portion

“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

Psalms 16:5
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Lamentations 3:24
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Psalms 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 119:57
The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

Psalms 142:5
I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Wow, what words of encouragement and hope when He is chosen, relied on, trusted in, and desired. Listen to how men of God humbly talked about and described God in their life: My portion, my strength, my refuge, my hope, my joy, my instructor, my security, my counsellor. Is it possible we have so many distractions that it keeps us from a deep desire to know and serve Him more each day. We all go through times of busyness yet there are those who seem to have found a way to keep God first in the midst of all of it. What distracts you from seeking and walking with Him? Whatever it is – make a mental decision and choice to begin new today with a heart desire to honor, glorify, serve, and obey God – place these first over all the other things of this life that can distract you.

Disaster and Loneliness

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Psalms 16:4
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

Psalms 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

Psalms 97:7
All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!

Jonah 2:8
Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

Joshua 23:7
that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Romans 2:8-9
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

Proverbs 13:21
Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Many sorrows pursue those who are self-seeking, not obeying or seeking truth, and not fearing God. I wonder what worthless self seeking things I chase after through out the year, month, week, day. How do I identify those things in my life that are not God honoring but are self-seeking? Reading God’s word with a desire to know and serve Him more is a good place to start. On top of reading, add listening to what it is saying to my heart with a willingness to obey. How many days start and finish without a thought of honoring and serving Him? How many days could have been better with Him leading and me following? Start each day with purpose to listen, obey, honor and serve Him. We all meet up with sorrow this side of eternity. Sorrow without God is sorrow without hope and that is disaster and loneliness.

Trusting

“You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.”

“You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.”

Psalms 16:1
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.”

2 Corinthians 1:9
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

2 Timothy 1:12
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Psalms 31:23
Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do

What does it mean to trust in God? For salvation it means that you have and understanding of your sin and the separation it has between you and God. You understand that there is nothing you can do to wash away this sin on your own. Your heart and mind have been revealed the saving grace work of Christ on the cross and God’s knocking on your heart to “Trust” in the work of His son on the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that all who believe in Him would not perish but would have everlasting life.” This “Trust/Belief” is the beginning – being reborn – being made a new creation where your old ways of life are passed and all things are new. The point of salvation is the beginning but there is so much more to how we apply trust into our lives. Trusting in God’s sovereignty and control over all things. Trusting that God’s plan and purpose for your life is perfect. Trusting that nothing can happen to you apart from it being in God’s plan for your life. “All things work together for good to them who are called by His name” Trusting in His strength – not giving up – but fully trusting/resting in God’s hands. Trusting in being able to hear that quiet small voice directing you. Trusting He will guide you. Trusting He will protect you. Trusting He will put people in your life for the purpose of them to encourage you and you them. Trusting is something we can all continue to grow in, and this growth comes from spending time in His word with a desire to know and serve Him more and more each day.

Blameless walk

“he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.”

“He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; “

Psalms 15:1
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Proverbs 2:7-8
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Proverbs 28:18
Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,

1 John 2:6
whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Psalms 34:12-13
What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit

.Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Revelation 22:14-15
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

How would you define what God expects from our life walk with Him? Now then, how does your life mirror that definition? If we stay in His word we will find that our definition is continuing to evolve. Remember “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little” this is how we will grow. Time spent in His word will always lead us to a better understanding of Him which in turns opens our heart and mind to how we should live. The more we read, study, understand, and apply the more we will see room for us to grow in our love, praise, worship, hope, peace, joy……

What’s in your heart?

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,”

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”

Psalms 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:22
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 13:19
A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Luke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks

Romans 1:21-32
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

At times I wonder what is worse, those who claim there is no God and live like it, or those who claim there is a God but don’t live like it. For although they knew God they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him. A good way to determine where God is in your life is to listen to what comes out of your mouth – “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”

Joy & Sorrow

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. “

Psalms 13:1
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Isaiah 12:2
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Psalms 147:11
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Psalms 119:81
My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.

Psalms 36:7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

“I hope in your word”. What have you read in God’s word lately that gives you hope, a place of joy, a refuge, trust, and a reason to rejoice? God’s word says He gives “perfect peace to those whose mind is stayed on Him”. His word is a place we can run to in times of trouble and find peace, hope, joy, strength, mercy, grace, and love. Yet, would’t it be better to have these words in our heart and mind already? Wouldn’t it be better for us to be clutching these promises while in the beginning of our trial rather than searching for something to hang on to? Wouldn’t it be better to have these anchored so that when we encounter someone hurting we can be used by God to encourage them? Purpose to keep His word alive in your heart and mind each day. Always be ready to give account for the faith and hope you have be given in His word.

The Wicked Prowl

“I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.”

Psalms 12:8
On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.

Hosea 5:11
Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.

Job 30:8
A senseless, a nameless brood, they have been whipped out of the land.

Psalms 101:5
Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.

On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man. This should not be a shock to us that the world is in such a state. People tell lies, seek filth, listen to lies, practice deceit, and have arrogant hearts. When I read these verses I am encouraged to pray for leadership of our country. It is not uncommon for them to be in the company of people listed above and my prayer is for them to have discernment in clearly knowing the intent of those who surround them each day. That they are able to hear God’s leading and willing to obey. That their ears are closed to falsehood and they are able to with stand attacks from those in opposition. God open their eyes, ears, and heart to see you and fill them with desire to know and serve you.

Perfect, True, and Right

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”

Psalms 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

2 Samuel 22:31
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalms 119:140
Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

Psalms 19:8
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Psalms 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

His word is true, perfect, right, and pure. By these words we are transformed, made wise and able to discern the will of God for our earthly lives each day. His promises give us hope and assurance. His words teach us precepts of His glory, might, strength, love, mercy, grace, and sovereignty. These words, when we think and meditate on them, are able to transform and grow us in our understanding of Him and His purpose for our life. Do you want to find direction, purpose, or meaning? Spend time in His word, ask Him to open your eyes and heart to hear them speak into your life, think about what they say to your heart, obey His leading. Today is the day to commit to seeking and serving Him.