mindful – Praying Pint

118. “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Genesis 32:10    I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant,

1 Samuel 15:17     And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.

Psalms 8:4    what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

1 Kings 3:9    Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

2 Corinthians 3:5     Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

When it comes to the knowledge of how one may stand before God and attain eternal life, that is truly not to be achieved by our work or power, nor to originate in our brain. In spiritual matters, human reasoning certainly is not in order; other intelligence, other skill and power, are requisite here – something to be granted by God himself and revealed through his Word.

Martin Luther – Of ourselves – in our own wisdom and strength – we cannot effect, discover nor teach any counsel or help for man, whether for ourselves or others. Any good work we perform among you; any doctrine we write upon your heart – that is God’s own work. He puts into our heart and mouth what we should say, and impresses it upon your heart through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we cannot ascribe to ourselves any honor therein, cannot seek our own glory as the self-instructed and proud spirits do; we must give to God alone the honor, and must glory in the fact that by his grace and power he works in you unto salvation.

102. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

1 Samuel 13:1 Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two yearsover Israel, Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Genesis 3:13    Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 4:10    And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.

Joshua 7:19    Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

Exodus 3:7    Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings

Psalms 9:12     For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

James 5:4    Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

Hebrews 4:13  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Proverbs 15:11    Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

Proverbs 15:3   The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Jeremiah 17:10    “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

1 Corinthians 4:5    Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Revelation 2:23    And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Ecclesiastes 12:14    For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Romans 2:16     on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Romans 14:12     So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

John 5:22-29     For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.  Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Please read these verses again. The word of God is clear, true, and worthy of knowing. Without an intentional and consistent daily desire and seeking of His word we will certainly go down paths that seem right in our own eyes but in the end are far from doing that which is worthy of one who has been saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can not escape His judgment and will be held accountable for neglect and complacency and everything hidden and done is secret. Just because we have claimed the blood of Jesus Christ for salvation does not forgive a life of neglect to His word and living as though there is no daily responsibility to, with all our heart and mind seek, desire, humbly serve, honor, listen to, rely on, cling to, follow, and obey Him.

Review your last week. Were you waking with a desire to know and serve Jesus Christ? Were you actively listening to Him quietly speak into your life? Were you going to sleep with thoughts of worship, honor, and glory to His work in your life? Do you think for one second that neglect and complacency are hidden and will not be judged?

Be intentional. Be committed. Desire and seek Him. Choose to study His word. Choose to listen for His quiet whispers of leading. Do that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ for the sacrifice made for you and He did this while you were yet a sinner. He did this out of love for you. He did this so that you might have life and have it more abundantly. He did this to give you a home with Him in eternity. Do not allow neglect and complacency to His word rob what is rightful to Jesus Christ.

They did not know the time of your visitation

Exodus 3:17 I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction

Genesis 15:13-21     Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

Genesis 46:4    I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again

Genesis 50:24     And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Exodus 4:30 And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation

Psalms 8:4     what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Luke 19:44     and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

I’m intrigued by:

God’s all knowing “They will be afflicted for 400 years”,

God’s love “I will go with you”, “bring you up”, “redeem His people”

Man’s rejection “because you did not know the time of your visitation”

Is it possible to see the hand of God at work in and around us and see it? Yes it is. However, seeing it does not mean we recognize it as work of God. It does not mean we trust and rely on Him. It does not mean we are right with God. It does not mean our heart, mind, and soul are worshipping Him and giving Him glory. It does not mean we are serving Him. It does not mean we are in obedience to Him.

To those who are looking, longing, desiring, waiting, and seeking God, they will know His presence at all times. They will see His hand at work even through the affliction, trial, and troubles. They will have peace, rest, refuge, courage, strength, power, might, and hope. They will have trust, reliance and faith. They will be searching and know the work of God through out each day. They will be listening and know God’s whispers of guidance. Though sudden hurt and fear may come upon them they will stay true in God’s ever loving hands.

If you are not walking with God you may not see or hear things of God though they are right before your eyes and shouted into your ears. “because you did not know the time of your visitation”

A complacent walk with God will not see Him or hear Him because the heart and mind are hardened with a love for things of this world above humbly serving, honoring, glorifying, following, and obeying Him.

Abounding in Steadfast Love

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”

Psa 89:1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

Psalms 36:5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalms 92:2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Psalms 119:90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

Psalms 146:6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

Nehemiah 1:5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

Luke 1:50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Hebrews 6:18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Do you ever question God’s faithfulness, promises, steadfast love, mercy, and truthfulness? Keeping a proper mindset toward God requires us to have a continual desire to know and understand Him more and more. Having a hunger and thirst for Him that is not quenchable. Having heart, mind and soul choice to honor and obey Him because of who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do. When you read His word believe it. When you read His word praise Him. When you read His word trust it. When you read His word rely on it. When you read His word cling to it. When you read His word obey it. Praise the creator and author of all there is because He has reached out to His creation and offered eternal life to all who would choose to be forgiven of their sin through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

God honoring life

“Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.

Jeremiah 5:30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

1 Samuel 2:28 Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’ Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Jeremiah 2:21 Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine? Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.

1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

Rejecting knowledge of God leads directly to not honoring Him. There are many ways for us to honor Him. We can start with a desire deep in our heart, mind and soul to know Him. We can live with a committed choice to follow and obey Him. We can seek first how to give the best of what we have with purpose to honor Him. We can endure sorrow and suffering unjustly. We can love others more than ourselves. We can confess our sin and rely on His forgiveness. Honoring God begins in the heart and mind. The manifestation of this want to honor Him can be seen and heard in what we say and do throughout our day. Choosing to neglect Him does not honor Him. Choosing to serve and live for self interests does not honor Him. Choosing not to give generously does not honor Him. We have a choice to make every moment of every day. Joshua put it best “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord”