The LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake

 For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. 1 Samuel 12:22

The Lord will not forsake His people, not because the people is worthy, but for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased Him make them His people.

Because His name is forever glorious, then He will be with His people forever.

What joy it is to be a part of the people that the Lord has chosen.

From my diary,

May 10, 2023

A God-fearing person will not honor the wicked

 

In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD … Psalm 15:4

A true Christian, who has a pure heart, and walks uprightly, should he treat everyone the same?

Bible says that a vile person is despised in the eyes of those who walk uprightly and they honour those who fear the Lord.

This is how the prophet Elisha acted, when Jehoshaphat the God-fearing king of Judah, and Jehoram, the wicked king of Israel came to him. Elisha answered Jehoram with disdain, saying: “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” and he showed respect to Jehoshaphat, stressing that it was only because of his presence that he looked at Jehoram and only by respecting his presence did he give an answer from the Lord to their problem. (2 Kings 3:13, 14).

A God-fearing person will not honor the wicked, regardless of the position and power of the wicked.

From my diary,

May 9, 2023

Praying against temptation

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Luke 11:4

The prayer Jesus taught should be the prayer of every Christian. Praying against temptation is a must if we don't want to fall into it. But it would be foolish to pray and not avoid occasions of temptation.

Lead us not into temptation; The one who prays this prayer knows the danger of the temptation, he knows that he cannot overcome it by himself, he knows that God can deliver him from evil. He neither underestimates the power of temptation, thinking that he can overcome it without the Word of God, without prayer, nor he overestimates it, thinking that it is impossible to avoid sin.

Therefore, a person who trusts the Lord, loves holiness, and flees from sin will pray this prayer every day.

From my diary,

May 8, 2023

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: Right decision for victory

 

Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 7

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

There are enemies, there is the need to be saved and to overcome, but there is also the right decision: I will call upon the LORD. There is a true testimony about the Lord: He is worthy to be praised. And there is the  right expectation: so shall I be saved from my enemies.

It is impossible to win in the spiritual warfare  if I try to fight on my own, I have to call someone who is powerful, victorious, who can defeat the enemy and  who has never been defeated. David knew who to call. If he calls on the Lord, then surely he does not rely on himself, and he knows the result of calling on the Lord.

When the enemy comes with temptations, let me decide like David that I will call on the Lord, and like David I will believe that I will be saved from my enemies.

Topical meditation 2023

May 7

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: My trainer in spiritual warfare

 

Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 6

Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1

Another verse from the book of Psalms in which the psalmist praises God for his victories. God trains his hands for war, but the psalmist is not sitting idle, he is at war. He is learning to fight. The Lord gives us strength and weapons for war, teaches us to fight, but we ourselves must fight against sin, temptations, and the devil's plans.

I need training in spiritual warfare, and I have a trainer in warfare; He is my Rock!

Topical meditation 2023

May 6

 

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: Lest the devil rejoice

 

Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 5

Lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” lest my adversaries rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. Psalm 13:4, 5

My God, in You I trust, do not let me be ashamed; do not let my enemies rejoice over me. Psalm 25:2

How many times have I allowed my enemy, the devil, to say: "I have overcome her." I must never let this happen again. I must always be careful and awake, lest sin overcome me, laziness overcome me, indifference overcome me. Lest the devil rejoice in turning me away from the Lord.

To prevent this from happening I will not trust myself, I will  trust in the lovingkindness of the Lord.

If I put my hope in the Lord's mercy, my heart will certainly rejoice in the Lord's salvation, and the devil will have no reason to rejoice.

When I rely on myself, failure is inevitable, and then the one who rejoices will not be me, but the devil.

I will rely only on the Lord's lovingkindness.

When you trust  in the Lord, you will have no reason to be ashamed, the devil and his children will have no reason to mock.

I trust the Lord to make progress in sanctification, so that the devil will not have a reason to be happy because of me.

Topical meditation 2023

May 5

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: God treads down our enemies

  Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 4

Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 60:12

Is it possible to have courage if you have great troubles, many enemies? Yes, if there is someone who treads down your enemies. Our mighty Lord tramples down our enemies, that’s why we go out into battle without fear. If we have had at least one victory in the spiritual warfare,  we can be encouraged and  expect new victories. 

Topical meditation 2023

May 4

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: Encouraged by past victories

 

Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 3

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. Psalm 44:3

Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us. Psalm 44:5-7

I see two important things in these verses about spiritual warfare and victory. Remembering past victories helps to believe in future victories. The psalmist has heard what victories God had given their fathers in the past and being encouraged by this, he believes that there will be victories in the future with God's power. I really love  John Bunyan's book ‘’The Pilgrim's Progress’’. I have just remembered  what Hopeful told to Christian in the Doubting Castle of  Giant Despair: "My brother, remember how valiant you have been up to this time! Apollyon could not crush you—nor could all that you heard, or saw, or experienced in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What hardship and terror you have already gone through—but now are you so fearful?’’

When the fight gets tough, it's helpful to remember the past victories that the Lord has given us.

The psalmist also saw that their fathers were not saved from their enemies by their own sword and their own strength, but the hand of God gave them victory. That is why he does not trust his sword, his bow, his strength, but he relies on the Lord.

I want to summarize what I learned from these verses: if God has given victory in the past, then I believe that He will give victory in the future. If my sword and my bow have failed me in the past, I will not trust them in the future.

  Topical meditation 2023

May 3

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: God trains my hands for battle

Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 2

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Psalm 18:34

For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. Psalm 18:39

Again, I see that the Psalmist does not attribute his military skills to himself. He knows that it is the Lord who trains his hands for battle. David thanks the Lord for courage, strength, skills, and weapons. The verb is written in the present tense, meaning that God is still training his hands for war. David did not get these skills at once, but gradually.

Defeat in spiritual warfare is inevitable when a person thinks he can win on his own. And no one lives a perfectly victorious life overnight.

God trains our hands for war, and one victory leads to another, with each victory we grow stronger. He who knows that the Lord is training his hands for war, will not be self-confident, but will trust in the Lord, will not be afraid, but will be brave, will not tolerate defeat, but will expect victory, will put on the armor of God, will take the sword of the Spirit, he will recognze the plans of the enemy lest he fall into the snare of the devil, he will not boast after the victory, but will glorify God.

           Topical meditation 2023

May 2

Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory: enemies are too strong for me but my Lord is the strongest

 Topical meditation:

 Psalmist’s battles and God’s victory

Day 1

He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. Psalm 18:17

In this verse  the psalmist

1. Admits his own weakness: his enemies are stronger than him.

2. Testifies of God's power. God is mightier than all and He delivered David.

There is humility and praise in these words. David does not attribute the victory to himself, but to God. Our  temptations are stronger than us, but God delivers us from them all, therefore He must be glorified in all our victories.

Topical meditation 2023

May 1

Not a coincidence but God's providence

 And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Ruth 2:3

It is written; ‘’And she happened to come... ‘, but that meeting was not a coincidence, but God's plan. God's way of working is wonderful, He works in a simple way and accomplishes His extraordinary plans through everyday, ordinary things. God had guided Ruth's steps to the field of Boaz, but it was her decision to take care of her mother-in-law that led her there in the first place. Poverty also played a role in God's plan, as it motivated Ruth to do hard work and end up in the right place at the right time. Ruth's willingness to worship the God of Israel and her humility and diligence were key factors in the implementation of God's plan, which ultimately led to her becoming an ancestor of Jesus. Ruth's goal was only to find food for the day, but God's plan was more glorious. Ruth's decision to serve the God of Israel, the difficult condition of two widows, and Ruth's humility and diligence played an important role in the implementation of God’s plan.

If I worship the true God and perform my usual, daily duties faithfully, the Lord will bring into my life "coincidences" that He Himself has planned.

From my diary,

April 30, 2023

 

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people… Psalm 149:4

Sweet news from Psalm 149:4

It's always sweet and pleasant to me,

Each minute spent with You, dear Lord,

Your presence fills me with such glee,

What a delight to hear Your holy Word!

But precious Lord, wonderful Jesus,
Psalm 149:4 brings such sweet news

That You also take pleasure in us, Your people,

And love to hear our prayers and our heart’s muse.

You eagerly await those quiet times,

When I open my heart to Your holy Word,

You're happy to spread Your light in my heart

And listen to the song that my heart sings, o Lord.

Jesus, You are my joy, I delight in You,

What a delight to know that I am Your joy too.

Precious gift for precious Jesus

 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? Mark 14:4

And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. Mark 14:6

My favorite biblical heroine gave Jesus the most precious thing she had. She who had chosen the good portion for herself she chose for Jesus the most precious gift, ointment of spikenard.

Some of those present thought it was a great waste, but in the eyes of Jesus it was a good work.

It was a good work because

1. It was an expression of love and reverence for Jesus

2. It was a sincere sacrifice. Mary did not buy cheap oil, she bought expensive oil for Jesus.

3. She did it without ostentation. She didn't talk about it either before or after the anointing.

4. She didn't think about what people would say. Sհe knew some would criticize, and say it was a big waste.

Mary did not open the box so she could use it for something else, but broke it. Sհe showed by her actions that Jesus deserves the best. The most precious person deserves the most precious gift.

I will learn from Mary to break my alabaster box at the feet of Jesus.

From my diary,

April 28, 2023

No place for devil

Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27

Anyone involved in spiritual warfare knows that if you give the devil a little place, he will gradually expand his territory. If the devil succeeds in persuading a Christian to listen to his suggestion, he will surely succeed in persuading him to do it. If we do not resist the devil at the beginning of the temptation, it will be harder to resist later and sin will become inevitable. If we do not abstain from all appearance of evil, the devil will tempt us to do every evil thing. If we put some wicked thing before our eyes, the devil will put wicked things in our heart. If we choose the lesser evil, there will be room for more evils. If we tolerate one sin, he will bring more sins. If we approach his trap, chances are we will fall into it. I will give place to the Word of God in my heart, I will find a place for myself at the feet of Jesus and I will never give place to the devil.

From my diary,

April 27, 2023

Right choice made, help expected

 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. Psalm 119:173

He who has made the right choice can ask for the right help from Him who alone can truly help. He wants to help, knows how to help and is able to help.

When the right choice is made, help will come. If my heart has chosen His precepts, then His hand will help me. I choose the Lord's precepts all the days of my life, I choose His precepts regardless of what others choose, I choose His precepts, and reject anything that might make it difficult for me to keep them.

When the commandments of the Lord are chosen, then there is a decision to obey the Word of God, there is a thirst for the Word of God, there are eyes turned to the Word of God, there are feet ready to run in the paths of His commandments, and therefore there is help from Him whose precepts ts we have chosen.

He who has chosen holiness can be sure that the Lord will help him to live a holy life, he who has chosen to serve the Lord can be sure that the Lord will give him the necessary strength, wisdom, and opportunity to serve Him.

I have made my choice, so I can expect help from the Lord.

From my diary,

April 23, 2023