How long must I wrestle with my thoughts Psalm 13:2 (NIV) Wrestle with my thoughts – The NIV translation of this passage captures the idea of the phrase but not the exact words. The Hebrew phrase really says, “take counsel with my soul.” The two critical words are ‘etsah (advice, plan) and nephesh (soul, person)….
God is not a man that He should lie; Numbers 23:19 Lie – Does God lie? “Of course not,” you will answer. “How could He be God if He did not tell us the truth?” You’re right. One of the fundamental characteristics of God’s nature is truth. Lying is simply not possible for the God…
Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the LORD 1 Chronicles 22:14 With Great Pains – As David approached the end of his life, he gave us a summary that we need to heed (remember qashav?). David, the man after God’s own heart, the man of great triumph and terrible…
I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me Nehemiah 2:18 Favorable – Nehemiah’s problem was not his vision. He knew what he was supposed to do. He was sent to rebuild Jerusalem. If you are clear about your vision from God, then you face the same problem that Nehemiah…
O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man. Nehemiah 1:11 Compassion – Have you prayed like Nehemiah? Or did you think that…
“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says that LORD who had compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 Compassion – How long will God be compassionate? How long will He demonstrate active care and…
And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back Jeremiah 12:15 Compassion – The Hebrew picture of compassion is graphically portrayed by the image of the unborn child in the womb. Let that sink in! The child is totally dependent,…
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than to the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 Heed – Some words in the Hebrew Scriptures are particularly unusual. They seem to have no cognates in other ancient languages. They are not borrowed or formed from the languages that were spoken in the cultures…
Thy kingdom come Matthew 6:10 Kingdom – If you have ever prayed the prayer, you have petitioned the Father to bring about His kingdom on this earth. You have given your assent to the desire to have God’s kingdom and God’s will become the reality of your experience here and now. But have you ever…
A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3 Folly – As you read this phrase, you’re probably nodding your head in agreement. We all know someone whose life has been destroyed by personal foolishness. It seems so obvious. In our more somber moments, we might even recognize…
