¹ Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
² Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

⁵ I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
⁶ I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.  Selah

⁷ Answer me speedily, O LORD;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
⁸ Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

⁹ Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.^[a]
10 Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.

¹¹ Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
¹² In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.

Reflection

This psalm, as those before, is a prayer of David, and full of complaints of the great distress and danger he was in, probably when Saul persecuted him.  He did not only pray in that affliction, but he prayed very much and very often, not the same over again, but new thoughts.  Here’s the first Word for us, Continue to pray through adversity.

In this psalm, David

1. complains of his troubles, through the oppression of his enemies  and the weakness of his spirit under it, which was ready to sink.
2. prays, and prays earnestly that God would hear him, would not deal with him according to his sins, and would not hide his face from him.
3. asks for manifestation of Gods Favor to him.
4. asks  God would guide and direct him in the way of his duty and quicken him in it.
5.  That he would deliver him out of his troubles and in due time reckon with his persecutors.

What does this Psalm mean to you?

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Thoughts:

As a follower of God, it should be expected that we have a deep affection for the Lord and for His will. The Hebrew word ahab, translated here as “love”, is an all-encompassing word, used of “human love for one another, includes family, and sexual; human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom; human love for or to God; act of being a friend…; God’s love toward man…” (Online Bible Hebrew Lexicon). We should have an appetite for God’s word; that simply could not get enough of the law of the Lord.

Never should God’s word be delegated to a single day or a couple days of the week in our lives. It is to be our “meditation all the day”, every day.  Some practical tips:

• Begin each morning with a reading from God’s word.
• Reflect upon the Word as we go about our day.

If we will allow God’s word to be our focus throughout each day, He shall direct us in the path we should go.  God will give us the wisdom, which can only develop from knowing the Lord and His ways. God wants us to walk in wisdom.

If we seek God’s ways day after day, we will be made wise. Is battle not made much easier, and victory more sure if we are wiser than our enemies? We can always remain a step ahead; we will be able to confound them in their attempts to overthrow the faithful. Remember we are more than conquerors!

The diligent student of God’s word will excel beyond the understanding his natural teacher.Knowledge and understanding of God’s statutes is a realm where there is no limit for growth. The more studious we are, the more learning and mastery of spiritual things will be ours.

Sorors, let us abstain from every evil path and walk in the paths of righteousness alone.  In that walk the Word of God, will be sweeter than the day before.

Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, when God’s people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God’s face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear and heal our lives, our sorority, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival – a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual admonitions. In fact, it has been ignored for so long that it is difficult to find information on the “how-to’s” of this life-changing experience.

As you begin your fast, you may hear from concerned loved ones and friends who urge you to protect your health. And they are right. You should protect your health. But I assure you, if done properly, fasting will not only prove to be a spiritual blessing, but physical blessing as well.

By all means, consult your doctor before you begin your fast. But, be aware that many doctors have not been trained in this area and so their understanding is limited. Even so, it would be wise to ask your doctor for a physical exam to make sure you are in good health. You may have a physical problem that would make fasting unwise or dangerous. Also, if you are under any type of medication, make sure you talk to your doctor before changing your regime. Prudence and caution are in order.

When you are assured that you are in good health, you are ready to begin your fast. Follow the guidelines in the Physical Preparations and Maintaining Nutritional Balance and Health parts of this website.

In spite of the absolute safety and benefits of fasting, there are certain persons who should NEVER fast without professional supervision. For example:

• Persons who are physically too thin or emaciated.
• Persons who are prone to anorexia, bulimia, or other behavioral disorders.
• Those who suffer weakness or anemia.
• Persons who have tumors, bleeding ulcers, cancer, blood diseases, or who have heart disease.
• Those who suffer chronic problems with kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, or other important organs.
• Individuals who take insulin for diabetes, or suffer any other blood sugar problem such as hyperglycemia.
• Women who are pregnant or nursing.

Sometimes it seems hard not to feel worried especially when situation presents itself right in front of you but thats where Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Now Phillippians 4:6-7 tells you exactly what God wants you to do if you find yourself in those situations. It states that we should not worry but to pray about EVERYTHING(whether its big or small) then thank God for what he has already done in our lives . Many of us forget to thank God for what he has already done in our lives before. It is like the song lyrics states ” If he never does anything else he already have done enough”. Then the scripture goes further and says that you will experience God’s peace  and his peace will guard your heart and your mind as you live in Christ Jesus. When you experience the presence of God it is one of the most refreshing feeling in the world.There are times, when we are seeking the will of God and we reach the point of decision that we experience supernatural peace.  The peace of God is like a compass for our souls, leading us in the direction that the Holy Spirit intends for our lives. We can take great comfort  in knowing that the sovereign God is so involved in our lives that He would supply us with this internal compass as we seek to do His will.

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we[b] do not lose those things we worked for, but that we[c] may receive a full reward.

9 Whoever transgresses[d] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

If Christian existence can be characterized as “living in love,” it can equally be designated as a life that is lived in truth, where truth is the opposite of deception and wickedness. Truth is both doctrinal and moral in scope. The previous section (vv. 4-6) dealt with the moral aspect of truth; the present section turns to the question of doctrinal truth and, specifically, true confession of Jesus Christ.

We are not to follow their example or to be swayed by their superficially progressive teaching. Even more, Christians are not to welcome into their house anyone who comes with this deceptive teaching. The refusal to welcome the false teachers into one’s home is a sign of judgment upon their teaching and life.  Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work means more than “you are known by the company you keep.” Rather, to give false teachers a hearing is to further their work and so to be equally guilty of false teaching. Shares is more literally translated “to share fellowship with,” and it is an important idea.

First John spoke of having fellowship with God and his Son, just as Christians have fellowship with each other (1:3). These are not passing acquaintances, but deep and life-shaping relation ships. Christians are not to share such fellowship with those who do not speak the truth.

Psalms 100:1-5 (NKJV)

¹ Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
² Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;^[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Invitation to worship God

We have a strong invitation to worship God; not that God needs us, or any thing we have or can do, but it is His will that we should serve the Lord, should devote ourselves to His service and employ ourselves in it. This is not only God’s idea, but the passion and pledge of every Delta Psi Epsilon Christian Sorority, Inc. member.

We should not only serve him in all instances of obedience to His law, but that we should come before His presence in the ordinances which he has appointed and in which he has promised to manifest himself (Ps. 100:2),  Enter into His gates and into his courts (Ps. 100:4); we should attend upon Him among His servants, and keep there where He keeps court.

In all acts of  worship, whether in secret, in our church, in our sorority, or in our families, we come into God’s presence, and serve Him.  But it is in public worship, especially, that we enter into His gates and into His courts.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

As a rule of worship: Let God be served with gladness.  By holy joy we do really serve God; it is an honor to Him to rejoice in Him.  We ought to serve him with holy joy.  Worshiper  should be joyful worshipers - if we serve God in uprightness, then let us serve him with gladness.  We must be willing and forward to it, glad when we are called to go up to the house of the Lord, looking upon it as the comfort of our lives to have communion with God

Be thankful to him and bless his name

 We must take it as a favour to be admitted into His service, and give Him thanks that we have liberty of access to Him. We must intermix praise and thanksgiving with all our services.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us. (100:3)

Thus a startling range of claims about God cluster around faith in Yahweh as Creator, either directly linked as faith correlates or closely associated by context. Strike this plank from Israel’s faith, and biblical faith exists no more.

We are called upon to praise God and rejoice in him, Ps. 100:1,2, 4.  We are furnished with matter for praise; we must praise him, considering His being and relation to us (Ps. 100:3) and His mercy and truth, Ps. 100:5. These are plain and common things, and therefore the more fit to be the matter of devotion. He is thee only living and true God—that he is a Being infinitely perfect, self-existent, and self-sufficient, and the fountain of all being; He is God, and not a man as we are. He is an eternal Spirit, incomprehensible and independent, the first cause and last end.

God is our sovereign ruler

We are his people or subject, God will call us to an account for what we do.  God is our bountiful benefactor. We are not only his sheep,  but the sheep of his pasture. He that made us maintains us, and gives us all good things richly to enjoy.

God is of infinite mercy and goodness:The Lord is good, and therefore does good.  His mercy is everlasting -  it is a fountain that can never be drawn dry. The saints, who are now the sanctified vessels of mercy, will be, to eternity, the glorified monuments of mercy. He is a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness: His truth endures to all generations, and no word of His shall fall to the ground as antiquated or revoked. The promise is sure to all the seed, from age to age.

James 1:17  New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

God is the Father of lights. The visible light of the sun and the heavenly bodies is from him. He said, Let there be light, and there was light. Thus God is at once represented as the Creator of the sun and in some respects compared to it.

As the sun is the same in its nature and influences, so God is unchangeable.  The Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. What the sun is in nature, God is in grace, providence, and glory;  and infinitely more.

Every good gift is from him. As the Father of lights, he gives the light of reason. The inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding, Job 32:8.

He gives also the light of learning: Solomon’s wisdom in the knowledge of nature, in the arts of government, and in all his improvements, is ascribed to God. The light of divine revelation is more immediately from above. The light of faith, purity, and all manner of consolation is from Him.

As every good gift is from God, so particularly the renovation of our natures, our regeneration, and all the holy happy consequences of it, must be ascribed to him.

has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Numbers 23:19