Christianity Oasis Forum

[Jedidiah]

Hello Jimf and all those who may read here. Blessings to you all.
This Post is for memories and Testimonies. And often people think a Testimony is some Radical Miraculous happening or perhaps a conversion experience, and True enough those are testimonies, but a testimony is also a declaration of truth and every one of us should have some truth to declare in our relationship with the Lord.
So I share here for all our benefit a little testimony.
Some days I waken and just feel unexpected petty irritations.
Some situations frustrate or irritate or vex me inexplicably.
And I think this is common to us all.
Distress and discouragement can hamper our daily walk.
David asks Himself in Ps 42, Why are you cast down O my Soul? And he counsels his soul. “Hope thou in God…”
That is to place full confidence and expectation in the Lord.
And then he qualifies that counsel by affirming The Lord as one whose very countenance, that is His very expression, is helper.
As Moffatt says, “I will yet praise Him for His Saving help.”
There was another occasion in David’s life, when he was really discouraged. He had been living in Ziklag in the land of the Philistines, and after three days on the Battle front he is sent home to find that the Amale¬kites had invaded Ziklag, and burned it.
“…; and their families were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep…
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
So how did David encourage Himself in the Lord his God?
I think Psalm 143 gives us a good idea of how.
“Hear my prayer, O LORD, …in Your faithfulness answer me, … For the enemy has persecuted my soul; … smitten my life down to the ground; … made me to dwell in darkness, … Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.”
But… I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.”
David thinks back. He remembers the days of old. Memories of those testimony things that the Lord has done.
“I will abundantly utter the memory of Thy great Goodness.” Ps 145
And he meditates on these things. Thinks about them.
Has the Lord ever failed him? No!
Meditation has in mind a deep perusal. Reflection. Consideration.
It weighs the thoughts concerning the subject.
And to muse has a wonderment attached to it. Amazement is rooted in that word muse.
And this lifts David’s sagging spirit as he has to acknowledge the absolute faithfulness and availability of the Lord.
So may our Sagging spirits be lifted up today and be encouraged.
Blessings,
Jedidiah

[jimf]

Great word jedidiah. It seems like in the Psalms we find the greatest teaching on how to praise. We learn not by instruction but by the actual praises of others. I would really like to give my Heavenly Father a real and loving gift. I want that gift to be a deeper and more real ability to praise Him. He truly deserves it and I am weak in that area. It seems so natural to thank Him, but praise is harder for me. Please keep on sharing "Sips from the Psalms". Grace and Peace Jimf

[Jedidiah]

Hello Jimf,
The Lord knows the sincerity of your heart and as the Psalmist expresses, 'He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.' Ps 107:9 A Promise you can take hold of.
Blessings
Jedidiah