DRAW NEAR TO GOD
Today’s Reading: Psalm 73
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 80 km southwest from Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. In Greek mythology Olympus was the home of the twelve Olympian gods of the ancient Greek world.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Psalm 73:24-25
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psalm 73 was composed by Asaph, one of David’s choir leaders. It appears that doubt had crept into Asaph’s mind about his own relationship with God. Was it worthwhile? Did it make any difference? While he had these questions, he knew that his responsibility to his generation as a leader must take first priority. We may want to read a second time Psalm 73:15-17. He refused to be “untrue to the generation of Your children.” His thinking turned around when “he went into the sanctuary of God.” Faithfully attending the House of God, worshipping God in His sanctuary, and hearing the preaching of the Word of God will adjust our thinking in a most positive direction. Asaph concludes, in the final statement of the Psalm, that “It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works!”
This Hymn continued to be sung for hundreds of years (read 2 Chronicles 29:27-31).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, my desire is to draw closer to You every day without missing even one day. I thank You for giving me grace to be faithful in praising You for Who You are and for giving me discipline in my daily reading of Your Word! May I learn from Asaph how vitally important it is that I represent You to others, particularly the children, in a consistent and true way. I pray this in the Name of the One who is always faithful, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve struggled with the same concerns that Asaph puts into words. Asaph writes, “But as for me, my feet almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped” (73:2). But as with Asaph, I did not stumble or slip. The grace of God was given to me, and I determined to concentrate on the Scriptures, on prayer, and on the Person and work of Jesus Christ! The second to last book of the Bible, Jude, has serious warnings about those who may have served God faithfully at one time, but at some point in their lives they stumbled and fell away from living like Jesus lived. Some in ministry have brought shame upon the reputation of the Lord, the Pastor/Teacher and the Evangelist. In Jude I find words such as “licentiousness” and “sexual immorality.” They “reject authority” and practice “greed.” Jude, the brother of James, is hard on those who claim to be teachers and who live, “according to their own lusts, mouth great swelling words, and gain advantage by flattering people.” Jude says that there are those who are “sensual persons, who cause divisions” (click here to read Jude). I’m thrilled to read the concluding words of Jude, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen!”
Yours as a sinner saved by grace alone,
David
I am praying David’s prayer to be drawn closer to God everyday and to be His representative to others. On this thanksgiving day I am so thankful for all He has done for me and my family. The dinner, mostly food raised right here, the vegetables, and a home grown turkey, plus pumpkin and wild blueberries for our desserts. What a feast he provided for us. Thank you Lord.
Selma, i stand in prayer with you for your hysband and also praying for strength and peace for you.
Doreen, thinking of you as you spend your first thanksgiving in your new home. God’s blessings for you today and everyday.
Lord, you hear the prayers of all of our bloggers, and I stand with them in their requests and know they stand in prayer with my requests also. We know You are with us all and I thank and praise you Lord. May we all be truly thankful for all that You provide.
HJR, Amen to your prayer for Selma and
her husband. Also for Doreen as she settles in
her new home.
May our Lord God strengthen them and give
them His Peace, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Praying for you HJR that God would bless you
and your family with His Grace and merciful love,
in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
May God bless all on this blog as they continue
to follow Him and trust in His Word, Amen.
I prayed David’s Prayer for Today also.
Thank you HJR.
I, too, agree with you in your prayers for Selma, Doreen and all Bloggers.
Giving thanks to GOD for His Presence and His Word and His Glory and all His Blessings.
Amen
Amen to your prayers, HJR.
Lord God, have Your way throughout this broken world. Bless and send out Your workers – each one is needed as we see the day of Your return approaching.
Thank You that, amid all the chaos our rebellion has caused, Your glory remains undimmed.
Please open people’s eyes to see and turn to You, I ask in the name of Jesus, amen
Giving thanks to Almighty God for His love, goodness and faithfulness. He has blessed us bountifully.
I also have joined with all others and prayed for our blog “family”. I am remembering everyone and their prayer requests. May God continue to draw us closer to Himself each and every day.
Praying for God’s intervention in what is happening in Israel. May His mercy prevail.
A very happy and blessed Thanksgiving to everyone.
Thank you Father, in Jesus Name, for all the blessings over the years. Amazing Love!! Thanks for prayers folks and God’s blessings upon you all. Amen
Blessings to the bloggers on Thanksgiving Day.
Thank you for prayers. Praying for the requests of
each blogger. So good to have a support group
in these last days.
Such rich thoughts from fellow bloggers reminding us that we should always thank God for our many blessings.Keep praying for Israel,always,it is our duty.May God bless you more.
Inspired by Psalm 73:24-25
With wise counsel Thou will guide me
‘Til in glory Thou make me free,
For Who in heaven have I but Thee
And with no mortal I choose but with Thee to be,
For earthly strength may up and flee;
But Thou be my portion for eternity.
(G.W.)Bill Marshall/Oct 09, 2015
Grace Alone
Saved by grace and grace alone,
From a power on high above,
We give thanks beneath His throne
For the Son and unending love.
Now we can not know or understand
The thoughts and ways above our own
So we must now take a stand
For generations,yet unknown.
It is God’s creation,we are His,
So we should take Him at His word
And know He controls what is:
Believe His word;not what you heard.
G.W.(Bill) Marshall/Oct 09, 2023
(Just noticed the date on this,8 years ago.)