Broken Benefits

 As I was going to bed last night, I read Psalm 103, Verse 2 (NIV), “praise the Lord my soul and forget not all his benefits.” I didn't even finish the verse.

The word benefits prompted my heart to think about all the "benefits" of God. Well, maybe not all because the well of God is deep!

So, as I began to pray, I whispered aloud the benefits given to me by the King.

My prayer list became an opportunity for declaration and Thanksgiving.

·        * Because my soul belongs to God, I am no longer dead but alive.

·        *  God is my healer, so whatever my body is going through, Christ can restore. He is my resource!

·       *  As a child of God, I am a co-heir with Jesus. I lack nothing.  He's in charge of my welfare.

Every request was interwoven with Thanksgiving as I was reminded “not to forget all his benefits.”

Yes, don’t forget, He is our help, our comfort, and our support!

Like a little sparrow eating seed out of our hand, God’s hand is extended to us with every imaginable supply for this life. In this fallen world, he is the light amidst darkness.

DON’T FORGET HIS BENEFITS!

So, what request do you have that you can turn into Thanksgiving, as you call on Jesus?

* Broken, God restores.

* In need, God supplies.

* Future unsure?  He orders our steps.

* Your walk seems shallow. Oh, he wants to go deep and reveal himself in unfathomable ways!

* Crooked roads become walkable.

* The impossible becomes possible.

When the weight of this world and the heartache of life visit, HE remains.

DON’T FORGET HIS BENEFITS!

The world is broken, and we may say the same for our lives. 

Yet, we cannot forget all his benefits!

“Weeping may endure for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b AMP)

But what if I don't recognize joy?

HELP ME NOT TO FORGET YOUR BENEFITS, LORD!

“In the same way, the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26-27 AMP)

So, we throw ourselves at the feet of Jesus. We may not see the answer, but we hold on to the truth that his BENEFITS supersede what we cannot understand.  His refuge is a place of solace; a comfort for the fragmented and shattered.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. (Psalm 103)

God bless you!~Liz

More than Conquerors!

As a young girl, I remember watching cartoons on my dad's small TV.  There's this one line I'll never forget.  In the Looney Tunes cartoon, Tweety the yellow bird is often found running from Sylvester the cat.  Sylvester would love to have him for lunch, literally!  However, this little yellow bird knows how to escape his grasp. 

Tweety’s famous one-liner, “I tawt I taw a puddy tat!” is his translation of “I thought I saw a pussycat.”  The statement is usually echoed with the response, “I did, did taw a puddy tat.”

It’s almost like Tweety is speaking to himself. Or maybe he is talking to the intruder? Either way, he is not letting “what he thinks he saw” escape him.

Why bring up this one-liner today?

Have you ever thought you saw something, but second-guessed yourself? Today, I walked into my bedroom and saw two of my cats playing very aggressively. I didn't see anything strange, but something was not right. My first thought was, “I thought I saw a mini mouse,” and I’m not talking Disney World.

I quickly ran and got the superhero of the house (my husband) and explained my concern. 
Well, a quick check around and all seemed clear?

Cats are very impressive. Two of my three cats continued to roam my bedroom like inspectors on the prowl.  I encouraged them with my own chant, “get’em girls!” I’m not even sure if there was anything to get or chase, but I put the charge in. 

About 45 minutes later, I heard the ruckus again. This time, I got up and insisted that my superhero come back to the room. As my husband began to walk, I could see from the corner of my eye something that resembled a mini mouse, but my cats don't have those kinds of toys! I exclaimed, “I did, I did see a mini mouse.” Then I left the room!

Well, let me end the story with another quote, “I pity the fool,” who entered my sanctuary while three mighty lions roam my premises.  The demise of the intruder was quick and swift!

My superhero and the valiant lions took care of the unwanted trespasser.    

Why tell this story?

As the redeemed of the Lord, we have an enemy that roams and scurries, trying to ruin our lives.  He no longer has authority over us; death has been conquered, so he tries to unleash discouragement and fear among other tactics. 

Well, I have a Father who watches over me. He is jealous for me!  His love is immeasurable.   There is nothing he won’t do to keep me close to himself.  He will give up his royal rights, clothe himself with humility and fight for my redemption! 

Jesus has done it!  It is finished.

He has left us the “Sword of the Spirit”, the Mighty Word of God.

We will fight while we remain.  The victory has been won!

Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 34:4-7
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

God bless you!~Liz