Psalms

God is a safe place to be – Psalm 121

August 3, 2017 by Yemisi Vese 3 Comments

“I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!”

Psalms 121:1-2 (NLT)

In these times we currently live in, we have developed so many self-help coping mechanisms all in a bid to get us to depend on our own strengths and mind. Every day, I see quotes all showing us that the “power” is in our own selves and how powerful our minds are. We are told to use our minds to achieve whatever it is that we want! Alarmingly, this is also being peddled as some form of the “gospel” to Christians and we buy it hook, line and sinker. We have created our own mountains where we seek for help and have neglected our true Helper, God.

The Holy Spirit has taught me differently, let me share with you:

“”GOD, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel:

“Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.

Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me—

The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do. Isaiah 30:15 (MSG)

Psalm 121 talks about God being the source of all our help. The Christian pilgrim has been deceived into believing that they are enough in their own strength. We have been deceived into believing that we do not need to rest in God but to constantly be on the move to help ourselves. We have become like the children of Israel in the wilderness, seeking for the continuous activity that slavery in Egypt brought because of the meagre portions we got as a reward and we have chosen not to lean on the God who made heaven and earth. The One who has promised us help if we learn to rest in Him.

I recall doing life my own way for many years. Worrying, striving and constantly on the move. God was kept on the back burner of my mind and I felt that as long as I prayed when I was meant to and studied my devotionals as instructed, all would be ok with me. I was so wrong! My constant movement did not achieve anything except continuous cycles of depression and disappointment. I will let you in on the secret to my success as a believer: God is my Source 100%. I can do nothing on my own and frankly, I don’t even try to. Jesus did nothing on the earth without His Father, you should imitate Him.

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19 (NKJV)

““I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NKJV)

Once you have learnt to make God your source and your place of refuge, He would send resources your way to help you every day of your life. I will close today with another Psalm reinforcing this:

“God, the one and only—I’ll wait as long as He says.

Everything I hope for comes from Him, so why not?

He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle:

I’m set for life.

My help and glory are in God—granite-strength and safe-harbour-God—

So trust Him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for Him.

God is a safe place to be.

Psalm 62:5-8 (MSG)

A prayer of distress – Psalm 120

August 2, 2017 by Yemisi Vese 1 Comment

Today, we continue our study of the first song of ascents, Psalm 120. If you missed yesterday’s topic, you can find it here.

1-2 I’m in trouble. I cry to God, desperate for an answer: “Deliver me from the liars, God! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.”
3-4 Do you know what’s next, can you see what’s coming, all you barefaced liars? Pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward.
5-7 I’m doomed to live in Meshech, cursed with a home in Kedar,
My whole life lived camping among quarreling neighbors.
I’m all for peace, but the minute I tell them so; they go to war!
Psalm 120:1-7 (MSG)

The pilgrim here is crying out to God to be saved and goes on to describe the circumstances of his life:

Asking for deliverance from the lies all around. (Verses 1-2). We live in a world that seeks to subvert the truth of God’s Word constantly. The devil keeps feeding our minds with the lies that this world is soaked with as he is the god of this world and is always trying to prevent the truth of the gospel to shine into the hearts of people.
“whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” II Corinthians 4:4

Today, cry out in prayer that the lies of the enemy would have no place in your life and only the truth of God’s Word will be found in your life and that of your family. Believe that the truth of God

• The judgement on the lies that are being propagated in the world (verses 3-4). The devil is the Father of lies (John 8:44) and the Bible has foretold the judgement on him (Revelation 20:10). Partaking in the lies of this enemy results in the pilgrim not living in the fullness of the truth of the Bible on this. The Christian needs to avoid joining deceitfulness of the enemy as this results in us not accessing the full promises of God (as captured in the truth of His Word) concerning our own lives. Believe God at His Word and do not allow the deceitfulness of the world take away your knowledge of His goodness. The truth of God’s Word can never birth the lies of the enemy in your life, allow the Holy Spirit teach you.

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of (comes from) the truth.” I John 2:20-21 (emphasis mine)

• Dissatisfaction with living in the midst of evil people (verses 5-7). On this earth, we live among unbelievers and people living in darkness. The pilgrim here is talking about living among the pagans and the pain of it. The people live contrary to the will of God. This is the world we find ourselves in today. Where we are constantly pressured to be politically correct and not recognize sin for what it is! The world expects us as believers not only to be permissive of the sinful acts of the world but conformity is expected.

My challenge to you is that despite the evil you see all around you, remember that you carry the Holy Spirit on the inside of you and you are to shine as light in the world. Also, the Word of God has given us a promise and an instruction concerning the darkness we currently live in:

“For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah 60:2

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”
Ephesians 5:8

Resolve to turn away from the darkness that covers the whole earth. Repent from being an active participant in the darkness of this world and turn fully to the light of God’s Word.

Psalm 120 – Distress call of the pilgrim

August 1, 2017 by Yemisi Vese 1 Comment

We are starting a study today on the song of ascents, this is the name for a collection of psalms (Psalm 120 – 134) in the Bible. The psalms are reported to be songs by the Hebrew pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. The Psalms are deep with meaning and would richly bless us.
Today, we would be studying Psalm 120:
1-2 I’m in trouble. I cry to God, desperate for an answer: “Deliver me from the liars, God! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.”
3-4 Do you know what’s next, can you see what’s coming, all you barefaced liars? Pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward.
5-7 I’m doomed to live in Meshech, cursed with a home in Kedar,
My whole life lived camping among quarreling neighbors.
I’m all for peace, but the minute I tell them so; they go to war!
Psalm 120:1-7 (MSG)

This Psalm is a cry for help for the Christian pilgrim stuck in this world of lies. It tells the story of how we are living in a generation that causes us anguish and deep distress. This Psalm shows when the Christian pilgrim comes to an understanding that he is surrounded by the lies of the enemy and lives in a world full of lies. The Bible has this to say about lies:

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44

I have come to understand that anything in our world and our lives that is not reflecting the truth of God’s Word is there by a lie of the devil.

Are you constantly sick instead of living in the reality of divine health as promised in the Bible? The devil is perpetuating the lie of sickness into your life. Reject it and dwell in the truth (Exodus 23:25, 1 Peter 2:24). Are you going through a season of unfruitfulness in your life with nothing to show for all your efforts? It could be in marriage or career or even your spiritual life. Focus on the truth of His Word and command your fruitfulness. (Genesis 1:28).

Whatever it is that is causing you not to live in the fullness of the truth in this world is being influenced by the lie of the enemy and is holding you in bondage. Look to the truth of God’s Word, pray it and watch your freedom come!

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.””
John 8:32