The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day seven)

As we wrap up this series in Psalms today, we also wrap up another year in school bringing us to Senior Sunday. Pray Psalm 93:5 over these students with me today:

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O Lord, forevermore. Psalm 93:5

In a world that feels like rising floodwaters, we may not  control the waves nor the storm that surrounds us, but we can cling to a Word that will not move. The Word of God is our anchor. We stand on His testimony knowing His promises always come true.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Holiness is found in the House of the Lord. God has chosen us to be a part of His Household in heaven and on this earth. Holiness is made easier when we begin to see heaven here on earth, and that starts with His Church.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 NLT

God is reigning on His Throne now and forever! The quicker we recognize this, the quicker we are to get our priorities in order. With Him on the Throne, we can trust His plan and His will over our ways completely.

 

 

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day six)

Tomorrow is Missions Sunday.  We will celebrate and exalt the God who reigns over every nation, every people, and every language. Psalm 93 reminds us that the Lord is King, not merely over Israel, but over all creation. His throne is established, His reign is unshakable, and His purposes cannot be thwarted.

This is what makes missions so compelling. We are not inviting the nations to consider a new philosophy or adopt a better way of life. We are announcing a reality: our God reigns. The church has been entrusted with the joyful task of proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth. From San Antonio to Kenya, from our neighborhoods to Pakistan, we bear witness to the King who is reconciling all things to Himself through Jesus Christ.

As you gather for worship tomorrow, pray that God would enlarge our vision of His Kingdom and deepen our willingness to participate in His mission. The nations belong to Him, and by His grace, we have been invited to join His work. Our God reigns.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day five)
We end our study in the Psalms with two great truths:  The Lord Reigns and The Floods Roar (lift up their voice and waves). God’s throne is set side by side with the sea (vs 4). Makes us feel small and not in control (of either). Most of us don’t like that at all. Yet, here we are, small and in the midst of two great truths- neither of which we can predict or regulate. What I notice about this Psalm- there’s no first person. No human mention. These are both larger and longer truths and realities. God’s sovereignty (Throne) and evil/suffering (floods/sea).

However, one is immeasurably greater than the other. The Throne and Sea are seen again side by side in the Scriptures. Revelation 4. The sea looks completely different. Completely conquered. Does that bring assurance and hope?  It should. There is always more hope than trouble found in the scriptures. There will always be both. But we will always need to be reminded of the eternal hope and power of the Lord.
“God’s sovereignty is not the stuff of controversy, it’s the stuff of worship.”- Matt Mason

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day four)

When I read verse 4, “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters…” (NIV), my mind immediately goes to John 12. Jesus says, beginning in verse 27:

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

This Psalm feels like the Father speaking to the Son for everyone’s benefit. Yahweh effortlessly glorifies Himself through the mighty sea and the awesome weather around us. All creation sounds out praise. Even when those made in His image choose to glorify themselves, He is no less praised or glorified, because He needs nothing. He is completely self-sufficient and independent. “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” What a mighty God we serve!

After the Father’s voice thundered from heaven, Jesus said:

“This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:30–32).

This is how the Father is glorified. Jesus came to glorify the Father. The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son by revealing and reminding us of what Jesus wants us to know (John 16:14). And we glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, showing ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples (John 15:8).

Let’s join with all creation in bringing Him glory!

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day three)

¹ The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

In the moments of my life that I have felt the most anxious or worrisome, I can recognize that these are the moments that I have lost sight of the fact that God is, always and forever, sitting on His throne and ruling over this world. It was (and still is) in these moments that the Lord gently reminds me through his Word that there is nothing to fear (Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 93; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:11; and Joshua 1:9 to name a few).

Psalm 93 reminds us that God has ruled from the beginning of time, and that His reign will be forevermore. In a world that is chaotic and uncertain (like the waves of the sea), He is our stay. He is the anchor that holds fast. We end our fantastic study of Psalms with this reminder: in the midst of an uncertain world, God is steadily in control and will be forevermore. May we be reminded of that all the more and never forget who sits on the throne!

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day two) 

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
² Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting. v. 1b-2

Over the past 13 weeks our study of the book of Psalms has provided us with many incredible images of strength: towers, foundations, and fortresses. The readings have also given us a picture of the uncertain world in which we live: floods, earthquakes, mountains raging, and fires. The artist in me loves fantastic language that inspires creativity of expression in worship. More than that, however, I love the picture of the steadiness of God. His throne, his reign, his majesty is from everlasting. We cannot plumb the depths of the foundations of his kingdom. He will not be moved. While acknowledging that the world can be unstable, there is comfort in knowing that God is neither panicked nor threatened by chaos. When you are experiencing instability, cast your gaze toward that which is immovable. Gain comfort that the Lord will not be moved by circumstances. He is your rock, now and forever.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 46:1-11 (day seven)

Come, behold the works of the Lord. Psalm 46:8

What makes today more special than any other day? Nothing… yet, everything. Today we celebrate Pentecost: the day the Church received the Holy Spirit. The day when Spirit of God manifested Himself in the heart’s of all believers, allowing us to become adopted as sons and daughters of the King, giving us direct access to Him. The same Spirit that was given on that day dwells with us every day. In light of that, today is as special as any other day. Do we treat each day this special? Do we expect the Spirit to move in a mighty way every Sunday that we gather? We should!

However, today is special! Today is an opportunity for us to celebrate what the Holy Spirit is doing in the life of our church locally and the Church globally. Come, behold the works of the Lord. Come, behold what the Lord is doing here at FBCSA. Come, behold the miracle of baptism. Come, behold the power of unity in the body. Come, behold the importance of diversity in the congregation. Come, behold what God is going to do in you. May we gather in anticipation and expectation that the Spirit will move amongst us today!