WISDOM PSALMS!

Psalms of Wisdom or Wisdom Psalms---during my season of medical maladies, this book of the Bible is where I have camped out! The rockier the path of "life" became, the more I turned to wisdom found there! The perfect law of the LORD refreshes the soul and makes wise the simple. 

(Psalm 19:7, DAL, PPP)

Psalmists often looked to God for insight.(Psalms 1,73, 91,119) 

For me, Psalm 1, 3, 16, 25, 27, 34, 37, 90 & 121, are at the top of my "wisdom" list as I have reflected on God's word. 

Think..... Considered. Focused. Meditated. 

Psalms Personally Paraphrased. (PPP)

• Blessed...delight in the law of the Lord & meditate day and night. (1)
• You Lord are my shield, glory & lifter of my head. (3)
• You make known to me the path of life. (16)
• I lift my soul to God in whom I trust (25) I take refuge in you, for I wait for you.(25)
• Be strong, let heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (27)
• His praise will continue from my mouth (Psalm 34) Blessed take refuge in Him. (34)
• Delight yourself in the LORD, (37) Commit your way to the LORD;trust in Him and He will act. (37) Be still before the LORD ...wait patiently for Him. (37)
• Teach us to number our days to get a heart of wisdom (90)
• My help comes from the LORD who is my keeper.(121)

True wisdom is followed by alignment with one's actions based on truths found on each path/circumstance with Him, rocky or not. 

A path of life walked in humility. AMEN!

FRIDAY FOCUS!

This week my prayer focus has been for many who are battling medical maladies, especially cancer, individually or alongside their spouse and unexpected difficulties.

May the Lord continue to be their counsel and refuge as I shared with several of them. 

Psalm 16:8 emphasizes one's intentional focus on God as a source of His Presence granting protection.

To focus on a particular verse I use Bible Gateway with the verse citation.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016%3A8&version=ESV

At that point, I have access to read the full chapter for context or select the verse in all English translation. For me, that adds depth to my focus.

Over 50 versions are listed. If I don't understand the abbreviation, I can click on it and the source is shown.

Today's jottings showed me positional differences as well as outcomes which have become today's "Friday Focus"! 

I am the one doing the setting---continually (AMP & NASB), 

always keeping eyes on the LORD (NIV)--sounds like focus.

The word for LORD in all caps, Jehovah (ASV, YLT), ADONAI (CJB, TLV) & Yahweh (NOG)

Why keep the LORD set before me at my right hand? 

So I am not shaken. (ESV, NASB +) I am not moved. (18 versions) I will not slide. (GNV) I will not be defeated. (ERV) I will not be upset. I will not stumble or fall.  (TLB) I will not be hurt. (ICB)

I will be protected from fear. (CEV) I will stand firm. (ISV) I will always be secure. (NIRV)

FOCUS! FOCUS!! FOCUS!!!

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

JOY to the World! How about JOY in the world!

Where does JOY begin? Years ago I learned that true JOY begins with Jesus. The Lord is our cup of blessing as He is always with us. JOY continues as we serve others well...as God loves us, by putting others before self. Self is last in the recipe for JOY. True JOY comes to us as we put Jesus and others first.

This acrostic has helped me remember that.

Jesus

Others

  Yourself

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

CHOOSE: JOY'S RECIPE

Intentionality is the buzzword in today's culture. Be intentional about your life choices!

It's certainly true for me. If I don't "intentionally" choose items on a long weekly agenda, they get lost in the shuffle. 

Even as I have decided to choose joy as my "focus" this year, I need a daily reminder. Sometimes an hourly reminder. How does one schedule joy? Can't joy always be a spontaneous overflow? I don't have answers to my own questions....

......But God....has graciously shown me new "intentional "sources of  "joy" in notes from an old (NIV) Bible. Notes to remind me how joy can overflow from my "healthy thinking." Healthy thinking that is a result of renewing my mind in His word. This time "my" marginalia helped as well.

It's the same Bible I used Wednesday for blog entry from Psalm 19 and to pray for friends, and the Bible I used again yesterday, in Psalm 17, as I prayed for a dear friend. This morning, I "intentionally" chose my same ragged NIV Bible blog entry with verses from Psalm 16.

More notes found.....

.....Marginalia 9/20/2009 ---between cancer surgeries, notes from Jonathan Morrow's (I haven't a clue who J. Morrow is.) "5 Ingredient Recipe for Joy."

"Joy"

1. Devotion. (Psalm 16: 2a)
2. Gratitude. (Psalm 16: 2b)
3. Surround self with others who trust God. (Psalm 16: 3)
4. Our inheritance. (Psalm 16: 6)
5. God's Guidance. (Psalm 16: 7-9)

Notes also included 2 ingredients NOT found in a JOY recipe.

One could label those as "Joy Killers."

1. Critical Spirit. (An inward critical spirit often overflows with complaint, is my thought.)
2. Unhealthy Thinking. (Joy flows from thinking, so don't interrupt the "joy flow!")

DO NOT Choose to add those ingredients into your life........

..........choose pure JOY instead!

CHOOSE: SOUL FOOD

Have you ever had a "hankering" to once again taste a favorite food from times gone-by?

I have had such a hankering for "butter rolls." Peggy's and Madea's Restaurants have good ones BUT I have heard that Ellen's Soul Food has the best. I will let you know as I am trekking there today with friends.

I also "hanker" for soul food from old familiar passages in Scripture----wanting to "taste" them in a new way. Such has been the case this week as I've revisited Psalm 16, a fave of mine. 

I have been drawn back day after day and each time God gives me new insight. A new perspective on His tried and true words of old. Discovering something new, that wasn't new at all---just new in the way the words were now speaking to my heart. 

Tasting anew. Chewing on. Devouring in a new translation. 

Savoring. Verse by verse. Again and again.

8 I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear. 9 With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest.
(Psalm 16:8-9 CEV)

Spiritual soul food delighting my taste buds for truth from God's Word before I go for physical soul food from Ellen's.