Cheni

(Psalm 32:2-5) How does self-deceit operate with sin to enslave us? We often try to rationalize what we've done and sometimes even switch the focus and blame someone else for the consequences. This is self-destructive because we truly can't justify our actions or sins, we are only justified through Christ. This creates a physical and emotional drain upon our lives. We can never be satisfied when operating at this level. How does confession enable us to get free from sin? We become healed and thus forgiven. We no longer have to hide from ourselves or others. Repentance brings God's forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. Why do we sometimes resist the truth about ourselves? Shame. Defeat. Worthlessness. Battered, beaten, scorned. What does it take to get us to see truth sometimes? An emotional or spiritual breakdown - a God encounter! Burning bush, vision, etc.

(Psalm 126). In this psalm, the nation is going through some kind of crisis. How does the memory of God's deliverance in verses 1-3 prepare them for the prayer of verse 4? The prayer is that God has done and is further able, to deliver them again in this great time of oppression. How do you understand the two metaphors of deliverance: (1) a wadi or dry gully and (2) sowing and reaping? Circumstances can change in a moment or they can change over time - both are delivereance, however we must know and believe that God's hand is in all things and in His time, our circumstances will change. How do these metaphors help you in your situation? Waiting upon the Lord is probably one of the most difficult things a person of faith can do. If we though, review our past trials and tribulations and the associated triumphs and victories, we can be assured that God is working things out for His greater glory. Sometimes we think or may get stuck in the rut that it's all about us - when in this delusion we must be humbled to return to our first love, God and that this is really all about Him, His plan for redemption and world salvation and the return of His son.

Q5. After you've studied the psalms in this chapter, what do you think it means to "rest" in God? Resting in God is allowng Him to be who He is and accepting who we are in Christ. We must let God be God and trust that everything is totally within his control. How do you seek God's peace when you have a dozen things coming against you? Prayer, meditation, I pray in the spirit and ask God to to help me give all things to Him and to help me get out of way and let Him be God, in the name of Jesus!

(Psalm 46) How does the imagery of the river and streams in verse 4 function in Psalm 46 to speak peace to the harassed and harried person? Water is the refreshment of the Holy Spirit and is found in the Word, it brings us peace and sustains us, His word is our provision to carry us through while all crumbles around us. Verse 10 tells us: "Be still and know that I am God." How does knowledge of who He is affect our peace? He is totally in charge and trusting in him wholly brings us peace and satisfaction, He is ALL we need. Knowing that He is God is grace in action, it happens when you move the knowledge of grace into your heart and then live it. How should it affect our words? Why does He command us to "be still" as a result of this knowledge? Sometimes we get in God's way because we think we know what should be happening, but truly sometimes we just get in God's way and so He tells us to "be still" - get out of His way, stop trying to control who God is and trying to conform Him into the image of what you want him to be. Let God be God and you be you - God knows.

(Psalm 31) What does it mean to say to the Lord, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (31:5)? Whatever the circumstances, whatever the outcome, let His will be done for in whatever happens, I will always be find - the Lord my God is with me and it matters not for I am right with Him. How does that statement bring peace to a person? I say this even when I'm taking off in a plane or if the car in front of me loses control, etc. To me it is total surrender to the will of God. How does the statement, "My times are in your hands" (31:15), bring peace to the troubled soul? Five statements of faith: God is who He says He is; God does what He says He does; I am who God says I am; Through Christ I can do ALL things; and His word is alive and active in me.

According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm? He orders our steps; He new our spirit; He heals our iniquities; He leads us in humility and meekness; He delivers us; He never abandons or forsakes us; His discipline and power is our comfort and trust; He annoints us; We abide in Him forever.

According to Psalm 131, just how does David quiet his inner person before the Lord? David is humble and he does not seek things of this world - he doesn't seek the Babylon mentality of selfishness and excess so he is not concerned with such matters. He has quieted himself, he has been weaned from demanding and selfish pursuits and places his hope in the Lord. What are the elements mentioned in this psalm? Humility Surrender Peace Trust

Since Christians don't seem immune to accident, persecution, and death, how are we to understand these psalms of protection? Our protection is of our spirit when we walk by faith, not by sight. He either delivers us from peril, remains by our side through peril, or allows peril to consume us as we are taken up into his lovely awaiting arms - we are taken home and are finally with Jesus. Why don't some believers seem to be protected? Some believers fail to be able to see the protection - as is prayed, "open their eyes" so that they might see the heavenly army of angels surrounding them. Also some believers think that by protection, nothing will ever happen to them - this is false doctrine - we are to count it a reward to suffer with Christ. Does God really protect us? How? God protects us through all things when we call upon Him, trust in Him, believe on Him, and give thanks for all things. We are to praise him and thank him for all things - and this is loving protection. Today I learned what it really means, as one door closes another door opens: open doors are learning to see where God is working in your life or in the life of someone else and joining in with God according to His purpose and His will (not our own which is too often the case); and also seeing God in others! This is truly a blessing of protection!

(Psalm 121). What reassurance is it to you that God keeps you and watches over you? God even saves me from myself! How does Psalm 121 make you feel? Secure, content, loved, cared for, cared about, safe.

(Psalm 91) What does this psalm teach us about God's protection when in danger? He delivers us not only from our enemies but from diseases - through the day and night, even as we walk among those who die on the left and right. He is our shield. What does it teach about our authority to vanquish our enemies? We have been given all authority to vanquish all of our enemies incuding the lion and serpent. What promises does Psalm 91 contain? I will rescue him (14a) I will protect him (14b) I will answer him (15a) I will be with him in trouble (15b) I will deliver him (15c) I will honor him (15c) I satisfy him with long life (16a) I will show him my salvation (16b) How does this psalm make you feel? Relieved that there is someone who cares, someone whom I can trust, someone who will never desert me or forsake me, but tends to my every need as I dwell with him.

(Psalm 61:1-4) What images does the psalmist evoke to communicate his trust in God's protection? Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings The extent of his trust (from the end of the earth), in his most humbled spirit (overwhelmed), meek (lead me to the rock), steadfast and persevere (...have been a shelter, strong tower), faith (trust in the shelter of Your wings). How do the first four verses of this psalm make you feel? My heart cries with this psalmist. I have been there, searching for God and trusting in Him as I've no other source or resource. He has always been there for me, a rock throughout all of my life and I've been sheltered in His wings and in His arms forever.

(Psalm 80) If you were to formulate a personal prayer for revival for your own life or for your congregation, how would you word it? "I know my God that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. We willing offer the uprightness of our heart with great joy. Keep this forever in the intent of the thought of the heart of Your people and fix our heart toward You. Give us a loyal heart to keep You commandment and your testimonies and Your statutes; to do all these things for which provision is made. Bless you O Lord. Thank you for great mercies and grace. (1 Chronicles 29:17-19). What elements should be present in a prayer for personal or congregational revival? Repentence, healing, acceptance, deliverance, forgiveness, salvation. What would this prayer have in common with 2 Chronicles 7:14? I pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 over areas, regions, countries, cities, etc., to bring down the strongholds of the enemy. How does this kind of prayer pave the way for revival and restoration to take place? Corporate praise and prayer must reach the gates of heaven in order to open them and allow the glory of the Lord to pour out into the heart of those whom God has chosen to receive.

(Psalm 40:17) In this verse David combines both humility and faith in his prayer to God. Why are both humility and faith necessary? Humility keeps us reminded that we can do nothing to redeem ourselves, that we are nothing without God, we are but mere dust - it is his breath that makes us anything and we are His. What happens when one of these qualities is missing? You cannot have faith and cannot therefore be faithful if you are not humble. The two conditions are joined in union - and what God brings together, no man can put under.

(Psalm 40:5b) When you realize that God's thoughts and plans are focused on you in particular, how does that make you respond? God sends me the following love letter to help me guard my thoughts and my heart to remain steadfast and focused on His love. "I know the plans I have for you Cheni, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer 29:11). Love God I keep this on my wall - and I read it every day.

(Psalm 69:30-32) Why does this lament (and nearly all laments in the Psalms) end with an upswing of hope and praise? When we have a true heart for God, we are never without hope for our hope is in Him. What does this teach us about our own laments and prayers? When we have a true heart heart and relationship with God, we know we can come before Him with praise and thanksgiving for all things - for only He can take what is meant for evil and make it good. God is our only hope. Why is praise, the language of faith, so important in our prayers, especially prayers of desperate pleas for help? We are told in scripture to come before God with praises and thanksgiving - "in all things give thanks" - He alone is the author and finisher of our faith and it is through these experiences that we come to know how powerless we are without Him which is exactly where he wants us. If we could save ourselves, we wouldn't need Him or relationship with Him, or faith, or mercy, or grace. But we cannot save ourselves. Jesus chose to die for our sins rather than to allow us to die in sin - no greater love is there than this that a man would lay down his life for another.