psalms

Is God Really Listening?

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. Psalm 28:2 NKJV

Have you ever noticed that when our children are babies, they love to tug on our hair, grab on to our noses and play a game of peek-a-boo? Their persistence and tireless delight at this are a bit puzzling until we realize that what they really want is for us to see and hear them. That longing to be seen and heard is David’s prayer. He asks for help, hopes for God to bring a solution to his problems, but more than anything else, David wants to know that God is listening. The difference between, just wanting an answer and wanting for God to listen, is like the difference between ordering a new game for your kids to play and taking the time to sit down and play it with them. One will occupy them and keep them out of your hair, but the other will give you both time to get to know one another better. Sure, God can answer our prayers in an immediately, but what He also longs for us to get know Him better and realize that He is always listening. So, let’s be grateful, not only for the answers to our prayers, but just like King David, let’s be grateful that God hears our prayers and listens to our pleas for mercy!

Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. Psalm 28:6
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God is Watching Out the Window

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
 May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
 and give you support from Zion!
Psalm 20:1-2 ESV

One day when our seven-year-old son was walking home from school, a group of three older boys began pushing him, throwing his books in the snow and giving him a hard time. Unfortunately for them, my wife, Nancy, happened to be watching out our apartment window, and immediately went into action. In seconds she flew down the stairs and out the door. You never saw three kids runs so fast once they had caught sight of their victim’s angry mom bearing down on them. Fortunately for everyone involved she never quite caught them, but it was the last time that they picked on Chris that year! In the same way God is looking out the window and watching for us as we are on the way home to Him. But you might think that asking God for help when we have problems is a spiritual no-no or even a bit selfish. But nothing could be further from the truth. God loves to answer our cry. Just as Nancy was not annoyed to immediately come Chris’ defense, the Lord eagerly runs to our aid. Today’s verse also tells us that the name of the Lord is our protection. When we call for help in Jesus’ name, our enemies are terrified and scurry for cover, not because of us but because they see Him angrily chasing them down! Finally, the Psalm tells us that God sends help from His sanctuary. Now this sanctuary is not some place that God goes to hide, instead it is the holiest place in Heaven. It is where the Father sits on His throne, surrounded by millions of angels and saints falling down in worship. Its floor is pure gold, and its support columns shake at the sound of His voice. Yet surrounded by all this eternal splendor, God is not irritated when He hears our cry. He does not mind putting down what He is doing to get involved in our life. No! God rushes to our rescue because we are His. He cares about us and we are precious and loved. So, if you are facing trouble, grief or even life-threatening circumstances today, remember that your Heavenly Father is watching over you. He is listening for your cry and will eagerly answer our prayers when we cry to Him in the day of our trouble!

Just Like a Child

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:1-2 ESV
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 Just like a child I cried for things
That could not help me grow
And Insisted that the path
Went where I chose to go

But now I’m thankful for the work
You’ve given me to do
Like mowing lawns or writing verse
And singing songs for You

For simple friends and pulling weeds
And tears and fears now past
Which have helped me hear Your voice
That gave me peace at last!

Just Like a Child
By Peter Caligiuri
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