Paula Wiseman

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Posts that reference the Psalms

Worship Him: Your Redeemer

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Worship Him Your Redeemer

And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Psalm 78:35

A Redeemer pays a required price
To secure the release
Of a slave. Or a prisoner.

God redeemed Israel from captivity
In Egypt and Babylon,
Making them His own.

Christ redeems us
From captivity to sin
Paying a price we could not.

Israel, in their pride
In their hardhearted, stiffnecked rebellion
Forgot the God who paid that price.

Until they needed Him again.

Let us not follow Israel’s example.
Let us live in grateful submission,
Remembering we are not our own.

Let us honor God with every moment,
Knowing He purchased our freedom,
Out of the depths of His love and mercy.

Worship Him, your Redeemer.

Worship Him: Your Light

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Worship Him Your Light

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1

The LORD IS your light.
Not that He GIVES it.
HE IS.
So what does this mean?

He is the light within me and you.
All the good, the hope, the joy,
All the wisdom and understanding,
All the guidance and counsel.

He is the light around us.
He gives discernment in the situations we face.
He connects us with fellow believers
To strengthen and encourage us.

He is the light revealed in us.
He is the compassion and love we show others.
He is the gospel we carry out.
He is in our every word and action.

He is your Light and my light,
Who rescues us from the darkness of sin.
He is our salvation.
With that eternal question settled…

We have nothing to fear.
We have only to worship.

Worship Him: Your Deliverer

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Worship Him: Your Deliverer title graphic

But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God. Psalm 40:17

I am poor and needy.
I have no resources, no status,
Marked by a want of affection,
Attention, or emotional support.

If we follow the examples around us,
We can temporarily distract ourselves.
We can entertain, or overindulge,
Deny or disguise.

And still we are poor and needy.

YET (This changes everything.)

The LORD (Remember who He is.)

THINKS (He has seen, He knows. He has a plan.)

Upon me. (And you. In our unique situations.)

He knows.
He knows my need.
He knows my lack.
He is moved with compassion and love
To act.

He is my help IN the situation.
He is my deliverer FROM the situation.

He sets me free.
He rescues me from every enemy, every threat.
He brings me up out of my chaos and places me next to Him.
He provides the very things I hunger for.
He makes me a new person.
He brings His word to me.
He will see me home.

All of those and more.
He is your deliverer as well.

Worship Him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving title graphic

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalm 95:2

Thanksgiving is key for a believer and follower of Christ. Let me give you three quick reasons why.

Our attitude

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

Paul instructs the Colossians and us that everything we do or say should be filtered through an attitude of thanksgiving.

Our testimony

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

2 Corinthians 1:12

While the words “thanks” or “thanksgiving” do not explicitly appear in this verse, it is nonetheless there. Simplicity and sincerity are the reasonable outworkings of thankfulness. And that lifestyle is a testimony to the world around us.

Our obedience

[I]n everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

It may seem strange to “command” thanksgiving. Perhaps that would lead to insincere, lip service rather than a genuine sentiment. But God’s ultimate will for us is that we be conformed to Christ. Being thankful for everything is a recognition of God’s sovereignty. Christ’s earthly ministry was marked by a surrender to the Father’s will in everything. Being thankful helps move us in the right direction.

It’s important to note the distinction between being thankful IN everything versus being thankful FOR everything. Suffering, loss, and other hard times are worthy of lament. However, even in those things, we can see the hand of God at work and know He is walking through them with us.

May the realities of God’s blessings and grace be evident anew this Thanksgiving season!

Worship Him: Your Maker

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Worship Him Your Maker title graphic

Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6

Your Maker is sovereign over His creation.
He is the absolute ruler.
All people, creatures, and processes
Are subject to Him.

He is omnipotent.
He has power to control.
He has power to begin and to end.
Power to choose and to cast off.

Your Maker sets the boundaries for His creation.
He actively governs,
He tirelessly guides and corrects,
He punishes and exalts.

We are often quick to acknowledge this.
Sometimes we struggle to accept
The Lord is my Maker, Your Maker
My Sovereign, Your Sovereign.
He has power over me and you.
He rules, He sets boundaries for me and you.

He cannot be an abstract idea, though.
He cannot be a figurehead.
We must worship and fall down
Before the Lord our Maker.

Worship Him: Your Refuge

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Worship Him Your Refuge title graphic

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

If you look in the dictionary,
Refuge means shelter or protection from danger or distress.
We can trust God at all times.
We are safe with Him.

A refuge is a home for those who are destitute, homeless, or in disgrace.
We can pour out our hearts before Him.
We can tell Him our troubles, our needs, our anxieties.
We are free with Him.

A refuge is also a means of resort for help in difficulty. 
We do not have to face anything alone.
Every challenge, every difficulty, He is with us.
We have His presence with us.

God made promises to His people.
He delights in fulfilling His word to us.
You will see His greatness and glory
When you go to Him, your refuge.

Worship Him!

(PS – This is one of my favorite verses.)