Category Archives: seeking understanding

“… We must use our eyes with resolution, for they will not go upward to the Lord by themselves; they incline to look downward, inward, or anywhere, but to the Lord. Let it be your firm resolve that the heavenward glance shall not be lacking. If we cannot see God, at least we will Look toward him.” – C. H.  Spurgeon on Psalm 123

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.” Psalm 123, ESV

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalm‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Spurgeon said this about these verses:
“We may call this sentence a little prayer book”

To borrow (and adapt) from C.S.Lewis, when we’re looking at God, looking up, it’s easier to trust Him for the challenges of this world.

Here’s a start. Lift your weary head and bless the Lord.

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” Psalm‬ ‭104‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Listen to this classic ⬇️

And this new classic ⬇️

Yes. We get tired.

But in the midst of being tired, the better way is this…

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God is sovereign.

God is trustworthy.

Bless the LORD!

“strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV)

Yesterday I was pleased to teach about wisdom from James chapters 1 and 3.

The key point to share is this: We don’t need another checklist.

To live with biblical wisdom does not emerge from following a to do list.

Living with biblical wisdom (“from above”) happens naturally as we invest time in conversation with God. This conversation is most fruitful as prayer is informed by a growing knowledge of God. The Psalms are particularly helpful in learning God’s prayer language, it’s why I advocate reading Psalms daily.

So, if you’ve already given up on your resolutions, that’s ok. Today you get the chance to make time to spend listening to and speaking with the God who loves you enough to die for you.