Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

“[Yahweh] blesses his people with peace” Psalms 29:11 (NIV) The Hebrew word for “peace” in this passage is the well-known Hebrew word “shalom”, which means all-around harmony and prosperity in one’s life. In the Old Testament this included one’s physical circumstances. God promised faithful believers that he would bless their finances, their families, and their living conditions. Yet we do not see the same promises in the New Testament. Why? The New Testament often promises peace, using a Greek translation of the Hebrew word shalom. Yet in the New Testament believers are promised persecution, the pain of carrying their Cross and general rejection by the world. So how can this be peace? The New Testament promises a deeper interior peace. The peace in the New Testament is actually superior to the peace of the Old Testament. We have the peace that is beyond understanding (Phil. 4:7). We are instructed to Continue Reading →

The Lord is my light and my salvation —whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1 (NIV) This passage is a reminder that Yahweh is our light, our rescuer and the protector of our lives. His light enables us to see what is true and what is good. On our own we would just stumble. And he saves us, he rescues us, from ourselves and from everything that tries to steal our happiness. Finally, he is our protector, our fortress against attackers who slander us and damage our lives. Nothing can separate us from his love. And since he too is Lord, Jesus is also the one who is our light. He is the light of the world (John 8:12). He is also our salvation because he is the door to salvation (John 10:9). Remember that salvation includes our future Continue Reading →

He guides the humble in what is rightand teaches them his way. Psalms 25:9 (NIV) God wants to guide us and teach us but if we allow pride to reside in us then he is not so willing to guide and teach. Why? Perhaps because he doesn’t want to encourage and magnify our pride by giving us more blessing. Instead, God’s blessings flow when we keep in mind that all the good that we have began with God’s grace. We are weak and corrupt by nature but he still accepts us. We can think of ourselves as students, not masters. We can remember that in our ministry we are just messengers of his teachings, we did not create the truth. We can understand that we are servants of God and others, not king over others. In short, if we embrace an attitude of the heart that reflects who we are Continue Reading →

No one who hopes in youwill ever be put to shame. (Psalms 25:3, NIV) It is interesting how fear unconsciously and semi-consciously influences our lives. Is it not true that one of the reasons we do not trust God for difficult things is that we fear it will not turn out well? We fear he doesn’t hear us, or that he won’t act, or that we won’t like the way he acts. We fear giving up our attachment to something in order to trust God in that area. We even fear that he won’t keep his promise to reward us in the next age for our sacrifices now. Yet God promises in his word that if we put our trust and hope in him then we will not be put to shame. In the Old Testament, this often meant that God will give faithful believers material blessings, prosperity or victory Continue Reading →

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in his holy place?The one who has clean hands and a pure heart. (Psalms 24:3-4, NIV) The Psalmist here speaks of hiking up Mount Zion to visit the temple, which is the “holy place” of God. This reminds me of Hebrews 10:22 which directs us to “draw near to God with a sincere heart” (NIV) just after mentioning that we have the privilege of entering the holy of holies (the innermost room of the temple where the presence of God dwelt) through the blood of Jesus. Also, remember Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” (NIV). So God promises that those who come to him in sincerity and holiness will have the privilege of “standing” in his presence. We will see God better; we will have more participation in his nature; we will drink Continue Reading →