Meditations

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Dear Father, I know that You don’t condemn me, yet I condemn myself. Days and sometimes weeks go by that I don’t absorb myself in your word or set time aside to come before You in worship and prayer. I am in constant communion with You daily, but it is not the same as taking the time to sit before You and adore You. I know that the power I need to fight life’s daily battles is found in those moments when it’s just You and me alone, away from the constant distractions of this world. I am not cheating You, for You are complete in Yourself, but I am not. I need Your power daily, Your peace, Your counsel, Your will, and Your loving embrace, to make me complete. Oh if only I did what I know is best for me. Only You can give me the power to live righteously. Only Your Spirit can give me the power I need over my flesh and the power I need over spiritual forces in my life and others lives.
Lord, how awesome to see the fruits of my prayers, seeds sown over time blossoming all around me. It makes me think of all those prayers unspoken. Oh how glorious a harvest it would be if only I came to You in prayer more faithfully. To see the fruits of the prayers I’ve prayed makes me think of all the seeds I haven’t planted. Here I am sowing gardens when I should and could be sowing acres. There is no lack of power on Your behalf but only lack of faith and faithfulness on my behalf. Lord, please forgive me my complacency. Fill my heart with love and compassion for all those around me. Help me to see things from Your perspective and conform my will to Your will. So be it all in Jesus’ precious name , so be it.

Lord, thank You for Your provision, You are an “on time” God. My car sat on empty for a few days. Wednesday, the day I had to work, I prayed, “Lord, today is the day I need gas money, I must have it this day to accomplish your will.” I went to check the mail, and sure enough the $10.00 gas gift card we were promised for giving blood [so long ago that I forgot all about it] arrived that very day. Just in time for me to accomplish Your will for me.
On Friday I leave the house for a funeral and then to work, on empty once again. I say, “surly the Lord will provide. He will not leave me stuck on the side of the road or without money for food.” I leave to accomplish Your will for me in faith, confident that You will provide a way, somehow. I made it to work on fumes, with an empty stomach as well. Lo and behold, You come through once again. There was no reason to say anything to anyone, because I serve an “on time” God. I return home that evening with food in my stomach and gas in my car.
Just as Your word promises, You give me “this day” my daily bread, You never leave me nor forsake me, and You never leave me comfortless. You are an “on time” God.
Lord, now I say “our insurance is due tomorrow, please provide the funds we need.” Yet I fret not and refuse to worry or lose my joy, because You are an “on time” God. You know our needs, You care for us and won’t leave us wanting.
Monday I will say, “surly the Lord will provide money for our electric bill before they cut it off on the 30th.” Then I shall go about my business and accomplish Your will for me in excited anticipation.
What a thrill to see Your mighty hand move. I stand in awe and wonder that You would care enough for little ole me and my trivial problems, to move on my behalf. If I didn’t eat from Your hand daily, I would miss out on seeing a miracle every day! I am blessed to be able to receive my subsistence daily, directly from the palms of Your loving hands.
My heart goes out to those who look to their jobs and bank accounts for their subsistence, when do they see miracles? If their accounts and pantries are continually overflowing, when do they see Your mighty hand move on their behalf? They may feel secure, but where is their joy? Do their eyes fill with wonder, do they stand in awe of your mighty deeds, do they understand that You care about every little detail of their lives? Surly You can still demonstrate to them Your perfect loving care for them.
Perhaps this is why we all experience some kind of suffering, or how else would we come to You to be comforted? Perhaps this is why we all experience extreme upsets in life, or how else would we witness Your ability to make all things right? Perhaps this is why we all experience some kind of loss, Or how else would we be filled? You fill us with peace, joy, and Your perfect love, which brings us to completion. I will look to You each day as if it were my first and my last. Give me “this day” my daily bread and forgive me Lord, my trespasses. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, here on earth, as it is in heaven. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him.
14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on them that fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.
21 Bless you the LORD, all you his hosts; you ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

1 I will sing of loving kindness and justice. To thee, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will thou come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no base thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who turn aside. It shall not cleave to me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me. I will know no evil thing.
5 He who slanders his neighbor secretly, him I will destroy. He who has a high look and a proud heart I will not endure.
6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he shall minister to me.
7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood shall not be established before my eyes.
8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, to cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of LORD.

Lord, how precious are the moments, when I take the time to come before your mercy seat. Where it’s just You and me, uninterrupted by the continuous clamor of this world. This is that special place where You are sure to embrace me with Your comfort. Where I can just sit content to be in Your presence, or pour out my heart and soul, casting all my cares upon You, because You care about me. This is the place where I can revel in Your glory and come away like Moses, Your warm glow still radiating through me.
There is no better place.
Thank You Father, that You rent the veil that separated me from Your Holy of Holies. [Luke 23:45] Thank You Jesus, that I don’t have a high priest which can’t be touched with the feeling of my infirmities; but You, who were in all points tempted like I am, yet without sin. Therefore I come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find the grace to help me in my time of need. [Hebrews 4:15-16] Thank You Holy Spirit, that as I meet with the Lord and behold His face, You are changing me into that same image from glory to glory, like a looking glass. [2 Cor. 3:18]
There is no better place.
So why don’t I come here more often? Why do I often wait till there’s no strength left to do anything else before I enter in? Why do I sometimes wait till all else fails before I commune with You. Why do I wait till I’m full of despair before I seek Your comforting embrace? Why do I wait at all, I should enter in every day, simply because…
There is no better place.

[audio:http://meditations.tylerdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/10-No-Better-Place.mp3]
No Better Pace, Don Francisco (used with permission)

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing to him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loves righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as an heap: he lays up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the heathen to nothing: he makes the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The LORD looks from heaven; he beholds all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashions their hearts alike; he considers all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on them that fear him, on them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let your mercy, O LORD, be on us, according as we hope in you.

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledge my sin to you, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6 For this shall every one that is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near to him. 7 You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: I will guide you with my eye. 9 Be you not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near to you. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusts in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, you righteous: and shout for joy, all you that are upright in heart.

1 O lord, you have searched me, and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up, you understand my thought afar off. 3 You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, see, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it. 7 Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yes, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you. 13 For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well. 15 My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously worked in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you. 19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, you bloody men. 20 For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.