Notes of Discovery

“ You have done many good things for me, LORD,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; 
   but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
 Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.” (Psalm 119:65-73 NLT)

Back in the “olden days”, when you wanted to get to know someone, you had to talk to them in person (Gasp! Only if I had to because shyness is a real thing and I had it in spades), call them (on a phone hooked to the wall with a cord.  Which is a pain if you are a pacer and twirler. Sigh…My family had to “free” me from the phone cord on one or two occasions.), or (my favorite way) write notes back and forth.  Oh, how I loved getting those little folded up notes of white lined paper!  It was like opening up a little present.  Each carefully folded note giving me a better glimpse into the person as we shared back and forth glimpses into our dreams, hopes, frustrations, and plans. I still have many of them tucked into my journals from over the years.  

When I open God’s Word, I get that same jolt of anticipation as I did with those notes long ago.  “What will I discover about God today?” “What will He tell me today?”  And that is so important because what we discover and learn about Him influences our perceptions and actions throughout the day. 

Psalm 119:65-73 says:

1.  He keeps his promises
2.  He is a Teacher
3.  He disciplines
4.  He is good
5.  He allows suffering for our good
6.  His instructions are priceless

How does knowing these things about God help your perspective in what is happening in your life today?  Do things look hopeless?  Grasp his promises.  He always keeps them.  Do you need wisdom?  He is your teacher.  Ask Him for instructions.  Have you messed up and now suffer the consequences of your actions?  Run into his arms, confess, and allow God to make something good out of your mistake.  Be willing to do the hard thing to turn it around because Psalm 34:15 says “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry.”  The Lord pays particular attention to those who seek to follow closely His path and His ways.  

Open His notes to you. Enjoy the discovery of Who God is and follow closely after Him.  You will never run out of things to learn about our precious Father who breathed His Word to us.

Enjoying God’s precious notes to us with you today,

Lisa

“I ask –ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him – endless energy, boundless strength!” (Ephesians 1:17-19 – the Message)