This week focus on Psalm 40 (below is the NKJV version) and study it with God’s leading. Email me and let me know how God is blessing you. Here are a few verses/words/questions to focus on to help you get started:
Have you waited on God to accomplish something in your life? I think we all have. Did you wait patiently? What did you do while you waited? Were you worried or at peace? Do you believe that God listens to your cries? Concentrate on verses 1-3.
Do you trust God or man? Who do you listen to? Remember all the blessings in your life from God. Jot them down and give Him praise and glory for what He’s done for you. Concentrate on verses 4-5.
Read verses 6-8. What do you give to God? Do you do things in His Name for Him to notice you and bless you (like Martha - Luke 10:38-42) or do you take time to sit, be still and silent before Him, and listen to His Words (like Mary)? Did you know that the words listen and silent are related - by that I mean, they have the exact same letters, just in different places (thanks to S.W. for that revelation). In order to listen, you and everything around you MUST be silent. Try it this week. Find a quiet place, read the rest of this psalm, a little at a time, and let God speak to your heart. He is inclining His ear to you. Are you listening and leaning into Him?
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”
I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O LORD, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly.
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD;
Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who seek to destroy my life;
Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor
Who wish me evil.
Let them be confounded because of their shame,
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“The LORD be magnified!”
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.