Psalm 16:8 | From the Inside Out

Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 16:8’

The High Life

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Presence, God's Refuge, Intimacy with God, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, tagged God our Refuge, John 10:10, Our relationship with God, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 91:1-2, the God-enhanced life, tree houses, why we love tree houses on September 15, 2016| 11 Comments »

A little over two years ago when Steve and I retired, God provided for us a perfect little ranch house built into the side of a hill. A strip of woods and a ravine separate our block from the one behind us, and large windows in the kitchen/family room offer a tranquil view of treetops.

One of the projects we completed before moving in was the addition of a deck off the back of the house. The vista we enjoy from window and deck give us the sensation of living in a tree house, and we revel in the beauty and quiet.

Just about everyone loves tree houses. Even television now offers programs featuring their construction.

Why do they cause such delight?

Perhaps because tree houses provide:

A quiet, peaceful refuge, removed from the stressful responsibilities of our lives. There’s something about being up among the trees that repairs our equilibrium. We breathe easier, the peace of the surroundings soaks into our spirits and tension is released.

A respite from the ordinary. Most of us are surrounded by concrete and dry wall much of the time. To experience a vista of trees and sky is sweet relief.

A new perspective and fuel for the imagination. Away from daily routines and distractions, we can see our lives from a more objective viewpoint. In addition, our thoughts dance more freely, creativity flows more readily, and discoveries unfurl more frequently. No wonder many tree houses for adults are built as artist/writer retreats.

All of these reasons make sense, but I have one more theory about why we love these structures: Tree houses provide a physical, tangible replica of the presence of God.

Jesus made the way for us to experience his company, like the ladder or staircase to a refuge in the trees (1).

God is always with us, whether we’re aware or not. The key is to draw near to him through prayerful conversation and mindful observation of his glory—in a sunset, a bird song, or the scent of wisteria on the breeze. Then his peace can pervade our thoughts, and God becomes our refuge (2).

With him there’s no such thing as ordinary living. He offers a God-enhanced, abundant life of joy in blessing, comfort in sorrow, sufficiency in trouble, and more (3).

New perspectives open up to us as we sit in quiet contemplation with our Heavenly Father, perspectives such as: contentment is a matter of choice not circumstances; my identity, security and purpose are not the result of events or effort; they are the result of who I am—a beloved child of God; God-thoughts change the atmosphere of my spirit (4).

Tree houses offer much; God offers much more. Best of all, he’s not limited to a small structure perched among the trees.

The high life with God is always available.

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, God of the universe, for the incredible privilege of an intimate relationship with you. Anytime, anywhere, I can turn to you and breathe in your peace, admire the view of your glorious attributes, and experience rejuvenation of my spirit. I praise you, O Most High, for the restful shelter you provide. You are my refuge and fortress in whom I trust (Psalm 91:1-2).

What benefits of the high life with God do you especially appreciate? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Notes:

John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18
Psalm 23:4; James 4:8; Isaiah 26:3; Proverbs 18:10
John 10:10; John 16:24; Psalm 147:3; 2 Corinthians 12:9
Philippians 4:11-13; Ephesians 4:24; Psalm 16:8

Art & photo credits: Nancy Ruegg; http://www.flickr.com (2); http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.fellowshipsite.org.

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Eternal Pleasures

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God, God's Goodness, God's Presence, God's Provision, Meditation, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged God's Goodness, Praise for God's Attributes, Praise for God's blessings, Psalm 16, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 16:2, Psalm 16:3, Psalm 16:6, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 16:9 on August 22, 2016| 12 Comments »

(A personal psalm, based on Psalm 16)

Oh, God, I praise you for every blessing you bestow (v. 2).

You are the God of all Goodness, the Author of every benefit. Just recently you granted:

Timely encouragement from friends,
A memorable dinner celebrating four anniversaries—ours, along with those of our three children and spouses,
The announcement of a third grandchild, due to arrive in January.

As A. W. Tozer observed: Out of your goodness, Lord, comes your desire for my highest welfare, your wisdom to plan it, and your power to achieve it. What do I lack (Knowledge of the Holy, p. 70)?

It’s also true that anything good within me comes from you. I hate to think where I’d be today if it weren’t for your influence and direction in my life.

Oh, God, I praise you for your godly people living heroic lives (v. 3).

I take great pleasure in knowing more than several, and gain encouragement from their examples—heroes such as:

Cheri, who cares for her elderly parents,
Buck and Nikki, who faithfully minister in nursing homes,
Bill, who soldiers on with ALS–with a sense of humor, no less—after years of paralysis, and
Charity, who is battling cancer with great doses of gratitude and praise, in addition to chemo.

These dear ones and more reflect your strength, Lord, your love, joy, peace, and courage. How dare I entertain the slightest bit of self-pity or discouragement?

Oh, God, I praise you for being my grand and glorious inheritance (v. 6).

You possess all power, inhabit all corners of the universe, know all things.

You are all-wise, righteous and holy in all you do—absolutely perfect.

Everything in the universe belongs to you, the Creator of it all.

Yet you care for me. Out of your unlimited resources, you supply everything I need—and then some. Even in the small matters, you are there. You’ve provided:

A woman to guide me through a hallway-maze in a medical building,
Two sons who can trouble-shoot my computer problems (!), and
Continual reminders that your Spirit is at work, even when circumstances seem stagnant.

You are a reliable God who keeps his promises. Always.

And when I leave this earth, you have reserved for me in heaven an eternal inheritance that will never decrease, including the privilege of living with you, basking in your glory.

Such wonders overwhelm the intellect, and my heart overflows with gratitude.

Oh, God, I praise you for your reliability (v. 8).

All the attributes mentioned above (and more) you bring to bear in my life—not as an impersonal monarch overseeing the general welfare of his kingdom—but as a gracious Father, lovingly guiding my individual course.

You will never leave me alone to fend for myself.

And you will also keep me safe until all the chapters of my life have been written (Psalm 139:16).

Oh, God, I praise you with my whole being (vs. 9, 11). You fill:

My heart with the joy of your presence,
My mind with the wisdom and truth of your Word, and
My spirit with the glory of your attributes.

Oh, God, I praise you that these pleasures are available to your children for evermore.

May I keep my thoughts centered on you and on these, your precious gifts.

Art & photo credits: www.dailyverses.net; http://www.biblepic.com; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.pinterest.com (2).

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At My Right Hand

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Presence, God's Protection, God's Provision, God's Refuge, God's Wisdom, Intimacy with God, Uncategorized, tagged 1 John 2:1, God's watchful care, Proverbs 2:6, Psalm 103:13, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 73:23 on June 9, 2016| 12 Comments »

Angie Perez sat on one side of her boss’s massive desk, he on the other. She began a lengthy list of reminders for the day…

“Now at ten o’clock this morning, George, you’re meeting with Sam about the Collins account. All the files you’ll need are in that portfolio. I put them in order from most important to least.” Angie pointed front-and-center with her pen.

“Great. ‘Appreciate you getting them organized.” George smiled. “I’ll need to review this paperwork beforehand—can you hold calls for me till I finish, probably around nine?”

Angie dashed herself a quick note. “Of course. And speaking of calls. Darcy Roberts already phoned, wanting to see you late this afternoon. I postponed her until tomorrow. I figured with your aunt’s seventy-fifth birthday dinner tonight, you’ll want to leave here on time today—maybe even early. You deserve to take a break after last week. Oh, and Aunt Lily’s gift is wrapped and ready to go in that black bag on the credenza.”

“Oh, terrific. Thanks again for picking up the necklace.” George turned to glance behind him at the lovely gift bag Angie had prepared. “You’re probably right about taking off a little early today. I’m exhausted. And good thinking about postponing Darcy. That woman can stretch five minutes of business into a half hour of stories I don’t need to hear.”

…And so, one right-hand administrative assistant sets into motion the day’s activity for one corporate executive.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a right-hand assistant who took care of life’s unending details?

In reality, we have something far better: a right-hand God.

“I have set the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken”

-Psalm 16:8 (italics added)

With God at my right hand, I have the strongest Protector—able to shield me from trouble much worse than George’s talkative clients:

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him and I am helped.”

Psalm 28:7

God is the wisest Counselor—able to advise on matters much more important than business accounts:

“The Lord gives wisdom,

And from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

–Proverbs 2:6

God is the sweetest Comforter, offering empathy and support:

“As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

–Psalm 103:13

And our God is the most loyal Advocate:

“We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—

Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

–1 John 2:1

God breathes strength into me by the touch of his hand. Granted, I can’t sense physical contact. But when I hear a hymn or worship song and tears well up, when I read a scripture or passage from a book that speaks directly to a current situation, it’s every bit as expressive of support as a clasp on the shoulder.

Our God is always close at hand, as if standing by, ready to assist however needed. He is always present, holding me by my right hand (Psalm 73:23).

And like a shade tree offering respite from the sweltering summer sun, God offers restful moments from the cares of this world.

“The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand.”

–Psalm 121:5

He renews our strength as we rely upon him (Isaiah 40:28-31), and offers the rejuvenation of constant hope because we know our heavenly home is waiting for us (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

* * * * * * * * * *

I praise you, O God, for your presence. You are near as my Friend, ready as my Helper, dependable as my Guide. How breathtaking to consider I am never alone, left to struggle on my own. You are always at my right hand.

(Art & photo credits: www.hercampus.com; http://www.pinterest.com (2); http://www.reviveourhearts.com; http://www.faithpictures.wordpress.com.)

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The Right Hand of God

Posted in God's Protection, Worship, tagged God, God's right hand, Psalm 109:31, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 17:7, Psalm 18:35, Psalm 48:10, Worship on November 26, 2012| 4 Comments »

See if this sounds familiar: You’re reading along in the Bible when you come upon a phrase you’ve seen before, maybe even many times. But suddenly the realization dawns. You don’t really know what that phrase means.

That was my experience as I read this verse: “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). I had to wonder, what is so significant about God’s right hand?

After a bit of research, here is what I discovered.

1) In Bible times, the position to the right was considered a place of honor. This concept is seen at its finest in Hebrews 1:3 where Jesus “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” But according to Psalm 16:8 (above), he is in the place of honor in my life and yours. With our reverence and obedience we can demonstrate our honor of him.

2) If a man has God at his right hand, it means God’s shield is next to him. God’s sword arm is free to deal with the enemy. Visualize yourself walking behind that impenetrable shield. And in his right hand, God wields His sword, ready to strike down the enemy—Satan and his demons. “He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him” (Psalm 109:31). I love that visualization of God on the offensive for us.

3) A bride stands with the groom on her right, symbolizing the groom’s protection. The Lord Jesus is our Bridegroom and we, his church, are the bride (Revelation 21:1-3). David proclaimed God’s protective right hand in Psalm 17:7. “You…save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes,” he said. God is our undefeated defense.

4) For many of us the right side of our bodies is stronger than the left. Perhaps David had that idea in mind when he wrote, “Your right hand sustains me” (Psalm 18:35b). And what does sustain mean? Uphold, encourage, and affirm. Imagine God’s right hand upholding you—day in and day out. Just the warmth and strength flowing from his touch has the power to encourage and affirm.

5) In addition to extra strength on the right, most of us have extra dexterity in our right hands. We use that hand for writing, drawing, cutting, and other such tasks. Any good handwork is accomplished with that dominant hand. So what comes from God’s right hand? The psalmist proclaimed: “Your right hand is filled with righteousness,” (48:10). Everything God does is good and morally correct. He always gives his best to his work.

I thank you, Father, for the many times I have been protected, sustained, and blessed by your right hand. If you never lifted your hand again on my behalf I would have no cause for complaint. And yet you have promised us “eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11c). I bow before you in wordless wonder.

(Photo credit: sonfeld.wordpress.com.)

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Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 16:8’

The High Life

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At My Right Hand

The Right Hand of God

Nancy Ruegg

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