{"id":478,"date":"2017-01-10T17:09:14","date_gmt":"2017-01-10T16:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=478"},"modified":"2017-01-10T17:09:14","modified_gmt":"2017-01-10T16:09:14","slug":"put-all-your-hope-in-the-lord-psalm-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=478","title":{"rendered":"Put all your hope in the Lord – Psalm 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

A REFLECTION FOR THE START OF THE NEW YEAR <\/p>\n

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN 2017? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?<\/p>\n

============================================================<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who doesn\u2019t have high blood pressure these days simply isn\u2019t paying attention.\u201d
\nI came across a list of the Top !0 ways in which the world might be going to end. Major earthquake, giant meteor, ridiculously sized volcano, an ice age, global plagues, nuclear war, or an uprising of super-intelligent kittens that rise up in rebellion against their human owners and take over the world. But as well as these ever-present dangers there is plenty to be worried about as we go into 2017. Donald Trump actually becoming President of USA. All the uncertainties which Brexit is bringing. The crisis in NHS. For some people the problem of getting to work tomorrow with a Tube strike.
\nHere is one of the shortest Psalms to help us face the New Year. PSALM 131
\n1 My heart is not proud, O Lord,
\nmy eyes are not haughty;
\nI do not concern myself with great matters
\nor things too wonderful for me.
\n2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
\nlike a weaned child with its mother,
\nlike a weaned child is my soul within me.
\n3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
\nboth now and forevermore. (NIV)<\/p>\n

Psalm 131 is a Psalm of Ascents \u2013 a Psalm to bring us into God\u2019s presence in worship.
\nVERSE 1
\n1 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. NIV<\/p>\n

1 Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don\u2019t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
\n\u201cA man has to know his limitations\u201d – that great theologian Harry Callahan in the film Magnum Force
\nWe need Humility \u201cI know my place\u201d
\nSt. Augustine listed \u201cthe three greatest virtues of Christianity: humility, humility, and humility.\u201d<\/p>\n

George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut: \u201cWhen I was young, I said to God, \u2018God, tell me the mystery of the universe.\u2019 But God answered, \u2018That knowledge is reserved for me alone.\u2019 So I said, \u2018God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.\u2019 Then God said, \u2018Well, George, that\u2019s more nearly your size.\u2019
\nWe need to see our place in the cosmic scheme of things and learn not to worry about the things we can\u2019t do anything about.
\n1 God, I\u2019m not trying to rule the roost, I don\u2019t want to be king of the mountain. I haven\u2019t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. MESSAGE<\/p>\n

VERSE 2
\n2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. NIV<\/p>\n

2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, ike a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother\u2019s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
\nWe need Simplicity \u2013 the simple faith of a child, an infant, like a toddler trusts its parents.
\n “God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform, he plants his feet upon the waves and rides upon the storm.”
\nWe need Quietness \u2013 learning to be still before God
\nPhil 4:13 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.<\/p>\n

2 I\u2019ve kept my feet on the ground, I\u2019ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother\u2019s arms, my soul is a baby content. MESSAGE
\nVERSE 3 <\/p>\n

3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. NIV
\n3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord \u2014 now and always. NEW LIVING TRANSLATION<\/p>\n

Faith \u2013 putting our hope in God
\nHebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see\/
\nFocus on God not on ourselves or on our problems
\nA missionary to Africa had this to say about trust: \u201cI can show you the graves of missionaries who died what we would call premature deaths. If my trust were in God\u2019s protection, my trust would have crumbled long ago. My trust is in God, in the belief that He is in control and that whatever happens will happen for His glory.\u201d
\nRomans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
\n3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always! MESSAGE<\/p>\n

So as we go into 2017 Here is God\u2019s message for us.
\n1 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
\nI do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
\n2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother,
\nlike a weaned child is my soul within me.
\n3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. (NIV)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A REFLECTION FOR THE START OF THE NEW YEAR WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN 2017? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? ============================================================ \u201cAnyone…<\/span><\/p>\n

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