Day 7

Day 7 of my 40 Day Journey with God

Today's reading: Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, 127 and Proverbs 7 along with Bernard of Clairvaux.
Psalm 37 has to be one of my favorite psalms, I love it! It is full of amazing truths that pull on your heart.
Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
This is good to memorize, it promises what God does for the person that trusts and delights in him, commits his life to him and is still. That person will enjoy safety, their dreams will be given by the Lord and will make sure your way is cleared for success in righteousness.
There is a constant themes that run through Psalms, two main ones are justice and righteousness. They describe the person that does right, not just a moral person but a person that makes sure the poor and needy get justice. Some psalms describe the righteous person not in terms of the modern day moral man with do’s and don’ts. . . but in terms of the heroes of a community that share their resources with the poor, fight for the poor and don’t allow for corruption that takes advantage of the poor. These heroes are the fabric that makes society work.
The next verse is a one that I need to work on, “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;” I am not a wrathful person but anger does visit me too much. I repent Lord, please help me wait on you, trust you and not take things into my own hands.
Vs. 16 16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
This is hard to believe sometimes but its very true. A righteous person lives with peace, joy and simplicity. A wicked wealthy person lives with anger, worry and guilt.
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
This is what we all want Lord, help us therefore be delights to you.
Sometimes we can’t see God’s work but we must trust that He is working for us, “ 19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen. “
Psalm 107 is another favorite. . .this will be a long journal for today. . . so much to each, a buffet of encouragement.
4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Proverbs 7 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave, [d]
leading down to the chambers of death.
Again, Solomon warns his sons to be wise and save their lives from the harlot who takes her victims to hell. These teaching on sexual purity are needed in our community, words that bring life and save those that listen from death. Lord, I pray for those that are about to fall into this trap, save them, for those that are in ministry, save them from sexual suicide, those that are in our churches, may they repent and turn to you. Keep us from these strongholds, hold us in your hand.

Bernard Clairvaux was French (1090-1153) and had some amazing writings, some of which influenced Luther and Calvin alike. Excerpts from “On the Love of God”. God should be loved because He is love and is entitled to our love. He loved us by giving himself for our sins. Loving God is not seeking our own in our relationship with Him.
The First Degree of Love: Love of self for self’s sake. But if we love ourselves becomes too lavish, it will overflow its natural boundaries through excessive love of pleasure. In order for us to love our neighbor we must see that God is the cause of our love.

The Second Degree of Love: Love God for self sake
This is where we love God and blessing occurs, we rejoice but our pride turns us to believe we are responsible for our own security. When we face storms, we then turn to God for help. We love him because we have learned that our lives are better that way.
The Third Degree of Love: Love of God’s for God’s sake
Through continued trials we may begin to soften because of His grace to love God for His sake and not ours. This only comes through a lot of prayer for our needs and we start realizing the sweet relationship is more important than our needs. We begin to say, “we praise God because He is good, not because He is good to me”. Its not about us anymore, we have transitioned to a purer love.
The Fourth Degree of Love: Love of self for God’s sake
These are rare experiences in one’s life. Bernard says that we lose ourselves for a moment utterly unconscious of ourselves and empty ourselves. In this moments of being one mind with God, our wills are in total accord with God and we pray, “your will be done” out of pure desire not obligation. This kind of love is very hard to maintain in our current bodies and when we come out of it, it hurts to live in this world.
We move from degree to degree by experience of time with God in prayer, sacrificing for him and reading of His word. Thank you for this amazing truth of Love, thank you for Bernard.
May I understand what my love is for you and be moved from lower degrees to higher loves for you Lord. Help me love you for you.

These days are long but so meaningful . . .tomorrow we move to day 8 and a devotion from Francois Fenelon.