psalm 119:61

61 - The bands of the wicked

have robbed me: 

but I have not

forgotten thy law.

"Robbed" in the original carries a connotation of a repeated action, one done over and over again.  "Forgotten" includes a leaving action because of forgetting something.

Fortifying our spiritual defenses to stand against temptation or to stand strong in the face of opposition, deception, disdain, and emotional or physical persecution is difficult but can be done.  We enter into a season of "wicked robbing" of our emotional, physical, and spiritual resources and we spiritually circle our wagons and emphatically declare that "we shall not be moved."

It's not the force, nor the hill to be taken, nor the cause that sometimes causes us to weaken...many times it is just simply the length of the siege.

Repeatedly...over and over again...unjustly accused...convictions disdained...scorned...ignored...whispers behind walls...stone faces...false rumors...character maligned...

"Robbed." Repeated action.  Over and over again.

James 1:2-"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations!" 

His Word is enough!  Do not walk away from it.  Do not forget it.  Do not let discouragement steal it from your table.  Run toward it.  Dive into it.  Personalize every word, every line.  It was written to you, for you, for this hour.

Psalm 142:5-"Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living..."

It is enough. 

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:61

61 - The bands of the wicked

have robbed me: 

but I have not

forgotten thy law.

"Robbed" in the original carries a connotation of a repeated action, one done over and over again.  "Forgotten" includes a leaving action because of forgetting something.

Fortifying our spiritual defenses to stand against temptation or to stand strong in the face of opposition, deception, disdain, and emotional or physical persecution is difficult but can be done.  We enter into a season of "wicked robbing" of our emotional, physical, and spiritual resources and we spiritually circle our wagons and emphatically declare that "we shall not be moved."

It's not the force, nor the hill to be taken, nor the cause that sometimes causes us to weaken...many times it is just simply the length of the siege.

Repeatedly...over and over again...unjustly accused...convictions disdained...scorned...ignored...whispers behind walls...stone faces...false rumors...character maligned...

"Robbed." Repeated action.  Over and over again.

James 1:2-"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations!" 

His Word is enough!  Do not walk away from it.  Do not forget it.  Do not let discouragement steal it from your table.  Run toward it.  Dive into it.  Personalize every word, every line.  It was written to you, for you, for this hour.

Psalm 142:5-"Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living..."

It is enough. 

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:60

60 - I made haste,

and delayed not to

keep thy commandments.

To be slow to keep the commands is really to break them.

~ Charles Spurgeon

To be slow to guard the commands is to ignore them.

~ Me

Hebrews 2:1-"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed 

to the things which we have heard, 

lest at any time we should let them slip."

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:60

60 - I made haste,

and delayed not to

keep thy commandments.

To be slow to keep the commands is really to break them.

~ Charles Spurgeon

To be slow to guard the commands is to ignore them.

~ Me

Hebrews 2:1-"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed 

to the things which we have heard, 

lest at any time we should let them slip."

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:59

59 - I thought on my ways, 

and turned my feet 

unto thy testimonies.

The power of thought.

God knew at Creation the power of the ability He was giving to man.  He knew the power of thought would be what separated man from angels and animals.  He knew the power of thought would draw humanity to Him and turn humanity from Him.

He knew from the beginning that thoughts become actions, actions become habits, habits become lifestyles.

If all would think about every single concept read in the Word, there would be much less "recycled repentance" about the same things.

The ways of all of us would be shifted if we would think--ponder silently--on His Word and turn our feet in the direction of those thoughts.

"Action without thought is folly and thought without action is sloth: 

to think carefully and then to act promptly 

is a happy combination."

~ Charles Spurgeon

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:59

59 - I thought on my ways, 

and turned my feet 

unto thy testimonies.

The power of thought.

God knew at Creation the power of the ability He was giving to man.  He knew the power of thought would be what separated man from angels and animals.  He knew the power of thought would draw humanity to Him and turn humanity from Him.

He knew from the beginning that thoughts become actions, actions become habits, habits become lifestyles.

If all would think about every single concept read in the Word, there would be much less "recycled repentance" about the same things.

The ways of all of us would be shifted if we would think--ponder silently--on His Word and turn our feet in the direction of those thoughts.

"Action without thought is folly and thought without action is sloth: 

to think carefully and then to act promptly 

is a happy combination."

~ Charles Spurgeon

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:58

58 - I entreated thy favor

with my whole heart:

be merciful unto me

according to thy word.

Prayer is chiefly a heart work.  

God heareth the heart without the mouth, 

but never heareth the mouth acceptably without the heart.

~ Walter Marshall

God and coffee.  The first-fruits of the day...just me and Him.  As my brain slowly comes from sleep into the conscious world, my first thoughts go to the chair, the Word, the time we are about to spend together.  I am eager, I am ready...I anticipate the minutes alone with Him before the day sounds intrude upon the stillness and the unrepentant wheel of busyness of what is every day of my life begins to turn, unrelenting, unapologetically, unbroken...steady as the clock...demanding all the minutes and all the energy I will be able to produce on this day.  

The coffee drips steadily into the cup and I want to say, "Hurry.  The morning is passing even now.  Don't steal our time."

Mug in hand, I settle into the chair with His Word, Him, and utensils to record the words and thoughts that will be born in my heart.  I open His Word and pray my morning request of asking Him to reveal His ways through our time together, and...

And my brain skips ahead.  The first appointment is at 10 am.  Set the phone alarm, so I won't lose track of time and be late.  

Read a line.  And my brain goes to the clothes in the dryer that were left in last night and should really be removed before they get so wrinkled they will need re-washing.

Read the same line.  And my brain goes to the health of my loved one...did they fare well during the night?...the dog is scratching at the door wanting back in...thoughts of what was to be prepared for the afternoon meeting crowd my brain...I hear footsteps upstairs and wonder if someone up there is an early bird today wanting to have a few minutes of conversation before they family splits into separate ways and...STOP!

I need thee, O I need thee.  

And I do what He has taught me to do...I pull a curtain around my mind, I entreat Him to shut out the noise of what the day will bring, and I come to Him with my heart.  Not my head, not my words, my heart.

And, when I do that, He is right there.  Every single time.  He pulls me into His presence...the stillness of the atmosphere becomes praise and worship that crescendos in my heart and mind to the exclusion of all else...and I am in His presence.

I have found that it is impossible to talk to Him with just my mouth or my mind.  I am reciting words.  I must allow my heart to speak.  And, in His mercy, He hears my heart and meets me in my humanity.

Every time.

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock