TGFABT – Psalm 5
Let us Pray
- Ask the Lord to listen (attend, incline) to your prayer
- Honor Him, calling Him by name (My King and My God)
- Let Him hear your “voice” (aloud, bleating, crackling, cry out)
- Meet Him in the morning
- Expect an answer
Prepare to Battle
Lay in verse three is translated as direct in the KJV. The Hebrew word is `arak (aw-rak’ ).
`Arak means to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order (Join in battle)
Truth
My new truth: when I pray, I am joining God in the battlefield. It is OK for God to hear the emotions in my voice when I pray.
Word Study
Wait in Expectation (KJV- will look up)
I love the picture of God leaning down to incline His ear to our prayer as we look up for His answer. Let’s look at how the phrase wait in expectation is defined. The Hebrew word is tsaphah (tsaw-faw’). The short definition is watchman. The longer definition is: behold, espy, look up well, wait for, keep the watchman.
The word espy stumped me. All I could think of was the Espy Awards. I was wowed by the definition and how it relates to waiting and seeing God’s answer to our prayers. Espy means to see at a distance; catch sight of. Wait in expectation does not mean sit and do nothing. We can wait in expectation in our spirit as we go about out daily business, looking up and around to catch a sight of His answer. His answers can come in unexpected places, from unexpected people, and in expected ways. We have to look up, behold and believe.
Thankful
Today I am thankful beautiful seasonal warm weather.
Faith Stretching/Strengthening
The theme is TRUST. We still have not closed on our new house. Our house still has not sold. God says, “trust me.” I see His hand and I trust His heart.
Wow! What a powerful Monday message! I love this Psalm and so relate with Wendy’s heartache over a loved one. This Psalm is such an encouragement and full of hope. I will continue to fervently pray for this loved one and wait in expectation for God’s answer, confidently knowing He WILL answer. I have always loved verse 3! There is so much there to really meditate on! Wendy’s explanation of the word “voice” really helps to understand one way we can deepen our relationship with Him (and remember, some of us started this study asking: how can I love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?) …really letting HIm hear our voice and emotion! I like how she describes that when we do this, we build a deeper relationship with God because we are building a trust with him. It makes perfect sense when I compare that to my human relationships. The friends that I have the deepest, most intimate relationships with are the ones I am not afraid to share my true feelings and emotions with, the ones I trust with those emotions and feelings. And as I share, our relationship deepens. And so it is with my relationship with God.
So much more to say but will save it for tomorrow. Blessings to each of you this week!
Nancy, I also gained so much from Wendy encouraging us to let God hear our voice and emotion in prayer. I never thought about the fact that this simple thing can deepen our relationship with him. It is so obvious though! As I share with my close friends and family, the bond I feel is stronger!
This was for me today!!! Oh my goodness, was it ever! I got so much out of Wendy’s approach to breaking down verses 1-3. It is ok to go to God and ask him to listen to me, He wants to hear my heart, my emotions, my cry for help. I love how Wendy shared how sweet it is for her to go before God each morning before doing anything else and pray to Him earnestly and commit the day to Him. I must admit, there are days when I do not go to Him first and earnestly pray. I love the quote she shared from her study bible regarding this. “The secret of a close relationship with God is to pray to Him earnestly in the morning, each morning.” What a powerful truth this is! Thank you, Lord, for revealing so much to me tonight!
I loved the note too Tara! It is in my Bible as well. A great reminder!
I also am happy to know that God wants to hear us tell him our troubles with full emotion. Even though he already knows our suffering, speaking to him out loud and with emotion deepens our understanding and relationship with God and Christ our Lord. It’s good to know that God loves cry babies!
Love that, Kim! And when we cry out, He is ALWAYS faithful to answer. I have not come across a time in Scripture when someone has cried out, that He has not answered!
I saw this sign on Facebook and I wanted to share with you!
It’s a quote from Max Lucado
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your picture would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Face it, Friend, God is crazy about You!
Doesn’t this just make you
I just listened to Wendy this afternoon and this is so powerful. I’m just about to head out to facilitate GriefShare and oh, how we tell our participants to pray – talk to God because he will listen and guide you. Ask him what your next step is. The only problem is, I don’t always listen to myself. I pray and pray hard but don’t always expect an answer – I need to start listening harder for that answer. I too have loved ones that I am so concerned about and just need to continue my prayers and expect that in Gods time (not my time) I will get an answer.
Have a great evening all.
I just had the time to listen to the video and read all the comments. Oh how I appreciate all the comments and find them so encouraging. I am enjoying the jewels we are finding in scripture each week. Her comments all make sense and yet until I listened to her I honestly had not thought about verbal prayer and my time with God in the morning in this manner. It has become a habit to spend this time (pm) of the day in study and prayer and yet I need to broaden my relationship and begin in the morning and then expectantly watch and be amazed. God Bless ladies and may God continue to open your eyes to His word. 🙂
Truth Tuesday: Wow…so if you read the ebook study today (front page of Psalm 5) perhaps you were convicted as I was! I cannot tell you how often I have neglected to seek God first thing in the morning and have used my need for sleep or “it’s too early” etc. Reading this today was PERFECT timing! I got up this morning, skipped the Today Show (love to watch on my days off) , drank my cup of coffee while making 6 batches of meds, hurried to get the house clean so I could be at the doctor by 1:00. Delivered three meals to 3 different people and spent time with each of them and got back home in time for dinner out at 7:00. Got home from dinner and sat down to finally do my study…opened up the e-book and as I began to read Wendy’s prayerbobstacles…I sank in the couch. I woke this morning with an intentional agenda for the day and felt pretty good that I was able to get everything done on my list. Was not expecting to have her so clearly put things in perspective this evening! Did I need to make meds–yep! Did my house need cleaned-yep! Did the people I took meals to and spent time with today appreciate it–yep! But had I put the most important person FIRST today…had I spent time with the most important person first today—did I seek what I really need for my spiritual health first today. Obviously the answer is no, no, no. Sure I did some good things today, but are my priorities misplaced, “out of balance” as Wendy says? YES…. for sure. All I can hear myself saying is “But, I…” and all I can hear Him saying is “But I went to the cross.” Sobering thought for me this evening. Thanking Him for His grace and mercy and for teaching me hard lessons for my own good.
Thanks to Nancy and Wendy for reminding us to always put God first!
Thank you, Nancy, for your wise words. The point about yes we do have things we need to do today, however, we can’t let our priorities get misplaced, is a much needed reminder for me!
Word study Wednesday. I love the study today: waiting in expectation. When I think of expectation, I connect positive thoughts with it. Expectation is looking ahead for something good to happen. I think of our phrase when we talk about a pregnant woman: “She is expecting.” That is something wonderful to look forward to. And so when I read “to wait in expectation” I think it is knowing that God is going to answer and I need to eagerly be looking. I looked up anticipation in the dictionary :
: a belief that something will happen or is likely to happen
: a feeling or belief about how successful, good, etc., someone or something will be
How blessed we are that our faith and hope is in a God who hears us and who responds. Continue to look for Him and for the “jewels” as Karen says! Love that, Karen!
Good morning! I have been doing my study each day but do not always post. I am a morning study person but I too am remiss in following through. My mind is very cluttered right now and like this time of year I need to do some spring cleaning in my brain. My expectations are there and I need to respect God enough to be diligent in posting. I do not always have huge prayers when I seek him. He hears me even in a few short words. It is important I always keep him front and center in my mind and heart as my EXPECTATION is knowing God is ever present and all I need to do is reach out for him. What a wonderful relationship is available to all of us. I pray for each of you for any thing God has put on your heart.
Looking for God’s answers or messages are becoming like a treasure hunt. I find them in unusual places. I will wait with anticipation for today’s treasures. We expect so much from God and he expects so little from us. He just wants us to be true to Him and ourselves. Is that too much to ask? I think not! Hope you find many “treasures” to today to add to your chest!
Good Morning,
I did my first day yesterday for this week and I have been going through some struggles at work, and just praying for God to change me, as I know it’s me that has the issue, even though I want to feel like it’s the other person, so I was praying on my way to work yesterday, hard and just asking God to show me, I know it’s in his timing not mine.. but when you are struggling, you just need a small show from him, he is in the game with you, it totally changes you, at least gives you a start to seeing his plan, when I got into work yesterday, he showed up by bringing this person to my office and showing me he has heard my cry and that when I ask for help for me instead of the other person, I believe that is in his will not mine. So I love when she was talking about EXPECTING HIM TO SHOW UP, even though we don’t know when or how, he just continues to give you just a glimpse of what his workings are for you. Love being able to do this study when I can fit in and LOVE HER TRUTH about starting your day with GOD, just brings a different outcome for your day, when you focus on his will and not your craziness busyness that takes over and you never let God into your day, because you are soo busy!!! Oh, how I wish I would get this!!! Take care today Girls and have a great day!!!
I got caught up tonight on Truth Tuesday and Word Study Wednesday.
Truth Tuesday – Committing to starting my day in earnest prayer is going to grow my relationship with Christ. I do like mornings, once I am out of bed. My struggle is to be awake enough to roll out of bed. This is something I will continue to work on so that I can start each and every day off with growing closer to Christ.
Word Study Wednesday – Learning to wait expectantly in excitement of what is to come, is a big challenge for me! Being patient while waiting on God to move the pieces is not easy. I enjoyed learning what espy means. It is to look up and around for God’s answer, it is not just sitting around doing nothing waiting for God to move. We must serve Him and trust in Him as we wait for Him to answer. It reminds me of the song we sang several weeks ago in church about waiting:
I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait
Love that Tara!!! It is difficult to wait on God’s timing, I often have to remind myself that HIS TIMING IS PERFECT, and it’s not mine…. these are words that I have to repeat to myself often! Praying for perfect timing for you all!
Thankful Thursday- so thankful God meets us where we are and continues to grow us through our opportunities and experiences. He is so patient with us!
I am thankful that God has provided the help I need at just the right time. When I least expect it he comes through. When I resist and things get tough, I know I am trying to do it my way and not his. Like Nancy said God is patient with us!
I am thankful for all of you being willing to share your heart with me!
I haven’t been posting because I haven’t felt that I’ve had any revelations from God. I need to start my day in His presence and see if that helps to change my perception and closeness to Him. I appreciate everything you ladies are sharing!
I’m very thankful for my sister and brother in law who have been caring for our aging parents in Florida! Love you Sis! And for those who don’t know us, LoriCPCC is my sister!
Thankful for beautiful ladies to explore God’s word with.
Thankful Thursday! I am thankful that I can fully trust in God and approach Him in confidence of his great Plan A for me!
Faith Stretching Friday – God is stretching my faith in His will for my life. Trusting Him with all of my fears and worries as well as my hopes and dreams is something I am striving for everyday!!
I am learning to start with God everyday and to wait patiently for his answer and direction. I have been told by someone very dear to me that patience means to wait calmly. I have been very anxious about a lot of things and I need only to wait and be sure that God will show me his will.
My Thankful Thursday is that God has worked in very powerful ways for my family this week and I am very grateful.
I am learning that God can lead the ones I love without my help. He is an awesome God.
I am behind in my studies. I do apologize. I do have some tummy troubles and sometimes I am in pain and struggle to sit still and concentrate. I hate to pray for my struggles because they seem so trivial to others needs. However, this scripture shows me that it is OK to cry out to the Lord for help. How truly blessed I feel to have the Lord in my life. Thank you Kim for your thoughts. Love you Sis!
Dear Wendy & Sisters:
In the morning…. come to God in prayer, with reverence .
In the morning…. start my day with Him, meditating in his word, mighty works.
In the morning…..praise him for his mighty love, for his mercies, for second chances.
In the morning ….. giving thanks to Jesus for closing the gap between the father and myself. For Reconciliation !
In the morning….. I pose to remember my past life and thank him for the present one. God bless you all.
Am I the only one doing this study right now?
I know God is always on time – it’s meant to be that I’m studying this right now, here today. But it would be nice to join with anyone else out there. God bless!