John Nunnikhoven's Posts (69)
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The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. (7) Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
Yes, Lord, You have released me form the bondage of sin. You have set my feet upon a level path and given me instructions to walk that path. You have given me a guide and a Teacher to open Your word to me and to show me how it applies to my life. The Docent of the Lord to lead me through the riches of the Word of the Lord. And the Mentor of the Lord to remind and admonish me when I stray. Your Gifts are boundless. You are the Mighty One and in Your Presence is Joy Forevermore.
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.
I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
How glorious it is Lord, for You are my my strength, rock, fortress, salvation, and stronghold. You are indeed worthy of my praise, I am safe and secure from all alarms, safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast. In You I have complete and perfect peace.
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional. As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
O, Lord, the prospect before me, to be like You, to fully emerged from the chrysalis into Your glorious light and life. "To be satisfied" seems to be so weak a statement; I shall be satisfied and completed and fulfilled and perfected and gratified; I shall be exactly what You determined before the foundation of Creation that I should be.
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.Psalm 119:39
Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
The reproach that I do dread is that of my family, friends and neighbors, the reproach that I should dread is Yours. It is so easy to sit here in the absolute quiet of the pre-dawn and vow obedience to Your word. It is another thing entirely to obey when faced with a disapproval of others because I am trying to adhere to Your word. There is no difference between me and the drunk who vows he will never drink again while he is sitting in the chapel in the prison, but after release ... Both of us need to throw ourselves upon Your mercy and cry, "Be gracious unto me, Lord, for I am a sinner."
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.
Voices Together for Saturday, 14 August 2010
Psalm 17:10-14
They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
Those affections, selfish desires, willful disobediences that come between me and You are being moved under the authority of the Holy Spirit, discarded and sent to the middens of sin. You are stripping me of the old man, feeding and growing the new, bringing me into a mature life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.
Meditations on the Psalms from John Nunnikhoven
Voices Together for Friday, 13 August 2010
Psalm 17:6-9
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.
It is so hard, Lord, to release control of my life to You. But You are faithful, You lead me every step of the way, showing the steadfastness of Your love. Slowly, slowly, slowly, I am learning to trust You in all things, to seek You and Your righteousness first in all aspects of my life. And You respond with release from the grip of the Evil One and with the filling of Your peace that passes all understanding. Praise You, my Lord and my Master.
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.
Meditations on the Psalms from John Nunnikhoven
Voices Together for Thursday, 12 August 2010
Psalm 17:1-5 A Prayer of David.
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! You have tried my heart, you have
visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
I am not as sure as David that I can make these statements with the same confidence. I do know that the desire of my heart would be that it were so. I do know that this can only come through the work of the Holy Spirit transforming my mind, heart and conscience. And I know that He requires my complete submission and obedience. He will not argue with me -- I must submit. O, Lord, this is hard!
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.
Meditations on the Psalms from John Nunnikhoven
Voices Together for Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Psalm 16:9-11
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Lord, there has been a day of resurrection and transformation for my soul; a day where You brought me out of the mire and corruption and set my feet upon solid ground; a day where I began to allow You to direct my footsteps and where I began to realize the pleasures if Your company.
Now I can look forward to the Day of Your coming, when I will be with You and know You in all Your fullness. Then there will truly be pleasures for evermore.
Voices Together is taken from my daily meditations and is shared in the hope that others will be encouraged to use the Psalms as a basis for their own prayers, It is available in other formats including a daily e-mail, as a weekly bulletin insert for churches and for use in prison ministry, and published as an annual devotional.
