Delight Yourself in the Lord

Scripture Reading : Psalm 37:1-24

My name is Had. You may know me, but you may not know my new name. You may have no idea what I've been through because I do my best to look the same.

God inspired the prophet Isaiah to pen what might be considered a play on words. The Holy Spirit expressed a beautiful paradox in these verses.

King David, having conquered Jerusalem and defeated the Philistines, set out with thirty thousand men to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem.

Did you know that living happily ever after began with God, not Cinderella?

A vital element in learning to walk by faith and obedience is learning to talk by faith and obedience. 

Have you ever wondered what motivates your pastor's relentless drive to preach the Gospel? For John, it was the desire for others to join in the fellowship of God and man.

Do you sometimes "fight" God?  If you're not comfortable admitting to an occasional wrestling match with God, do you fight with Him more covertly by demanding amendments or clauses to make His will more bearable?

Christ's priority for the believer's life is not how much he or she studies the Word, enjoys attending Bible study, or discusses Scripture in small groups. His priority for the believer is to hear the Word and do it.

The Word of God delineates between one little planet He called earth and the entire rest of the universe. 

The account of God supplying manna to the children of Israel is one of Scripture's most beautiful expressions of God's provision.

Contented Christians live a powerful and effective testimony.  Their lives are walking witnesses, proving that Christ can deliver what the gods of this world can't.

As Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke were going to the place of prayer one morning, they encountered a demon-possessed slave girl.

Without a doubt, avoiding prayer is a sure prescription for anxiety, a certain way to avoid peace.

One of the first passionate words out of a toddler's mouth is, "Mine!"  I'm not even sure this word has to be taught.

Scripture refers to a natural sibling of Paul's only once, yet I counted ninety-nine times in his epistles when he referred to other Christians as brothers.

I don't mind telling you, I have a problem that needs attention.  Keith and I need a new fence.

People who loathe their very lives can be difficult to bear.  The words of Job shed some light on what motivates self-hatred.

I seem to have a new favorite verse every day, but Living Proof Ministries derived its name and purpose from Hebrews 4:12, a Scripture God used to steer an entirely new direction for my life.

I'm going to allow my daughter to share her story with you. She is one of the gutsiest young women I've ever met, willing to allow herself to look weak so that God's strength can be revealed and the father of lies can be defeated.

I know some real heroes of the faith.  I'm sure you do too.  Permit me to introduce you to one now.

The parable of the gutsy friend is one of the most unique parallels Jesus ever drew.

Pure appreciation for God's presence emerges from a daily walk - perhaps in the mundane more than the miraculous.

One of the best ways to become acquainted with the heart of God is to search the Scriptures and study the things He values most.

Beloved, as you hold your Bible in your hands, you hold the "things revealed." You possess all the information you can handle, right in front of you, from the omniscient mind of God.

A vital and admittedly painful part of God's conforming process in our lives is our willingness to fellowship with Christ in His sufferings.

If I asked about the first experience that shattered your heart, you'd likely remember everything - down to the last detail.

The apostle Paul introduced the concept of mentoring to a young Gentile preacher named Titus.

I love being drawn into the story line and relationships of Scripture, but involvement also increases the disappointment when our heroes show their humanity.

Desiring God's fame above all else sounds simple, but it's not. Few things are more contrary to our human natures than desiring anyone's fame above our own.

I believe being created for God's glory means two marvelous truths to those who are called by His name: God wants to make Himself recognizable to us and through us.

I have often meditated on this tender scene when both a screaming throng and the searing pain of crucifixion momentarily gave way to another concern.

Let's pull up our chairs to the Passover table where Jesus and His apostles reclined.

The people of Israel had observed the Passover for approximately fifteen centuries when Jesus ate His last supper with the disciples.  

I slipped off my shoes to enjoy the cool, coarse sand beneath my feet, stood on the shore, and beheld the Artist at work. I could see the remains of yesterday's sand castles. 

We may never have argued with someone openly about our greatness, but Christ knows our thoughts, and the attitudes that inhabit them.

I remember once standing in the kitchen trimming the stems of a dozen red roses given to Melissa. As I trimmed each one and put it in the vase, so many thoughts swirled through my mind.

Two weeks ago the NFL Super Bowl descended into my hometown.  Somehow our focus shifted from the sport of football to the sport of celebrity tracking.

John 21:15-23 records the famous scene when Jesus recommissioned Peter after his denial.  I love this scene because it represents something of a do-over.

When we're involved in willful sin Satan only has to cheer us on, but when we fall he sows shame and gloats over us.

As Keith and I contemplated the seriousness of marriage, we realized it was the "till death do you part" clause that unsettled us.

God created every life to be fruitful and multiply, but this God-given dream represents more than physical offspring.

As Keith and I contemplated the seriousness of marriage, we realized it was the "till death do you part" clause that unsettled us.