<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+19:7-14">Psalm 19:7-14</span></span></p><p>We said yesterday that exposed problems are the only ones that can be resolved. Is this just an interesting theory, or is it something that can be supported from Scripture? Let me see if I can convince you that this statement has a biblical basis. Come back with me to the Garden of Eden and think again about the questions which God put to the first human pair: "Where are you?  Who told you that you were naked?  What is this you have done?"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+3:9-13">Genesis 3:9-13</span>). Does anyone believe that God needed to ask those questions in order to gain information for Himself? Of course not; being omniscient (that is, having all knowledge), He already knew what they had done. Then why did He put those searching personal questions to them? Surely the answer must be that the direct questions encouraged them to face something that they preferred not to look at. God knew that before the problem could be dealt with it must be brought out into the open. Some people may think that by far the best way of dealing with unacceptable thoughts and feelings is to push them back into the unconscious but, as we are now seeing, that is a fallacy. Problems that are buried inside us rather than brought out into the light work to drain us of spiritual energy. It takes a lot of emotional energy to keep things repressed. This is why people who repeatedly use the defence of repression end up feeling overtired. Healthy people are those who, like the psalmist in  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+73">Psalm 73</span>, bring their thoughts and feelings into awareness - no matter how "unspiritual" those thoughts and feelings may appear to be. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, I now begin to see why You bring me face to face with so many disturbing questions, for You know the havoc that is wrought within when issues are ignored or denied. Help me face anything and everything. In Your Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+139:13-24">Psalm 139:13-24</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+11:27-28">1 Corinthians 11:27-28</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="la+3:40">Lamentations 3:40</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was the psalmist's prayer?</li><li>Why is the communion service so important?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

" Clear me from hidden and unconscious faults." (v. 12, Amplified Bible) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+139:1-24">Psalm 139:1-24</span></span></p><p>We continue exploring the fact that God is not only powerful, but personal. The constituent parts of personality are predicated of God on almost every page of the Bible. "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind," said the Lord to Eli in  <span class="scriptRef" ref="1sa+2:35">1 Samuel 2:35</span>. This shows (if it needs showing) that God has a mind with which He thinks. God has emotions also - another aspect of personality. Some modern-day theologians claim that God is unable to feel, but clearly this is not supported by Scripture. God can be angry  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+2:12">Psalm 2:12</span>), jealous  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="zec+1:14-15">Zechariah 1:14-15</span>), merciful  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+78:38">Psalm 78:38</span>), and joyful  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="de+30:9">Deuteronomy 30:9</span>). These are just a few of the emotions which Scripture talks about, but there are many more. Again, God chooses and decides. "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth  And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created "  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+6:6-7">Genesis 6:6-7</span>, KJV). While the majority of human beings believe in some kind of God, many view Him as being so great that He cannot possibly take a personal interest in such insignificant creatures as ourselves. Dr. Henry Norris Russell, one of the great astronomers of this century and a Christian, once gave a talk on the vastness of the universe. Afterwards someone asked him this question: "How is it possible for such a great and infinite God to have time for me?" This was his reply: "An infinite God can dispatch the affairs of this universe in the twinkling of an eye, thus giving Him plenty of time for you."</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, help me in the midst of every trial and difficulty to drop my anchor in this reassuring and encouraging revelation - no matter what my problem, You always have plenty of time to give to me. I am so deeply, deeply thankful. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+4:12-16">Hebrews 4:12-16</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+2:12">Psalm 2:12</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="zec+1:14-15">Zechariah 1:14-15</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+78:38">Psalm 78:38</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="de+30:9">Deuteronomy 30:9</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Can you think of other scriptures showing God's emotions?</li><li>What is God able to do through Christ?</li></ul></div></div>

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" (v. 17)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+139:1-24">Psalm 139:1-24</span></span></p><p>We ended yesterday by saying that no one can become a peacemaker - in the biblical sense of the word - until they have found peace within their innermost self. As we are looking at the Beatitudes from the point of view of how effective they are in producing good spiritual and mental health, it is interesting to see how the psychology of Jesus is always ahead of the findings of those who study human behaviour. The view of many psychologists and psychiatrists is that much of the talk and activity by the masses in relation to international peace is actually a projection whereby they take the pressure off themselves. I am not convinced that all the concern can be dismissed in this way, but a lot of it can be explained in terms of the mechanism known as psychological projection. Listen to what Louis Linn and Leo Schwartz say in their book Psychiatry, Religion and Experience: "A psychological origin of an adolescent's social idealism lies in his yearning for peace within himself. He tends to project his feelings of helplessness and turmoil on to the outer world, so that his yearning for peace may take the form of a wish for world peace." Many of the activists who work for world peace may find this difficult to accept, but the truth is that if they did not have a world crisis on which to project their feelings, they would have to create some other condition. As long as we are not at peace within ourselves, we will create situations on which we project our insecure feelings. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Dear Father, help me to understand this strange mechanism of projection. For I see that I can do the right things for the wrong reasons. Only You can probe my heart. I pray today with the psalmist, "Search me, O God, and know my heart." Amen.</p>

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." (v. 23)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+139:1-24">Psalm 139:1-24</span></span></p><p>We continue meditating on the right way to handle our negative feelings. We said yesterday that the two wrong ways to handle hurting emotions are to deny them or express them. Denial pushes them down inside us, while expression dumps them on to other people or things. Neither of these, in my view, is a Biblical way of dealing with negative emotions. In fact, recent research by some psychologists shows that the uncontrolled expression of negative feelings can compound, rather than clear up, one's emotional difficulties. In my judgement, the correct and Biblical way to handle negative emotions is to acknowledge them fully before God and share with Him how we feel. Now understand clearly what I am saying, for at this point many have responded to this advice by coming to God when they are hurt or sorrowful and saying: "Lord, please forgive me for feeling hurt." That misses the point entirely. A Christian psychologist puts the issue most effectively when he says: "We are not to pretend that we feel penitent when we feel hurt." When our stomachs are churning with grief, sorrow or hurt, we must come before the One who sees and knows everything, and pray a prayer something like this: "Lord, right now I am hurting more than I think I can endure. I feel like screaming, running away or hitting somebody. I don't want to feel like this, dear Lord - but I do. Thank You for loving me as I am. Help me now to handle my feelings in a way that glorifies You and honours Your Name." When we pray a prayer like that - and mean it - we are on the way to maturity. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, help me not just to receive this concept into my mind and do nothing about it, but enable me to put it to work in my daily Christian living. I ask this for the honour and glory of Your peerless and precious Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+51:1-19">Psalm 51:1-19</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+69:1-36">Psalm 69:1-36</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+46:1-11">Psalm 46:1-11</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How did David deal with his feelings?</li><li>Write a short psalm expressing your true feelings.</li></ul></div></div>

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+51:1-12">Psalm 51:1-12</span></span></p><p>We are looking at the Beatitudes as containing the principles which enable us to experience good mental and spiritual health. I cannot think of anything more psychologically in harmony with the best thinking of today's social scientists than the words of Jesus: "Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We would not be taking any undue liberty with the text of  <span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+5:4">Matthew 5:4</span> if we translated it thus: "Congratulations to those who are willing to face and feel sorrow, for they will discover in and through the comfort that I impart to them a new ministry and a new joy." A mentally and spiritually healthy person is someone who is willing to face and feel sorrow, and recognise that it can be made to deepen one's life - not devastate it. You are familiar, I am sure, with the terms "neurotic" and "psychotic". A "neurotic" is someone who is afraid to face reality, while a "psychotic" is someone who is unaware of reality. If we draw back from being willing to face and feel any emotion that rises up within us, then the denial of this feeling will have negative results within our personality. A woman once said to me: "I have problems with the second Beatitude because I don't know how to mourn; I am too happy to mourn." As we talked, it became clear to her that it wasn't so much that she didn't know how to mourn, but that she didn't want to mourn. She was afraid to face or feel any negative emotions - grief, sorrow, and so on - and thus, despite her claim to happiness and lightheartedness, she was a stunted soul. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Loving heavenly Father, how wonderfully You help me to put my finger on my need. Help me, I pray, to be willing to feel and face my emotions, and show me that when You are by my side I need be afraid of nothing - myself included. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+139:14-24">Psalm 139:14-24</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1ch+28:9">1 Chronicles 28:9</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="jer+17:10">Jeremiah 17:10</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was David's prayer?</li><li>Make that your prayer today.</li></ul></div></div>

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts '" (v. 6)

<p>The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret … Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And inYour book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.<br><br>Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? § In Him we live and move and have our being. § As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.<br><br>He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Evening Daily Light

 He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num poetry-line">14 </sup><poetry>I praise you   because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;<br/><indent>your works are wonderful,  </indent><br/><indent>I know that full well.</indent><br/></poetry> </span></p>

I praise you<cr>1</cr>  because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;<br/><indent>your works are wonderful,<cr>2</cr> </indent><br/><indent>I know that full well.</indent><br/>

Psalm 139:14

 14 I praise you   because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,   I know that full well. 

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 I praise you  because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,  I know that full well. 

<p><span class="bible-text "><poetry>I praise you   because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;<br/><indent>your works are wonderful,  </indent><br/><indent>I know that full well.</indent><br/></poetry> </span></p>

 I praise you   because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,   I know that full well. 

Bible Verse of the Day

July 6, 2025

Psalm 139:14 NIV

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