Pastor Mary Haley

Psalm 23: 1 (TPT) The Good Shepherd
David’s poetic praise to God
1
The Lord is my best Friend and my Shepherd.
I always have more than enough.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: The word most commonly used for “shepherd” is taken from the root word ra‘ah, which is also the Hebrew word for “best Friend.” This biblical translation includes both meanings. In our passage today, David praises the Lord in a beautiful and adoring way. We can learn a great deal from David in how he views his Friend who always provides “more than enough.” The Lord is the Good Shepherd—our Good Friend—so let’s follow him.

Someone near you, today, may need a friend. Perhaps they are frightened by the status of our country or the spread of the virus and you can be the friend who brings hope by turning them toward the Lord. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me” (John 10:27-28). Your Friend, Jesus, makes that promise to not only you, but anyone who calls upon his name. Share with others the name of your “best Friend.”

Prayer: Lord, I have more than enough and I know you have provided for me. How beautiful is your supply, because you not only take care of me, but you enable me to be generous with others and encourage them to enjoy a friendship with you, as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 81:13-16 (TPT)
13 
O that my people would once and for all listen to me and walk faithfully in my footsteps, following my ways.
14 
Then and only then will I conquer your every foe and tell every one of them, ‘You must go!’
15 
Those who hate my ways will cringe before me and their punishment will be eternal.
16 
But I will feed you with my spiritual bread.
You will feast and be satisfied with me,
feeding on my revelation-truth like honey
dripping from the cliffs of the high place.”

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: As God’s people, we must grow in our love for his ways; faithfully walking out each day in a way that honors our Living God. We are called to represent him in all we say and do. We must trust him and remain in his shalom (wholeness/peace) and sufficiency to care for us as his children. In this place—worship—God fights our enemies and engages in our battles. There is no one more Mighty or more Victorious to fight our battles. Our part is to walk in Truth and to feed on the nutrients that occupy the spiritual life of grace. Lead on O King Eternal!

Prayer: Lord, I pause and linger in your presence, today. Feed me and satisfy me in your wholeness. Fight my battles and deliver me from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 81:8-12 (TPT)
8 
“Listen to me, my dear people.
For I’m warning you, and you’d better listen well! For I hold something against you.
9 
Don’t ever be guilty of worshiping any other god but me.
10 
I am your only God, the living God. Wasn’t I the one who broke the strongholds over you
and raised you up out of bondage? Open your mouth with a mighty decree; I will fulfill it now, you’ll see! The words that you speak, so shall it be!
11 
But my people still wouldn’t listen; my princely people would not yield to me.
12 
So I lifted my grace from off of their lives and I surrendered them to the stubbornness of their hearts. For they were living according to their own selfish fantasies. Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: God commanded his covenant people to celebrate the Festival of Booths every year as a way to remember how he provided for his people as he led them into the Promised Land. Even though the people were disobedient, God was faithful to love them. Apparently, there came a time when God lifted his grace (provision) off their lives, because they stubbornly worshiped other gods and stopped listening to their Savior (they listened to the world). Don’t allow the world’s voice to be the loudest in your ear right now. Instead, yield to the Living God! He is your Provider.

Prayer: Lord, I am your booth or tent; You live in me. Help me to listen and yield, because I need you to provide for me. Thank you for your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 95:10-11 The Voice (VOICE)
10
For 40 years I despised that grumbling generation and said, ‘Their hearts are unfaithful; they no longer walk in My ways; though I call, they do not listen to My voice.’
11
That is why in My anger I swore, ‘They will never enter into My rest.’”

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: When our hearts wander rather than staying focused on God’s authority and sufficiency to provide, we miss out on many acts of his goodness. For forty years the Israelites grieved their Maker. If we are going to know God’s will and ways, we must trust him. Our unbelief hinders our worship, because it offends God. We struggle to hear, because we refuse to listen and obey. Our wills must learn to bend—to be refashioned by our Redeemer. True worship brings renewal and leads us toward improvement in every practical area of our lives. Certainly at this time with all the hysteria over the coronavirus, your trust in God–as well as your reliance upon his wisdom and provision–is a test of your faith. Stay the course, make your words positive and faith-filled, and see the goodness of the Lord. He loves and cares for you. Do not allow fear to be your god.

Prayer: Lord, put a watch over my lips that I may not grumble against you even when I do not understand your ways. In my heart, I know you see perfectly—I do not. I will remain grateful for your goodness and sing praises to your name. Thank you for allowing me to enter your rest; where I cease my striving and simply follow the Spirit into abundant living. Thank you for growing my trust and faith through whatever means you choose, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 95:7b-9 The Voice (VOICE)
7b 
Today, if He speaks, hear His voice.
8 
    “Don’t harden your hearts the way they did in the bitter uprising at Meribah or like that day they complained in the wilderness of Massah.
9 
Your ancestors tested Me, wanted Me to prove Myself though they had seen that nothing was too great for Me.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Hearing God’s Voice in our worship is especially precious. When our hearts are open or pliable and we are willing to listen, we can gain amazing affirmation or wisdom from the Lord. Our passage today reminds us of the Israelites and their exodus from Egyptian slavery. The people argued with God (Meribah means argument) and their lack of trust tested God’s patience (Massah means tested). Therefore, God allowed that generation to perish in the wilderness; they never crossed over to the Promise Land God had provided for them. Their faith was not focused on God’s power to take them there. Our will is connected to the hardness or softness of our hearts. If we are not willing to trust and obey God, then we have not actually entered into worship; God always gives us reasons to trust him.

Prayer: Lord, I desire to get to the point in my listening skills to hear your Voice clearly once and then step into obedient action. This is what it means to worship in spirit and in Truth. I cast down anything within me that would seek to rebel against your authority or test your patience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 95:6-7 The Voice (VOICE)
6 
Come, let us worship Him. Everyone bow down; kneel before the Eternal who made us.
7 
For He is our God and we are His people, the flock of His pasture, His sheep protected and nurtured by His hand.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: It is always an extra blessing when we enter into actions that are right before God, as well as good for us. It is like two divine scoops of perfect blessing. Bowing down (act of humility) to the authority of God is the right thing to do, as well as the most blessed place to be as we receive in our worship. We come with a sense of awe for his Majesty. This is actually our duty, because the Creator is our Maker and Redeemer. Today, reflect on the revelation that you are nurtured by the hand of Almighty God; his hand moves especially to love you toward his perfect heart. God is all-sufficient; all you really need. So, bow down and worship your Maker.

Prayer: Lord, I humble my soul before your presence. I cast down any thought that would seek to exalt itself above you. I bow my will and ask for your will to be done in my life. And, I bring you the wilderness of my emotions and ask for you to comfort me and keep me in divine peace. There is no room in my life for fear; that spirit is not from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 95:3-5 The Voice (VOICE)
3 
For the Eternal is a great God, and a great King, supreme over all gods.
4 
Within His control are the very depths of the earth; the mountaintops too—they all belong to Him.
5 
The sea belongs to Him, for He created it—scooped and filled it—with His hands He made the dry land—every valley and mountain.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Displaying greatness is never difficult for God. He displays his presence in the material and spiritual world. We see his greatness everywhere we look in the beauty of all he has created. He is EL, JEHOVAH, ELOHIM. These names reveal his strength, being and essence, and his covenant relationship with humanity. Creation reveals a spiritual reality, as well. Next time you are enjoying the mountains, remember they reflect his great strength operating in your life. When you find yourself looking at the ocean, remember he carved it for you and washes your soul with the water of his Spirit. When you wander in the valley, remember he created them, too, because he wants something deeper in your relationship and is there to bring you peace and provision for your soul.

Prayer: Lord, be my strength—the essence of everything great you call me to be as I stay in this place of promise with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 95:1-2 The Voice (VOICE)
1 
Come, let us worship in song, a joyful offering to the Eternal. Shout! Shout with joy to the rock of our liberation.
2 
Come face-to-face with God, and give thanks;
with loud and joyful voices, praise Him in songs.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: It is a wonderful gift to be able to present ourselves to God each day. Sometimes we come quietly into his presence and sometimes we present ourselves through shouts of praise. Our worship should be filled with praise, because we have experienced the goodness of God so many times. Never hold back your praise during worship times. It is your moment to sing with God’s people and express your gratitude. He is the Rock of our salvation; the perfect Liberator for our souls (mind/will/emotions). This is true theologically (through the study of God’s nature) and it is true experientially. We are invited to praise him in the depths of our souls by thought as well as through experience. When we think of the goodness of God revealed in our lives, we praise from a deep place within. Reflect upon the goodness of God today; turn and praise him from the depths of your soul. He is your Liberator; he has come to set you free from your bondage to any sin or wrong thinking.

Prayer: Lord, I present myself to you, today. I come face-to-face with your goodness; I am aware of your glorious presence in my spirit. Thank you for working in my life to bring me a greater measure of freedom in my soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 128:1-2 (TPT) Blessings of the Lord

A song of the stairway
1 
How joyous are those who love the Lord and bow low before God, ready to obey him!
2 
Your reward will be prosperity, happiness, and well-being.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: There is a proper mindset that is essential when reflecting upon the communion or fellowship that is possible between the Creator and the created. Only the Creator has the perfect wisdom we need, because we have been created to conform to his image not the other way around. So, having the right mindset is the starting point for us receiving and operating in divine wisdom. We are required, as the created, to bow before our Creator. How do you perceive the word “bow?” According to Scripture, it is a picture of worship and the position of our souls (mind/will/emotions) has everything to do with the depth of our worship and our invitation to live in spiritual abundance. God created his people to live with a sense of well-being as we bow to obey the wisdom we gain from the Word of God. It is God’s gift to the world and is not dependent upon race, status, education, or intelligence. It is based upon our willingness to bow. Worship involves bowing—receiving the Truth from our Creator and living in it. God’s ways should become our ways and true worship will be the result.

Prayer: Lord, I have become keenly aware the lower I bow my soul to your ways, the deeper my worship draws me into your presence. Help me to bow to your authority and fill me with wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 121:5-8 (NLT)
God Protects Us
5 
The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 
The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.
7 
The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: God provides for us by being our protective shade; he overshadows our weakness and covers our spiritual immaturity. The Lord never promises a cushy life; he does promise a well-armed life, because he is all-powerful. We need God’s power to keep our souls from the dominion of sin. Notice, God’s promise to protect us is comprehensive: in our coming and our going…in everything and at all times.

Prayer: Lord, I want to stay in the shadow of the Almighty, so arm my life, set your angels around me, and protect my soul from sin. In Jesus’ name. Amen.