Tag Archives: Meditations

RACHAM: Tender Mercies – The Wonder of God’s Mercy

By • March 3, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10

The ancient fortress or stronghold was the only protection a city had against its enemies. Without a stronghold they were vulnerable and in constant danger. In this verse we find that God himself is the place of safety. We are to run to him when in trouble. Instead we often just run—run from a church that has problems, run from relationships that are difficult, run to sleep, or food, or entertainment, or medication. Running in the wrong direction. This verses tells us how we get in the stronghold.

It begins with a clear thinking about God. This, then, leads to seeking him which is parallel to trusting in this verse. Knowing…trusting…running to God.

What then does this reveal about our running and seeking of comfort in other substitutes?

Pastor Tim Kerr

RACHAM: Tender Mercies – The Wonder of God’s Mercy

By • March 3, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. Psalms 3:5

The gift of life is exactly that. A gift. Not an entitlement. It is possible to wake up morning after morning without any thought of the fact that we woke up because God was merciful to us. But our lack of recognition doesn’t make it any less so.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Sleeplessness has many causes, but one of the most common is anxious thoughts. What is needed is peace of heart, which also implies trusting God rather than ourselves. How does the word “alone” in Ps 4:8 teach us about the right and wrong source of trust?

Pastor Tim Kerr

 

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 28, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favour, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. Psalms 86:16-17

God loves bold prayers and this is a bold prayer! Five bold requests in rapid succession. Nothing changes things like when God stands beside a man, woman or child. Impossible odds suddenly dissolve into nothingness! We need to pray this prayer more often—especially “Show me a sign of your favour!”. Note the two-fold effect of answered prayer—one toward demonic enemies, and one toward the one praying. Answered prayer has spiritual warfare implications! So we keep our eyes focused on God when in spiritual battle. His involvement changes everything, and that change comes through prayer!

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 27, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalms 86:11

Every believer struggles with a divided heart on some level. Paul teaches us in Galatians that “the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Gal 5:17)

But while we live with the presence of the flesh, we do not need to live with the mindset of the flesh. We find, in the request of Psalms 86, two requests, with two sanctifying results. One request seeks God’s truth. The other request seeks God’s power. We must know both before we can be truly changed.

“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29 

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 26, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abound- ing in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalms 86:4-5

These two verses remind me of a verse in Proverbs:

An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices. Proverbs 29:6

The first and second line interpret each other. Singing comes from being free—not being ensnared by sin. The song of the soul set free!

Psalms 86:4-5 hints at a similar theme. Note the request and the appeal to God’s forgiving nature. How does forgiveness granted by God give us gladness? What do we learn, then, about the connection between prayerlessness and a heavy spirit?

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 25, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalms 85:6

Joy is rare. So rare, in fact, that it gets the attention of believers and unbelievers. It is something everyone wants but few ever taste. Most accept the poor substitute called pleasure. Pleasure is much easier to find, but transient and shallow in comparison. Pleasure is a “feel good” experience that typically comes from the outside in, whereas joy is a deep heart-happiness that comes from within…but given first from above.

This prayer is a plea for God’s people—a plea for the church to be characterized by joy—a plea for marriages and families and relationships of all sorts to display a God-centered delight and gratitude.

Note what MUST come first. Joy is the result, not the request itself. And it all begins with prayer. Are you praying this regularly for your church? For your friends? For your family? For your marriage? For your small group? If not, why not? Will you make this a regular part of your prayers from now on?

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 24, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Psalms 35:3

Lack of assurance is a common problem among genuine believers. It is somewhat similar to not knowing if we are loved by another person. The key is hearing and seeing expressions of love from that person toward us. Interest, attention, kindness, affection—these are all tangible ways that we receive assurance that we are truly loved by another. How then does one receive assurance of God’s love toward them? This verse tells us that it begins with a prayer for God to speak his love to us. This is a very personal request. It is a request for God to whisper something deep into our soul, to give us the assurance we lack.

When God answers a prayer like this, what form would you expect it to take? Would it be an impartation of faith in a written promise? An encouragement spoken through someone else? A faith-sense of God’s love through a direct work of the Holy Spirit? Nagging fears suddenly erased? A gradual or sudden sense of inner peace? A message from God’s word through a preacher, bringing special conviction? A song or a book that speaks directly to the longing of your soul? How would you expect God to answer a prayer like this?

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 23, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” Psalms 35:23-25

Rarely do we hear bold praying like this in our churches! God does not sleep yet the Psalmist asks him to wake up. He expects God to take up the Psalmist’s cause and vindicate him! Here is prayer for God to protect the honour of the Psalmist’s name!

Notice that it is a prayer FOR the one praying, as well as a prayer AGAINST his enemies. It is actually a prayer for God’s interference in the thought life of God’s enemies! Amazing!

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 22, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Psalms 79:9-10

Here is God-centered praying at its best. It is God’s honour that is at stake. This short prayer links gospel deliverance directly to God’s glory and the vindication of his name. Notice the words used: “salvation”, “deliver”, “atone”. How does the atonement in a particular way bring glory and honour to God?

Pastor Tim Kerr

PÂLAL: To Intervene, Intercede – Simple patterns of prayers

By • February 21, 2013 • Meditations on Mercy, Pastor's Blog • Leave a comment

Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! Psalms 69:18

O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Psalms 71:12

Closeness to God means everything when we are deeply aware of need and danger. If God is everywhere at all times (which he is) then this appeal is not for an absent God to come and fill the void. Instead it is an appeal for God to break into our senses and reveal his presence with us. It may even be a request for a greater “faith sense” of God’s presence, even if the senses are still left unaffected. But it is an appeal for a sense of God’s nearness—something which the Psalmist, and we too, often lack.

Note how these two prayers are framed. One appeals to God’s work to redeem and ransom. The other appeals to the fruit of that work – “be not far from me”. What wonderful truth is revealed about our relationship with God in the words “my God”?

Pastor Tim Kerr