being with God

DEAR GOD: I Reflect On Your Gift Of Salvation~

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Salvation Anyone? | Journeys

Psalm 149:4: A Reflection on Divine Pleasure and the Beauty of Salvation

Psalm 149:4 states, “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.” This verse is a powerful reminder of God’s love and favor towards His people. It speaks of a God who not only creates but also delights in His creation. But what does it mean for the Almighty to take pleasure in His people, and how does He beautify the meek with salvation?

The Pleasure of the Lord

The pleasure of the Lord is not like human pleasure, which is often fleeting and self-serving. God’s pleasure is deep, abiding, and focused on the well-being of His people. It is a pleasure rooted in love and grace. Reflect on this: What brings you pleasure? How does your pleasure compare to the pleasure of the Lord?

The Beauty of Salvation

Salvation is often thought of in terms of rescue or deliverance from sin. However, Psalm 149:4 suggests that salvation is also an adornment, a beautification. It is God’s transformative work that takes the broken, the meek, and the humble, and clothes them in the beauty of His grace and righteousness.

Consider this: In what ways have you experienced the beautifying work of salvation in your life?

Scriptural Support

Throughout the Bible, we see the theme of God’s pleasure in His people and the beauty of salvation echoed:

  • Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
  • Isaiah 61:10 declares, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness.”

These passages reinforce the message of Psalm 149:4, showing us that God’s pleasure and the beauty of salvation are central to His relationship with us.

 Reflective Questions

  1. How can we live in a way that brings pleasure to God?
  2. What does it mean to be ‘beautified’ with salvation in our daily lives?
  3. How can the knowledge of God’s pleasure in us transform our self-perception and interactions with others?

In Unity Prayer

“Dear Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of Your love and the pleasure You take in us. We are humbled by the beauty of Your salvation that adorns us in righteousness. May we live lives that reflect Your grace and bring You joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Moral Thought of the Day

“True beauty is found in the salvation that God bestows upon us, transforming our lives from the inside out and reflecting His perfect love.”

I invite you to ponder the depth of God’s love and the transformative power of His salvation. It encourages us to reflect on our own lives and to seek to align our pleasures with those of the Lord, finding true beauty in the salvation He offers. May this reflection lead us to a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s love for us.

DEAR GOD: You Are My Choice Over Everything & Everyone~

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Prayer of Daniel

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So, this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:26-28 (KJV)-

Daniel understood God’s law prohibited eating foods that were being offered to idols. He was in Babylon in full captivity—a place that worshiped false gods—when he soon faced a difficult decision.  King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that only the finest foods be sent for Daniel’s consumption, but only after being presented to idols.

The question became for Daniel “was it better to merely obey the king—or disobey God to please the king? The underlying issues were about allegiance to God.  He could have reasoned that breaking the divine command was because he had no choice, that he was just a servant. That would have been an easy justification for disobedience. However, Daniel was filled with a driven desire to do what was right in the eyes of God—and so as a result, he resolved not to eat the royal food, and sought instead, for a way that would honor the Lord by keeping God’s laws.

Prayer and a reverent mind and heart helped Daniel, and only through God, was he fully strengthened, and able to pursue the righteous path instead of the thorny road.

It’s vital to realize that obeying God is clearly the right choice. No matter what the world is doing, or what your friends think is “cool” – outside of God’s will and laws, it’s like walking the tightrope without the protective net below. However, with God—should we fall, or slip -He is always there to catch us.

Prayers and daily dedication/worship is the preponderance of servitude in His eyes. To become like Daniel, it’s crucial to facilitate a wholehearted commitment to follow the Lord and consistently apply Scripture to circumstances and decisions. Then, when a challenge comes, we’ll have the courage and wisdom to obey God’s commands.

Which path will you choose?  For me -I will choose GOD each and every time!

“Father, I will choose You over everything and everyone each and every time in my life, may I be strengthened by Your love, and Your Spirit as I go through my daily tasks in life, may I be humble in my request to reflect Your light in all I do, and may I acquiesce to Your commandments and adhere to Your Word while honoring You, obeying You, worshiping You, and most especially loving You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”