How Long, Lord? - Psalm 13:1-6

The psalmist complains that God had long withdrawn. 

God sometimes hides his face, and leaves his own children in the dark concerning their interest in him: and this they lay to heart more than any outward trouble whatever. But anxious cares are heavy burdens with which believers often load themselves more than they need. It is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think that it will last always. 

Those who have long been without joy, begin to be without hope. 

If we bring our cares and griefs to the throne of grace, and leave them there, we may go away like Hannah, and our countenances will be no more sad, 1Sa 1:18. adapted from Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary

Praise Prayer - 1 Samuel 2:1-2

Are you praising the Lord? 
Hannah's heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift of a son, and praises the Giver who answered her prayer. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord. Praise God no matter what your circumstances are. Let the Lord be your rock, or foundation, for your life. When you base your life upon the rock that is God, your faith will be unshakable in all circumstances. 
Are we rich? 
Yes, we are rich in faith. Praise the Lord for what he has done and will do in your life. Trust him in the same way that Hannah trusted him. 
God Chooses Differently Than Man
He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellencies, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his free and precious salvation. adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

The Right Hand of God - Psalm 110:1

Sitting is a resting posture:
after services and sufferings, to give law, to give judgment. It is a remaining posture: he sits like a king for ever. 
All his enemies are now in a chain, but not yet made his footstool. 
And his kingdom, being set up, shall be kept up in the world, in despite of all the powers of darkness. 
Has the gospel of Christ been to us the power of God in to salvation? 

• Has his kingdom been set up in our hearts? 
• Are we his willing subjects? Once we knew not our need of his salvation, and we were not willing that he should reign over us. 
• Are we willing to give up every sin, to turn from a wicked, ensnaring world, and rely only on his merits and mercy, to have him for our Prophet, Priest, and King? 
• Do we desire to be holy? 

To those who are thus changed, the Saviour's sacrifice, intercession, and blessing belong to the the Lord through Jesus Christ. 
adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

One in Christ Jesus - Galatians 3:28

World-Wide Worship
Wouldn't it be nice if the "www" in the computer address bar stood for "world wide worship"? How powerful world-wide worship would and can be. 
One in Christ Jesus
The children of God are a world-wide family. We are not separate sections of the family of God, contained within many church bodies. No, we are one, world-wide body of Christ. At least we are when we engage in prayer and worship at the same time. 
One in Unity and Faith
If we focus on worshipping the Lord in unity and faith, can you imagine the effectiveness of our spiritual battle against Satan on a world-wide scale? 

The Hearts of Men

The Lord knows the hearts of men.

He is the potter and we are his clay. He knows about those who worship with their mouth and speak of his love, but have a heart that is far removed from him. He knows what they are hiding in secret. Never doubt that he doesn't understand that the world around us is turned upside down. Our job is not to doubt, but to believe in the Word of God with all of our heart and to be joyful no matter what happens around us. 

The Lord Sees the Hypocrites and Sinners

Isaiah 29:13

Why the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isaiah 29:15

Woe to them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us?

Isaiah 29:16

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

Rejoice- The Deaf and the Blind WILL See

Isaiah 29:17-19

Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel

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Isaiah 29:24

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.