Why should I bless God?

I should bless God because He has richly blessed me. This is the logic of Psalm 103 and my heart's song this morning. The song here "Down at the Cross" has lifted my soul in recent days. I can't wait for our congregation to sing this too! Bless the Lord!

Bless the Lord, O My Soul Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 ESV)

Lord, Take Me Deeper...

I was blessed to read this prayer from The Valley of Vision and to pray it from my soul to God this morning. How this accords with the cries of so many psalms! Have you settled for where you are spiritually? Should we not long for more? Should we not desire a deeper experience of the Lord, of the grace of repentance, of the power of His purifying presence?

THE DEEPS

Lord Jesus,
Give me a deeper repentance,
   a horror of sin;
   a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely flee it,
   and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust,
   that I may lose myself to find myself in thee,
      the ground of my rest,
      the spring of my being.
Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself
   as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.
Give me deeper power in private prayer,
      more sweetness in thy Word,
      more steadfast grip on its truth.
Give me deeper holiness in speech, though, action,
   and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly Husbandman,
   that my being may be a tilled field,
   the roots of grace spreading far and wife,
     until thou alone art seen in me,
     thy beauty golden like summer harvest,
     thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no Master but thee,
   no law but thy will,
   no delight but thyself,
   no wealth but that though givest,
   no good but that though blesset,
   no peace but that though bestowest.
I am nothing but that though makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.
Quarry me deep, Dear Lord,
   and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

A Blessing Before Battle

The Bible is a book for warriors. Not only do we hear of the exploits of the warrior, but we find that God's chosen servants were often warriors. David was a warrior-king-poet who spilled blood on the battlefield. Many of the psalms which bear his name are framed in the language of war from the perspective of the battle-hardened warrior.

Psalm 20 also bears David's name, and it concerns battle. Yet this psalm is different in that it is a blessing that was most likely prayed and spoken over the troops before they marched out and met the enemy. Reading it today called up images in my mind of ancient warriors arrayed for battle, armor glistening in the morning light, swords and bows at the ready.

It is a reminder that the battle is the Lord's and that success in the fight, for them as it is for us, is dependent upon the Lord and the Lord alone. As you read it, think of the Lord praying this over you.

1   May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
        May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2   May he send you help from the sanctuary
        and give you support from Zion!
3   May he remember all your offerings
       and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!Selah

4   May he grant you your heart's desire
        and fulfill all your plans!
5   May we shout for joy over your salvation,
        and in the name of our God set up our banners!
     May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6  Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
       he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving might of his right hand.
7  Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
       but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8  They collapse and fall,
       but we rise and stand upright.

9  O Lord, save the king!
       May he answer us when we call.

My Interviews with Isaac Shaw

Isaac Shaw is a friend and a partner in ministry whom we have been supporting for the last eight years. I have enjoyed the incredible privilege and opportunity to visit north India and see the work which God is doing there to advance the Gospel. It is beyond remarkable. In the spirit of our partnership, I sat down with Isaac to record several conversations and then to make them available so folks here could begin to understand the hows and whys of this unique ministry. You will be challenged and encouraged as you listen in! For more info, visit delhibible.org or dbip.org.

1. Why North India?
2. What is Delhi Bible Institute?
3. How can churches partner with DBI?
4. What is the connection between DBI and The Gospel Coalition?
5. Hinduism 101 for Evangelicals