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Ministry Encouragement Podcast – Episode #046 – 5-15-13
Rev. Jim W. Hollis, Executive Director of Proactive Ministries (www.proactive-ministries.org)
Hello and welcome once again to another weekly episode of our podcast. Your presence and sharing in this week’s theme strongly encourages me. I’m Jim Hollis and I truly appreciate your taking time to grow closer to God through this ministry. Today we will be discussing how the Bible is one of the most incredible ministry tools we have ever received. We will focus in on:
The book of Psalms
Psalm 25 will be the example for our time together
So let’s begin our journey by reading in this blog and listening in the podcast to Psalm 25:1-22, from the New Revised Standard Version:
Psalm 25: Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance by David
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love & faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant & his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
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When is the last time you felt deeply alone? Can you recall a recent moment in which you needed encouragement, spiritual encouragement and assurance that God loves you and is with you? These are common moments in the lives of Christians today. We live in a time where uncertainty is the order of the day, not the exception.
Our culture screams, “There is no truth. Whatever you think determines truth.” Yet, this kind of thinking is not new. It is as old as the first people created out of love by God. Yet, in the Bible we discover great encouragement which can lead every one of us to a closer walk with God. Intimacy with God today is the longing of our hearts.
As we consider the Scriptures, we can hold in our hands or read on our computers, tablets or smartphones God’s inspired words to all of us. One of the greatest sources of this encouragement is the entire book of Psalms. In this book nearly every possible human emotion is expressed without reserve. We find the Psalmist wrestling with God. We find him angry with God. We find him lonely and searching for God’s love again.
As we focus on one of these Psalms today – realize there are MANY more to embrace and experience. To plunge deeply into reading and reflecting spiritually on the book of Psalms is to gain an incredibly greater understanding of our hearts, minds, emotions and the fullness of life itself.
Please consider sharing this podcast on Psalm 25 with one or more of your friends, family, colleagues at work or other fellow Christ followers who need encouragement.
I love your communicating with me your thoughts, feedback, suggestions and stories of how your faith and walk with Christ have grown through your reading and reflecting on Scripture. Keep the emails, phone calls and other communications coming in.
May the Lord bless you until next time we share.
Jim
Offices of Proactive Ministries, Smyrna, GA: (770) 803-9988
Email Rev. Jim: jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com
Facebook: Jim W. Hollis
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
God never gave up on me. No matter what I’ve done, how much of messed up , he’s always been there to pick me up when I fall now who wouldn’t serve a God like that!;)
Thanks for sharing your testimony in response to my Psalms 25 Podcast. I appreciate your passion for Christ.
Jim Hollis
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