Simply, ( Psalm 1 )

Psalm 11 is a about  David at a time when he was being persecuted by King Saul,who wanted to kill him, because he saw him him as a threat to his kingship.Charles Simeon writes,' His timid friends were afraid for his safety and recommended him to flee to some mountain where he have a have a  safe hiding place from the rage of King Saul. We don't know at one point were this persecution was taking place,possible it was early on,when David was still be in Saul's service. David responds by rejecting their advice,he replies,' I trust in the Lord for protection, so why do you say to me,' Fly like a bird  to the mountains for safety!'. There would be times, later on when he would have to flee, and he would have to trust God to keep him safe. We must be careful not to box ourselves in,in different situations,and circumstances, but at this time it was wrong for him to flee. He declares,''I trust the Lord for my protection.' v1,  Spurgeon see's what they are advising him to do was to distrust God. Davids life on the whole was full of so many situations , in which the only thing he had was his God,he needed to trust Him  as he faced a lion  a bear,Goliath,Saul the Philistines. All through his life he was called  to exercise trust in God, likewise it applies to all  God's  children, to simply  trust the Lord.

Unbelief. ( Hebrews 11 ) 3 Deut.

So in Deuteronomy 20 Israel were about to enter the promised land,it wasn't going to be easy, they were going into battle. There were those who could be exempt from fighting ,the exemptions are spelled out,the last one included those who were fearful or fainthearted,or soft of heart. J.A.Thompson makes a few helpful comments on this,'Such attitudes were not merely personal but were a threat to a whole army psychologically, for they may cause the heart of their comrades in arms to melt. Clearly, men who were fearful lacked faith, and faith in God's power is necessary for all who fight God's wars'. Without faith we cannot please God and it will hinder us and we will not get what we seek for Hebrews 11 v 6.It is a self made road block ,John Stott says the following ,''Unbelief is not a misfortune to be pitied; it is a sin to be deplored''. It was unbelief that  stopped Israel entering the promised land for 40 years  ,Hebrews 3 v19,unbelief will get you nowhere with God,He does not look  kindly on unbelief. We are saved by faith, and we are to live by faith , Habakkuk 2 v 4. I realize we will not all rise in faith at times,humbly confess this to God,asking forgiveness ,and ask Him to increase your faith.

A storm of his own making. ( 1 Samuel 15 v22 )

It is a very stormy day, the wind is exceptionally strong,so far  no damage done,I wonder will there be many more prayers offered up?.I am sure that many people pray who don't usually pray when in difficulties,for many prayer is just for emergencies, I wonder does God answer such prayers?,of course God is not a convenient store,but alas for many that's all He is.I am reminded of a famous prophet,and he was caught up in a storm, his name was Jonah,but it was a storm of his own making,and it was sent by God. He disobeyed God, it is a very serious thing when one disobey's God,as Jonah was going to find out. He was in a boat going in the opposite direction he was suppose to God.He put the other people in the boat in grave danger,sin and that's what disobedience is,it has a ripple effect .Consider the effect of what Adam and Eve did,massive, mind blowing, awful in the extreme.When David sinned,a man and a child died,but he also brought dishonour upon his God  among the nations 2 Samuel 12 v14 AV,and he brought permanent, consequences upon himself,let us all remember ,it is always better to obey God, because if you don't it can be very serious.

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Standing. ( Romans 4 v 18 - 21 ) 2 Deut

 Continuing on as regards Israel about to enter the promised land,the raising up of an army to fight and conquer the inhabitants of that  land. ( Deuteronomy 20) They are told had greater armies ,that were better equipped, God told how it was ,He didn't hide anything back. They needed to know what awaited them, it was not going to easy,but most important they are exhorted not to be fainthearted or afraid, to not panic or be terrified by them (v 4).Whatever challenges we may be facing,and like Israel of old ,we will face challenges but we will not be facing them alone, for as He said to Israel ,He says to us,'The Lord your God is the one who goes with you ,to fight for you,against your enemies to give you victory.' That's the wonderful thing about the  word of God,the encouragement one receives from  it,they are precious promises of God. Lean hard on God precious promises,and all He asks from you and me,is to believe them, and to trust Him to fulfill them. 

                                                  ' Standing on the promises that cannot fail'

                                                   When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

                                                    By the living word of God I shall prevail;

                                                    Standing on the promises of God '

                                                                Words R.K . Carter.

What can we do?. ( Ephesians 6 v 18 - 20 ) 1 Deut

 Israel was about to enter the promised land ,but it meant that they would have to  conquer the land,that meant  raising up an army,it would not be easy.Moses tells them that those they fight against would have horses and chariots,it was not going to be easy. (Deut 20) Fighting the Lords battles is never easy, consider those who are being persecuted in the lands where Satan's strongholds are.They are at the coal face suffering the slings and arrows of misfortune,yes it really is a battle,and there is cost, don't pity them ,pray for them.Early on in their exodus journey , Israel  was attacked by the Amalekites, (Exodus 17 v 8 -15) so the Israelites led by Joshua fought them ,as they were fighting, Moses stood on top of a hill with the staff of God in his hands,which he held up. As long  he held it up Israel prevailed,if he let it down, the Amalekites prevailed. Moses arms became tired, so Aaron and Hur held his arms up,and Israel won the day/.The uplifted staff as Alec Motyer writes, was an encouragement to the fighting troops that God was enlisted in their cause. Matthew Henry  sees it as an appeal to God for His help,he simple says ,''Joshua fights.Moses prays''.The important  thing we learn from this,as I have said earlier,we may not be at the coal face,but it is vital that we uphold those who are, by praying for them.

Do it. ( Hebrews 4 v 16 )

 Let us consider Matthew 7 v 7- 8 ,which is all about prayer, Asking,seeking, and knocking, one can raise so many aspects  as regards prayer,prayer is not all about asking,but asking comes into it a lot.As we consider those three aspects mentioned they gave the impression of keeping at it,of not giving up,hanging in there.We are to be serious about it,and earnest about it,and not limiting God,for there is nothing to hard for Him for Him to do,but all things must fall within His will.Ask, that seems simple it is not always multiplying words,when Peter began to sink in the sea,Matthew 14 v30, he cried out three simple words,' Lord , save me',and He did just that.Prayer must not just be for emergencies ,Corrie Ten Boom said,'Is prayer your steering wheel or you spare tyre? ' So lets consider the asking ,seeking ,knocking, I will simple say this one thing, just do it,put it into practice.God delights to hear His children pray, our Lord is encouraging us to pray,and stresses God's willingness to answer our prayers. In v 9- 11 He speaks how a father will give  what his children ask,how much more will our loving heavenly grant to us what we ask.

                                                    My soul, ask what  thou wilt,

                                                    Thou canst not be to bold,

                                                    Since His own blood for thee  He spilt,

                                                    What else can He withhold?

                                                            Words John Newton.

A quite time. ( Proverbs 15 v 8 )

When is the best time, to have ones quiet time of prayer?, King David said,''In the morning you hear my prayer'', Psalm 5 v 3.Lets be clear ,one can pray at anytime and anywhere, but I am talking about what one would call having a quite time. We must be careful not to get into legalism,or to make people guilty,or inferior, because they don't pray in the morning.There is a number of reasons I have my quite time in the morning ,one, I wont be disturbed ,also things can crowd out prayer. Everybody's circumstances are different , a mother of children can find it hard to have a set time,there are so many different reasons.The  thing is, we need to pray,it can be anywhere, the main thing is, to do it, find your own rhythm as regards your prayer life.God delights to hear us pray ,be yourself ,sometime when we listen to certain people pray we feel inadequate ,well don't, that's the way they pray,you pray as yourself, for that's what God your heavenly Father wants to hear,the real you, not someone impersonating someone else. In 1 Thessalonians 5 v17 we read,' Never stop praying', have a prayerful spirit, God's  listening 24/7 it's is a mystery how God can hear all our prayers individually but He can, and He does,and what is more we have His full attention. It is wonderful having a relationship with our God, because of Jesus, our great high priest , who ever lives to make intercession  for us.