Times of Refreshing

Back to those first three verses in the Psalm.

The first verse talks about the world; we have to be totally separated from the world. There is no question of sitting, standing or walking with the unrighteous [unbelievers]. The second verse talks about the Word; we live by the Word of God; the Word is our delight. When we read and meditate upon the Word of God it should be like milk and honey to us! Do we have a taste for the Word of God? No, we have a relish for the world! Worldly thoughts, ideas, imaginations, schemes, plans, interests, etc. have infiltrated into the church. If only we meditated upon the Word of God, meditation would lead to revelation; God would speak to us; we would hear His still, small voice. The spoken word strengthens our faith and builds up our inner man.

The third verse talks about the Holy Spirit. We live by the Spirit of God. We draw our strength from the Spirit. He is the living water. He established us, as a tree planted by the water bears fruit in its season. In due time, God will lift us up and help us to bear fruit for His glory. We will always be fresh and green, because God has anointed us with His Spirit. We will not wither or fade, but will be like oaks of righteousness planted in God's field, Isa 61.3.

Whatever is of the world is like chaff before God's eyes. It is fit only to be burned. Worldly wisdom, worldly achievement, worldly influence, worldly power?all these will perish in God's fiery judgment. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

The Lord knows or approves of the way of the righteous. It is He who has planned our way [the paths of righteousness], and He goes before us and brings us into His 'promised land'.

Prayer has to come from the bottom of our heart. We cannot pray merely with our lips. We have to put our heart and soul into our prayers. Especially when we pray alone. We need to groan and travail in prayer. Our prayer can be short, just 2 to 3 minutes, but if it is fervent and intense and from the bottom of our heart, I believe it touches the throne of grace. How many of our prayers merely hit the roof and bounce back! Oh, we need to get in touch with God. He hears prayer!

Prayer has to come forth like groaning. Oh, Lord, You must help me; You must deliver me; You must glorify Your name [as a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God]! I do believe that we must prove God through prayer. Lack of earnest intense prayer is the greatest drawback in our spiritual life. Everything has to come from God. We live in and by and through Him. That is why it is written that Christ is our life, Colossians 3.4. And that is why He said, 'You have to eat Me and drink Me in order to experience eternal life.' May we learn to groan in the spirit.