Journaling for 01.30.13…God’s great favor!

5:34 AM Psalm 30

Father, remind me to sing to You and praise Your holy name throughout the day (v4). I want to be counted among those that are grateful to You and show thanksgiving. Your anger lasts only for a moment, but Your favor lasts a lifetime (v5) and beyond. Clearly Your preference is to show favor and not anger. The giving of Yourself on the cross, Lord, shows the lengths to which You will go to show favor.

Weeping, Lord, may last the night (and this world is the night, filled with darkness); but joy comes in the morning! (v6) There is a "morning" that introduces an eternity where there is no night, no tears, no suffering, and no death. Thank You, Father, for so great a salvation!

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul; Thank You, Lord, for making me whole; Thank You, Lord, for giving to me Your great salvation so rich and free. \O/

Journaling for 01.29.13 … God’s holiness

5:37 AM Psalm 29

Amazing thought, Father, about Your holiness. (2)" Give the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness." When Isaiah was brought before Your throne the seraphim were not shouting "glory, glory, glory", or "majestic, majestic, majestic", or "awesome, awesome, awesome". You are all these things and more, but they were shouting "holy, holy, holy"!

Anything less than absolute "holy" cannot be in Your realm. The unholy angels were immediately thrown out of Your presence forever. Lord, we don't stand a chance, I don't stand a chance, either…except for one thing. You love me. Your love drove You to die in order to make me holy. My mind, Father, cannot grasp this completely, but I certainly believe it. And I am certainly grateful for it.

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light; and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight; and now I am happy all the day.

Help me, Lord, to be practically, what You have made me positionally: holy.

Put a hedge of protection around my family and my church in the Name of the risen , Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His blood. You are holy and exalted.

Journaling for 01.28.13…Praying judgment on others?

5:38 AM Psalm 28

Father, You know everything. You don't have to learn it, You just know it. You know all about me and my ways. You are glorified in Your knowledge, and exalted by my worship as well as my failures. Both point to Your excellence and superiority.

Could I really pray the way the Psalmist does, Lord? Speaking of hypocritical friends and two-faced people he prays: "Repay them according to what they have done--according to the evil of their deeds." How could I ask You to repay others for what they deserve and not expect the same for myself? I certainly don't want You to repay me for what I deserve.

Thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank You for the price You paid. All the "repayment" I deserve was charged to You. What amazing love and sacrifice!

You, and You alone, are holy, good, and kind. Anything good about me is from You and because of You. Forgive my sins and inward inclinations to be worldly. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for getting a hold of my life and not letting me go. I truly want to be second. \O/

Journaling for 01.24.13…The King of Glory

5:34 AM Psalm 24

"Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts. He is the King of glory. Selah." Father, make no mistake about it, I believe You are the self-sufficient, self-energized, ultimate and only power in the universe. You made everything. The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord (v1) for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers. "Everything in it" includes me.

Thank You for loving me the way that You do -- a love I cannot match. For You, King of glory, gave Yourself for me! I believe this…I know this.

Exercise Your rights today, King of glory! This is, after all, Your creation.

Journaling on 01-22-13…Amazed at God’s faithfulness

5:06 AM Psalm 22

Father, let me praise You for Your faithfulness to me; for Your deep and wonderful love. Lord, You have never been a disappointment to me. I, on the other hand, have disappointed You innumerable times. You are holy (3) and You are enthroned on the praises of Your people. In the past You have answered the prayers of our forefathers and rescued them. We are still in need of rescuing today, Father. May those who trust in You cry out for Your assistance; and won't You please answer.

Lord Jesus, I just cannot imagine the sacrifice You made for me…all that You suffered when You didn't have to do it. How much we humans take for granted -- how much I take for granted. Forgive me, Lord, for my failings; for taking You for granted; for not following the Spirit as I should.

How amazing is Your tolerance, patience, and love. If You had my nature You would've wiped us all out by now! But You're not like me. You are holy; different; higher; better. Thank You for the cross, Lord.

Journaling on 01-21-13 about God’s superiority

7:15 AM PSALM 21

Father, men celebrate the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. today; and men celebrate the inauguration of a president; but I celebrate Your Word and the promises You give. Your glory is great and You give blessing to Your people. It is through the faithful love of the Most High that Your man is not shaken.

You assure me in Your Word that Your enemies will eventually be captured and seized (8) and burn in a fiery furnace at Your appearing (9). Lord, I want to be counted on Your side. Sure, there is adversity and mourning on this side of Heaven, but ultimately You will have the last say.

"Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your might." The world is filled with evil, but You are good. You even saved someone like me…for that I thank You.

I pray for my brothers and sisters that are persecuted today; in prison; being tortured; separated from family and enslaved -- all because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They suffer greatly. We are being persecuted to some degree, but not to the point of physical harm. Be glorified in, and comfort those, who are living and dying for You today, Father.

You are superior to and judge over all men. So as many celebrate and commemorate the living and the dead today, be it known that I, Darril Deaton, acknowledge that You are over all; that Jesus died and rose again for me; that He will be King over all authorities and kings.

Journaling 01-18-13…Thank You Holy Spirit

Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit. He is my source of wisdom and understanding. He helps me with the written Word. He convicts of sin. He loves me and tells me so in my spirit. He helps me worship You in spirit and truth.

Thank You, Spirit of God for saving me and causing my new birth in Christ; for making my salvation happen. Thank You for Your guidance and counsel over the years, and for the evidence of Your leading in the lives of my children and their ministries.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me through the thoughts and meditations of my mind and heart so that I can understand the Bible and teach it to others. Thank You for the gifts that are Yours, and Yours alone. You have used me in ministry to the Father and to other people. You make it possible for me to serve You. So, thank You for my gifts.

Lord Jesus, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to be my counselor, my strength, and my friend…God in me. Amazing.

Journaling for 01-17-13…Satisfaction

5:32 AM

Psalm 17

Father, You are the One and Only Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. Men are drawn to the world because they belong to the world; yet those who come to You through Your Son, Jesus, have a hope and a purpose beyond the world. Thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank You for the price You paid. Guard me as the apple of Your eye (8). One day, when this is all over (and it will be over) I will see Your face in righteousness -- not through my limited, worldly eyes/perspective -- when I awake I will be satisfied with Your presence (15). Your presence will be enough, Lord. I will not long for material things or worldly comforts, for You, Lord, will be enough! I only hope You will be satisfied with me.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for effecting my salvation. Thank You for wooing me, drawing me, and then convicting me so that I would receive the gospel; so that I would embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior; so that I could believe the astounding story of His death and resurrection. Thank You.

Journaling for 01-16-13…What is good about me is God

7:06 AM Psalm 16

The sorrows of those who take another god only multiply.(4)

Father, You are my Lord; I have no good besides You. The only thing good about me…is You. Born into, and part of, a world of sin and rebellion; yet You sought me and somehow gave me the heart and mind to receive You.

There are many other "gods" in this world and even I am drawn to follow them. Your servant, Paul, called the stomach the god of those who live as enemies of the cross. Even believers follow their feelings and seek to fill their appetite for worldly things. Maybe it's time for worldly things to be taken away from us. Then perhaps we would come back to You.

The sorrows of those who go after other gods only multiply. I see Christians suffer and cause division and unrest because they worship -- perhaps not intentionally -- other gods (their own self-importance, vanity, self-superiority, worldliness).

You, Lord, are my portion and my cup of blessing -- not the things You provide, but YOU. (5) And I know that You, not others, hold my future. No matter what happens, Father, let me be glad and my spirit rejoice in You (9). Help me, dear Spirit, to keep the Lord in mind always. (8)

Yes, Father, Your Word clearly shows why the world is in upheaval; why people are driven to substance abuse and suicide; and why even Christians cannot get along and rejoice in Your presence: The sorrows of those who take another god only multiply.

Today, Lord, be preeminent…be first. I am second. \O/

Journaling for 01-15-13 … Abiding

5:29 AM Psalm 15

It occurs to me, Lord, that a person doesn't have to be completely upright in heart, honest, and acknowledge the truth in his heart in order to abide with You. Sure, the one that abides where You are and remains in the place of worship, does not slander or harm his friend; and he honors the ones that fear the Lord; and he doesn't take advantage of the innocent or weak. But, these are not actions that bring us into Your presence, they are the result of being in Your presence.

There's no way that I, or anyone else, could be righteous enough to come into Your presence on our own merit. However, once we abide with You, Your the righteous characteristics become who we are. These things You've listed in this Psalm are not the ticket into Your presence but the result of being there.

Thank You, Father, that I do not have to depend upon my merit to enter Your presence. It is by the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that I have any standing at all. The invitation, Lord, to trust You and come in Jesus' Name come from You…and I accept the invitation. Abide with me and may Your Spirit teach me, mold me, and transform me a little today. You will have Your work cut out for You for I am unholy, lost, and worldly in my natural state.

Thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank You for the price You paid. Be first. I am second.

Journaling for 01-14-12…God with Me

5:44 Psalm 14:5

"God is with those who are righteous." (v5) Of course, Lord, the only righteousness a believer has is the righteousness given to us. Jesus, Your Son, is our righteousness. You consider us righteous, not because of our life choices, actions, or way of living, but because of Christ.

Because of my belief in Jesus and embrace the gospel -- the fact that He died for me and paid for my sins -- You have somehow determined me righteous. You treated Christ the way I should be treated…He was abandoned, tortured, and went through death for me.

Anyway, thank You, Father for declaring me righteous and then being with me because of it.

Lord, I praise You this morning for Your grace and mercy -- I need so much of it. Your kindness and love are contrary to a world that is bent on hate, anger, suppression, and meanness. Be glorified somehow in my life today. I am second.