Heralds Digest

  “ Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. ” Psalm 4 : 7 - 8 KJV The scriptures say elsewhere about spiritual prosperity that “ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5 : 8 )” because material prosperity often lead the heart away from God. Material prosperity, including academic achievements, career progression, financial independence, social superiority, political influence, etc, makes the heart proud; and it is not surprising why this grievous gladness via material prosperity often unsettle the safety and stability of sane systems. Therefore, pure prosperity is empowered by gracious gladness in the heart and believer’s intimate relationship with God. It is greater, richer, and higher than material prosperity because of its guarantee of peace and safety in all circumstances. Even in the absence of mater...

  “ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer .” Psalms 4 : 1 NKJV Thank God for the first Sunday or Sabbath in the New Year. What a day of rest! Without prejudice to those who are necessarily, or by emergency, must work today, the rest from the Lord is not in the day; but the true rest is in the Lord, who gives righteousness to His people by His grace. Even in the deepest of distress, the psalmist found rest in the God of his righteousness. It implies that rest is not in the absence of hostility, but in the presence of the Holy God in the heart of His redeemed. When He said ‘Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ’, He meant restful righteousness. Therefore, before you list stuffs on the covenant slip for the New Year, let restful righteousness top the list. When you truly find restful righteousness, you become completely blessed by the Lord to enjoy the best of ...

  “ You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. ” Psalms 4 : 7 - 8 NKJV Wishes are not horses. Otherwise, the prosperity with grains and wine would have translated into peace and safety for all human endeavours. Money, position, and fame can authorize goods; but it cannot guarantee gladness. Informed by his experience in the palace of king Saul, while dealing with the disturbing evil spirit of his master through the use of inspired music from the Lord, the shepherd boy quite understood the limitations of material prosperity, position, and popularity. Like it happened to king Saul in his discouraging pursuit of David‘s destruction, these metrics of intelligence, influence and affluence sometimes increase the level of insecurity of those whose confidence is built on materialism. As we reflect on this passing year, can we thoughtfully confess...

  ” You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety .“ Psalms‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Given the numerous challenges of life, economic meltdown, and the escalation of social insecurity, political instability, and international destabilization in the passing year, it is understandable that praise and thanksgiving are comely only for grateful hearts. While grainful gladness is the derivative of grains, including material prosperity, physical fitness, and carnal promotions in the head; graceful gladness is a reflection of grace, with the assurance of the presence of God in the hearts of believers, especially in the midst of the numerous challenges of life. Little wonder the psalmist declared ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ’ (Psalms 103:2). With the abundant grace of God in the heart, the ceaseless mixture of battles and bless...

  “You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The expectations appear too clear when someone says “ You have put gladness in my heart ”. The expected metrics would range from material blessings, financial enrichment, physical enlargement, positional elevation, and emotional satisfaction. But when the Psalmist acknowledged to God that “ You have put gladness in my heart ”, none of these physical, material, emotional, positional, and financial metrics count. Notwithstanding, God’s grainless gladness brings the inner peace, safety, and satisfaction that man’s grain-packed gladness cannot afford. Why? The making of God’s grainless gladness in the believer's heart is God’s personal project; and no corruption, vandalism, and depreciation is permitted to trespass. Therefore, faithful believers are confident in the incor...

  “But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The concern of any sane mind is the push from poor performance to profitable performance in the state, institutions, and every aspect of life. But sometimes, performances at home, and in most of human career systems do defy diligence and hardworking. Ungodly minds often painfully derive joy and accomplishments in promoting poor performance, particularly with the aim of frustrating the efforts of the godly. Unfortunately, this frustration agenda does always work; while all inputs towards change are restricted to perseverance, diligence and determination. For example, this agenda was the exact experience of the psalmist against the conspiracy of non-performance, until he was awakened to the efficacy of prayer by the godly. Obviously, prayer changes things for those who can call unto the Lord. While the agents of poor performance are always ignorant abo...

“But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/psa.4.3.nkjv   Someone elsewhere somehow paraphrased the Psalmist by saying “Although God doesn’t always answer with a ‘Yes’, He always answer with what’s best!”. Unfortunately, the activities of the wicked in the life of the upright in heart are mostly calculated distractions. However, the righteous needs a consistent confidence in his prayer-answering God. When the eyes of the godly are fixed on God, the best in store are always kept in perspective at any turnout from life’s events. Outside the presence of God lies all kinds of manipulation, in-fighting, and the sacrifices of ungodliness for the recognized recommendations. Even when the righteous appeared to have been deliberately shortchanged, it is good to know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly for a reserved recommendation.

http://bible.us/psa4.8.nkjv I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Insecurity is a threat to any person and nation. Irrespective of its nature, whether social or economic, ‎the threat of insecurity can bring distress, disappointment and death. Although king David was in great distress from social insecurity, he had the inner peace that was undisturbed by external threat. It implies that external and material prosperity cannot guarantee inner peace. No wonder the richest man on earth identified wealth and affluence as vanity. Assuredly, perfect peace comes from God alone.