INTRODUCTION
The book of Psalms is an invaluable source of guidance to evaluate, nourish, and grow your relationship with God. The Psalms provide a basis to generate probing questions about your relationship with God.
This article is the first of four articles that ask potent questions about your relationship with God. The topics in this first article comprise (1) God’s Word in your life, (2) God is worthy of your trust and (3) God as your refuge. I hope that by asking these questions, you can more effectively encounter God and thereby better understand and increase the intensity of your relationship with Him.
GOD’S WORD IN YOUR LIFE
Introduction
God’s Word, i.e., the sixty-six books of the Protestant Bible, is more than merely a book, it is alive and active in the life of a believer. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95) describes the living nature of God’s Word:
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
There is no better basis for questions that explore the status of God’s Word in your life than Psalm 119. Let’s ask some questions about the role God’s Word plays in your life using the wisdom from Psalm 119.
Questions from Psalm 119 about the Role of the Bible in Your Life
Do you seek God with all of your heart? (Psalm 119:2)
Do you try your best to diligently obey what the Bible teaches? (Psalm 119:4)
Do you use God’s Word to function as a guard for your life? (Psalm 119:9)
Do you call out to God to teach you and open your eyes to the teachings in God’s Word? (Psalm 119:12, 18)
Do you meditate on what God says in the Bible? (Psalm 119:15)
Does God’s Word strengthen you in times of sorrow? (Psalm 119:28)
Even during difficulties, is the Bible your delight? (Psalm 119:143)
Do you trust what the Bible teaches about all subjects, especially concerning defending your faith in Christ? (Psalm 119:42)
Do you experience hot indignation (i.e., become furious) against those people who forsake the teaching in the Bible? (Psalm 119:53)
Do you value God’s Word over financial and material things? (Psalm 119:72)
Do you accept that God’s Word endures forever? (Psalm 119:89)
Do you live and act like what the Bible teaches is everlasting truth? (Psalm 119:160).
Do you love God’s Word? (Psalm 119:113).
Do you experience God’s nearness when you engage His Word? (Psalm 119:151)
Do you praise God that He has given you His Word? (Psalm 119:164)
GOD IS WORTHY OF YOUR TRUST
Introduction
God is trustworthy according to Isaiah 65:16 (LEB), which reads:
16 Whoever blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of trustworthiness, and the one who swears an oath in the land shall swear by the God of trustworthiness, because the former troubles are forgotten, and they are hidden from my eyes.
Because God is trustworthy, it makes sense that God commands a believer to trust in Him, such as reported in Psalm 37:3 (HCSB), which reads:
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.
Let’s ask some questions that explore the nature and level of your trust in God.
Questions about Your Trust in God
Do you trust in God to the point where you believe that He will never abandon you? (Psalm 9:10)
Do you trust in God to the point where you are confident that He will deliver you from those who try to harm you? (Psalm 25:2; 55:23)
Do you trust in God to the point where you are not afraid of people or circumstances? (Psalm 56:3–4, 10-11)
Do you trust in God to the point where you can call Him “my” God? (Psalm 31:14)
Do you trust in God to the point where you commit your life to Him? (Psalm 37:5) )
Do you trust in God to the point where you trust in God and not in your strength or the things of the world? (Psalm 44:6; 49:5-6)
Do you trust in God to the point where your trust in Him is forever? (Psalm 52:8)
Do you trust in God to the point where you pour out your heart to Him? (Psalm 62:8)
Do you trust in God to the point where you know He is your refuge and fortress and your help and your shield? (Psalm 91:2; 115:9-11)
Do you trust in God to the point where you know that He has saved you? (Psalm 78:21–22)
Do you trust in God to the point where your trust is in God and not the government? (Psalm 118:8–9)
GOD AS YOUR REFUGE
Introduction
The noun “refuge” means a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. It represents being in a state of safety or protection from danger or harm. Synonyms include haven, shelter, and sanctuary. The Psalms contain many verses that talk about God being a refuge for a believer.
Let’s ask some questions about the role God plays as your refuge.
Questions Pertaining to God as Your Refuge
Do you rejoice and sing for joy because you can take refuge in God? (Psalm 5:11)
Do you cry out to God for safety when you take refuge in Him? (Psalm 16:1)
Do you praise God because of the fact you can take refuge in Him? (Psalm 18:1-3)
Do you appreciate that God guards and delivers you from danger and shame when you take refuge in Him? (Psalm 25:20)
Do you comprehend God’s goodness established by your being able to take refuge in Him? (Psalm 31:19)
Do you take comfort in the promise that you will not suffer condemnation by taking refuge in God? (Psalm 34:22)
Do you not fear when circumstances crumble because God is your strong refuge? (Psalm 46:1–3)
Do you quickly run to God for refuge when trouble approaches? (Psalm 55:8; 57:1)
Do you tell others about the refuge you have in God? (Psalm 59:16; 73:28)
When you are in distress, do you call out to God to lead you to safety from harm? (Psalm 61:1–3)
At all times do you trust that God will be your refuge? (Psalm 62:7–8)
Do you comprehend the magnificent scope of God’s protection when you take refuge in Him? (Psalm 91:3–8)
CONCLUSION
Asking probing questions about the role of God’s Word in your life, the truth that God is worthy of your trust, and the reality of God as your refuge reveal much about the reality and closeness of your relationship with God. I hope that as you reflect on your answers to these questions you will rejoice in your closeness and take action to grow even closer to Him.
If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell. But, your destiny can change.
Today can be the day of your salvation! Please see my blog (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/04/20/for-god-so-loves-you-2/) for a description of how you can be saved. You can also go to another article at my blog (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/10/20/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2/ ).
Please send me any comments to steve@stevebelsheim.com or use the comments feature of the blog.
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