Psalm 145: There are no boundaries to His greatness

by Andy Flood

Psalm 145 (MSG)

God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness. (Psalm 145:3 MSG)

What a statement!

As you read this psalm there's only one conclusion you can come to. Our God is AMAZING! You can't read it and think what a great psalmist, what a great songwriter, the psalm does its job and points you to the One who inspired it, who breathed it out.

I just love those moments in God's presence when you wish you could shout louder and bow lower. Those moments when His presence is so tangible you can feel Him actively humbling you, shaping you, making you more like Himself.

I long for those encounters, I can't wait to meet Him next and be moulded a little more.

I love the song 'Cielo' by Phil Wickham the song describes our entry into heaven, and worshipping God forever, the song captures a heart yearning for God, a heart that says I just want to shout louder and bow lower. Not to earn greater acceptance from God, but a heart response to all that God is.

My prayer is that we will continue to go deeper in God, that our encounters with Him will change us, and that we will follow hard after Him.

DO IT LORD!

Psalm 139: An open book

by Andy Flood

Psalm 139 (NIV)

What a wonderful song of the depths of the knowledge that God has of us!
He know us inside out, He has been there the whole time, watching us and delighting in us as only a Father can.

He knows everything, He sees everything, He is everywhere. He is never lacking in wisdom, never lacking in knowledge and never lacking in power.
We cannot hide from Him, even though from the beginning we have tried, I mean even Adam and Eve thought they could hide behind a tree!

Why is it then, that when we feel the prick of our conscience and the conviction of sin. We try and run away?
Do we really believe that God is standing over us with a stick, just waiting to give us a good hiding?

David has realised here that running is not an option. He knows the best option is be an open book with God. He says:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139: 23, 24 NIV)

It's of no benefit, whatsoever, to let un-repented sin stew in our hearts, festering while we work out a way to polish a turd, in an attempt to make it presentable to God
Surely, how we all long to be is, to keep a short account with our saviour, calling out to him to search our hearts and where we fall short. Looking to Him for our restoration, and to lead us the way everlasting.

Lord we need your Spirit to do a work in us, soften our hearts, tenderise them, make them wholly yours. Make us sensitive to sin that could so easily fester in our souls. Our desire is to be an open book with you, always keeping a short account with you.
You're amazing that You know us so intimately, THANK YOU.

Psalm 133: Watch your mouth!

by Andy Flood

Psalm 133 (NIV) 

We all know the bitterness of separation, whether its a broken relationship or a loss in the family. Separation brings an anguish and pain that seems to last longer than most.

The same is true with us, the Church, theres nothing satan wants more than a divided church. Full of bitterness and disillusionment because of the pain of separation.

This Psalm rings so true.  

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1 NIV)

Its so easy to find differences between us. So easy to criticise. We are called to more than this. We are called to be encouragers to build each other up not tear them down.  Just as Paul tells James - With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (James 3:9, 10 NIV)

So let's look to what unites us, a love for Christ and our worship of Him and get away from this cynicism and defensiveness that could drive a wedge between us. Always looking to encourage one another.

Just watch your mouth!

Psalm 127: Working Hard or Hardly Working

by Andy Flood

Psalm 127 (NIV)

Unless the Lord builds the house,

the builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1 NIV)

We're on a grand adventure as a church, this building project is part of it but moreover reaching the lost and broken in the areas we live in.  The building is just a vehicle to carry the church to greater works of service to our town.

This Psalm shows us that without the Lord all our work will be for nothing. And by nothing I mean nothing, zero, zilch.

And the same goes for our meetings, if the Lord doesn't meet with us and change us to be more like Him. Then its a waste of time even being there.

Thankfully we know that God is more interested and passionate about His church than we could ever be. Jesus said:  I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18 NIV)

He is our King and we are His people and He is building His church. He wants ALL of you not 10 per cent but all of you. Because the Lord IS building His house, we get to work hard, to serve the church and its purposes in the full knowledge that our work is not in vain and better yet we are part of extending His kingdom and seeing it come here. 

Psalm 121: He who keeps you will not slumber

by Andy Flood

Psalm 121 (ESV)

In this famous psalm, the psalmist kicks it off with a question, 

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" (Psalm 121:1 ESV) 

It's a question we need to ask ourselves, and a question that has come up time and time again throughout this blog.

It's a question of faith and trust, when things go wrong, are looking to the hills (the world around us) or do you find your help in the Lord.

The Psalm exhorts us to look to God, and paints a wonderful picture of our God. A God who watches over us by day and by night, and will protect is from evil.

A phrase I heard many years ago and still sticks in my heart, (mainly because this guy faced great danger on a regular basis): "Safety is not found in the absence of danger it is found in the presence of God."

This is the heart of this Psalm, it doesn't mean we will never face danger or evil, Jesus faced the greatest evil, and many christians face persecution daily. It means we find our security and safety in the presence of God, because He who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalm 119: 25-48: Where do you turn?

By Andy Flood

Psalm 119: 25-48 (NIV)


When life sucks, where do you turn?

We have a rich and deep heritage, in the word of God is that where we go? Do we just pray or do we lay hold of His truth

Part of a worship lifestyle is dwelling in His word, getting familiar with God's truth so when life is garbage. Our foundation is unshakable.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. 

(Psalm 119:37 NIV)

Please use this song to respond to God and worship Him with it.

Psalm 108: Come on then, if you think you're hard enough!

By Andy Flood

Psalm 108 (ESV)

David is ready for a fight! He's confident in his God, he knows that, if God is for him who can be against him.

He remembers the previous victories of battles past and glorifies God for them.

However, David manages not be triumphalistic, because his faith is based on God's promises and he knows it is God who provides the victory, he's not going in to the battle blind.

"Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

Have you not rejected us, O God?

You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes." (Psalm 108:10-13 ESV)

Although we hold a reasonable faith, sometimes we can be guilty of being unrealistic or triumphalistic in our prayers. That's not to say we shouldn't be audacious in what we ask of our Father, but sometimes our prayers can be all mouth and no trousers, just shouting "COME ON THEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE HARD ENOUGH," with no action to back it up.

We are called to pray, and that in itself is action. But our words must be followed by a life of worship, reflecting the God we so love, showing that love to the community around us. Day in-day out consistent love for our neighbour. That's how real battle is done.

Sometimes, though, love for our neighbour means standing up for what we believe is God's will. Not just going with the flow but speaking out against injustice and not accepting that the 'norm' is acceptable.

We're called by Jesus to be salt and light.  So let's break from the 'norm' and be what we're supposed to be.

Psalm 102: Fancy a Gin and Tonic with a tears mixer!

By Andy Flood

Psalm 102 (NIV) 

This guy is in bits! He can't eat, can't sleep and even his drink is mingled with his tears! His heart's cry is that God will hear him, if he could bend the ear of the Creator then perhaps he'll get some peace.

I think sometimes we can feel like we're stuck in a rut with our relationship with God, we feel as though we're coming to Him with the same old problems. It would be easy to believe the lie that would whisper in your ear, "He's heard it all before, don't bother Him, He's just not interested."

But the awesome truth is He IS interested, and it's NO bother for Him. He's got time for you and your problems even if its the one hundredth time you've brought to Him.

As you read through the Psalm, it wouldn't seem as thought the psalmist's situation changes at all, but his gaze is. It's lifted to the eternal God, enthroned forever to the One who never ever changes.

So bring your concerns, your complaints, your sorrows and your joys, because He wants them all, trust Him with them, He has time for you. because when He looks at you He doesn't see a useless sack of flesh. He sees a son or a daughter, someone He has paid the highest price for, to restore a real loving and living realtionship with.

Psalm 96: Worship the Lord in the splendour of Holiness

By Andy Flood

Psalm 96 (NIV)


If you get time, it's well worth reading the story behind this Psalm. It's in 1 Chronicles 14-16.
It's the passage where David dances through the city in his ephod. I love it when you can cross reference the Bible this way, knowing the history of the Psalm casts a whole new light on it, bringing with it a greater understanding of God’s word.

This is a great encouraging Psalm, an encouragement to sing new songs to Him, to declare His praises afresh. But it also encourages us to, "Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness," but what does this mean? We're all familiar with phrase but is that our understanding stops?

Does it mean we need to make ourselves holy before we can worship God? NO WAY!
It is IMPOSSIBLE to make ourselves holy. Only God can make us holy, yes we try, as much as possible, to live pure, to please our Father, to keep our relationship on the right track. But it is God who makes us holy, set apart. Without the cross of Christ any attempt at holiness is an abomination, our best efforts would be like being proud to offer a soiled nappy in exchange for holiness.

So to worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness, is to accept the holiness God has clothed us in and worship Him in the full knowledge we are not worthy to be in His presence and not looking to our own efforts to curry favour but looking at the cross in grateful awe and admiration to the One who made us holy.

Psalm 90: Life is but a vapour

By Andy Flood

Psalm 90 (NIV) 


Guy challenged us yesterday to spend our dash well. (Meaning: as you look at a gravestone all you see is the date of birth and date of death with just a dash in between)

This psalm reminds us that life is short, we're like the grass, here today gone tomorrow. So what are we going to do with our lives, our dash. Are we going to spend it by obtaining stuff, making sure we fit in with the world around us. Or are we going to stand out.

In the parable of the sower, we all assume we're the good soil? Right?

But wouldn't it be closer to the truth that most of us are on thorny ground, choked by the cares and worries of this world. I know I can be like this.

But how do we escape the thorns? How do we get shot of the cares of this world that would choke the life out of us?

Well first of all, as we're reminded in this psalm. Our God is everlasting, He has no end and no beginning and a thousand years passes like a day to Him.

So cast your cares on Him, for His love never fails. It never has and it never will, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

I hope that as we lift our eyes to this everlasting King that the thorns of life will melt away, and we'll gain a heavenly perspective.

Lord, do it in me!

Psalm 84: Addicted to God

By Andy Flood

Psalm 84 (NIV) 


I love this Psalm, you can hear the song playing as you read it. The psalmist uses such beautiful & powerful language:


My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God. (Psalm 84:2 ESV)

He's talking like an addict, someone who just can't get enough of God. He needs his fix. Have you ever felt like this? Where getting in to God presence is all you want to do, nothing else will satisfy? It's an amazing experience isn't it?

It absolutely delights God when we seek Him like this, His desire is that we have an intimate relationship with Him, seeking Him all the time, making much of God in our lives. As we live our lives like this we will be transformed.

So you may have all this before, but here's the challenge:

Are you seeking God of just the things He does? Does meeting with God get you excited, do feel like a day in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere? Or are you just waiting for the next big thing He does? Like a healing or provision.

If this is how you would describe your relationship with God, then I would suggest it's probably a little shallow and your missing out on a worship lifestyle that brings deep joy.

My prayer is that as you read this you're challenged to action, to seek His face. To get addicted to Him to worship Him in every attitude, every action & every motive.

Lord, grow an addiction for You in me.

Psalm 78: The Psalm Israel would rather you didn't read.

By Andy Flood
Psalm 78 (NIV) 

First of all please read the the Psalm because it makes for some pretty uncomfortable reading. It's an instructive psalm, a warning to all believers not just the original audience.

God is after one thing, your heart. Your motives matter, your attitude matters. Make all the sacrifices you want, you cannot manipulate God and you cannot fool Him.

Israel grumbled all the way through the desert and it cost a generation a view of the fulfilment of God’s promise.

If we are to avoid Israel's failings, then we mustn't let our love grow cold for God. We need to kindle the fire inside us, and guard our hearts against the wrong motives that can so easily creep in: selfishness, pride and guilt.

My prayer for us is that the account given of us at the end of time is not that of Ephesus:

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp-stands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 

(Revelation 2:1-4 NIV)


Lord thank you that you're interested in our motives, not just an outward expression of religion. You love and long for our hearts response to you.
Lord, keep the fire within us burning bright, keep us passionate for you. Always.
Amen.

Psalm 72: This Concludes the Prayers of David (David's dying words)

By Andy Flood

Psalm 72 (NIV)


Although it says this is a Psalm of Solomon, Solomon is purely recording the final prayer of his father. And what a prayer! Praying for the future king (no pressure, Solomon) - quite an intimidating job description.

Of course the future king is not only Solomon, the prayer is pointing to the Greater King, Jesus, whose kingdom has no end.

Recently God has been stirring my heart and challenging me about becoming too attached to the things of this world, and Sunday morning at Citygate saw the culmination of that, as I was preparing for worship, God just grabbed my attention, calling me to look heavenward. It tied in so well with Guy's message Easy Church Vs Easy Company. A call to stop cruising along in neutral and remember that life is about building His Kingdom not creating a cosy church.

So what am I going to do about it? Go on, ask yourself too.

I guess I need to start praying, praying for change, real change.

A change in perspective. I read somewhere that the people most effective in THIS world have fixed their gaze on the world to come.

Father, do it in me. Give me a heavenly perspective, not to have my head in the clouds but to change the world around me. I need You, it certainly cannot be done in my strength.
Help me to extend Your kingdom and be part of the answer to David's prayer.

Psalm 66: Take a look at God's Wonders

By Andy Flood

Psalm 66 (NIV) 

Something about our coastline here in Bournemouth gives me goosebumps.

Whenever I need perspective on stuff I will head down to the beach and take it all in. There's just something about the place that feels special to me and my relationship with God. I find it easier to hear God, easier to feel His presence, I guess it's because there's no distractions, just utter beauty.

We all need reminding of God's wonders, whether it's a walk down to the beach to marvel at the wonder of creation, or like in the Psalm, marvelling at the wonder of Passover and God's rescue plan for the Hebrews in Egypt.

But the greatest wonder of all, is the greater Passover, the greatest rescue plan in history:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— (Colossians 1:21, 22 NIV)

We have a reason to praise God at all times, This is a an awesome Psalm giving great perspective. God's word gives the greatest perspective and contains His greatest wonders. Let's never be distant from it.

Psalm 54: Hello.....is there anybody out there?

By Andy Flood
Psalm 54 (NIV)


Ever felt like you're praying to the ceiling? Like God is too busy to talk?
Well you're in good company; this is exactly how David is feeling here.
It can sometimes feel as though your talking to your self.

Recently I've been chatting with Ben (my son) about how God speaks, (Ben wants to meet God, face to face, even shouting at the ceiling, "COME DOWN, GOD!!!") So I explain that God speaks primarily through the Bible and then often He speaks directly to us. I shared with him about the first time I heard God's voice.

I remember it like it was yesterday:

We were on a family holiday in Rome, I was 10. We had just visited the colosseum and two young girls approached in a very odd manner, flapping a newspaper and blowing kisses. 'How weird’, we all thought and carried on with our day. It wasn't until about an hour later, when my dad went to pay for something that he realised his pocket had been picked! This sent me in to a bit of a spin, I was gutted, how could someone do this to us.

I prayed, and God replied. A scripture reference from Thessalonians dropped in to my head (I must admit I didn't even know the book existed before)

This what God chose to say to me:

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you (2 Thessalonians 1:6 NIV)

God revealed himself to me that day, as a God of Justice but moreover, as I look back, as a God of love. He chose to speak to a boy who was upset because he had lost some money, God cares, God is there and God answers every prayer. Usually as father answers his child, either, ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Later’.

David’s response see to God’s answer is praise. And so is mine. I'll never forget the day God first spoke to me personally, a treasure that can never be lost.

Psalm 48: Tell the story of God

By Andy Flood

Psalm 48 (MSG)

A very wise man once said: "Mission exists where worship does not."

In this awesome God-song of a Psalm, it praises God for all the wonderful things He is. I especially love verse 10 (The Message) Your name, God, evokes a train of Hallelujahs wherever It is spoken, near and far; your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action. (Psalm 48:10 MSG)

We have so much to praise God for and this psalm puts amazing words in the mouth of the worshiper.

At the very end we're exhorted to tell the next generation the story of God. Our forever God who guides us till the end of time. This is a challenge for us to tell the story of God to the world around us too.

Father, thank you we have so much to praise you for. Thank you for your word that helps us praise you and gives us the words to say. Help us tell Your story to the world around us. So that worship will exist in every corner of the globe.

Psalm 42: Have a Word With Yourself

By Andy Flood

Psalm 42 (NIV)


Desperate. David is absolutely desperate, he needs to meet with God.

He remembers all the times he's been in God's presence, and how he'd lead people there too. People are even asking David, "where is your God?"
Is God absent? Has God forgotten David?
Or does David just need to have a word with himself? Remind himself of the truth of God, His promises and His eternal, everlasting faithfulness.

Sometimes our emotions can get the better of us. They can make our circumstances seem overwhelming, they can whisper in our ear, "Where is your God now?" it's easy to be fooled by emotions.

Sometimes they can be allowed to guide our lives. We tell ourselves, "Well, that's just how I feel," as a sweeping statement that can bear no challenge!

Although emotions are a gift from God, allowing us to feel the world around us, to experience the wonderful and the dreadful. They are not meant to guide our lives. By allowing emotions to guide your life, what you’re really saying is, you trust your emotions more than you trust God.

Perhaps it's time to have a word with yourself?
Remind yourself of the truth of God and His promises.

"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me"
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8: 31-35 ESV)

It is only in God’s light that we can see light, only His truth can set us free. I don't believe we should be dead inside, emotionless. But we must take charge of our emotions, they must submit to Truth.

Psalm 36: High Contrast

By Andy Flood
Psalm 36 (ESV)


Have you ever mucked about with the contrast on your telly? Well if you're like me, then you definitely have, and you'll know that when you turn down the contrast all you're left with is a grey picture, totally unwatchable, not enjoyable, rubbish.


God doesn't suffer with this problem; when you observe the difference between the self-flattering, insensitive hearts of those who hate God and God Himself. There's nothing but contrast. God stands out, in brilliant light, the King of Glory shows human hearts for what they are at the very core. Black and rotten.


God is holy, and only those who are holy and righteous may have relationship with Him. As enemies of God, we had no case to have a relationship with Him, but He reached down, He rescued, He delivered, and only He can make us righteous.


Now we, who believe, are in eternal relationship with Him. "For with you (God) is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light." (Psalm 36:9 ESV)

In this relationship He holds us steady, He is the anchor our sure foundation.

Thank God for His steadfast love that never fails!

So when we see this contrast between a life with God and a life without Him, we can praise Him, but we mustn't stop there. What we have is too special to keep to ourselves. We need to share it, by showing His steadfast love to those who don't yet know Him, and commit to being high contrast to the surrounding world.

Psalm 30: There may be pain in the night....

By Andy Flood

Psalm 30 (NIV)

It takes faith to believe that joy could come with the morning. A trust in God that surpasses circumstance. Without faith the verse would be more like "there may be pain in the night, but anxiety is sure to follow in the morning" (I've had plenty of those mornings!)

Faith requires us to guard our hearts against the lies of the enemy, that would whisper in our ear: 'You'll never see the light at the end of the tunnel' 'God has abandoned you' 'do really think God has called you to do this?'

How easy would it be, short term, to give up and let the enemy beat us down.

No we must garrison our souls, it takes courage and faith to pursue God.

Take a moment now to listen to this, and worship God through it.

Father help us to keep guarding out hearts and keep our eyes set firmly on you.

Psalm 24: Revelation and Response

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world
and all who live in it | flickr/traqair57

By Andy Flood 

Psalm 24 (NIV)


The heart of worship is revelation and response, God reveals and we respond. God reveals more and we go deeper and so on and so on.

What an awesome example of this we see in Psalm 24 and what an opening line - 'The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it....' If you want perspective, there it is!

A while ago, I would read this Psalm and my response to the verses proceeding the above, was condemnation, I would measure myself up to this passage, realise that I came well short and believe that I wasn't welcome in God’s presence. What a tragedy! I had failed to grasp the work of Christ in my life. I believed my relationship with God was based on works. Only feeling welcome when I had been a good boy, when I felt good enough.

I now know, it is Jesus that gives us clean hands and a pure heart. His work upon the cross has won it for us! I no longer swear by a relationship based on works, and no longer lift up the idol of believing I could ever be good enough!

Now, I cannot wait to be with the King, I can abide in Him and Him in me. He alone has made me righteous.

Who is this King? He is the Lord strong and mighty. Mighty to save, mighty to break the back of legalism, self-righteousness and pride.