Psalm 5

A prayer of worship and praise

1 ¶ << To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David >> Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

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  Nehiloth - wind instruments
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  This psalm was sent to what we might call the woodwind section of the temple choir.

2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

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  Once again, the psalmist comes before the Lord in humble submission – as God's children, we are told to come boldly before the throne of God: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16, but not presumptuously. We can come to God only because of his grace toward us in Jesus Christ who we come through by faith: “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Eph 2:8 and “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 It should humble our hearts when we realize that without the gift of grace through Jesus Christ, we would be completely lost. We do not deserve his grace; it is freely given to all who will come to him by faith. That faith is not self-generated – God has given faith to everyone to trust Jesus Christ as his Saviour: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Ro 12:3
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  We do not plead with God that he will hear us for he always hears his children; again, the psalmist is giving us an example of how we come before God, humbling ourselves and recognizing his greatness and lordship.
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  The beginning of each prayer should be a time of worship and becoming quiet before God, recognizing who he is as Jesus taught us, “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Lk 11:2 It is important to remember that God is not only a god and a king, nor is he only God of gods and King of kings, but he is our God and our King.
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  Cry unto God – a cry is from the heart; it is fervent, a strong expression of our thoughts and desires; God tells us in his Word, “ The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Jas 5:16a
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  We begin our day with prayer.
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  We make prayer part of our daily life.
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  We recognize who we pray to – we do not just speak into the wind hoping that God will hear us, but we direct our prayers to God, recognizing who we are praying to
  we “look up,” waiting expectantly for an answer to our prayer.

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

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  Recognize the holiness of God – wickedness and evil are far from him.
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  Those who do not put their trust in God through Jesus Christ cannot stand in his holy presence or come before the throne of grace – those who have trusted Jesus CAN come into his presence because they are covered in the holiness of Jesus.

6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

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  Recognize the sovereignty of God – all who do not trust God will be removed from his presence forever.

7 ¶ But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

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  No matter what is going on in the world around us or the hearts of the people around us, we can and should come before God trusting him for everything – we should say with Joshua, who was surrounded by rebellious people and those who did not trust the Lord: “ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Jos 24:15

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

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  Righteous prayer is in agreement with God – it is God's will to lead us in the way of righteousness as a witness to the fallen world.
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  God will keep us in his will step by step as we move through this life. We do not need to urgently seek his will – if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we can be confident that as long as we are trusting him we are walking in his will. We can walk outside of his will, but only when we choose to exercise our own will rather than trusting God to lead us. As Christians, we can and do exercise our own will from time to time when we take our eyes off Jesus. This does not mean we have lost our salvation – eternal life is eternal! But it means it is time to come humbly to God and confess – that it – agree with God that we have strayed: “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1Jo 1:9

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

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  There is no truth in the hearts of anyone who does not trust God – every part of them is lost and wicked, every word that comes forth from them leads to death; the words they use may sound good and right, but they are false, meant for personal gain. All who do not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are motivated only by selfishness.

10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

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  We need to recognize that all who refuse to trust God in this life, in spite of all his warnings and the free gift of life through his Son, Jesus Christ, must eventually be totally separated from God's children. Holiness requires complete separation from all that is opposed to God.

11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

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  Those who trust in God should rejoice! God has promised to look after us forever and has given us the right to be called the sons of God! “ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1Jo 3:1 – 3

Psalm 4

Gospel in a Verse: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Ps 51:17

1 ¶ <<To
the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.>> Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

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  “Neginoth” denotes all manner of stringed instruments such as the harp, psaltery, viol, etc.; this psalm was a Psalm of David, and it was sent to the chief musician of the temple choir in charge of stringed instruments. King David put together a large choir to lead in prophesying; that is: proclaiming the Word of God:
  “ ¶ Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.” 1Ch 25:1 – 7
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  This is a prayer of a righteous man; we do not presume upon God to hear, but humble ourselves before God, recognizing that righteousness is God's department; it is God who has made us righteous (see Ehesians 1)
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  God gives us what we need when we humble ourselves in times of trouble and come before him; David tells us that God has already done this for him – proving that this is the way God works – what God HAS done, he WILL do – he does not change

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

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  Public prayer, as this was, combined with prophecy, which this was (prophecy means proclaiming the Word of God), is a scripturally approved way of speaking to the hearts of men while also speaking to God – this speaks to those who have not trusted in God but in themselves – trusting in ourselves turns the glory of God, who made us, takes care of us, and gives breath to all, into shame; it is shameful to trust in ourselves and a vanity: empty, powerless and a lie (lease). Think about it.

3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

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  Just as God has set himself apart from all that is ungodly and vain, so he has set those who trust him apart to himself, making us holy (set apart to perfection). God will always hear his children.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

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  Recognize the holiness, power and majesty of God and do not sin.
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  Search your heart before God in quietness at the end of the day; open your heart before God and let him do his work in you. Think about it.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

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  Trust God and let him make you righteous so that you can worship him in righteousness: we cannot DO anything to please God – the only way to please him is to first humbly recognize who he is, who we are before him (hopelessly lost), and repent (turn away from the world and put our trust in Jesus Christ): “ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit (complete humility): a broken and a contrite heart (broken and miserable because we recognize our complete failure to live our own lives) , O God, thou wilt not despise (God will accept all those who recognize their desperate need and put their trust in Jesus Christ).” Ps 51:17

6 ¶ There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

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  People throughout the ages have searched for truth and good, but have refused to accept the author of truth and goodness – this is a vanity - empty and worthless.
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  Those who will trust in God will have the light of his glory illuminating their lives and will know absolute goodness and truth: “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Joh 1:1 – 4 Jesus Christ is the light:
  “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Ro 5:5 That light, the love of God, is shed abroad (fills) our hearts when we trust him.
  “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Joh 14:6 Knowing Jesus means knowing the truth.
  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Joh 8:33 Knowing the truth gives us true freedom.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

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  God puts more joy in our hearts than anything good that comes from the things of this world.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

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  We can trust God completely for everything, including our lives and eternal destiny; in God there is no fear, but perfect peace and eternal security. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Php 4:6 – 7 Amen

Psalm 3

1¶ LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

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  (see 2Sa:15) Absalom, David's son, rose up against him to take both his kingdom and his life. David set a good example for us all by casting his cares upon the Lord.
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  Oftentimes we may seem to have many troubles or many against us (and there are many against us – powers and principalities that we cannot even see! Eph 6:12)
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  The very first thing to do when trouble comes against us is to go to the Lord.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

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  When we have troubles, the world says that it is our fault, and that trusting God is pointless.
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  Note that the word, “selah” occurs approximately seventy times in the book of Psalms. One of the commonly accepted possible meanings for selah is that it has something to do with the music that went with the psalm, but another commonly accepted idea is that it means, “Stop here and think about it.” It makes sense in the concept to accept that meaning.

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

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  God's children KNOW that he is there for us and that he will protect and comfort us.

4 ¶ I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

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  When we who trust the Lord pray, we KNOW that he listens to us. Think about it.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

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  David was in big trouble, but he laid down and slept, and awoke again alive and healthy – it is unusual for someone who is in serious trouble to sleep, but when we trust in God, we can sleep in peace knowing that we are safe in the hands of God.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

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  We can completely trust God and be at peace no matter what or who is against us. God is greater than all. When the king of Syria surrounded Dothan, the city that Elisha and his helper were in, his helper was surprised at Elisha's peace and fretted about the situation they were in: And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2Ki 6:17 God's power and strength is all around us all the time.

7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

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  David remembered with joy what God had already done for him; we need to remember and to remind ourselves (and ask God to remind us) in times of trouble and struggle what God has already done for us.
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  David's prayer was not a plea for God to do something unusual, but a prayer of confidence that comes from knowing God.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

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  Salvation comes only from God through the Lord Jesus Christ. ( John 14:6) It belongs to him and those who trust in him also belong to him (he paid for us with his blood), are his people, and are blessed by him. Stop and think about it!
  

Psalm 2

1 ¶ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

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  This is the question of the ages and the reason for all the sin and misery in the world – those who refuse to trust God rage against everything that is good and trust in nothing.

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

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  Even now, the leaders of even the G-8 countries take counsel with one another choosing deliberately to throw out anything that has to do with God as being irrelevant, using buzzwords like “tolerance” and “tolerant society,” and ignore thousands of years of Bible history while wringing their hands together and saying, “What are we going to do?” Many now even loudly proclaim that Christianity (ie – God's way) is the real problem.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

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  God is very patient with mankind, but will only tolerate the evil being done in this world for so long. Then he will act, showing how ridiculous man is trusting in man who is “a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Jas.4:14
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  A time is coming when God will pour out his wrath upon sinful man, bringing great distress and suffering on those who would not trust him. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev.6:15 – 17
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  God sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to the world through the Jewish people, the people of Zion, the holy mountain of God. “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” 1Pe.2:6 (see also Ro.9:33)

7 ¶ I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

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  Here the psalmist declares the decree of the Lord to One who he set as King on the holy hill of Zion: that he is his own Son, that he will give him the task and all power to destroy all who refuse to trust him: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Rev. 12:5, 19:15,16 One day, all evil is going to be removed from the world and Jesus Christ will rule.

10 ¶ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

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  A warning to leaders who are entrusted with looking after and caring for the people (note that this also includes parents): seek the wisdom of God and pay careful attention to his instruction, serve the Lord humbly, reverently and joyfully, and show complete respect to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  All who trust God through his Son, Jesus Christ, are called blessed by God. This could also be correctly written, “Oh, the happiness of all they that put their trust in him!” While there is trouble in this world for a short time, there is wonderful, eternal happiness for all who trust in him. Amen.

Psalm 1

1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

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  The one who chooses to put his faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ is called blessed.
  A child of God will not walk in the way of the world – though he may stumble, he will always return to the way of righteousness, because “his delight is in the law of the Lord,” that is, by nature, the new nature given to all who are saved, he delights in what God wants and again, by nature, lives according to what God wants, making all his choices and actions fit with what God wants.
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  What he does will proper and bring forth fruit at the right time because what he is doing is God's will. It is important to realize that however trivial or dirty our day to day work may seem, as God's children we are in his will and doing his will if we are trusting him for everything. It is not our place to struggle to try to figure out what we should be doing, but instead we are simply to trust God and do. Note: this does not mean that we are to judge our walk by the results we see – walking with God means trusting him for everything, not watching a measuring stick that we can always understand: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Ro.11:33

4 ¶ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

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  Those who refuse to trust God are never at peace; they rush around madly throughout life trying to get all they can for their own pleasure, but never finding fulfillment and satisfaction. They will not be able to stand (withstand, be acquitted at) the judgment seat of God and will not have a part in God's family and eternal life. Their life is a vanity – empty and valueless, like the chaff that is blown away from the solid fruit of the harvest.
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  God knows the way of his children – that is – God listens to his children, hears their prayers and looks after them, but those who have chosen to ignore him are on their own and will perish (go to everlasting death in the lake of fire that God prepared for the Devil and his angels.) “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov.28:9 This means that God will not hear or answer our prayers unless we first trust him through his Son, Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 Once you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you have an open channel to God, the Father and free and eternal access to Him with all the blessings of his love. “ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16