Do you feel that you are far from God today? Have you lost your first love for God in the midst of the business of life? The burdens we carry through life will seem insurmountable as they overwhelm us. When we take our focus off of God our feeble faith fails as we grasp at the idols we have surrounded ourselves with. Where can we find our help? God’s faithfulness is greater than the bonds that hold sway over us. He will not forget us and He is the one who restores. “When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter and out tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad” Psalm 126:1-3 You may feel cut off from hope and joy but God will bring you back to Him. Cling to the truth that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross of Calvary. The truth of salvation will be your seed of hope in the darkness of your circumstances. Continue Reading…
Truth of salvation is our seed of hope: Psalm 126
Can our trust be secured in God alone: Psalm 125
What is trust? What do we place out trust in? We instinctively, even subconsciously, trust that the chair we are about to sit down in will support us. When we are walking on the sidewalk on a snowy day we trust that we will continue to have secure footing and not fall. We trust the laws of nature to continue unabated allowing us to go about our lives. What do you trust in? Does the trust you place in an item have an effect upon you? “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts. But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.” Psalm 125:5,6 Continue Reading…
Had it not been the Lord who was on our side: Psalm 124
Have we tragically overlooked God’s blessing, provision, and presence in our lives? When David states “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side…” in Psalm 124, what is he believing and thinking? Does the prowess of your mind and the skill of your hands cause you to believe that you are the cause of your success? There are many self-help books that promise everything you desire is obtainable if you just learn a few simple steps, act a certain way, or acquire the perfect set of friends. We are gravely mistaken when we believe that our success is birthed from within ourselves. God the creator and sustainer of all creation is intimately involved in everything that occurs throughout creation. Continue Reading…
Fix your eyes on God awaiting His gracious deliverance: Psalm 123
What does a persons eyes say about them? Can you tell if someone is sad from their eyes? Can you get a sense of a persons character by observing their eyes? Our eyes are always telling a story of our emotions, interests and thoughts to those who we encounter. What are your eyes telling about you? “Behold, as the eyes of a servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He is gracious to us.” Psalm 123:2 Is the servant expectantly awaiting to serve their master at a moments notice, looking for affirmation or a reprieve from duties? No matter the motivation of the servant, their eyes are fixed upon their master who holds their lives in his hand. Just as these servants, we need to fix our eyes upon God and trust that He will provide for every need we have. Will you fix your eyes expectantly upon God and await His grace to deliver you? Continue Reading…
Truly seeking the wellspring of peace: Psalm 122
What is your progenitor of peace? Can money buy peace, can a lack of warfare bring about peace or can tolerance produce peace? We are naturally inclined to a state of distress and calamity because sin’s curse that is inherent to all of creation. Is there hope for lasting peace? “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you . May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say ‘May peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.” Psalm 122:6-9 When we turn to God and find our hope in Him we can finally experience true peace. Continue Reading…
Our never slumbering God is our help, hope and deliverance: Psalm 121
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed help and deliverance? Think of a time before mobile phones and automobiles where people traveled by foot or on horseback. Think back to the time in Israel when Psalm 121 was written. If you were threatened by overwhelming forces or hurt in the wilderness, you would be eagerly looking for someone to appear that will offer help, hope and deliverance. “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?” Psalm 121:1 Where do you look for your hope when you are helpless? There are many things in this world that will tell you that they will offer you help in times of trouble, hope when your will is crushed and deliverance when you are oppressed but can they be relied upon in your darkest moment? “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow you foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:2-4 God is always there for His children. When you face a dark moment, isolated and alone, God is present and aware of your circumstances. Trust in His deliverance in every situation that you face. You can stand firm because God is always there. Continue Reading…
Within the sufficiency of God is our hope, help and salvation: Psalm 120
Where does your soul yearn to reside? Are you at rest in this world filled with complete contentment? Do you long for the wild pleasures of this wicked world? The curse of sin is raging throughout all of creation, setting man bitterly against the reign, authority and love of God. When you face trouble do you rage against God shaking your fist proclaiming that you are empowered to overcome or do you fall down before Him crying out for help? “In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” Psalm 120:1-2 Will you call out to the faithful and true God who delivers our souls out of the muck and mire of this world? Continue Reading…
Will you find absolute satisfaction in the Word of God: Psalm 119
How are we endure and live lives that have meaning and purpose? What should be of utmost value to us? A simple and prefect guide is presented in Psalm 119 that will fulfill every one of our needs. Our fulfillment in this life is found in: the law of the Lord, God’s testimonies, God’s ways, God’s precepts, God’s statutes, God’s commandments, God’s righteous judgements, God’s word, the ordinances of God’s mouth, God’s testimonies, God’s ways, God’s law, God’s ordinances, God’s wonders, God’s righteous ordinances, the law of God’s mouth, God’s judgements, the testimony of God’s mouth, the commandments of my God and God’s righteous word. To simplify everything stated in Psalm 119 we will find deliverance and absolute satisfaction in the Bible that God has bestowed upon humanity. Do you live out an impassioned love for God’s Word? Continue Reading…
God’s lovingkindness is everlasting: Psalm 118
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:8,9 Do you believe that the lovingkindness of the Lord is everlasting? Do you believe that God will fulfill the promises He has made or are you diligently striving to make a way of your own? We are inherently deficient yet we too often view ourselves as complete beings that are complete and powerful. There is nothing that we can do to help ourselves to overcome our inability. Why do we continually strive to make our own way through this world? Do we think that at some point we will finally figure out the key to success that will help us make ourselves complete? We can never make ourselves complete because we lack the knowledge of what makes us complete. Continue Reading…
All scripture is truly profitable: Psalm 117
How is Psalm 117 valuable? What impact does this two verse psalm have upon our lives today? “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17 We can tend to overlook a simple two verse psalm thinking that it is not as valuable as some of the psalms that have great length or authors of great renown. If we limit ourselves to thinking that the words, thoughts and ideas of God can be measured by the views of man we are gravely overlooking the true wealth of God’s word to us. All scripture is profitable! Can you see that these two verses in Psalm 117 are boldly telling us that God is faithfully fulfilling His covenant throughout eternity. Take comfort knowing that God is always actively working. Continue Reading…
