“My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:2-4 Have we forgotten the love for God that was encompassed in complete awe and wonder because of God’s sufficient faithfulness? Listen to David’s words in Psalm 144; God is David’s lovingkindness, fortress, stronghold, deliverer, shield, and refuge. This list of who God was for David is all encompassing to every corner of David’s life. There is no area within David’s life that God was not intimately present in. God by our limited human understanding should have no desire to interact with us but His grace is greater than our inability. Continue Reading…
Is God your all encompassing everything who sustains you: Psalms 144
Give up the pretense of striving to be good and cling to God: Psalm 143
How are you feeling today? Is your life marked by an eternal perspective or has your perspective wavered as you fight, strive, and toil against your sinful nature? We claim to fully acknowledge our helplessness before God but our thoughts and actions often tell a different story. We consider ourselves to be good but are we living and embracing the grace of God? The grace of God is to be consistently abided in, clung to, and treasured above everything else in our lives. We must give up our pretense, full of our striving to be good enough, and cling to God in our weakness. We cannot make a way through our but God is more than able to help us. “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.” Psalm 143:8,9 David knew that in the despairing moments of life it was only God who could move to bring lasting deliverance. His enemies were surrounding him but despite the imminent danger David clung to God. When all you see is despair will you cling to God? Will you give up you attempts to save yourself and let God save you?
Continue Reading…
Will God be enough: Psalm 142
When we are confined and cornered by the worries of life, will God be enough? In Psalm 142 David was pursued by Saul as he was forced to take refuge in a cave. David’s life was in jeopardy and there was no avenue of escape. What did David do? He cried out to God telling Him all the burdens of his heart. When we are in need of help do we find that God is enough for us? Do you pour out your heart to God as you tell Him everything that concerns you? “I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name; the righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.’” Psalm 142:5-7 Continue Reading…
Hopeless inadequacy and inability broken by the grace of God: Psalm 141
Where does the strength, endurance, and will to press on in life come from? Can we make our own destiny and overcome any obstacle as long as we put our minds to it? If we truly desire to live the best life possible we cannot presume to play a role in its ultimate success. Life is only brought to completion by the grace of God as He is in full control over everything. “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of m wickedness with men who do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.” Psalm 141:3,4 Do you see how David acknowledges the words of our mouth and the desire of our heart are governed by God. Continue Reading…
Boldness birthed out of God’s sufficient supremacy: Psalm 140
How can David say, “As for the head of those who surround me, may the mischief of their lip cover them. May burning coals fall upon them; may they be cast into the fire, into the deep pits from which they cannot rise. May a slanderer not be established in the earth; may evil hunt the violent man speedily.” Psalm 140:9-11 Can we truly wish the demise of someone? What is the basis of these thoughts of David? These wicked men were against God and seeking the demise of David. How does the character and opposition of these men against God allow David to seek their downfall? The character and identity of David was grounded in his relationship with God. This relationship with God afforded David the confidence to proclaim that the wicked will never proper because God was in control. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God; give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Do no grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not promote his evil device , that they not be exalted.’” Psalm 140:6-8 Continue Reading…
The weight of hopelessness removed at the cross of Calvary: Psalm 139
What is the source of the inner hurt and pain that consumes your life? Do you ever think that no one cares about you or that no one has truly endured a life like your own? Deep down every person wants to know that there is someone who knows their hopes, dreams, fears, worries, pains, and desires. We search out someone who will fulfill that desire in our life and when we fail to find the perfect soul mate we turn to our idols to meet our needs. Do you feel a weight of hopelessness because no one is there to help you? Has everyone let you down and you dwell in a state of continual despair? Where can your hope be found? I can tell you today that there is someone who knows you better than you know yourself. God almighty the Lord of heaven and earth is the one that your are craving to know because He fully knows you. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-4 Continue Reading…
Find your trust in God’s faithfulness and sufficiency: Psalm 138
Do you believe that God answers every prayer? Do you view answered prayers as the ones with results matching your expectations? Do not fall into the habit of believing that God’s care and concern for you is summed up in whether you get what you desire. Remember that when God decides that your desire is not ultimately best for your life that He is answering your prayer. Are you willing to rest in God and wait on Him? Do you respond with humility, thankfulness, and reverence to God? Do you find strength in God? ”On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:3 It is imperative that we trust God and believe that He will work for our best when we come to Him in prayer. ”The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 Will you trust in God’s faithfulness? Will you trust in the sufficiency of God? Continue Reading…
In the midst of persecution and trouble God is enough: Psalm 137
Complete devastation and captivity in Babylon laid heavy on the lives of the people of Israel. Gone were the days when vigor and vitality defined their spiritual life. The continual disobedience of Israel led to their captivity within Babylon and the razing of Jerusalem. The psalmist of Psalm 137 is in the midst of great pressure and persecution by captors filled with spite and pride. “For there our captors demanded of us sons, and out tormentors mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the ons of Zion.’” Psalms 137:3 What is to be done in the face of such oppression? What hope is there when we find ourselves surrounded by pressure and persecution through our actions or the actions of another? Continue Reading…
God’s lovingkindness is truly everlasting: Psalm 136
What comes to mind when you think about the lovingkindness of God? Is the lovingkindness of God a solitary act or a renewing act for mankind? Was it loving kindness that caused God to create this creation we live in? Was it lovingkindness that continually delivered the people of Israel from themselves? Was the lovingkindness expressed wholly upon the cross of Calvary? Was it lovingkindness that brought you through life to this exact moment? The lovingkindness of God is not a small act played out in a single moment but it is woven throughout time from the past, through the present, and into the future. The lovingkindness of God speaks to His unfailing faithfulness and covenant with mankind. “Who remembered us in our low estate, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, and has rescued us from our adversaries, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; who gives food to all flesh, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:23-26 Continue Reading…
Turn aside from the Idols of the world: Psalm 135
Will you join me in praising God, the Lord of heaven and earth and creator of all things? The situation you find yourself in today will not change the truth that God is worthy of your praise and adoration. Do you praise God and wholeheartedly adore Him? Do you find yourself wondering why God should be praised? As we face life’s monotony and a varying array of trouble there hope for us found in praising God. What is the basis of praise? In Psalm 135 we are exhorted by the psalmist to praise the Lord but along with this exhortation we are given a reason to praise Him. “For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.” Psalm 135:5 The foundation of praise is built upon the deeds of God and intrinsically found in His nature. Continue Reading…
