Does our faith in God cause our lives to be free from trouble and trials? How does our faith in God change our outlook on life and the circumstances we face? We may desire to have a guaranteed way of making our lives carefree and easy but would we be truly satisfied with such a life? “‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,’ let Israel now say, ‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; yet they have not prevailed against me.’” Psalm 129:1,2 When our lives intersect with our faith in God there is no great transformation that changes the circumstances we endure but the transformation occurs within our hearts as we have a hope that is greater than our circumstances. We will face many difficult times in our lives but we will be enabled to overcome all trouble because God loves His beloved. Continue Reading…
Perspective transformed where life and faith intersect: Psalm 129
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…
It is all about God and not about us: Psalm 112
What does it mean to fear the Lord? How do we reconcile the idea that we will feel delight and a desire to praise God while we fear Him? “Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.” Psalm 112:1 Should the fear of the Lord bring a negative connotation our mind? This fear of God should not be equated with the sin tainted fear that is all too common throughout the world. To fear the Lord is to look upon Him as the creator God who creates, upholds, and judges all things. We need to see the great awe and wonder of God that compels us to fall on our knees and worship Him. Out of this fear, awe and wonder we will be compelled to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength because of His nature expressed towards us. This wholehearted love expression will also manifest itself to the people around us as we delight in God. We delight in God and praise His name because of who He is and what He has done. Continue Reading…
Be thankful, sing praises, and declare to the world: Psalm 92
Giving thanks to God, singing praises to Him and declaring His abounding lovingkindness are all good. Have we lost the true meaning and concept of the word ‘good’? In many ways we have brought down the meaning of the word ‘good’ to mean a mediocre or less than perfect feeling or outcome that we are willing to think positively about and live with. Can we rebuild our broken and crumbling perspective of what is ‘good’? When we read in Psalm 92:1, “It is good to…”, we should make sure that we do not interpret this phrase as anything less than the most excellent and worthy goal that we can and should strive to attain. Continue Reading…
Expectantly await for the second advent of Jesus Christ: Psalm 85
Over two thousand years ago mankind received the greatest gift of all in Bethlehem. “Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its produce. Righteousness will go before Him and will make His footsteps into a way.” Psalm 85:10-13 The ultimate good for us is the graciously given gift of salvation through the cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ is our hope and our future. The world may appear to collapse around you but the sovereignty of God is eternally enduring. Will you trust that Jesus Christ came and took on humanity so that fellowship could be restored? Continue Reading…
A root in the tender hands of the Gardener: Psalm 80
What image comes to mind when you think of God? Do you instinctively look upon Him as an ethereal authoritarian figure looking down upon the earth ready to cast judgement upon anyone who commits a sin? When we are face to face with the truths of scripture and our inherent failure prone nature it is easy to think that God is consistently looking upon our life to just keep us in check and cast judgement. The authoritative justice of God cannot be our solitary view of God because we need to keep, as best we can, an all encompassing view of the God. He is everything all at once and never changing. His love, kindness, grace and mercy abide harmoniously along side His anger, wrath, justice and holiness. Continue Reading…
The basis for identity is the foundation of hope: Psalm 65
What is your identity in life? Are you a mother of children, a manager at work, a father striving to make ends meet, a student at school or just another number in a sea of numbers? How we identify ourselves has a great effect upon our outlook on life and the hope we see for tomorrow. Often we define ourselves by the tasks and functions we accomplish on a daily basis but we fail to find our true identity and worth through the blessings God has bestowed upon us. Do you take time to look upon all the blessings that God has bestowed upon your life? Do you see the hand of God at work in your life? Continue Reading…
Reset your perspective by remembering God’s faithfulness: Psalm 44
Do you hear the call? There is a message woven through Psalm 44 that exhorts us to remember God, His faithfulness and His deliverance every moment of every day. What happens when we fail to remember God and see the secure footing He has place beneath us? Failure and a spiraling outlook of despair will pervade all of your thoughts and actions when we lose perspective. In Psalm 44 the sons of Korah are looking back on how God has worked in the lives of the people of Israel throughout to find assurance and proper perspective in the present. The sovereignty, faithfulness and deliverance of God bestowed upon Israel despite of their inherent sinfulness is paramount within Psalm 44. The sons of Korah acknowledged that everything for Israel happened because God ordained and allowed it to happen. Continue Reading…
Dive into the God’s wondrous love story: Psalm 33
How would you describe your view of God? Is God praiseworthy? Do awe and wonder fill your soul as you ponder all God has done? Is God the wellspring of all strength and endurance in your life? How do we gain the perspective of God that places Him as the supreme ruler of our lives? In Psalm 33 we are given many wonderful reasons to worship God in adoration. Will these deeds of God fill us with wonder if we do not know the complete story of scripture? In Psalm 33:6,9 the creation of heaven and earth is mentioned, do you remember the story? In Psalm 33:7 it states that God gathers the water in a heap, do you remember the story? There are many marvelous stories contained throughout Scripture, which stories encourage you? Continue Reading…
Dwelling in perpetual thankfulness to God: Psalm 30
Do enjoy watching sporting events? Do you get caught up in the moment as you cheer along for your favorite team? When your children perform in a musical, play or choir do you cheer them on? We are eager to cheer each other on in the mundane and exciting moments of life. Are you enthusiastically praising God for His goodness to you? Will you value your relationship with God as paramount in you life? Do you remember to thank God?
We cry out for help from God when we are on the brink of despair but how often do we take time to thank God when the moment of crisis has passed? In Psalm 30 David is remembering that God has answered his cries for help. When David cried for help God healed him and gave him strength. Continue Reading…
