Tag: Jesus

Daily Word

Psalm 38

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Read Psalm 38 – Lament, it’s a rather pretty word, the way it sits on my tongue feels peaceful, though it’s not a peaceful word by definition. It means complaint and can come off as whinny.  David is in a pickle and he is lamenting to God throughout Psalm 38.

David knows his troubles and sickness are filtered by God, and to Him he makes his appeal.  “Oh LORD, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you… But for you,  O LORD,  do I wait; it is for you, O Lord my God, who will answer. ” :9,15

As with most calamity,  David is partly responsible for which he confesses, “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. ” :18

Beloved,  my question is,  where do you see yourself in this?   How do you handle trials, persecution, sickness and your own sin before our Holy God?   The relationship is everything.   Do you turn towards Jesus or away when you are in tough times? Have you considered He may be trying to get your attention? 

In the New Testament we are reminded to cast all anxieties on Jesus because he cares for us (see 1 Peter 5).  That’s a beautiful request,  right?   Why hang onto these burdens and laments when Jesus is there and listening with open arms.

Daily Word

Psalm 37

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Read Psalm 37 -God’s got this – do not fret! Why we humans are prone to fretting is a mystery. God’s Word tells us over and over not to fret, worry or be anxious. Our Psalm freely acknowledges that there are evil folks in this world, but do not fret. Acknowledging that evil exists is better than pretending it doesn’t and being overwhelmed. Evil is here for a season, but it will wither away and be gone forever. We can trust in the LORD; the best is yet to come!

“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” :3-7

Those are words to rest in, to trust, to fill one with hope and direction. And yes, rotten people will do rotten things and seem to get away with it… but it is only for a time. “The LORD laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.” :13

There are so many power verses in our psalm. Will you ask the Holy Spirit to plant one in your heart to meditate on today?

Daily Word

Psalm 36

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Read Psalm 36 – If they only knew…. Beloved, do you remember the old you, prior to Salvation? The old me was guilty of the :1-4 accusations. On the outside I was a nice person, but on the inside there was no fear of God, I was prideful about my sin and did not reject the things that were wrong to God.

There is an analogy about sheep standing on a vibrant green hillside. They look so white and pristine, but then the snow fell and their filth was apparent in contrast to the pure white snow.

Owning who we were apart from Jesus is essential to our surrender, Salvation, and celebration of who God is… Then the snow continued to fall, and the dirty fleece was covered in pristine white… as we emerge, clothed in Jesus Christ – hallelujah!

Verses :5-9 is a shift of focus from the wicked to the glory of God. There is a song by the band, THIRD DAY, and they sing these verses. If you know it you might find yourself reading to the tune.

“Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains. Your justice like the great deep.” :5-7

Do you feel the change in your heart as you read these verses of adoration? Do you feel the weight of this world lighten as you turn your focus to Jesus?

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. ” :7

God bless your day.

Daily Word

Psalm 34

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Read Psalm 34 – The first thing we are told is that this was written as a praise to God right after David pretended to be insane before Abimelech…. And that is a grand adventure covered in 1 Samuel 21 if you are stirred to know more.   Suffice to say, it was an ‘only God’ kind of escape from certain death, and David is quick to respond in praise and encouragement for others to do the same.  

“I sought the LORD and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. ” :4-5

Have you seen that?   Who comes to mind when you think of someone who walks closest to Jesus? What about their countenance stands out? You can see it,  right?   Jesus offers this to all who seek him, including and especially you!   (I say that because this is one gift each person must say yes to personally. )

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. ”  :7

Will you strive to carry that thought with you? In Christ, you do not walk alone. 

“The LORD is close to the broken hearts and saves those who are crushed in spirit. “:18

The life preserver is right there in Jesus. Take hold and rejoice! 

Daily Word

Psalm 33

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Read Psalm 33 – Eternity will not make sense without an understanding of God.  As humans, we want to feel some measure of control – yet it is a world we did not create.  As we allow for awe, reverence and fear of God, even the most difficult things of this life can be entrusted to Jesus.  

My heart is aching for a loved one today.  She is facing something I fear, yet here is God’s Word, waiting for me… as if knowing all along I would need this Psalm today.  Verse :1 seemed too hard at first look, “Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”  But as I read on, my focus shifted to our Father’s glory, and the ache began to fade into trust, and my ability to sing joyfully came alive.

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.  He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.” :6-7 That makes me feel small in the very best way – like the view of the world out of my airplane window, or the feeling of standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon.  This world is such a simple thing to God.

“We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” :20-22

Daily Word

Psalm 32

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Read Psalm 32 – Guilt is heavy and pride is a liar. Pride says, “Shhhh… no one has to know.” David says, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” :3 That is heavy; that is guilt, and God does not want that for his children.

But God is a good Father. He will be a stern presence that does not let you off the hook for harboring sin, but he will not pretend with you that the sin is no big deal. “For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” :4

This is where a choice must be made. One can ignore the LORD until their heart is hardened. One can keep listening to pride and seek more sin to try to hide from the Holy Spirit. One can get used to that weight on the shoulders to the point that living without it seems scarier than freedom. Or one can confess and know the blessed life David speaks of, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” :1-2

Were you able to picture Jesus speaking in verses :8-10? Maybe go back to that section, listen to your Heavenly Father as he tells you he will instruct you, counsel and watch over you. Listen as he warns you not to be a mule. Examine your life and see where you fit in verse :10.

And best of all, Beloved, celebrate! “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” :11

Daily Word

Psalm 27

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Read Psalm 27 – Know Jesus, know peace… I don’t know who said that, but it is a wonderful truth. The closer one clings to the LORD, the less power the troubles of this life have.

Our Psalm is a great weapon against anything that may threaten your peace too. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves: THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? :1

So many good things await us and can be discovered in this Psalm! Will you treasure hunt for them and hold them close?

Daily Word

Psalm 25

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Read Psalm 25 – We last spoke of who God is in Psalm 24.  Now, in Psalm 25, David entrusts himself to the LORD.  (:1-2)

David recognizes that many are his enemy and their behavior is treacherous. David was a man of bloodshed with a life’s purpose to be king according to God’s plan.  I am much more ordinary than that, yet still need a healthy awareness that those who hate Jesus are enemies. (Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.”)  Beloved, we must love our enemies with wisdom and grace, not simple naivete and wishful thinking.  

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” :4-5  Beloved, with this desire you will not be led astray!

David goes on, recalling God’s nature, asking for forgiveness from the sins of his youth and iniquities for God’s namesake… not David’s merits, but for God’s own namesake.  David even speaks about some dark days… David is not a stranger to anxieties, but he also knows where to take them.

Beloved, can you carve out some alone time today, search your soul, as David did, and lay it before Jesus, our Savior.

Daily Word

Psalm 24

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Read Psalm 24 – The meaning of life.  What a great day this is!  Beloved, once you fully understand Psalm 24 everything in life lines up.  

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” :1  It’s not about me.  It’s not mine.  Yet God has blessed me to enjoy and care for his creation.  He has blessed me to delight and care for my very own life because I am his.  

Those who seek the LORD with a clean hands and a pure heart will enter his presence, receiving blessing and vindication. (:3-6)  Exhale, Beloved, life is that simple so don’t lose your way with the things of this world.  Walk close with Jesus; stay on the narrow path, and know that the best is yet to come.

Regarding :7-10, when there is a knock at your door, what do you ask?  “Who is it?”  So, who is this King of glory?  He is the one the doors to heaven must be thrown open for!  He is the LORD, strong and mighty, mighty in battle, the LORD Almighty – he is the King of glory!

This was written as a song, most believe it was written for the Ark of the Covenant when it was carried into the tent pitched by David for it, or possibly the Temple built by Solomon.  And it clearly has the dual, prophetic meaning of Jesus at his ascension.

I am amazed once more this morning at God’s Word.  It is so multifaceted and rich.  One could spend about a minute reading Psalm 24, or one could meditate on it for all eternity.  Reading the Bible is our opportunity to fall deeper and deeper in love with Jesus every day.

Daily Word

Psalm 22

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Read Psalm 22 – Blessed David, did he know when he penned this how prophetic it was?  Did he live through an instance that led his heart to cry out these words?  He certainly lived through many times of peril.  Yet Jesus used these very words during the last moments of his human life, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34  

Did you know the number markers, 3:16, 8:28, 22:1, etc, were added over a thousand years after Jesus?  In his day, one would bring up a passage by uttering the first few words.  

I say that to ask you to picture Jesus as you read.  This is Jesus, scorned and despised (:6).  This is Jesus with his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth (:15).  This is Jesus, pierced through his hands and feet (:16)… read about this wrath that we deserve, yet was paid by him who knew no sin.

Sit in wonder as you consider how perfectly this prophetic psalm was fulfilled in our Savior hundreds of years after it was penned.  There is so much to marvel at; I will be quiet and trust the Holy Spirit to work on your heart as you read and meditate on Psalm 22.