March 25, 2015
My mother used to pray this Psalm of David, reminding God of our plight after my father died. She was a widow with four children to raise alone, yet not alone. For she called on God to keep His promise.
“Be a father to my children and a husband to me.” I would hear her praying in the early morning before the rest of us awoke.
My mother was a wonderful praying example to her children. She understood the power of praying the psalms, letting them give expression to her deepest longings. Have you tried making the book of Psalms your prayer book?
March 24, 2015
The psalmist prayed that God would show them mercy, blessing and favor, so that they might display the way of salvation to the nations. This prayer aligned with God’s promise to Abraham that through his “offspring all nations would be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). It also borrowed words from the benediction of Aaron, “The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you…” (Num. 6:22-27). Quoting God’s Word and purpose back to Him in prayer is a great basis for bringing your heart into alignment with His. Asking Him to supply your need and show you favor, so that you might fulfill His purpose to bring salvation to the nations, is gospel-centered praying. It is a Great Commission prayer. Do you pray that you and your church will be blessed, so that it may carry the gospel to the nations?
March 18, 2015
A Davidic psalm. A prayer asking God for His higher perspective and protection. Lead me to the higher rock. Set my feet, which are sinking in mud, on something firm. Put my mind above the daily distractions to see things from your heavenly heights. Raise my soul to a place of shelter from life’s storms. Lord, I am overwhelmed, protect me from my enemies. Show me how to get to “the rock.” Not “a rock,” but “the rock.” For there is only One who is “the” Rock and He is Jesus, the Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Show me how to get to Jesus today!
March 10, 2015
The atheist usually lays claim to an intellectual position to support their unbelief. However, the Bible says that their true problem is not reason, but a lack of righteousness. It isn’t the atheist’s mind that rejects God, but his heart. And having refused God entrance, he can find no better candidate for divinity than himself. So, atheism is really humanism at heart. Yet God “looks down” to see who will seek His face. Who will open their hearts and minds to Him? Those that truly seek God will find Him. This is wisdom.
February 27, 2015
David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling “cast down” and “disquieted,” he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), urging his soul to “hope in God.” We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces (“countenance”), but it refreshes our souls. Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.
February 19, 2015
How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The righteous not only repay their debts, but give generously to those in need. The wicked avoid even repaying what is owed, much less being a giver to others. Has believing in Christ affected how you handle money?
February 11, 2015
I love the old hymns. Hymns like “Amazing Grace,” written in 1779 by John Newton and later joined with the tune “New Britain” in a hymnbook published in 1847. Yet, I also love to sing a new song written by a new generation of believers. As a generation gets older it is easy to reject anything new. We cling to that which moved us when we were young. But I especially love when modern artists combine the old and new, like Chris Tomlin’s version of “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” Tomlin “skillfully” brought the old song into the present giving it new life. We have to be careful not to worship the old songs, rather than the Lord of which they were written to praise. Our goal should be to “sing to Him” and to “play skillfully” to Him. Every culture and generation should yearn to sing new songs and to play them with excellence because our Lord is the One who inspires our worship.
February 8, 2015
A psalm of David, asking God for salvation based on God’s character of mercy rather than any sense of his own deserving it. It is a bold request, asking for God’s face to “shine upon” him, knowing that the Lord could rightfully look at his sinful life with a face darkened by wrath and displeasure. Yet, like a son seeking his father’s attention, David cried out, “Lord, look at me and let your face show your divine mercy and radiant joy towards me!” God answered David’s prayer, but at great cost. For in turning His face towards David in mercy, He later turned His face away from the Christ, the Son of David, while He died upon the cross for our sins.
February 2, 2015
Those who would learn to pray will find help in the psalms. In this Davidic psalm we learn to focus our prayers on knowing God and enjoying His presence, rather than just bringing Him our laundry list of wants. Those who learn to pray, seeking God’s face, will find that their requests are already satisfied in Him. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
January 29, 2015
This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff. One of the great sins of American Christianity is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.