April 23, 2013
Understanding that our days are numbered can motivate us to live life with a sense of urgent importance. ‘Urgent’ – because putting off till tomorrow means eventually running out of tomorrows. If the Lord has put it on your heart, then do it now! And ‘important’ – because we often fill our days with unimportant things. Prayerfully consider what is most important, then focus on those things every day. This is not a morbid state of mind, being aware of your limited days. This is wisdom, not wasting the time God has given you on planet earth. Don’t waste your life!
April 16, 2013
We tell our children, “Don’t forget to say your prayers.” But praying should be a two-way conversation, not just “saying” but listening. It’s hard to teach our children what we have yet to learn. You can begin today. Start by asking God to speak to you and then join the psalmist in waiting to hear the Lord’s voice. Follow the old prophet Eli’s advice to young Samuel, by saying, “Speak, for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam.3:10).
April 5, 2013
Most have mouthed silent prayers, but how many have ever cried aloud to God? This is not about God’s hearing. Knowing our very thoughts, certainly He hears our whispered prayers as well as our shouted ones. But the prayers that are cried “aloud to God” show an increased intensity on the part of the supplicant to get God’s attention. The one who cries aloud to God no longer cares what others think. They only care that God hears and answers.
March 26, 2013
Every day we awake to a new day never expecting otherwise. Yet, we have no control over the sun’s rising nor setting. We haven’t even any authority over our heart’s beating or lung’s breathing. Even the faithless atheist counts on such things remaining constant, setting his alarm and marking his calendar as if there were some galactic guarantee. But the Psalmist “blessed the Lord,” recognizing that it is God who gives us life and daily sustains us, awakening us to a new day.
March 19, 2013
David knew how to get alone with God and find hope and encouragement from Him. He was careful to silence his own self-talk and listen for the voice of the Lord. When we allow the voice of worry (anxious self-talk) to fill our heads, discouragement abounds. At times like this we can say to ourselves, “Be quiet soul, wait and listen for God to speak.”
March 16, 2013
Singing praises to God puts our hearts and heads in alignment with His. Even when (or especially when) we are weak, recognizing God as our Strength and Fortress in song, strengthens us to face what the day holds. Singing praises to God, we actually climb to the top of His fortress and see life from above.
March 13, 2013
David probably wrote this psalm while hiding in the cave of Adullam. This after fleeing from Saul to the Philistine King Achish of Gath, then fleeing from him as well when the reception turned dangerous. While every circumstance around David turned negative, he still didn’t blame it on God. He still believed that God was for him. David decided to place his trust in God rather than man. A broken and scared David went into that cave, but a man who believed that if God was for him, no one could stand against him emerged. Have you ever met with God in a cave?
March 11, 2013
David wrote this psalm while hiding from King Saul. He called God his helper and upholder. David encouraged himself with this. Saul had the support and help of all Israel, but David had the Lord. Some may have wealth or worldly power to help, but we have the help of God. He not only helps us, He sustains, supports, upholds and keeps us alive. Who do you call upon when you need help?
March 8, 2013
This was David’s prayer after committing adultery with Bathsheba. He wanted God’s forgiveness to extend to his experience, so that he felt clean again. It’s one thing to believe that God has forgiven, but another to experience that forgiveness. “Wash me” is an intimate and humble invitation. It admits one’s filthy condition and also one’s inability to get clean without help. Perhaps we fail to completely experience forgiveness because we’ve yet to admit both the depth of our sin and our total inadequacy at getting clean. Let us pray as David, “Wash me, Lord!”
March 3, 2013
Stop talking and worrying. Turn off, turn down, pull away and listen. Then know. Know that He is God. Acknowledge, understand and experience His presence and power. Then pray and worship. Worship because it is the only appropriate response. Pray because the nations are far from God and it is His will to bring them back. Pray for the Day when God’s Name will be lifted up in all the earth.