Psalms

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“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him” (Psalm 105:4)

November 3, 2012

The Psalmist reminds us to continually search for God and His strength. This is an important daily discipline to learn. Don’t leave your house in your own strength. First, seek the Lord and draw on His renewing power. Learn to abide in Christ and in His enabling strength. Then you can join the apostle Paul in saying, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil.4:13)!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me” (Psalm 103:2)

October 31, 2012

This psalm of David illustrates his habit of bringing every area of his life before the Lord in examination and for realignment. He had the spiritual ability to take his eyes off of difficult circumstances and to focus them upon God. One of the ways he accomplished this was to command every part of himself to praise the Lord, numbering every blessing he could name. Perhaps this was the inspiration for the words in the old hymn: “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God hath done!”

“The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence” (Psalm 102:28)

October 30, 2012

The Psalmist cried out to God in lament, yet ended his prayer in praise, believing that God would care for his children and grandchildren. Even though the Psalmist’s life had been marked by difficulty, he prayed that his children’s children would “thrive!” Where are the grandfathers and grandmothers who pray this way today?

“Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3)

October 28, 2012

What does it mean to “acknowledge?” Dictionary: ac·knowl·edge/akˈnälij/ Verb: 1. to accept or admit the existence or truth of. 2. to recognize the fact or importance or quality of. Synonyms: admit, recognize, confess, avow, concede, grant. Will you “acknowledge” that the Lord is God today?

“Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts” (Psalm 96:8)

October 25, 2012

Q: How does the moon give glory to the sun? A: By reflecting its light onto a darkened earth. Similarly we give glory to God by reflecting His light to others. Like the moon, we have no light of our own, so we give our very lives to Him in praise. Q: What offering should we bring after giving Him our hearts? A: The first part of all: the first day of the week, first part of every day, and the first portion of every dollar. In this way, we reflect that God is first.

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalms 90:12)

October 22, 2012

Understanding that life is short, we live with a sense of urgency and purpose, not wasting the day because night is coming soon. We also strip away the things that don’t matter and focus on the eternal things that last. Such is the life of wisdom, of one who lives knowing that tomorrow is not promised.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Colossians 3:16)

October 7, 2012

Paul encouraged the Colossians to fill their lives with preaching, teaching and singing about Christ. A couple thousand years later and faithful Christians are still following this pattern. Let’s go to church today and join Paul and the Colossians in worshiping the Christ!

“I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked” (Psalm 73:16-17)

October 1, 2012

We sometimes struggle with questions of fairness. We ask,”Why do good people suffer, while bad people prosper?” Our question implies that God isn’t fair. That He has somehow taken His eye off the ball and allowed injustice to happen. We suffer from a limited perspective. We don’t see how things will end. But God does. Trust Him with judgment. He hasn’t missed a thing. Ultimately, no one will doubt His justice.

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you” (Psalm 63:1)

September 19, 2012

No wonder God described David as a man after His own heart. Perhaps Augustine was meditating on this verse when he said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” Does your heart cry out for God like David’s did? Does your soul thirst for the living Lord?

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2)

September 13, 2012

David wrote this psalm while hiding in a cave from King Saul. He was anointed to be king by the prophet Samuel, but Saul had other plans for him. There’s always a tension between our calling and our circumstances. We know that God has a purpose for us, yet it’s hard to see the next step while hiding in a dark cave. At times like these we “cry out” to God asking Him to “fulfill his purpose” in us. May He who called us bring to completion that which He desires in/for us!