Life From An Eternal Perspective. (Based on Psalm 39)

Psalm 39 – Day 2

I said to myself, "I'm going to be careful about how I live my life.

When I'm around the ungodly, I'm going to watch what I say, so that I don't end up sinning."

But even when I kept my mouth shut, not even saying anything good,

I found myself getting stirred up inside.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got,

Until I couldn't take it anymore, and the words spewed out.

"Lord, help me comprehend that my life has an end,

That the number of days that I'm going to live are nothing to You.

At best, my life is like a vapor from Your perspective.

The importance we put on our lives is empty and vain."

We waste our time getting upset,

Worrying about all the money we have accumulated

Because we don't even know who will spend it when we're gone.

So where do I put my hope? I put all my expectations in You.

I ask You to deliver me from living a life of rebellion against You.

Don't let my life be a joke to people who live like fools.

There was a time in my life when I kept my mouth shut

Because You were doing a number on me.

I ask that You remove Your hand of discipline,

Because I am totally spent.

Your punishment disciplines mankind for sin,

You destroy their self-centered self-absorption

Like a moth destroys a beautiful garment.

We're all just a fleeting vapor, here one day, gone the next.

So listen to my prayer, Lord! Hear my cry for help!

Don't be at peace about my tears!

I am a temporary inhabitant here,

A stranger living in a strange land where I don't belong,

Just like my fathers before me.

Take notice of me, smile on me,

Before my life finally comes to an end.

Hope In The Heat.

Psalm 39 – Day 1

"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."– Psalm 39:7 NLT

David is going through some kind of difficulty. He is under a great deal of pressure and believes that what he is suffering is from the hand of God and due to sin in his life. He is upset and frustrated about it, but has chosen not to complain about his circumstances in the hearing of men – especially the ungodly. He knows that to do so would cast aspersions upon God's grace and goodness. So he just remains silent. But that doesn't stop the emotional turmoil taking place inside his head and heart. He says, "the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words" (Psalm 39:2-3 NLT). When David did finally speak up, he chose to take it directly to the Lord. He expressed his thoughts to the one who could do something about it. But instead of complaining, David asked God for perspective. He asks God to "remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is" (Psalm 39:4 NLT). David was asking God to help him keep his life in the proper perspective, never forgetting that eternity is our future, not this temporary condition we call life. In God's grand scheme, our lives are but a breath, a fleeting moment on the eternal timeline. Yet we put all our emphasis on the here and now and forget about the hereafter. We spend all our time rushing around attempting to accomplish things that only end in insignificance. We work hard to accumulate wealth and then end up having to leave it behind when we go. You can see where David's son, Solomon, got the perspective on life he shared in the book of Ecclesiastes: "I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned" (Ecclesiastes 2:18 NLT). Solomon also shared David's perspective on wealth. "Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless – like chasing the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:4 NLT).

But David had decided a long time before he wrote this Psalm to place his hope and trust in God. He had placed his life in God's hands. In fact, he owed his life to God. Without God, David would still be shepherding sheep instead of shepherding the people of Israel. Whatever David was going through, he knew that ultimately it had to pass through the hands of God to get to him. He says, "I am silent before you; I won't say a word, for my punishment is from you" (Psalm 39:9 NLT). David viewed his condition as God ordained and therefore he took his problem to the source. He believed that his punishment was due to sin in his life and knew that only God could forgive his sin and relieve his suffering. In verse 8 David asks God to "pluck him out of" his sin, to deliver him from his own transgressions. He knows that only God can bring relief from the pain he is suffering. So he asks God to hear his cries, to restore his joy, and to give him relief in order that he might spend whatever days he has on this planet in a right relationship with Him. And isn't that what this is all about? It isn't the accumulation of toys and the gaining of fame. It isn't about comfort and ease, earning and spending, competing and winning. It is about the joy of a right relationship with God. Money can't buy that. When we are not right with God, nothing is right. And nothing can make it right, but getting right with Him.

Father, what a wonderful reminder that life is all about living for You and with You. The pain and suffering we experience is nothing more than a reminder of our dependence upon and need for You. Keep me focused on You and nothing else. May I desire a right relationship with You more than anything else in the world. Amen

Conviction, Confession and Comfort. (Based on Psalm 38)

Psalm 38 – Day 2

Lord, I beg you not to correct me in anger,

Or discipline me when You're furious with me.

Your arrows of punishment have struck hard and deep,

And I can feel Your hands pressing down on me.

I'm literally sick because of the effects of Your anger on me.

But it all because of the guilt of my own sin.

I'm literally drowning in guilt, It's all too much for me to handle.

My wounds make me offensive,

All because of my own foolishness.

My sin has left me bowed down in brokenness,

I spend my whole day in mourning.

I am humiliated and it is affecting my health.

I am numb and emotionally crushed,

My heart groans in pain and sadness.

But Lord, You know what I long for,

My groans are not hidden from You.

My heart longs, my strength fades,

And any ability to view life with hope diminishes daily.

Everybody avoids me like a had the plague,

Even my own family. But not my enemies,

They continue to lay traps for me,

Devising ways to do me harm,

Spending their entire days making plans to do me in.

But I might as well be deaf and dumb,

I can't hear what they're saying or speak up in my own defense.

I simply choose to ignore them and say nothing.

Because I am waiting on You God.

I know You are going to answer me.

I have prayed to You for deliverance,

Because otherwise my enemies will win,

And they will gloat over me in victory.

I am ready to give up because my pain is constant.

So I acknowledge my own guilt,

And I am anxious about the effects of my sin.

My enemies are alive and strong,

And their numbers seem to grow daily.

When I do them good, they return the favor with evil,

They can't stand what I stand for.

So I beg You not to forget about me, O Lord!

Hurry up and bring me salvation!

Sin, Sorrow and Confession.

Psalm 38 – Day 1

"But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done."– Psalm 38:18 NLT

We are not told what David's sin was, but he clearly articulates what he believes to be the ramifications for that sin. David is suffering greatly both physically and emotionally. He sees his circumstances as directly related to his sin and as a rebuke from God. Crying out to God he says, "Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me – it is a burden to heavy to bear" (Psalm 38:3-4 NLT). David clearly understands the concept that sin has consequences and that God, because He is just, must punish sin. There is discipline involved when sins are committed. As children of God we are not allowed to sin freely and without consequence. If we belong to God, our sin produces guilt. His Spirit convicts us of our sin and produces within us those same feelings that David had. He speaks of God's rebuke and discipline. He uses words like crushing, broken, grief, crushed, anguish and pain. And he attributes it all "because of my foolish sins" (Psalms 38:5 NLT).

Speaking of this conviction of sin, C. H. Spurgeon states, "God's law applied by the Spirit to the conviction of the soul of sin, wounds deeply and rankles long; it is an arrow not lightly to be brushed out by careless mirthfulness, or to be extracted by the flattering hand of self righteousness." David was not going to be able to escape the loving discipline of God by simply finding something to distract him. He could avoid it for a time, but his sin, unconfessed, would continue to haunt him, leaving him longing for relief. Conviction is designed to lead to confession. Conviction ignored will only lead to continued sorrow. It will eat away at you from the inside out. That's why confession is so important. It is the anecdote for conviction, guilt and shame. John reminds us, "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9 NLT). In Psalm 38, the word that David uses that is translated "confess" in the New Living Translation is actually the Hebrew word for "tell or declare." He says that he avows, acknowledges or confesses the sins for which he has been convicted. He gets them out in the open with God. The truth is, God already knows what David has done, and is only waiting for David to acknowledge his guilt before God. He must agree with God that what he has done is wrong and simply admit it openly. Spurgeon says that this process of confession is therapeutic and healing."Open confession is good for the soul. When sorrow leads to hearty and penitent acknowledgment of sin it is blessed sorrow, a thing to thank God for most devoutly. I will be sorry for my sin. My confession will be salted with briny tears. It is well not so much to bewail our sorrows as to denounce the sins which lie at the root of them. To be sorry for sin is no atonement for it, but it is the right spirit in which to repair to Jesus, who is the reconciliation and the Saviour. A man is near to the end of his trouble when he comes to an end with his sins."

But an important part of confession is sorrow. David says, "I am deeply sorry for what I have done." Confession without sorrow is simply regret or remorse. You may regret your sins because it has produced pain and discipline, but that is not true confession. Confession as a means to escape coming punishment is not enough. There must be sorrow for the sin we have committed and not just sorrow for the discipline we are enduring. A child my say he's sorrow for something he has done, but it may be motivated by a desire to escape further punishment. It may have nothing to do with a sorrow over having offended his parents. The same can be true with us. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul talks about a letter he had had to send addressing a sin they were struggling with. He says, "I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT). The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. David was deeply sorry for his sins. He confesses it to God and asks Him to forgive and restore him. He knows that only God can bring the physical, emotional and spiritual healing he needs. He cries out to God, "Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord may savior" (Psalm 38:21-22 NLT).

Father, they say confession is good for the soul. And nothing could be more true than when it comes to sin in the life of the believer. When we sin, the Spirit convicts our soul and creates in us a holy discontentment and discomfort. Like David, we grow increasingly unhappy with our condition, feeling guilt and shame for what we have done. But You are simply using that conviction to lead us to confession, in order that You might forgive and restore us. Give us an increasing hatred for sin and a willingness to acknowledge its presence in our lives as soon as it shows up. Help us respond quickly to the Spirit's prompting and confess our sin with godly sorrow because we have offended You, our heavenly Father and holy God. Amen

No Comparison. (Based on Psalm 37)

Psalm 37 – Day 2

Don't waste your energy getting angry about the wicked,

And getting jealous when you see evil people seemingly prosper.

They'll all be gone soon enough,

Their "beauty" is temporary, their day in the sun won't last.

But instead, put your trust in God and concentrate on doing what is right.

That's the key to a good and truly prosperous life.

Keep your eyes focused on God and enjoy His presence,

Make Him your highest priority and He will satisfy you completely.

Give every decision of your life to Him,

Trust it all to Him and He will make things happen.

Your life will reflect His righteous activity,

And His justice will be readily apparent.

Just learn to rest in His presence,

Patiently, expectantly waiting for Him do act.

Quit comparing your life to the godless who seem to be winning,

Stop getting angry because it appears their sin seems to lead to success.

Calm down! Let go of your anger!

Losing your temper never accomplishes anything good.

Those who oppose God get nothing in the end,

But those who trust Him will inherit it all!

Those who oppose God will be gone soon enough,

You'll look around expecting to see them, but they'll be gone.

Instead, you'll find the "losers" of the world enjoying success,

Living peacefully and prosperously.

Right now the godless plot against the godly,

They defiantly oppose everything they stand for.

But none of it concerns God,

He simply laughs, knowing their day of judgment is coming.

The godless attempt to do battle with God,

They attack the poor and needy,

They try to destroy those who live according to God's standards.

But in the end, it's their own destruction they're bringing about,

Their plans will end up backfiring on them.

Here's a peace of advice: It's better to follow God and live with less,

Than to be wealthy and try to live without God.

The very things the godless put their hope in will fail them,

But God takes care of those who love and trust Him.

There's not a single day of your life God doesn't know about,

He knows your present and your future.

He will not let you down in the hard times,

And nothing is going to happen that He isn't prepared for.

But as for the godless, they will suffer and die,

Their future holds nothing but destruction,

And they are destined to disappear like smoke.

These people are greedy and dishonest.

But the godly are generous to a fault.

God will bless the one and curse the other.

He guides those who follow Him,

Taking joy in directing every detail of their lives.

Yes, they occasionally stumble, but God keeps it from being life-threatening.

Because He holds them in His hands.

I have lived a long time,

But in all those years I have never seen God abandon His own.

I have never seen their children destitute because God failed them

It's the godly who end up generously sharing what they have with others,

And their children end up following in their footsteps.

So if you want to enjoy the blessings of God,

Turn your back on doing wrong and do good instead.

God loves justice and He will never take His eyes off His own.

He has a secure future in store for the His children,

But the children of the godless have only death to look forward to.

The children of God are here for the long haul.

The godly are able to provide wise counsel,

Teaching the difference between right and wrong.

They based their decisions on the Word of God,

And as a result, their lives have a firm foundation.

The godless spend all their time trying to destroy the godly,

Devising ways to eliminate them from the face of the earth.

But God will never let their plans succeed

Or allow His children to face undeserved condemnation.

Put your hope and trust in God.

Live your life according to His standards,

And you will inherit all He has in store for you.

You will live to see the day when the godless are no more.

In all my years of living, I have seen the wicked flourish like a tree,

But I have also seen them disappear unexpectedly.

I looked around expecting to find them and they were gone!

So instead of worrying about the wicked,

Turn your attention to the godly, to those who do what is right.

Those who love what God loves have a great future ahead of them.

But the godless will end up being destroyed,

Their future is not so pleasant.

God saves the godly, He provides them with protection in times of trouble.

He comes alongside them, saving them from the godless,

Providing shelter and security from all those who would do them harm.

Don't Worry About the Wicked.

Psalm 37 – Day 1

"Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed."– Psalm 37:34 NLT

It's hard not to worry about the wicked. They're all around us. Many of them are in positions of power and influence in our country. Others are considered celebrities and stars. They write books, have their own TV shows, create music, art and define what is in when it comes to everything from clothing to hair styles. The wicked come in all shapes and sizes, and their wickedness is not always readily apparent or easily recognized. They seem to be living lives marked by success, happiness, affluence and popularity. So it's sometimes easy to envy them or to desire to be like them. But David tells us not to worry about the wicked or envy them, because their days are numbered. Yet we often find ourselves getting angry over the apparent lack of justice when it comes to some of these people. They prosper in spite of their lifestyles that are marked more by sin than anything else. David reminds us that "it is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich" (Psalm 37:16 NLT). To drive the point home, David provides us with a running contrast between the wicked and the godly. He paints a clear and powerful picture of the stark difference between these two lifestyles.

The wicked will soon fade. But the godly will find shelter in Him. The wicked will soon wither. But the godly will never slip from His path. The wicked will be destroyed. But the godly will be rescued by God. The wicked will disappear. But the godly will trust in the Lord and do good. The wicked will be gone. But the godly will never fall. The wicked plot against the godly. But God will take care of the godly because they are innocent. The wicked snarl at them in defiance.      But God will expose the justice of the cause of the godly. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows. But God is the fortress of the godly. The wicked kill the poor and oppressed. But the godly live in peace and prosperity. The wicked slaughter those who do right. But the Lord directs the steps of the godly. The strength of the wicked will be shattered. But the godly will be taken care of by God. The wicked will die. But the godly will possess the land. The wicked will disappear like smoke. But the godly will never be abandoned. The wicked borrow and never repay. But the godly give generous loans to others. The children of the wicked will die. But the children of the godly are a blessing. The wicked wait in ambush for the godly. But God will honor the godly by giving them the land. The wicked look for an excuse to kill the godly. But God teaches the godly right from wrong. The wicked will not succeed. But the godly will live safely in the land and prosper. The wicked will be destroyed. But a wonderful future awaits the godly. The will appear to flourish, then are gone. But the godly will not be disgraced in hard times. The wicked have no future. But a wonderful future awaits the godly.

As believers we are to put our hope in God. We are to confidently and faithfully trust the path He has chosen for us to follow and not worry about what might appear to be the unfair advantages of the ungodly. God is a just God and He will deal with them in His own way and in His own time. I can leave them in God's hands and concentrate on honoring Him with my life and trusting Him with my future. He will not let the wicked succeed or the godly be condemned. He has it all under control. So don't worry.

Father, thanks for this timely reminder from the pen of David. The wicked have always been around and they have always given Your people cause for consternation and concern. They appear so happy and so together. They seem to be getting away with their lifestyle of open rebellion to You, but You are not done yet. You are a just and righteous God who will make sure that all things are taken care of rightly and justly. They will not escape Your notice or Your judgment. I can leave them in Your hands and rest in the knowledge that You have me securely in Your loving grasp as well. Amen

No Comparison. (Based on Psalm 36)

Psalm 36 – Day 2

The wicked are rotten to the core,

Even their hearts give them evil advice.

There is not an ounce of the fear of God in them.

They are so puffed up by arrogant pride,

That they can't even see the extent of their wickedness.

Even what comes out their mouths is worthless and untrustworthy.

They are too lazy to do what is wise and good.

Even at night they lie awake dreaming up more wickedness.

His whole life stands for the wrong things, refusing to turn from evil.

But God, You are nothing like that.

Your mercy and faithfulness are as limitless as the heavens.

Your righteousness is as immovable as a mountain.

Your judgments are as unfathomable as the ocean.

Your mercy is of great value,

Every person who has ever been born can find refuge under your wings.

They will find themselves completely satisfied,

Because Your house is well-stocked.

You will quench their thirst with water from the Your river of luxury,

For the very spring of life begins with You.

You are the Light that makes it possible for men to see light.

Draw out Your mercy like water from a river

And share it with those who know You.

Share your righteousness with those whose hearts are right with You.

Don't let the prideful get to me or the wicked shake my confidence,

Because the day is coming when the wicked will fall, never to rise again.

A Stark Contrast.

Psalm 36 – Day 1

"For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see." – Psalm 36:9 NLT

In this Psalm, David compares the wicked with God. Both are realities in his life. As the king of the nation of Israel he is surrounded by enemies – both within and without. He gets to see and experience firsthand the attitudes and actions of the wicked as the interact with him on a daily basis. Of course, David seems to using the literary device of hyperbole to make his point about the wicked– but only slightly. He speaks of their hearts being filled with wickedness. In fact, they're so blinded by pride, they can't even see how wicked they really are. They have no fear of God and everything they say and do is perverted by their own sin, so that they are incapable of doing anything good or wise– in fact, not a single one of their actions is good at any time. They can't even sleep at night because they're so busy dreaming up more evil things to do the next day. From David's perspective it is as if they couldn't stop doing evil even if they wanted to. And while much of this is exaggerated, there is a certain degree in which it is true. Those who do not know Christ and have a relationship with God through Him are controlled by sin. They are slaves to sin (Romans 6:19). They are incapable of doing what is right or righteous in God's eyes. This does not mean that they can't do any good, but that the good they do will not earn them favor or merit in God's eyes. Isaiah put it this way, "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind" (Isaiah 64:6 NLT). So in a way, David was right. The wicked – those who do not believe in God – are incapable of doing anything good. They are controlled by and enslaved to sin.

But then David addresses the other reality in his life: God. While the wicked seemed to surround David and impact his life on a daily basis – so did God. David describes God's unfailing love or mercy, His unbelievable steadfastness or faithfulness, His justice and righteous judgments, and His ever-present salvation, care, provision and protection. David says that God is THE "fountain of life, the light by which we see" (Psalm36:9 NLT). God is not only the source of first life, but makes possible every breath we take, every second we live on this earth. And that is true not only of us as His children, but of every single person who lives – including the wicked. God provides us with light so that we can see. In the Hebrew verse nine literally says, "In thy light we see light." It is as if David is saying that it is only in the illuminating presence of God's glory that we gain the capacity to see things as they really are. The wicked can't see their own wickedness. But when we stand in the light of God's glory, we see just how sinful we really are.

All this reminds me of the opening verses of John 1. "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created,and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it" (John 1:1-5 NLT). But John goes on to say, "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him" (John 1:10 NLT). The Light of the world came into the world to dispel the darkness, but those who lived in the world rejected Him. They didn't want their darkness exposed. They didn't want the Light to illuminate and eliminate their darkness. "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God" (John 1:12-13 NLT).

With David we can say, "Pour out your unfailing love on those who love (know) you; give justice those with honest (righteous) hearts" (Psalm 36:10 NLT). We have had our darkness exposed, our sins forgiven and our hearts transformed by the Light of the world. We were once just like those David describes in the opening verses of this Psalm. But because of the grace, mercy and goodness of God, we have been given a second chance. We have drunk from the river of delights, sheltered in the shadow of His wings, and fed from the abundance of His house.

Father, we are surrounded by those who love darkness more than light and wickedness more than righteousness. But we used to be the same way. And we would still be that way if it were not for the gracious gift of Your Son. May we learn to love the Light and increasingly appreciate how it exposes our own sin. You are always transforming us into the likeness of Christ and that takes the exposure of our sin nature. It isn't always fun to see, but it's a necessary part of the transformative process. Thank You for Your patient, loving care for us. Amen

In This Together. (Based on Psalm 35)

Psalm 35 – Day 2

Lord, I have a lot of enemies,

But only because I serve You.

So I ask You to stand against them,

And fight those who oppose me because they oppose You, too.

I need You to stand beside me in battle,

And use every weapon at Your disposal.

I long to hear you say, "I will save you!"

Disappoint and humiliate those who are trying to do me in,

May the plans of those who want to harm me fail.

Scatter them to the four winds,

Blow them away through Your power.

Send one of Your angels to pursue them,

And may the path they take be dark and slippery.

I don't deserve what they are doing to me.

I did them no wrong, but they are trying to trap me.

So give them a taste of their own medicine!

Let what they desire for me happen to them.

Let them experience exactly what they have planned for me.

I know that I am going to be able to rejoice in spite of all this,

Because I am sure of Your salvation. You will rescue me.

And when You do, I will praise You, saying, "Who is like You, O Lord,?

Is there anybody else who can deliver the weak from the strong?

Does anybody else have the ability to protect the helpless and poor?"

So here I am, surrounded by those who testify falsely against me.

I am being accused of things I have not done.

I have done good and am being repaid with evil.

All of it leaves me literally sick.

The irony is, when my enemies were sick, I showed compassion.

I grieved for them, fasted for them, and prayed for them.

I treated them like family, even feeling sadness over their condition.

But now that I am the one in trouble, they are happy!

They even join in against me. In fact,

I have enemies whose names I don't even know!

They attack me relentlessly.

They're out to destroy my reputation.

Lord, to be honest, sometimes it feels like you see all this,

But You do nothing about it.

I really need you to rescue me and protect me.

When You do, I will tell everyone of my gratefulness,

I will sing Your praises to everyone I meet.

All I ask is that You keep my enemies from having a party at my expense.

Don't give those who have no reason to hate me, a chance to smile at my misfortune.

These people are not godly, Instead of peace, they pursue deception and discord,

They long to destroy me, saying, "We've got you this time!"

Lord, I am not telling You anything you don't already know.

I am just asking You to act,

To do something about my situation.

I am asking You to stand up and defend me,

To act as my defender, because You are my God.

I am looking to You for justice,

So that You might declare me innocent.

When my enemies laugh at my failure, they are laughing at You,

Because I belong to You and You are my God.

So don't allow our enemies to say, "We've succeeded, we've brought him down!"

I look forward to the day when You act,

When those who find pleasure in my sorrow are disappointed.

They stand over me in victory now,

But one day the roles will be reversed.

Those who love You and serve You like I do

Will all be able to say, "God is great!

He finds great pleasure in protecting and providing for His children."

I know that one day I am going to be able to rejoice in Your justice,

And praise You constantly for what You have done.

Turning To God.

Psalm 35 – Day 1

“O LORD, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord. Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord." – Psalm 35:22-23 NLT

This is a difficult Psalm. It is one of four imprecatory Psalms in which the writer asks God to pour out judgment on his enemies. The words are harsh and come across as vindictive. They don't seem to fit in with the New Testament concept of loving our enemies and turning the other cheek. David is calling down curses from God on those who oppose him. He asks God to destroy them. So what are we supposed to do with this information? Are we to use this Psalm as a pattern for our own prayer lives? Does the content of this Psalm provide us with a pattern for how to respond to those who oppose us or try to do us harm? I think the answer is no.

The real lesson of this Psalm is that life is difficult. Even David, the king of Israel and the man who was known as a man after God's own heart, found himself facing difficult situations. He was falsely accused, unjustly attacked, and under constant threat of betrayal from both within and without. We must always remember that David was writing as the king of Israel. He was the anointed, God-appointed leader of the nation and was responsible for opposing all those who stood against God and His people. David's job as king was to defeat the enemies of Israel and defend the people of God. As the king, he represented God and was the target for attack by all those who refused to acknowledge Yahweh as the one true God. David is obviously frustrated and fearful. He is tired of the constant attacks on his leadership and his person. He is weary of all the false accusations and clandestine attempts to dethrone and defeat him. He is frustrated by the ill treatment he receives from those whom he has shown mercy and grace. In his frustration, David calls out to God to turn the tables and give these individuals a taste of their own medicine.

The real key to understanding this Psalm is NOT based on what David asks to be done, but on who he asks to do it. David is the king. He could have taken matters into his own hands and given these people just what he prescribes in this Psalm. He was a warrior and had a strong army at his disposal. He was the ultimate judge in the land and could have enacted judgment and meted out justice as he saw fit. David could have taken matters into his own hands and solved all these problems in his own way. But instead he called out to God. He appealed to the ultimate judge of all men and asked Him to act as his advocate and protector. These Psalms are brutally honest and paint a very clear picture of the pain and frustration that David felt. They are an accurate glimpse into the life of this man who tried to love and serve God all his life. He shares his heart with God, honestly opening up about his feelings. He holds nothing back. But in the end, David places all of this in the hands of God. He knows the solution to his problems are going to come from one source only: God. He knows victory comes from God. He knows rescue comes from God. He knows justice comes from God. And he knows that God knows everything that is going on in his life. So he asks God to come to his defense, to take up his case and declare him innocent. David is willing to wait on God. Yes, he struggles with what appears to be God's apparent delay in answering, but he waits nonetheless. He gives God his cares and concerns and trusts Him to do what is right. Why? Because he knew that "Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace? (Psalm 35:27 NLT).

Father, life can be hard. People can be difficult. Sometimes I am tempted to take matters into my own hands in an attempt to solve my problems. But help me to turn to You instead. You are my advocate, protector, and rescuer. You know what is best and You always do what is right. Amen

Experience the Goodness of God. (Based on Psalm 34)

Psalm 34 – Day 2

I am going to praise God constantly,

Because I have plenty of reasons to do so.

My entire life will be a display of God's glory. E

veryone who finds themselves in trouble will be encouraged.

Let's tell of God’s greatness together;

And brag about His reputation, fame and renown.

I looked to God for help and He heard me.

He released me from all the fears that controlled and captivated me.

The faces of those who turn to God will be filled with joy, not shame.

I was in a sorry state when I called to God,

nd He heard me and rescued me.

God sends His angels to guard those who fear Him,

Surrounding and protecting them.

The goodness of God is something you have to experience.

When you take refuge in God, you discover true joy.

Those who have been chosen by God should fear Him,

Recognizing that He provides all that they need.

Even a ferocious lion gets hungry at times and in need of food.

But everyone who puts their trust in God never does without.

So listen to what I have to say children,

I will teach you what it really means to fear God.

If you want to live a long and successful life,

Learn to control your tongue and watch what you say.

Resist doing what is wrong and instead do what is right.

Do everything to live a life of peace.

God has his eyes on those who love this way.

He listens to their cries for help.

But as for those who live in opposition to God, He turns away from them,

And everyone forgets they ever existed.

But His people have His full and undivided attention.

He delivers them from every predicament and problem.

When you find yourself heartsick and hopeless, God will be there.

He encourages the discouraged.

The reality is that even the godly will face tough times.

But God will be there to rescue them each and every time.

Because He protects the righteous,

Even keeping their bones from breaking if necessary.

But as for the wicked, they can expect everything to go wrong,

Those who are God-haters will be punished.

But those who love and serve God will be set free.

Instead of condemnation, they will find refuge.

Discovering God's Goodness – The Hard Way.

Psalm 34 - Day 1

“By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him." – Psalm 34:8 BBE

The goodness of God. We read about it, hear sermons about it, and are encouraged to believe in it. But the truth is, sometimes we doubt it. We may find it easy to sing, "God is so good," but when we find ourselves in times of trouble, we begin to question the validity of that statement. We wonder whether God will come through for us. We waffle and waver in our belief that God has our best interest at heart, and then we begin trying to decide how to take care of our problem on our own. David had moments like this, and Psalm 34 was written after just such an experience. He found himself at odds with King Saul. Things were so bad that the king had tried to kill David with his own hands. Then when the king's own son, Jonathan, questioned his actions, he tried to kill him as well. David was forced to run from Saul and go into hiding. This was a difficult time for him, because he had to leave everything he knew and love behind. It must have been a confusing time for him as well. He had been anointed to be the next king by Samuel the prophet. God had given him a great victory over Goliath, the Philistine warrior. David had served King Saul in his court and gained a reputation as a mighty warrior. He had married the king's daughter and become best friends with the king's son. Now he was running for his life. None of this must have made sense to David. He must have questioned the goodness of God. He is so confused that he runs away to the city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath, the Philistine he had killed with his sling and a stone. I don't know what David was thinking when he attempted to seek refuge in the city of his enemies, but he found himself in a real predicament. Even they knew of David's reputation and saw him as the next king of Israel. They said, "Isn't this David, the king of the land?" David knew he was in trouble, so to save himself, he came up with the idea to pretend he was insane. He began scratching at the doors like a madman with drool dripping out of his mouth. Convinced of David's insanity, the king of Gath allowed David to leave unharmed. David ends up hiding in a cave in the wilderness where he was joined by his family and other disenchanted individuals who were chaffing under the reign of King Saul. It was sometime during this period of David's life that he penned Psalm 34.

David had doubted the goodness of God. He had allowed his circumstances to influence his belief in God's inherent goodness and unfailing love. Even though he had been chosen by God and anointed as Saul's successor, David had a hard time comprehending any good coming out of all that was happening to him. He could not see the hand of God behind the difficulties he was experiencing. So he panicked and came up with his own plan. But David was going to learn from experience that God is good – all the time. Because it is only through our experiences that we truly discover the goodness of God. David could say, "The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time" (Psalm 34:19 NLT), because he had experienced the truth of this statement in his own life. David was going to have plenty of times in his life where things would not make sense. There would more than a few occasions when he would find himself under attack, overwhelmed, out of his league, and down on his luck. But he would learn to trust God. He would learn to rely on the goodness of God. God would hear him when he called. God would rescue him out of trouble. God would meet all his needs. God would be close to him regardless of what was happening to him. Through the experiences of life, David would learn the reality and reliability of God's goodness.

Father, You are good. You have never shown Yourself to be otherwise in my life. There have been plenty of times when I have doubted it, and like David, I have come up with my own solution to my problems. But my plans always prove to be a bad substitute for Your goodness. Continue to teach me to trust You regardless of what I see happening around me or to me. Troubles are going to come, but so is help, because You are good. Amen

Worthy Of My Praise. (Based on Psalm 33)

Psalm 33 – Day 2

Everyone who claims to be a follower of God should sing His praises,

Because that's the natural response of those who have been made righteous by Him.

It makes all the sense in the world to praise Him for what He has done.

We should praise Him with all kinds of music,

Making up new songs to celebrate His name and express our joy.

Why? Because every word that comes out of His mouth can be trusted,

And you can count on every single thing He does.

He not only loves justice, He loves making sure justice is done,

And it is always an expression of His unfailing, all-encompassing love.

This is the same God who spoke the universe into existence.

He breathed and the stars suddenly appeared.

He created the land and the oceans.

So even the whole physical world should stand in awe of God,

And every single person who lives on this planet should fear Him.

For no other reason than that He is the creator God,

Who formed all that exists with the mere power of His voice.

This same God is greater than any nation.

It is completely up to Him whether their petty plans ever come about.

But His plans are eternal and unstoppable.

His intentions are inevitable and irreversible.

So any nation that worships God has reason to be happy.

Any people who have been chosen by God are truly blessed.

God has a prime vantage point from which to watch all men.

He carefully observes them, considering their actions,

And because He knows their hearts, He knows and understands what they do.

It all boils down to trust.

But even a king can't put all his trust in his army.

A great soldier can't always trust in his own strength.

Even a battle-proven weapon might not come through every time.

But those of us who love and fear God can trust Him.

He watches over every one of us who rely on His unfailing love.

He keeps us from dying prematurely,

Sustaining our lives even in the worst of times.

So we trust our lives to God, waiting for Him.

Because He is the one who helps and protects us.

In the end we will experience true happiness,

Because we have decided to trust in His reputation.

So God, show us Your unfailing love and mercy,

Because we expectantly wait for You to come through.

Praise Him Because You Can Trust Him.

Psalm 33 – Day 1

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does." – Psalm 33:4 NLT

Do you trust God? I mean really trust Him? If we're honest, we have to admit that there are a lot of things in our lives that we either refuse to trust God with or we fear trusting to His care. But David reminds us that we can trust God with anything and everything. After all, He made everything that exists in the universe, from the solar system to the earth itself. He created the land and the oceans, and everything that lives, including you and me. He is greater than the most powerful nation on the planet. He can easily frustrate their best-laid plans and bring to nothing all their schemes for glory and power. And this great, powerful, awesome God not only loves righteousness and justice, He loves seeing that it happen, and He is powerful enough to bring it about. But the key to comprehending and appreciating the power and justice of God is to have a right relationship with Him. David knew that the Hebrew people had been chosen by God. Not because of anything they had done or because they somehow deserved His selection of them. No, God had chosen them and made them His own. He had blessed them with His presence and prospered them with His power, often in spite of their own stubbornness and stupidity. So when David considers the greatness and the graciousness of God, he can't help but say "sing for joy to the Lord!" He tells us to praise Him and rejoice in the fact that we have been chosen by Him. We are to fear Him, honor Him, respect Him, and rely on His unfailing love. We are to put our hope in Him, understanding that He alone is who we can trust. Only God can save. Only God can rescue. Only God can deliver. So we put our trust in Him. Hope is anticipatory. Hope is expectant. Because hope is based on truth – the reality that God is faithful, powerful, merciful, and fully capable to accomplish His will on our behalf. It flows from His unfailing, unceasing, unquenchable love for us. He loves us. We belong to Him. He will not abandon us or forget about us. We can trust Him to do what is just and right on our behalf, even when we might not understand or like what is going on at the moment. We can praise Him preemptively because we KNOW He is going to come through for us eventually.

Father, I praise You now for what You are going to do, not just for what You've already done. Your grace and mercy to me is guaranteed by Your own character. Your love for me never fails. Your power on my behalf is never limited. So I can praise You now for what You have yet to do. Because You will always do what is right and just. Amen

Forgiven! (Based on Psalm 32)

Psalm 32 – Day 2

What an amazing fact to know that every sin I commit is forgiven by God!

That every sin I commit against Him is put out of sight and out of mind.

I can rejoice because God has removed all need for guilt and shame,

When I simply choose to live my life in openness and honesty before Him!

But on those occasions when I refuse to admit my own sin,

I am the one who ends up suffering.

Because I belong to Him, I feel Him convicting me throughout the day,

And I get no peace until I acknowledge what He already knows – I have sinned.

But then I come to my senses and choose to confess the truth,

And stop acting as my sin is too insignificant or non-existent.

I finally reach the point where I decide, “It's time to come clean with God!”

And then, amazingly, my sin is forgiven, just like that!

So why wouldn't those who claim to serve God, cry out to God?

Why would they choose to suffer judgment when forgiveness is offered?

God wants to be our protector and provider.

He wants to bless us, not curse us. He desires to bring us joy, not sorrow.

He says, “I can open your eyes and show you the right way to live,

I'll provide you with all the advice you need.

But you can't be head strong and hold on to your sins, requiring that I have to do things the hard way, like a stubborn horse needs a bridle.”

Those who choose not to follow me can expect trouble in life,

But for those who choose to trust me, they can expect mercy from me.

So do what God say, and rejoice.

Be happy because God forgives sin and gives us pure hearts.

The Joy Of Forgiven Sin.

Psalm 32 – Day 1

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!" – Psalm 32:1 NLT

One of the inevitabilities of life as a follower of Christ is our own sinfulness. We have inherited a sin nature and it shows up uninvited and without warning on a regular basis in all of our lives. Sometimes our sins are small and appear relatively harmless. Other times, even we are appalled at the extent of our own capability to commit sins that are offensive to most men, let alone God. Our sin natures are always doing battle within us, fighting with the indwelling influence of the Holy Spirit. Paul put it this way, "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions" (Galatians 5:17 NLT). The battle within us is real and the presence of our sin nature is easy to recognize. We see it in the sins we commit on a daily basis, both sins of commission and omission. We don't do the things we should do and we do those things God has forbidden us to do. But here is the good news: God is fully aware of our sin nature. He knows that we are sinners, which is why He sent us a Savior in the form of His own Son. God has set us free from slavery to sin. We no longer HAVE to sin, because we also have a new nature within us. He has given us His Spirit, to indwell us, fill us, and empower us to live a life that is no longer sin-saturated, but Christ-centered. We now have the capacity to NOT sin. We can say no to sin. "We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin" (Romans 6:6-7 NLT).

But the truth is, we still sin, because we still have three things contending against us: Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh or our sin nature. John reminds us, "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth" (1 John 1:8 NLT). So sin is still inevitable, but avoidable. Yet when we do sin, there is hope. We have forgiveness available to us. We need only confess or admit our sin to God and He offers complete forgiveness. Confession is not telling God something He does not already know about us. He knows everything. He sees all our sin. Confession is agreeing with God on the presence of that sin in our lives and acknowledging our need for His forgiveness. David said, "I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt" (Psalms 32:5 NLT). That word for confessed is yada in the Hebrew and it carries the idea of both knowing something and making it known. As we become aware of sin in our lives, God asks us to acknowledge or make it known to Him. That is confession. Attempting to hide it or deny it is ridiculous because God already knows all about it. When we refuse to confess it, all we miss out on is the forgiveness. As part of His sanctifying process in our lives, God is always revealing the sin in our lives. It is like He is taking a flash light and shining it into the recesses of our lives in order to point out the hidden remains of our sin nature that still reside there. When He reveals our sins to us, all He asks is that we agree that we see them, acknowledge or confess their presence to Him, and ask for His forgiveness. And the good news is, that is exactly what we receive. David says, "what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,whose lives are lived in complete honesty!" (Psalms 32:2 NLT).

David loved the forgiveness of God because he knew how much he needed it. He was a sinner just like you and me. He did not always do what God wanted him to do and he sometimes did those things God did not want him to do. But David knew the reality and blessing of confession and forgiveness. And he warns us that we need live a life of confession as well. In fact, he gives us these words from the Lord Himself as a way of encouragement, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control" (Psalms 32:8-9 NLT). God is guiding and directing us how to live. Part of that process is exposing the sin in our lives so that we might be made aware of it and then confess it to Him. It is for our own good. To refuse to see it, acknowledge it, and confess it would make us like a senseless horse or mule that needs the pain of a bridle and bit to make it do what it is supposed to do. Confession is meant to be comforting. It leads to forgiveness. It frees us from guilt. It restores our relationship with the Father. And it brings us joy. So why wouldn't we confess our sins readily and regularly?

Father, I confess to You that I do not confess often enough. I sometimes try to ignore my sins as if they are not that great. But I know that I need to see them and confess them to You. They are a constant reminder to me of my need for You. I cannot cleanse myself. I cannot sanctify myself. I cannot get rid of my sin by myself. Only You can remove the sin that remains within me. Only You can conquer the sin nature that still does battle with me daily. So I want to learn to confess more regularly and readily, so that I might enjoy the blessing of Your forgiveness.. Amen

I Trust In You. (Based on Psalm 31)

Psalm 31 – Day 2

I am putting my trust in You, O Lord,

So don't ever let me be disappointed.

Deliver me, because You are righteous.

Please listen to me and rescue me.

Be my rock, my strength, my security. Keep me safe.

You are all those things and more to me,

And because of Your reputation, you will lead and guide me.

You will set me free from the traps that others set for me,

For You are my protector. I have trusted You with my life,

Because You are my faithful Redeemer.

I can't stand those who buy into worthless lies,

But I trust in You. I will find joy in your unfailing love and mercy,

Because You saw what I was going through and felt my pain.

You don't give me over to the enemy,

But put me in a place of safety and security.

I am at another one of those times when I need Your mercy,

My eyes are tired and my strength is gone.

It seems like I spend all my time lately in pain and sadness.

Part of it is due to my own sinfulness. It always produces pain.

But then my enemies have played their part as well.

They have just about destroyed my reputation,

Causing even my friends to avoid me like the plague.

I am out of sight and out of mind,

As good as dead, as useless to them as a broken pot.

I hear all the whispers behind my back,

I know what they're plotting against me,

And how they desire to have me out of the way.

But in spite of all this, I trust in You, because You are my God!

You are in complete control of my life,

So rescue me from all those who wish me harm.

Look on me kindly, rescue me because of Your faithfulness.

Don't let me be disappointed, Lord, because I trust in You.

Instead, let those who refuse to trust in You be disappointed.

Silence the liars, the prideful and those who slander with their words.

Your mercy and favor is unlimited, Lord,

And You have plenty to spare for those who love and fear You.

They find safety in Your presence,

Far from those who would attack them physically or verbally.

I offer You praise for all the times You have proven Your faithfulness,

Like that time when the city was under siege from my enemies.

I panicked and concluded that You had left me somehow.

But You heard my cry anyway.

So I want to encourage everyone who loves the Lord to follow Him.

He rewards those who remain loyal to Him,

And He pays back those who arrogantly ignore Him.

So put Your hope in the Lord and stay strong and courageous.

Be Strong!

Psalm 31 – Day 1

“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!" – Psalm 31:24 NLT

Why do we fear? Why do we doubt? When we serve a God who is as great as ours is and loves us like He does, what in the world would cause us to ever distrust of doubt Him? Probably our own human weakness and sin. In our limited understanding, we know of no one or nothing that is as strong as God is. We have no experience with anyone who is as reliable and trustworthy as God is. We tend to judge God based on human standards and our own limitations. If we truly believed God was all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, would we fear as much? Would we doubt as much? Would we worry as much as we do? It seems that a big part of the journey for us as Christ-followers is to learn to trust God more and to fear life less. In this Psalm, David seems to ebb back and forth between a strong confidence in God and a wavering doubt. He says, "Save me, for you do what is right" (Psalm 31:1 NLT). He calls God his rock and his fortress, and his faithful God. He talks of God's unfailing love and mercy. But then David seems to change tones. He says, "Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within" (Psalm 31:9-10 NLT). David faces the daily reality of life living in a fallen world. He has to confront wickedness and the influence of sinful people who make it hard to live the life of faith. There is a constant battle between trusting God and living in the midst of difficult circumstances that are constantly attempting to shake our faith in Him. Knowing and serving God does not guarantee us an easy road or a life free from difficulty. It promises us a God who loves us enough to care about what is happening to us and is powerful enough to do something about it. David seemed to know that from experience. In spite of his difficulties, he turned to God. He knew where the source of his help and hope was to be found. In God alone. David states confidently, "But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, 'You are my God!' My future is in your hands" (Psalm 31:14-15a NLT). All David had to do was remember the countless times God had rescued him before, whether it was when the city was under attack and God rescued them from defeat, or God heard David's cry of personal need and answered. God had proven Himself faithful in the past, and David knew God would prove Himself faithful in the future. He could be trusted. Which is why David could say with confidence, "So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!"

Father, thank You that You can be trusted. And because You can be trusted, I can be brave and strong. May my courage increase daily as I learn to rely on and trust in You. May I increasingly learn to put my hope in You. Amen

I Will Exalt Him. (Based on Psalm 30)

Psalm 30 – Day 2

I will lift You up, O Lord, because You have always held me up,

And have never given anyone reason to rejoice in my failure.

I cried out to You, and You heard me.

Even in those times when I felt like I was about to die,

You lifted me up and kept me alive, and kept me going.

You gave me hope.

Rejoice in the Lord, all those who follow after Him,

Give Him thanks every time you think about His holiness.

For His anger doesn't last, but His favor does.

You may experience sorrow for a short time,

But with God, it is always followed by joy.

Then there are those times when I got cocky and said,

"Look at all I have done! I am pretty significant!"

But then I always remember that it is You alone who makes me who I am.

I only stand strong because of You.

When I stop relying on You, I stumble and fall. I find myself in deep trouble without You.

So I cry out to You for help and beg for Your favor.

What would it profit if I died? What good would I be to You dead?

So hear me Lord, and listen to my cry for help.

Do what you have done so many times before.

Turn my sadness into joy, turn my despondency into delight.

With that in mind, I will not keep silent, but praise You.

I will spend my whole life giving You thanks for all You have done.

Deeply Dependent.

Psalm 30 – Day 1

“When I was prosperous, I said, 'Nothing can stop me know!' Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me and I was shattered." – Psalm 30:6-7 NLT

David wrote this Psalm as a song to be sung at the dedication of the Temple – an event he would never live long enough to personally witness. But the words of this Psalm reflect the heart of David toward his God. He loved God and had a desire to worship Him and honor him with his life. He recognized Gods hand in his life over the years and had a unique vantage point to be able to look back and put his life in perspective. He could see the countless times that God had rescued him from his enemies. He could recall the many times he had called out to God in sickness or weakness, and God had answered with healing and strength. He remembered the many times in his life when his actions had angered God, but he also remembered that God was always quick to extend mercy whenever David returned to Him and repented. David could vividly recall the sleepless nights when he found himself in tears because of hopelessness and helplessness. But morning always seemed to bring joy and a sense of peace because God was there. Then there were those times when all was going well in David's life and his world was rocking along seamlessly and happily. In those times, David tended to get cocky and begin to take himself a little too seriously. He became dangerously independent from God – a danger we all face as believers. Because all was going well in his life, David began to take credit for his life, which led him to take responsibility for his life. He didn't need God, which is what led him to say, "Nothing can stop me now!" He was invincible! Or so he thought. But in looking back, David realizes that it was only the favor of God that allowed him to prosper and thrive. If God removed that favor, David was in trouble, and he had experienced that on more than one occasion in his life. Whenever we get brash and bold enough to believe that we don't need God, He allows us to understand just what that kind of life will look like. Prosperity without God's presence is joyless, meaningless, and in the end, a waste of time. Success without God's favor is like eating cotton candy, lot's of flavor, but of no long-term value for sustaining life.

At those moments in his life when David realized he had begun to take himself too seriously and God too lightly, he repented and cried out for mercy. He begged God to forgive him and restore Him. "Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD" (Psalm 30:10 NLT). Those are words that our heavenly Father loves to hear from His children. He longs to be there for us, to help us, protect us, give us direction, and love us through providing for us. David knew from experience that God was there to pick us up whenever we're down; to meet needs we have no capacity to meet; to win battles we have no strength to even fight, let alone win; and to forgive us when we repent. He replaces our sadness with joy. All He asks is that we replace our independence with dependence and our self-sufficiency with a total reliance on Him. When we do, we will be able to say along with David, " O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!" (Psalm 30:12b NLT).

Father, forgive me for my arrogant independence. Far too often i want to live my life my way and take credit for the successes. But then I want to turn around and blame You for the failures. May I grow increasingly more aware of just how much I need You for everything in my life. And may I never forget that I can take no credit for anything good that happens in my life. It is all a result of Your good favor. Amen