I Need You! (Based on Psalm 70)

Psalm 70 – Day 2

Hurry up, O God, and rescue me! Hurry up and help me, Lord! Disappoint and embarrass all those who seek my life. Turn back and humiliate all those who desire to hurt me. Let all those who laugh at me be the rejection of their own shame. But let everyone who seeks You rejoice and be glad, And let all those who love and long for Your salvation be able to say, "Our God is great!" As for me, I am poor and in great need, So hurry God, because You're my only help and salvation. Do wait another minute!

The Necessity Of Neediness.

Psalm 70 – Day 1

"But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay." – Psalm 70:5 NLT

Who knew David could be a man of few words, but in this Psalm we see him cut to the chase and make his point to God in record time. He doesn't beat around the bush, but instead comes right out and tells God what he wants. "Please God, rescue me!" (Psalm 70:1 NLT). And he asks God to do it quickly. Evidently, David's need is pressing and he feels the pressure to demand immediate action by God. In a Psalm of so few words, it is interesting to note what David took the time to say. He expressed his need for God's salvation, his desire for justice for his enemies and, lastly, but probably most importantly, his awareness of his own condition. David says,"I am poor and needy." This short phrase speaks volumes about David's awareness of his condition. There is no hint of pride or self-sufficiency. You see no arrogance in this statement. Instead, it reveals a man who is painfully aware of his status and unashamed to admit it to God. He is the king of Israel, the commander of a great army, living in a beautiful palace surrounded by rich treasures. But inwardly, David knows he is needy, destitute, and unable to meet his real needs. He cannot save himself. He needs God. The key for any of us seeing God work in our lives is coming to the realization that we need Him. And before that can happen, we have to come to the same place David did – where we are ready to acknowledge our need. But that is harder than it sounds for most of us. We tend to want to solve our problems and meet our own needs. We want to rescue ourselves and then pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. It is hard to help someone who refuses to see their need for help. But David had reached the point where he was no longer going to let pride stand in his way. He knew that God was his helper and savior. He knew that there was nothing he could do to solve his problem. He needed God. So he called to Him. And David knew from experience that those who call on God are seldom, if ever, disappointed. "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!'" (Psalm 70:4 NLT).

Father, it seems the longer I live the more I recognize my true neediness. I guess it is that I am slowly learning the valuable lesson that I cannot save myself. I am not smart enough or powerful enough to rescue myself from the troubles of life. I need You. Thanks for the daily reminders of my own neediness. Help me to keep turning to You for help. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

It's Never So Bad That God Can't Do Good. (Based on Psalm 69)

Psalm 69 – Day 2

Save me, O God, For the waters of difficulty are flooding my soul. It's like I am sinking into a bottomless mud pit, I find myself in deep waters that flow over my head. I have been calling for help so long my throat hurts and I am exhausted, Even my eyes grow weary looking for your salvation to come. It seems like there are more people who hate me without cause Than there are hairs on my head. These enemies who would destroy me, even though I don't deserve it, They make me pay back a debt I never owed. O God, You know every foolish thing I've ever done, And none of my sins are hidden from You. Don't let all those who hope in and wait on You be disappointed because of me, Don't let those who seek You be ashamed because of me. For it's because of You that I suffer all this contempt, It is for Your sake that I am disgraced. I am like a stranger to those who I used to call friends, And a foreigner to my own family. My unbridled love for Your house has ended up devouring me, And all the scorn they have for You is now directed at me. Even when I cry and fast, all I get is insults. I mourn my circumstances, and they ridicule me. The well-respected gossip about me, While the drunks make up songs about me. But as for me, I pray to You and ask that Your answer come at a favorable time, Show me mercy, answer me by showing me Your salvation. Rescue me out of the mud and don't let me sink any further. Deliver me out of the deep water, from those who hate me without cause. Don't let the waters of adversity overcome me, Don't let me be swallowed up or sink down. Hear me, O God, because of Your love, Turn to me and rescue me out of Your great compassion. Don't turn Your face away from Your servant, I am in trouble; hear me and answer quickly. Draw near to my soul and deliver it, Redeem it, and rescue me from my enemies. You understand full well all that I am going through, The insults, reproach, shame and dishonor. You're very familiar with all my enemies, because they are Yours, too. I am brokenhearted because of the constant scorn, My soul is sick, and I long for someone to show me pity. I long for compassion, but there in none coming. Instead, they feed me a steady diet of venom, They give me vinegar to drink. May what they serve up to me become a trap for them. And may all they hoped to gain from this turn against them. Blind their eyes, let them shake with fear. Pour out Your divine judgment on them; Let them experience Your just anger. May their homes become desolate and their tents empty. For they take joy in harassing the one You have chosen to discipline, And they gossip about the one You have punished. Repay them to the same degree they have paid me, Don't let any of them enjoy Your salvation. Don't let their names be written in the Book of Life, blot them out. But I am poor and in pain, so let Your salvation deliver me. When You do, I will praise You in song and give You thanks, Which will please You more than any sacrifice I could make. Others who are weak and powerless will see this and be glad, And they will be encouraged to seek You as well. For You hear those in need and do not ignore those imprisoned by pain. Let heaven and earth praise You, the oceans and everything in them. For You will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, So that Your people can live there and call it their permanent possession. The descendants of Your servants will inherit it, And all those who love Your name will live there.

Living Lessons.

Psalm 69 – Day 1

"The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged." – Psalm 69:32 NLT

Do you ever wonder why difficulty comes into your life? As a Christian, do you ever question why God would allow you to suffer at all? Pain, persecution and trials of all kinds are difficult for us to handle, even as Christ-followers. As human beings we seem innately wired to run from trouble, or to confront it head on. In either case, our intent it to escape it or remove it from our lives. Yet this reality of pain and suffering is one of the things we human beings all have in common. Yes, it comes in varying degrees of difficulty and some seem to suffer more than others. But no one gets to go through life completely untouched by sorrow, hurt, difficulty, trials, and the feelings of despair they bring.

Even as God's anointed king of Israel, David was not immune to difficulty. In fact, long before his kingdom began, he found himself in dire straights, running for his life and spending his days living in the wilderness instead of a palace. Psalm 69 reflects the words of a man who is in deep trouble. He is up to his neck in difficulty. We don't know the circumstances surrounding his situation, but it is clear that David is having a hard time. He says, "I am in deep water," "I sink into the mire," I am exhausted," "I weep and fast," and "I am in despair." Things are not going well for David, and so he is calling out to His God for help. He asks God to save him, rescue him, to show him favor, to answer his prayer and show him favor. He appeals to God's unfailing love and mercy. David knows that God is his only hope. He fully understands that God alone has the power to rescue him from all that is happening to him. While David doesn't enjoy what is going on, he sees it as an opportunity to watch God work. He knows that this is a chance to witness the power of God displayed in and around his life. His pain and suffering provide a platform on which God can display His power. And when God does rescue, David will have plenty of reasons to praise and thank God. Not only that, all those who love and honor God will also have ample reason to be encouraged and emboldened to trust God too. David knew that his difficulties were simply temporal occasions for God to display His eternal power. Our trials are no trouble for God. He is not worried, dismayed, in panic, or fearful about the outcome. He simply wants to reveal His strength through our weakness. He wants to display His power through our impotence. God loves to save. He longs to rescue. And when His children praise and thank Him when He does, He is glorified and honored. When God rescues us, others are encouraged. When God intervenes on our behalf and we sing His praises to those around us, they are prompted to trust in God the next time they go through trials and difficulties. Our troubles become opportunities to witness of God's saving power. They provide us with real-life examples of God's presence and power. They remind us of God's love and mercy. And when we thank Him for His salvation from trouble, and tell others what He has done for us, He is glorified. And all who seek God's help get encouraged.

Father, You long to intervene in our lives and You long to show Your power. You have chosen to do so through our weaknesses. You have determined to display Your glory through those events in our lives that reveal our own weaknesses. May we see those times as opportunities to see You work. And when You do, may we give You the glory and praise You deserve. So that others will be encouraged to trust You more. Amen

Our Great God. (Based on Psalm 68)

Psalm 68 – Day 2

Show up! O God! Make an appearance and cause Your enemies to run. Make all those who hate You run from Your presence. Cause them to disappear like smoke in the wind, Let them melt away like wax in the presence of a flame. May all those who are hostile to You vanish from before You. But give the righteous plenty of reasons to rejoice in Your presence. Let them be glad that they can even come into Your presence. Let them sing, sing praises for Your great reputation, Praising your great reputation, the transcendent God, in Your very presence. You lovingly father the fatherless. righteously provide justice for widows, You rule and reign in holiness. You put those who are alone in families, You free those who are imprisoned, But You cast those who rebel against You into the wilderness. O God, You've always gone before Your people, Like the time You led them in their own wilderness wanderings. It was a time of earth-shaking and manna-making, Even Mount Sinai shook before Your presence, O God of Israel. You caused refreshing rain to fall in times of dryness, Confirming this land as the inheritance of Your people. And there they've lived, as You have shown Your goodness in the midst of their poverty. You spoke and there was a huge host to spread the word abroad. Kings and their armies ran away from You, leaving the spoil for our women to pick up. Even the poorest of the poor found treasures of silver and gold. You scattered the kings like snow before the wind on Mount Zalmon. Mount Sinai, where You dwell is as high as the Mountain of Bashan, Other mountains look with envy, because God has chosen to make His permanent dwelling in His holy hill. He has tens of thousands of chariots and just as many angels, All at His disposal on Mount Sinai. His holy place. He dwells at the pinnacle, where He has led His captives, Where men give Him gifts, even from the rebellious. You live among men in Your holy place. You deserve our praise because You carry our burdens each and every day, You are our salvation! You are our God, the God who saves, who even delivers from death. But You will destroy Your enemies, all those who stubbornly resist You. You will seek and destroy them all, wherever they may be. Like a victorious king, You will wade through their blood, and your dogs will consume their remains. They have all seen what You do, O God, what You do from Your holy sanctuary. They have seen the processions complete with singers, musicians and women with tamborines. They have witnesses the huge congregations of Your people worshiping You. From the little tribe of Benjamin, home of Your chosen ruler, To the princes of Judah, Zebulun and Napthtali. You are the God who has given them all their strength, Now we ask that You reveal Your power. Kings will bring tributes to You at Your temple in Jerusalem. Humble and humiliate these wild animals, these bulls with their calves, Let them bring their silver and gold as penalty for their love affair with war. Princes from as far away as Egypt and Ethiopia will bring their tributes to You. They will all end up singing Your praises. They will praise Him who rides on high, above the heavens, Where He thunders loudly and powerfully. Give God credit for His power, His sovereignty over Israel, Even the power He displays in the skies. You are an awesome God, who displays Your strength and power to Your people, Which is why we praise and bless You.

You're In Good Hands.

Psalm 68 – Day 1

"Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms." – Psalm 68:19 NLT

What has become an easily recognizable tagline for an insurance company could more readily be said of God. You're in good hands with … God. David reminds us that our God carries us each and every day. He paints the picture of a shepherd carrying a sheep in his arms, protecting it, providing for it, and ensuring that it gets where it needs to go. Our great God carries us. What a picture of intimacy and love, but what a reminder of God's matchless power. In this Psalm, David speaks of God's great power, the same power that freed the Israelites from Egypt, led them to the Promised Land, and conquered the enemies living there. This great, majestic, powerful God is also "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows," who "places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoner free and gives them joy" (Psalm 68:5-6 NLT). He is not a distant deity who reigns from some unseen place and dispenses justice and judgment like some invisible judge. He is with us and for us. From the moment He chose Abram to be the father of the Hebrew nation, God has lived in and among men. Throughout the wilderness wandering years, God traveled with the people of Israel, leading the way, taking the form of a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. They always knew He was with them. When He instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness, He came to dwell within the Holy of Holies, a constant reminder of His presence and power. Later, God's presence would fill the Holy of Holies of the new Temple constructed by Solomon. "Now the Lord will live among us there" (Psalm 68:18 NLT). God chose to dwell among men. He made His presence known and displayed His power among them. "God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people" (Psalm 68:35 NLT).

We are in good hands with God. He is powerful, but also gentle. He is majestic, but also intimate. He delivers judgment with a firm hand, but He also metes out justice with tender mercy. He has the power to destroy our enemies, and the compassion to forgive us of our sins. He can reign down judgment, but also deliver rain to restore a dry land. Our God is great, but this great God cares for us. That should blow us away. It should cause us to respond in praise, prayer, gratitude, joy, hope and worship. "Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms" (Psalms 68:19 NLT).

Father, thank You for this much-needed reminder. I am in Your arms, therefore I am safe. You are taking me where I need to go. You are protecting me at all times. You are healing me, holding me and helping me. I have nothing to fear, but much to be grateful for. Amen

Making His Ways Known. (Based on Psalm 67)

Psalm 67 – Day 2

God, I ask You to show mercy on us and bless us,

To look down on us and show us Your favor.

That the world might see Your true character as You work through us,

Your salvation revealed to a watching world.

Cause the nations of the world to confess Your greatness, O God,

Give them plenty of reasons to praise You.

Cause the people of the world to rejoice,

Shouting joyfully as they see You work among them.

For You judge righteously, leading and guiding all those who live on the earth.

Give Your people cause to praise You, O God,

Give them plenty of reasons to praise You!

Just as the earth faithfully produces crops for us,

So our God will bless us. He will bless us,

And everyone living on the earth will learn to honor, fear, and respect Him.

Making God Known.

Psalm 67 – Day 1

"May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere." – Psalm 67:2 NLT

This ought to be the daily prayer of every child of God. There should be a deep desire in each and every one of us that God would reveal Himself, make Himself known, to every person that walks the face of the earth. The Scriptures clearly teach that God is revealed through His creation. " For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God" (Revelation 1:20 NLT). God's power and character are revealed in His creation. But those same qualities should be revealed in us as human beings – the pinnacle of His creation. After all, we are made in His image. And those of us who have been redeemed by the death of His Son and given the indwelling presence of His Spirit should be be daily illustrations of His power and character. Others should be able to see Him at work in us and around us.

David prays, "May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere." Interestingly, David uses the word, "ways," which in the Hebrew can mean a journey, path, or course of life. It can also refer to the habits or manner in which one performs his or her duties. It seems that David is referring to the "way" in which God relates to His people – through His saving power. That is what David wants the world to see. The NET Bible notes that David's use of that specific word "refers here to God’s characteristic behavior, more specifically, to the way he typically saves his people." David wants the world to be able to see God's mercy, grace, forgiveness, kindness and saving power as He rescues His people. Of course, behind this request is a desire to be saved by God. David wants to see God work in his own life and in the lives of the people of God. He realizes that when the nations see the kind of God the people of Israel serve, they will end up praising Him, too. They will be able to see that He rules with justice, that He is powerful, and that He uses that power to care for those who worship Him.

We should desire for God to make Himself known through us. But think about that. That means we should be ready and willing to find ourselves in situations in which we HAVE TO rely on God for salvation. We have to be willing to suffer circumstances in which God can reveal His saving power in our lives. Had the Israelites not found themselves at the Red Sea with the army of Egypt bearing down on them, they would never have witnessed the saving power of God. Their difficulty proved to be an opportunity to witness the "ways" of God. Had David not found himself on the lamb with a bounty on his head, running from King Saul, he would never have known the "ways" of God. The truth is, the unwanted ways in which our lives sometimes go are exactly where God wants us so that He can reveal His "ways" through us and to us. God is making Himself known throughout the world, and He is doing it through us, His people. We are to be revealers of His power, mercy, grace, and saving power.

Father, make Yourself known through me today. Use the circumstances of my life to reveal Your ways to the world around me. May Your saving power be evident to everyone who sees me today. Amen

Prayer = Praise. (Based on Psalm 66)

Psalm 66 – Day 2

Shout joyfully in praise to God, everybody and everything on earth!

Sing songs about the glory of His reputation,

And when you do it, make your praise of Him glorious and abundant.

Tell Him how awe-inspiring His deeds are,

And that His great power causes His enemies to cringe before Him.

Sing, "Everyone and everything on earth will bow down before You,

And one day they will all sing Your praises."

Come and consider all that God does,

What He does among men is both awe-inspiring and fear-producing.

He turned an uncrossable sea into dry land so the Israelites could pass through.

The result was a lot of rejoicing!

His power allows Him to rule for all time – uninterrupted,

He constantly keeps watch over the nations of the earth,

So those who rebel against Him have no business getting full of themselves.

As His people, it is our job to bless Him and make His praises known.

He is the one who gives us life and preserves us,

He keeps us from falling. O God,

You have tried us and proved us,

You have refined us like silver is refined.

You were with us when we ended up in the trap,

It was Your idea to use this pressure in our lives.

You allowed others to lord it over us,

We passed through fire and water,

But in the end, You brought us into a better place.

So I will worship You and fulfill all my commitments to You.

Every promise I made to You when I was in trouble, I will keep.

I will offer up to You the sacrifices You require, whatever the cost.

If You fear God and love Him, come and listen to all I have to say about Him,

Come listen to what He has done in my life.

I cried out to Him for help, and ended up praising Him for what He did.

But unconfessed sin in my life would have prevented that from happening.

But God not only heard me, He answered me.

So I bless and praise God who did not reject my prayer

Or withhold His mercy from me.

Keeping Your Testimony Current.

Psalm 66 – Day 1

"Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me." – Psalm 66:16 NLT

What has God done for you lately? That should be an easy question for any Christ-follower to answer. Because the reality is, God is acting on our behalf each and every day in countless ways. But the sad truth is that we oftentimes fail to see His hand in our lives. Other times we simply fail to ask for God's assistance with the affairs of life. We go it alone. We muddle on through life, attempting to take on all our problems on our own, ignoring the ready availability of His power, grace and mercy. For many of us, our testimony is a dusty, faded photograph that captures some event that happened years ago in our lives. It was momentous, life-changing and an unforgettable experience, but it is still a distant memory. Much time haspassed since our conversion experience. We have lived more years than we would like to remember, experienced the ups and downs of life, and, hopefully, grown in our knowledge and understanding of God. But if someone walked up and asked us what God had done for us lately, what would we have to say? How would we answer?

For David, it would have been a simple question and he would have had a ready response. He said, "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me" (Psalm 66:16 NLT). David had a story to tell, a recollection to recount, of what God had done in his life. And as we have worked our way through the Psalms of David, we have seen plenty of proof that David had ample stories to share of God's goodness, grace, mercy, power and provision. God was actively involved in David's life. His response to the question, "What has God done for you lately?," would probably have been, "How much time do you have?" In this Psalm David talks of the glory of God's name. He expresses how glorious God is. He exclaims, "How awesome are your deeds!" (Psalm 66:3 NLT). He invites others to "Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!" (Psalm 66:5 NLT). David can recount what God has done in the past for His people. But David can also share what God has done more recently in his own life. And that is the story most people want and need to hear. A lost and dying world is looking for a living, active God who is engaged on a daily basis with those who worship Him. Our salvation story is significant, don't misunderstand me. But God didn't stop saving us at conversion. He is still redeeming, rescuing, refining and restoring us each and every day of our lives. He is disciplining us, teaching us, constantly forgiving us, leading and directing us, healing and helping us, and daily molding us into the likeness of His Son. Like David, we should be able to say, "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me." We are proof of God's presence. Our daily lives should be evidence of His love, grace, mercy, power, forgiveness and, ultimately, of His existence. So what has God done for you lately? Great! Now go tell someone.

Father, You have given me ample stories to tell of Your presence in my life. Forgive me for not telling others. You have proven Yourself faithful to me time and time again, but I don't always pass that news along to those around me. Place in me a growing desire to sing Your praises to all those willing to listen. Create in me a desire to talk You up on a consistent basis. May I become increasingly more a satisfied customer – the best advertising of Your power, presence and provision. Amen

The Bountiful Blessings of God. (Based on Psalm 65)

Psalm 65 – Day 2

My praise waits silently, expectantly on You, O God,

And I will fulfill all my vows to You.

You are the one who hears and answers prayers,

So all men must come to You eventually.

Your words regarding my sins are too much for me,

But You make atonement for all my transgressions against You!

Happy is the man You choose to offer a relationship with You,

Who You allow to stand in Your presence.

The goodness that is found where You are will satisfy each and every one of us,

Even in the house of God.

You prove You are our salvation every day by awe-inspiring acts of justice,

You are the hope of all mankind, whether they are on the land or the sea.

The mountains are an exhibition of Your great power,

You can control and even calm the raging waters of the oceans,

And you can handle the raging multitudes just as easily.

Even men living in the remotest parts of the world are awed by Your signs,

As they rejoice in the beauty of Your sunrises and sunsets.

You care for the earth, providing it with rain,

Enriching it with the rivers You have created.

You provide men with grain and corn, which You have prepared for them.

You even water the fields that men have prepared,

Softening the soil and causing the crops to grow.

You crown the year with abundance,

And leave blessing everywhere You go.

From meadows in the middle of nowhere to remote mountaintops,

Your blessings rain down.

The pastures are clothed with flocks,

The valleys are covered over with corn,

Visually shouting Your praises and reflecting the joy of Your goodness.

As If Forgiveness Was Not Enough.

Psalm 65 – Day 1

"Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all." – Psalm 65:3 NLT

Sinfulness is the one characteristic we all share as human beings. And forgiveness from our sins is the one thing we all must receive from God if we are to live in harmony with Him. In order for us to have a right relationship with God, our sin problem had to be taken care of. The penalty for our sin – death – had to be paid in full. And God took care of it by sending His Son to die in our place on the cross. Because of Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross for us, we had our sin payment paid in full. And not only the sins of the past, but the sins yet to be committed. That is why we can bring any sin to Him and receive forgiveness. Like David, we can feel overwhelmed by our sin and still receive forgiveness from God. All we need to do is confess them – admit that what we have done is sin against Him. And the amazing thing is that God forgives us each and every time.

But as amazing as forgiveness of sin is, we can sometimes forget that God's mercy shows up in our lives in so many other ways that we take for granted. David reminds us that God not only forgives our sins, He answers our prayers. "You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds" (Psalm 65:5 NLT). We pray. God answers. And He answers according to His power. God does great and mighty things when we pray and place ourselves at His mercy. But that's not all. God has surrounded with signs of His power. The mountains and the oceans, the rising and setting sun, the rain and the rivers. The way He can turn a dry valley into a lush pasture, providing food for a flock of grazing sheep. His faithfulness in causing crops to grow and the earth to provide much-needed resources for life to continue on this planet. When David saw all that God did on a daily basis for mankind, he said, "you inspire shouts of joy!" (Psalm 65:8 NLT). You would think forgiveness of sin and the gift of salvation would be enough. But God continues to pour out His blessings on men in so many ways. All we enjoy on this earth is a gift from Him. Everything that exists was created by Him. The wonders of this world remind us constantly of Him. He is a great, good, faithful and forgiving God who inspires shouts of joy!

Father, while I am eternally grateful for Your forgiveness of my sins, I don't ever want to take for granted all the other wonders You work in and around my life each and every day. You are a merciful, loving God who has given mankind so much. You provided us with life and then You surrounded us with the awe of Your creation. Even with the affects of the fall, this world is still a pretty amazing place in which to live. We get to see Your power and experience Your provision each and every day. So not only do I get to enjoy Your forgiveness, I get to live in the midst of Your creation. Amen

The Thirst Quencher. (Based on Psalm 63)

Psalms 63-64 – Day 2

The Thirst Quencher. (Based on Psalm 63)

O God, You are my God; my personal God;

I will seek You from the moment I wake up and all day long.

I have unquenchable thirst for You spiritually,

And living in this world that's like a waterless desert and can leave a man faint,

Even my body longs for the physical refreshment You alone can bring.

I am fully aware of Your holiness, Your set-apartness,

Because I have observed Your power and glory first-hand.

I have discovered that Your mercy and goodness makes living worthwhile,

Which is why praise for You comes so easily from my lips.

So I will bend my knee in submission to You as long as I live,

And I will lift up my hands to You in prayer because of Your reputation.

You spiritually satisfy me like a fine meal does the body,

And joyful praise is my response.

When I lie in bed at night, my thoughts go to You,

I fill my sleepless nights by thinking about You.

Because You have been my help in times past,

I know I will find myself safely rejoicing in Your protection again.

I hold on to You for dear life,

And You keep me safe in Your powerful grip.

But as far as those who wish to harm me,

You will take care of them, giving them exactly what they deserve.

They will suffer death and defeat, their bodies consumed by wild animals.

But as the king of Your people, I will rejoice in You.

Everyone who is true to their word and follows You will have reason to glory,

But all those who speak falsely will one day be stopped.

Put the Fear of God In Them. (Based on Psalm 64)

O God, please listen to what I am saying.

I know it sounds like complaining,

But I need You to keep me from fearing my enemies.

Hide me so that their plots against me fail,

Don't let this unruly mob of hooligans get to me.

They use their tongues like a well-sharpened sword,

Like a bow in an arrow, their bitter words pierce deeply.

They aim them at those who seek to live with integrity,

Attacking suddenly and with impunity.

They seem to find strength in doing what is wrong,

They brag about the traps they secretly set,

Saying, "Who will ever see them?"

They're always seeking new ways to do what is wrong,

And their search is usually successful.

The depth of their thoughts and the hearts behind them are a mystery.

But what they don't know is that God has them in His sights,

They will find themselves wounded, pierced through by God, as if by an arrow.

Their own words will be turned against them,

Others will shudder when they see what happens to them.

All men will end up fearing God when they see what He has done,

They will have to think long and hard about His actions.

Those who are righteous in God's eyes will rejoice in Him,

They'll learn to put their hope and trust in Him.

Those whose hearts are right with God will have reason to boast in Him.

Obsessed With God.

Psalms 63-64 – Day 1

"I lie awake at night thinking of you, meditating on you through the night." – Psalm 63:6 NLT

I wish I could say the statement found in the verse above was true of me. But rarely do I find myself lying in bed meditating or thinking about God. Oh, I may find myself thinking about all the things I need God to do for me, but that is not the same thing. I often find myself talking to Him, making requests and asking questions about why things are the way they are and what He is going to do about it all. But David seems to be saying something completely different. Like a child lying awake in bed on Christmas Eve, anticipating the joys of the morning to come, David finds himself immersed in the greatness and goodness of God Himself. He says, "My soul thirsts for you, my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1 NLT). David is in the midst of trying times, living in wilderness environment, both literally and figuratively. He is miles from the Tabernacle and far from the presence of his own people. Even though he was surrounded by those who have aligned themselves with his cause, David still struggled with feeling alone and isolated. So he found himself staying up at night thinking about God – His power, glory, unfailing love, protection, mercy, and ultimate salvation. Even in the midst of difficulty, David could sing about the goodness of God. He focused his attention on God instead of his circumstances. He thought about the character of God instead of worrying about the cares of the day.

David's life was anything but easy, as Psalm 64 clearly illustrates. He still had enemies. He still had difficulties. He still had plenty of reasons to worry, doubt, fear, and despair. But rather than let his attention focus on his problems, He focused on His God. Reflecting on the nature and character of God is the greatest way to get our minds off of the worries of this world. Suffering should drive us to the One who has the capacity to relieve it. Difficulty should motivate us to turn to the One who can do something about it. Trials should encourage us to turn to the One who can perfect us through them. Rather than lie awake at night worrying, wouldn't it make more sense to spend our time worshiping?

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Help me to cultivate a habit of thinking about You instead of my problems. Let me learn to focus my attention on Your goodness and greatness rather than the difficulties in my life. Amen

A Quiet, Patient Hope. (Based on Psalm 62)

Psalm 62 – Day 2

I am learning to wait quietly and confidently in the Lord,

Because He is my only source of true salvation.

I don't find strength, deliverance, or refuge anywhere else.

He alone keeps me from being shaken by this world.

And I have a message for my enemies:

How long are you going to keep attacking me?

You're all out to break me, but be careful,

To God, your defenses are like an unstable wall or a fence that is about to fall down.

You plot among yourselves about how to bring me down.

You're nothing but liars, always talking trash about me,

Except when you're in my company, then you act like my friends.

But I am learning to wait quietly and confidently in the Lord,

Because my hope comes from Him.

I don't find strength, deliverance, or refuge anywhere else.

He alone keeps me from being shaken by this world.

God provides me with salvation, dignity, a source of strength, and a refuge.

Those who claim to believe in Him should trust Him all the time.

Pour out your heart to Him, because He really is a shelter in the storm.

All men, regardless of their status, are worthless, like a mist.

They deceive and lie, and their combined worth is that of air.

Don't put your confidence in getting ahead through immoral means.

Even if you're fortunate enough to gain wealth, don't rely on it.

I've heard it said that true strength belongs to God alone, and so does mercy.

I've also heard it said that God pays back men according to their deeds.

He is merciful, but He is also just.

Patiently, Expectantly Waiting.

Psalm 62 – Day 1

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." – Psalm 62:5-6 NLT

For most of us, waiting on God is viewed as some kind of punishment or penance we must pay for our bad behavior. We view it as if God is somehow holding out on us, making us sweat and suffer as He delays giving us what we want in order to teach us a lesson. But that perspective is based on a faulty view of God. He is not some petty deity using His power maliciously or malevolently in order to get out of us what He wants from us. He is a loving, patient, merciful God whose actions are always driven by His care and concern for us. For if God was withholding from us what we needed, just in order to punish us or teach us a lesson, what kind of God would He be? Jesus pointed this out when He said, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him" (Matthew 7:9-11 NLT). Does that mean we always get what we ask for or that it comes exactly when we expect it? Of course not. God is still God. He is all-knowing and aware of things that are beyond our ability to comprehend. He has a "big picture view" of things that we don't have. He is not bound by space and time, but knows the future as well as He knows the past or present. He is not even limited by our decisions or bad choices. He is in control at all times. At no point is God ever up in heaven wringing His hands in disbelief because He was somehow caught off guard by the events or circumstances surrounding our lives.

So David says, "I want quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him" (Psalm 62:1 NLT). I love how The Message paraphrases that verse: "God, the one and only – I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?" I'll wait as long as he says. Why? Because He knows best and He has my best in mind. He is my hope and salvation. He is my help and source of healing. He has a plan for my life that is perfect and complete. So David reminds us, "O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8 NLT). Trust in him at all times. Not just in the good times, but at all times. Even when things seem to be going poorly. Even when it appears as if He is nowhere to be found. Even when everything is going against you and everyone seems to be deserting you. Waiting quietly and trust Him. It is in those moments of waiting and trusting that we truly come to know who He really is. It is in quietly waiting that He reminds us of His love and then rewards us with His perfect answer at the perfect time. What we need is NOT the answer we're hoping for, but the God who provides the answer. We need to know Him better. We need to trust Him more. We need to patiently wait and eagerly anticipate an answer because we know the character of our God. His love never fails.

Father, thank You for the moments of waiting that come into my life on a regular basis. Thank You for teaching me to rely on You and not the world around me. May I continue to learn to wait patiently and expectantly on You because I believe You have my best in mind, in spite of what I see happening around me. Amen

I Cry To You. (Based on Psalm 61)

Psalm 61 – Day 2

O God, I ask you to not only hear my cry, but to respond.

Please pay attention to what I am praying.

When I find myself in extreme circumstances, I will call out to You,

When my heart is overcome by the darkness, and I begin to despair,

Lead me back to the safety of Your greatness,

Where I will find refuge and protection,

Above all my circumstances, exalted above my situations.

For You have always proven to be a shelter for me,

A tower of strength and safety from the enemy.

I will seek refuge in Your presence forever,

I will hide under the protection of Your wings.

You have heard what I have promised,

And You have promised to give me an inheritance

Along with all those who love You and fear You.

Let the king live a long time and impact many generations.

He will live in obediently in Your presence,

All I ask is that You watch over Him with Your mercy and truth.

As a result, I will sing praises forever regarding Your reputation,

And I will do what I have promised every day I am alive.

Overwhelmed, But Never Overlooked.

Psalm 61 – Day 1

"From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety." – Psalm 61:2 NLT

David is under tremendous pressure. He is feeling completely overwhelmed by his circumstances. The Hebrew word he uses to describe the condition of his heart means, "to be wrapped in darkness, to languish, to faint." He is in a dark moment of the soul, a time when all looks hopeless and he is feeling helpless. But what does he do at that moment? Does he give up? No, he looks up. He calls out. He cries out to God. "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!" (Psalm 60:1 NLT). He takes the darkness of his situation to the one true source that can shed some light on his condition. He longs for safety and security – a place where his enemies can't reach him and he can enjoy peace from all the turmoil. David knew that his only hope was to be found in God. Keep in mind, this man was a highly successful warrior, a powerful king, and a man who was not afraid to strap on the sword and fight his way out of difficult circumstances. But in this case, he knew that God was his only hope. As he has done so many times before in other Psalms, David appeals to God's unfailing love and faithfulness. He asks God to extend his life and prolong his kingdom, so that he can continue to praise and serve Him. David doesn't just want long life in order to enjoy all the things that life has to offer. He wants to be able to continue his life of service to God, keeping his vows and praising Him for all that He has done.

But the truth is, we often beg God to save us in order that we might continue a life that is focused on US, not Him. We long for God to rescue us from our difficult circumstances, not so that we might serve Him more, but just so that we might enjoy life on our own terms. Whatever the circumstances were in David's life, he more than likely was not able to worship in the Tabernacle. He was not able to offer sacrifices to God. He was isolated from the presence of God's glory that dwelt in the inner recesses of the Tabernacle. He longed to return home and worship God. He wanted to see his life preserved, so that He might praise God more. What is your motivation for calling on God? Why do you want Him to save you? Is it in order that You might see His power on display and so that you might worship Him? Or is it simply so that you might get back to enjoying life and escaping the inconvenient circumstances in which you find yourself? David's focus was on God. Yes, he wanted God to rescue and preserve him, but only so that he might spend his life serving and praising God.

Father, how often I beg You to save me when my only motivation is to get back to life as usual. My focus is not on You, but me. I simply want to enjoy life, not Your presence. Give me a new perspective. Give me a heart like David's that desires long life so that I might have more time to serve and praise You. Amen

We Will Do Mighty Things. (Based on Psalm 60)

Psalm 60 – Day 2

O God, our sin stinks so bad You can hardly stand to be around us,

So You have ended up scattering us in Your anger.

I ask that You would restore us.

Even the earth seems to shake and tremble before You,

You split it open, and only You can restore it.

You have allowed your people to go through difficult times,

It has left us unstable and staggering like we're drunk on wine.

But for those who fear You, You have given a banner to display,

That contains the truths of Your promises.

You will deliver those You love,

I beg You to save us by the power of Your hand.

You have spoken from Your throne,

"I will triumph! I will plunder Shechem!

I will portion out the Valley of Succoth as I see fit!

Gilead and Manasseh belong to Me!

Ephraim is like my helmet and Judah my scepter.

Moab will be like a pot where I do my dirty laundry,

Edom will feel the heel of my boot,

And I will triumph over Philistia."

But I can't help but ask You, O God,

Who will make it possible for us to enter a fortified city?

Who will lead us into Edom?

It has to be You, but it appears that You have rejected us,

And that You no longer go out with our armies.

I beg You to give us help against our enemies,

Because any help we receive from man is useless.

But You make us like a mighty army,

You make it possible for us to experience victory over our enemies.

With God's Help.

Psalm 60 – Day 1

"With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes." – Psalm 60:12 NLT

I can't imagine what it was like to have been king of the nation of Israel. While I'm sure the job had its perks, it also came with a significant number of headaches. Ruling any nation is difficult, but trying to lead a people group who happened to be the hand-picked possession of God Himself was no easy task. First, you had God for your employer. Forget about Congress, your cabinet, or even your constituents. At the end of the day, every action you took was being carefully critiqued by none other than God. Now that's pressure. On top of that you had the unenviable task of trying to lead a people who greatly disliked being led. Leading the nation of Israel was like, as the phrase goes, trying to herd cats – nearly impossible. By God's own opinion, these people were inherently stiff-necked, stubborn, rebellious, and had foreheads of iron. In other words, they were obstinate. And as the king of Israel you were free to make up your own rules as you went along. You were obligated to enforce the laws of God. Of course, some of Israel's kings ignored that part and suffered the consequences. But for David, obeying God was a high priority and maintaining His laws, decrees and commands was job one.

Then there was the problem of Israel's enemies, and there were a lot of them. This little land was literally surrounded on all sides by nations intent on their destruction. Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Aramaens, Edomites, Jebusites, and just about every other nation that existed at that time – both large and small. They all had it in for Israel and they were a constant threat to Israel's existence. As king, David had to constantly be prepared to defend the kingdom, but also the reputation of God. And even though David was "a man after God's own heart," things didn't always go his way. He didn't always win every battle. His exploits didn't always meet with success. And this Psalm was written with one of those times in mind. David opens up the Psalm describing what was an apparent defeat at the hands of his enemies. They had broken through his defenses. They had driven Israel back in defeat. And because David was so strongly dependent on God, he couldn't help but wonder if all this was some kind of punishment from His hand. He viewed this latest military setback as coming from God. So he appealed to God for mercy. He begged God to rescue the nation from the hands of their enemies. "Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power" (Psalm 60:5 NLT). David was a powerful warrior and a highly successful king, but he knew where his strength came from – God. One of David's greatest fears was that God might ever reject him and remove His favor from him. He even asks God, "Have you rejected us, O God? Will you no longer march with our armies?" (Psalm 60:11 NLT). David knew the ramifications if that were ever to happen. He knew that their existence was solely based on the favor and power of God, not him. Without God, David was nothing, and he knew it. Without God, the nation of Israel was nothing, and David understood that sobering fact as well. So he calls out to God, "Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless" (Psalm 60:11 NLT). David knew what we need to know. Without God's help, we are helpless and hopeless. We are His people. He is our King. It is He who protects us, provides for us, gives us victory, keeps us safe, and meets all our needs. It is to Him we should turn in both the good times and the bad times. All human help is useless. Placing our hope in anyone or anything other than God will always prove dangerous and highly disappointing. We may win the battle, but we will end up losing the war. But David knew that "with God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes" (Psalm 60:12 NLT). Even this powerful king knew that he was nothing without the help of his all-powerful God.

Father, how ludicrous it is to think that I can somehow save myself. How silly for me to imagine that I can somehow come up with a plan to save myself from all the enemies I face every day. Without You I am nothing. I have no strength without You. I have no wisdom apart from You. I have no future unless You provide it. I have no hope other than You. But with Your help I will do mighty things! Amen