The Bad News. (Based on Psalm 15)

Psalm 15-16 – Day 2

The Bad News. (Based on Psalm 15)

Who can be a welcome guest in Your house, God?

Or become a permanent resident in the place where You live?

Only the person whose life is completely, wholly Yours,

Nothing hidden, no secrets, no areas they try to keep from You.

It's the person who always does the right thing,

And never says the wrong thing.

They don't use their words to destroy reputations,

Bring discomfort, or attempt to get even.

They hate sin so much that they can't stand to be around sinners.

But they love being around those who love God.

They do what they are going to do – even when it costs them –

And share what they have with those in need,

Without expecting to profit from the exchange.

And they would never think of selling someone out

Just to pad their own wallet.

It's this kind of person who gets to stand before God.

The Good News (Based on Psalm 16)

I come to You for protection, God,

Fully expecting You to keep me from harm.

I call You, Adonia, my Sovereign Lord and Master.

It is You who makes possible any goodness in me.

Which is why those who are God's chosen make good friends,

And are truly worth associating with.

But as for those who choose to reject God,

They're only hurting themselves in the long run,

And I choose to have nothing to do with them.

I refuse to sacrifice my time, energy and talents to their sorry God replacements.

God, You are all I have and all I need.

I am blessed right now because of You,

And my future is completely secure thanks to You.

You have made me Your child and all that is Yours is mine!

You guide and direct me, even in my sleep,

So why wouldn't I praise You? You are always with me, right beside me,

Which gives me confidence to face any circumstance.

I am happy and secure, which results in joy.

I am at peace, physically, mentally and spiritually.

I know that when I die, I will not be separated from You.

I know that death is not the end, but just the beginning,

And even then You will be guiding my way,

Leading me right into Your very presence

Where I will get the pleasure of spending eternity with You.

The Unbelievability of Divine Accessibility.

Psalm 15-16 – Day 1

“O my soul , you have said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.'" – Psalm 16:2 NKJV

Who can be a welcome guest in God's house or become a permanent resident in the place where He lives?

Those are the questions that David opens Psalm 15 with, and they area bit sobering and scary if you stop to think about them. What kind of person has the right to come into God's presence? What qualifies them to live their lives as God's neighbor – so to speak? David answers his own question by describing someone who lives a life of integrity. They are blameless. No, not perfect or without sin, but they attempt to live every area of their life out in the open – in front of God – with nothing hidden or compartmentalized. They are the kind of person whose actions are right and whose speech is marked by truth, not lies. They don't use words to hurt others or take advantage of them. They have a strong dislike for those whose lives are marked by a love for sin. But they recognize the value of those who love the Lord. They are promise keepers, not promise breakers. They share their money with others without demanding payment in return (plus a little something extra for their efforts). And they would never think of selling out someone just to pad their own wallet.

Wow! David says the person whose life is characterized by this kind of behavior is the one who will be left standing in the end. He or she will be welcome as God's guest and given a place in His presence. David covers virtually every aspect of an individual's life. Character, speech, conduct, values, integrity – even their finances. This is a person who shares God's heart. It's a portrait of someone whose life pleases God. But wait. How are we expected to pull this off? I don't always do what's right. I don't always speak the truth from a sincere heart. I sometimes gossip and I have been known to speak evil of my friends on occasion. There isn't one thing on David's list of godly characteristics that I have managed to fulfill perfectly or completely. Which leads us right to Psalm 16. David knows the source of his integrity, honesty, right conduct, and pure motives. It's God. David appeals to God to keep him safe, to literally put a hedge of protection around him. He knows that it is only through God's help that any of us can come into His presence. He says, "You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You." In other words, only God can make a man good enough to qualify to come into His presence. God makes it possible for us to live the life David described in Psalm 15. Left to our own devices, we will sin and disqualify ourselves from ever entering God's presence. In Psalm 14, David said, "The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!" (Psalm 14:2-3 NLT). Paul takes up that same theme in his letter to the believers in Rome. “No one is righteous — not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one" (Romans 3:10-12 NLT). So what are we supposed to do? Paul goes on to tell us, "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are" (Romans 3:20-22 NLT).

With David I say, "NO wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever" (Psalm 16:9-11 NLT). God makes it all possible. From my ability to come into His presence right now to the assurance that I will one day live with Him forever.

Father, even my goodness come from You. I can't live the life You've called me to live, so You sent Your Son to live it for me and die the death that I deserved for my sins. Now I can come into Your presence, not because of what I have done or deserve, but because what Jesus did that kept me from getting what I deserve. Amen

It's A Matter Of When, Not If. (Based on Psalm 13)

Psalms 13-14 – Day 2

It's A Matter Of When, Not If.(Based on Psalm 13)

Dear God, to be honest, sometimes it feels like You've forgotten me.

It seems like You've gotten busy someplace else or are distracted.

In the meantime, I end doing all kinds of self-examination,

To the point that even my soul suffers.

At times it even feels like unbelievers are better off than me.

All I ask is that You look at me and give me an answer, God!

I could use a little encouragement right now, because I'm dying here.

You don't want the "other side" to think they've won because I fell, do you?

The last thing you want is the enemy having a party at my expense.

But don't get me wrong. I have always believed that You love me;

And it's because You've saved me before, that I can rejoice even now.

I have confidence that a day is coming when I will be able to sing Your praises,

To rejoice in Your coming salvation, because You have always been good to me.

Know God Or No God. (Based on Psalm 14)

Only an idiot what convince himself, "There is no God."

But what else could he conclude,

When his life is characterized by sin, and he rarely does good?

But God has a perfect vantage point in heaven, and is able to see every single human being.

He scans humanity for any sign of wisdom or insight,

To see if anybody really wants to worship and obey Him. And His conclusion?

Every single person has rebelled against Him.

As a race, they are morally filthy,

Nobody does what God wants them to do, Not a single soul!

If they only knew the truth.

They are busy devouring the godly like bread,

When they should be calling out to God for mercy.

But the day is coming when those who said, "no God!"

Will truly know God, but only in fear.

Because ultimately, God is on the side of the godly.

While you're busy trying to frustrate the plans of God's people,

God has made a promise to protect them.

It's my hope that the ultimate salvation of God will take place soon,

That He will put an end to all this and restore His people once and for all.

When He does, we will all rejoice. We will all sing with joy.

Because God Has, I Will.

Psalms 13-14 – Day 1

“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me." – Psalm 13:5 NLT

What more does God have to do for you to begin to trust Him? What is it going to take for you to really believe that He knows what is going on in your life and will provide for and protect you, regardless of what you see happening around you? That is the reoccurring theme of so many of the Psalms of David. It is clear that David was a man who had his own fair share of trials and troubles. While he may have been a king and enjoyed great wealth and wielded tremendous power, he was not immune to problems. He faced a variety of difficult circumstances in his lifetime, including the constant threat of enemies, both within and without his kingdom. At one point, his own father-in-law, Saul, was on a crusade to have David killed. Later on in his life, David would watch as his own son, Absalom, led a rebellion against him and took over his kingdom. The Philistines never forgave him for his killing of Goliath. And there were times when David felt all alone and alienated from God. He was human and was prone to look at his circumstances and question whether God was aware of what was happening to him. In the midst of his suffering and struggles, he would ask the same question we all ask of God: "How long?" When is this going to stop, God? When will You step in and do something about this situation in my life? Why the delay? What are You doing? Why are You waiting?

Four times in the first two verses of Psalm 13, David repeats that question, "How long?" He pleads with God to answer him, to give him some glimmer of hope in the midst of the darkness. He wants to see God do something so his enemies won't gloat over his situation and mock his God. But then David says the one thing we all need to be able to say: "But I trust in your unfailing love" (Psalm 13:5 NLT). Actually, the tense of the verb he uses speaks of a past event, a completed action. David is saying, "But I have trusted in your unfailing love." David has continually lived his life by placing his confidence in the kindness and mercy of God. That's why he is able to say, "I will rejoice in your salvation." Because David had trusted in God in the past, he knew he could trust in God for the future. He knew that there was a day coming when God was going to bring salvation. He didn't know how or when, but he knew it was coming. He would rejoice one day. He would sing for joy one day. Why? Because God had been good to him in the past. The best way to translate verse 6 is "I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me." The basis for David's future joy was God's past provision. He knew that God would come through for him, because God had come through for him. David's God was a faithful, consistent and unchanging God. His God always delivered, always came through, never abandoned, never gave up, never walked out on him, and never disappointed.

From David's perspective, only a fool would reach the conclusion that there is no God (Psalm 14:1). Only a fool would decide that God was not there or did not care. David had seen the hand of God in the past and he knew he would see the hand of God in the future. Because God had, David knew he would sing, rejoice, and praise God some day – in spite of all that was going on at the moment.

Father, You have never failed to be faithful to me. So let me trust in Your past deliverance and there find hope for my future restoration. You are always faithful, always loving, and always powerful. Because You have, I can trust that you will. Your character is consistent and constant, never changing. Amen

God Is Still In Control. (Based on Psalm 11)

Psalms 11-12 – Day 2

God Is Still In Control. (Based on Psalm 11)

When things get tough, everyone's advice seems to be to run and hide,

But I have learned to trust God for protection.

Those who oppose me are like soldiers preparing their weapons,

Getting ready to take pot shots at me in order to destroy me.

They especially seem to love attacking those who love God.

If we can't turn to God, our firm foundation,

In the midst of all this, what else are the righteous going to do?

But God is still there. He is still in His Holy Temple.

He still sits on His throne in heaven,

And nothing escapes His notice.

His eyes are wide open, examining the heart of every man,

Both the ungodly and the godly.

But He hates the actions of those who oppose Him and oppress others.

He will eventually bring down judgment on them

That is indescribably painful but totally justifiable.

I can rest in the fact that God is righteous and loves justice.

Those who stand as justified and innocent in His eyes

Don't need to fear seeing His face.

God Sees. God Knows. God Will Act. (Based on Psalm 12)

Lord, we need Your help, because it seems like the godly are a vanishing breed,

Those who trust in You are few and far between.

Everyone lies to one another,

False flattery and deceptive words are all you hear anymore.

I wish You would just silence them all!

But they just boast and brag, taking great pride in their eloquence.

"We'll say whatever we want to say," they claim, "And nobody can do anything about it!"

But God has something else to say about the matter.

He has seen how their lies and deception have hurt others,

And He isn't going to put up with it anymore.

God is going to rise up and provide deliverance

For those who are anxiously waiting for a Savior.

And we can take God at His word,

Because what He says, unlike what comes out of the mouths of men,

Is totally trustworthy, pure, and uncontaminated by lies.

So, Lord, we know You're going to come through.

You're going to protect the innocent, And preserve the helpless.

Even though these people who love lies more than You

Seem to be as popular as they are populous.

God Sees. God Knows. God Acts.

Psalms 11-12 – Day 1

“But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth." – Psalm 11:4 NLT

We are surrounded by uncertainty. There seems to be nothing and no one we can count on any more. Politicians fail us, corporate leaders deceive us, friends disappoint us, and it seems as if everywhere we look someone is out to take advantage of us. But David knew he could trust God. Why? Because God was holy, righteous and just. David found comfort in the realization that God was still in control, sitting on His throne in heaven where He saw all that was going on down here on earth. Yes, David felt the effects of living in a sinful world. He faced opposition, had his fair share of enemies, listened to threats, suffered injustice, and witnessed the attacks of the unjust against the just. From a human perspective, David felt like all was lost. He even asked, "What can the righteous do?" In the face of all that is going on around us and happening to us, what are those of us who love God supposed to do to make a difference?

David's answer? Trust God. Why? Because God is still on His throne. He is still in charge. He is wide awake and well aware of what is going on down here on earth. God sees – He perceives – He doesn't just look on in stunned shock, watching all the chaos taking place among men. He sees and He knows exactly what is happening, who is doing what to whom, and what needs to be done about it. His eyes are wide open and He sees into the hearts of ALL men, examining their motives and determining their fate. The Lord reminds us, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do" (Psalm 12:5 NLT). God sees. God hears. God will act.

God is a just God who loves to do what is right. While everyone else is untrustworthy, undependable and unreliable, God is faithful, trustworthy and true. And He is powerful enough to back up His words with action. And not only is God aware of injustice, He is strong enough to do something about the it. We have to believe that God is aware of our circumstances. Even when all hope appears lost, we must rest in the reality that God has not turned His back on us. He sees. He knows. He loves. He despises wickedness and loves righteousness. He loves to do what is right. Everything about Him hates injustice and evil. It may appear that He is indifferent to it all when we look at all that is happening in the world, but we have to trust that one day God is going to set all things right. He may not do it in our time frame. We may not live to see it happen. But He WILL do what is right. Justice will be done. So we trust Him. We turn to Him. We wait for Him. God sees. God knows. And one day, He WILL act.

Father, some days I feel overwhelmed by all that is going on around me. Sometimes I feel as if it is just me against the world. I begin to lose hope and despair starts to set in. But today You reminded me that I can trust You. You know every detail of my live and are well aware of what is happening to me and around me. You see. And You are going to act. I can trust You. Amen

In God We Trust. (Based on Psalm 9)

Psalm 9 – Day 2

From the depths of my heart I'm going to praise You,

And then I'm going to tell everyone all the great things You have done.

Because of You I have an over-abundance of joy,

And it comes out as songs of praise for Your remarkable reputation.

You caused my enemies to turn and run;

They went weak in the knees and dropped like dead men at the sight of You.

When it came time to pass judgment, You ruled in my favor.

As a righteous judge, You ruled fairly and justly.

The case against the nations has already been decided,

And their names have been stricken from the books.

Those who oppose You are done, without any hope,

And even their cities are long forgotten as far as You are concerned.

But while your enemies fade away, You reign forever,

And from Your throne You sit prepared to judge the world,

Justly, fairly and always rightly.

You rule on behalf of the oppressed,

Providing protection and a safe place to hide from their enemies.

But those of us who know Your character trust You,

Because You have proven faithful, never turning Your back on those who need You.

All of us should sing God's praises because He rules here on earth.

We should tell the world about all He has done for us.

There's no doubt that God gives murderers what they deserve,

But He also gives the helpless and the hopeless what they need most.

He doesn't turn a deaf ear to the cries of those in trouble.

Which is why I ask You to show me mercy, Lord.

I know you see what is happening to me.

I am as close to death as I have ever been,

So I ask you to provide a way of escape so I can give You the credit,

And hold a party to celebrate Your salvation.

It's amazing, but those who reject You and hate those who serve You

Have ended up falling into the trap they set for someone else.

But it shouldn't surprise me, because You are known for doing what is right

And giving the wicked exactly what they deserve in the end.

Eventually, all who oppose You will end up dead.

Spiritual death is the end result for all who fail to give You the honor You deserve.

But You will never fail to give those in need what they need,

You will not let the poor and oppressed suffer indefinitely.

So here is what I am asking Lord: Act now!

Don't let a bunch of weak-kneed, arrogant humans stand up to You.

Judge them. Give them something to fear.

Remind them that they are just men and You are God.

The Reputation of God.

Psalm 9 – Day 1

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you." – Psalm 9:10 NLT

David knew God. He was highly familiar with His character. He knew and understood His nature. The Psalms are more than a personal journal of David's experiences, they are an expression of his grasp of the greatness of God. In this Psalm alone David reveals that his God is all-powerful, just, eternal, righteous, faithful, merciful, sovereign, impartial, holy, and wrathful. It was David's understanding of the nature of God that made it possible for him to trust God. To know God's "name" means to be his follower, recognizing his authority and maintaining loyalty to him (NET Bible notes). The word translated "name" can also mean "reputation" or "fame." To trust in the name of God was to trust in who He was – His very nature, character, and reputation. It was to stand on His past accomplishments and to rely on His track record of reliability. God had proven Himself to David time and time again. He had shown Himself to be faithful, powerful, righteous, just, true, merciful and holy. So David trusted in the name of God. When in trouble, he appealed to the name of God.

For David, God was worthy of praise because of all He had done in the past. He had found God to be a shelter and a refuge in the past, so he knew God would be so in the future. God was faithful, consistent, reliable and unchanging in His nature. David knew he could turn to God and find mercy and help no matter how difficult the situation. He knew from experience that God had a special affinity for the helpless and the hopeless, rescuing and restoring them. David had seen God judge righteously and justly, bringing judgment on the wicked and avenging the righteous. For David, the works of God were "unforgettable" and "marvelous." They were worth singing about, talking about, and relying upon. No matter how bad things got, David knew he could trust in his God, because he knew Him well.

Father, I want to know You like David did. I want to trust You like David did. I want to understand the full scope of Your character and be able to rest in the integrity of who You are based on all You have done. Give me eyes to see Your reputation all around me. Help me know You better and better with each passing day. Amen

Our Great God! (Based on Psalm 8)

Psalm 8 – Day 2

You are Jehovah, OUR Master!

And Your greatness is visible everywhere –

Whether I look out the window or up into the night sky.

Even the cries of a baby and the babblings of a child speak of Your power,

Leaving those who oppose You speechless and powerless before You.

When I stare up into space I see just a portion of all You have made,

Only that which is visible to the naked eye.

And I can't help but ask the question:

Why would a God so great waste His time thinking about men,

Or even take a second to consider them at all?

But then it hits me – when You created Adam and Eve You created them in Your own image

And surrounded them with the abundance and splendor of Your creation.

Then You put them in charge of it all!

Every sheep and cow, domestic or wild,

Birds of all kinds and even the fish that swim in the lakes and oceans.

You are Jehovah, OUR Master! And Your greatness is visible everywhere!

The Greatness of God.

Psalm 8 – Day 1

“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens." – Psalm 8:1 NLT

Immensity, power, glory, might, greatness. All those concepts are wrapped up in the single word translated "majestic" in this passage. And David uses it to describe the name of God, His reputation or fame. To David, the greatness of God was everywhere. It was visible and tangible, but you had to be able to recognize it all around you. David saw it on the earth and in the night sky. God's glory – His reputation, renown and fame – was all-pervasive to David. He couldn't look out the window and not see the majesty of God revealed. He couldn't look up into the night sky and not be reminded of the greatness of God. To David, God's reputation was not only based on His miraculous interventions in the affairs of Israel – His victories in battle, His divine provision and protection – but it was evident in the everyday affairs of life. Everything around David screamed the praise of God, because that is the way God designed it. Even Jesus understood what David was talking about when He quoted this Psalm in an exchange with the religious leaders.

"The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, 'Praise God for the Son of David.' But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, 'Do you hear what these children are saying?' 'Yes,' Jesus replied. 'Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, "You have taught children and infants to give you praise."' – Matthew 21:15-16 NLT

From birth, man was made to praise God. We are appointed for that purpose. But the effects of the fall and the influence of sin have a way of hijacking our purpose and blinding us to the majesty and greatness of God. We lose the ability to see Him all around us. Our eyes become blind to His presence and power.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion, the crowd of disciples following Him cheered wildly, proclaiming, "Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” (Luke 19:38 NLT). The Pharisees were appalled at what they heard and demanded that Jesus tell His disciples to cease and desist. Instead, Jesus replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:40 NLT). Jesus knew what David knew. Everything in creation shouts the praise and glory of God. While all men were created to praise God, many do not. But creation does. God's glory is not relegated to man's recognition of it. God's glory or reputation is evident everywhere and at all times.

And the amazing thing to David was that this glorious, majestic, mighty, all-powerful God would give any thought to men. We are insignificant when compared to creation. Yet God has not only taken not of us, He has give us a job to do. He has appointed us as stewards of His creation. He has given us responsibility over all that He has made and that gives us glory and honor. We get to care for what He has created. What an honor. What a privilege. The recognition of that vital role given to us by a mighty God should rock our world and cause us to exclaim with David, "O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!" We should recognize the greatness of God's reputation and want to do everything in our power to protect it, proclaim it, and live up to it.

Father, give me eyes to see You all around me. Don't let me look past Your divine presence in creation as I search for You elsewhere. Like David, may I be able to look out the window or up into the sky and see You. Let me be blown away by Your majesty, might, and glory. Amen

God, My Righteous Judge. (Based on Psalm 7)

Psalm 7 – Day 2

I come to You, O God, for any hope of protection,

Fully expecting You to defend me from those who harass me.

If You don't, I am in deep trouble.

They'll rip me to pieces like a lion would a lamb,

Leaving me a bloody mess with no hope of rescue.

You are my God, You know me.

If I have done anything wrong to deserve this,

If I am guilty of injustice in either word or deed,

If I have done anything to hurt a friend

Or unknowingly helped his enemy,

Then let those who are after me catch me.

Let them do whatever they want to me,

And leave me dishonored and humiliated.

But here's what I ask of You as my God:

Rise up in my defense! Stand up for me!

Let Your righteous anger bring a just ruling on my enemies!

Bring everybody into Your court of Law,

Show them who is boss, that You are the one who rules.

You alone have the right to judge the world and all who are in it.

As my judge, I ask that You decide my case because I am NOT guilty!

I long for the day when the wicked get what they deserve,

And the righteous honored by You.

Because You are God, You know the difference between the two.

You examine the hearts or men and know their true motives.

You are my God, my protector, You are a Savior to all those whose hearts are Yours.

You are a judge who makes right decisions,

Speaking out against injustice every single day.

If a person refuses to turn to You, but keeps on sinning,

You will be forced to give them what they deserve.

Your righteous justice will come like an enemy in battle,

You will use every weapon at Your disposal to dispose of them.

These people are like a woman suffering labor pains,

Their actions have left them pregnant,

And eventually they will bring into the world more lies, deceit and wickedness.

These people are always looking for ways to harm others,

But only end up hurting themselves in the end.

All the grief they intended for others ends up in their own laps.

They don't realize just how self-destructive their lifestyle really is.

And all this makes me grateful to God for His justice.

It makes me want to sing His praises,

Because He is in full control and will make all things right!

God Is Just.

Psalm 7 – Day 1

“I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." – Psalm 7:17 NLT

David has been falsely accused. He has been slandered by those who hate him and his former boss, King Saul, has been led to believe that David is out to kill him. But nothing could have been further from the truth. In spite of the fact that David had been anointed by God as Saul's eventual replacement as king of Israel, and that Saul had hired a team of 3,000 trained mercenaries to kill him, Davidhad chosen not to seek revenge or attempt to expedite the end of Saul's reign. Yet, he suffered. So he called out to his God. He appealed to the one who was capable of doing something about his situation. And all David wanted was justice. He wanted God, as judge, to rule on his behalf. If he was guilty, he was willing to suffer the consequences. "O Lord my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice, if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause, then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust" (Psalm 7:3-5 NLT).

But David was confident in his innocence. He knew that God was all-knowing and well aware of what was going on inside his heart. "For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God" (Psalm 7:9b NLT). So he begs God, "Declare me righteous, O Lord, for I am innocent, O Most High!" (Psalm 7:8b NLT). David had a strong grasp of the God's role as judge of all mankind. He also knew that God was a righteous judge. He ruled rightly in all cases. He also knew that God was fully capable of bringing down the hammer on those who were guilty and unrepentant. "If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows" (Psalm 7:12-13 NLT). God was not only capable of judging rightly and justly, but of bringing the appropriate punishment when guilt was established.

David had no confidence in the justice and fairness of men. He knew men well. He had been burned by them before. David was well aware of the deceitfulness of the human heart. He wrote about it often. "The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right" (Psalm 11:2 NLT). "Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners. Don’t condemn me along with murderers. Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes" (Psalm 26:9-10 NLT). David put his trust and confidence in the justice of God. He knew he could trust God to judge fairly, impartially, righteously and accurately. He knew God would defend him, protect him, and ultimately save him – because he was innocent. So David declared, "I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the Lord Most High" (Psalm 7:17 NLT). David expresses gratitude and offers praise to the sovereign ruler over all the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. He knew God to be just. He knew God to be an honest judge who is always right and never wrong. He knew God was fully aware of all the facts and would never accuse wrongly or punish undeservedly. The wicked would receive what they deserved. The innocent – those whose hearts are true and right – would receive justice. Because God is just.

Father, You are just and right in all You do. You never punish inappropriately or decide a case wrongly. You are the honest judge. You are the right judge. You are the holy judge. I can trust You. Amen

God Is On My Side. (Based on Psalm 6)

Psalm 6 – Day 2

Lord, You are holy,

And have every right to be angry when I sin.

I know there are times when I deserve Your discipline,

When You are perfectly just in correcting me.

But I ask that you do it in compassion and not anger.

Discipline me, but do it in love.

I come to you in weakness, not worthiness,

Every ounce of my being needs your healing.

Even my heart is suffering and in pain.

I know You're going to do something, but when?

Return Lord, because it feels like You've left me.

I know You love me, so I ask that You rescue me – soon.

While death might seem like a relief, I prefer to praise you on this side of the grave.

My circumstances have me worn out from sorrow,

I spend most nights crying instead of sleeping.

My eyes are constantly blurred with tears

Thanks to the events of life and the unsympathetic enemies in my life.

But here's what I know: You are completely aware of my situation.

You have heard my crying, seen my tears;

And You are going to answer my call for help.

So all those who wish to do me harm better watch out.

God is just and He is going to give you what you deserve.

I may look defenseless, but I have God on my side!

God's Unfailing Love.

Psalm 6 – Day 1

“Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love." – Psalm 6:4 NLT

God rescues. God saves. God heals. God shows compassion. God hears. God restores. God answers. God rebukes. God disciplines. God loves.

Those are just a few of the things that David knew about God. So when things weren't going so well in David's life, he turned to God. David was suffering greatly. We don't know why. He was weak, in agony, sick at heart, in grief, and physically worn out from crying. He wasn't even sure if what he was going through was because of something he had done. It didn't seem to matter. Whether his suffering was the result of his own sin or the sin of someone else, he was going to turn to God. He was going to appeal to God's unfailing love and mercy. David says, "I am weak." His appeal is not based on his worthiness, but his weakness. He knew that he needed God. His strength was gone, his resources spent, his options wiped out. Like David, we need to come to the place that we understand our greatest argument before God is our NEED. As long as we harbor any thoughts of self-sufficiency, we will miss out on God's unfailing love. It is not that He stops loving us, but that we fail to experience the full affects of that love because we keep trying to meet our own need. James 4:6 reminds us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." He opposes the prideful – those who resist Him and refuse to humble themselves before Him. But He shows favor to the humble – those who have been humiliated by circumstances or who simply understand their need for God.

David had a strong belief in God's ability to hear him and to do something about his situation. In fact, in verses 8-9 David speaks in the past tense. He says, "The Lord HAS heard my weeping. The Lord HAS heard my plea." Then he speaks confidently about the future: "The Lord WILL answer my prayer." David had confidence in his God. He understood the character of His God. For David it was not a matter of whether God would act, but how long until He would. "How long, O Lord, until you restore me?" (Psalm 6:4 NLT). Isn't that the question we all ask? But only God knows the answer and He is not obligated to tell us the answer. Joseph spent more than three years in a prison suffering for a crime he did not commit. The Israelites spent 70 years in captivity for sins they DID commit. God will act when the time is right. He will do what is needed right when it is needed to be done. We need to look to God, not for the solution to our problem. God may delay, but that does not mean God is not doing anything. Waiting is part of the process of trusting. It is while we wait for the answer that we learn to know the One from whom the answer will eventually come. The objective is NOT a solved problem, but the problem solver. We must seek to know God in the midst of our circumstances.

Andrew Murray puts it this way: "Waiting in the sunshine of His love is what will ripen the soul for His blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial, that breaks in showers of blessing, is just as necessary. Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited four thousand years, until the fulness of time, before He sent His Son. Our times are in His hands, He will avenge His select speedily. He will make haste for our help and not delay one hour too long." – Andrew Murray, Waiting On God.

Father, help me to learn to wait well. And while I am waiting, let me look for You. Don't let me obsess with the answer I am looking for, but instead, let me obsess with You. Amen

A Healthy View of God. (Based on Psalm 5)

Psalm 5 – Day 2

I feel like I pray, but no one ‘s there.

Even my groans go unnoticed.

You are my King, the ruler of my life,

And my God, the one who gave me life,

So ultimately, I’m calling out to You,

Expecting You to do something, because no one else can.

I know this about You, Lord: You aren’t attracted to evil in the least,

You can’t even stand having it around,

Including people who think more highly of themselves than they do of You.

You hate the behavior produced from a life lived in opposition to You.

Eventually, because You are God, You will be forced to punish all who love falsehood more than truth,

Who take away life with their hands, or destroy reputations with their words.

You are holy and can’t help but hate what is unholy.

But You are also loving – unceasingly so,

And it’s because of Your love that I can even enter into Your presence.

So when I do, I come before You with an attitude of worship and awe.

I ask You to lead me and guide me and to protect me from my enemies.

There is no shortage of people out there who lie

And who desire to hurt others, including me.

They act as if they love me, flattering me with their words,

But they don’t mean what they say.

But I will let You be their judge and not me.

You judge righteously, so give them whatever they deserve.

At the end of the day, their sin is against You, not me.

I’ll leave them in Your hands.

But for all of us who love You and turn to You for help,

May we find refuge and, as a result, rejoice accordingly.

Help us understand more than ever just who You are – Your nature,

And discover the joy of trusting in You.

It's our relationship with You that makes us godly, not us,

So bless us andsurround us with Your protection like a shield.

A Knowledge of God.

Psalm 5 – Day 1

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love." – Psalm 5:11-12 NLT

Where does David go in times of trouble? He goes to God. He turns to the only one who can help him. He cries to God for help – as his King and his God – and then he waits expectantly. As a king himself, David understood the sovereign rule of God. He was in charge. He alone possessed the power and authority to do anything about David's problem. But he was also David's God, so He deserved honor, respect, and worship. David understood the holiness and righteousness of God, that He was set apart and separate from the sinfulness of men – including the wicked, prideful, evil doers, liars, murderers and deceitful. God was not like earthly kings who could be all those things and more. He was a righteous, holy King – who was just, good, and merciful. So David could appeal to His unfailing love and ask for God to lead him in the right way to go. Unlike David's enemies, who lied and flattered for their own benefit, God was truthful, loving, and a righteous judge who always deals justly and honestly with men.

David saw God as a place of refuge and protection. He could run to God in the tough times and find comfort in God's open, loving arms. Because David understood the mercy and love of God, he could sing praises even in the midst of suffering. He could experience joy even when surrounded by those who were out to destroy him. David had found God to be his protector and provider time and time again. God had proven Himself faithful to David in the past, so he knew he could trust him for the future. He knew if he called, God would hear. He knew if he was under attack, verbally or physically, God would protect him. He knew if his enemies attacked him unfairly, God would deal with them justly. He knew that when he was at a loss for what to do next, God would show him what to do. David knew God as his King, guide, protector, provider, judge, advocate, refuge, and holy God. God was his source of joy and peace, the object of his praise, the focus of his prayers, the answer to his problems, the directer of his paths, and the reason for his worship. Oh, that I would know God like that. "Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring" (Hosea 6:3 NLT).

Father, I want to know You more. I want to have an understanding of Your character and nature like David did. Knowing You didn't rid David of all his problems, but it gave him a different perspective on how to handle and view them. I want to respond to the circumstances of life as he did – prayerfully, expectantly, worshipfully, and joyfully. I want to understand Your holiness better, rest in Your love more often, and sing Your praises in the good times and the bad times. Amen

A Personal Psalm.

Psalm 4 – Day 2

These are difficult days, Lord,

A good friend has died and it all seems so unfair.

It feels as if Satan is laughing,

And our side has lost another valuable player!

It's hard to understand how this could be part of Your plan.

It seems unjust and unfair. It makes no sense. It seems unproductive.

There has to be a better way than this!

But I know You know what You are doing.

I trust You because You are trustworthy.

You have never given me reason to doubt You,

So why should I start now?

I suffer from a limited perspective.

I can only see so far and then everything becomes blurry.

But You know all things and see all things,

The future is as clear to You as the past.

Nothing surprises You or catches You off guard.

At no time are You in heaven wringing Your hands in worry.

You are in complete control,

Which should bring me complete peace.

Give me eyes to see life from Your perspective.

Replace my limited perspective with an eternal one.

Let me see You when everyone else around me sees nothing.

But when I can't see You, help me trust You anyway.

I know You are God. I know You love me.

I know You are all-powerful and in complete control.

But help me believe those things

When everything around me shouts otherwise.

I put my hope and trust in You.

I give You my confusion and my questions.

Show me mercy. Shower me with grace.

Shine in the darkness and light my way, O Lord!

Set Apart By God For God.

Psalm 4 – Day 1

“You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him." – Psalm 4:3 NLT

More than likely this Psalm was written shortly after Psalm 3. David has had to abandon Jerusalem because his son, Absalom, has taken over his kingdom. David is in hiding somewhere in the wilderness outside Jerusalem. His own son has been spreading lies about him, ruining his reputation and turning the hearts of the people against him (2 Samuel 15:1-5). These are difficult days for David. He is facing one of the toughest moments of his life, having to listen to false accusations against himself, and watching as his kingdom is taken over by his own son. The natural response would have been anger. But instead, David turns to God. In spite of the circumstances, David knew that his God was still for him. He reminds himself and us, "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him" (Psalm 4:3 NLT). The Hebrew word translated "set apart" means "to show special favor." It conveys the idea of God distinguishing or to show to be different. David knew that God was going to deal with him differently because he belonged to God. David refers to himself as "godly." That word simply means "faithful one." David is saying that he has been faithful to God. He is not claiming perfection or sinlessness, but only that he has not abandoned God. He continued to trust in and on God. He belonged to God, so he knew that God would hear him when he called.

The people who accompanied David when he fled Jerusalem were asking him, "Who will show us better times?" (Psalm 4:6 NLT). They were distraught and wondering what was going to happen to change their circumstances. They wanted to know when things were going to get better. David knew that God was the key to their hope. He knew through experience that God was the source of joy. God had given David more joy than any amount of success or affluence could ever bring. "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine" (Psalm 4:7 NLT). David knew that God alone could hear him when he called, declare him innocent, free him from all his troubles, show him mercy, and keep him safe even in his sleep. No matter what was going on around him and to him, David knew that he could trust God.

Father, I want to trust You more. I want to have the confidence in You that David expressed. He had found You to be faithful in the past, so he could confidently trust You for the future. He did not let the conditions around him determine His faith in You. He trusted in Your character, not his circumstances. He recalled all the wonderful things You had done for him and realized that You had set him apart for Yourself. David belonged to You, so he knew he could trust You. Amen

Let Me See You.

Psalm 3 – Day 2

Lord, sometimes I just don’t understand you;

I have a hard time seeing what you are doing.

My circumstances scream out, “He is not there!”

They tease me, “Your God does not care!”

But Your Word paints a different picture.

It reveals that You are in control and in love with me.

You watch over me, protect and provide for me.

You know my circumstances better than I do.

And You have a plan to perfect me through them.

I can choose to worry,

or I can choose to rest.

I can spend all my time staring at what is going on around me,

or I can fix my eyes on You.

Help me to see You in the midst of my circumstances,

but also in spite of them.

Teach me to trust You,

even when I don’t fully understand You.

Don’t let me judge Your goodness

by what I consider to be a bad situation.

Reveal Your strength through my weakness;

Your knowledge through my ignorance.

Open my eyes so that I can see You,

even if my circumstances never change.

The Lifter Of My Head.

Psalm 3 – Day 1

“But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high." – Psalm 3:3 NLT

David has had to abandon Jerusalem and his throne because his own son, Absalom, has taken over his kingdom. You can read about this tragic event in David's life in 2 Samuel 15. Psalm 3 was written at the time that all this was going on. So David was going through some significantly trying circumstances. He had lost everything, including his kingdom and the love of his own son. Everyone has seemingly turned against him. His enemies are taunting him that God will never rescue him from this predicament. But David knew something about his God. He had a confidence in God that came from experience. He knew that his God was a shield about him – a form of protection from attack. No matter how bad things got, David knew God to be as reliable as a shield a soldier used in battle to protect himself from certain death. David also knew that God was his glory – He was the one who gave David honor in the sight of others. David may have lost his throne, but he knew he was in God's hands. Others may have lost their respect for David, but he knew that ultimately any honor he received was from God and not from his position or possessions. It was God who gave David's life "weight," as the word glory can be translated. In other words, it was David's relationship with God that gave his life value – not his job, title, or resume. Finally, David knew that it was God who held his head high. It would have been easy for David to hang his head low under the circumstances. He was running away from his own son. He had abandoned his own throne and was hiding in the wilderness. But David knew that God was the lifter of heads. He would revive David and ultimately restore Him to his throne – if that was God's desire. As he left the city that day, David was able to say, "If the Lord sees fit, he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him" (2 Samuel 15:25 NLT).

David knew his God. He had faith in his God. He could rest in his God. He had confidence in his God. So he cried out to his God. And then he waited. David was not going to let circumstances determine His view of God. A bad day was not going to alter his understanding of the goodness of God. Unexpected, unwelcome events should not cause us to doubt God, but should cause us to turn to Him for help, hope, and healing. Cry out. He answers.

Father, give me the confidence of David. Give me a view of you that is not determined by my circumstances. Help me to see Your faithfulness in the midst of difficulty. Help me to trust You even when things seem out of control, unfair, difficult to understand. You are my shield, glory, and the lifter of my head. Amen