What's the Source of Your Strength?

Psalm 21 – Day 1

“How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory." – Psalm 21:1 NLT

In this Psalm, David, as the Lord's anointed king, recognizes that any victory or success he enjoys is attributable only to God and to God alone. David can't take any credit for any of it. He can't brag or boast about his own strength or his military capabilities. His army is not the source of his strength. His military prowess isn't either. It's God. He says, "the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD!" What a different perspective than that which pervades our society. We love to take credit for our victories and boast about our own capabilities. Even as Christians we can find ourselves puffing out our chests and basking in our own glory. But David reminds us that all glory belongs to God. David looks back over his life and recognizes the hand of God in all that he has accomplished as king. Sure, he went into battle, wielded his sword, suffered wounds at the hands of his enemies, killed his fair share of them, and came back tired and sometimes bloody. But he recognized the reality that God was the one who brought about victory.

Over in the book of 2 Chronicles there is the story of the people of God facing tremendous odds against a far superior army. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, stood in front of the people and called out to God. He confessed their weakness and called on God to save them. He prayed, "you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!" (2 Chronicles 20:6 NLT). He went on to describe to God their dire circumstances and then called out, "O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help" (2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT). As they stood there waiting, the Spirit of God came upon an obscure man named Jahaziel. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, Jahaziel told the people, "This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s" (2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT).

How did David know this same truth long before Jehoshaphat ever ascended to the throne of Judah? How could he be so certain that victory was God's doing, not man's? If you recall, long before David ever became king of Israel, he experienced first-hand the victory of God over a far superior enemy of his own. As a young man, he had come face to face with Goliath, a giant of a man who had ridiculed and taunted the men of Israel for days, challenging them to send out a champion to face him. He had no takers. That is until David showed up on the scene. And while every other Israelite soldier, including King Saul, cowered in the shadows, afraid to face their enemy in their own strength, David called out to him, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies — the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!" (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NLT). Notice what David said, "the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you." Ultimately, he knew that this was going to be up to God. David had a role to play, but any success would be solely attributable to God. What a valuable lesson for us to learn today as we face the enemies of our lives. The battle is STILL the Lord's. Like David, we must learn to trust in the Lord and recognize that His unfailing love for us is what keeps us from stumbling in defeat. He is our champion. He is our strength. He is our victory.

Father, the battle has always been Yours. Forgive me for sometimes assuming that I bring something of value to the fight. I can do nothing without You. Victory is impossible only through You. Continue to teach me to trust in You and to rest in the power You provide. Amen

A Prayer of Awareness. (Based on Psalm 20)

Psalm 20 – Day 2

It's my prayer that the next time you're in trouble

You cry to God so He can answer your call for help.

May the same God that kept Jacob safe keep you from harm.

I want you to discover just how holy and powerful He really is.

You'll find that He has seen all the sacrifices You have made,

And how you have been faithful in your attempts to worship Him.

It's my prayer that God give you the desires of your heart,

And help you succeed in all that you do.

Then we'll all have reason to rejoice with you

And to give God praise for what He has done for you.

We love it when God answers your prayers.

I have every confidence that God is going to save those He has chosen,

He is going to answer because He is holy and righteous.

He is going to rescue because He has the power to do so.

While other people might put their confidence in themselves,

As people of God, we trust in the reputation and character of God.

Self-confidence only results in disappointment and defeat,

But relying on God let's us stand firm no matter what comes our way.

In Times Of Trouble.

Psalm 20 – Day 1

“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God." – Psalm 20:7 NLT

When your problems are solved and you've made it to the other side of your predicaments, to whom will you give the credit? Too often we end up giving ourselves a pat on the back for our ingenuity, determination and problem-solving skills. We unknowingly "boast" in our own power of self-preservation. We begin to believe that we can get ourselves out of any situation, given enough time, money, and patience. But David knew differently. He had learned from experience that when he encountered trouble, his first response should be to cry out to God. He knew that God was far more reliable and powerful – even though he was a king with all kinds of resources at his disposal. Whether it was a need for deliverance from an enemy or the fulfillment of a desire, David had learned to take everything to God. Nothing was too big or too small for God to handle. David knew that God answered prayer because He had done so in the past. God had delivered him before. God had saved, directed, and provided victory on more than one occasion, so David was more than willing to go back to the most reliable source he knew – God.

David's power was not determined by the size of his army, but by the object of his faith. As long as he turned to God and focused his faith on Him, David knew he had all the power he needed to face any difficulty, defeat any foe, and survive any situation. David says, "we boast in the name of the Lord our God." That word "boast" can be better translated "call to mind or remember." David seems to be saying that, in times of trouble, we recall the character of God and lean on Him, not ourselves. We depend on His strength, not ours. We rely on His salvation instead of our own. Human strength is no match for God's power. Human intelligence is a poor substitute for God's wisdom. Turning to God will always turn out better in the long run.

Father, You have a long track record of success and faithfulness. Yet we continue to turn elsewhere when times get tough. Continue to teach us to trust You alone, to turn to you first and to rely on You to the end. You will not disappoint. Amen

The Glory of God. (Based on Psalm 19)

Psalm 19 – Day 2

I look up at the sky and see the glory of God on display.

The night sky is like a canvas filled with His artwork.

The planets and stars can't speak, they have no voice,

But You can hear what they are saying loud and clear.

The sun is right where it needs to be,

It bursts with light like a groom on the day of his wedding.

It tirelessly rises and sets, like a man with ceaseless strength.

Day after day, the sun does what God created it to do,

Providing heat and light to anything and everything.

But even greater than all that God has made is what He has said.

His written law, His principles for men to follow

Are perfect, complete, lacking in nothing.

His requirements for living life can be trusted,

And when the naive obey them, they gain wisdom.

His commands are always right,

And bring joy to the heart when they're kept.

His rules are completely without error or fault,

Providing insight to all those who follow them.

To fear God by keeping His commands is the right things to do,

And we will be doing it for eternity.

Each judgment God has made is reliable,

And absolutely just.

They are to be valued more than wealth, even abundant wealth

They are more satisfying than honey,

Even the freshest honey straight from the honeycomb.

They teach those who keep them,

And they always come with consequences.

Without Your Word I wouldn't know what was in my own heart.

Use it to cleanse me from the sin concealed from my own view.

Let Your law prevent me from sinning presumptuously,

Don't let my own arrogance control me.

Then and only then will You see me as blameless,

And innocent of rebellion against You.

Let every word that I say and every thought that I have

Meet Your standards, O Lord,

Because You have been and always will be my Rock and Redeemer.

The Power of the Word of God.

Psalm 19 – Day 1

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." – Psalm 19:14 NLT

The power and glory of God is clearly evident in His creation. His greatness is mirrored in the vastness of the universe, the inexhaustible energy of the sun, and the countless stars in the sky. But when it comes to revealing Himself to man, God didn't stop there. David knew God through His Word. He discovered the greatness of God revealed in the Law of God. He had learned that God's Law revives the soul, gives the naive much-needed wisdom, brings joy to the heart, helps men see life more clearly, and on top of all that it warns and rewards. David found the words of God more desirable than gold and more appetizing than his favorite sweet. And as king of Israel, David had access to wealth and great food, so he knew what it meant to attempt to have his desires satisfied through materialism and hedonism. Money doesn't last, a great meal only leaves you hungry and desiring more. Nothing satisfies like the word of God.

One of the things David learned about God's word is its ability to see into his heart and reveal what's hidden there. It has the unique capacity, like an x-ray, to look into our soul and reveal sins – even those committed unknowingly or unintentionally – that we can't even see ourselves. But God's word not only reveals them, it can cleanse us from them. And it can protect us from committing sins out of presumption or sheer arrogance. David knew that his righteousness was dependent on God's faithful, reliable, pure, trustworthy, totally correct, completely sound word. It was only through time spent reading and meditation on God's word that David's life could live a life that was pleasing to God. It is the word of God and the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God that transforms our speech, our thoughts and our actions.

Father, Your Word is invaluable and irreplaceable. There is nothing else like it in the universe that can transform my life and bring joy, peace, wisdom, direction and satisfaction. Continue to increase my love for it, obedience to it, and dependence upon it. Let me love it like David did. Use Your Word to see into my heart and reveal what I can't see. Transform me by it. Equip me with it. Convict me through it. And never let me walk away from it. Amen

Old Faithful. (Based on Psalm 18)

Psalm 18 – Day 2

I love you, Lord, because You have proven Yourself strong over and over again.

You've been a place of refuge for me,

You've protected me, sheltered me, provided a way of escape for me.

You've been like a solid rock wall, a Kevlar vest, and a lethal weapon.

Every time I have turned to You, You've come through for me.

I could go on and on about the various ways You have rescued me.

When I felt like all was lost, and I had no more hope,

I knew I could call out to You. I could tell You my troubles,

And You would hear me, and then do something about it.

Sometimes Your response was immediate and earth-shattering.

You rocked my world and blew away my expectations,

Doing far more than I anticipated or even deserved.

But then there were other times when You seemed to delay,

Your response was late in coming, and sometimes not exactly what I wanted.

But You always answered. You always came through.

It was as if You reached down from heaven and personally handled my problem.

Sometimes You have had to rescue me.

Other times You've simply supported me or provided me with guidance.

On more than one occasion, You've had to protect me.

All along the way, I have tried to serve You and remain faithful to You.

But the real reason You reward me with Your love and mercy Is because You have claimed me as Your own.

You are faithful to the faithful,

You are a God who acts with integrity to those who aspire to live with integrity.

You have a heart for the pure, the humble, the innocent.

In other words, You love those who love You and are being transformed by You.

Over the years, I have seen the truth of this lived out in my own life.

In the midst of all the instability of this world,

You remain the solid rock. You are unchanging in Your nature, consistent in Your character.

It is only because of You that I have the strength to live life,

The wisdom to make right decision,

The endurance to walk the walk of faith,

And to stay on the path without wandering into the weeds.

Any success I have had is because of You.

Any victories I have enjoyed were Your doing, not mine.

My status as a child of God is because You adopted me in spite of me.

So for all of these reasons, I praise You.

You deserve it, I most certainly owe it, and so I gladly give it.

Ican leave all my enemies in Your hands.

You will deal with them as You see fit.

The important thing is that You rescue me when I'm in trouble,

Protect me when I am helpless, Shelter me when I am left out in the cold,

And save me when I can't save myself.

So I praise You even in the midst of a world that doesn't know You.

I express my love to You even when I am surrounded by those who hate You.

Describing the Indescribable.

Psalm 18 – Day 1

“I love you, LORD; you are my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. " – Psalm 18:1-2 NLT

The imagery used in this Psalm is classic David. The simple, yet powerful words used by David to describe his God are found throughout the Psalms he penned. They are a vivid example of someone trying to describe the indescribable using terminology that is familiar to him and to which he can easily relate. David refers to God as his strength, rock, fortress, savior and a source of protection. It is because of these attributes that David loves the Lord. These words describe what God IS to David. They illustrate characteristics of God that have come to mean much to this man after God's own heart. This Psalm was likely written late in David's life because it is almost a word-for-word copy of the song David sings near the end of his life that is recorded in 2 Samuel 22. David is near death and he is remembering all that God has done for him over a long, distinguished and sometimes difficult life. C. H. Spurgeon calls this Psalm "The Grateful Retrospect." David is expressing appreciation, praise, and love for God's unmistakable role in his life. He goes on to describe what God has done by using words like:

Pays back

Subdues

Rescues

Holds me safe

Saves me

Gives victory

Shows unfailing love

David opens up this Psalm with praise for God's characteristics. Then he closes it the same way. It is a classic chiastic structure, where the first half of the Psalm mirrors the second half. But the main point is found at the beginning and the end. God is David's rock. His

sela

in Hebrew. A rock, cliff, or a hollowed-out place in a rock that provides safety, refuge and protection. Why would David describe God in those terms? Why would a king who lived in a palace in luxury use that kind of imagery? You have to remember that at one point, early in his life, David spent over ten years of his life hiding in the wilderness, attempting to keep from being killed by King Saul. He hid in caves and lived in the remote wilderness, finding refuge and protection among the cliffs, rocks, and mountains.

Adullam

This was David's home. This is where he hid from his enemy and found refuge in times of difficulty. Those rocks and caves became very familiar to David and they were a constant reminder of God's protection and love. They may look remote, foreboding and uninviting, but to David they were familiar and comfortable. There were probably many times in his reign when he would have preferred to be back in those same caves. In fact, when his son, Absalom, stole his kingdom from him, David headed back to the wilderness again. It was familiar territory where he knew God would meet him and provide for him.

Where do you and I run when times get tough? Do we have a place where God has showed Himself strong in the past? If we had to pick words to describe who God is to us and what He has done for us, which ones would we use? David spoke of God from experience. His knowledge of God and love for Him was not based on academics, but first-hand experience. I love what Eugene Peterson says about David and his relationship with God:

The single most characteristic thing about David is God. David believed in God, thought about God, imagined God, addressed God, prayed to God. The largest part of David’s existence wasn’t David, but God. The evidence of David’s pervasive, saturated awareness of God is in his profusion of metaphors: bedrock, castle, knight, crag, boulder, hideout. David was immersed in God. Every visibility revealed for him an invisibility.

That is the kind of relationship I long to have with God. I want to be able to see Him all around me, to view Him through all my circumstances. The words we use to describe God are a great indicator of just how well we know Him.

Father, You are my provider, banker, counselor, guide, shelter, the Kevlar vest I wear when the enemy attacks, the umbrella that keeps me dry in the storms of life, the life preserver when my boat goes out from under me, the warm fire when the lights go out and the heat goes off, the unexpected check in the mail when my account was empty and my hopes were lost. Father, You have been there for me so often in my life. You have never failed to provide for me, protect me, and shower me with Your grace. Thank You! Amen

A Prayer of Ken. (Based on Psalm 17)

Psalm 17 – Day 2

O Lord, I am appealing my case to You, please listen.

I beg You to pay close attention to my shout for help.

Hear my prayer and answer,

Because I am telling You the truth!

All I ask is that the decision regarding my case come from You,

Because I trust that You are able to see what is really going on.

You have repeatedly proved the purity of my heart;

You've observed me during times of adversity and darkness.

When I was put through the fire of difficulty and refined by You,

It resulted in a lack of impurity and sin.

And I don't plan on saying anything I will regret now.

When it comes to what men do, It is only by obeying the words from Your lips

That I have avoided living a life of violence and destruction.

There is no doubt that You have kept me on the right track,

Preventing me from losing my footing or my way.

God, I have full confidence that because I have called,

An answer is coming from You.

Please bend Your ear and listen to what I have to say.

Make Your love and mercy stand out.

Use Your power to save those who trust in You

And come to You for protection when they are oppressed.

Watch over me like I was Your prized possession,

Put me under Your wing like a bird does its chick,

Because I am surrounded by those who are out to destroy my soul.

These people are imprisoned by their own prosperity,

They boast arrogantly. They seem to be everywhere I go,

And they keep their eyes peeled like a half-starved lion looking for prey –

A young lion hiding in the shadows waiting to pounce.

Stand up and show Your power, Lord!

Disrupt this young lion's plans, bring him to his knees.

Use Your sword to provide me with a way of escape.

Save me from men who love this world more than You,

Who seek all they need from this life instead of from You,

Who fail to recognize that their prosperity comes from You,

And the affluence their kids enjoy, You provide.

But as for me, I know that my satisfaction comes from knowing You,

And even if all this ends in death, I will see You because You consider me righteous.

The Ultimate Objective.

Psalm 17 – Day 1

“Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied." – Psalm 17:15 NLT

David is under extreme pressure. He is being hounded by King Saul, hunted down like a common criminal with a bounty on his head. Saul has hired 3,000 armed mercenaries to find David and kill him. So David finds himself hiding in the wilderness, running for his life. Talk about stress. Talk about anxiety. So David calls out to God. He pleads for God to act as his judge and find him innocent on any charges brought against him. He asks God to declare him innocent because he knows that he has done nothing to deserve this treatment from Saul. In verse three he reminds God that He has already tested him before. David uses terminology that indicates that his life has been anything but easy. He says "You have tested my thoughts." That word "tested" is a word used of refining metal. God has already put David in the furnace and proved the purity of his heart. He says that God has already "examined his heart" in the night. The reference to night is a poetic term that can also mean time of calamity. In other words, David is saying that God has had the chance to observe David during the difficult days of his life. He has had plenty of opportunity to find fault in David. But David says that God has "scrutinized me" and found nothing wrong. Again, David uses terminology related to working with metal. He says that God has used trials to put him through the fire in order to purge any impurities from him. And as a result, David is innocent and sinless in regards to his relationship with Saul.

David appeals to God's mercy, grace, righteousness and love. He asks God to guard him, hide him and protect him. He begs God to come between he and his enemies, to bring them to their knees. In verse 14, David describes his enemies as wicked. Then in verse 15, he elaborates on just what these people are like. He says, "they look to this world for their reward." They are worldly, not godly. The are in love with this world and all that in can offer them. They don't see a future or believe in an afterlife or eternity, so they live as if this life is all there is. David looks around and sees these people enjoying prosperity, getting all that they desire, having lots of kids and leaving all their wealth to them. But at the end of the day, David puts his hope in what happens after life. He knows there is an eternity for all men. That the righteous God of the universe will one day judge all men and hold them accountable for their actions during this life. David rests content that God will declare him righteous and allow him to come into His presence. That is what brings David contentment even in the face of adversity. He knows that his ultimate satisfaction will come when He stands before God in heaven. This world is passing. This life is not all there is. The injustices and inequities of this life will one day be made right by God. That doesn't stop David from crying out to God for His help and deliverance here and now. But David knows that he can't judge the faithfulness and love of God solely based on how things go in this life. God is not done. As judge of the world, His final ruling has not been made yet. But David knows that even his enemies catch him and kill him, he will stand before the Lord and find complete satisfaction for all life's trials, injustices and inequities.

Father, don't let me lose sight of eternity. Don't let the trials of this life rob me of the reality of eternal life. This is not all there is. There is more. When faces with difficulties, help me see it as You refining me, purifying me and removing from me the sin that still resides within me. You are constantly testing me, putting me through the heat of life, exposing and removing the impurities of my sin nature. Thank You for loving me enough to purify me. You are constantly making me more like Your Son. Amen

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!